Team Seven
London
Oni Society Revolt
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. Mycroft Holmes
3. Doctor John Watson
4. Lord Greystokes
5. Nayland Smith
6. Professor James Moriarty
7. Mitsui ‘Ronin’ Ogata
016 9274530
Jimmy Loong
Nov 20th 2021
“A day of boredom to begin with…”
March 16, 2026
“A desire to resume on my affairs here.”
“Borrowed a couple of characters to spice
up the tale. Charlie Song is one; adapted from Charlie Chen of that era.”
March 26th 2026
Still at it. I am going to explore in deeper
into some characters here. \
May 11th 2026
Still at it after some briefs moments of
doing something else.
July 15th 2026
Concluded Book 1: London at 53,433 words.
I did not reckon the tale will spin further than one book. So it moving it to
Africa next then.
Cheers
1.
“The oni (鬼(おに))…" The man, namely referred to as the
professor, was seated there and smiled after removing the cigar from his lips.
“The—" "It is oni, Professor. I do not like to imply, but the
correct name must be applied.” The one who spoke was an oriental figure in the
western white-shaded three-piece suit and short-cropped hairstyle with the thin
upper mustache above the upper lip. The oriental-looking figure was standing
next to the seated figure identified as the professor.
There was a foursome discussion facing the fireplace on that late
evening with the city of London covered with smog courtesy of the
industrialization era. The discussion was held over a few glasses of whiskey,
the single malt blend courtesy of the host.
“Yes, Doctor Mitsui Ogata. I am aware.” The man then known as Mycroft
smiled. “Whatever, the oni is a yōkai in Japanese folklore. The
ones before you tend to name it as a demon or ogre, by some. A reference to
their beliefs, I am afraid it was.”
“However, it is the devil if you must ask me to compare the two
entities.” Mycroft took a puff with the cigar. “Bloody resemblances there.”
The seated audience was four gentlemen formally dressed for an evening
in town. The group was clustered in the plainly furnished office of the Foreign
Office at London, facing the fireplace. The center for the empire's finest in
the art of diplomacy and with an inducement towards intelligence, namely,
political views.
“Mr. Holmes, I am…" One of the three gentlemen seated there with
the well-tailored dark blue three-piece suit flicked the loose hair from his
forehead. He maintained a short style, combed backward to reveal his forehead.
He was a tall figure with a huge frame and polished shoes.
“Mycroft will suffice, my dear sir. My esteemed guest here is the
minister of exchequer, Sir Frank Leeson, who is placed within the Parliament
and would be honored if addressed as Sir Leeson.” The one attested to for his
rank to be affirmed. “For me, Mycroft may suffice. Am I correct to state that
is correct, Minister Leeson?”
The one named the minister was an elderly man in the dark tweed suit; he
was summoned from his holiday in the countryside where he was on vacation,
alongside his so-called mistress.
“I say, Mycroft. Why are we here?” The minister was getting agitated to
be brought there to London after a grueling ride on the train. The only
redemption of the works there was the train, which was efficient and, to some
extent, comfortable to sit in, but at three hours, it was a darn tiring ride.
“I do apologize, Minister, but we do have to hear it all before I can
comment.” Mycroft replied. He is the only one without a public designation but
a rather hidden one as the agent of the government, only to report to one
minister in the Parliament: the foreign affairs minister.
“Please proceed, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Mycroft put on the weak smile.
“I am to divert from the agenda and tell you of the Oni Society, which
is mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity
for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess
intriguingly complex aspects that cannot be brushed away simply as evil. They
are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out
of their heads. Stereotypically, they are conceived of as red, blue, black,
yellow, or white-colored, wearing loincloths of tiger pelts
and carrying iron kanabō clubs. A creature that instilled fear and
danger from their grotesque outward appearance to their wild and strange
behaviors and dangerous powers.”
“Most remarkable details, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Mycroft snapped out.
“A part of my academic training, to be precise and informative in my
presentation.” The doctor smiled. “Pardon me for having diverted the topic of
our meeting.”
“And our precise pointer to the purpose of his meeting.” The minister
interjected once more. “Our main agenda, I meant.”
“I was advised that there was an urgent matter to discuss, which
involved the few of us.” Mycroft shifted his seating position to cut in. “The
Japanese empire raised a concern with us. The Empire is… rather known to all of
you; we are in a precarious position in the Far East. To be exact, I am
referring to the Japanese Empire.”
“The allies of ours have been……. Have a vested interest there, with our
allies like the United States of America, Germany, and ..." Mycroft
stopped to take a puff on his cigar.
“Spare us the historical lessons, Mycroft," Minister Leeson
snapped. “Please get to the main matter.”
