[1591]
- In Japan, Prince Iwasawa Masahiro would receive praises for his extremely acute medical knowledge and interests that even his father remarked to be "utterly impressive". Armed with this and the nearly bottomless riches that his family and family's friends has, he would embark in a research venture to "eradicate diabetes, cancer and smallpox before year 1600". When asked later if he meant to create better vaccines or intervention medication for the diseases, he'd reply: "Why stop at that? Let's wipe them out altogether!". For this, he consulted countless experts, going as far as visiting former Shogun Amanogawa Sora and Lady Amanogawa Chiasa who were both epidemiologists in their prior career. In the first year alone, he would create a reagent against diabetes that can act as a substitute for insulin-producing cells. However, he'd remark that this is just a stop-gap measure that still needs to be constantly applied, a far cry from the lasting solution that he envisions.
- Out of the blue, the death of Lady Daigo Shizuka would be declared, sending shock among the populace of Kise and the southern alliance. Although an autopsy would state that she died of natural causes through a heart attack, fellow Shrine Priestesses Akizuki Hisako and Azusagawa Maaya would state that the nature of her death was clearly affected by the supernatural. With the aid of Furuya shrine maidens Momiji Kurumi and Tanukichi Reiha, it was said that they performed a ritual in Furuya prefecture's Mori forest which opened a passageway to Yomi where they met with a piece of Daigo Reika's consciousness. There, she told them that her sister's life was taken by karmic justice as retribution to her prior actions as a traitor to the Phoenix spirit and their people. With this information, they would return to the surface world and claim that there is nothing to be done. With this, the lordship of Kise would be handed to Daigo Hajime, Shizuka's son and husband of Kusanagi Kagome, the daughter of Lady Kusanagi Kyoko.
- With his age of 67 and his desire to return to civilian life, Admiral Fumikage Ryuusui would retire from Kiko's navy and return to his homeland where he'd still teach in the naval academies from time to time. During one of these lectures, he would tease General Shimura Nobisuke to also retire already, something that annoyed the other man. However, an off-hand comment by General Shimura's wife, Lady Mizuki Rin, stated that her husband was indeed considering to retire given his age.
- Unfortunately for General Ishida Takeo, before he can retire from his position, a plane crash involving him and his close subordinates happened, causing his death. A subsequent investigation would later find the cause of the crash to be an accidental bird strike, removing the fears that it was an assassination attempt. He would become the first Japanese general to die in a plane crash.
- Japan's involvement in the British civil war would be exposed inside Kiko's military circle after the death of General Ishida when a dossier addressed to the Shadow Brokers stated that the 500 "mercenaries" that aided the retaking of Britain came from the military company. After forming a private court martial and forcing a summons to the company's founder and owner, Himeji Kotori, into it. general Shimura would grill her for an explanation but to no avail after she stated that "it's private information, I cannot tell you any of that".
- Thinking that this is just another provocative action by her, general Shimura would threaten her with the dismissal of her subordination to the Iwasawa clan which he knew she absolutely did not want to happen. However, the hearing would be cut short with the arrival of Lord Iwasawa who would state that it was him who ordered the clandestine military aid and Himeji Kotori was also kept in dark about it. Although he seem to have doubts about his master's alibi, general Shimura would obey his master and begrudgingly cut her loose of the accusations.
[1592]
- The British civil war raged on at the hills and forests of Wales and Scotland where the artillery and air-burst shells borrowed by the loyalist side from the Japanese embassy shred through the numerically-superior rebels. Sporadic sniper shots would also deprive the rebel side of talented officers and noble leaders, causing extreme losses of morale and leadership in their ranks. By the beginning of summer, Wales would be retaken from rebel control, cornering Lord Hansel at the highlands of Scotland.
- With his french patrons out of the conflict after the French and allied forces signed a peace treaty, Lord Hansel would send letters to Spain and Portugal's royal courts, requesting aid that the two nations readily gave after hearing the offer of handing them the British colonies in the Americas (which he already gave to France, effectively making them all fight over it in the end). Spain would send warships and Portugal would ship out hundreds of slave soldiers from the west to fight with the rebel faction.
