-M29. 671. Falmart. En Route to Japanese Gate.-
Ollanius is pondering inside his grav vehicle. He currently bears the title of the Imperial Herald, carrying his duty to make a concrete bond with the Old Earth. Comparing this with his usual duty, it would look like a vacation. Thus, Ollanius will enjoy every single second of it.
Due to his status as Emperor's executioner being held secret by Malcador, Ollanius' presence would not significantly affect the Japanese government as he would be known as Ollanius, Imperial Herald of the Old Earth.
"We will arrive in one minute, Lord Ollanius." A voice echoes from his vox device.
Ollanius takes a deep breath. Despite his millenium old age, he could not believe he would see the Old Earth once again. He has many bitter and joyful memories of that era. He fought many wars back then, watching the superpower fall from their grace due to their corrupted ideal. Ollanius was sure that Gilgamesh would find a way to solve that as he did back then.
The grav vehicle stopped, indicating that they had arrived at their designation. When the door opens, Ollanius take a step out, greeted by a couple of Magistratus standing to greet him.
"Milord." They say in unison.
"Please, refrain from addressing me as your lord. His Majesty has concealed my true title. Thus, I am just an Imperial Herald here." Ollanius smiles at them, giving them a reassuring gesture.
"As you will, Herald." One of them says with a nod.
"Good," Ollanius replies before glancing at the Japanese base. "It brings me many memories."
The Second World War brings him many unpleasant remembrances. Despite having dealt with countless heretical hordes of the Primordial Annihilators in ancient times, witnessing humanity killing their own kin broke his heart. Yet, he did the same thing, which made the entirety of his life ironic.
'I wonder if this is all you have been through, Gilgamesh.' Ollanius says it out loud in his mind.
After a few moments, Ollanius enters the base alongside his guardians, and the Lieutenant General himself greets them.
"Welcome to the JSDF base. My name is Lieutenant General Hazama, and I will guide around my base before we can conduct oiur meeting." Hazama says politely, smiling.
"That was agreeable, General." Ollanius replies with a nod.
The transhumans and mortals walk side by side to guide the perpetual around the base. Watching Japanese war machines and soldiers bring him into the place of the war-torn island. That was where he saw he was his peers' only survivor, lamenting all his brothers.
The tour goes smoothly, giving much insight into the transhumans and, at the same time, bringing many reminiscences to the immortal human.
Then they arrived at their final destination, the main headquarter.
"With that, we bid our farewell," one of the Magistratus spoke with a resonant voice to the general.
"Why so suddenly?" Hazama inquired.
"We were simply tasked to accompany Lord Herald to you. Thus, we cannot join you beyond your Gate," one of the golden-armored transhumans replied in a neutral tone.
"It's truly a shame," Hazama sighed softly. "Very well then. Let my soldiers escort you to your vehicle."
"No need to trouble yourself, General. We can manage. We've thoroughly enjoyed our time here. So, we take our leave." With that, the two transhumans departed calmly.
Ollanius, who watched his guards depart, redirected his gaze to Hazama.
"Then let us commence our meeting, General. I wouldn't want to delay His Majesty's orders," Ollanius spoke, though he felt a knot in his stomach. His recent words were unlike his usual self, considering he was the only one in the Imperium who dared to address the Emperor as a friend.
"Of course," replied Hazama as he stepped into the room, followed closely by Ollanius.
It didn't take long for them to reach the meeting room, where they sat face to face, ready to begin their dialogue.
"Let's start the briefing then," Hazama said calmly and firmly. "We welcome you as a representative of the Imperium, and we hope our initial introduction gives you insight into our culture."
"Of course," Ollanius replied, his smile beaming. "I've been enjoying my time here. The thought of witnessing Old Earth, which many in the Imperium believe to be a mere myth, is truly an honor."
"My pleasure, Lord Ollanius," Hazama replied, his smile warm and inviting.
"Now, General, what's on our agenda?" Ollanius inquired bluntly, a hint of nostalgia beckoning him from beyond the Gate.
"We're here to brief you on Japan, Lord Ollanius," Hazama said, presenting a stack of documents from his desk and handing them over to the Perpetual.
Ollanius meticulously perused the contents, analyzing every detail. In doing so, he even envisioned potential futures based on the instructions laid out in the papers. It dawned on him that the plans seemed custom-crafted to favor the Imperium.
