What's Yours and Mine? It's All Mine!

"Of course, we've had enough fun, it's time to get down to business and wrap things up."

They're spouting those incomprehensible words again.

However, upon hearing "[I've had enough fun]", Kaguya Sumeragi couldn't help but lower her head shyly, clutching the hem of her clothes with her small hands. Her coy and hesitant demeanor was quite suggestive.

But seeing Mahiro walk straight out of the room and back into the courtyard, Kaguya Sumeragi couldn't help but sigh again. Her eyes held a mixture of relief and complicated emotions. She straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and staggered to her feet, kneeling on the tatami mat once more.

Just as it was before Mahiro arrived.

After all, they still had to face the Kyoto Six Houses led by Kirihara- kun, so they couldn't possibly do so in such a shameful and unseemly manner.

There were still some damp water stains left on the tatami mat that she couldn't clean, but she just needed to move her body slightly and cover them with the corner of her clothes.

However, when she thought about her choice, although she had no regrets and even felt fortunate and happy, as a young girl, she inevitably felt some confusion.

"There's nothing I can do about it. This is all I have right now."

Gently stroking her body, Kaguya Sumeragi murmured softly.

Sometimes, she longed to play carefree like other girls her age, but being born into this family and being the last heir to the Japan imperial family, living like an ordinary girl was simply too luxurious.

After tidying her clothes, she slowly lowered her head in the direction Mahiro had left.

"Please forgive Kagura for being unable to rise and see you off, Shadow. I look forward to seeing you again."

That's how things ended...

That's how it should be.

But the next second, the sound that should have left seemed to return, now coming back into the room from outside.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Don't you want to witness the downfall of those old fogies from the Kyoto Six Houses with your own eyes, my dear princess?"

Chapter 281 What's yours and mine? It's all mine! (5.5K)

Let's rewind to half an hour ago.

"We're ascending now?!"

Kallen, inside the car, was somewhat surprised.

The vehicle was driving perfectly fine just moments before, but then it suddenly stopped, and a moment later, the ground shook.

The vibration frequency and the commotion coming from underground were clearly the roar of the elevator starting up.

After the car stopped rising, it started moving again, and came to a complete stop in less than a minute. The driver opened the door and said, "I apologize for the inconvenience. Your master is waiting for you!"

Kallen and the others got out of the car and scattered curiously, looking around at the vast space.

Kaname Ohgi slightly surprised when he suddenly walked to the window reflecting the light.

"This... is the Mount Fuji Mine! How did we end up here...?"

Buried beneath the mine lies the treasure SakuraDite, the root of war; any intruders discovered can be shot dead on the spot without interrogation.

"Their influence has even managed to infiltrate a place like this; Kyoto is truly formidable!"

Even the usually composed Kaname Ohgi couldn't help but sigh again upon seeing this.

"It's ugly, isn't it!"

With a deep, aged voice, the scenery outside the window suddenly vanished.

"Mount Fuji, once renowned for its beautiful mountains and clear waters and numerous sacred peaks, now bows to the empire in its original form, suffering humiliation—a perfect reflection of our current attitude! It's truly tragic!"

Kallen and the others turned to look in the direction the sound came from, where a vague figure sat behind a curtain.

"Hmph, Shadow, didn't you come?"

After looking everyone over, the old man behind the curtain lingered his gaze on Lelouch, who was disguised as ZERO, for a moment before raising his cane.

Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a sudden voice.

"Lord Shadow has other matters to attend to, so I, your humble servant, have come as the representative of Shadow Garden to negotiate with the Kyoto Six Houses."

Who are you?

The old man shifted his gaze to the trio, who seemed distinctly different from the Black Knights.

The woman with long blue hair stepped forward gracefully and bowed politely, saying:

"Nice to meet you. I am Gamma, the third seat of the Seven Shadows of the Shadow Garden."

Gamma introduced herself, while Alpha and New stood silently to the side. The aura emanating from Alpha made the old man feel that she was the one in charge.

But that's irrelevant.

"Since you are representing us, let me introduce myself. I am the representative of Kyoto— Taizo Kirihara. Now, please have Miss Gamma remove ZERO's mask."

Upon hearing this name, both Kallen and Kaname Ohgi stared in shock, their eyes widening in disbelief.

They didn't mishear, did they? What's this person's name?

Taizo Kirihara?!

It's no wonder they were so surprised, because the name Taizo Kirihara represents a traitor who sold the country to Britannia and fawned over Britannia.

Unexpectedly, Taizo Kirihara was actually the mastermind behind funding the resistance and providing weapons to the Black Knights!

However, they immediately saw several Knightmare Frames suddenly appear on both sides, approaching the Black Knights and pointing their machine guns at them.

"Wait a minute, what do you mean by that?!"

The sudden turn of events made Kallen somewhat agitated and step forward, while ZERO, the person directly involved, stood there calmly.

"Shut up!"

Kirihara shouted.

"I apologize for not showing my true face earlier. But ZERO, you are no different, so I need to see clearly who you really are!"