- Mysteriously, none of the ships sent by both Spain and Portugal would come to aid Lord Hansel, making his losses in the civil war to continue to mount up. While some argued that both countries rescinded their support after hearing about how fast France was invaded before, and some reasoned that it's likely that the fleets were sunk in the Atlantic. A file from the Shadow Brokers that were later declassified would confirm that the fleet was attacked by their attack submarine at the middle of the sea. When asked where they managed to get a submarine with enough nautical range to reach the other side of the world, Lady Himeji Kotori would say: "You'd be surprised what a bunch of engineers, given enough beer and scrap metal, can make when they're bored".
- A boom in the computer market would happen, largely facilitated by new semiconductor fabrication architectures and methods. It was later revealed that this technological boom was made by crown prince Iwasawa Miyuki who made the Dori corporation, Yamato consortium and SINAG company to finally standardize their hardware, limiting their competition to performance, efficiency and most importantly, cost. With this increase in the technological performance in Japan, Prince Miyuki set out to create the computer technology that his father has dreamed to make for a long time called a "Quantum computer". It is said that the moment his son mentioned that goal, Lord Iwasawa personally contacted a bunch of his friends who were immediately on board with the task.
- Princess Iwasawa Mikazuki would win in the 24th season of "Quick Fire!", the televised competition of home cooks vying to become master chefs. In order to avoid a controversy regarding "unfair judgment" as she has family members among the Iwasawa and Amanogawa clans, the final round was turned into a blind taste test where she would barely beat her opponent who coincidentally made the same desert as her in the form of a peach and mango tiramisu. She would later create her own restaurant together with her triplet sister, Iwasawa Mayumi, who graduated with a business degree from the Aoyama Women's College.
- Prince Iwasawa Haruo would disappear for two weeks, prompting a region-wide, and later nationwide search for him. It was said that Lady Iwasawa Sayuri would cry for days on end while being comforted by her mother-in-law, Iwasawa Chiyo, and sister-in-law, Iwasawa Haruna. He would finally be found at an inn at Niijima province after the owner reported the "missing person" to former Shogun Sora.
- After a long list of medical checks that all showed that he was never harmed, he was grilled by his immediate family about why he disappeared and how he ended up in Niijima. He would state that he is just as confused as they are, saying that he was taking a nap at his office after handling a matter in the Kiko army, and when he woke up, he was in Niijima and it has already been 2 weeks since then. When he tried to prod his mind for any memories, he suddenly winced in pain shortly before passing out again. After waking up an hour later, he would write a sentence in a strange language that no one initially understood. It was only later after Lord Hiroshi read the sentence that someone understood it, but save for Lady Chiyo, no one would know what it meant. However, it soon became apparent that whatever it was, it made Lord Hiroshi contemplate about stepping down as the ruling Daimyo.
[1593]
- The British civil war would continue to rage on and would spread in the Americas after French, Spanish and Portuguese forces demanded the British colonials to hand over their towns and cities, citing the treaty given to them earlier by Lord Hansel. A war between these four factions would later begin when the three other colonial forces argued about who has the true treaty offer while the British colonials denied being ever under the rule of Lord Hansel and the offers he can give.
- The participation of Shadow Broker operators in various battle areas began to grow ever greater as the conflicts continued in Europe and Asia. Being outside of the jurisdiction and limitations of conventional forces such as the Japanese military and the Lords' private forces, they enjoyed a wide range of freedoms stifled only by a few lines of legal codes and what their company founder and owner deems to "not infringe on the warning given by Lord Iwasawa".
- In China, the various warlords and regional councils that ruled the nation's provinces after the collapse of the central imperial government began to war more and more, goaded by the trade offers of Spanish and Portuguese traders who gave them weapons in exchange for exotic goods such as spices, silk and gold. When some of these weaker provinces ran out of such goods, they began to enter the slave trade, handing out their own citizens just for a chance to become powerful enough to survive in the cruel, war-torn anarchic country. After hearing this, Japan would send word to their south-east Asian allies who blockaded the sea for the sake of stifling the slave trade. However, this was circumnavigated when the traders simply made use of the ancient Tea Road that goes through the northern face of the Himalayas and into Persia where they are too far to be meddled with.
- Multiple victories of the loyalist forces in Scotland ended the civil war after much of the lords on his side abandoned their support to Lord Hansel, intending to hand him over in exchange for having their lives spared. However, Lord Hansel would escape on a ship heading to South Africa, rendering his men's plea void and ending up with them being hanged. Although she became victorious in the civil war, none of it made Queen Theodora happy, especially when her traitorous nephew is still at large.
