"Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven, Heavy Demon-Purging Bow Type Six, and Demon-Slaying Sword Type-13."
"Hmm, there's also a large-caliber sniper rifle locking on from a distance."
Kiriha truly had no options left. Though she considered herself far from weak among Sword-Shamans—otherwise, she wouldn't have been assigned this mission—her task hadn't even started, and her life was already on the line.
"A minor Priestess of the Six Blades test mission, and they deploy two high-level Spirit Mediums and one of the Lion King Agency's Three Saints, Shizuka?"
(Is the Lion King Agency really committing total betrayal? This isn't just siding with the enemy—it's full-on treason. Thankfully, those fat pigs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs still dare to let the Lion King Agency go after the Fourth Primogenitor…)
Kiriha was utterly speechless. However, after confirming she had no chance of fighting back, she relaxed significantly and adopted a resigned attitude.
"It seems the rumors circulating in the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the Lion King Agency planning to betray aren't baseless." Kiriha said expressionlessly, though a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
"So, can I join? I also want to leave the darkness and step into the light with you." Kiriha emphasized the words "leave the darkness and step into the light." tossing all her weapons and equipment to the ground to show she was harmless.
"Of course you can." A black cat appeared out of nowhere, leaping onto Kiriha's head and stepping on her glossy black hair while speaking.
(A black cat? Even the legendary Endou Yukari is loyal to the Fourth Primogenitor? It seems the Lion King Agency has fully joined.)
"But I still want to ask, who leaked the details of my mission?" Kiriha sighed, asking with slight curiosity.
The people surrounding her dispersed, leaving only Yukari's black cat Familiar, two Sword-Shamans in junior high uniforms, and a braided girl whose presence wasn't particularly noticeable.
Himeragi Yukina, a Sword Shaman from the Lion King Agency, was currently tasked with monitoring the Fourth Primogenitor. Kirasaka Sayaka, who had slipped in at some point, and Shizuka Koyoki were also there.
Yukari's cat eyes showed a hint of a mischievous smile. Using a Transfer Mantra, she connected to someone Kiriha never expected.
"Hey, Kiriha-chan, did you miss me? You must've received the surprise I prepared for you, right?"
Arashima Sami, Kiriha's instructor, close friend, and partner. Her position in the Astrology Bureau was Head of the Investigation Team, responsible for investigating evidence of betrayal or similar actions by bureau members.
Hearing Sami's voice, the corner of Kiriha's mouth twitched twice.
Surprise? More like a terrifying shock.
Who could've imagined how good her mood was when she risked her life infiltrating Itogami Island, only to be detected and surrounded before her mission even began?
It seemed the Astrology Bureau wasn't faring well either. For some reason, Kiriha began to mourn for the fat pigs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The feeling of both major secret agencies under them betraying at the most critical moment of war— their expressions must be quite entertaining.
In truth, the relationship between the Lion King Agency and the Astrology Bureau wasn't that bad. The so-called rivalry was just a show for the higher-ups. After all, members of both organizations were originally orphans adopted from around the world, fostering a strong sense of solidarity.
Moreover, much of the Astrology Bureau's structure was modeled after or even derived from the Lion King Agency. Once the Ministry of Internal Affairs' control was removed, the two organizations became very close.
So, after the Lion King Agency reasonably "left the darkness and stepped into the light." it was only natural they targeted their sister organization, the Astrology Bureau. In the current Astrology Bureau, it was estimated that no small number had defected, like Sami.
However, the Astrology Bureau was, after all, an organization long managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was hard to say whether there were still loyalists to the Ministry within it.
Thus, those in the Astrology Bureau who wanted to defect had to go through introductions and proactively seek out Lion King Agency members spreading the rumors.
Even so, the defectors from the Astrology Bureau could be described as a continuous stream. At least two-thirds of the bureau's senior members had joined… Yukari was truly speechless.
It seemed the sisters in the Astrology Bureau were also living in hardship. Despite being brainwashed and indoctrinated from childhood, under layers of exploitation and oppression, they too harbored grievances and could no longer endure.
Additionally, the core members of the Astrology Bureau, aside from the leaders forced to maintain group solidarity, were all orphans. While parentless orphans were easy to intimidate, they also had no burdens or ties.
