Gensei Takanotsume chose to join the organization, an organization that didn't even exist.
To do so, he unhesitatingly betrayed the Five Wings Syndicate. The Syndicate was a loose coalition, barely qualifying as an organization. It was just a group of capitalists banded together for their own interests, riddled with factions and prone to backstabbing for personal gain. There was no true leader, only a grand alliance. In this post-apocalyptic world, where traveling between cities carried mortal danger, their activities were limited to minimal information sharing and sluggish resource exchanges.
Thus, Gensei's betrayal was swift and decisive, despite his status as one of the Syndicate's highest-ranking members.
In return, Kagetane Hiruko informed him of Kikunojo Tendo's death and advised him to prepare for a visit to Tokyo.
Annexing Tokyo had always been Gensei's ambition. Upon learning of Tendo's demise, he immediately dispatched subordinates to notify Tokyo of his impending visit. At the same time, he contacted assassins, arranging for them to target Seitenshi.
Gensei was well-versed in Tokyo's situation. With Kikunojo Tendo gone, Seitenshi was the city's nominal leader. If she were eliminated, Tokyo would be leaderless, allowing Gensei to swoop in and seize control.
Tokyo would be his!
Thus, the news that Osaka's President Gensei Takanotsume would visit Tokyo reached Seitenshi's ears shortly after Tendo's death.
"Gensei Takanotsume is coming to visit?" Seitenshi said, her expression darkening as she read the report in the Holy Residence.
Though she had never truly held power before, Seitenshi knew enough about Gensei Takanotsume. He was a military dictator who had long coveted Tokyo. For such a man to visit right after Tendo's death was an entirely different matter.
"He's coming to seize Tokyo." Altair remarked, leaning against the balcony wall with his arms crossed, as was his habit.
After Tendo's death, Altair had returned to the Holy Residence. His next steps required him to stay close to Seitenshi. There were still Cursed Children in Tokyo, and searching for them alone would be too slow. Instead, Altair had Seitenshi send her subordinates to locate them. Once found, they would be brought to him, where he would administer the inhibitor and contract them to take them away.
Seitenshi had witnessed Altair injecting and contracting the children, and she was deeply impressed by his abilities. He could transform into the Black Dragon, save her, and even fly. To her, Altair was nothing less than a divine savior sent to rescue this world.
Altair's response to this? "Yup, that's right."
However, aside from Seitenshi, no one knew of Altair's true role. To the public, he remained the assassin feared by all of Tokyo, a figure too dangerous to pursue.
Indeed, Tokyo dared not issue a warrant for Altair. In their eyes, his targets were limited to Kikunojo Tendo and Seitenshi, and he bore no malice toward others. If they provoked him by issuing a warrant, he might destroy the entire city in retaliation. They wanted to live, not be reduced to ashes by a single blast.
Thus, while Seitenshi publicly declared her intent to apprehend Altair, her subordinates vehemently opposed it. She acquiesced, announcing that no warrant would be issued. In exchange, Tendo's remaining assets and influence had to be placed under her control.
As the saying goes, if you want to remove a window, first say you'll tear off the roof. When you later suggest just the window, the opposition will be much weaker.
"That's not all." Altair continued. "He's also hired assassins to kill you."
"Assassins? Targeting me?" Seitenshi asked, startled.
"Yes, but don't worry. The assassins he's hired are just Cursed Children. I'll handle them."
Human assassins were unreliable, with limited combat ability. Only modified humans or Cursed Children had the strength for such tasks, so Altair was certain the assassins would be Cursed Children.
And Cursed Children sent to him? Altair had no intention of letting them go. If they came, he'd take them all. In his mind, it was likely Tina Sprout, that sharp-tongued owl-type girl, who would show up.
"The Cursed Children sent here will be taken in by you, won't they, Mr. Altair?" Seitenshi said with a smile.
"Of course. If they're delivered to my doorstep, it'd be rude not to accept them." Altair replied.
Seitenshi's face lit up with a gentle smile.
"Mr. Altair, I'm curious, what's that place like? The one you send them to."
"Gensokyo? It's a great place, perfect for those kids. Think of it as a utopia. It's got nothing, but the children can build everything from scratch with their own hands. I provide support from the outside, and I'll eventually take them to an even more interesting world to live in."
"I'd love to see it." Seitenshi said wistfully.
"No chance for you. You're not a litle girl, so you can't go." Altair said, shaking his head.
"What a pity." Seitenshi replied.
Her concern for the Cursed Children was genuine, rooted in her compassionate nature. She truly wanted to see them.
"If you want to see the kids, there's no need to go there. I can bring them out. Most of them, I hope, will live carefree lives, but some are sharp enough to be great helpers." Altair explained.
He didn't just plan to take these children out of this world; he intended to bring them to the Danmachi world. In Orario, ordinary Cursed Children could live simple lives, while Initiators, if willing, could join the Hestia Familia as combatants.
Yes, in this world, Altair planned to bolster the Hestia Familia with a flood of new members, all litle girls. Hestia would surely be thrilled, being a childlike goddess herself. The image of Hestia, the child-king, leading a pack of litle girls to wreak havoc in Orario was bound to be an entertaining sight.
Setting aside the future vision of Hestia and her litle girl army dominating Orario, Altair turned to the present matter of Gensei Takanotsume's visit to Tokyo.
"Seitenshi, Gensei Takanotsume's visit will likely come with a proposal to form an alliance with Tokyo. I want you to accept it."
"Accept the alliance?" She asked, surprised.
"Yes. He's willingly stepping up to take the blame and draw everyone's attention. We'd be foolish not to take advantage of his offer." Altair said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
***
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