At first glance, the text described the details of an incident unrelated to her. But as she reached the end of the email, there was information regarding an incident in which Lina was deeply involved.
"What... the mastermind behind the Parasite Incident...?"
Lina, as "Sirius," and Celia, then "Polaris," had been deployed to identify the user of the [Great Bomb] (the USNA designation for [Material Burst]) used on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula on October 31, 2095, and the user of [Shining Buster] (USNA designation for [Starlight Breaker]) which had engulfed a fleet moving south from the New Soviet Union near Sado Island, obliterating the Vladivostok naval port.
However, when the existence of Stars members infected by Parasites—who had fled from the USNA mainland to Japan—came to light, she was assigned the "disposal" of them as the original duty of the Stars Commander-in-Chief.
She had been told the Parasite outbreak was accidental and the responsible parties were already dead. But if it wasn't accidental, but intentionally engineered, then that person was the ringleader who had forced the burden of fratricide upon Lina and Celia. It was absolutely unforgivable.
"...And that mastermind is trying to use stolen obsolete missiles to cause terror in Japan? You've got to be joking."
Regarding the email sent out of the blue, its credibility was practically zero. There was no way to verify if the "Seven Sages" had actually sent it. The previous email from the "Seven Sages" had been equally dubious.
But now that she knew, Lina felt that regretting inaction would be far worse than regretting action taken on her own terms. If the content of this email were carried out, the probability of the USNA incurring a debt to Japan was extremely high.
The Parasite incident had been resolved relatively peacefully, but during the subsequent attack on the Strategic-Class Magic Research Institute on South Tate Island, the core members of Stars—Lina, Major Canopus, Second Lieutenant Algol, and others—had been temporarily detained. From what she heard, they were released only after the USNA paid an astronomical sum of roughly 30 trillion yen (mainly dismantling costs for the military satellites Seventh Plague and Alcatraz) to the Kagurazaka family.
Lina felt that if they allowed terrorism using USNA military weapons this time, the USNA would be forced to pay an even greater price.
If possible, she wanted to take down the mastermind with her own hands. However, as "Sirius," strict restrictions were placed on her leaving the country. If that was the case, Lina decided to consult the person she trusted most. She opened her closet, slipped her arms into her Stars uniform, and dialed the videophone.
Just as Balance was agonizing over who to call, the ringtone sounded. With a composed demeanor, she pressed the call button.
"Colonel, pardon the sudden intrusion."
Displayed on the screen in front of Balance was Lina, looking as if she had just put on her Stars uniform. There was no mistake that she was off duty today; knowing her serious nature, Balance assumed it was some urgent matter and addressed her.
"My, Major. I believe you were on leave. Has an urgent matter arisen?"
"Ma'am. Actually, I contacted you to report something and to request your assistance."
Balance had just checked the email from the "Seven Sages." Judging by the situation, she internally surmised that Lina had also received information from them. The content Lina conveyed confirmed Balance's prediction.
"A short while ago, during the time I was out, I received information via an encrypted email from a sender claiming to be the Seven Sages."
"When you say Seven Sages, do you mean the Seven Sages?"
"That is what was written. Its credibility is entirely unknown."
Asking about the authenticity of the sender—the "Seven Sages"—would yield no progress, so Balance urged Lina to continue her explanation.
"Setting aside the identity of the sender, the Seven Sages claim there is a plan to carry out a terrorist attack using obsolete portable anti-air missiles stolen from our military. The target is Japan."
"...Major, do you believe such an incident is truly occurring?"
"I do not know the facts, but I have heard rumors that weapons scheduled for disposal have been stolen... Colonel?"
If even Lina—who could be described as a "sheltered officer"—knew the rumor (which was actually a fact), Balance painfully realized the laxity in weapons management was not just an isolated exception. Seeing Balance's expression, Lina on the screen looked anxious, perhaps worrying she had offended her. Balance suppressed the urge to lash out, knowing it would be immature, and urged Lina to continue.
"It's nothing. Please continue."
"Ma'am. There was no mention of the specific target, but there was information regarding the ringleader. His name is Jiedo Heigu (Gu Jie). A political refugee from the fall of the Great Han, his Chinese name is Gu Jie. Estimated age between 60 and 90. Black eyes, white hair, and characterized by black skin despite being of Asian descent. A special note was added suggesting he may be a survivor of Kunlun Fangyuan."
"That name... the magician research institute of the Great Han that was destroyed by the Yotsuba?"
"I think so as well."
Even if he brought out obsolete small missiles, if he could destroy "The Untouchables," he would have done so long ago. Moreover, with Kozo Kamiizumi—the sole survivor of the Yotsuba's revenge 35 years ago—present, turning hostility toward the Yotsuba would undoubtedly cause him to move.
Lina had been defeated in a past incident involving him and his grandson. The USNA government had engaged in a plea deal to hide her defeat, and he was a hero who had saved the Statue of Liberty from collapse during a Humanist bombing. If a situation arose that spurred him to action, even the safety of the instigator would be in jeopardy.
Balance couldn't help but suspect that this Jiedo Heigu person had become desperate.
"Also, I received information that Jiedo Heigu is the mastermind behind the Parasite Incident."
"...I see. So, Major, you wish to finish Jiedo Heigu—the man practically responsible for setting you up—with your own hands?"
"That is correct. I am also aware that given my position, this is very difficult."
Here, Balance made a gesture of deep thought. The loss of weapons was one thing, but what troubled Balance was that this case was inextricably linked to the young woman before her. Moreover, the case had been delivered directly to Colonel Balance not from the Joint Chiefs or the Pentagon, but from the Office of the President.
In reality, while the role of "Special Envoy of the President" appointed during the Parasite Incident had been formally dissolved, the authority lived on in "another form." But that is a matter to be discussed later.
"I understand the information you have provided, Major, and your desire to put an end to this yourself. Major Angelina Sirius, your training for tomorrow is cancelled. Report to the Base Command Room at 0900 hours tomorrow morning."
"Ma'am!"
As the communication ended, Balance let out a heavy sigh. The Joint Chiefs might be expecting to use Lina's trip to Japan to probe the internal affairs of the Yotsuba, but if that were the goal, Celia—who had already been discharged—would have been more suitable than Lina. However, she had already naturalized. Tatsuya Shiba (the prime suspect for the Strategic-Class Magic [Great Bomb]), Yugen Kagurazaka (whom Balance had acknowledged as a Strategic-Class Magician), the hero Kozo Kamiizumi, and the state-recognized Strategic-Class Magician Mio Itsuwa... Five of them were gathered in that country.
If Lina were added to the mix, one would be forced to recognize that making an enemy of Japan was far more dangerous than anything else.
"...'Report'? Did I do something wrong again?"
Meanwhile, although Lina had replied clearly to Colonel Balance's summons, she was internally trembling, terrified that another lecture from the Base Commander awaited her.
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