Since Shadow didn't show up, Taizo Kirihara had no choice but to set his sights on ZERO.

But before that, he must find out ZERO's true identity no matter what.

"So, Miss Gamma, please remove ZERO's mask now."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kirihara, I cannot do that."

"What did you say?"

Rejected, Kirihara glared at Gamma through the curtain with a sharp look.

"Do you know whose request you're refusing, and are you aware of your own situation?!"

At a command, two of the guns were immediately turned and aimed at them.

"Now, I order you to remove ZERO's mask!"

"I regret to inform you that I cannot comply."

Faced with the dark, gunpowder-smelling muzzle, not only was Gamma unmoved, but even Alpha and New didn't take this toy seriously.

"This humble woman has come on the orders of my lord, Lord Shadow, to discuss the ownership of the Sakuradite with the Kyoto Six Houses. It seems that Elder Kirihara has no sincerity. What should we do..."

"What did you say?"

Taizo Kirihara paused for a moment upon hearing Gamma's words, then frowned deeply.

Although he currently holds the development rights to the Sakuradite, he is essentially still working for Britannia, exporting the ore for profit.

But now they're talking about the ownership of SakuraDite?

"You bastard spouting nonsense! Since that's how it is, don't blame me for being ruthless. Shoot!"

"New, let's do it."

Alpha then spoke up.

Taizo Kirihara's order came a beat earlier than Alpha's, but Alpha was faster in terms of speed.

Swish--

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out.

Suddenly, Niu, dressed in a uniform, raised her long, slender legs, encased in black stockings, drawing a white arc in the air. The arc flashed from the muzzle of the gun across the entire mecha.

Immediately afterwards, the two Knightmare machines were sliced in half, crashed to the ground, and exploded instantly.

The sudden burst of strong winds whipped Alpha and Gamma's hair around.

As for New, it has already attacked the remaining two mechs.

In just a few moments, all four Knightmare units surrounding the group were destroyed.

A scorching wind whipped the curtains, Taizo Kirihara, sitting behind them, stared in disbelief at everything before him, every single moment a shock to his eyes.

Fighting Knightmare with manpower?

How is that possible!

The unrealistic feeling caused Taizo Kirihara to be too shocked to recover.

"Hey, I said..."

Just then, the honest Kaname Ohgi stepped forward, seemingly wanting to question Alpha and the others about why they had done such an outrageous thing.

After all, they came to discuss cooperation with the Kyoto Six Houses, and besides, didn't they want to know ZERO's true identity?

However, before she could finish speaking, Kallen stopped her.

"Don't go over there... We have no say here."

It's not just a matter of lacking a voice; Kallen also feels quite helpless and troubled by her brother's close friend.

I can't understand the situation at all...

Fortunately, neither New York nor Alpha bothered with this idiot.

After confirming that the enemy was completely silent, New simply smoothed out the wrinkles on her white shirt, combed her slightly disheveled long hair, and gracefully returned to Alpha's side.

He acted as if nothing had happened.

Gamma continued:

"Now, I will convey the decree of my lord, Lord Shadow —from this day forward, everything in the Mount Fuji Mine belongs to the Shadow Garden, and the Kyoto Six Houses who stole the Shadow Garden's property will be punished by the heavens."

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

When Taizo Kirihara came to his senses, he heard the most absurd things he had ever heard in his life!

Not only are they forcibly seizing the cherry blossom Sakuradite at Mount Fuji Mine, but they're also going to sanction the Kyoto Six Houses?!

Even Britannia has never uttered such outrageous words!

"Little girl, aren't you being a bit too arrogant? You think you can threaten me and forcibly seize the Mount Fuji Mine just because you dismantled a few Knightmare fighters? Do you think I'd agree? Do Britannia military would agree?!"

Taizo Kirihara seemed to have remembered his powerful backer, and a sly and cunning smile appeared on his aged face, a smile like that of an old fox.

However, the next second, a round of applause suddenly rang out from the passage behind Taizo Kirihara.

"Slap, slap, slap..."

Disguised as Shadow, Yotsuba Mahiro clapped his hands as if he had heard something incredibly insightful, and stepped out of the passage.

Behind him followed Kaguya Sumeragi, who appeared slightly fearful but with an unexpectedly determined look in her eyes.

"What brilliant remarks! Such a humble yet assertive attitude truly befits Kirihara, who stands at the forefront of the fight against Britannia."

"You've finally shown yourself, Shadow."

Despite the sarcastic tone of the other party's remarks, Taizo Kirihara remained unmoved, as steady as a rock.

They weren't even surprised by the appearance of the Shadow, as if they had expected it.

However, when he saw that Kaguya Sumeragi was following behind him, his cloudy old eyes narrowed into slits, filled with a dangerous look.

What are you looking at?

Noticing the gaze, Mahiro warned, "You're already old enough to be buried, do you still have some special interest in little girls?"

"Hmph, I'm not some brat from the Gongfang Academy, I don't have such filthy thoughts... I just didn't expect you to have already made your choice."