- Prince Iwasawa Masahiro's first major achievement in his medical venture was presented in that year's National Medical Convention where he successfully created a genetic engineering method that made immune-system cells very effective against cancer cells. He also presented the progress of his ongoing research about using the same method to culture stem cells that are immune from ever growing cancerous, showing off its progress in the form of a mouse that was genetically engineered to never have cancer, with the downside of it having delayed bodily growth. While some doctors in the audience expressed concern about the side effect, others saw it a good thing as it meant that it effectively halved the aging rate and doubled the life span of the test subject.
- Upon the request of Queen Theodora III of Britain, Shadow Broker operators would train the British royal guards in modern warfare, training them with the use of modern firearms and even specialized skills such as bomb-making and defusing, aerial insertion through gliders and night combat tactics. By the end of the year-long training, it was said that the royal guards became one of the most effective armed groups in Europe, later proven by an unsanctioned "final test" when over the course of a month, their members infiltrated France one-by-one during their vacation time, entered several palaces of French nobles, stole an object from it without being noticed, and later mailing them back to each respective noble owner alongside a note: "Votre femme a ete gentille" (Your wife was kind), a largely untrue accusation whose aim is to infuriate the owner.
- With the death of Duke Harold and the treachery of Duke Hansel, Prince Liam became the last eligible heir to the British throne and thus, became the subject of the attention of all people who vied for power in the country. Knowing this, Queen Theodora sent him to Japan under the guardianship of the Iwasawa clan where he was encouraged to enter a university and learn to adopt new technologies and knowledge to better prepare him for his eventual enthronement.
- Consul Asada Tatsu would request to Lord Iwasawa to be relieved of his position, citing his age and desire to be closer to his late wife in case he ultimately dies. After confirming that his son is knowledgeable, experienced and willing to take on his work, he would formally retire and return to Japan with accolades equaling that of a hero's welcome. He would retire at the Asada clan's estate situated at the western coastal border of the Fumikage domain. Here, he would continue to write books and manuals regarding political theory and geopolitics, sometimes going to universities to give lectures. He would later be approached by Prince Liam, who soon became his apprentice regarding diplomacy.
- Being heirs to great nations, Princes Miyuki, Haruo and Liam would be found bonding regarding their shared statuses and responsibilities. They would usually be found at the same fishing lounge in Shinka province that Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi, Lord Yamaguchi Koshiro and their other male friends would hang around at. Rumors would later circulate that during a drinking session, Prince Miyuki would state that he isn't really confident about being the one to take over Kiko and he'd rather have his more dependable and capable younger brother do it.
- After entering Kiko Polytechnic University for a double-bachelor's degree in both civil engineering and political science, Prince Liam would also enter a discipleship under Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi in technological skills and statesmanship. He would later credit the brilliance of Lord Iwasawa's teaching in his mostly successful reign over Britain.
- With the growing industrialization of both Prussia and Britain after both nations fully adopted steam power, their respective economies and technological prowess grew exponentially. By the end of the year, steam locomotives that were copied from scale-models from Japan were made in Britain and work on railways between some major English cities was made. In Prussia, they were a bit more successful because of their large iron deposits that allowed numerous trial-and-error attempts, adopting electric instead of steam-powered locomotives, as well as assistance from Japanese engineers. At the Prussian capital, a tram car system would be formed by the end of the year, allowing workers to commute faster and safer from the residential districts to the industrial quarters. Seeing this progress, the king would later charter for an expansion of the railways to other cities.
[1594]
- Shogun Amanogawa Riku would lead the yearly opening of the National Diet, giving a speech that he would later be known for where he reported that the birthrate is beginning to stagnate and with only a handful of modernized nations to trade with, Japan's economy is also beginning to stagnate. Because of this, he made some initiatives about turning the "6-day & 12-hour" working week into a "4-day & 8 hour" working week. While some industry leaders and famed company owners tried to complain, Edogawa Gin of the Edogawa corporation would later unilaterally adopt the proposal and a month later, would show a statistic chart which showed that his companies' values grew and incidences of worker fatigue and complaints tanked to nearly single digits.
