Infinity, Progressing from Arasaka: Vera's Blade

Suzaku turned around, first glancing to his left and right, then lowered his voice and said, "Eastern Europe is not like District 11. I've also heard of the Third Princess Vera's iron-fisted rule. How am I supposed to explain contacting you, this Britannia friend named Lelouch?"

"You should know that my identity is that of the last Prime Minister of District 11. I had a childhood connection with the deceased 'Eleventh Prince, Eighteenth in Line to the Throne Lelouch'..."

Upon hearing Lelouch immediately calmed down.

Suzaku Kururugi continued, "The transfer order comes from the Third Princess, who holds supreme military and political power in European Britannia. She is one of the suspects in the assassination of your mother, which you told me about seven years ago, Lelouch. If she is indeed the murderer, she might even discover that you are still alive... I cannot take the risk."

"Nunnally is the same; I don't want to cause you any more trouble."

At this point, Suzaku Kururugi looked earnestly at Lelouch, "Thank you for everything during this time. I'm very happy. If I can return alive from the Eastern Europe front..."

With a serene smile, as if he had seen through life and death, he turned around. "Don't be so pessimistic, Lelouch. The Eastern Europe front is the pilot zone for the widespread use of medical prosthetics in Britannia. If all goes well, I will do my best to investigate and find a prosthetic that can help Nunnally stand up again and restore her sight..."

"Etc."

Seemingly having made up his mind, Lelouch, and he spoke again, "Come with me to the rooftop, I have something to give you."

Suzaku Kururugi turned his head, looking puzzled.

But Lelouch had already entered the stairwell. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to follow him.

A gentle breeze caressed their faces, and the campus was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Golden tassels cascaded down from between the bricks and tiles of the European-style roofs. Lelouch and Suzaku Kururugi gazed at each other.

"Is it a souvenir for praying for blessings? Didn't you not believe in these things? Your eyes—"

The next moment, Suzaku Kururugi stopped speaking, his expression became blank, and his pupils had been tinged with crimson, making him look extremely eerie.

"In the name of Lelouch vi Britannia, I hereby command Suzaku Kururugi to live."

Lelouch stared into his best friend's eyes, and his left eye flashed with a brilliant red light. A bright red V-shaped mark, like a soaring firebird, was imprinted deep in Suzaku Kururugi's pupil.

"..."

"...ah?"

It seemed like a second had passed, yet also like an eternity, before Suzaku Kururugi belatedly realized what had happened. He looked blankly at Lelouch, "What did you just say?"

"It's nothing, Suzaku, take care."

"Ah, take care."

Nodding solemnly, Suzaku Kururugi then descended from the rooftop.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, only the faint sound of the wind remained on the rooftop.

"Call..."

Lelouch covered his left eye with his hand, his expression complicated. "I hope the absolute command effect of Geass can save this stubborn muscle idiot. As for that woman, I don't think she'll make good use of District 11's free cannon fodder."

Tap, tap.

Footsteps approached.

A delicate fragrance, carrying the rich aroma of cheese pizza, wafted closer from afar.

Without turning his head, Lelouch said, "Didn't I tell you to stay in your room, C. C.?"

"Your friend knows who we are. Is it alright to send him right under Vera's nose?"

The pizza box was placed on the railing next to Lelouch by the visitor. The voice was ethereal.

Her rare, long, emerald-green hair swayed in the wind like lush green plants.

With a dignified and beautiful doll-like face, she possessed a pair of captivating golden eyes; the woman's presence was like that of a beautiful forest spirit from legend reborn. If it weren't for the white straitjacket that marred this ethereal beauty.

She took a bite of the pizza, chewed and swallowed it, before looking with interest at her contractor, who was also an accomplice.

"I gave you the Geass, thinking you would use it to eliminate any threats. No need to kill anyone, just prevent him from revealing any information about us. I never expected you to give such a ridiculous order."

"You haven't forgotten how you were defeated by Cornelia and almost captured, have you? The Third Princess Vera is an even stronger opponent than Cornelia."

"Keep your posture straight. If your childhood friend is exposed even slightly and caught and recorded by her military police and secret agents, and the information is compiled and submitted to the Catherine Palace, she will become suspicious. Even the slightest clue could cause all your efforts to be in vain."

"I believe him."

This statement is completely out of character for the Black Prince.

"Wow, could this be the legendary bromance and BL?"

"You pizza girl!"

Lelouch couldn't hold back any longer, "Don't look at random things online!"

