Due to a bizarre misunderstanding, Myojo Shigen mistook Altair for an ally of the Soma Corporation. She even began plotting in her mind how to assist him in his mission. While Myojo harbored no personal grudge against Seitenshi or Kikunojo Tendo, her father had apparently chosen this path, and as a loyal daughter, she felt compelled to follow it.
After all, Myojo was a woman with long-term vision. If the Soma Corporation aimed to seize power directly, she wouldn't oppose her father's ambitions. Helping in secret was the right course of action.
Unaware that he had been mistaken for a Soma family ally, Altair continued his operations. Tokyo's corrupt elite weren't limited to just a few individuals. After cutting down several key figures, there were still plenty of lesser scum to deal with. However, these remaining targets would take time to handle, as they were scattered across the city.
But that was no issue. Corrupt individuals always harbored foolish ambitions, and Altair knew they'd soon expose themselves.
Following Kikunojo Tendo's death, Seitenshi decisively took control of Tokyo's leadership. The terrified survivors, spared by Altair's blade, saw her strength and chose to follow her orders, especially since she had protected them. Thus, Seitenshi swiftly consolidated her authority, becoming Tokyo's true ruler.
However, having been reprimanded by Altair, Seitenshi abandoned her plans to enact the Gastrea Law. As Altair had warned, passing such a law now would provoke backlash, leading to heavy casualties among the Cursed Children. Instead, she focused on consolidating the resources and influence left behind by Kikunojo Tendo, key assets for her upcoming rule.
While Seitenshi solidified her control over Tokyo, events were stirring in Osaka.
As per Altair's orders, Kagetane Hiruko infiltrated the command center and copied all footage related to the Black Dragon from that night. Then, accompanied by Kohina, he left Tokyo for Osaka and delivered the footage to Gensei Takanotsume, Osaka's president.
Compared to Tokyo's Seitenshi, Gensei Takanotsume was a quintessential dictator, ruling Osaka with an iron fist. His methods were even harsher than Kikunojo Tendo's, making Osaka essentially his personal domain. In the post-apocalyptic world of Black Bullet, he was an exceptionally capable leader. Under his command, Osaka's military strength was formidable, and the extermination of nearby Gastrea was relentless.
However, because he couldn't overpower Kikunojo Tendo, Gensei had always been Japan's second most powerful leader.
When Altair had considered potential allies, Gensei Takanotsume was on his list. His original plan was clear: if Seitenshi clung to her idealistic "saintly" ways, Altair would back Gensei instead. He had no interest in ruling the world himself, his goal was to empower his chosen allies, conquer the world, and then leave with his litle girls, handing the world over to Gensei. A man of such ambition would surely jump at the opportunity.
As for Seitenshi, if she crossed paths with Altair on the battlefield, he'd have no choice but to cut her down. Beautiful or not, ignorance of the bigger picture would be her downfall.
Fortunately, Seitenshi passed Altair's test, abandoning her overly idealistic path. Thus, Altair chose to support her instead.
That said, Gensei Takanotsume remained a valuable asset. A man of his ambition was too useful to ignore. Letting such a resource go to waste would be a travesty.
So, Altair instructed Kagetane Hiruko to deliver the footage to Gensei.
"What is this?!" Gensei exclaimed, visibly shocked as he watched the footage.
As Altair had predicted, the contents of the video left Gensei stunned.
"This is the power we command, President Takanotsume. What do you think of it?" Kagetane said, standing across from Gensei with a smile hidden beneath his mask. Following Altair's orders, he was here to persuade the dictator.
"You're saying this is the power you control?"
"Exactly. This is the power of our organization, far superior to that so-called Five Wings Syndicate you're involved with."
"You know about the Five Wings Syndicate?" Gensei asked, unsurprised. The Syndicate wasn't exactly a secret; any organization with decent intelligence could know of it.
"The Five Wings Syndicate? Just a bunch of clowns who think they can conquer the world with their meager technology." Kagetane scoffed.
"You're calling the Five Wings Syndicate clowns?" Gensei narrowed his eyes.
As Kagetane described, the Five Wings Syndicate was an organization with some advanced technology, dreaming of world domination. Such groups were common in many worlds. The Syndicate's members were marked by feather insignias, five feathers for the highest-ranking leaders, down to a single feather for the lowest.
"Compared to our technology, the Five Wings Syndicate is a clown show, don't you think?" Kagetane continued.
He was familiar with the Syndicate and acknowledged their capabilities, but next to Altair, they were laughably inferior. A so-called "mastermind" manipulating the world from the shadows, yet with such limited power, it was almost comical.
Gensei didn't know how to respond. If the footage was real, then compared to Kagetane's mysterious organization, the Five Wings Syndicate was indeed a joke. A single blast capable of wiping out a city or a Zodiac Gastrea? The Syndicate could never achieve that.
"So, what do you want with me?" Gensei asked.
"Simple, President Takanotsume. We've taken an interest in you." Kagetane said, his smile widening.
"You're a man of great ambition. The Five Wings Syndicate can't satisfy your desires, but we can. I'm here to invite you to join us and rule the world."
Gensei's heart raced at the offer.
"Unlike the Five Wings Syndicate, who cling to power, we have no interest in it. We need resources, every resource we can get. As for power, we'll leave that to you, President Takanotsume. You'll be our organization's public face. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
"What an enticing proposal." Gensei admitted.
One option was to share world domination with others; the other was to become the sole ruler. The choice was obvious.
"If you agree, President Takanotsume, you can prepare to head to Tokyo. You'll soon receive news of Kikunojo Tendo's death."
"What?! That man is dead?!" Gensei exclaimed, shocked.
He knew how formidable Kikunojo Tendo was. Gensei had long dreamed of annexing Tokyo, but Tendo's dominance had always stood in his way.
"That's right. He's already dead."
"That's fantastic news!" Gensei's face broke into a wide grin.
***
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