Izanai
Oh, man… I've gotta say, it truly is a lovely day to be Clan Lord…
Down the hall, left of the throne room, was the entrance to my personal meeting room. In the space of red and gold embroidery, there was a large u-shaped table and seven seats in total. Naturally, mine was at the far side, at the center of the table.
The High Council consisted of six people, each leading a different division in the clan and bearing their own contingent of soldiers, for whatever purposes they may see fit.
Livian headed the department of internal affairs.
Isakai was my personal head of research.
Helix oversaw military affairs.
Melrose took care of public relations.
Carmen presided over environmental issues.
And lastly, Gio was in charge of… private affairs…
"Everyone, take your seats, we have to discuss the upcoming trial… Does anyone know the exact event that went down..? I've been hearing mixed reports…"
This kid, Kozuna… I already know what I want to do with him… But if something else really did happen, I need to know before the trial is set…
"That kid, Kozuna…." Livian shook his head. "Some people say he's a defender, but I don't believe that's the case. He was the only curse user present, and it's the law that we punish any curse user we find… If he didn't want to be in this situation, he should've spoken up about his power…"
"That's a lie, Livian." Helix took a deep breath. "I saw some of what happened with my own eyes. Kozuna wasn't the only curse user there. And as much as I find him… annoying… He did defend the clan. That much is true. I was present on the battlefield before both Commander Kaiten and Kozuna arrived; I witnessed Nazun's attack firsthand…"
"Then do you mind providing some proof, Helix? What I remember seeing on the news… is anti-curse technology shooting down a curse user. And who was the curse user left? Kozuna."
"Nazun escaped! I was there when it happened!"
"So you saw this Nazun guy escape and did nothing? Is that what you're telling me? You don't sound much like a loyal Ozukashi if you ask me…"
Livian shrugged his shoulders with a smirk, smiling and lifting his arms. Meanwhile, Helix growled, twitching his fingers, though he remained seated.
Soon enough, Melrose, a fair-skinned and robust woman of considerable stature, began tapping her fingers away on the table. She whipped her silky brown hair away from her face, revealing her... persuasive black eyes...
"Look, you two, no matter who was on the field that day… I propose we... alter what happened. We need to keep the people in line. There have been countless curse users before, and they've all done nothing but wreak havoc. Even if this Kozuna is a 'good person,' we can't change the laws to suit his needs…"
Helix glared at Melrose, shifting his impudent anger toward her.
"Alter what happened? What exactly are you implying, Melrose?"
A beautifully evil grin grew across Melrose's face.
"It's simple really… We just need to kill any chances of Kozuna looking innocent. Not paint him out to be a villain, per se, but… air some dirty laundry. We need to get the public back under our thumb. Those imbeciles outside the palace are gonna start rioting before we know it."
I always love her conniving nature… And it adds to the validity of what I want to do…
"Bad idea..." Helix murmured under his breath. "Aside from locking Kozuna up because he's dangerous... that would likely turn him against the clan. That's far from beneficial if we plan to keep him alive. What happens if he doesn't go willingly?"
I smiled at the idea and turned toward Helix.
"Well now, if he turns against the clan, that'll only further prove our reasoning for locking him away, provoked or not… There would be no reason to not lock him up, especially if the trial is broadcast to the entire clan…"
"If I might interject…" Isakai, blonde and short, cleared his throat, calling all of our gazes to his chubby self, despite being the one who typically didn't speak up much. "My scientists have been developing new anti-curse technology. Much better than what Zara could do. It would allow us to fight curse users on equal grounds... So even if Kozuna turned traitor, I'm sure just one of our soldiers outfitted in my division's gear could handle him."
"And what might this technology be..?"
"Two things. We've been making further breakthroughs in curse nullification armor and curse disruption fields. To summarize, the armor can withstand curse energy like a bulletproof vest and make the energy fizzle out. We've been experimenting with materials that interact differently with curses. Some enhance, activate, or speed up, while others nullify, absorb, or simply negate… As for the disruption fields, they act like radio waves and can span miles. Inside the field of effect, curses cannot be activated, and those already in use will cease. Curse users won't be much of a problem once I'm able to mass-produce these kinds of tech…"
Livian raised his eyebrows, pressing his shoulders against the table.
"Is this already available? Can we outfit cities and soldiers with your work?"
"Well, we have yet to test the armor, but the disruption fields are already in use. They're built into Sand Tower. That's why it's currently the only safe location to hold those infected cretins. Though, the field built there is an older model…"
"Well Isakai, I'm sure my people could run a field test or two if, say… something were to... Go wrong with Kozuna..."
"Sure thing. I've got a couple of prototype suits you could borrow."
I took a deep breath and slammed my palm against the table.
"Okay, we get your proud of your fucking inventions... Back to the current task. I plan to have Kozuna locked away in that tower, and only use his abilities if it's deemed necessary, just like the other kid. Much as I want to... just... put his head on a chopping block... we can't. The public would be on our asses, and if they start running amok, it could send everything into the bad-for-us kind of mayhem..."
It took quite some time before anyone came up with a good idea. Getting the public on our side wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't impossible. Helix was being useless… Livian mostly spouted about things of no use to me... Gio remained utterly silent... Isakai only had something to mention when it came to his damn science… But when Carmen, the eldest and most frail among the council, finally spoke up, we got somewhere…
She gradually took to her feet, coughing profusely
"Just tell those sensitive idiots outside that Kozuna did something heinous in his past. Doesn't need to be true. From what I know, the kid's an orphan and doesn't know his parents. Just tell the press that because of his curse, he killed them, and then hid the evidence. Done and done. All we need to do is plant evidence in the orphanage he was left at, perform a fake search, and it's game over. He killed his parents at a young age, so he can't be trusted. However, he did save the people, so he's not as bad as before. That's the idea. Nothing to get people too worked up either way..."
I closed my eyes, nodding thanks to the longest-standing council member's input.
"Framing him for the homicide of two people he never knew and couldn't commit? I like it. His parents were never found, and his DNA couldn't be traced across anyone in our clan, so there would be no loose ends to tie up..."
Helix practically jumped to his feet, almost knocking his chair over.
"Woah, woah! Hold on! We can't frame Kozuna for killing his parents! Everything about this situation is completely wrong! If the public finds out we're lying-"
I shot Helix a smirk, paired with a cutting gaze…
He doesn't care about Kozuna at all. Helix is only worried about his own ass. Same weakling as usual.
"So you disagree? I suppose it can't be helped... I'll just have to... take you off the council and let someone more... deserving, join us... Right, Helix? Or, maybe your punishment for speaking at me in such a tone could be a night in the torture chambers... or a lifetime in Sand Tower..."
Helix took his seat quickly and quietly like the bitch he was, sweating and staring at the floor.
"I'm… sorry for speaking… out of line..."
"Now then, all in favor of Council Member Carmen's plan, raise your hand."
Carmen and everyone else on the council raised their hand, with Helix reluctantly joining last.
"We are of a sound mind, then. This meeting is adjourned, you all have some work to do. Carmen, Gio, Melrose, I want you three to work on our little scheme. Put all the pieces into place. Isakai, Livian, and Helix, you three will focus on testing our prototype anti-curse technology. Now then, get busy."
I began leaving without hesitation… chuckling, and licking my lips... With a surefire strategy in motion, we could make a decisive move, satisfying our own truths as well as the ideals of the ridiculous public...
It's high time I get back to my concubines; I've had enough delegations for the day. I believe I'm ready for my own reward, for being such a great leader... Kozuna's trial, heh... I'll have some fun with that when he wakes up…
I hope you're ready to enjoy a life of servitude… Kozuna…