“The Empire is under threat there. As stipulated by the minister of
foreign affairs and reported to me." Mycroft looked at the Minister. “The
Empire's interest is……. Pardon me for the repetitious reference. The Foreign
Affairs was given an alert…"“And what had that to do with the Exchequer?”
Minister Leeson was agitated.
“Well, Minister… Sir. The threat involved in the treasury is an affront
here.” Mycroft smiled. “It……"“May I intervene?” Doctor Mitsui Ogata cut
in.
“Let me introduce myself once more. My name is Doctor Mitsui Ogata. I am
affiliated with the Ministry of Treasury in Japan. Let me be brief here.”
“The relationship between the Japanese treasury and our Ministry of
Finance has taken steps to regulate our treasury controls. With modernization,
our focus is financial stabilization and the establishment of a modern banking
system. We have established the Bank of Japan recently. Following severe
inflation in the last years, the Japanese government moved to centralize
control of the money supply. We adopted the Silver Standard with
government-issued paper money convertible to silver, a stabilization effort
aided by accumulating specie reserves.”
“It is the British influence on banking that we drew on for that.”
Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled.
“Thank you, then, for the compliment.” Minister Leeson smiled. “We had
ours done since the late seventeenth century. From the Dutch, to be exact,
where we learned the rudiments of treasury. We got it refined to a fine art
since then.”
The Bank of England founded in 1694 manage the government debt during
the reign of William III and Mary II. The bank allowed for a shift from relying
solely on gold/silver to a credit-based system, enabling increased state
spending. It was the structural blueprint that was heavily influenced by the
advanced banking systems already operating in Amsterdam. This new system
allowed England to finance its rapid industrialization and colonial
expansion. “As you did, we are learning from your side now.” Doctor Mitsui
Ogata smiled. “Japan is on the trail of expansion to be a modern nation.
Unfortunately, that trail invoked rebellions and much time and violence.”
“We are too familiar with that.” Mycroft smiled.
“And what has that to do with the Empire here?” Minister Leeson cut in.
“My tea is cold.”
"I'll get you one more then.” Mycroft offered to change the cup,
but the minister stopped him.
“Doctor Mitsui Ogata, please continue.” The minister sat back on his
seat. “We will assist in whatever manner is required.”
“Well, the trail led us to here. In England, we uncovered a network of
intimidators, including criminal elements that are here to prevent our
expansion. They are to disrupt our relationship.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at
Professor Moriarty and then to Mycroft. “They are called the Oni Society, by my
government. Hence, I spoke of them.”
“Rebellious, you did mention.” Mycroft frowned on his expression. “Am I
not right, Mr. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes? Do join us in the discussion.”
The one addressed as Sherlock was seated, leaning back in the high
chair, revealing no expression with his unlit pipe on the lips. His seating
position was by the tall lamp post there. He was with the same hairstyle as
Mycroft, but his dressing was more of the general cut of the public with the
grey tweeds and dark shoes. He had his hat resting on his left knee angled
across his right leg.
“I much…" Sherlock spoke but was interrupted by Mycroft.
“Doctor Mitsui Ogata, I—" Mycroft cut in with a sense of impatience
but was held back by Sherlock then, who took on his cue to continue speaking.
“Mycroft, I am sure the time allocated by the doctor to see us must be
very generous of him.” Sherlock looked at the other, named as the Professor.
“After all, he has information that will interest us. He, I believed, had the
acumen of a person to hold interesting findings.”
Mycroft's expression was one of disdain for the presumption made.
“Yes, I do. I am not a sleuth but an academic, but the information told
to me was most…how may I place it...crucial to the well-being of the Empire and
to the well-being of this Parliament.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled before he
looked at the cigar on Mycroft’s hand. “Your cigar…"“Cuban ... I adored
them since I was offered them some time back.” The doctor saw the agitated look
on the minister and moved back to the reason he called for the meeting. “Pardon
me, but seldom do we smoke cigars in Tokyo.”
“Where is that … Tokyo?" The minister interjected.
“It’s in the far east, a distance from Hong Kong and further still from
Singapore.” Mycroft explained. The minister was of the isle, and his foreign
knowledge was mostly his office notes and that of the mistress from the
continent down south, the Congo to be precise, and she was then at the country
home of his. His own family are in Lisbon on holiday, while he bemoaned the
huge pile of work and needed to stay behind in London. Well, he was then.
“Please allow me to explain. My emperor sends me to caution… is that the
right word?” The Doctor looked to Mycroft, who nodded back. “On our
relationship.”
"Subtle, but you could say 'warning.'" Mycroft smiled and
looked at the minister. “We are British, and words may come to us in many
syllables.”