- Hearing about the success of Prince Liam's studies in Japan, the king of Prussia would send his daughter, Princess Valerie von Reibnitz, to Japan for the same reason under the guardianship of the Asada clan. There, she would enter Kiko National University where she would take a double-bachelors' degree in political science and microbiology, the latter course being for the sake of further refining her country's growing prominence in the alcohol industry of Europe. It was said that in her first year here, she would come across Prince Iwasawa Masahiro during one of his biology lectures and fall for his looks and brilliance, only learning from her friends later on that as a prince of the Iwasawa family, he likely already has a fiancee.
- Rumors of Duke Hansel forming another invasion attempt to retake Britain surfaced when the British colonial government of South Africa noticed a surge of anti-colonial sentiment among the native tribes and even members of the local academia. The same trend happened in the colonies in America when the reason for the war against French, Spanish and Portuguese colonials was turned into a narrative of "all these problems coming from the monarchy in Europe". All of this arrived at the attention of Queen Theodora who finally decided to "dispatch the problem at its roots".
- Three weeks after she decided to act, a group of British Royal guards, armed with Japanese firearms and equipment that they acquired through the Shadow Brokers company, secretly arrived in South Africa where another squad that arrived a week before briefed them about the rumored hideout of Duke Hansel. After formulating a strategy and informing their reinforcements made up of Shadow Broker operators about being their over watch and sniper support, they would conduct the manhunt operation for the most wanted man in Britain.
- Over the course of six months, Duke Hansel would keep evading his pursuers, changing from hideouts to hideouts, and crossing both jungles and deserts until their chase ended up in Egypt where after convincing an Ottoman governor to shelter him in exchange for promising to convert to Islam and marrying his daughter after he becomes king (which was an obvious lie given Duke Hansel's extremely misogynistic attitude and overt homosexuality), the combined British forces and Shadow Broker operators would conduct what is essentially the first "covert raid" outside of Japan.
- Utilizing a mountaintop near the governor's palace, the British guards and a handful of operators would glide into the courtyard with the cover of the night and low clouds. With the operators calling in sniper support, they would dispatch the overlooking guards at the gate and enter the palace. 20 minutes later, an explosion at the west side of the palace would ring out, taking the full attention of the guards for a few minutes, enough for the combined raiding force to escape with the dead body of their target.
- The morning after, they sailed to Greece wherein during their voyage, the operators would continue to preserve the body using formaldehyde. Later on, they were picked up by a helicopter from Prussia and a week after he was killed, the identity of Duke Hansel was confirmed, amusingly enough from a preserved semen sample donated by one of his former male lovers. With this, Britain finally managed to breathe a sigh of relief and the negative sentiment about the royal family disappeared like a mist (mostly after rumors of how they chased and put down Duke Hansel all across Africa was narrated in pubs and coffee houses).
[1595]
- Black Forest Brewery company, the Prussian company owned by the royal family and equipped with state-of-the-art tools and techniques for the production of alcohol, took over the entirety of Europe's beer and ale industry. With over 30 products, half of which they locally formulated and refined, they would become the leading alcohol producer in the continent. Their two most famous products are the Soaring Kirin, which is a 5% ABV Japanese beer they licensed from the Edogawa Brewery that is well-loved for its crisp taste and easy-to-knock-back texture, and Balmung, an 8% ABV local beer liked for its more "robust and carbonated" taste. By the end of their first fiscal year, it is said that they sold over 3 million bottles of beer, equaling to no less than 1 million liters of the beverage.
- As the representative of Prussia in Japan, Princess Valerie would facilitate the Black Forest Brewery's acquisition of additional equipment and hiring of consultants for their planned expansion next year. Still not used with the local customs and not confident that she can properly converse with the company officers of Nuko Heavy Industries (where the Edogawa corporation orders most of their heavy machinery), she'll asked her friends if they know anyone who can interpret for her, only to end up asking for the favor from Prince Iwasawa Masahiro. They would later meet with one of the company's founders and owners, Imai Chito, who surprised Valerie after talking to her in fluent German. It is said that after this event, the she and Prince Masahiro would be occasionally seen discussing at the university's campus and nearby cafes.
- The conflicts in the Americas finally died down after the end of what is later called "The New World Colonial Crisis". France, Spain and Portugal's hold in their colonies severely weakened after the countless wars that happened here since antiquity, as well as the massive slave revolts that they barely stifled by brutally massacring the participants. Learning about this, the British and Prussian colonists began to harass them, essentially taking up the entire northern half of the continent exclusively under their own control. By autumn, they would posture for the invasion of Mexico and the rest of central America.
