"You have put me in an awkward position. I had hoped to save as many people as possible on my return, but this is astonishing and just too much. I don't know what to say. Ho, you've really created an atmosphere and Sister, your ultimatum keeps me from doing what I intended. I'm expected to be interviewed in a few moments, is there anything you want to say?" Wu Hai threw his weight around, he had come for a specific reason and now everything was drastically more complicated than he could have imagined.
"No. Emperor. There is no excuse." Ho knelt down, apologetic. His actions struck the rest of the quartet as odd. Not daring to interrupt their Elder Brother, the New Emperor, they stood there silent and watched.
"I don't have time for this, Go join the others in the relief efforts. I have my interview, maybe I can clean this up." Wu Hai grabbed Kuzunoha and channeled in the other hand.
They were gone.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
-"Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Jan Trensta and I have some exciting news and a special guest that many of you won't believe. So make sure to sit back and watch, this is Esper Watch, Live." Jan muted her microphone to let some previous recordings and introductions to the studio play over the airwaves, though for what reason she didn't know or care.
The Cameras were pointed in a corner of a room Wu Hai had been to earlier during the brief tour. Situated on the far side of the City, its multi-functional antennae allowed upload to the servers Worldwide. It panned out showing the full size of the set, it large stone platform in the Center.
"Its time." Signaling to her crew, she hit the button to unmute her microphone and came back to the audience.
-"Okay, I'm back and our special guest is on his way. First I just wanted to say a few things about the Espers and recent events." She shuffled some paper. "There are a lot of problems in the world, we've all experienced some sort of hardship. The loss, the pain, its not unique to our Species. The world will be forever scarred, changed unequivocally by our own hands."
-"I have confirmation, our guest is on his way. He's just finished meeting with his entourage and being briefed at this moment. I'm very excited, are you excited." She panned the camera to the crew and kept talking. "These .. are the faces of those who've helped make this place possible, its all thanks to their hard work and dedication that we can bring these important updates to the World."
The Camera blinked a bit, a signal that it would be damaged if it was too close. they pulled back. A black dot started forming near the center of the rock stage, a gift from Ho to help stop the unnecessary destruction of electrical equipment when he arrived through teleportation.
The Dot grew, larger than it had been before on camera. Two people materialized and a slight wave of force could be measured on the equipment tables in the building. It shook the dust loose from the ceiling.
-"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. I GIVE YOU. THE ESPER EMPEROR!"
Strange music played over the airwaves in a clipping. The studio was silent for a second, and then the broadcast continued.
'and friend?' Jan was very interested in their embrace, the Esper Emperor held her closely.
Standing in front of her audience, Jan took a bow. Wu Hai released Kuzunoha and acknowledged her for her help.
-"Thank you for your introduction. I am Zao Wu Hai, Prince of the Zao Clan, The Esper Emperor. A great many things have been told to me about what happened after my departure. It leaves me saddened to see my homeworld, the people of my own past, so self-destructive. I also learned a great many things since our departure, things that change the very nature of what we know of reality. I won't be sharing these secrets today though. There are more pressing matters." Wu Hai looked over at Kuzunoha to make sure she wasn't scowling at him and continued. His gaze went unnoticed for the moment.
-"I was told of the bombing. I have sent my forces out to establish more relief to the population in the area. If you interfere and cause violence, they have orders to act as they see fit. Whomever is responsible will be brought before me. I don't intend to act as judge jury and executioner before the worlds eyes. Those responsible will be handed to the survivors, so that they may see the Justice and closure your world seems to vomit about from time to time." Wu Hai's attitude grew sour, Kuzunoha put her hand on his and he calmed down. He was furious, rightfully so. The troubles he was now put in over the decisions of a Child.
'I bet my Father felt like this' Sighing, The Emperor stood up and adjusted himself.
