Mara started to get frustrated by what Yemon said. She stuttered because she could not believe her ears.
"D-Don't tell me you called this many people to c-commit a petty crime?!"
The others were waiting on Yemon to reply to them. Jo added with Mara some supporting words to divulge the matter even more.
"I thought we were doing some cool shit together."
"Hold on a minute now. Let me explain. The important part is what we are stealing."
Yemon calmed their worries by steering them right back to the path they were supposed to take.
"We are not talking about stealing jewellery, bonds or money from the bank. It is something bigger than that."
Omocha inquired.
"What could be bigger than money?"
"For that, you all need to listen to me carefully. You may sit somewhere and relax."
Omocha was already sitting on an old table so he stayed where he was.
Shi, Gui, Jo and Lumen slowly grabbed some dusty chairs and placed them near Yemon. Lumen was still having her problem because she was limping. To set up the chair, Virus helped her.
Mara stood still and waited. Gello was still leaning his back to the wall at the corner. Since he would still hear Yemon, that was okay.
Seeing that everyone was ready to listen to his explanation, he started.
"What I am about to say, stays between us, 9 people. Even if you still do not agree to join me, feel free to leave but don't disclose this to anyone."
"""....."""
"Okay, you bunch are as quiet as good students."
They all were waiting for Yemon to start speaking. The reason for their gathering would be revealed. With a cough, he commenced.
"In the year 2020, when all mythical beasts known as the 'Rougarou', were all slaughtered by the Hero Ryouma and his party, who is now the Emperor, the world started to rebuild itself."
The criminals were wondering why he was narrating the Earth's past disastrous danger that loomed everywhere.
Nonetheless, they did not try to stop him.
"The world rebuild itself faster than usual. Development happened rapidly. What do you all think was the cause of the faster rate of growth?"
Yemon looked at everyone's eyes, hoping for someone to answer. He was making this room like a small class with his students.
That is why he wanted to be interactive with them while telling them the real reason to be here.
No one seemed to know the answer but Virus, who was standing beside Lumen, replied with uncertainty.
"Mana?"
"Yes, Mana was the major component for the world to stand up on its feet rapidly."
Yemon continued.
"Emperor Ryouma was the one that brought out the ways to use mana. Scientists from then till now have not understood the origin of mana but its usage is crucial."
Most of them somehow guessed that the matter would focus around mana, a precious component.
"Now, there was something else that was as precious as Mana. Can you all guess what this is?"
Now, no one could really deduce the exact material that Yemon asked for. He was still waiting for an answer.
Virus lifted both his shoulder, signalling that he did not know.
Jo complained.
"History was not my forte so can you just tell us?"
Yemon then ignored the procedure of asking them and then gave the answer himself.
"It is the Roukai Stones."
"The fuck is that?" Jo inquired quite annoyingly.
Yemon, nevertheless, did not mind his rude attitude and explained about the precious material.
"Roukai stones are a type of stone that was scavenged from the weak point of the 'Rougarou'. More specifically, around its heart."
"Wait a minute."
They all looked at Shi because he interrupted the 'lecture'. Shi had a question in mind so he expressed his doubt.
"How did they know about that material? The Rougarou was a creature that was unknown to Earth."
"That was because Emperor Ryouma himself told scientists about that precious stone. For someone who has fought those beasts for 2 years, it is understandable that he knows about its anatomy more than anyone."
"Oh...Okay." Shi's doubt was cleared.
Not only him, but every other who did not know this part of the story took that bit of knowledge.
At school, they would not dwell in too much detail when narrating the history of the recent catastrophe.
Moreover, most students would not want to know more since nowadays, there wasn't any danger like that whatsoever.
There were a few that questioned the teachers however, they were steered away from the subject and carry on casually on some other topic.
"Anyway, those Roukai Stones are in abundance in big countries with large areas. Japan falls short in that field compared to the other powerful countries."
A big area meant a large number of Rougarous were present. It was such a disadvantageous for big countries during the time of Eschaton.
After its massacre, those same big countries benefited because of its abundant resources.
"Roukai Stones can be used as fuel. Omocha, you were part of the SMF, right? Then you must have known about the machines and gadgets that are equipped for a large scale mission."
Jin, Omocha was intrigued by where this is going.
"Yes, I know."
"Then what do those machines need to operate?"
"...Roukai Stones."
Jo was a little bit surprised by Omocha. He kept quiet when that stone was mentioned
"Wait, you knew about the Roukai Stone?"
Understanding by what Jo meant, Omocha enlightened him.
"Only soldiers of the SMF and the authority above knows about that. When I was in the SMF, I was told not to tell anyone outside the SMF by my superior so I obeyed."
"That is true." Yemon supported Omocha's claims
Yemon continued.
"Only higher-ups know about it. This material is that important. Japan uses it for research and its connection with mana. Many experiments are done with it. But the problem does not lie in Japan.
Everyone raised an eyebrow at what Yemon stated.
"The problem lies in America."
"...How so?" Gui asked.
"Previously, I said that Roukai stones are used for highly crucial machines and developments. And America has it in large quantity."
Yemon looked like he was about to reveal the problem that could not be left unattended.
They all prepared for his mouth to utter the trouble.
"America is planning to make a bomb, bigger than a nuclear one."
"What?" Omocha was stupefied.
They all gasped at the claims Yemon announced.
"Oi oi, are you for real? Why would they make that kind of thing?"
Jo inquired, this time with a serious tone. It was not only their problem, it was the world's entire problem.
Yemon quoted his way of words.
