April 20, 2199
Mars
The 3rd City Seleno Aqua, Northern Ocean Coast
In the headquarters of the city police located in the heart of Seleno Aqua, there is a detention center for temporarily holding arrested suspects. Normally, it's an austere building that no one pays much attention to, but now, for a certain reason, a large crowd has gathered in front of the gate.
"Free the hero of Mars!"
"Don't pander to aliens, police!"
"The Earth's champions demand the immediate release of Itsuki!"
The crowd held up placards and banners, demanding the release of a girl currently detained here. Itsuki Okubo, who had come dangerously close to the throat of the Queen of the Union, the arch-nemesis of many Martian settlers, was being advocated as a hero by her supporters, urging for her release. Local police and even International Federation military personnel had been mobilized, glowering at the demonstrators.
The commotion could be heard inside the detention center. Itsuki, confined to a sterile cell, listened to the voices echoing from beyond the iron bars with an indifferent expression.
"Talk about popular... hero."
"Well, that's nice, but... did you bring it?"
Itsuki, in custody, extended her hand to the corrections officer standing outside the iron bars. The officer delivered a book through the meal slot.
"Here you go, is this it?"
What Itsuki had requested was the New Testament. She took the Bible in her hand with a pleased expression.
"You seem quite devout."
"Devout or not... I'm an assistant to the pastor of a church," Itsuki replied with an innocent smile, taking the Bible and beginning to read. The corrections officer, having delivered the item, let out a small sigh and turned to leave.
Just before that, Itsuki called the officer to a halt.
"Hey, could you do me one more favor... please?"
".........?"
As the officer turned around, there was Itsuki, holding a paper cigarette in her mouth with a provocative smile, like a temptress. Somehow, she had managed to sneak it in. Itsuki extended the end of the cigarette through the iron bars, asking for it to be lit.
"...! Smoking by anyone under 18 is prohibited under the International Federation Space Common Laws! I'm going to have to confiscate that!"
The corrections officer, raising his voice, tried to reach for Itsuki's cigarette. In that moment, Itsuki's right index finger touched the officer's hand.
'...When I was restrained in the sea and during the body inspection, bit by bit... my luck accumulated. If I can just take one more person's luck...!'
"...Happy Catch."
Itsuki smiled evilly. In that instant, the officer's fate turned upside-down. He experienced an inexplicable chill throughout his body.
"...Ugh, hrnggggg!"
The officer writhed in agony as a sharp pain surged through his body. Itsuki watched him collapse and then crouched down, extending her slender arm through the gap in the iron bars, taking the electronic key attached to the officer's waist.
"Sorry..."
Itsuki offered an apology to the officer as she touched the electronic key to the card reader attached to the iron bars. Immediately after, a beep signaled the unlocking, and the cage that had held Itsuki opened.
"...Now, what do I do from here?"
Naturally, there were many staff members and surveillance cameras within the detention center. If she made a move, the officers and security personnel would soon detect the situation.
"...Huh?"
Itsuki pondered her next move. However, at the same time, there was a commotion outside the detention center. She strained to hear the faint sounds coming from outside.
The demonstration demanding Itsuki's release was disrupted as a modified Hilux approached from behind. A man with his face visible from the cargo bed used a megaphone to issue a warning to the demonstrators and the local police attempting to restrain them.
"Ten seconds from now, we'll blow up the gate of the detention center! If you don't want to die, clear the way now! Ten! Nine! Eight...!"
"!!???"
The demonstrators immediately fell silent and turned toward the source of the voice. Standing on the cargo bed of the Hilux was a pastor with a rocket launcher RPG-7 from the previous century in his hands.
"What the heck!?"
"RUN!"
Sensing the ominous situation, the crowd scattered like ants, discarding their placards, and fled. The police were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events, losing sight of what they should address first.
"Five! Four! Three! Two! One! ...FIRE!"
"AAAAAAA!"
