The OP Lich is a Returnee, Book 3 Epilogue (Patreon)

Epilogue – Elsewhere

Four individuals met in a darkened room. No names were shared. Those who knew about this meeting already knew who the other attendees were. There was no need for introductions.

Each individual represented a faction of power. While they were not the nominal heads of their factions, what was decided in this chamber would be carried out. One way or another.

On an unseen signal, the political representative took a breath. “It is now the appointed time. What is the news from the city?”

The military representative shook his head. “My contacts in the police have confirmed that the Sumiyoshi-gumi has been effectively wiped out as an organization. Everything above street-level operations has been interrupted, the people responsible for those operations either disappearing, dying, or selling out to rival organizations for protection. At the street level, the remnants of the organization are either being taken over by rival groups, or are going independent, forming their own, smaller syndicates and gangs.”

“Is there any concern of instability there?”

“Not yet, but potentially so in the future. My contact says that the aftermath is essentially the same as they would see after a normal collapse of a clan due to infighting or external forces. However, there has been far less bloodshed than would be normal for such circumstances, which has made it easy for things to be swept under the rug. At the moment, everyone is too busy adjusting to the new territories up for grabs. It will take some time before heads start butting again.”

“Will that cause problems with the press later?”

“No, local stations were informed of incidents on the police reports, and those incidents that spilled out into public were treated as gang violence. Not unusual. The reporters’ own sources are reporting the fall of the Sumiyoshi, but details are sparing, as neither the Inagawa-kai or the Anomaly are talking.”

“Very well.” The political representative turned to the intelligence representative. “Have your sources discovered anything more about the inciting incident?”

“Yes. As you know, the events began with the Sumiyoshis attacking the Inagawa headquarters during clan ceremonies before the oyabun’s granddaughter was to be married. The Sumiyoshis are on record disparaging the Inagawas for allowing women in their ranks. The clan ceremonies were to mark the granddaughter’s rise to the number three position in the operational power structure of the clan.”

“So, it was an attack on the Inagawas by the Sumiyoshis?”

“Yes. The Anomaly was present, as her company was commissioned to form a present for the granddaughter, a katana. It is likely to be a magic item, at least in parity with the one she made for the British.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The Anomaly and the granddaughter went to deal with the attackers, meeting them in a stairwell. Forty-nine of fifty men were killed, their bodies being clearly marked as having been cut by a sword. According to the sole survivor of the attacking force, the Anomaly made him watch as the granddaughter slaughtered the entire attacking force in melee combat.

“When it was done, she was unwounded, and not a speck of blood stained her clothes, despite it liberally painting the walls of the stairwell, with clear voids where it must have sprayed her. There was not enough time for her to change her clothes or style her hair to be the same as it was. Something about that sword not only kept her from injury, but also made it so that no mark of the slaughter touched her.”

The military representative shook his head. “There is no way that a mortal being, however skilled, could accomplish something like that. It would probably be better to consider the sword like unto one of the mythological swords of the past, like the Ama-no-Murakumo.”

The political representative nodded. “And then, after the wedding, the Anomaly dropped out of sight for a few hours. Right before the Sumiyoshi compound was enclosed by a barrier.”

“Yes. We know it was the Anomaly’s doing, but the only eyewitnesses were intoxicated enough that no judge would give a warrant for their arrest. And there was no evidence left behind.”

The science representative leaned forward. “Actually, I can speak to some of that. Without being able to observe the barrier directly, it is impossible to say if there was anything different about it, but that isn’t important, anyway. First, all buildings were removed by magic. Probably some form of spatial magic sending them into a pocket dimension, like the storage spell the Anomaly uses for their staff.”

The political representative nodded once. “I assume that would explain why the hole under the main house was taking out just the basement levels, and not scooping out a crater?”

“Yes, every building, tree, bush, and vehicle on the property was swept away somewhere, along with all the people. None of the dirt or earth was removed. Whether that is a technical limitation of the spell, or evidence of their finesse with the magics is impossible to say, though I would lean towards the second option.”

“Agreed.” “Agreed.” “Agreed.”

The science representative continued. “Now, while we understand the basics of what the Anomaly did, unfortunately the exact mechanics of it are beyond our comprehension at the moment. Power outlays aside, their paradigm of magic is too foreign to our own to be of any use to us in its particulars. That said, the theories and base mechanics could be adapted to the more scientific style of magic we use, if we had a grounded enough understanding of what was going on.”

The political representative nodded once. “And where are we on that point?”

“Two suitable candidates have been identified and vetted from the short list, with the help of the intelligence representative’s people. They are both registered necromancers, and are willing to work with us. I will let my colleague continue.”

“Yes,” the intelligence representative said. “If you’ll open the sealed folders before you, you will see the brief outline of Operation: Death Note, as well as the dossiers of our two finalists. As stated, both have been screened and vetted discretely, and they are both knowledgeable enough in magic to be a possible student to the Anomaly, as well as malleable enough in their views that they could be taught by the Anomaly. Both the dossiers have the candidates’ background, as well as a potential cover story we can put into place, if needed. Either one or both of the candidates would be a good fit for this mission.”

“Very well,” the political representative said. “Let us see what we’re dealing with.”