Magecraft was dangerous against his plans for the common masses. In a large region where mages are but a myth and magecraft itself was undeveloped if not scattered to secrecy, it was the perfect plan. Lelouch didn't know why the Euro-centric world held so much of the magical development, but theorizing it under the Asian sector's lack of centralization and preference for 'clan-based' inheritance, it was easy to accept why the Clock Tower was powerful as it was yet cared very little about this side of the world with the Grail War being the only exception.
'Soon enough, it won't be the only exception.'
He had to prepare. Nothing could be left to chance. As he had done with the Geass Order, so too shall he root out and exterminate the infestation in this world. Albeit, this time, he planned on wielding his own version of the Clock Tower how he saw fit.
'As a mortal, I would've had difficulty controlling my uncle's Order. But as I am now…' Immortal, powerful, armed with Geass and the abilities of Heroic Spirits, there would be very little to stop his ambition. 'It isn't my world, but it abhors me to stand by and watch it ruin itself. For it to be a perfect utopia, a little evil must be upended.'
And with how the elites of this world were so eager to paint themselves just that, Lelouch could quite easily put them on display.
"Ah, the way you say it… it gets me sooo… wet~~~!" Moaning into his back, the redhead shoved her face into his neck, giving his skin a kiss, before tightening her hug from behind. "I hate acting from the shadows, but knowing you plan to incite another peasant rebellion… it just excites me so!"
"Worry not. We need only behave for ten years. When the Grail War begins once more, there'd be no need to hide any longer. Until then, I will stoke the flames in preparation for our formal declaration. Besides, I promised you a real war, did I not?"
"That, you did," she said, nuzzling her face in his hair. "it would be rude for a gentleman to be unable to keep their word."
"Then, I shall swear to it," pulling away, he dramatically bowed before taking a knee and clasping her hand in both of his. "On my honour as the Demon Emperor, I swear to give you the fight to enjoy for all eternity!"
Pressing his lips to her knuckles, he earned a light blush and a playful slap to the cheek.
"Hush, you dork! To treat me as you would a prissy lady, while I do not mind if it's you, I can't help but feel annoyed." So she said, despite her eyes conveying the desire to continue. "Very well, we will do it because it is your idea. But only for ten years! After that, we will come out of hiding."
He concurred to that. Besides, Lelouch himself didn't want to spend centuries playing some kind of shadow order like the mages had. It just wasn't any fun. The Demon Emperor himself preferred the feeling of being in the middle of a conflict, directing manoeuvres and risking one's life for the sake of victory.
Some would say it was a ridiculous notion for a tactician of grand stratagems to have, but let it not be forgotten his willingness and drive to even face a FLEIJA head on.
The feeling of dominating the flow of battle, all the while overly overturning the expectations of one's foe, it was breathtaking.
"So? If we're to leave, where to?" Nobunaga, being relatively cooperative with his vague plan, inquired. Lelouch answered by tapping near the edge of his circle around the Asian region, right in the centre of the demarcation between the Clock Tower's reach and their current position. "And? What's the deal with this region?"
"It is one of, if not the most destabilized regions as to date. If we were to kickstart a rebellion, it would hardly be noticed in a land that already has more than three groups vying for influence. What's more, I find its unofficial title quite amusing."
"How so?"
"Picture it, my dear." A wide grin overtook his face. "Where better to start a great and vast empire than the land hailed to be the Graveyard of Empires?"
It was quite the auspicious name. But the main reason it was so was due to the hubris of the would-be conquerors. Just because it was a nation of mountains and sand did not mean it couldn't hold its own. The only reason why this nation never came to have such a reputation in his world was due to their sudden acquiescence to the Chinese Federation.
"Hm, just its position on the map tells me this region seems a bit roughshod." She spied the dirt-sand-like texture of the area. "A mountain near desert regions. Can't say I'm used to my encampments being arid, but then again, a mountain base calls for… very familiar and brutal warfare." Her response lacked excitement, but with nary a complaint, Lelouch accepted her compliance. It wasn't the best idea for a honeymoon, but then again, they weren't picky for the sights they'd tour. Besides, it was just one of many stops for their campaign. "Ah, before we forget, what are your intentions for the Matou and the brat Kariya saved? Can't they be useful in some way, considering you plan to expand our reach in the moonlit world?"
Lelouch had considered it. They'd been considerably weakened, to begin with, but it wasn't right to say they were entirely useless. Byakuya may not be a capable magus, but his bare bones knowledge of the underworld of magecraft was still a workable foundation. Even Sakura earned Zouken's praise for being a potential magus candidate.
"No. We leave them be." The boy knew better than to go back on his word though. "The girl's been through enough. As for the Matou household, Kariya's sacrifice was satisfactory as-is. Not only did he assist in our absolute victory, but he also managed to kill the Tohsaka head as well."
The Matou had no intentions to oppose them further. As for the Tohsakas, considering their lacking position at the moment, other magi groups would definitely smell blood in the water. With just his two daughters and wife left, the family was practically finished. Neither would interfere with them in the future.
