Records of Magic

The unwritten rule is that the chairman, the oldest Family Head, becomes the facilitator during the meeting, and the second oldest is the arbiter who handles the disputes between clan heads.

After everyone was seated at his respective place, the Ten Master Clans Conference officially started.

"The first thing to discuss is an expansion of the Military and increasing the number of combat-ready magicians within the Imperial Japanese Army. Right now, the active personnel of the Imperial Japanese Army is around 800,000. The establishment of the Imperial Samurai Order increased the number of martial artists, swordmasters, and other combat professions to join the Army, and under the leadership of the Divine General Sasaki."

Kiritsugu was hearing the most familiar names once again.

Currently, there were several collaborators in the Project Exodus aside from the four Clans, and those were mainly high-ranking members of the Imperial Japanese Army.

While Commander-in-Chief Marshall Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni wasn't thrilled about the idea and thought of them being cowardly, he was still able to see the logic behind the Project Exodus.

Not to mention, he was an honorable man who wouldn't let his people die for nothing, and the invasion of Earth would be the complete slaughter of anyone who dared to resist the conquerors.

"I believe right now; we need to focus on containing the growing power of the USNA."

It was the Head of the Juumonji Clan, Juumonji Gai, who spoke this time.

After the end of World War III, the USNA was one of the nations that essentially came out victorious after Japan because they suffered the least losses during the war compared to other players.

"No other nation possesses such a high threat to the Hierarchy as the USNA. Great Asian Union lost its momentum with Dahan, and New Soviet Union and Indo-Persian Federation are licking their wounds and recovering from the war."

While for now there was peace, it was inevitable that Hierarchy and USNA were destined to clash, especially sooner or later, certain information about the real threats to their world would become public.

"We pushed USNA from our land, and we destroyed a large amount of their Pacific fleet, and we needed to establish hegemony over the Pacific before the USNA could recover their momentum. Like us, their territory is mainly untouched by war, and thus, their infrastructure and industry are working at 100%."

Contrary to many countries that created the New Soviet Union or Indo-Persian Federation, war never directly touched the lands of the USNA and Japan on a large scale.

Great Asian Union was butchered as countless of their Magicians were killed, including Strategic-Class ones and many with the potential to reach the Strategic-Class.

When Juumonji Gai said that, many eyes turned to Kiritsugu as he was the so-called "Butcher of Dahan", directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands.

Due to what happened to Dahan, the Great Asian Union could not be really called a Superpower. That title belongs only to the USNA, Japanese Imperial Hierarchy, Indo-Persian Federation, and New Soviet Union.

Even among them, the USNA and the Japanese Imperial Hierarchy were stronger than the other two combined; they were currently the strongest Superpowers in the world, while the Indo-Persian Federation and New Soviet Union were seriously lagging behind.

USNA had great numbers and the most advanced Magical Technology in the world.

In contrast, Hierarchy had the highest number of magicians that were individually strongest and boasted of several Strategic-Order Magicians.

"Indeed, the development of the USNA is fast, and the war didn't hinder them as much as previously thought... most troubling is information I got my hands on approximately one week ago."

Kudou Retsu paused 

Paused Kudou Retsu as he soon continued.

"Apparently, the USNA, or rather a man named Edward Clark, is constructing something known as Echelon III, an information interception network that can gather information from all over the world. Its abilities should be unparalleled in information gathering through electronic devices, as USNA is searching for a way to spy on the entire world."

A silence took over the meeting room, which created a wave of worry among the members of the Ten Master Clans, as such technology was very dangerous.

"Then all we need is to kill him and take his research. He is the brain behind the project, probably working alone on that; by killing him and taking his research, we will not only secure that USNA would be unable to recreate the Echelon III, but we can build it instead."

Kiritsugu voiced his opinion on the matter, as some of them wanted to do it, while others were against it as it could reignite the war. He was essentially representing the Yotsuba Clan already and current Patriarch Yotsuba Genzou let him do all the talking.