"Malcador and his agents, no doubt," Ollanius whispered inwardly, knowing that the Imperium had dispatched numerous agents to Old Earth.
"Is something on your mind, Lord Ollanius?" Hazama inquired, carefully observing the Perpetual's reactions.
"Just admiring Japan's cautious and meticulous approach in their design, General Hazama," Ollanius replied truthfully, placing his dossier on the table.
*I see," Hazama nodded thoughtfully. "Let's proceed with our discussion. Upon your arrival in Japan, you'll be accompanied by our agent, Rei Ishikawa. Please come in, Miss Rei Ishikawa."
The door swung open, revealing a captivating woman with a chic, shoulder-length haircut, donning an elegant black suit and skirt. Yet, it was her eyes that intrigued Ollanius the most—a mesmerizing shade of crimson, a rarity among the Japanese.
A hue of eyes almost impossible to find in a Japanese individual.
"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rei Ishikawa. I'll be both your bodyguard and colleague throughout your diplomatic mission," Rei spoke calmly, her warm smile lighting up the room.
"Nice to meet you too, I'm Ollanius Persson. I hope we'll get to know each other well," Ollanius smiled, standing and extending his hand.
"Likewise, Lord Ollanius," Rei returned the smile, shaking his hand.
They delved into their meeting, discussing various topics, from the individuals Ollanius would meet to diving into detailed explanations from the reports he had read. The Perpetual couldn't shake off the feeling that everything before him had been meticulously orchestrated by Malcador under Gilgamesh's orders.
"Thus, we hope you'll enjoy your time in Japan," Hazama offered a gentle smile to the Perpetual.
"I'll make the most of it, General. No need to worry," Ollanius nodded, walking out of the room with Rei and a few JSDF members.
Before long, they stood at the Gate, waiting for it to open.
"She might not be one of Malcador's associates. But... those red eyes still intrigue me," Ollanius mused, stealing a fleeting glance at Rei.
With a swift motion, the Gate swung open, revealing a yawning tunnel of darkness. Ollanius and Rei hopped into the waiting vehicle, ready to journey through the enigmatic passage. In the blink of an eye, they emerged on the other side.
Ollanius's eyes widened as the scene unfolded before him. Ginza, a bustling city in Japan, sprawled beneath the sky-piercing skyscrapers.
A spontaneous chuckle bubbled from his lips.
"Lord Ollanius?" Rei's voice carried a tinge of curiosity.
"My bad, Miss Rei. It's just mind-boggling to see Old Earth right here, not just in dusty old documents," Ollanius confessed, a soft laughter underscoring his words.
Rei's curiosity was piqued. A civilization capable of god-like feats, as her documents had shown, now marveled at a world far less advanced. She observed closely as Ollanius studied the architecture of each building in Ginza, a mixture of wonder and nostalgia evident in his gaze.
"By the way," Ollanius began, "where are we heading, Miss Rei?"
Rei fell silent for a few moments before responding. "We're heading to the Defense Minister's private lodging. Then, as scheduled, we'll be going to the parliament tomorrow."
"Interesting. That's not on the schedule," mused Ollanius, looking at Rei with curiosity.
"Indeed. We're doing that to avoid the press turmoil that's been escalating. It's becoming harder for us to manage," Rei spoke candidly. Despite trying to remain professional, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of frustration.
Observing the visible strain on Rei's face, which could almost crack the professional façade, prompted the ancient Perpetual to smile. It took him back to the days when humanity hadn't yet comprehended the Primordial Annihilators or the horrors that lurked beyond.
They finally arrived at their destination—a sprawling, luxuriously traditional-styled inn. Stepping out of the car, Ollanius took in the details the inn offered. Although there were similar inns on Terra, the authenticity of this place was unparalleled in his homeland.
"What a beautiful place," Ollanius remarked, admiring the building with a nostalgic smile.
"It could be said that this is one of the finest buildings in Ginza. I hope it meets your expectations, Lord Ollanius," Rei said with a gentle smile.
Ollanius and Rei stepped into the inn, exchanging their regular clothes for blue kimonos before making their way to the dining room. Here, Ollanius savored the meal before him. It might not have matched Imperial standards, but it possessed a charm that made him savor each bite.
