Shiozakai 'Asking for Tea 4'

"Don't touch it."

Sakaki's voice snapped.

Sosuke's finger stopped an inch above the screen.

In the sea conditions room, technicians were disconnecting their terminals one after another. The wall charts vanished, and only the summer sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the room. The space that had been displaying ships from all over the world until a moment ago suddenly looked like an office from a hundred years ago.

"What is 'Requesting Tea'?"

Sosuke asked.

Mizuno answered.

"It's a distress signal."

"I've never heard of such a code."

"That's to be expected. It was last used during the Maritime Trade Wars."

The Maritime Trade Wars.

It was an event from textbooks where Japanese and British merchant fleets clashed in Malacca at the end of the 18th century.

Sakaki placed Sosuke's terminal into a transparent shielding bag.

"To be precise, it's not a distress signal."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a code requesting protection. Regardless of friend or foe, ships displaying this stop their attacks and begin negotiations."

Sosuke frowned.

"Because they're drinking tea?"

"People in the old days decided it that way."

Mizuno looked at the iron kettle.

"Those who enter a tea ceremony are not to be struck down until the conversation is finished."

Sosuke thought it was a joke, but no one laughed.

"But why would the Mizuho Maru use such an old code?"

Sakaki didn't answer and took out a piece of paper.

It was paper.

Since Sosuke joined the company, he had only seen paper for work a handful of times.

"The Mizuho Maru has an independent shortwave radio. It doesn't go through the electronic network."

"Are you going to call them with that?"

"No."

Sakaki said while running a pen across the paper.

"They will come to us."

Not even three minutes had passed since those words.

Static came from the emergency receiver placed in the corner of the room.

A sound like the sea, a rushing noise.

Everyone fell silent.

Eventually, a voice was heard.

"...This is the Eighth... Mizuho Maru..."

Sosuke stood up.

"Captain?"

"Position... unknown. Navigation impossible. Engine normal... Nineteen crew members, all safe."

Relief swept through the room.

But the voice continued.

"This ship is currently... in contact with a foreign warship."

Sakaki picked up the receiver.

"Confirm their nationality."

Static.

A long silence.

"Cannot confirm."

"What is the ship type?"

"No match."

Sakaki's eyebrows twitched.

"What about the flag?"

Static crackled again.

"Flag... there is one."

"What flag is it?"

There was no reply.

Sosuke could hear someone breathing on the other side of the receiver.

Eventually, the captain said.

"It is Keno."

No one moved.

"Say that again."

"It is the Four-Antler flag. Four black antlers on a white background."

Sosuke looked at Mizuno involuntarily.

It was not the flag of the Keno main family.

The current Keno family uses the White Deer crest for rituals.

Even Sosuke knew about the Four Antlers.

It was the military flag from over a thousand years ago, when the Kamitsukeno army advanced into the Sea of Japan.

"Are they restorationists?"

Mizuno muttered.

Sakaki shook her head.

"And also..."

The captain's voice trembled.

"People are coming from the other side."

"Don't let them on board!"

Sakaki shouted.

It was too late.

There was a metallic sound from beyond the static.

Someone was speaking.

It was Japanese.

But Sosuke could barely understand it.

It was old.

It had a resonance even older than the Shinto prayers heard at temples.

And then, suddenly, clear modern Japanese was heard.

"Is there anyone from Owari here?"

A chill ran down Sosuke's spine.

No one answered.

Yet the voice continued.

"Those from the Nankai trade will suffice."

Sakaki looked at Sosuke.

Mizuno shook his head.

The man on the other side of the receiver said slowly.

"Tell Ueda."

The static grew intense.

"The covenant of the sea has been broken."

With that, the communication cut off.

For a while, no one opened their mouth.

Eventually, Sakaki sat down in a chair and wore the face of a tired person for the first time.

"I understand why today's Kashima Sea Pacification Festival was canceled."

Sosuke looked at her.

Sakaki drew four antlers on the paper.

"At 5:40 this morning, the clan's seal disappeared from the Keno branch family in Ueda."

Outside the window, a naval vessel leaving Ise Bay was extending a white wake toward the east.