Magnus stared at the three newly manifested cards before him, feeling a wave of bewilderment wash over his features. The middle-aged man stiffly reached into the shadows beside him, producing a large bag of fresh fruit.
"Are you hungry, honored guests?" he asked hesitantly.
Having previously collaborated with Shiraori, Magnus had stocked up on plenty of fruit to keep her satisfied. He hadn't expected Azrael to create two additional cards in such a short timeframe.
Unknown to Magnus, Azrael had actually crafted these cards during his last covert operation.
"I wonder what dietary preferences the other two gentlemen might have," Magnus muttered, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Before he could worry further, Shiraori snatched the fruit bag away with lightning speed.
"Hmm, uncle, you're quite thoughtful. This time, I, Shiraori, will protect you exceptionally well," the evolved spider deity declared as she stuffed her mouth full and began chewing with obvious satisfaction.
Frieren, standing gracefully beside her, glanced at the swordsman nearby, who seemed far more formidable than the dwarf warrior Acer from the Hero Squad, then began to doze off while clutching her ruby staff.
Azrael felt a moment of exasperation watching the white-haired elf's head nod drowsily.
Stepping forward, he gently shook her slender figure and retrieved a pudding from one of his Shadowkhan soldiers, pressing it into her delicate hands. "Time to work, Frieren. Wake up."
Frieren drowsily opened her emerald eyes, which immediately lit up at the sight of the pudding in her grasp. "You're remarkably well-prepared, Azrael."
Leaving Frieren to savor her pudding with narrowed, contented eyes, Azrael tossed another cup to Zoro. "Drink moderately. You can have as much as you want after this mission concludes."
Zoro accepted the cup as a Shadowkhan soldier filled it, grinning broadly. "Understood, Captain Azrael."
The green-haired swordsman now served under two captains: Azrael and Luffy. If this were the world of One Piece, the Straw Hat Pirates would likely function as a subsidiary fleet under Azrael's command.
Ignoring his three summoned cards, Azrael turned his attention to Magnus. "Here's the situation, don't let yourself get captured in front of Godfrey later."
As a legendary master of balancing cards, Azrael had naturally determined his cards' preferences. The Shadow Kingdom currently maintained extensive stockpiles of food and beverages favored by each summon.
Except for Shiraori, who consumed virtually everything with equal enthusiasm.
Magnus silently wiped perspiration from his forehead and nodded. "Don't worry, Azrael."
With that confirmation, he transformed his appearance to match that of Bruce, his false identity.
Seeing Magnus was prepared, Azrael activated his communication device to contact Godfrey.
[Six: Come see me.]
Meanwhile, Godfrey read the message on his device, unable to suppress his bewilderment. "Why is the boss summoning me now?"
"Could it be..." For a moment, his thoughts immediately turned to the assassination attempt that had occurred the previous night.
"Does he want me to accompany him in assassinating Azrael?"
Filled with uncertainty, Godfrey quickly descended to the basement study.
Upon entering, the scene before him left him momentarily stunned. Besides the spider card he'd encountered previously, he observed two entirely new cards.
However, the white-haired card didn't emanate a particularly threatening aura. Instead, the green-haired youth with three long swords slung across his back pierced through his spiritual defenses like a razor-sharp needle.
"Take a seat," Magnus said with a feigned cough upon seeing Godfrey's arrival.
Under the scrutinizing gazes of four pairs of eyes, countless if one counted Shiraori's compound vision, Godfrey sank uncomfortably onto the sofa. "Sir, you wished to see me?"
Magnus nodded gravely before asking, "Do you understand why?"
Godfrey, basing his suspicions on recent events, tentatively inquired, "Is this about Azrael's assassination attempt last night?"
Magnus felt momentarily stunned. Seriously, buddy? You know about something I'm completely unaware of? Doesn't that make me seem utterly incompetent?
Suppressing his complex emotions, Magnus forced composure and declared, "Precisely."
"President Kavach actually claimed it was our Crimson Oath Society that orchestrated it."
"Then let's provide him with a genuine surprise, let him understand that framing the Crimson Oath Society comes with severe consequences."
"Does he truly believe our organization can be scapegoated so easily?"
This dialogue had been precisely what Azrael instructed Magnus to deliver. There needed to be proper justification for assassinating President Kavach.
Although the Crimson Oath Society's reputation suggested they rarely required excuses for their actions, proper protocol still mattered.
Godfrey quickly chimed in enthusiastically, "Your Excellency speaks truth. I've long despised that man."
Magnus raised an internal eyebrow. Has Godfrey always been this servile? How did I never notice?
Suppressing his urge to comment, Magnus declared coldly, "Let's proceed."
"Yes, sir."
President Kavach casually pushed the tear-stained woman aside and settled onto his bed, lighting a cigarette with practiced indifference.
As president of the Donglai Cardian Master Association, he could effortlessly attract women with mere gestures. However, compared to those willing participants, he still preferred decent women who required... persuasion.
Madam, you wouldn't want...
"Whoa!" The swirling smoke obscured his face, rendering his expression unreadable.
"Damn," he muttered, then roughly pulled the trembling woman closer, preparing to vent his accumulated frustrations.
Meanwhile, several figures maintained covert surveillance of Kavach's residence from concealed positions nearby.
They were Magnus and Godfrey, accompanied by their complement of summoned cards.
With Shiraori's [Silent] skill and Magnus's existing proficiency in stealth operations, they had successfully avoided detection.