- Aiming to replace their losses after executing their slaves that joined the uprisings, south American plantation and mine owners imported a record-number of slaves sourced from West African and Arabic slave trading kingdoms. It is said that in the span of half a year, twice of the previous year's number of slaves was taken to colonial strongholds such as Brazil, Uruguay, Guanare, Cuba, Lima, Bogota and Cuba. This would only increase after the combined British and Prussian forces that assailed Mexico managed to topple its colonial government and effectively acquired naval supremacy at the gulf, possibly jeopardizing further deliveries of slaves difficult in the following years.
- A massive scandal would mire the Shadow Broker company after a documentary concerning its clandestine operations in China and Mongolia exposed numerous acts that include the unsanctioned use of poison gas, setting landmines on highways and inciting conflict through false-flag operations that would be labeled as war crimes.
- Furthermore, it was discovered that by pretending to be Portuguese or Spanish merchants, they would offer weapon supply and mercenary services to rival warlords, making them profit from both sides of the conflict. When demanded for a reply about this, Lady Himeji Kotori would state that she doesn't know about any of it and she already handed over the perpetrators and commanding officers who facilitated the heinous acts. It was said that General Shimura Nobisuke would be adamantly against her alibi, aware of her trickery and less than stellar principles.
[1596]
- At the age of 78, the former Internal government minister of Kiko and clan head of the Nagisa Clan for over 50 years, Nagisa Masami, would pass away in her family estate in Naka due to natural causes. She would leave behind her 60 year old husband, Shinju Kazuya, and 5 children who would mourn her death greatly. Leaving a legacy for female empowerment that many claim to be unbeatable, her then-contested status as one of Aoyama Women's College's founders would be set and she will be seen by all women, even in present times, as one that they aspire to be like.
- What would likely be Lady Nagisa's greatest contribution in protecting women however, was a series of laws nicknamed "The Human Cradle charter", which went against cultural biases against women's rights to marry and conceive, and a guarantee for access to education and protections against acts of violence. However, she would also include an extensive list of "responsibilities" tied to these "rights", which includes articles against false accusations, revocation of all financial support after a divorce when the woman commits adultery and many more that properly equalized the importance of men and women.
- After decades of natively developing their industries and entering the "electro-silicon" market through the Gwang Computer Company, Korea will see a massive growth in its economy after Japan helped facilitate trade relations between them and Europe. They will soon find their niche in the European market by reselling exotic Chinese items that not many merchants can take due to the conflicts in the region, as well as mechanical impediments like calculators and computers that Japan did not trade outside due to fears of technological leakage.
- At the age of 69, Akizuki Minori, known widely as "Kuro" or "Intelligence Director" would pass away due to natural causes at his home in the Fumikage domain of Kiko. Serving as the Aviary's director and Lord Iwasawa's retainer until his last breath, he will be given full military honors and on his gravestone, his formal title as one of Kiko's princes from the Akizuki dynasty will be stated. When asked why he never took away the title from him and even Princess Akizuki Hisako, Lord Iwasawa would say that "it didn't feel right for me to take away that title when this title was only given to me too". It was also revealed that on the same spot where he was buried, deposed Lord Akizuki Godan and the siblings' mother were also buried decades ago.
- After a year of dating Princess Valerie, Prince Iwasawa Masahiro would inform his family that he intends to take her as his fiancee and he will willingly hand over his title as prince of Kiko for it. Instead of indignation or objection however, his siblings would groan "Argh, Finally!" and "Thought you'll never say it" after hearing his announcement and even his parents would overtly exchange a 1000 yen bill, apparently betting on whether he'll actually inform them or just run away to elope with his lover (Lord Iwasawa lost the bet). His father would later tell him that he didn't need to give up his title and place in the family and that they were all on board with his desire to be with Princess Valerie. However, he was warned that as she is the heir of a foreign nation, he who is a foreigner would surely face problems as prince consort of the future queen.
