[Serialized Novel] "Lute of the North Wind" Episode 39

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Episode 39: Sky Red Tide Countermeasures Headquarters (1)
[June 18, G Prefectural Office]
Today is going to be a long day.
Despite it being the rainy season, the sky over G City, which borders Kagamihara across the Tatsumine Mountains, is wide and blue. The greenery in the park in front of the G Prefectural Office is dazzling. The images of the Kagamihara sky sent by Jin are a sunken, reddish-black, and the leaves on the trees are sparse. Even though it is only a few dozen kilometers away, the stark difference makes Lute's heart heavy.
Fanning the chest of his dress shirt, he slips into the elevator just as it is about to close. The 18th-floor conference room of the G Prefectural Office. That is the general headquarters from today until the decisive battle. He wore a suit because there would be a press conference, but it doesn't feel right on him. He loosens his tie.

Shortly after noon yesterday, the phone call he had been waiting for rang.
"It's decided."
Deputy Commander Ikegami's gravelly voice, which seemed to scrape the air, rang out loudly from the smartphone.
At almost the same time, Takatsuka, the head of the Meteorological Research Institute, rushed breathlessly into the Sixth Laboratory.
"Tenma-kun, the Sky Red Tide Countermeasures Headquarters is being launched."
Lute hugs the small Takatsuka as if to embrace him. Expecting to be rejected, he is surprised when Takatsuka hugs him back.
"Director, thank you."
"You should thank that gentleman over there rather than me. Isn't that Deputy Commander Ikegami?"
"Tenma, are you listening?"
Ikegami's raspy voice booms from the smartphone.
Good grief, he's angry.

Lute had requested a headquarters consisting of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, but when the lid was lifted, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the National Police Agency, the Governor of G Prefecture, and the Mayor of Kagamihara were also included.
The official name was decided as the "Sky Red Tide Countermeasures Headquarters," and it was announced to the relevant parties at noon yesterday that the first meeting would be held on the 18th at 10:00 AM.
He doesn't intend to let it end with just a meet-and-greet. If they don't reach all agreements within today and start running around with practical work from tomorrow, they won't make it in time. Lute clenches his fist and gets off the elevator on the 18th floor.
The chairman is Sakakibara, a Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary seconded from the Ministry of Defense. He heard from Ikegami that there had been quite a battle with Takeuchi, another Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary who oversees the preceding "Kagamihara Crisis Emergency Countermeasures Headquarters."
No matter how experienced one is in practical affairs, the spirit of a former Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and a staff officer are fundamentally different. Ikegami laughed, saying that he had pushed them through with sheer force of will and guts, and that there was no way they could stand on the same playing field as someone entrusted with national defense. The trump card was likely Sakakibara pressing the Prime Minister, saying, "If the Kagamihara Crisis cannot be resolved, Japan will be shut out of the global market, and not only will the economy collapse, but food supplies will also be jeopardized, causing the nation to sink." One week after the "Kagamihara Crisis Emergency Countermeasures Headquarters" began operating, the situation had not improved at all, and the worsening economic situation forced the Prime Minister to make a decision.
From the Ministry of Defense, in addition to Ikegami, Lieutenant General Sagiike, Commander of the JGSDF 10th Division, joined. He had left the selection to Ikegami. He had asked for the best commander for the operation, but when he added that he wanted someone intimidating to keep the meeting running smoothly, Ikegami grinned and said, "That's interesting," and recommended the Lieutenant General of all people. To have a Lieutenant General help just to silence the bureaucrats in Kasumigaseki—even Lute was impressed, but Ikegami seemed to be enjoying himself.
From the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, he specified the participation of the Railway Bureau, the Civil Aviation Bureau, and the City Bureau that manages parks. He said that was all he requested and left the rest of the lineup to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakakibara. Since Sakakibara himself is a Lieutenant General in the Air Self-Defense Force, the sight of three Ministry of Defense general-level officers glaring from the front seats was enough to make the bureaucrats from each ministry shrink. Takatsuka, the head of the Meteorological Research Institute, has been wiping sweat from his forehead for a while now.

"Now, let's have Research Officer Tenma from the Meteorological Research Institute explain the overview."
Disappointment and relief leak out at Lute's youth and lackluster appearance. They probably thought he would be easy to handle. How predictable, Lute thinks with a cold look. He started the main topic without any self-introduction or greeting.
"First, I ask the government to promptly lift the lockdown."
The whispering voices here and there, wondering if this is a declaration of war against the "Emergency Countermeasures Headquarters" already in operation, are as annoying as mosquitoes.
"Please recognize that the Kagamihara Crisis is an unprecedented meteorological disaster and an emergency that requires immediate action."
The murmuring mutes.
"The opponent we must fight is neither a virus nor bacteria."
After Lute draws everyone's full attention, he declares, "The Kagamihara Crisis is a sky red tide phenomenon."
He ignores the murmurs spreading like ripples.
"A sea red tide occurs when plankton multiplies due to rising water temperatures and covers the water surface. A similar phenomenon is occurring in the sky over Kagamihara, leading to a rapid increase in people with breathing difficulties. Detailed mechanisms and data are summarized in the materials at hand. I will explain only the necessary parts."
He doesn't expect them to understand or gain their empathy. He just wants the agreement and cooperation to carry out the operation.
"There is only one way to solve the Kagamihara Crisis."
Lute lets his gaze crawl over the high-ranking officials lined up.
"There is no other way than to remove the 'red scab' that is currently covering the Kagamihara Basin."
After stating that he named it a red scab to make it easier to visualize, he projects images onto the monitors embedded in each table. These were taken by Jin from the cockpit of an Eagle. A bird's-eye view from high altitude. Close-ups in the clouds. Comparisons with neighboring cities. He switches the screens one after another. Astonishment runs through the room as they see the image of a red, lid-like object covering the Kagamihara Basin perfectly: "What is this?"
"What is the true identity of the red scab?"
"We have named them 'Red Poison Wind Worms'."
An image of red, rugby-ball-shaped microorganisms is displayed.
"Red Poison Wind Worms stick together to form spheres the size of tennis balls."
When a video of the Red Poison Wind Worm balls connecting in a chain and then tangling and spreading in a complex way is shown, everyone's eyes are glued to it.
"Red Poison Wind Worms are a variant of 'Wind Worms'. Think of Wind Worms as bio-aerosols that form clouds."
He displays an image of a paramecium-like Wind Worm. He does not mention that Wind Worms are food for sky fish. What is visible is enough. He cannot drag Ray into this place.
"Red Poison Wind Worms become scaly in the process of growing larger. They gather and form layers like iron sand sticking to a magnet. They carry countless eggs and multiply explosively. Even now, they are multiplying daily over Kagamihara, thickening the layer of the scab."
"This is Kadobata, a technical official from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Are you saying this is sealing the Kagamihara Basin, causing oxygen deficiency and leading to breathing difficulties?"
"That is correct. However, it is not a complete vacuum. The lack of sunlight prevents photosynthesis, and the drastic reduction in oxygen supply is also causing a vicious cycle, but these guys are the main culprits."
The next part is the biggest hurdle. If he doesn't get this through, the plan itself will collapse.
He glances at Ikegami. Ikegami nods silently.
"As long as they stay in Kagamihara, everyone will eventually fall into respiratory distress."
Lute exhales thinly.
"A temporary emergency evacuation of all Kagamihara citizens—this is urgent."
The conference room was dominated by silence for a moment. When it broke, a roar like the flapping of bees' wings erupted everywhere.

To be continued