Meeting

Back at the Magic Guild Association’s headquarters, preparations were already underway.

The main meeting hall buzzed with chatter. Elite members of the association have gathered in clusters, their mana signatures were off the charts to the point where everyone in the meeting hall had to wear special anti-mana wrist bands, for the greater safety of all the members and employees alike.

Alongside Shin Sekai stood notable representatives from the Franreil Guild and the Nagasaki Heroes Guild. 

The alliances between them had not been formed out of trust. They had formed out of necessity.

A brief stir passed through the hall as a tall figure crossed the central floor. His presence drew attention. His mana signature was cold, restrained to rigor, sharp enough that nearby mana signatures of other mages have instinctively adjusted around him. He didn't wear the special anti-mana wrist band like everyone else. 

Conversations dipped as he passed, not stopping entirely, but thinning. Those who recognized him offered short acknowledgments. He returned none. Quiet greetings followed, some restrained, others openly relieved. A few mages from neighboring guilds glanced over.

The figure continued on without pause and took a seat at the center of the large oval meeting table. This meeting room was shielded against interference. It was tested repeatedly for any weakness or leaks of sound before the meeting began. A long table dominated the space, its surface bare except for a dim central projection.

“Let’s address the elephant in the room, first.” one of the council members said, tapping the table. “The Kyoto Station incident is outrageous.”

A few eyes shifted. Some toward the speaker. Others toward the far wall, seemingly disgusted by even the act of bringing this topic up for conversation.

“Hammer Head again?”

“His intervention saved hundreds of civilians,” a voice said after a brief pause. “We cannot deny that.”

“And we will not credit him for it!!” a elderly man snapped back immediately. “That man is uncontrollable! He doesn't obey us! He always has been but a reluctant dog.."

“Your anger is reasonable. Even when that dog was an unofficial S ranker, he split up seas for fun. ” one higher up scoffed, leaning forward, “You do not hand over authority to that kind of men.”

“He never sought authority, though.”

“Good, It was all thanks to our efforts. That does not make him acceptable.”

One member folded his hands. “Still, his presence could be useful for Project-"

“Absolutely not.”

“He does not answer to anyone. He never has. Give him a title and he will embarrass us internationally.”

The chairman raised a hand, and the room quieted. “How is the media handling Kyoto Station now?"

A thin smile crept onto one man’s face. “We guided the narrative. Since no notable mage arrived on record, responsibility had to be assigned elsewhere.”

“Roshan,” someone said dismissively.

“His son? Roshan the son of that bastard?? What have you done!?”

A few chuckles followed.

“My apologies. Roshan is a convenient figure,” one council member said. “Young. Inexperienced. Easily influenced. We can control him. He will do what he is told.”

“There is risk..” a quieter voice warned. “If Hammer Head gets involved-"

“He will not.” the chairman interrupted. “Not officially.”

The room fell silent.

He allowed the pause to linger before continuing.

“Back to the matter at hand, gentlemen.” he said. 

The holographic display brightened, shifting away from terrain models. Rings of energy and clusters of data intersected in precise alignment, each dependent on the next to maintain coherence.

“Project Annihilation will be an historic achievement. The first confirmed operation where entry and exit from the Demon Realm is finally possible.”

“Given this enormous task at hand,” the chairman continued, “operational scaling becomes necessary. The students of Kyoto Academy of Magic will be involved. Any objections?”

No one objected. The decision required no defense. 

"Young mages were expendable pawns for the greater glory of our society. if they die, then they're just not strong enough to be the mage in our country. Does everyone agree?"

All the higher ups laughed, tapping the table in agreement.

"Good. Get every guild ready."