Clockwork Planet - Volume 03

by Kamiya Yuu

  Houko looked slightly perturbed as she asked,

  “Now then, Miss Maribel. Are all of you here due to a reason I imagine?”

  “Perhaps it’s a little different.”

  Marie shrugged.

  “We’re just here to visit for our own purpose.”

  Houko frowned, and then asked again.

  “…Is that really alright?”

  “Of course. That is our choice, our methods…and I suppose you are mistaken, so i shall correct you. The mastermind this time–is really that fool.”

  Upon hearing those words, Houko widened her eyes in surprise.

  It seemed she realized everything, and lowered her head in apology to Naoto, who was behind Marie.

  Houko then lifted her head, speaking in a harsh tone contrasting her demeanour,

  “Now then–to the terrorists I am meeting for the first time, I shall express my fury. You have committed a grave crime to destroy my country in an unprecedented matter, and attempted to topple it, which is something I shall never forgive in my life. You also have the intention to threaten me for your own purposes, and I believe such grievous acts will be appropriately retributed.”

  Houko glared at Marie and the others with elegance, looking at each of them one by one.

  Then, the black eyes showed a firm will, saying,

  “Now then, state your cause. With that malicious intent, what do you hope to do to me?”

  And answering Houko’s adamant words–was RyuZU.

  “About that…it is an emergency, so we shall tidy things up as it is outside. Is that correct, Master Naoto?”

  “Yeah, enough of that publicity. I’ll leave the last bit to you just in case.”

  Upon hearing Naoto’s words, RyuZU bowed politely, touching the clock in front of her chest.

  If she had chosen that method from the method right from the beginning, they would have wiped out the military outside in zero seconds, let alone 7 minutes–but they deliberately chose not to do so.

  For that was because…’publicity’ was meant to be obvious and easy to understand.

  If nobody could understand, there would be no purpose to the ‘publicity’. However, after an actual ‘impossible’ demonstration of wiping out the outside forces in 7 minutes, at this point–

  That ‘one line’ would be most suited as the conclusion, the best ‘finale’ to top things off.

  RyuZU’s black dress became a white wedding dress, and her activation words–were–

  “–‘Mute Scream’–”

  This irrationally did not allow for anyone to understand; the ‘publicity’ began abruptly–and ended.

  6 minutes and 48 seconds passed since the initial declaration–and all military forces inside and outside the Palace were completely paralyzed.

  “–As reported earlier, the criminal calls himself Naoto Miura–“

  This report was broadcasted live to the entire world.

  That was a visual the entire Capital, no, all of Japan–the whole world was staring at intently.

  The civilians on the streets, the politicians who spent days in meetings, the police and ‘military’ embroiled in meaningless conflicts, and even the foreign enterprises were staring at this report with wide eyes.

  Amongst them, the ‘military’ and the Enterprises–were watching this feed solemnly.

  It was to be expected.

  “Also, according to statements from survivors, we have confirmed two self-proclaimed Initial-Y automata. It is said most of the destruction is caused by those two units–“

  That was the main point.

  Of course, the forces surrounding the Palace was merely a ragtag bunch of rebels. The core person was an impulsive young chap, still lacking in experience on leading his troops.

  And as for equipment, most of them were either for standby use, or were old models.

  But, even considering that–

  “And I repeat. The criminal group has occupied the Palace for an hour. Currently, there has been no news of any deceased–“

  –7 minutes.

  To be precise, it was 6 minutes and 48 seconds.

  It was a group no more than 10 people, and without causing any dead–they spent that time eliminating two massive forces of ‘military’.

  Results wise–Was there anyone world who could accomplish this?

  It was easy if one ignored the casualties, or possible if one spent the time to do so.

  –But nobody could do this in such a short time.

  The more one understood military matters and clockwork technology, the more one could understand this answer.

  Furthermore, no matter how many times the interviewing helicopters slowed down and repeated it countless times–none of them was able to determine how the JSDF was wiped out.

  That indicated that the criminal group ‘did something’ at a speed without leaving a visual frame.

  The ones triggering such a ridiculous phenomenon were the self-proclaimed Initial-Y series.

  The legendary automata left behind by that ‘Y’–the one who rebuilt this planet.

  Any ordinary person would know that–those were legendary relics, urban legends that never actually existed.

  Those who knew technology felt that–if they existed, they were the inheritance of the world.

  Those who knew politics knew that–they actually existed, but none of them could be activated.

  But the 5 Enterprises, and certain politicians, who knew more classified information that would definitely not be divulged to the public, they understood.

  That they existed–and if activated, would be the toughest weapons to deal with.

  With that, all their understanding was overwritten, or convicted.

  The series of images in the report left no room for doubt. No matter what technology was used, they could not be replicated–that was the proof that the Initial-Y series actually existed.

  At this moment, the reporting visuals the entire world was looking at–was suddenly interrupted by static.

  And at the same time.

