Area 11: Britannia
Deep in the shadows of Britannia's regional headquarters in Japan, two separate meetings were being held. One was diplomatic, headed by Princess Cornelia and Britannian aristocrats. The other, cloaked in secrecy, was far more dangerous. It involved the League of Assassins.
The chamber was dimly lit, its walls carved with ancient runes. Ra's al Ghul stood at the center, surrounded by key members of his League. Though few in number, each figure was a weapon unto themselves.
Present were Hugo Strange, Cheshire, and Firefly, along with several new operatives dispatched to Japan. Each waited in silence, sensing the gravity of the mission Ra's was about to lay out.
On a large monitor, the image of Talia al Ghul appeared—transmitting securely from Europe.
"Greetings, Father," she said, her face calm but sharp as a blade.
Ra's gave a respectful nod. "Daughter. Your timing is as always... precise."
Talia continued, "I have secured weapon designs from Euro-Britannia. But Lloyd Asplund continues to tamper with them. I want permission to eliminate him."
"Not yet," Ra's replied. "Let him play with his toys. Once they serve our purpose, remove him."
He turned to Hugo Strange. "Doctor. Status on the cerebral integration trials?"
Strange cleared his throat and lifted a datapad.
"Our attempts to integrate human minds into cybernetic hosts are... statistically unstable. Criminal test subjects lack the cognitive discipline. Most self-destruct mentally within hours."
He tapped a screen. A video played. A subject walked down a hallway calmly—until he tore off his own faceplate and screamed in horror, collapsing into convulsions.
Firefly smirked beneath his mask.
Ra's closed his eyes. "And your solution?"
"Memory erasure before integration," Strange replied. "A complete purge. With no memory of their former lives, they may adapt better."
"Do it."
Ra's turned to Cheshire. "And our search for the masked one—Zero?"
Cheshire leaned back, arms folded. "No clear trail. He saved the Eleven boy, Suzaku. After that, he vanished. Whoever he is, he's a strategist. I'd wager he was trained—military or League."
Ra's remained silent.
"But," she added, "we did find Suzaku. He's enrolled at Ashford Academy."
Ra's eyes gleamed. "Ah. Then I'll pay the boy a visit myself."
Strange blinked. "You? Personally?"
"I must understand him," Ra's said. "A warrior who kills his own father. That is a blade honed in trauma."
Ashford Academy
Ashford Academy—a gilded cage for Britannia's elite children, built on stolen soil. It masked tyranny with school uniforms and cherry blossoms.
A sleek, black car rolled up the main driveway. Security froze as its driver pressed the intercom.
"We have a visitor. Announce him."
Before the voice on the other end could respond, Firefly calmly incinerated the speaker with a flick of his wrist.
The gates opened.
Students near the entrance murmured as the vehicle stopped. A hooded figure emerged—Firefly. They gasped at the strange gear strapped to his back. Moments later, another figure stepped out.
Ra's al Ghul.
Elegant, calm, dressed in a dark robe with subtle armor beneath—he was an aura of authority given form.
Eyes from the student body snapped to him. Some in awe. Others in fear.
Only one met his gaze without flinching.
Lelouch vi Britannia.
Ra's noticed. Their eyes locked. Neither blinked.
Inside the school, the principal was already sweating.
"W-We weren't informed—"
"I don't require announcements," Ra's interrupted softly. "Bring me Suzaku Kururugi. Alone."
The man scampered off.
Firefly smirked. "You want me to clear the halls?"
Ra's gave a subtle nod. "Discretion. Not destruction."
Private Room
Suzaku entered the quiet chamber. Ra's al Ghul was already seated, as if he had always been there.
"Suzaku Kururugi," he said. "Sit."
Suzaku obeyed.
"You are the son of General Genbu Kururugi. A nationalist. A symbol."
"Yes, sir."
"And yet you serve his conquerors."
Suzaku swallowed. "I want to change Britannia—from the inside. Fight their tyranny with their own system."
Ra's tilted his head. "A reformist. How quaint."
He slid a folder across the table. Photos. Of the invasion. Of Genbu's death.
"No one believes he committed seppuku," Ra's said. "Too convenient. Too clean."
Suzaku's hands trembled.
"No second to act as kaishakunin," Ra's added. "But there was someone in the room."
A beat of silence.
"Did you kill him?"
Suzaku stared, pained. "He was going to use the lives of innocents... as leverage. He'd have set the world ablaze."
Ra's nodded slowly. "Then you saved lives. And yet you suffer."
"I... have to live with what I did."
Ra's stood. "Good. Guilt is a whetstone. Let it sharpen you."
He gestured to Firefly.
"You're part of the League now—whether you know it or not. We mold those who survive their trials."
As he turned to leave, he added:
"Oh—and next time you see Zero... tell him I admire his theatrics."
Clock Tower – Ashford Academy
Above the grounds, Lelouch watched from the shadows. A black king chess piece in hand.
"So," he murmured. "The Demon's Head walks among us."
He placed the piece on the edge of the railing.
"And the game just entered sudden death."