"No matter how much destruction the Earth has endured, politics will stay the same."
He continued.
"America has the upper hand in political grounds due to the huge possession of Roukai Stones."
"This is strange!" Shi exclaimed. "Why would they think from that point of view even when the world had been on the brink of peril?"
However, Yemon instead looked at Shi as if he was spouting inaudible nonsense.
"What is strange about that? No matter how destructive Tsunamis or Earthquakes would get, did politics change?"
That caught Shi off guard while the others could comprehend the kind of logic Yemon implied.
"No matter what, almost all humans get distracted quickly with greed."
Unexpectedly, Gello opened his mouth for the first time and even backed Yemon.
"He is right. Humans' lust for money and power is devastating. Am I wrong?"
He lifted his head as he revealed more of his green eyes to the group of criminals.
Shi, Virus, Gui and Omocha stayed quiet whilst Mara and Jo looked gloomier than usual. It is obvious that they felt empathy from Gello's piercing statement.
In the end, no one rebuked his heavy words.
Followed after that, Yemon concluded the lesson.
"The bomb that America is creating is going to be used to compete in power with other countries, Japan included. It is still in progress. Our job is to stop it."
"...How?" Gui asked.
"As I said. We are going to steal. Steal some documents and blueprints of the bomb that are heavily guarded."
Now that Yemon's objection was clear to every one of them, he waited for anyone to raise a question.
"""....."""
But what he received was a resignment from Gui.
"Why do 'we' have to do all of this. Just call the SMF or Heroes to do that kind of job. This is way out of our leagues."
"I would but the problem is that the SMF is not up to that level of mission and as for the Heroes, well.....let's just say that it is not suitable for their kind."
"What a load of crap."
"Moreover, you all came here for something, right?"
That one caught the interest of all the criminals.
Anything they desired.
That was the deal for completing the job. But it was hard to believe. There had to be some proof that Yemon is capable of that.
Nevertheless, he already prepared for this scenario.
"I said anything you want, right? Gui. When we first met, what did I do to convince you to come here?"
"...T-That's..."
"I gave you something you wanted, correct?"
"....."
"Can you tell everyone what I gave you?"
They all looked at Gui. He was the centre of attraction and also the one to confirm the veracity of the deal.
He remembered the first time he encountered Yemon, the fight, the negotiation and the....bargaining chip. The content that was wrapped in an oilcloth was the deciding factor.
Gui was about to expose the content that he received on that day. It was.....
".....A chunk of human flesh."
Yemon curled his lips into a thin smile.
The others could not believe it. Jo was disgusted by Gui and Yemon. He reaffirmed to GUI whilst sickened of the thought.
"You wanted...a human flesh...? What did you do with...it?"
Gui glanced at Jo and smirked without any hesitation
"To eat."
Oda Saburo, aka Gui, was a cannibal that feast upon human flesh. He would attack civilians and bring them into clandestine.
In the darkness, the munching of terror hovered around Japan who was in fear of Gui's bloodied teeth.
That was Oda Saburo, the most feared cannibal in Japan.
"Do you want more?"
Gui retracted his gaze towards Yemon and replied excitedly.
"Of course. It has been a while since I savoured the peculiar taste of the human flesh."
Shi and Jo were creeped out. The rest was trying to determine if what he said was the truth.
Was Yemon capable of giving them anything they wanted?
If that is so then, this is favourable to everyone.
"Yemon, are you confident that you will grant any desire that I wish for." Jo again reassured his resolve.
"Except for a sexual intercourse with you, I'll give you anything."
The unwavering tone added his credibility on the matter. He looked at each and every criminals that pondered on the offer.
The first one to have reached his ends was Jo who sighed deeply.
"Well, I'm in. You better keep your end of the deal, Yemon."
"I will." Without a hint of indesiciveness, he agreed.
Gui invaded their agreement declared.
"I am sure that Yemon will provide me with all I need so I am also in."
"...Gross," Jo mumbled.
Shi was next, "I have no choice but to be part of it from the very start, right?"
Shi referred to the time Yemon blackmailed him into entering this group. Even if Yemon said that he would not meddle when they would leave after he explained everything, there was still a doubt.
It was not 100% that Yemon would leave Shi because he disclosed something very important.
So to make sure that his identity remains hidden, he unwillingly joined.
Virus was next as he simple announced.
"I am in."
Lumen shyly and stutteringly showed her decision.
"...I-I'm in..."
Omocha who was still sitting on the table, scoffed.
"I initially came here to see the intriguing events that would occur. And, I am intrigued to know more so I will stay."
He added more as he stared at Yemon, "Besides, I am a former SMF, I still feel a sense of protecting my country."
The way Omocha said that was considered strange by the others.
"What a load of crap again." Jo had to always comment on everything that unfolded.
Mara and Gello were left. Mara still had her uncertain emotion about this.
".....Yem-"
"Do not falter Mara, I am here, ensuring that whatever you need help with, it will definitely be tended to. So, decide without regret."
It was a push for Mara. However, he did not know if it was enough. But he soon knew.
"...I'll join."
Yemon smiled at her and respected her decision. The last potential member to join this group was Gello.
It was not that hard for him to say yes.
But he carried his voice intending to be unneeded here. He was wondering why he has been chosen in the first place.
He hoped that he was the wrong person to be here.
What made him agree was a feeling of coercion that Shi felt. That refusing this offer would land them in trouble.
In the end...
"I will join too."
Everyone officially became part of something revolutionary, that no one seemed to notice at the start.