Metro Labyrinth Chapter 115.i.1: “Cross-Border Brigade”

Support the translator on lazytranslations.com

~3^rd Person Perspective~

“–I just wanted to give you a quick update on Mr. Heiya’s request.” (Dan)

　Sugamo City Hall, Mayor’s office.

　The man sitting deeply on the sofa across from Shimoyanagi Heiya is Ayukawa Dan. He is the second mayor of Sugamo.

　Facing him like this, Shimoyanagi feels as if he is twice as old as he is. Ayukawa’s skin is so lustrous and his hair so dark that it is hard to believe that he has reached the age of 40 this year. Only his body shape has plumped up somewhat, but since he was morbidly thin to begin with, he looks rather healthy.

　The rounded contours of his face give his a slightly more childlike appearance. In contrast to his predecessor, who possessed the sharpness and style of an astute merchant, his face has a charming and approachable appearance (although it can also be seen as fragile and unreliable).

　It was 20 years ago that Shimoyanagi moved to this city. This younger brother, whom he has known since that time, seems to have responded seriously to this prodigal brother’s reckless behavior. Shimoyanagi felt like buying him a drink later.

“I have been trying to gather information from my contacts for the past week, but the answer is no. …Neither the Metropolitan Government nor the Metro Church seems to have any knowledge of the existence of the ‘Cross Border Brigade’.” (Dan)

“…I see. Well, it’s as expected.” (Heiya)

　Shimoyanagi pulled out something from behind and placed it on the table.

“I’ve been going through all the used bookstores in Sugamo and finally found a copy. The ink had faded about halfway through, making it unreadable.” (Heiya)

　It’s a thin book, about a hundred pages. “True Story! 100 Years of Darkness in New Tokyo (1): 20 Truths Erased in the Cracks of History”. The cover is black and white, the binding is rough, and the book looks cheap, but the contents are quite shocking.

“The book is about a group of people who plan to escape to the outside world by crossing the wall that surrounds New Tokyo… “Cross Border Brigade” At the same time, they are an armed organization that aims to overthrow the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Metro Church, which have declared “interference with the wall” to be one of the Three Major Taboos, and to liberate all “People of the Thread”. In other words, it was to be a terrorist group aiming to overthrow the state.” (Heiya)

　As Heiya turned the page, the smell of the secondhand book wafted. The middle of the page is opened and turned toward Ayukawa.

“ The 100-odd members who gathered around the same ideology were sniffed out by the country’s top brass and were purged by a strike force just before they were to launch a full-scale terroristic act. The idea never once saw the light of day, and was quietly erased without being known.” (Heiya)

　Ayukawa sits up and picks up the book. He flipped through the pages and frowned for a moment at the smell.

“I also happened to look through the book when it first came out… But even putting aside the ‘Cross-Border Brigade’, there are too many wild and ridiculous hoaxes in the book. At the time, it was a hot topic as a conversation piece, but the second volume was cancelled due to a flood of complaints to the publisher.” (Dan)

“Yeah, I thought it was fake too.” (Heiya)

　Shimoyanagi himself snickered at most of the stories when he first read them several years ago. He had never recalled any of the twenty episodes, which could only be described as a mixture of distorted fantasy and wishful thinking, until just recently—when—that mysterious little Carbuncle’s mouth said, “thread is a curse.” Then it’s like she heard the phrase.

“–Thread is a curse, a wall is a binding prison.” (Heiya)

　Ayukawa’s eyes twitch. Shimoyanagi continues.

“It’s a slogan that the ‘Cross Border Brigade’ has adopted. It’s like a copy of the Hunters’ Guild, but it sounds like the antithesis of the Country of Threadweavers. I thought the author of the book wrote it appropriately… but I never thought that such crazy people would actually appear.” (Heiya)

“I’m surprised you could remember it so well. Memory is inversely proportional to age.” (Dan)

“Shut up. You may look young, but you’re an old man.” (Heiya)

　According to this insane book, the “Cross Border Brigade” was hiding out in a community of Free Folk in the eastern part of New Tokyo. The book also overlaps with the testimony of that old loli. Is it a coincidence that they are linked by an uncertain code to a phantom terrorist group with some kind of purpose deep in the metro area?