Godfrey stared intently at the distant house, feeling increasingly bewildered. As the Public Security Office director who had worked in Donglai for many years, he naturally recognized the villa's owner.
But,
"Sir, aren't we supposed to be assassinating Azrael?" Godfrey asked uncertainly in a hushed voice to Magnus beside him.
Why are we here instead?
Magnus gave Godfrey a peculiar look. You also want to assassinate your actual boss? We're kindred spirits.
"It was Kavach who released the false information, so naturally we're going to cause problems for him."
"Besides, targeting the weak is more practical. Azrael would be far too troublesome to handle."
Godfrey fell silent. These words seemed slightly inconsistent with his previous image of the elder, but then he remembered how, during their first meeting, he'd been instructed to report on the Onefold Doctrine.
It seemed characteristic of something the elder would orchestrate.
"Your Excellency is absolutely correct. I was mistaken," the Public Security Office director swiftly admitted.
Magnus waved dismissively, signaling there was no need for further discussion. "Proceed. Give that old bastard a proper surprise."
As he finished speaking, Shiraori and Frieren attacked simultaneously, while Zoro waited quietly for his optimal moment to strike.
Meanwhile, Azrael stood atop a tall building's rooftop, observing a magic circle suddenly materializing in the air not far away. "Execute!"
He intended to time his arrival perfectly to reach President Kavach at the crucial moment.
"BOOM!"
Crimson flames illuminated the night sky, and the previously silent evening suddenly erupted into chaos.
"What happened?!"
"What's that explosion?"
"Where's President Kavach? Someone's actually insane enough to cause trouble here?"
Nearby residents, knowing Kavach lived in the area, were filled with disbelief that such a lunatic would dare create disturbances.
The President Kavach they discussed now stood atop the smoking ruins, his face radiating pure fury.
"You audacious madmen! Courting death!" roared Kavach, hurling the woman he'd grabbed by the neck toward her attackers.
Observing this, Frieren gently waved her ruby staff, employing levitation magic to control the woman's trajectory. She was slowly lowered to safety, her face thick with terror.
That was the extent of the crowd's attention to this pitiable, ordinary woman. Recognizing the danger, she quickly fled while covering her face.
"Chew, chew. What a despicable uncle!" Shiraori commented while munching her apple, her compound eyes flashing crimson with righteous indignation.
By this time, Kavach had already identified Magnus and his group through Shiraori's distinctive appearance. His expression darkened as he demanded, "Crimson Oath Society?"
"How dare you come knocking on my doorstep?"
"Perfect! Let me collect some interest for Vice President Azrael's sake."
Magnus merely twitched his lips and responded somewhat speechlessly, "I'm going to sue you for defamation."
"We didn't orchestrate that incident whatsoever."
As the individual who had actually wronged the Crimson Oath Society, Kavach understood the extent of their legitimate grievances, but he still sneered contemptuously, "How absurd! You've come to assassinate me, and you still attempt to deny responsibility?"
He had been worrying about how to make the Crimson Oath Society's assassination of Azrael appear more credible when they had unexpectedly delivered themselves to his doorstep.
The Crimson Oath Society's successive assassinations of the Vice President and President would certainly make the narrative seem more authentic.
But Magnus simply sighed with resignation. They genuinely didn't care whether this was truly an injustice, the Crimson Oath Society's reputation was already thoroughly tarnished.
"Since you've made that accusation," Magnus declared, "then we'll simply have to fulfill your expectations."
"So please, just die peacefully."
As his words concluded, several intricate magic circles instantly materialized around Kavach's position.
"Judrajim."
Purple lightning immediately carved through the ground while Shiraori's abyssal magic combined with the electrical assault, striking Kavach who stood in the distance wearing only his undergarments.
Kavach, meanwhile, summoned his own card collection, and crimson flames instantly surged toward the attackers like a raging dragon.
Confronting the overwhelming magical onslaught, Kavach's expression remained grimly determined. "Pathetic!"
"BOOM!"
Another violent explosion erupted, sending billowing clouds of inky black smoke swirling through the air.
Magnus and Godfrey understood that as president of the Donglai Cardian Master Association, Kavach wouldn't succumb so easily to their initial assault.
They were now puzzled by Frieren's surprisingly devastating attack capabilities. Especially Magnus.
Clearly, this mysterious white-haired card's aura hadn't seemed particularly overwhelming, appearing almost mascot-like in nature.
But once combat commenced, she had transformed completely.
The two observers shuddered at Frieren's coldly analytical gaze during battle.
"Terrifying..."
"Why do I feel like she's a seasoned killer?" Magnus muttered to himself.
As a member of the Crimson Oath Society, he felt somehow inferior to the white-haired elf's combat aura.
In the distance, the smoke gradually dissipated, revealing Kavach's unharmed figure.
Three distinctively shaped cards stood protectively around him.
Shiraori quickly identified their specifications through her analytical abilities:
[Crazy Sword: Flame Silence]
[Venerable Master: Tiger Slayer]
[Five Elements: Genesis and Restraint: Nangong Ce]
In the distance, Azrael reviewed the intelligence from Shiraori and couldn't suppress a slight frown. "This President Kavach..."
"His self-created cards are following the Xianxia cultivation route?"
His eyes narrowed slightly as a sardonic smile played at the corner of his mouth. "Interesting."
"As expected of a regional president, there are truly no mediocre individuals in positions of power."
"But unfortunately for him..."
You've encountered me.
In the realm of self-created Lore Cardian Mastery, Azrael believed he would never lose to anyone.
A gust of night wind swept through the area, and he vanished from the rooftop.