Rules of the Crusade (5)
What on earth are they planning...
When Satan bared a killing intent, the captains of the royal guards from each nation drew their weapons.
If he's afflicted by Banishing it's over. Should we cut him down before that?
Killing him outright because of an aura would raise questions later, but if the target was Habitz, that was another matter.
"Hmm."
At that moment Habitz's killing intent vanished and he walked calmly toward Woorin.
"This should be interesting."
Fortunately no uproar broke out, but those watching felt an eerie chill.
Suppressing present desire for the sake of future pleasure—how vicious.
Shortly after, Paras, Mun, and Gustav arrived in that order and entered the main hall.
Sensing the atmosphere growing heavier, the heads of the various nations withdrew to safer positions.
"Jincheon Empire! Enter the inner citadel!"
From the procession that arrived at dusk, Shirone studied Jin-gang's face.
He's gotten thinner.
Probably because his daughter was in Hell.
"Jin-gang isn't an easy man."
Albino approached.
"No nation escaped the war's damage, but they still have the world's largest population. The brains are the Jincheon Space Bureau. I hear a woman named Anchal runs it—wasn't she your schoolmate?"
"Yes. Anchal dropped out midway, though." Albino stroked his beard.
"The Tri-Imperial order may have fallen, but three empires still hold up this world: Kashan, Gustav, and Jincheon. Other countries will probably try to ally with one of them."
Shirone grasped the implication.
"I have ties with the Jincheon king, but he's not someone who'll act out of personal feeling."
"That we can't know."
Albino's laugh grated.
"What in this world isn't personal feeling? They claim the greater good for now, but that too comes from the heart. There are countless ways to corner someone. If it were you—"
"Mr. Albino."
Shirone wanted to be clear.
"Jin-gang sent his daughter to Hell. That daughter saved humanity. Does that mean nothing?"
"I'm not looking to fight you."
Albino was calm.
"If we clash, things will work out somehow. You don't need bloodshed to get a result—like cold water mixing with hot. The question is who ends up drinking that water. You took Tormian nationality to attend the Crusade because the people you know best are here—meaning they're easier to control."
"You mean..."
"Call it trust if you like. Fine. Choices are everyone's to make. If your value is superior, I'll try to win your favor, but..."
Albino shrugged as he turned away.
"Who knows what will happen?" Shirone watched him go, and Lupist came over.
"Don't dwell on it. You're here to take responsibility for the future of Tormia's people."
His words were inevitably cold.
"To be honest, I sympathize. I'm grateful you chose Tormian nationality. It would be wonderful if Yahweh saved humanity. But after that? The old competition between nations resumes. When that moment comes, I don't want to see Tormia fall. Mr. Albino knows that too." Lupist looked away.
"You're a central figure with the broadest, deepest network at the Crusade. In a sense you're a thirteenth nation. Frankly, we'd like to use you. Refuse if you want. But... let's not trade words about betrayal."
It was a matter that had to be raised before the Crusade.
Betrayal, Shirone thought, just then the Iron Kingdom arrived.
While Fermi had seized control of the Seven Southern Kingdoms, the Iron Kingdom had been the only state to retain royal authority.
"They have a rational political system," Lupist said. "The consensus is they won't stand out at the Crusade. Moderately strong, moderately flexible."
Beside Iron's king Basak, a familiar face appeared.
Shura of the Ten Elders.
She, who had been on the moon with Buddha, had returned to the world.
Lupist muttered, "Why would she choose Iron?"
"Probably Beron."
Shirone's gaze darkened.
The Beron problem.
Can humans change outcomes?
Only gods can. But Beron left a possibility at the last moment.
The iron stake he drove into the Iron Kingdom was still lodged deep within the Law.
A result unmoved by cause. Nothing but a pure will with no color.
It was a hint that could stand against a god.
Around midnight the Southern Tribal Confederation and the Aracne Kingdom—representing the ten island kingdoms—arrived.
"They aren't core nations of this Crusade," Lupist said. "But watch the south—many tribes unified during the war, their shamanisms merged. Gaold's madness reduced the number of demons, but it's notable that the south is currently the only continent that eradicated demons."
"How about Aracne?" Shirone asked.
"They're full of beauties." The curt observation made Shirone look at Lupist.
"Why? Is that strange?"
"They're famous enough to hold a world beauty pageant. But being one of the Crusade's twelve nations doesn't mean they can be underestimated."
"You mean there's some misunderstanding."
Lupist pointed toward Aracne.
"People are the same everywhere, but different borders mean different philosophies. They've studied beauty for decades. Children grow up dreaming of a world beauty contest. In short, the talent pool is different. That talent saturates Aracne's politics and society. It's said you can't win even a small contract without hostesses."
Shirone thought of Langi.
