I folded the letter neatly, placed it on my desk, and pulled a mobile phone from my coat pocket.
While the convenient fruits of civilization like smartphones had yet to grace the world, the development of technology had at least progressed far enough to provide slide-style phones that could be carried in one's palm.
[Communication security: Whirlpool.]
"Communication security: Naruto. Kiritsugu-san, how are things on your end?"
[Calling so suddenly just to ask after my well-being... has something happened?]
"It seems the Law Division has uncovered my identity. They told me they're coming to arrest Touko Aozaki and requested my cooperation and presence during the seizure."
[...That is undoubtedly a trap.]
Kiritsugu declared this without even asking for the preceding context.
[The fact that they used your name is a form of warning. It means they've deduced your identity and have completed preparations to take others hostage.]
"Most likely. Hiding a Sealing Designation target is merely a pretext... The real question is whether those bastards have guessed that I've touched the Third Magic. Is there any potential for a leak?"
Information regarding my Rinnegan was still being obfuscated as 'Third Magic,' and even that detail was hidden behind layers of deception that labeled me a mere third-rate magus to the Clock Tower.
Yet, the Clock Tower was summoning me—a supposedly third-rate magus—on charges of concealing a Sealing Designation? If I were truly ordinary, they would have executed me without a word and then searched for Touko Aozaki. The fact that they hadn't meant they had realized 'something' about me.
[There is no leak in any of the intelligence channels I monitor. The Einzberns are entirely under your control, and the possibility of Kayneth or Waver betraying us is slim. Kotomine Kirei is a concern... but if he had talked, the Holy Church would have moved, not the Mages' Association. The Third Magic is a monumental matter even for them.]
"Which means, theoretically, there should be no place for information to spill..."
[I can guarantee it. The Magi of the Clock Tower do not negotiate with 'third-rates' like your superficial identity. They don't even grant the luxury of choice. The fact that they requested your 'attendance' means they've noticed something. Is it possible the Jewel Old Man mentioned you?]
"The Marshal of Magic divulging information about me... is difficult to imagine. And if that old man had talked, he would have started by mentioning he tried to scout me as an apprentice. He's a greedy old fogey in many respects."
He sighed for a moment, then spoke with a firm voice.
[I will inform the Witch of Fairy Tales. I'll move your parents to the Kuonji Mansion for protection.]
"Thank you. I'll leave that side to you."
[I should be the one thanking you. Let's hope there are no Executors brave enough to invade a place guarded by two homunculi simultaneously.]
After hanging up with Kiritsugu, I quickly dialed another number.
After enduring a brief recorded message about international calling fees, I eventually heard a voice saturated with exhaustion and the irritation of a hangover.
[...Communication... security. Saber.]
"Communication security: Beam. It's been a while, Waver. How's the situation there?"
[I feel like my head is going to explode... I have so much work I feel like I'm drowning.]
"Pity. I've got work on this end, too. Has anything happened within the Lore Department lately?"
When I asked the leading question, the voice that sounded like it was drowning in hangovers and paperwork regained a spark of life.
[I'd like to know why you're asking that.]
"The Law Division contacted me. Using my 'true name.'"
Immediately, I heard a crashing sound followed by a cry of shock.
After a moment of rummaging and the distinct click-hiss of a lighter, a marginally calmer Waver spoke quietly.
[...That's impossible.]
"Any chance Kayneth reported me?"
[The probability of the Professor reporting you is zero. For starters, the El-Melloi faction is operating under the radar. Since we claim the Aristocratic stance, there's no reason for Barthomeloi's Law Division to come investigating us.]
"What about the Democratic faction?"
[...The one currently setting up a rivalry with Professor Kayneth is me. The Democrats are pushing the Modern Magecraft Department to grow bit by bit by supporting me, and I'm training Magi to send off into the lucrative departments like Mineralogy or Spiritual Evocation. At least as far as I know, no talk of digging into the El-Melloi coalition has surfaced.]
Waver and Kayneth were maintaining a collaborative relationship beneath the surface, deliberately pretending to be at odds.
Waver Velvet utilized his unique teaching skills and progressive ideologies to seize the Modern Magecraft lectures and nurture elite Magi. Through their secret agreement, those personnel were then diverted into the El-Melloi faction to train the future staff for Chaldea.
Because of this, they were able to acquire significant information from both the Aristocratic and Democratic sides, allowing them to keep various machinations in check.
[If information leaked from the Clock Tower and I don't know about it, it means an agreement was made at a level higher than mine. Who sent the letter?]
"A magus from the Law Division named Hishiri Adashino."
[...I know her. She's the younger sister of the person who previously held the Modern Magecraft lectureship.]
"Can you dig into that, Waver?"
[Leave it to me. I'll relay this to Professor Kayneth.]
"I'm counting on you."
Waver hung up, and I began dialing my final number.
After a few short rings, a bright and cheerful voice answered.
[Hello~ Karma-kun!]
As if communication security was beneath her, she greeted me with pleasant confidence.
"Well, I suppose there isn't anyone who could successfully deceive a Magician."
[Hm? Did something happen? Now that I think about it, it's been a while since we talked over the phone instead of in person. For you to call, it must be something urgent...]
"Well, it is quite urgent."
[What is it?]
"The Law Division contacted me, citing my real identity and the fact that I'm hiding Aoko-san's sister, demanding I turn myself in. But since I'm practically a third-rate magus on paper, such an order... means they've noticed something."