Back during the Federation Era, life was all about convenience. Instant meals conjured from the STC were all the rage, leaving behind the art of cooking. This reality had driven Ollanius away from civilization. But then came Gilgamesh's call to combat the Aeldari, and the birth of the Empire. With it, forgotten aspects of human life, like cooking, were rekindled. For Ollanius, this revival was a simple joy, yet it couldn't replace the deep-rooted happiness of days past.
Yet, in this moment, things were different. Ollanius skillfully wielded chopsticks, savoring every morsel. While his initial movements were tentative, they quickly grew confident—only a transhuman could spot such subtleties.
Rei's voice brought him back. "I hope you're finding the feast enjoyable, Lord Ollanius."
Rei's curiosity sparked. "Luxury?"
He smiled, apologetic. "My apologies for not explaining further. In the Imperium, there are two main types of cuisine. There's the STC's quick and customizable approach, like instant meals. And then there's the manual, more traditional way. I suppose the latter needs no further explanation."
Rei's puzzlement didn't surprise him. "But if the practical option is there, why bother with traditional cooking?"
Ollanius' response was rich with insight, like a grandfather passing down wisdom. "You haven't reached that point yet. From your standpoint, as a young race focused on efficiency, this might seem wasteful. But therein lies the core of it. When a civilization becomes too advanced, they risk losing their essence in materialism, forgetting their spiritual side. The Emperor aimed to prevent that, reviving old traditions to keep humanity on its true course."
Rei gazed at Ollanius in wonder, hanging onto every word he spoke.
The idea of a civilization becoming overly materialistic and losing touch with the essence of humanity struck her deeply. As she thought about it more, she realized the undeniable truth in his words. The world was hurtling towards excessive simplicity and rapid modernization, neglecting the growth of spirituality. The evidence was all around, leading once-great civilizations to decay and crumble.
It was a bitter irony and a tragic fate that might tarnish the legacy for generations to come.
"That's precisely why the Emperor entrusted me with this diplomatic mission, to pave the way for His Majesty to connect with your leaders and guide your path toward a Golden Era," Ollanius smiled warmly at Rei. His smile held the wisdom of ages, a mask that time couldn't diminish even after millennia.
Rei's response was a simple smile. "A noble intention from His Majesty the Emperor."
"It's all about human empathy in the end. And mind you, the Imperium has learned and bled to grasp that," Ollanius dryly remarked, a sardonic grin playing on his lips.
Rei nodded in confirmation, feeling a weighty burden and immense responsibility settling on her shoulders.
The Japanese woman peered deeper into Ollanius' character, realizing that beneath his diplomatic façade lay something as vast as an ocean. Rei's red eyes briefly caught something beneath Ollanius' attire, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
"What is it, Miss Rei?" Ollanius inquired gently, returning her gaze.
"It's nothing, really," Rei attempted to deflect softly.
Initially, Ollanius wasn't entirely sure of what the Japanese woman meant. But after a while, a smile spread across his face as he understood what Rei had glimpsed.
"You mean this pendant?" Ollanius pulled out a necklace. The pendant bore a striking resemblance to a Christian cross, which piqued Rei's curiosity.
"Yes," Rei nodded slowly. "If I may ask, isn't the Imperium against all forms of religion? So why do you..."
For some reason, Rei couldn't bring herself to continue her sentence, choosing to fall silent as she realized she was overstepping her boundaries.
"Don't hesitate to ask. Besides, I've been asked the same question many times," Ollanius replied honestly, his smile tinged with a touch of melancholy.
Rei gazed at Ollanius for a moment, carefully delving into his character. For some reason, there was an aura emanating from Ollanius that made her feel comfortable and close. She couldn't quite determine whether it was a romantic sentiment or something else, but she was certain that Ollanius was deeply connected to humanity itself.
Ollanius watched Rei with a gentle smile, causing the mortal to meet his gaze directly.
"This story is quite lengthy, would you care to hear it?" Ollanius asked with a smile.
"Of course."
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AN
Sorry for the short chapter but I will be busy for the next week so I can't upload anything. Thus, I hope it can fill that gap. And to heat up the atmosphere, I will give you this.
Next Up: CODEX: Ferrous Mind