As the countdown ended, the officers fled with pitiful cries. Immediately afterward, as predicted, the rocket launcher was fired. The gate separating the detention center's premises from the city was blown to pieces, and the Hilux plunged into the debris and thick black smoke.
"Attention, suspicious vehicle! Stop immediately!"
An emergency announcement urged the runaway Hilux to stop. Armed police officers and corrections officers continued to pour out from the detention center. However, the pastor didn't hesitate to retrieve a second RPG-7 rocket launcher and aimed it directly at them.
"Give me back my child!! ...FIRE!!"
"...Huh!? RUN, RUN AWAY!!"
Overwhelmed by the pastor's rage and the fear of the rocket launcher, the public servants fled in all directions. Following that, the fired rocket launcher spectacularly blew up the main entrance of the detention center along with its outer walls.
"...cough, cough! ...? What's that!?"
Amid the black smoke, Itsuki, who had escaped from her cell, was visible. Her eyes locked onto her adoptive father, Sumiichiro Kashiwa, standing on the cargo bed of the Hilux.
"...P-Pastor-san?"
Amid the roaring sound of the Hilux and the panicked cries of the fleeing public servants, Itsuki desperately called out to her adoptive father. Her voice reached his ears. Sumiichiro, upon hearing his daughter's voice, tossed aside the RPG-7's shell and pounded the roof of the driver's seat, instructing the driver to steer the car towards Itsuki.
"...Itsuki! Run away at once!"
"Pastor-san! ...You're alive!"
The Hilux came to a halt right in front of Itsuki. She had tears in her eyes at the sight of her healthy adoptive father. But Sumiichiro didn't have time to savor the emotion, as he swiftly picked up Itsuki and half-forced her onto the cargo bed.
"We'll talk later! Drive now, Gonpachi!"
"Got it, boss!"
The man referred to as Gonpachi stepped on the accelerator with a lively expression. Amid a massive cloud of dust, the Hilux, carrying the escaped prisoner, disappeared into the streets.
. . .
Casino District, Seleno Aqua
The Hilux, carrying the two of them, moved away from the city center where government offices were concentrated and eventually arrived in Seleno Aqua, the land-based tourist area known as the Casino District. Sitting in the passenger seat, Sumiichiro gave instructions to the driver, Gonpachi, as he directed the car to a somewhat suspicious area.
"Man, I never expected to get a call from the boss! I was quite surprised, I must say!"
"I was the one who got surprised; never thought you'd be working straight and narrow."
"You think too little of me, boss! I'm a family man, you know!"
Sumiichiro and Gonpachi seemed to be acquaintances who hadn't seen each other in a few years. Itsuki, sitting in the back seat, remained silent, listening to their conversation. Sumiichiro's way of speaking was different from what she was used to, and he sounded just like a yakuza. And Itsuki couldn't help but notice that the word "boss" Gonpachi kept repeating was a bit unsettling, but she couldn't muster the resolve to pursue it further at that moment.
Soon, the Hilux came to a stop in front of a certain bar. Sumiichiro and Itsuki disembarked at that location. Ichiro expressed his gratitude to Gonpachi Kato, a former subordinate who had helped with this rescue operation and now worked at a military surplus store. The RPG that had blown up the detention center had also been provided by him.
"Well then, I'm off... You can rely on me anytime, boss!"
Gonya said this with a cheerful smile and then drove away. Watching the Hilux depart, Ichiro turned to the somewhat dazed Itsuki and spoke to her.
"...I'm relieved you're safe, Itsuki. I was surprised when I saw the news; why did you do something so reckless...!?"
Sumiichiro knelt down and lowered his gaze, talking to Itsuki with a genuinely relieved expression. He wore the familiar face of a pastor. However, in Itsuki's mind, she couldn't forget the terrifying expression of Sumiichiro, armed with a rocket launcher.
"Uh... I thought you died in the Suiryu, Pastor-san..." Itsuki struggled to find her words, but her heart didn't seem to be in it.