  With the Multigrid Tokyo as the core, there was an intense throbbing spreading.

  All comms facilities stopped, and the ‘resonance gears’ within spun in a way differing from their settings.

  The Core Tower gears regulating the city’s functions moved in a way that never happened before.

  It was not a simple malfunction, and neither was it spinning improperly after years of decay. Despite the system running as normal, they just did not abide by the Manager’s instructions.

  And so, the Tokyo residents recalled something very similar.

  –2 days ago.

  While everyone else was helplessly watching the situation develop, a ‘criminal intent’ hijacked TV and radio, sounding so cheerful–

  “Laaadddiieesss—annnnndddd—geeennnnttttllleeemen!! And to all the unimportant people, do you remember meeee voice!? Hasn’t it been a while? You miss me, maaaannnnn–♥

  Kept you waiting there. Sorry for keeping you on your seats the past few days! Check it out! I love you all, baby baby baby–!!”

  The nightmarish scream, and the face of the boy who yelled this.

  Was aired on the screens as the whole world watched on.

  “Those massive idiots who fell in love with me the last time and hoping to see my face are in for a treat now! For all the mass idiots requests, I’ll be showing my face for the first time today. Whoopee whoops–! Have you fallen for this pretty boy here!?”

  That maniacal, light-hearted voice echoed from the corridor speakers–

  And a man was in the communications base, located inside the ruling party headquarters of Grid Kasumigaseki.

  “Looks like Professor Marie and the others are having fun there.”

  Yuu Karasawa, one of the few who understood the intent of that message, gave a wry smile.

  …Professor Marie must be seething now. He thought.

  Based on her preferences, this was more of an entertainment genre.
She was certainly showing a face she never showed at the ‘Meister Guild’.

  If possible, he wanted to personally witness her face at the scene and take a photo for memorabilia, but–

  “Work work work–now, goodness, laborers have it tough.”

  He stared forward, and there was a plain door.

  The sign painted on the door itself was ‘Central Communications Room’.

  This room had installations used to carry out long distance communications, the signal reaching even the other end of the world.”

  “But no point in complaining. Let’s get to work–as a consultant.”

  Though this is beyond my scope of duties–Karasawa took a little breath, exhaling it.

  –And then, with all his might, he kicked down the door in front of him.

  “–!”

  With a loud thud, the door broke.

  Karasawa immediately stormed into the room, and a man turned his head around in surprise.

  He recognized that face–it was the man who slipped out of the meeting 2 days ago.

  “W-who are you!? What are you doing here?”

  “Oh dear, that is what I want to ask you instead.”

  The man’s face was contorted in an ugly manner due to anxiety.

  In contrast, Karasawa was looking relaxed, his lips showing a tender smile.

  “May I ask to whom where you communicating to right now–as a consultant♪”

  “I-I don’t have an obligation to answer you.”

  “Even if I don’t force you to answer. I’ll know immediately by checking the records.”

  “You don’t have the right to do that, do you!”

  “–Of course I don’t. But at this point, who’ll blame me?”

  At that moment, the man’s face changed, and he drew a handgun from his chest.

  From that movement, Karasawa understood that thought he was disguised as a body of flesh and blood, this man’s body was obviously a cyborg suited for combat.

  With a fluid motion, the man raised the gun, and the trigger was–

  “Hey, but speaking of which, I’m kinda sad–really wanna cry–I thought you’ll be weak, but never like that~ besides, it’s useless of you–or am I being too strong here? I’m really sorry!”

  With a crisp sound, the handgun dropped onto the floor.

  “–Really, it is just as young Naoto Miura said.”

  Karasawa maintained his smile as he told the other party.

  “You’re battling a Meister with a cyborg body–aren’t you underestimating me right now?”

  Karasawa kept the tools he held in both hands, and looked down.

  The man, whose prosthetics were immediately dissected in a moment, was sprawled on the floor, growling.

  Karasawa raised the gun, saying,

  “I’ll give you 3 seconds. Now, if you mind telling me, given that you ‘stole’ the ruling party’s communications systems, who were you communicating with?”

  “Ho-how much do you know–?”

  “Okay, end of the line.”

  Karasawa fired the gun without any hesitation. The bullets hit each of the prosthetic.

  “Be grateful here, you know? I do want to finish you off, but because of a certain cute girl’s request, I’m merciful enough to spare your life. I suppose someone else will find you within the 43 hours until your vitals functions are rendered ineffectual. Now then–

  Karasawa tossed the now depleted gun aside, muttering to himself, saying,

  “Someone obviously not with the government is using the government’s headquarters communications to do something with someone. Please allow me to check–ah, I suppose there is a permit needed?”

  Karasawa then grabbed the shirt of the collapsed man.

  He showed the ID card towards the visual sensor that had ceased function.

  “I’m the consultant hired by the Technical Bureau, Yuu Karasawa. Mind showing me your log?”