As long as their instructors, who were like parents to them, gave the order, they would flee as quickly as possible. If not for the childhood brainwashing, these young men and women wielding supernatural powers and inheriting Deva blood would rather die alongside the officials exploiting them.
In this regard, the Lion King Agency performed better than the Astrology Bureau.
"What's going on? Why's it so lively here?" A male voice suddenly interrupted, startling Kiriha.
She turned and saw a void before her. From it, a girl in a black Gothic dress holding a parasol emerged, arm-in-arm with a man who wore a gentle smile.
"The Witch of the Void… and the Fourth Primogenitor…" Kiriha's expression changed again. She suddenly realized the situation had exceeded her expectations.
Could it be that the details of her mission were already known to the Fourth Primogenitor?
Taking Eguchi Yume back and attempting to control Leviathan to destroy Itogami Island—those damned fat pigs. She had already joined, yet they still wanted to harm her.
However, Aslan clearly didn't pay much attention to Kiriha. Only her cold, long, straight black hair caught his eye slightly. But with Natsuki by his side, he couldn't linger on the young girl.
Yukari saw Natsuki in her adult form and glanced helplessly at Yukina, Sayaka, and Kiriha. She had been hoping to seize this chance to strengthen ties between the Lion King Agency and the Fourth Primogenitor.
Gathering three beautiful girls at once wasn't easy, but who would've thought the Witch of the Void would be with Aslan? And she didn't know if her thoughts were detected, but she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
Sighing, Yukari could only abandon this perfect plan. She didn't dare offer concubines to the Fourth Primogenitor in front of the Main Wife (Natsuki).
After all, the Lion King Agency and the Astrology Bureau might work under Natsuki in the future. If she upset her future boss, it wouldn't bode well if she were made a scapegoat later.
"Your Majesty arrived just in time. Have you ever heard of Kamioda Shrine? The scenery and hot springs there are fantastic."
"Would Your Majesty be interested in taking a break there with Her Highness?" Yukari, ever perceptive, shifted the topic.
She had originally planned to let Yukina and the others accompany Aslan to Kannawa Lake at Kamioda Shrine to obtain the Cleansing Legacy. Meanwhile, Akatsuki Hisano and she would provide support. It would be even better if Aslan developed something with them.
Now, that plan had to change. All they needed to do now was ensure Aslan and Natsuki had an unforgettable experience.
Natsuki couldn't help but give Yukari a knowing look. "Next time, don't be too harsh on them."
In Japan, the Lion King Agency, specializing in capturing magical criminals, and Natsuki, as an Attack Mage, had serious business conflicts. Additionally, as a secret agency, the Lion King Agency's methods were often harsh, frequently displeasing her.
Many fugitives she caught were often snatched by the Lion King Agency. Though the bounties remained, it was embarrassing. Now, these Lion King Agency women even wanted to steal her man—how could she tolerate that?
But now, they seemed much more sensible, starting to create opportunities for her.
Seeing Natsuki's satisfied expression, Yukari felt relieved.
"Natsuki-chan, want to give it a try?" Aslan smiled at Natsuki.
After all, he was still on a date with her. If Natsuki didn't want to go, he could open a Space Gate and resolve the issue quickly.
Kamioda Shrine—he had a vague impression of it. It seemed Kannawa Lake was there. Cain's Familiar, Glenda, was sleeping at Kannawa Lake. It appeared Glenda held a significant amount of crucial Cleansing information, though Aslan didn't recall it clearly.
After all, he had only watched the anime back then and didn't finish it. Many clues were quite vague. And anime couldn't perfectly depict many real-world details. It was normal for anime plots to differ greatly from reality. It could only serve as a reference, so Aslan didn't dwell too much on the original storyline.
Natsuki thought for a moment and then showed a smile. "Alright, let's go for a stroll."
Hot springs? She hadn't experienced them since using a Clone to walk in the outside world. After all, a Clone couldn't even feel heat or cold, let alone enjoy hot springs. Now, she planned to rediscover all the experiences she missed as a Clone.
"Yes, we'll arrange a private plane immediately." Koyomi knelt on one knee, addressing Aslan and Natsuki. Then she stood and led Yukina and the others toward the airport.
"There's still time. How about we visit the aquarium, Natsuki-chan?"
"I'll follow you."
Like an ordinary couple, Aslan and Natsuki continued their date. The earlier encounter was just a small interlude.