"What about the Einzberns?" Nobu said their name with such venom, clearly not yet forgiving what the German magi clan had done.
Noting the police records of the casualty victims he managed to procure before leaving, there was very little left of the three families in Fuyuki. That included the owners of the dilapidated castle in the forest. But that didn't mean the reports were reliable.
"Records on the homunculus makers are minimal. They have a property to their name, but you did enough to raze it to nothing. As for their people, I can't rule out spies but it's safe to say no other homunculus are currently present in Fuyuki." He couldn't decide for the rest of Japan though.
"We will get our revenge, right?" she said softly, earnestly. How could he deny her?
"Yes. You will have it. I promise you, love."
She still bore a grudge. His was minimal, but he couldn't allow that clan to persist either. The conceiving of the Grail system aside, they were dangerous on another level. Lelouch didn't know much about alchemic magecraft to get a grasp at its full potential. But still, strategically speaking, it wouldn't do to keep a clan of puppet-makers alive. Not when they could potentially turn the tide to any war on sheer numbers alone.
However, there was one disadvantage to their position against the Germanic magi at the moment. "Not knowing precisely where they've based themselves will be an issue. But given that they'll no doubt participate in the next war to come, we are assured a chance at tracing their location through the breadcrumbs they leave."
"Well, that's reassuring. Knowing you, you're certain to sic me on their trail soon, yes?"
"As soon as I've confirmed it myself, yes, my dear." No one moved in the world without leaving a trace. As soon as they set themselves up on a global stage, Lelouch planned to seize every means of tracking he could. Be it through magic or technology, or both, he will locate all his potential foes. And, inevitably, he'd destroy them all. "In the meantime, I suggest we expand upon our little magi community project. Knowing they've had the means to tamper with the Grail before, I'm certain the Einzberns would try to cheat again."
"Hah! What sore losers!" Nobu threw her hair back as she derided. "But if it means certain victory, the first step would be to make sure they won't have an opportunity to summon something akin to that pagan shrimp again." Nobu paused as if to consider something. "To specify summoning powerful Servants, a Master would need to use catalysts to increase their chances. I doubt a disgusting bunch of insects like the Einzberns relied on their dolls to summon that stubborn bitch of an ancestor without one. In that case, it might be a good idea to start artefact hunting and collect as many relics as we can, no?"
Lelouch considered it, but then smirked. "Wouldn't that mean it'd deprive you of facing really strong foes in the next war? I didn't think you'd limit yourself for the sake of our future, but if it means sacrificing the excitement in fighting worthy opponents for our future conquest, then I guess—"
"Wa—Wait! Wait a minute! I've been holding myself back, you know?! It's not like I don't want to win, but… Don't tell me you intend to risk our chances?"
Nothing of the sort. But seeing her react so adorably, he couldn't help but throw it in.
With how they're just starting to make their moves, the extent to where they could take her proposal was fairly limited. Raiding a museum was one thing, but the authenticity of relics was what concerned him more. How Iskandar was summoned was a prime example.
Despite there being ample locations and/or items that were presumably related to the Conqueror of Macedonia, a boy named Waver Velvet managed to do the deed by stealing from his former teacher, or so the accusations went. If that was the case, whatever relic Waver had in question was of some magical value to are magi and was transferred through magi means. Likely the same could be said of Gilgamesh as, Lelouch already gleaned from Kayneth, the Tohsakas weren't just an arrogant group but a competent, if a bit of a plebian, magus family of the East.
Whatever relics they were to hunt would not only be hidden, but also coveted by magi. Likely, the procuring of such items would no doubt draw attention from the Clock Tower so soon. He couldn't risk it, but he definitely couldn't let the opportunity slip.
"Your proposal will be shelved for the moment, Nobu. I intend to limit our foes as much as possible, but at present, we lack the means to hamper the moonlit world as a whole." The last thing they needed was the entire magic community up at arms and hunting them down. Not that it'd make much of a difference, but it'd be a hassle for their future world domination if some random idiot managed to capture their images and expose them as terrorists on the global scale. "Baby steps first before we ascend the stairs of true conquest."
"Then it is decided! Now, when are we going to depart? I enjoyed the time off in Tokyo, but I can't wait to see the world outside of my island nation."
Lelouch eyed her hungry smile. Nobunaga spent her entire life here, dreaming of going beyond the ocean, to see and conquer the lands beyond Japan, only to end up being betrayed before her ambition of unification came to be.
The boy smirked back. "I thought the self-proclaimed ruler of Japan would love to spend more time in her homeland?"
"When the time comes, yes. We will return here to see the sakura blossoms partake of the local festivities." Nobu's eyes sparkled. "Umu! Definitely, we shall return to my home, but… as a tactician, I'm well aware that we cannot waste the time we have. Despite how much I wish to continue spending our days like this." She leaned against his arm, enveloping it in her bosom while nuzzling her face on his neck. "Still, this is a good opportunity! I wish to travel to other places. See the world beyond the horizon before we make it our own!" She eyed him affectionately. "Of course, only with you by my side, beloved."
