Enemies and Allies

Seoul’s Presidential Office was in an uproar. While their operations against Tokyo had been very successful, not everyone in the council had agreed with the plan.

There were two sides. Those who were against the terror attacks were Chung-hee Park, the chancellor, and Sun-sin Yi, the general. The man who had proposed the terror attacks was Du-han Kim, Seoul’s spymaster and the de facto leader of the Kkangpae.

And of course, there was the Gray Knight and the Gray Maiden, Yu-jin Ahn and Ha-eun Choi.

“A war at this moment is detrimental to our economic growth which is essential for our strength longterm. We need to be investing our resources in ourselves right now, not burning them away in a war!” Park slammed his fist down, angry at watching Seoul’s future be squandered.

“War with Japan is inevitable, but this isn’t the right time. We need to build our own strength, and then strike in Japan’s moment of weakness.” Yi was calm but firm. Recklessness was not the way to win this fight.

“Cowards!” Kim stood up. “You really think we’re safe with those monsters next door!” His voice was filled with scorn as he looked at Yu-jin and Ha-eun. “This plan is foolproof! And besides, we’ve already gone this far!”

Yu-jin closed his eyes. It wasn’t an easy decision to make. He looked over at Ha-eun, but her face was almost empty.

Yu-jin and Ha-eun had known each other almost their entire lives. Childhood friends, they grew up together, went to school together, and were attending university together. Even though they’d grown apart, Yu-jin still loved her, as more than just a childhood friend.

This game, the Genesis Tournament, was extremely dangerous. For his entire life, Yu-jin was the type to just go through the motions. He was a model student with excellent grades who never got into trouble, and that had served him well, for the most part, at least. However, this new world didn’t provide such luxuries. Fortune favored the brave. If he was going to win, if he was going to survive, and if he was going to protect Ha-eun, then he couldn’t just keep drifting through life. He had to act.

“We’re continuing with the plan.”

Kim smirked and Ha-eun for the first time in the meeting seemed to be interested. As for the other two…

“Are you insane!?” Park was almost screaming now.

“Yu-jin, you don’t understand what you’re getting into here.” Yi pleaded.

But it was hopeless. Yu-jin had made up his mind.

Kim began slowly walking through the room. “Yu-jin understands perfectly well what he's getting into. He’s wise beyond his years.” He stopped next to Yu-jin, leaning down. ”War with Tokyo is inevitable, they’re almost certainly planning to attack us as we speak! Not only do these attacks weaken them, but they force them into a conflict under unfavorable conditions.”

Yi rubbed his face in frustration. “I understand what you’re saying better than anyone, but Tokyo isn’t our biggest threat right now. The Black Knight and Maiden… Based on the intel we have, they are…” He mulled over how to word it. “Incompetent…”

“That’s just what they want you to think! I guarantee you, right this moment, those Japanese bastards are planning our genocide once again! If we don’t stop them now, they will murder our people, take our women, and burn our entire city to the ground!”

***

“That was so cheap!”

“It sucks to suck, doesn’t it?”

Toko and Keitaro were playing Ningyo Senso. Keitaro was on a losing streak, so he was pulling out every dirty trick in the book to beat his sister.

Their beautiful, opulent bedroom was slowly turning into a NEET lair despite the maids’ best efforts. All their video games, DVDs, and manga somehow always ended up strewn everywhere after being tidied up everyday, and they had set up an old CRT in their room as well as a myriad of game consoles, completely destroying the aesthetic, but greatly improving their retro gaming sessions.

By this point, everyone had expected the two to at least begin settling in, but Musashi and Tomoe could barely get them to train more than thirty minutes a day, if at all, and it was like pulling teeth for Tokugawa to involve them in any political affairs.

However, today was a big step for them. Jack Butler and Ella Appleton, the rulers of New York, were coming for a diplomatic visit.

The entire Imperial Palace was scrambling to make preparations. Keitaro paid no mind. Toko had been stressing out about it, though, which is why they were currently playing video games. It was to try and calm her nerves.

However, they soon were forced to get ready.

Keitaro was not a fan of having servants dress him, but it was necessary in this case. He didn’t even know how to tie a tie, after all.

Toko was even less of a fan, but all she could do was surrender as her ladies-in-waiting dolled her up.

Once they were ready, they were escorted outside by Musashi and Tomoe.

The Americans came via an airship and landed in a clearing behind the palace.

The airship was called The Columbia and was unlike anything from their world. Its design was very steampunk-esque. It had a much larger deck and a much rougher appearance overall. Additionally, the envelope was wrapped in a net and decorated with metal.

Keitaro leaned over to Musashi. “Where can we get one of those things?”

“We already have one.”

“We do!? And I’m only hearing about this now!?”

Musashi quickly regretted even telling him at all.

As the airship landed, the two guests of honor soon disembarked.

Both dressed in lavish formalwear, they approached Keitaro and Toko.

“It’s a pleasure to properly meet you both. My name is Jack Butler, the White Knight.” He held out his hand.

Keitaro hadn’t even recognized him until he spoke, but this was the man who they had seen first at the Black Palace. Keitaro shook his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Jack.”

“It’s great to meet you, Keitaro! I’m Ella Appleton, the White Maiden.”

Keitaro introduced himself and shook her hand too.

But for his sister, it wasn’t so easy.

“U-u-um… I-it’s n-nice t-to… m-meet y-y–you…” Meeting new people always made her anxious, and this being such a formal, serious occasion just compounded that.

However, both Jack and Ella seemed charmed by her shyness, shaking her hand and introducing themselves with wide smiles.

***

The four were sitting alone in a lounge. Their bodyguards and security were all stationed outside.

Jack and Ella were both kind of like golden retrievers. Outgoing, energetic, and at least ostensibly trustworthy. Meanwhile, Keitaro and Toko were both much more closed off. Although, in Toko’s case it was purely because of inability.

However, besides some formalities, nothing of substance had yet been said, and Keitaro was getting a bit impatient. After a gap in conversation he asked, “So to what do we owe this visit?”

Jack smiled and leaned forward. “I’d like to propose a kind of alliance.”

“A kind of alliance? What do you mean?”

“It’s early in the game, too early to make any big investments, so that’s why I’m suggesting a secret alliance.”

“Hm. And what did you have in mind?”

“We’ll agree to assist each other covertly and remain neutral in each other’s affairs. Without a big commitment, this deal will strengthen us both and keep the door open for an even more powerful alliance in the future.”

Keitaro leaned back. “Interesting.” This was a great opportunity for them, Keitaro considered it a fantastic deal, but he couldn’t just accept it outright. “Is that all there is to it?”

“Of course. We can even work it into a Truce. How about that?”

“That’d be better, at least.”

“Come on, please, Keitaro!” Ella begged. “We really want to work together. America and Japan we’re the best of friends back in the old world, after all.”

Keitaro still didn’t trust them completely, but what exactly would the harm be? Although, there was someone else he should ask first…

“Toko, what do you think?”

She jumped, a bit surprised to be called on. “W-well, I think i-it’s a good deal…”

“I suppose that settles it. I can trust you to draft the Truce?”

“Of course.” Jack had already pulled out his pen.

The final Truce stated that the White Knight and Maiden and the Black Knight and Maiden would be unable to harm each other as long as they maintained regular communications or until one party formally cancels the deal.

“It’s an honor, Keitaro.”

“Likewise.”

With a handshake, the Japanese-American Truce of Friendship and Cooperation was concluded.