Togonosuke Makanai.
One thing confused me about Makanai resigning only to come back and that's the simple question of why?
If the old man was forced to resign, he shouldn't be able to stand for re-election yet he was able to not only do so but win.
Ignoring the fact that the Arbrau constitution allowed such a thing, if the man voluntarily resigned, why?
He wasn't looking to retire because he wouldn't have even begun discussions with Kudelia and tried to get re-elected if that was the case.
With all this in mind, why resign?
There was only one reasonable answer that came to mind. The reason behind why he was forced to do so in the first place: his corrupt allegations.
I think those corruption allegations had some substance to them. Enough to force the old man from his position.
I mean, why else would he do so?
If the allegations were phony or were small scale, he had enough backing to either prove the fake nature of the allegations or wipe out any proof of the smaller scale ones.
I mean, despite being out of power, he still had enough influence to get re-elected so wiping out a few scandals shouldn't be an issue even with any possible outside interference…unless they weren't small. Unless it was massive and undeniable.
So much so that he needed to leave.
From what I've managed to find on the unusually sparse info on the allegations, it had to do with Makanai using his position to hand out favours in various forms and budget discrepancies and shady happenings surrounding it. There wasn't much to go off of but from what was available and knowing how much power Makanai had over parliament, I'm inclined to believe at least the former.
Anyway, using whatever power he had, he ensured a rather quiet resignation and safe self exile all while ensuring he didn't end up being thrown into some asteroid mining prison in the mean time.
That brought up the question of why go back if they had so much on him?
That comes back to his influence and power. While he was on his self imposed exile, his allies inside could be purging the evidence or the people who would try to use said evidence.
Push the date of electing a new minister far enough to handle business in the nation. Maybe even make a few promises and favours that resulted in Kudelia's missions and his own promises aligning.
Until Gjallarhorn stepped in with their own candidate making things more complicated ending up in the situation he's currently in now.
All of this tells more than the show ever did, and it's the fact that Makanai is a dangerous man. More than one would initially think. This was all mere speculation and conspiracy but the fact that one could say that this idea isn't entirely implausible says alot about Makanai and probably more about the loon with thought of it.
Which is why said loon had to be especially careful with his actions and words in the meeting he asked for after the old man offered Tekkaden lodging.
Wiping down any wrinkles in my attire for the hundredth time, I put on a polite smile and walked into the man's private room.
There sitting in a classic seiza was the elder occupying my thoughts. The old man looked to be of Japanese origin. His eyes were set in a narrowed view that was rather intimidating and he was currently stroking his striking snow white beard.
The room was rather dark, only a small electric lamp on the coffee table Infront of him illuminating the room with the only sound being the waves crashing against the shore. I feel like I could make a joke about old white haired men hosting kids on his private island but I think that would be in poor taste at the moment.
Taking a seat opposite him in the same uncomfortable position, I started with a simple respectful head nod.
"Thank you for meeting me like this Mr Makanai. My name is Darius Kingston. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Makanai's eyes narrowed further which I didn't think was possible as he obviously studied me. He offered a measured smile in return, one more polished than the one I gave as he leaned slightly forward in his seat.
"Well, Mr. Kingston, the pleasure is mine, though I must admit, I hadn't expected to be entertaining politicians this far from the Capitol." His voice was warm, but there was an unmistakable weight beneath the words. "And yet here you are. Young, polite, and dressed like you're here to negotiate something more than shelter."
Indeed. I couldn't meet a man as influential as him and come in my grease monkey attire. I had to thank Naze again for the suits.
He clasped his hands together atop his walking stick, resting his chin just above them.
"Now then," Makanai said, voice now quieter, more personal. "You've asked to speak to an old man in private. That usually means you don't want others to hear what's about to be said."
He gave a wry smile.
"So why don't we stop pretending this is a courtesy call, Mr. Kingston, and you tell me what it is you really want?"
Now, I'd like to consider myself a decent diplomat, but this man had probably been doing this for longer than both my lives combined so it would be more beneficial if I kept more on the truthful and logical side of things than to try to lie or pretty up my words.
" I did not come for myself Mr Makanai, but rather, for you." I still needed some theatrics to spice it up a bit so I gave a dramatic pause, before continuing. " You see, I've been keeping up with the news and topics relating to my clients, so I did a bit of research on you only to be surprised to find out that you've resigned from your position. A fact my client, Kudelia seems unaware of from what I've been able to surmise."
Another dramatic pause.
" I've also found out that Arbrau shall be having a re-election for a prime minister at Edmonton, surprisingly close to this time. Now, I may just be reaching but..."
Final stretch and the most important, so I took a moment to consider my next words.