- At the very same dinner, after having his fill with being teased by his sister, Prince Masahiro would expose that Princess Mayumi was planning to date Prince Liam of Britain, often using the fact that the Prince frequented her restaurant as an alibi for getting close with him. Unlike Prince Masahiro's case, it was said that Lord Iwasawa was caught unaware of this and would've confronted the British heir apparent if not for his wife and eldest son telling him to calm down. Knowing that he is overprotective with his daughters, Lady Chiyo took on the work of clearing things up and weighing if it would be good for her daughter and Prince Liam to continue their relationship. Ultimately, the relationship was broken off after Prince Liam admitted to Lady Chiyo that the one he's actually trying to court was Princess Mikazuki, who unfortunately was not interested with him at all.
[1597 – 1612] (Later known as 15 years of Global Stagnation)
- At 1599, Asada Tatsu would pass away in his home after a heart attack in his sleep. He would be given countless accolades for his long service as a diplomat and even being considered as the "Father of Japanese diplomacy". Just as he wished, he would be buried beside his wife whose skeleton was transferred to allow the two of them to embrace each other inside their coffin. Amusingly enough, the Hikigaya domain would discover an arrest warrant for him and as a lighthearted joke would declare his "punishment" to be: "years of loyal service to one's nation and becoming a loving husband".
- During the last years of the 1500s, massive disasters happened across the world. One of Indonesia's major volcanoes erupted with enough intensity to be felt all the way to Europe. At the aftermath of the eruption, the island chain where the volcano was located was literally wiped off from existence. This would trigger a period of global cooling where for months, the growth of crops were stunted, leading to famine and deaths through starvation. Then, massive hurricanes in the Atlantic and super typhoons in the Pacific ocean would form and slam towards populated landmasses, taking hundreds of thousands of lives and financial damages mounting to tens trillions.
- At 1601, former Shogun Amanogawa Sora and his wife, Amanogawa Chiasa, would pass away 1 month apart from each other. As Lady Chiasa was the first to pass away, his daughter and daughter-in-law, Princesses Kichi and Mariko would note that Lord Sora began to fervently pray for a peaceful death in order to join his wife in the afterlife. The prayer would be answered later on when before his afternoon sponge bath, his attendant would find Lord Sora lifeless on his rocking chair, dying from natural causes.
- At 1603, after over 70 years of loyal service to Kiko and his master, General Shimura Nobisuke would pass away from a combination of pancreatic cancer and diabetes. His widow, Mizuki Rin, would remark that if not for her insistence and threat to divorce him, late General Shimura wouldn't have retired and received the treatment made by Prince Masahiro that helped fend off the painful symptoms of his ailment and stifled the spread of his cancer. Unfortunately, years of being in a high-stress environment took a toll on his body and it ultimately caught up to him. During his funeral, his cousin, Lady Iwasawa Chiyo, would bid farewell to him as the closest person that he had to a sibling as well as being her father figure after he death of her father. Following his last will and testament, he will be buried in Aoya, beside two unmarked tombs that are rumored to belong to his father and mother whom he disowned and exiled decades ago. A year later, he will be followed by his wife, Mizuki Rin, who against the wishes of his retainers, ordered her body to be buried beside her husband.
- At 1605, Queen Theodora III, more well known to her friends in Japan as Sister Camilla Dormer, would pass away through natural causes. Many Japanese lords who knew of her would come to Britain to attend her final rites and the coronation of Prince Liam whom she requested to be crowned "at the presence of other great monarchs". Upon her request, Lady Imai Chito and Lady Handa Yukari would give an elegy for her, stating their childhood memories with the late queen who raised them like her own children and they loved like their own mother.
- After being crowned, King Liam XVII would solidify the alliance between his kingdoms and its domains with Japan, and tackle the growing demand of British colonists in America to secede from British control. While he was initially supportive of the idea, reports that the colonists are intending to use the continent as a slave-powered nation soured his outlook and even with the threat of a full-blown war, remained decided with his demands.
- At 1606, Edogawa Gin would pass away from liver and kidney failure after his years of excessive alcohol abuse finally caught up to him. Although he is known in present times as a greedy and unrestrained capitalist, he would be well-regarded after his death as the man who would become the template of how to make the best possible ethical business to exist. To his friends however, his death was regarded as a great loss as he was known by the kids of his friends as their "cool uncle" and the bright and lively life of their get-togethers.