"You're making me blush." Lelouch faked embarrassment whilst teasingly avoiding her heated gaze. "Very well. I shall make preparations. It'll take a while, but I believe I can make use of my powers to have us gone by the end of the week."
"Excellent!" Breaking away from him, she returned to her seat on the bed before taking up one of the white chess pieces, a king to be exact, and fiddling it between her fingers. "Until then, how about another game?"
"Hm?" Lelouch blinked. "I thought you didn't enjoy chess."
"I don't like losing, Lulu. So, in order to level the playing field, I need only change the rules to give me an edge." Nobu gave him a flirtatious smile. "You'd allow it, if only to entertain me, yes?"
Not that he wouldn't, but to agree so arbitrarily would be to give in to whatever she had planned this time. Having not won a single game, the sore-loser Daimyo was certain to be holding a bit of a grudge. Nobu sensed his hesitation.
"Don't worry, dear. You will enjoy it as well. Win-win so to speak."
"Is that so? And how exactly do you want to change the rules?" Lelouch asked carefully, knowing to expect anything from the infamous general known to take any risk to gain victory.
Nobu licked her lips.
"Strip chess."
"H-huh?"
"You heard me, Lulu. Every time either of us will lose a piece, they will take off one piece of clothing. The first one to be completely naked will lose." His cheeks were flushed the same shade as her hair. She leaned closer until her face was inches away from his before she whispered. "And who knows what the winner will do with an unfortunate loser."
"Wait a minute! Isn't that a bit too extreme?" Lulu pointed out while pointedly avoiding looking at her bare form. "You've barely got anything on!"
"And? What's wrong, Lulu?" She pulled on a bathrobe but it did little when she didn't even tie it close. She left everything hanging out, brazen as always. Licking her lips, she formed a challenging smirk. "Are you too embarrassed to face me like this? What happened to the Demon Emperor who proposed to me when I had nothing on me? Where did that bravado go?"
She was egging him on. That, Lelouch, could tell. But it didn't mean he could leave like this. Being in a relationship with someone like Oda Nobunaga was akin to being in a constant war of attrition. The first to make the costly move will lose. But to ignore the constant taunts would be to admit defeat.
Nobu knew well that he knew just as much and would happily press herself on the boy until he answered in kind. So he accepted her challenge… only for it to backfire entirely.
How does one win against a foe with nothing to lose and everything to gain?
The short answer Lelouch understood from the start: you don't.
For any sort of strip game, the wager was always their shame and embarrassment. But for she who brazenly stood tall, buck naked and raring to have a go at him in bed again, there was no conceivable way to lose. You'd think that only having a bathrobe on would be a major handicap for the redhead, but you'd be wrong.
Lelouch figured that out when she immediately started playing with the first pawn she let him capture. Instead of allowing him to take the piece she'd left out in the open, she immediately snatched it up and unceremoniously started… 'playing around' with it. With her tongue, specifically.
"What are you doing?"
"Why… extending the game, love!" she said it oh-so-matter-of-factly. "It'd be a bore for me to simply take it off after losing a piece, now wouldn't it? And besides, in this game, it is the loser's obligation to… sate the winner with a pleasant view, yes?"
She wasn't wrong for the purpose of the game. But as she stared him down with fiery lust in her eyes, it had the raven-haired boy turning a slight shade of her hair colour. But oooooh, that was just the first phase in her plan to make him uncomfortable.
Next, she began nudging him from under the table. It began with toes twiddling against his ankles while she contemplated a move. After countering her worst possible choice with her white bishop piece, on her next turn, her foot had advanced up to his knee-level, tickling behind the joint. All thew while, she continued to 'play' with her fallen chess pieces, sometimes foregoing the tongue play to unceremoniously drop them between her thighs. She was quick to do so after giving up her queen piece.
It need not be said that she continued to escalate ever still, trapping something very delicate in-between the aforementioned toes and causing him to struggle in making his next moves thereon. Daimyo's expression remained the same, but the haughty air about her grew more and more fervent when she sensed his frustration.
'I've been had!' The boy couldn't help his left eye from twitching. Even as their game went on one-sidedly as normal, the victor of the match slowly lost his composure. Slowly but surely, his urges were kicking in, and Nobunaga continued to pressure that weakness.
Though, despite her overwhelming advantage off the battlefield that was the chessboard, there was one little tidbit Lelouch missed due to her under-the-table attacks. Daimyo's cheeks were as red as his. And, had he realized this fact, he could've turned the tables on her by simply forgoing the game.
But no. The still-innocent boy continued to be made a fool out of up until the point that Nobu herself couldn't hold back further. Pouncing him just as he was about to call check, the game was forgotten in lieu of the two demons surrendering to their urges.
Neither said anything, however, the moans she managed to coax out of the boy before she'd even so much as let out a peep assured Nobu of her win.
Results of today's match: Oda Nobunaga's overwhelming victory.