[...Whether it's the Third Magic or those eyes.]
"Most likely."
Silence—a very brief silence followed—and then Aoko-neesan asked me, her voice still bright.
[Karma-kun.]
"Yes, Aoko-neesan."
[If I massacre everyone in the Law Division, do you think they'll stop pulling this crap?]
"...There are bound to be Crown-ranked people among them. Killing those people would be a massive headache in more ways than one."
[I suppose so. Then what should we do? Should I head to Misaki City?]
"I'll welcome the Enforcers here in Mifune City. I'd appreciate it if you could protect that side."
[...Good luck.]
Aoko-neesan hung up, and I quietly set the phone down to stare at the letter.
A black letter with a white circle representing the crest of the Law Division. Was it just my imagination, or did it strongly resemble the 'Black Spot' death omen from *Treasure Island*?
I slowly stood up, stored the Path of Naraka within a bead-like container, and drifted up into the sky.
"They said my authority over the leylines would be suspended 12 hours after confirming the letter."
I didn't know how Souren Araya or Cornelius Alba would act if they became aware of my presence. They might take civilians hostage, crush me with the Ogawa Apartments, or invade the Hollow Shrine directly.
Therefore, I had to prepare thoroughly, regardless of their method of attack.
The Clock Tower had granted me management of the local leylines, and I intended to utilize that authority to the fullest.
In the span of a human life, 12 hours is nothing, but to a man facing an imminent raid, those hours are more precious than gold.
Aoko-neesan quickly moved to Misaki City to establish defensive positions, and Alice-san declared a lockdown, using the recent move of the Tohno family to Misaki as a cover story.
Waver Velvet delivered my message to Kayneth while pretending to argue with him. Kayneth then contacted me using the phone he borrowed from Waver.
"Even you, a titan of the Aristocratic faction, were unaware of this?"
[Yes. This matter is clearly being handled by someone above even my status as a Lord. If it's someone higher than a Lord, I would suspect the Barthomeloi family, the Law Division acting autonomously, or perhaps the Director of the Clock Tower or the Marshal of Magic.]
"Then it means the Law Division is acting on its own initiative."
Kayneth hung up, saying he would conduct his own investigation, and I prepared my next response.
Kirie Fujo was effectively a non-combatant, and Fujino Asagami was likewise ill-suited for immediate deployment into battle.
I decided they would be escorted away from Mifune City by Godword Mayday, who was remarkably adept at evading Sealing Designation Enforcers. Mikiya Kokutou, a potential hostage, was also moved toward Misaki City.
"Is it alright for Shiki Ryougi to stay?"
"...If that young lady truly puts her heart into a fight, wouldn't she be able to carve up a Sealing Designation Enforcer?"
"True enough."
After packing only the essentials from the Hollow Shrine, Touko-san incinerated her workshop and destroyed its remnants with self-detonating puppets, moving to a secondary workshop she had prepared in advance.
"Enforcers are no pushovers. There are those among them capable of killing even 'me'."
"Don't worry. I've made my own preparations."
Exactly 12 hours after the Clock Tower's notice, five individuals arrived in Mifune City.
Three were strangers I had never seen, but the other two were familiar faces.
There was the boyish beauty with purple hair in a business suit, resembling Scáthach: Bazett Fraga McRemitz.
And... Cornelius Alba, whose presence here defied any rational explanation.
* * * * *
"Welcome to Mifune City."
Among the five individuals carrying suitcases, Bazett stood in the center. Despite being the youngest, her presence was the strongest. I slowly bowed my head to her.
"I am the current land-owner of Mifune City—well, perhaps 'former owner' is more appropriate now. At any rate, I am the resident magus of this land, Karma Akabane."
"I am Bazett Fraga McRemitz. A pleasure to meet you, Karma Kirigaya-kun."
Unlike many mages, she seemed to possess a reasonable sense of character—or perhaps she knew my true identity. She accepted my greeting and spoke directly.
"Let's get straight to the point. Where is Touko Aozaki?"
"...Well, seeing it for yourselves will be faster than me explaining."
I led them to the Hollow Shrine, showing them the charred, shattered ruins of the workshop.
"As soon as I received the letter, I attempted to locate her with the cooperation of Mother Riesbyfe from the Holy Church... but she vanished the moment she realized her tail had been caught. I never imagined a Grand-ranked Puppetmaster would hide in a quiet countryside like this."
"...I see. Touko Aozaki has escaped, then. We shall split up. Mr. Alba, you will track her with me. Kirigaya-kun, I must ask you to accompany these individuals to the Clock Tower."
"Hm... regarding that, may I ask why I must go to the Clock Tower?"
"Suspicion of concealing Mysteries and hindering the path to the Root. It is a formality, merely a matter of questioning. You need not worry."
"Hmm. That sounds a bit different from what Mother Riesbyfe told me. According to her, the Clock Tower would never deign to negotiate with a magus of 'my' level..."
At that, she responded with a cold smile.
"Then I will give you a choice. Will you be taken away with an added charge of Heresy for collaborating with the Church? Or will you come along quietly?"
"I'll decline both."
In that instant—
"Then die."
Flame magecraft carrying immense heat surged toward me.
And immediately following that—
"What is this?"
As if it were nothing at all, I absorbed the flames.
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