-"I am going out after this interview to speak to World Leaders individually, if they aren't already, expect my arrival. Those of you watching, make sure they are available. The radiation seems contained at the ground zero, fallout over the ocean and rainforest will take some time to recover but the environment of the Amazon has always been one of great changes in little steps. I will have a wall built around the blast site, mark it forbidden to this worlds people, for a time. Now, that we have discussed the disaster this worlds people have allowed to happen, as Emperor I will speak about my people." Wu Hai stood up and helped Kuzunoha to her feet. "Please introduce yourself."
Kuzunoha bowed to the camera a bit, acknowledging her status.
-"I must begin by saying I am a Japanese woman, born in Nagano. Our generational traditions, the belief's of our ancestors, and the heritage we held dear.. Is 'all' true." Kuzunoha pulled out a drawing, depicting the fight between Ammuru and the Zao Clan at Greensong.
-"It must be comical to some of the viewers, bringing out a cloth bolt instead of a digital picture, but mediums like that have a tendency to be destroyed rather quickly on Shiyan. So please, hold your comments" Wu Hai spoke up, breaking the silence while she held it up for the Camera. It was screenshot and held in the background of the room, projected on the wall.
-"Devils. Demons. Undead. Vampires. Great Evils do exist. And before such a strange line of rumors begin, the origin of Evil is not among a single world. Evil exist as a byproduct of action, many of the Demons decided to fight against the forces of evil. Has the world ever wondered how the concept of a good Demon was started? Just because a thing can do a thing, doesn't make the thing vile, only capable. Application implies action." Kuzunoha pulled out a large claw and placed it onto the floor. It was simply too heavy to move.
-"This dog-like foot was actually from a Raijū, a mythical creature in Japan and parts of China. Yet.. here is one of its paws. Entire packs of these beings roam the countryside in some areas of our world. Exactly how does such a thing become known worlds away? Its not a coincidence, though I don't have all the answers myself the answer is clear. The gap between our worlds, the one crossed for our arrival, has been crossed before." Kuzunoha didn't want to stand around, she was worried about the state of the world. Everyone she use to know back in Japan was probably watching the broadcast. She waved. "To my countrymen, I give my hope. My hope that many of you have come to join us. But, we have more urgent problems concerning this world, right now."
Wu Hai stepped forward, prepared to speak. He adjusted his posture one last time and started his final statements.
-"Thank you, Jan, for inviting us to come and speak before the people. I have to say, this is much more convenient a method of information sharing. Also, I have to say something concerning the matters of migration to this area. It is uncontrolled, so many of you displace yourselves in a blind hope to come along to our world. This was not my intention, but my Brother. As the Emperor, I would never have promised such a thing. Zao Ho's word as a member of the Zao Family gives him the authority to make decisions in my stead, so it was said, and so it shall be done. The word of the Zao Family is unbreakable." Wu Hai flared the light in his eyes and stared back into the cameras. "If fate sees you to the Jungle City, I will bring you along. If violence brings you, you have only yourself to blame."
-"Emperor, before you go, my message board is teeming with one question more than any other, would you mind answering just this request before ending the interview? Jan looked like she would be harassed if she didn't answer. Wu Hai nodded. Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, Jan asked,
-"is it true? Is the Empress Japanese?" Kuzunoha blushed and remained silent.
-"Ahem.. " Wu Hai cleared his throat. "We have planned nothing as formal as that just yet, however." He looked over at Kuzunoha and then back at the Camera. "Matters of the Zao Empire hierarchy haven't been settled, it would be immature and out of character of me to say otherwise. I believe that formalities can wait given our current situation." He didn't deny it and Kuzunoha looked quite pleased.
-"I have to make preparations. Thank you for your council, We will be leaving." Wu Hai's channeling had already been finished, he needed only to apply the last touch.
-"See you soon" Jan waved to the camera and then stared at the gap where the two had just been. Feeling the mood, she got up and started taking posters down from the walls.
Her crew looked puzzled and then she gave them an order. "We won't be here much longer, pack everything neatly, bring us down to bare essentials."