- At 1607, another disaster shook Japan when a major earthquake hit the Shogunate capital and resulting tsunami aggravated the destruction. It is said that by the time that everything calmed down, there were no standing structures in sight and countless bodies were literally strewn on the roads and floated at the sea nearby. One of these casualties was Shogun Amanogawa Riku, whose body took 3 days before being dug out of the debris of the totally destroyed Yamato State University's auditorium. With his death, his wife, Lady Amanogawa Mariko would rule as temporary regent while their son, Amanogawa Denji, is being prepared for his duty. Knowing that she needs to grieve her husband first, Prince Haruo would act as her substitute for the two weeks of the traditional mourning period.
- At 1608, with his very old age, Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi would abdicate the lordship of Kiko and hand it over to his son, Iwasawa Haruo, after his eldest son elected to have his younger brother take it. While many fellow lords initially questioned the timing of the hand-over as Lady Mariko is still the ruling Shogunate regent, effectively making two of the most powerful and influential positions in Japan to be held by an Iwasawa, they were promptly silenced by the Emperor who further reprimanded them for the accusation.
- At 1610, the research of Prince Masahiro was finally ended with the creation of several drugs and therapies that eradicated all three diseases that he set out to destroy 20 years ago. After the death of his father-in-law and the enthronement of his wife as the queen of Prussia, he will form an international organization aiming to disseminate the medical knowledge and aid from Japan and out to the wider world. In Prussia, Britain, Netherlands and Belgium, vaccination drives that effectively immunized an average of 90% of the population helped these nations to weather the incoming plagues that are about to sweep through Europe.
- At 1611, a series of plagues entered the middle east and Europe, taking countless lives along with it. At the beginning of the year, Dutch ships from China arrived with its sailors carrying measles, which they quickly spread in Italy. Mere weeks later, a ship from Cuba carrying reject slaves infected with smallpox facilitated an outbreak in Portugal. When those two initial illnesses began to be noticed, the worst one arrived in France from a Moorish caravan selling "exotic flying squirrels" that were carrying the Bubonic plague. In but a year, tens of millions would die and thousands would be permanently maimed, the only ones who would come largely unscathed are the four nations where modern medicine was widely accepted and immunization efforts were taken.
- At 1612, hopes of economic revival will be snuffed after a solar storm struck earth and rendered nearly all electronic devices irreparably damaged. It also brought down the countless satellites at near-earth orbit and not even the Japanese space station would be spared which was thankfully evacuated minutes before it was struck by the solar storm. While other nations were estimated to take years before they can return to their prior state, Japan managed to snap back to a relatively stable form after they initiated the "doomsday protocol" that Lord Iwasawa and Shogun Sora prepared decades ago, knowing the possibility of this catastrophic event. In days, basic radio services carrying news reports and announcements were brought back and every facet of the military was turned to relief aid and transport.
[1613 -1621] (later named as: The Dusk of Heroes)
- At 1613, at the age of 87, Lady Kusanagi Kyoko would pass away from the same disease that took her father. On her deathbed, she would continuously tease Lord Iwasawa and infuriate Lady Chiyo by requesting to hear the words: "I would've chosen you than her if I can go back in time". It was said that the old friends, which later included Lady Ayanami Mitsuhide, conversed until late at night about their youth and their adventures back then. Tomorrow morning, Lord Iwasawa would be the one to declare her death, even bowing down in front of her for one last time as a sign of their decades of friendship and countless memories. She will be succeeded by her adoptive daughter, Kusanagi Kagome.
- Only a year later, Lady Ayanami Mitsuhide would pass away in her sleep while visiting Lord Iwasawa and Lady Chiyo in Naka castle. It was said that the night before, the three conversed about the old times and remarked that of all of them, only the three of them remain now. After her death was publicly announced, she was brought to Shinka where her funeral was held and her urn entombed at the Ayanami family grave where her sister was also buried. Rumors would surface that during their last night together, the three would finally settle their prior dalliance when Lady Mitsuhide would ask Lord Iwasawa if "will you give me a chance in the next life?" which he is said to reply to with "I don't know. If you can, then go try because I'll look for Chiyo too."