" I have a slight feeling that all of these facts and occurrences are too connected to be mere coincidences and I have a greater feeling that along those lines, you may need the services of a paramilitary company. After all, it may just be the eyes of an inexperienced youngster, so I may be wrong, but for someone who self-resigned, you've been making moves and promises of someone who is still in power...or plans to be. Something Gjallarhorn vehemently opposes. "
Makanai didn't respond right away.
I tracked every minute detail, each movement. His eyes drifted to the side, to the beach and the water beyond.
He brought his eyes back to me, the polite smile never quite leaving his face, but the warmth in it cooling by a few degrees. When he finally spoke, his tone was calm but edged with that old statesman sharpness.
"You are remarkably well-informed for someone your age, Mr. Kingston," he began. " You're right about a great many things. Yes, the timing of the re-election is suspicious. Yes, my resignation was premature. And yes, I am considering stepping back into the arena, if the conditions allow for it. But what interests me more at the moment, Mr. Kingston, is you. You've come here not as a soldier, nor strictly as Kudelia's aide, but as someone with his own initiative. Offering protection before I've even asked for it."
Makanai's eyes narrowed slightly, luckily not with apparent suspicion, His tone grew thoughtful, almost as if musing aloud.
"You're either very bold or very certain this arrangement serves both of us and in this case, your confidence is not unfounded as I was already considering asking Tekkaden for escort to Edmonton, but you, you came to me first. Which begs the question: what exactly are you looking to gain from all this? I have a good feeling that it's not merely money."
He gave his beard a few long strokes as he continued to study me.
"So... what is it you want, Mr. Kingston?"
Damn old men and their supernatural intuition.
I still held my smile as I answered.
" I've noticed Arbrau is lacking in the armed defense department which is quite worrying in the increasingly dangerous world we are living in, wouldn't you say? Especially with the reliability of Gjallarhorn coming into question everyday. "
He let out a soft, dry chuckle, shaking his head slightly.
"So that's the game," he murmured. "And here I thought Kudelia was the only one I'd have to keep an eye on."
The old fart stroked his admittedly impressive beard a few more times in quiet thought.
"A defense force for Arbrau, hm? You offer quite a compelling pitch, Mr. Kingston. And I must admit... you've piqued my curiosity."
He tapped his cane lightly against the floor.
"Very well. I'll consider your proposal, though what becomes of it depends on how well you and your boys handle what's to come in Edmonton. Get me safely to that city, and we'll talk again... perhaps not as strangers."
Fuck yeah!
" Of course Mr Makanai. You shall not be disappointed."
With what was certainty of an advantageous job and possible shifted power dynamics, I left the room.
A minute hadn't even passed from when I walked out of the room for Orga to spawn out of nowhere. Well, I needed to inform him of this anyway, so good thing he was here. I just hope he sees reason in why I accepted this without him. Had to strike while the iron was hot after all. Plus, he accepted the deal in cannon anyway, so unless I somehow put him off this great opportunity, he should be fine with it.
And this time, he'll know what exactly is to come compared to when he just accepted because there was a possibility of something happening.
Before he got a word out, I spoke first. It's best to lead these types of conversations after all. "Good news, I got us our next job already."
He raised an eyebrow at the news. One of curiosity and annoyance.
Seeing this, I thought it best we discussed this somewhere more secluded so I gestured that he followed me out. Along the way, I decided to just rip the bandaid and bluntly tell him about the possible deal so long as we safely took Makanai to Edmonton.
Kinda like telling your parents bad news while they're driving so you don't have to face them directly.
We stopped walking once we were a good distance from our lodging on the beach. It was also a good place to catch the last embers of the sun in the distance.
Damn, you really don't know much you'd miss a planet until you've lived off of it. Mars was…cool and all but it didn't hold a candle to Earth.
Anyway, I still had an Orga to deal with.
" I apologise for proposing and accepting this deal without you, but you must understand the implications of this deal and what it could do for us when we succeed."
I turned his way, my eyes locking onto his opened one. " This is something we couldn't reject no matter what. All our problems from monetary to future job prospects shall no longer be an issue and all we have to do is escort an old man to Edmonton. "
Orga stared at me for a long moment, arms crossed, his usual stern expression unreadable.
"You keep makin' calls like this on your own, one day I am gonna punch you in the face," Orga muttered, but good news, there wasn't any anger in it. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That said…"
He glanced toward the old man's quarters in the distance, then back at me.
"…you did good. This is big. Real big."
A slow, rare smile tugged at his lips, half proud, half amused. A smirk I matched
"You sure you weren't some politician's brat before all this?"
" I wouldn't be hanging around you lot if I was."
We chuckled at that before it died down and he offered his hand.
"Let's get this done. Edmonton, here we
come."
I took his hand, excitement beginning to course through me.
" Here we come indeed…no homo."