"I thought the same... I believed you had died. That's why, when I heard the news about you attempting to assassinate the Queen, I rushed here from Suiryu."
Sumiichiro explained the circumstances of his visit to Seleno Aqua. As they engaged in this conversation, the two of them entered the bar right in front of them.
The interior of the bar was neat and tidy, but there wasn't a single customer. In the back of the counter seats, there was a man wearing a waist apron who appeared to be the proprietor. He was stirring a bottle of vodka and seemed a bit intoxicated. At that moment, the doorbell rang, signaling a customer's arrival.
"Sorry, but... we're closed for now."
"Don't say that, Gen."
The bar's proprietor spoke in Japanese. He was also someone Sumiichiro knew from the past. The man whose name was mentioned opened his eyes wide and turned his gaze toward the pastor.
"...Wait, are you!? Boss? Is that you!?"
"Drop the 'boss.' I've got a favor to ask... Here."
Sumiichiro gestured to Itsuki, who was standing behind him, to step forward. Itsuki, although timid, moved up in front. Immediately, Gen, the bar's proprietor, had an even more astonished expression.
"Wha... Iyo!? You're... No, no, it can't be...!?"
"Huh, you know my mother's name?"
Itsuki was shocked as well. The man had mentioned her mother's name.
"...Mother? Right, that's right... Iyo's daughter, huh? This kid... Iyo had a daughter, huh?"
Gen changed from looking somewhat lonely to what seemed like a happy expression. The man, now fully sober, began to share his background with Itsuki.
"Call me Gen Himura, and Iyo is... an old comrade."
"Mother... a comrade?"
"That's right, that was... about 17 years ago."
Gen recalled past memories and the days of his youth. Itsuki swallowed hard and listened to the newfound history of her mother. Sumiichiro sat down in a nearby chair and watched as Gen began to speak.
"I met Iyo... your mother, 17 years ago. I didn't know anything about her past before that. I found her when she'd made a killing at illegal casinos playing blackjack and was banned from those places. I approached her back then."
"...Illegal casinos?"
In the lawless city of Suiryu 17 years ago, where almost the entire city was a no-man's-land, Gen Himura, in his younger days, and Iyo Kougami, who was Itsuki's mother, met in an even darker corner.
"...For some reason, she had the luck of the devil. I approached her with the aim of her luck. I said, 'Let's make a killing together.'"
Seventeen years ago, driven by a common goal, Iyo and Gen formed a partnership, and with his guidance, she traversed various illegal casinos, destroying numerous gambling houses with her extraordinary luck. She expanded her name as the lady of great fortune in the underworld. At that time, when the new and upcoming mafia in Suiryu, the Kashiwa family, was making a name for itself, Iyo had a fateful encounter in one of their casinos.
"...That's right, boss. It was back then when I introduced you and Iyo."
"Ah..."
Sumiichiro was suddenly asked by Gen and averted his gaze. Gen posed a question.
"One thing bothers me... Is this young lady related to Iyo and you, boss?"
"We can discuss that later. What's more important is... I came here because I need a favor from you."
"Oh... right. So... what's the favor?"
Sumiichiro shifted the conversation unnaturally. Gen decided to stop talking about the past. Itsuki shot an accusing glance at the pastor, but he didn't seem to care. He proceeded to explain the nature of the favor.
"I want you to take care of this child until we're ready to leave the city. I'll repay you later."
"Take care...? Well, I don't mind, but..."
"No need to be indebted... See you later."
Sumiichiro was about to leave with an indifferent farewell. Just before that, Itsuki stopped him with a sudden voice.
"...Pastor-san!"
At the sound of her voice, Sumiichiro halted his steps and turned around. He found Itsuki standing there with a determined expression. With a voice trembling from mixed emotions, she began to speak.
"Um... Pastor-san, you intentionally interrupted Himura-san's story, didn't you? I'm really curious about the story related to my mother, but... I'll wait until you're ready to talk."
".........!"