"No, the Magus Killer is right. Even if we kill Clark, who could prove it was indeed Japan? And even if they, they won't be risking another war, not in the state they are."

Said the Head of the Ichijou Clan, as others nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. While the USNA is better than most, they still lost their Pacific Fleet, with two entire Units of STARS. Their military got hit, and their economy is pretty strained as they need to recuperate."

Hindering the progress of the USNA was a top priority for them because right now, the USNA was at its weakest with all the losses they suffered during World War III. All people were aware that USNA would recuperate quickly, so they needed to act fast.

"Additionally, I have a partial solution to this problem. All we need is to leak this information to the New Soviet Union and Great Asian Union. This would at least create a cover as the USNA won't be so sure who killed Edward Clark and took his research on Echelon III."

Kudou Retsu explained his plan as it started becoming more and more doable.

"Then we will vote. Everyone who is for killing Edward Clark, taking research on Echelon III, and destroying the copies that USNA has, raise your hands."

Everyone lifted their hands in support of this plan, as the gains were huge, and the threat of Echelon III was even bigger.

"Ten out of the ten."

Declared Kodou Retsu as he wrote it down in the notebook. Every decision accepted during the Ten Master Clans Conference was always written down and noted.

"Now that we have decided on what to do with Edward Clark, the next topic is to search and destroy the remnants of Anti-Magicians movements in Japan. Right now, most of them have entered hiding and are disappearing from public sight."

Anti-Magician Movements were significant problems in many nations, as these people despised magicians or wanted to control them like slaves.

In the newly reformed Japanese Imperial Hierarchy, these movements, be they moderate or radical, were brutally purged shortly after the establishment of the Hierarchy.

And everyone, even those a bit associated with them, were killed without mercy, as Divine General of the Imperial Enforcement Guard Yotsuba Genzou carried out these purges.

"Yotsuba Clan will take care of it; we have managed to track down several leaders of survivors that are still alive. Most of them are currently living like rats in severs and are pretty slippers, but with some time, we can easily lure them out."

Kiritsugu stated that his father-in-law told him he wanted to finish his started job.

"Then this matter will be left to the Yotsuba Clan, while the rest of the Ten Master Clans will still be looking for any pieces of information about anything related to the Anti-Magic Movements."

In the Japanese Imperial Hierarchy, as a nation ruled by Magicians, even being a family member of someone who was just loosely associated with such a movement was enough to be issued the death penalty, as these people were considered the greatest terrorists.

"Tomorrow, the Government will release new kill-on-sight orders for any family members of people associated with Anti-Magician Movements."

Especially after Marshall Yamamoto got a free hand on how to approach this problem, he used every method to deal with terrorists and any other enemies of the nation.

This also served as a warning for the future, "don't even think about helping any member of the Anti-Magician Movement, or you and your entire family will be killed without a second thought".

Afterward, as the more interesting topics were closed, more boring ones came, and around two or three hours later, the Ten Master Clans Conference was finally over.

"I hereby thank you for your attendance, and with this notion, I am closing this Ten Master Clans Conference."

By the middle of the Ten Master Clans Conference, Kiritsugu was barely paying any attention because just as soon as the most important things were discussed and decided, a load of crap was being discussed at the Ten Master Clans Conference, and some Clan Heads were arguing against each other.

After the Ten Master Clans Conference ended, all Clan Heads started to leave the meeting room, and a subsequent banquet followed after each Ten Master Clans Conference.

Kiritsugu wasn't really happy to be forced to attend it, but if he went home already, he would get scolded by Maya, so he was forced to hear the load of bullshit or boasting from the members of Ten Master Clans and 18 Assassistant Houses.

Kiritsugu could see the Clan Head of the Saegusa stealing glances at him, probably fearing that he would kill him right here.

When he noticed that Kiritsugu was looking at him, he quickly averted his gaze and continued to take with some people from the 18 Assistant Houses.