- The next decade would be mostly filled by the rise from the prior natural calamities that the world faced. With the help of Prince Miyuki, worldwide computer systems would be brought back to operation in a span of 2 years and new satellite arrays would be launched to the outer space. Prince Masahiro would continue to spread modern medical practices and cures even to nations antagonistic to Japan and its allies. Lady Mariko would rule as regent for 4 more years before her son took the throne and alongside Amanogawa Kichi, would aid the young Shogun in leading Japan through its recovery years. Princesses Mikazuki and Mayumi would be instrumental to the survival of countless Japanese citizens after they opened soup kitchens and donut dispensaries to feed the people during the great famine and the countless other disasters that happened in Japan.
- After much of Japan's electricity-producing plants, which were nuclear fission plants, were destroyed and rendered unusable after the engineers barely saved it from a meltdown, a move was made by Lord Iwasawa Haruo to convert the nation to nuclear fusion power. He was aided in this venture by elder brother Prince Miyuki, cousin Amanogawa Denji and second cousin, Lord Mizuki Yuuta of Mizuki province who lent their advanced technological knowledge and vast wealths. This series of fusion powered power plants that dotted inland Japan would be later dubbed as the "Amaterasu", which still acts as the backbone of Japan's power infrastructure to this day, producing enough electricity despite only having 12 power plants.
[1622 & 1623] (The Great Farewell)
- After seeing her first newborn great grandchild, Iwasawa Kotaro, from her grandchild, Prince Iwasawa Arata, Lady Iwasawa Chiyo would pass away in her sleep at the age of 94 beside her husband who was the first to learn of it. After her funeral rites, which was attended by countless friends, family and dignitaries, she will be transported through a funeral procession back to Aoya where she requested to be buried by an old, dried-up stream where she and her husband first met. It was said that for days, the entirety of Japan mourned the death of someone that they all considered as their nation's light and comfort.
- With the loss of his wife, Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi decided to leave Naka castle and go back to Aoya where he spent his last year reminiscing about the past, even his past life, as the last person in his great generation of heroes. He would always be visited by his own children, grandchildren and the same of his old, late friends and family such as the Shimura, Mizuki, Amanogawa, Kusanagi and many more close clans. At his 98th birthday, he will be interviewed about his life recently where he would give one of his most iconic and bittersweet lines:
"When I lost her, I lost my life… So I'm just existing now, until I go and join her over yonder. And now that I'm 98, I don't have much time time left, I'm sure… But if you love birds out there are willing to wait and dedicate yourself in finding the real one for you, you lower your pride and find reasons to love each other for better or worse, I have no doubt that you'll find yourself longing to be with that person as well once you reach my age."
- Months later by the middle of springtime, Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi would pass away as the final rays of sunshine dipped down the peaks of Naka castle. As if receiving a premonition that his time in this world is over, he would call his family to his abode, giving them his last wishes and telling them to take care of each other and their nation once he is gone. His six children would beg him not to go yet even when he told them to accept his death. Surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he would close his eyes and heave his last breath for one last time, peacefully bidding farewell to the world that he helped to give a second chance.
- Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi's death would be announced tomorrow morning where every large bell in Japan was rung for 98 seconds, representing all of the years of his life and long service to his people and nation. His funeral will be held in Naka castle, attended by a countless number of regular people, powerful politicians, rich businessmen and foreign leaders. He will later be buried beside his wife at the same dried-up brook that she was buried at, a place that is now named: "The Lovers' Rest" where a statue of the two would stand side-by-side, representing Kiko's greatest example of duty, honor and love.
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With this, the Kirin Lord era ended and yet, history still moved forward... for better and for worse.
The calamities that covered the world would horribly stagnate the spread of modern technology across the world as epidemics with casualties of mammoth proportions, and famines ravaged countless civilizations and peoples, rendered distrust and desperation in the hearts of people.
Much cruelty would be perpetrated in every corner of the world, facilitated by people of great ambitions, despots holding onto power with all necessary means, and those who believe their actions to be justified through its good intentions.
While the east would be largely peaceful after another dynasty in China unified the then fragmented country, it was undeniable that the modern states in the region, being unique in their stability in an otherwise unstable world, suffered stagnation and slightly dipped into debauchery, only to be led out of it by wise leaders that continued the legacy of their predecessors.
By the beginning of the 21st century, 500 years since the death of Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi, after three world wars fought across all continents in the world has happened, humanity would continue on with a better outlook for the future… and although not many can personally remember the actions of him who is later called "The Last Kirin Lord", everyone who is capable of reading any of the world's languages would know his name and his legacy that endures to this day.