  Karasawa shook the man violent on the shoulders, forcing the latter to nod, and with a smile, threw the man’s face towards the floor.

  “Thank you for your assistance♪”

  Karasawa told the unconscious man, and turned around.

  He took out a portable terminal from his pocket, and connected to Central in a fluid motion.

  While extracting the comms records over the past two hours, he said,

  “Ah–on a side note. I’m not an official member of the Technical Bureau. Once you’re determined to have made contact with something, what happens to you doesn’t involve my salary…even if anyone finds out that this place is opened and ‘steals’ it,, it’ll be all deemed as your failure–my apologies.”

  At the same time, Karasawa smoothly tapped at the terminal.

  While doing so, the communications circuit showed notifications linking to 18 places outside.

  “Now then–is this considered doing something within my pay?”

  Having stated this boldly, Karasawa hummed as he checked the records.

  And at the same time–

  “To be honest, this is so flimsy it’s disappointing. I spent all the effort at Akihabara warning everyone of a terrorist attack to ‘lure’ in the enemy, and this is what I get back! Really, everyone’s not showing me any face now, maaaannn–!?”

  The chief commander at the Tokyo ‘military’ command headquarters at Grid Ichidaya heard such a crazy broadcast, his face red, his fist shivering.

  The surrounding officers were slamming at the table, growling away–but the chief commander held in more fury, fear and apprehension, biting his lips.

  –He could not refute.

  The massive weapon still occupying Akihabara, and as the word implied, ‘instantly’ controlled the Palace–

  How should he refute when the enemy actually backed up his bold words…?

  “Right, that’s how it is! If I gotta say, you’re too weak, can’t even take a hit. I’m too lazy to bother going along with my original plan now!”

  And this broadcast–upon thinking about the situation that would occur with this broadcast, the Chief Commander inadvertently shivered.

  –The matter of electromagnetic weapons was leaked to the entire world.

  And coupled with this visual, the whole world knew that an incident happened in Tokyo.

  Such a severe threat–even in consideration of the surrounding Asian countries, the ISS members would hurriedly vote to use the ‘Tall Wand’ earliest tonight.

  This proposal would require the permission of the Japanese government–but the Prime Minister’s selfish request was yet to be retracted. No, even without that, Japan could not control its own ‘military’, and failed to act in this crisis, so it might be assumed to devoid of government control.

  However, the Chief Commander’s thoughts–

  “So, let’s try spicing things up here, baby! Come on! Everyone, shake your asses and yell with me, yeah——oh yeah! Thank you! Thank~you everyone! To repay your expectations–! I declare that in 3 hours–“

  He was cut off by the criminal.

  “We’re gonna let the Multi Grid Tokyo collapse with a boom–! Yeah yeah!!”

  In response to this–the ‘military’ headquarters–no, all of Japan froze up.

  –3 hours?

  The Chief Commander stood up with eyes wide.

  3 hours, he said? In such a short time, even the ISS members would be unable to vote to use the ‘Tall Wand’. No, they would be unable to prepare firing ti–

  But while he was thinking, his thoughts were cut off,

  “Ohh—sorry!! Sorry for being careless in leaving a VIP around. I was too carried away! Hey, come on, VIP–get in!!”

  And along with the exaggerated movements of the boy, the camera shook.

  Shown there–was a woman tied in rope.

  The Chief Commander was very familiar with this woman.

  No, every Japanese watching this visual would have seen this woman before.

  “–Every person in the country, please calm down a
nd listen to me.

  The First Royal Princess, Princess Houko Hoshinomiya.

  Probably the noblest of all women in this country, and she was now a pitiful captive.

  Her face was pale, blood drained from her face.

  But she adamantly lifted her face, and through the camera, spoke to the people.

  “They have ‘actually’ controlled Multi Grid Tokyo’s city systems control–the ‘Heaven’s Pillar’. This scene is likely the most powerful evidence.

  Upon hearing the Princess’ words–Japan, and even the entire world, was left speechless.

  –The ‘Heaven’s Pillar’ of a major city in the world got ‘controlled…?

  The one being tied up was the Princess, still giving off a regal vibe, but what she said blew the minds of the people, the ‘military’, all the important people–even the ISS members who were summoned to the headquarters in Switzerland.

  Even the common civilians could understand the meaning behind those words.

  The terrifying truth, that Japan–and even the fates of the whole of East Asia, was in the hands on those vicious brutes.

  –This was no longer a problem pertaining simply to Japan.

  It concerned the safety of the world. However, the Princess, still in such a perilous moment, adamantly continued,

  “I do request that the ‘military’ do not care about my personal safety and seize the ‘Heaven’s Pillar’ immediately–they are being serious. To all citizens, please calmly obey the instructions of your local police, and leave the Capital Circle–!”

  With a brief shriek, the Princess was pulled aside, vanishing from the screen.

  Appearing on the screen instead was a boy–Naoto Miura, giving a heinous, contorted face.