CC simply turned her head to the side, calmly picked up a slice of pizza and put it in her mouth. "Speaking of which, don't you find it strange? Why hasn't your friend left the student council office building yet?"

She casually pointed to the campus below the rooftop.

Ashford students would occasionally pass by the building, chatting and laughing, but Suzaku Kururugi was nowhere to be seen.

Judging by the time, that muscular idiot should have been downstairs long ago...

Lelouch glanced at her, then, no longer bothering to argue with the pizza girl, turned and hurried toward the stairwell, his expression uncertain.

I hope his Geass doesn't go berserk. Because he was spared, Suzaku decided to disobey orders and not go to the Eastern Europe front; that would be the real disaster. He'd have to be executed.

Then, Lelouch a sigh of relief. Oh, he was just making a phone call.

He looked at Suzaku Kururugi, who was in the stairwell, holding onto the handrail with one hand and talking to someone.

Seeing this, Lelouch curiously perked up his ears and leaned closer.

"... Yes, Your Highness!"

"Your Highness Vice Governor Euphemia, thank you for your kindness, but I have made up my mind. For my compatriots in the EU, for Japan... and for my compatriots in District 11, I must go to the Eastern Europe front!"

Euphemia?

"Is that Euphemia?"

Hearing this name, Lelouch couldn't help but recall his childhood in Aries Palace, and the pink-haired girl who always followed him around. He harbored no ill will towards this innocent and kind-hearted little sister, who was just like Nunnally.

As Lelouch reminisced, Suzaku Kururugi's voice rang out again, "Hmm, hmm. Thank you for informing me. I will mobilize my people as soon as possible."

"I understand. I am the son of the last Prime Minister, my status is special... The Governor and you are speaking with Her Third Princess? What? The Knights of the Round have come to District 11. The formation of the Honorary Britannia Legion of District 11? Military ranks... No, no, there's really no need for you to trouble yourself!"

Knights of the Round, who haven't been deployed for seven years, coming to District 11 at this critical juncture?

Lelouch grasped the key point of the words.

This is difficult.

He only felt the overwhelming pressure.

Faced with this level of force, many plans need to be scrapped and rebuilt.

He currently lacks the necessary combat power. His planned Black Knights are only slightly stronger than a rabble and urgently need further reorganization. If they were to emerge, they would likely invite attacks from the Knights of the Round. What should he do? What if the Knights of the Round were permanently stationed there? No, no, calm down, they shouldn't be permanently stationed there.

It's highly likely that Vera sent him along the way...

"Lelouch, look, one of the most powerful enemies you may face in the future has already made his move."

Just as Lelouch in thought, C. C. suddenly appeared beside him.

"Even if her target is the EU, the aftershocks she creates will be enough to crush your insignificant arrangements."

"You are not yet qualified to sit at the card table and play against them, so be humble, become stronger, more rational, more cunning, and more ruthless, rebellious prince."

174

Chapter 174 'Vera's Blade'.

The Governor's Mansion in the Tokyo Concession.

Just as the military settlements and residential areas (Ghetto) in District 11 were operating at high speed due to the formation of the Honorary Eleven European Expeditionary Corps, an informal family meeting concerning the life and death of countless people was underway.

"The Knightmare production line in the Ural Industrial Zone has been put into operation and has officially been integrated into the logistics support network of the Imperial Army. Including the currently deployed fifth-generation [Sunderland] type and sixth-generation [Glaston Knights] type, the production capacity in the next cycle is expected to increase by 46%."

The solemn and imposing governor's office—occupying two entire floors—featured high ceilings and luxurious, elegant decor. Gold-framed paintings were remnants of the previous governor's work. Three princesses sat around a table.

Two are real, one is illusory.

On the desk covered with a silk tablecloth sits a holographic projection panel with a marble pattern.

"Consumable line-filling soldiers are also an essential part of the war. Cole (Cornelia's nickname), you are the governor of District 11. As compensation for the transfer of able-bodied men from your district, Lord Ron will convey my message on my behalf."

The glowing, three-dimensional figure paused briefly, then turned her teaspoon, took a sip of her flower tea, and said, "Don't be so quick to refuse. You can think of it as an exchange of techniques and tactics. After all, as the world's largest source and producer of cherry blossoms, District 11 where local officials have more influence than local ones, so I'll have to bribe you properly."

"Wow, as expected, there's always something they want from someone who's being overly attentive."

Cornelia smiled, her fingers interlaced and supporting her chin.

"Are you eyeing the upcoming cherry blossom production conference at Lake Kawaguchi? Vera, let me make this clear: I can influence the conference to increase the allocation to European Britannia, but the bulk of it will be fixed. Don't complain about how little the increase is later."