“You mean to say that neither the Metropolitan Government nor the Metro Church acknowledges the existence of those guys or the fact that they were purged?” (Heiya)

“Yes… they seem to recognize that it’s just another one of those bad, tasteless urban legends.” (Dan)

“I’m a little hesitant to tell you this, Dan, but–” (Heiya)

“It’s not sure if there has been any manipulation or cover-up by the two organizations?” (Dan)

　Simoyanagi nodded with a wry smile.

“Well… even if the purge was true, there’s no reason for them to cover it up. If it is terrorists who are plotting to overthrow the state, I think it would be more beneficial to publicize their suppression to show that they are deterred and was united to the cause.” (Dan)

“That’s true. Or maybe there is some reason why we can’t do that.” (Heiya)

“For example?” (Dan)

“…no, nothing. And what about the possibility of a cover-up?” (Heiya)

“I had a friend who got a sneak a peek into the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and they told me that the Metropolitan Government is clean. They were able to talk to someone rather high up, so I think they are a credible source.” (Dan)

“What about the Church?” (Heiya)

“…it’s hard to say. The upper echelons of the Metro Church are very secretive. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are doing something behind the scenes. …I can’t even say this out loud.” (Dan)

“I agree. They are one of the most dubious groups in the country.” (Heiya)

“Please don’t say that in front of people at Sugamo Church.” (Dan)

　In the eastern part of the country, the influence of the Metro Church, which has its headquarters in Akihabara, is strong. In addition, the Church has a powerful shadowy secret service unit called the “White Mole” and a purge unit called the “Black Worm”. In their hands, a small settlement of Free Folk could be wiped out without leaving any evidence.

“…that’s.” (Heiya)

　In the end, they were unable to obtain any information to support the existence of the “Cross Border Brigade” or any connection with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government or the Metro Church.

　Is this nothing more than an urban legend or a delusion? If so, however, the group that Abe Shuu and his colleagues encountered was….

“I wonder… if they are survivors or related somehow? Or maybe… some copycat who got too excited from reading that book?” (Heiya)

“Hah, you’ve thought of something crazier. A misunderstanding is still more realistic.” (Dan)

　This crazy book only briefly touches on the thoughts and true intentions of the “Cross Border Brigade”. I wonder if there is a person who can get overly excited just by reading this book.

“No, but Mr. Heiya’s intuition is quite accurate, isn’t it? Especially if it’s in a dangerous direction.” (Dan)

　In this case, it was not a compliment, but a nasty nuance. Shimoyanagi snorts in dissatisfaction.

“I’m most concerned that the ‘Cross Border Brigade’ is the actual organization and that its remnants or those who carry on its legacy might be targeting the Governor and Founder out of resentment. The two of them have not been seen together in one place since the 100th anniversary of the Tokyo calendar, right? The timing is too good.” (Heiya)

“On that day, His Excellency the Governor of Tokyo and His Holiness the Founder will be accompanied by dozens of escorts. People from the guild headquarters will be coming, and we are asking everyone from the Sugamo branch to guard the city. Can they even attack?” (Dan)

　“Deep Emperor” is the highest rank of the Church held by Shoumon, the leader of the Church. Aside from public positions like the mayor, ordinary citizens who are ignorant of doctrines do not use the “Deep Emperor” or “High Priest” much.

“It is usually impossible. After all, the two people escorting him are the most powerful and monstrous pair in the country.” (Heiya)

　Normally, it would be difficult to even approach them, let alone touch them. Yes, normally, it would be.

“The administration has already shared information with us about the situation in Rikugi Metro. Whether it’s that outlaw group or the suspicion that they are related to the Demons. The fact that the visit was not cancelled must mean that they have considered the matter and decided that there is no problem.” (Dan)

“I thought that when it came to the subject of demons, the Holiness would have been scared to death.” (Heiya)

　Baphomet, the “Family” of a demon. The black sporangia of the baphomets pointed out the possibility of them being “Family” of demons, but according to an inquiry made to the guild headquarters, there have been several other cases of “Family” with a color similar to black. This does not immediately support the involvement of demons.

　There is also no evidence that the group encountered by Abe and his colleagues would meddle with Sugamo or the Founding Festival. In light of all this, does that mean that neither the Governor nor Founder had any reason to avoid the visit?

“Or well, there are things that relate to vanity.” (Dan)

“Can’t let the people and the religious see a man who is frightened by an unknown threat?” (Heiya)

“That’s one thing, but they’re more like rivals than comrades-in-arms, aren’t they? In other words, it’s a game of chicken.” (Dan)

support the translator on lazytranslations.com