Sumiichiro's eyes widened in response. Itsuki declared that she wouldn't press for answers about her mother's past in this place. Hearing this, Ichiro had a relieved expression.
"Besides... I also have secrets I haven't told you, Pastor-san. The reason my mother could make a fortune in casinos is related to that... We belong to a unique race known as the Happy Charmers, which possesses distinct special abilities even among the other demi-humans."
"...Did you say demi-human!?"
Sumiichiro and Gen were shocked. For the first time, Itsuki revealed to others that she wasn't a human.
"Our race has the ability to manipulate the concept of luck... In other words, we can rewrite the physical causality within an extremely small range. We can either siphon off luck from others and convert it into our own fortune or bestow luck upon others."
The Happy Charm is a demi-human race with the power to manipulate "luck," considered to be among the most challenging subspecies to deal with among the various demi-human races residing in Terralus. The power to manipulate luck meant essentially rewriting the "causality." With every use of their ability, there was a potential for significant effects on the destinies of others. As a result, there was an unwritten rule among their kind not to use the ability frequently. Furthermore, "magic" was a concept located outside the realm where their abilities had an influence. Therefore, the greatest vulnerability for individuals with their abilities was the magic and sorcery of others.
"That's an overpowered ability! It's like a dream come true, a shortcut to becoming a billionaire!"
Gen got excited, as the power to manipulate luck was something people would desire greatly. However, Itsuki shook her head and quietly denied the expectations he had.
"If it were truly the most potent power, my mother wouldn't have died so young. If you overuse your luck, corresponding misfortune comes back to us. And the greatest misfortune for any living being is 'death' ...Do you understand?"
"...Uh, s-sorry... That was thoughtless."
Upon learning about her mother's past and connecting her mother's death to a curse that their race bore, Itsuki believed that was the case. Sumiichiro covered his mouth with his hand, unable to hide his shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seleno Aqua suburbs, IF Space Force Martian Detachment, Rifferdor Keynes Base
Around that time, at the International Federation Space Forces base located on the outskirts of Seleno Aqua, a man was recording a video message to send to Earth. His name was Toshimichi Togo, an Imperial Japanese Space Force pilot currently on an assignment with the IFSF at their lunar base. Following the attack on Mars, he had been accompanying the IF diplomatic mission from Earth to Mars as their escort.
In his quarters at the military barracks, Togo started recording the message using a wristwatch-like device. He addressed his son, who lived on Earth, in the message.
"Long time no see, Daiki. Actually, it's still a secret, but... I've been assigned to a mission that might bring me back to Earth. It's not for another month or so, but there's a chance I might get to see you guys again. I'll try to negotiate with the higher-ups to make some time for us. Is mom doing well? She's been dealing with a lot during my long-term assignments, and I haven't made things easy. Please tell her I'm sorry. I'm looking forward to the day we can meet again. See you."
Togo recorded a video that lasted about 30 seconds and sent it to Earth via email. Interplanetary emails were transmitted through relay satellites stationed at various points in the solar system and delivered to Earth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earth
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, Japanese Empire
Meanwhile, there were new developments on Earth. The Japanese government, upon the Union Queen's request for a meeting with the Emperor, had instructed various government agencies to prepare for the reception of the Queen's delegation. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a group of young bureaucrats had been gathered, and they were given a particular directive. Among them was Tenmei Niwatsukino.
"You are... to participate in the preliminary discussions between our country and the Space Drifters Union, which will take place in Seleno Aqua on Mars prior to the Union Queen's visit to Japan," explained their superior.
He elaborated on the reason they had been summoned. Their task was to prepare for the Queen's visit and make meticulous preparations for smooth negotiations, cultural differences, and ensuring a welcoming environment when the actual meeting took place. Given the important role they were assigned in bridging the gap between space and Earth, the foreign affairs bureaucrats couldn't help but break a sweat.
"...We accept the mission wholeheartedly!" Niwatsukino responded with enthusiasm.
One month later, negotiations between Earth and the Union would progress to a new stage.