"So it's professional."
"Yes. Personnel, experience, databases—Aracne treats beauty not as improvisation but as doctrine. And sometimes..."
Lupist's expression turned bitter.
"It can be far more powerful than a trump card like the blueprint for an elemental bomb. Especially on a political stage crawling with incarnations of desire." Shirone scanned Aracne's procession—carriages lavishly decorated.
There were dozens of carriages that could easily hold ten people each; Lupist was looking at the same sight.
"They probably have no intention of becoming the lead nation. But they can shake the board from the shadows. Their aim is to extract as much profit as possible."
The Crusade was held in the Jaive Kingdom.
Kashan, Gustav, Jincheon.
Three empires.
Iron, Mun, Paras.
Traditional powers.
Tormia, Keshia, Corona.
Emerging forces attending the Crusade for the first time.
The South and Aracne.
Unknown variables yet to be guessed.
Now it begins.
The gates of the Crusade opened.
Leaving the banquet hall, Shirone went to the prearranged Tormia district.
Guards were posted tightly along the corridor, and a Yongroe staff member led him to the conference room.
When he entered the room guarded by the royal guard, Poni, Albino, Lupist, and Plu were gathered around the table.
"Found you?" Lupist said. "We wanted you for a briefing. Did we interrupt?"
"No."
Shirone took a seat at one side of the table while Plu walked to an easel with a chart at the front.
"This is to check essential elements before the Crusade. We'll begin the briefing."
Plu drew a baton and tapped the large letters on the chart.
"The Crusade. An international union formed by nations that wield powerful influence. Its organization is broadly divided into five parts: the General Assembly, the Military Division, the Economic and Social Department, the Religious Department, and the International Tribunal. When people say 'the Crusade,' they usually mean the General Assembly."
He tapped the chart with his baton.
"The Military Division is commonly called Valkyrie. Until recently, Iruki from Tormia served as Chief of Military, but she's currently on leave for Emotion Sickness."
He avoided saying "retired."
"The head of the Economic and Social Department is Mr. Smith, chairman of the International Alchemy Foundation. He's from the Jaive Kingdom."
"No goodwill to expect, then."
"No. But at least his authority has been significantly reduced since the war, which is some consolation. The Religious Department is overseen by the pope of the Rami Church, and the International Tribunal is handled by Red Line headquarters."
Albino asked, "Who's the head? I thought the position was elected from among those who served as association presidents in each country."
"Currently it's Bebeto Socrates. Nickname: the Well-Fed Pig. He served as president of the Mage Association in the Yakma Republic for seven years."
"Gaold will know him."
"Yes. I attended a former presidents' meeting following Gaold, but they didn't seem on friendly terms."
Lupist snorted. "Who would he be friendly with?" Plu continued.
"Under the Crusade there are organizations like the World Climate Organization, the World Health Organization, and the World Communications Bureau. Delegations from those agencies will attend tomorrow's events."
Seriel was pulling an all-nighter to get here as well.
"That covers the Crusade overview. Now I'll explain the voting method, which is the most crucial."
Shirone's expression tightened as the explanation went on.
"When the Crusade's schedule concludes, the twelve nations gather and vote simultaneously. Each nation can exercise three kinds of authority. The first is Rom."
An ancient word meaning power.
"Rom is one vote that can be given to your own country or to another country."
"The second is Garto. It means favor—a one-vote you give to another country. Remember: invalid votes are not allowed."
"So you must cast a vote."
"Yes. Even if you cast three ballots, it's still a vote. Break the rules and it's taken as forfeiting your vote; your authority will be revoked."
Plu pointed to the third item.
"The last is Temika. It means suppression: Temika can erase a Rom that was not used on your own country—that is, a Rom you gave to another country."
Shirone asked, "So conversely, if Tormia uses its Rom on its own nation, other countries can't erase it with Temika?"
"Right. If Rom trading runs rampant, the auction has no ceiling. Simply put, you can transfer your one point to someone else, but that one point carries the risk of being erased by a minus-one."
"Rom is the core," Lupist said.
"For example, a country like Aracne, which has no ambition to be the lead nation, might try to sell this authority at the highest price. But from the buyer's perspective, Temika exists as a suppressor, so they can't openly buy it without risk."
Hmm.
Everyone fell into thought and Plu continued.
"Until the vote, the twelve nations can freely negotiate these authorities. Ultimately, the nation with the most votes becomes the lead nation under the pope's approval. Arithmetically, 23 votes is the maximum; the minimum is zero. However, the decision-maker must officially be their country's representative, and if they're replaced midway, the predecessor's authority is canceled."
Albino's shoulders twitched.
"Heh heh heh—kings being replaced..."
Already the scent of blood seemed to hang in the air.