On Monday, Zhou Gongjin called upon Kudo Makoto exactly at the appointed hour. Makoto welcomed him with a favorable answer: the laboratory would take in the exiled sorcerers. The two men exchanged satisfied smiles and a firm handshake before parting ways. Despite a strict gag order, news of this meeting reached the ears of Kudo Retsu a mere hour later.
"…As you have heard, Master Makoto has agreed to harbor the exiled sorcerers. Zhou Gongjin reportedly asked for no reward or specific conditions in return. It seems his primary objective is simply to slip those sorcerers into our ranks."
"I see."
"Master, are you content to simply stand by and watch?"
The report came from an elderly man in a business suit, his head shaved like a monk's. Kudo Retsu—immaculately dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, his snow-white beard groomed to perfection—nodded slowly. This man, who addressed Retsu as 'Master,' was Kuki Shizuka, the former head of the Kuki family—one of the prestigious "Numbers."
"It is fine," Retsu replied. "Though the plan will require some adjustments."
"Adjustments, sir?"
"The mastermind behind the plot to manipulate public opinion was a member of the hardliners. They intended to use Great Asian Alliance sorcerers to sabotage the Parasite Dolls during their performance test—which coincidentally fell on the same day as the Nine Schools Competition—and inflict heavy casualties on the players. And it was Zhou Gongjin, acting on the suggestion of the Traditionalists, who cooperated with those hardliners to smuggle the sorcerers into our lab."
"Then we must take steps to ensure the high school students aren't harmed…"
"There is no need for concern. Once the boy—Maya's son—learns the Nine Schools Competition is being targeted, he will move. Even if he realizes he's being made to play the fool, he is not the type to stay his hand. And no one can stop him. Not Kazama, and certainly not Saeki."
Retsu breathed a small sigh as the image of the high school boy he had spoken with briefly last year flickered through his mind.
By late July, Tatsuya finally found some breathing room. Between midterms and the constant adjustments required for the Nine Schools Competition's new rules, his schedule had been relentless, but he had finally seen it through. On the night of Saturday, July 21st, having managed to carve out some time, Tatsuya moved forward with the investigation of the Old Ninth Institute—a plan he had coordinated with Yakumo.
Tatsuya was currently relaxing in a private compartment of a linear train bound for Nara. It wasn't a "Trailer"—the long-distance transport that carries buses and personal electric cars—but an old-fashioned passenger train. This model survived as a luxury option, prioritizing comfort over the convenience of direct transfers; by old standards, it would be described as an all-First Class express.
As for why Tatsuya, supposedly on a mission of espionage, was indulging in such luxury, the reason sat across from him.
"This is much more comfortable than I expected, Brother. And it feels remarkably fast."
There were four passengers in the compartment. Originally, it was meant to be just Tatsuya and Yakumo. However, Miyuki had insisted on coming, pleading, "Please, take me with you," and once she was on board, Minami followed as a matter of course to "tend to Mistress Miyuki's needs."
Upon arriving at Nara Station, the group split up. As prearranged, Yakumo requested to go his own way and boarded a cabinet-car heading toward Kyoto. After seeing him off, Tatsuya and the girls checked into their hotel. After unpacking, Tatsuya immediately changed into his gear: a riding suit topped with a light blouson. Even with modern fabric technology, the outfit was stifling in the peak of summer, but it was a necessary evil to conceal the CADs holstered at his hips. He sprayed a burst of coolant under his jacket—a temporary comfort at best—and was ready.
As he prepared to leave the room, he was met with the friction he had anticipated.
"…So, you truly intend to leave me behind?"
"It's dangerous. I can't take you."
"I promise I won't be a burden!"
"Besides," Tatsuya added, his voice tinged with a weary dryness, "this isn't the hour for a young lady to be wandering about. Miyuki, are you a girl of such poor character?"
It was just before 9:00 PM. On days when she had lessons, she was often out at this hour anyway. Tatsuya knew his argument lacked logic, but the throwaway line had a surprising effect.
"I… I understand. I will follow your instructions, Brother."
"Minami, I'm leaving Miyuki in your hands."
"Understood, sir."
Tatsuya tilted his head inwardly at Miyuki's sudden compliance, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Tonight was his only window. He ordered Minami to watch over her—a command that was essentially "surveillance" under the guise of "care." As he stepped out, he noticed a hint of unmistakable joy in Minami's voice at being given a duty to fulfill. It was enough to give him a burgeoning headache, and he hurried out of the room faster than strictly necessary.
Leaving the hotel on a rental bike he had arranged back in Tokyo, Tatsuya headed for the Old Ninth Institute. He couldn't actually go inside; he had neither a reason nor a pretext to justify entry. Instead, he pulled over on the public road in front of the facility, stopping in the dim space exactly halfway between two streetlights where the shadows were deepest.
Tatsuya pulled an information terminal from the side bag on his bike. He made a show of checking a map app while projecting his Elemental Sight into the laboratory. Nominally, the current Old Ninth Institute focused on the development of sensory-type magic. Even if the reality was different, they had to be doing at least some work in that field to maintain the cover.
(Still, this is lower risk than breaking in,) he told himself.
He focused his "eye" that could overlook the Idea. At first, he took in the entire facility. As he scanned the grounds, he found a specific corner where the concentration of Psions was unusually dense. He narrowed the focus of his vision onto that section.
(A female-type robot… housing a Parasite?)
There, he felt the unmistakable resonance of a Parasite—one of the entities that had been the catalyst for Lina coming to Japan, and which was supposed to have been secured in the end. Tatsuya felt a sharp pang of frustration as he realized that Retsu Kudo must have made off with one of the two units after all.
Miyuki was in high spirits for the trip, but by the time they head home...
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