Sakura stone, essential for manufacturing high-temperature superconductors, is a crucial strategic material directly impacting global security. In Fujikawaguchiko Town, an annual meeting is held to determine the production and distribution of sakura stone.

While one of Britannia's main reasons for conquering Japan was to seize its resources, Britannia actually exported cherry blossoms. Yes, exported them at high prices.

Despite the fighting, business continued both overtly and covertly. Making money was a side business, and cultivating remote aquaculture was nothing to be ashamed of.

Would Vera, who controls North Asia and most of Eastern Europe, lack cherry blossom stones?

It's just an excuse.

Even though District 11 alone accounts for 70% of the world's total reserves, Siberia's reserves are still considerable, enough to last Britannia for several more centuries at the current rate of consumption.

Cornelia understood perfectly well. Vera was only saying that to save face and to repay a favor.

This is also related to Britannia's current energy policy: even though the resources in the Americas and in European Britannia, which has a relatively deep control over them, are far from being depleted, the country still prioritizes the extraction of resources from regions such as District 11 and Area 18 in the Middle East, exploiting them relentlessly, and storing the surplus in strategic warehouses on its own soil.

"You can never have too many Sakura Stone reserves."

Vera smiled and said, "Let's put Sakura's matter aside for now. Besides, in terms of generating publicity, Suzaku Kururugi, the son of the Prime Minister of a fallen country, isn't enough."

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her indigo eyes suddenly turning cold.

"Imperial Sister, have all the remnants of that so-called 'eternal line' imperial family been wiped out?"

"Wow, you noticed?"

Cornelia became serious and pressed for an answer.

"An agent from the Empire's foreign intelligence agency planted in India, which was seeking independence in the Federation, told me that the Six Houses of Kyoto, District 11, seem to be commissioning foreign technicians to develop their own Knightmare mobile suits. Their performance specifications are said to be comparable to the seventh-generation mobile suit developed by 'Count Pudding' from the Special Dispatch Guidance Technology Department."

Vera said calmly, "On the surface, they help the Empire, but in reality, they support the Hinomaru underground resistance organization in District 11. ZERO is most likely cooperating with them, or even being promoted by them. Clovis, that idiot, keeps these remnants alive and fattening them up before killing them, even after the political situation is stable."

She shook her head as she said this.

"His position as governor..."

"Yeah, Clovis is an idiot."

Cornelia did not ask Vera about her source of information.

The more she sorted out the mess left by her half-brother, the more she felt that Clovis's assassination was not a coincidence.

The old guard and their descendants are clustered together, remnants of rebellion are everywhere, local garrisons are independent, some nobles are too decadent, there are Pureblood Faction and cliques in the military, and there are signs of infiltration from intelligence agencies from the Federation and even the EU...

Even an unknown project that Clovis prioritized for special research funding during his tenure was destroyed; it's said the results were stolen by terrorists?!

Ah...

It really needs a thorough cleaning!

Cornelia's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

"Thanks. I will take care of my good-for-nothing brother's funeral arrangements."

Whether it's real or fake doesn't really matter; in her plan, the Six Houses of Kyoto will be shut down sooner or later.

What's lacking is a suitable excuse. We should do as little unreasonable punishment as possible; having a legitimate reason for our actions is crucial.

The Six Houses of Kyoto, nominally agents and intermediaries in the cooperation Britannia and the ruling District 11, couldn't be too blatant in their "killing the dog after the rabbit is caught" approach; they needed to keep a glimmer of hope alive for the numbered citizens who aspired to become honorary Britannia...

"Imperial Sister..."

On the other side of the desk, Euphemia was worried about the coldness and cruelty that her two Imperial Sister revealed in their conversation.

In a few words, the two most powerful princesses of Britannia revealed that these families, which had left a deep mark on Japanese history and whose lineage could be traced back to the Tsuchimikado family of the Heian period, and the Six Houses of Kyoto of the five regent families of the Kamakura period, would foreseeably become history.

How many families will be destroyed and how many people will be executed due to the guilt of others? She didn't know.

When Vera and Cornelia discussed the military reforms based on the doctrine of firepower superiority in the Eastern Europe war, and then talked about the compensation for the transfer of young and strong soldiers—the matter of the Seventh Generation [Vincent] prototype being used to equip the Second Princess 'Imperial Guard —and then chatted about interesting things in the Imperial Capital Pendragon, the two noticed that Euphemia seemed to be getting increasingly depressed.