“Hai, as I was… saying, my emperor feels that it is his overture to tell
you that a new threat is in London. He got the news from the Germans, who held
some colonies in the other continents. I will say the threat is… dangerous and
getting widespread.” The Doctor looked to Mycroft for affirmation. The other
just gave a slight nod.
“Well, the Germans have their own issues there, and why would it affect
us here?” The minister shrugged his shoulders at the concern. “We are in
certain terms … friendly foes with them.”
“True to that, but the Oni Society is here now and soon there, and from
here they will proceed to other continents. You must understand this. The Oni
are considered wrathful … or bad demons.” The doctor explained. “They have a
following of members in my country, Japan, and of late have expanded to greater
China and to now London. They come here to spread their evil. They …….”
“That has to do with Mr. Holmes here.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled.
Mycroft looked to the other person. He resented the attendance of the other,
but he was the brother who shared the same parent with him. They got off on the
wrong side of the bed, although in different bedrooms, but the mythical link
was brushed off them that day.
“Presumption is yours. I am no slough-armchair sleuth, as you may have
assumed, but foreign spies have looked for me. The man there leaned forth to
offer his right hand in friendship. “Once again, I am Holmes, Sherlock
Holmes.”
2
“The infamous detective.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata took the offered hand with
a firm grip. “I am honored to meet you here.”
“Do continue, please.” Sherlock Holmes motioned to the other, who then
bowed to the request.
“One of your representatives, Ian Masterson… was recalled and was
regretfully on his way back to Japan; his ship was lost at sea. He is
presumably dead.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at Mycroft. “He was bringing
evidence of the Oni Society’s works here.”
“That is being investigated now…. The missing ship, I meant. It sank as
reported nearby... Where is that infernal place...? I cannot recall.” Mycroft
said. Undisclosed to the other, Ian Masterson was an operative under the Double
Prefix Section, as was Mycroft.
“Most regrettably for Ian. I have known him since school days. He is not
a Treasury man but more of a Foreign Office chap.” The minister sighed. “I
heard from the newspaper, Mycroft, like many others. Please do continue, Doctor
Mitsui Ogata.”
“Hai, as mentioned earlier, Ian Masterson was working on the Oni Society
and had the needed evidence with him. He was…"
“May I?” Mycroft cut in on the doctor but was ignored.
“The Oni Society Clan came to our attention a decade ago, when one of
our leaders was…killed and then another before we linked it to the Oni Society.
We discovered more killings and threats since then. The Oni Society was claimed
to be managed by a group of influential names, including the military. Since
then, they have eliminated over a dozen leaders here and in the Far East and
held to their influence over more.”
Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked towards Sherlock.
“They have targeted the top leaders, and even the emperor was threatened
with a coup, but we… defeated it. That exerted a lot of pressure on them, and
they decided to move to Greater China, including Manchuria, and down south to
even Betawi and Singapore. They are building their strength there and looking
to exert world dominance.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata gave the brief.
“Whatever happened to Fu Manchu? Nasty chap that one. I recalled reading
of him.” Mycroft asked. “China is his domain. Our intelligence there did not
report any power shift there.”
“Fu Manchu is still very much in power. He is… in exile, as to my
knowledge," Doctor Mitsui Ogata explained. “In the Chinese sayings, there
is no reason to have two tigers on the same mountain. Fu Manchu, to our
knowledge, is working behind the scenes and with the Oni Society. He will await
his turn to share the spoils.”
“So, the dragon hibernates while the demon runs wild.” Mycroft cut in.
“Most intriguing. What has that to do with us here in London? I am sure
Scotland Yard…"“No, Mycroft. Scotland Yard may not be able do it. I am
sure there is more, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Sherlock voiced out the second time
that evening. “If it were that simple, surely the doctor would not ask for an
audience.”
“Emotions or deductive elimination, Mr. Holmes?” Mycroft smiled while
brushing the ashes of the cigar from his sleeves.
“The Oni Society is not any criminal organization but a…." Doctor
Mitsui Ogata was cut off.
“I have the urge to get the real issue.” Sherlock glared at Mycroft.
"I've done my checks on the Oni Society. While your friend, Charles
Amstrong, our PM, was arranging this meeting, I was in talks with the best in
the field.”
“The better ones?” Mycroft looked to his brother. “I thought…"“Do
not eat your hat there, brother. Scotland Yard is still ranked among the best.”
Sherlock spoke without releasing his look at the doctor.
“I had received telegrams from the Far East offices and got the brief.
The news I got was enough for me to further call on some reliable chaps in the
other foreign embassies. I know not much of the Oni Society but am a bit
intrigued. What is the supernatural trail there?”
“Supernatural?” Mycroft gasped out. “Are you talking of Dracula here? My
old chap, they are from the Far East. Last I recalled Dracula was in Europe or
thereabouts.”
