It was already afternoon by the time Empress Kaguya returned.
Ask had specifically asked Sphynx to clean her up, then sent her back dressed in all her finery so no one would notice anything amiss.
Jeremiah found several agents hidden among the civilians and had them secretly monitor Tosai Munakata. Once they confirmed what contingency plans he had, they would quietly eliminate him.
For now, both of them seemed reasonably compliant.
Even after returning to her own headquarters, Empress Kaguya felt little sense of security after the harsh training Sphynx and Ask had put her through in turn.
She knew that if she could be abducted once, she could be abducted again.
Area 11 had long since ceased to belong to their island nation's royal family. Now, the Britannian imperial family called the shots.
Even the lowest noble title could send countless people flocking to it, driving them mad with desire.
Tosai Munakata was one of them.
After returning, he knew what he should say and what he should keep to himself. He was a smart man.
It was clear that he truly craved that title.
Their cooperation also meant that the disappearance of the island nation's royal heir attracted no attention. In fact, thanks to Tosai Munakata's deliberate maneuvering, no one even noticed that Empress Kaguya had gone missing.
As long as Lelouch did not use Geass on either of them, nothing would give them away.
Meanwhile, Lelouch's negotiations with the Kyoto Six Houses had also concluded.
He had Kallen dress up as Zero while he used Geass to infiltrate the Kyoto Six Houses, then found an opportunity to speak privately with Taizo Fujiwara.
Since he had been sent to Area 11 as a diplomatic pawn when he was a child, Taizo Fujiwara knew him.
He also knew of Lelouch's hatred for Britannia.
On that basis, cooperation between the Black Knights and the Kyoto Six Houses was formally established, ushering in a brief period of growth-
The Kyoto Six Houses provided funding and Sakuradite resources.
Rakshata Chawla, an outstanding technician from the India Third Military District, took charge of their mecha technology.
Diethard Ried, formerly a producer at a Britannian television station, managed intelligence.
Kallen became a member of the personal guard.
Combat and command roles had yet to be clearly assigned. After all, their ranks had only just expanded, and they had not yet gained a clear understanding of each recruit's talents.
They still lacked a commander who could direct operations on the front lines in his place.
Lelouch's chosen candidate was Kyoshiro Tohdoh.
The lieutenant colonel who had achieved a miracle in battle against Britannia seven years ago was well suited to the position.
His subordinates, known as the Four Holy Swords, also had the makings of future officers in the Black Knights.
Such ready-made talent was hard to find.
But getting him to submit to Lelouch, and rescuing him in the first place, were problems.
Kyoshiro Tohdoh was being held in a prison in Area 11, and that prison happened to be at Chofu Base, inside the Tokyo Settlement.
A large-scale terrorist operation inside the Tokyo Settlement could very well lead to an early showdown with that man.
If he succeeded, he would gain an outstanding commander.
If he failed, the Black Knights would be history...
If I could meet that man face-to-face, things would be easy.
One of Geass's restrictions was that the user had to see the other person's eyes, or have the light of Geass reflected through a medium into their pupils, before issuing commands and controlling their will. (Lelouch of the Re;surrection is a film made for the fans. This novel does not use its setting in which Geass can travel directly through a screen.)
As long as he could use Geass on Ask without anyone noticing, all of Area 11 would be his for the taking.
Cornelia alone would be nothing to fear.
However, meeting Ask face-to-face would be even harder than rescuing Tōdō.
That man always liked to remain behind the scenes, manipulating his pawns and toying with his enemies at will. Even when his enemies died, they did not know who had killed them.
He was a man with an utterly vile personality!
Lelouch thought back to his childhood. Even then, Ask had displayed a maturity far beyond his peers, always showing different expressions and emotions to different people, as though he were merely playing whatever part the occasion called for.
In his family's eyes, he was an obedient, intelligent child.
In the nobles' eyes, he was an imperial heir with limitless potential.
In young ladies' eyes, he was an eloquent, refined gentleman.
To achieve his goals, he always played different roles, even when a role was thoroughly repulsive.
Everything he did had a clear purpose.
Lelouch had not noticed it before, but looking back now, perhaps even the patience Ask had shown in caring for him and Nunnally had been an act.
Lelouch was not certain, because he could not tell when Ask was truly being himself.
Perhaps even his loyalty to Britannia was an act.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache!
Even with Geass now at his disposal, he was not mentally prepared for a direct confrontation with Ask.
Tch! What a pain!
The more Lelouch thought about it, the more irritated he became.
Although Ask was unlikely to appear at the prison at Chofu Base, the possibility could not be ruled out entirely.
If possible, he wanted to throw out some bait to lure him away.
Suddenly, something occurred to Lelouch. He searched online for a map of Area 11, then zoomed in to examine it carefully.
He then circled an area with his mouse.
"Kyushu Island..."
Britannia had invaded Area 11, but had not gained complete control of all its territory. Its power was concentrated around Tokyo, and the settlement it had established in central Area 11 was the region's largest power.
Kyushu, meanwhile, lay at the southwestern end of Area 11 and was currently occupied by the Chinese Federation.
Britannia had long been plotting to seize those territories that had been carved away.
If he could exploit that, perhaps he could divert both Cornelia's and Ask's attention at the same time.
That would make his operation much easier.
Tōdō's execution is scheduled for three days from now. To erase the humiliation of seven years ago, they'll definitely execute him in public.
In other words, I have no more than three days to prepare...
There was too little time!
The Black Knights' affairs already kept him overwhelmingly busy, and now the Chinese Federation was involved too...
He glanced at the room directly opposite, beyond his doorway.
If only she'd let me make use of her.
Tch! What a troublesome woman! All she does is live here and enjoy herself, without bothering with anything else!
Click-
Irritated, he switched off the monitor.
Complaints aside, he still intended to go and ask her.
C.C was the best choice for negotiating with the Chinese Federation.
P.S. I was afraid the term "Zhonghua Federation" would get this rejected, so I replaced it with "Chinese Federation."
The three superpowers: Britannia (Britain), the EU (the European Union + the Soviet Union + Africa), and the Chinese Federation (a Tang dynasty that ruled all of Asia, but used a constitutional monarchy).
Before you continue