Yotsuba Clan and Saegusa Clan were basically enemies due to what happened before the Bloody Fall of Dahan. Even Yotsuba Genzou was tempered to slaughter the entire clan after hearing that Saegusa Koichi took one hit and pretended to be dead or severely injured in fear of being killed by Zhou Lang and his goons.

"Sir Emyia."

Sounded the voice behind Kiritsugu as he turned around and saw the rather young, muscular man wearing a traditional kimono. He gave an entire vibe like being a walking katana, as Kiritsugu instantly knew that this was Samurai.

"I am Chiba Joichirou. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir."

He introduced himself in a formal voice.

"Pleasure to meet you, Emyia Kiritsugu, and no need to keep calling me Sir; I am not very much fun of all these formal things."

They shook hands as Kiritsugu gestured for him to sit down next to him.

"Are you here to become a vassal or something?"

Asked Kiritsugu as he took out a cigarette and lit it up.

At the same time, Chiba Joichirou almost cracked upon hearing the straightforward question.

Even though Emyia was a Clan of Ancient Magic Practitioners with a centuries-long history, they were assassins and mercenaries who didn't care about anything besides money and researching Time.

Thus even though Kiritsugu was aware of proper etiquette and protocols, he really didn't care about that and continued being himself even among many of these stuck-up people.

The reason why he asked the question right away was simple. Even before the formation of a new nation, the Number Family System was divided into countless factions, where Extra Families were leaning on the Hundred Families.

The Hundred Families were leaning on 18 Assistant Houses or Ten Master Clans, and even some of the 18 Assistant Houses sometimes acted as followers of the strong Master Clans.

Currently, the power of the Yotsuba Clan was very strong, and most importantly, the Yotsuba Clan didn't have any vassal Clans under them, as they only had Branch Clans.

Anybody could see that the ones who benefited the most from the formation of an Imperial Japanese Hierarchy were Yotsubas, as they not only got a ton of important positions.

The former Clan Head became a Divine General, but also one of the closest associates of the Clan, Ohtomo Jin, became a Divine General, and Sasaki Koujiro became a Divine General of the Imperial Samurai Order.

Not to mention, in the Council of Nine, Yotsubas basically occupied 3 out of 4 seats reserved for the Master Clans, as the Dairenji Clan and Tsuchimikado Clan acted as one with the Yotsubas.

Thus some of either weaker or more ambitious Hundred Families wanted to try their luck and became vassals of the Yotsubas.

Not only would that ensure their growth, but the looming shadows of the Untouchables would scare away most, if not all, of their opponents and competitors.

"Practically yes. Right now, the Chiba Family is developing very fast. Some of the Ten Master Clans don't like our influence in the Military and in the Police. At the same time, the establishment of the Imperial Samurai Order took some of that pressure off. Still, even right now, the Saegusa Family and Juumonji Family are putting a lot of pressure on us."

Chiba Joichirou explained as Kiritsugu titled his head as a vicious grin appeared on his face.

"Of course, you would be gladly welcome... as soon as you sign a contract and give the pledge of service."

Stated Kiritsugu plainly, as he could see the benefits of having the Chiba Family as vassals beyond that of pissing the Saegusa Family and scaring the hell out of them.

Chiba Family was renowned for using personal Speed and Weight Magic in close-quarters combat. The Chiba Family's strength lay not in the fact they could adeptly use spells but in a new system they pioneered for the training and development of close combat Magicians.

Even the Grandmaster of the Imperial Samurai Order, Divine General Sasaki Koujiro, greatly praises the swordsmanship of the Chiba Family as one of the best in the entire world.

They also researched how to strengthen the body of Magicians, to complement their specially tailored Magic and swordsmanship.

It was due to this that they had the nickname Magic Swordsman.

In the future, their role as close-quarter combatants would be indispensable in future conquests and battles, especially in the migration to the new world to live.

"Excellent."

Details would be discussed between Maya and him, as Kiritsugu wasn't really proficient in this kind of thing, but he managed to secure a very powerful "lackey" with plenty of development room for the future.