“If I may, Doctor.” Sherlock, ignoring Mycroft, continued his look on
the doctor.
“Yes, the Oni Society... they used demonic influence. They have many
works that resembled the…normal methods of the criminals.”
“Garroting, or backstabbing. Beheading. Trust me, I have seen those, but
there were reports speaking of sudden death, as in hypnotic induction, and
madness for those who return. and …….” But Sherlock was cut off. And to him,
that was rude, or he was on the trail that he deduced.
“Not of London exactly.” Mycroft cut in. “I think ours were more of
slicing and removing organs. A surgeon’s art, perhaps.”
“Yes, there were some cases in which the deaths of the victims were more
ritualistic or symbolic.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata gave out an apologetic smile. “It
was never linked, but there were questions. The Oni Society threat was more…
scary when they left the victim drained of their blood or impaled.”
“Tinge of Dracula. It was reported that he does all those killings that
way.” Mycroft cut in as usual. “Do go on.”
“In some cases, there were also reports of beheadings.” Doctor Mitsui
Ogata sighed. “To lose one’s head ... Beheading? We have done that many times
at the Tower, or was it the Bastille? " Mycroft had the fearful expression
on his face. “Razor-sharp katana blades, though.”
“There are claims of the survivors that when they went to Yomi. The
Japanese word for the land of the dead.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata shuddered at the
word. “They cannot cross over without their head.”
“What is the modus operandi of works by the Oni Society besides that?”
Sherlock asked. “Unreported?”
Sherlock finds that his best informants came from the unofficial
reports.
“The Oni Society believed in spreading their influence to the countries
and your colonies, and that spread from China to Betawi. They have control of
my country, but that was not enough. The extreme right had wanted to invade
China and, from there, down the continent all the way to Betawi, but the
emperor will not go for it. So, they proceed to controls on the leaders so
that, when needed, the invasion will be done in a different method.”
“And now they came for us here.” Mycroft smiled. “We are a small isle
and have done what others had not done: dominate half the world.”
“I will be blasted…" the minister blared. “I am going to report
this to the parliament."
“Can we get back to the main issue here?” Sherlock looked at Mycroft.
“Why are we here? Are we still on the treasury works, or not?”
“The Oni Society has marked us for ---removal.” The doctor admitted his
role then. “Have you heard of the assassins? Not your ‘Hashishin,' the Middle
Eastern clan of the Nizari Ismaili sect or the Thugge of India.”
“Not even the slightest.” The minister said then.
“Doctor, please stick to your academic subjects and do not speculate on
the world of crime. I am told that it is not of your experiences.” Mycroft
looked at the doctor. “Or my intelligence officers need to be removed too for
failing to name you?”
“Do tell me, Doctor Mitsui Ogata? Would the Ninjas be working here for
the Oni Society?” Sherlock asked.
“Bloody Ninjas? Surely, Shelly, you are not off your meds. Ninjas do not
exist.” Mycroft stared at his brother.
“Hai, the assassin clan offered their services to the paying master, but
they are not here. The Oni Society have their own assassins, the Dark Hand, and
like the others, they move with stealth and kill with deadly moves.”
“I could be in the London Tower with the full complement of guards, and
yet, they will reach me?” The minister added in. “It makes that a national
threat.”
“Do tell me more, Mycroft. When has your possible death provoked your
need to stay alive? Sherlock displayed his rare sarcastic self.
“I would not mind the beheading by the proper means. King Charles I was
beheaded in 1649, and so was Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, in 1747. Beheading
is for the nobility.” Mycroft recited the history of beheading. “I may be of
the same blood.”
“And garroting is for the commoners; it is not yours. I hear you well,
Mycroft. That was how most assassins do their victims. Or a bullet in the
head?” Sherlock glared at the other.
“So, you do prefer the beheading or perhaps poison by the mix of
arsenic? Someday, some writer will use that ingredient once too many times.”
Mycroft took a bash at Sherlock’s reputation. “Not in London, but perhaps the
French detective will like that. I much prefer the simple “Yes, London should
have you in the closet, if my brother is ever—misjudged."
“So, do tell me.” Sherlock looked at the other. “Are you having me on?
The man afraid to be removed?”
“Removal was not my real concern, but the threat was also on the
minister here. That is the major concern.” Mycroft looked at the minister. “Our
ministry offices.”
“Sir, we will provide additional guards. We will protect you.” Mycroft
jumped to the defense upon seeing the minister's pale expression.
“I think you might be late.” Sherlock added in. “Minister, you are here and…"
“Oh my God! Mindy…" The minister was alarmed. “They will go for
her.”
It was then that the alarms were off, but it was too late.
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