"Pleased to meet you, Miss Fehr, Miss Gagnon."

  Mayumi stifled her discomfort and shook their hands without incident.

  28

  Following Mayumi, Mari exchanged greetings with both of them, without ever attempting to hide her military identity.

  After the exchange of greetings, Mayumi's group of three headed for FEHR headquarters in the suburbs of Vancouver aboard a self-propelled car with Charlotte at the wheel.

  They arrived in Vancouver slightly earlier than the scheduled time, so considering the time zone they're currently in, they can still check in at the hotel later on since it is still morning. Their original plan included taking a cab from the airport directly to FEHR

  headquarters. So, having Lena and Charlotte pick them up by car was quite convenient for Mayumi, though Ryousuke was persistently apologetic about it.

  Since they were told that they would later be taken to the hotel in the same car, Mayumi left the self-propelled car with only her briefcase and Mari a large handbag. Inside which there is a small pistol in a disassembled state that is virtually undetectable by metal detectors and X-ray scanners.

  When they arrived, Mayumi's group was led to what seemed to be a conference room.

  The chairs and table design emphasized practicality, so it didn't look like the room was meant for receiving others. It could be, perhaps, that there isn't one at FEHR

  headquarters.

  "Miss Saegusa. I have been informed that the purpose of this visit is to deliver a message to us."

  Lena, after exchanging diplomatic pleasantries with Mayumi, across the table where black tea was being served, got straight to the main topic.

  "I assume the message is not everything, am I right? An email would have sufficed if that were the case."

  "Yes, that's right."

  Lena made a valid point, and Mayumi openly acknowledged it.

  "May I ask your true purpose, then?"

  "I'm afraid I can't answer that."

  "…Is that so?"

  "Please don't misunderstand me. If there is a hidden meaning, then I have no idea what it is since all I know is what I have been told."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  29

  Charlotte was the one who asked back. Lena on her part had clear confusion in her expression.

  "The instructions I received from Mr. Shiba were—"

  Mayumi addressed Tatsuya as "Mr. Shiba." Needless to say, this was to distinguish him from Miyuki. Although in Japan, Tatsuya and Miyuki are distinguished as "Managing Director Shiba" and "Representative Director Shiba," respectively, Mayumi believed that such details would not be well understood in America.

  "—simply to ascertain if FEHR was willing to negotiate a partnership with the Magian Society."

  "You didn't need…"

  'to come all the way to Vancouver for that,' Lena attempted to say.

  "I see."

  But Charlotte unintentionally interrupted her.

  "So Mr. Shiba sent you here to assess us?"

  "I'm not sure if that's the case either."

  Mayumi gave essentially the same answer to Charlotte's guess.

  It wasn't part of a deception. Mayumi just wasn't sure if Tatsuya trusted her judgment that much.

  "All I'm tasked to do is to bring back to Japan your thoughts on the partnership."

  "…I have received your message, in that case."

  After a few seconds of staring at Mayumi, Lena spoke to her again.

  "Please give me a day, no, until the day after tomorrow. I would like to confer with everyone."

  "Of course, absolutely."

  Mayumi accepted Lena's proposition with a nod.

  "The day after tomorrow, then… at what time would you like me to come?"

  She proceeded to ask.

  "How about three o'clock in the afternoon?"

  "Understood. We will meet you the day after tomorrow at 3:00 P.M."

  30

  "Yes, we will be waiting for you."

  Everyone present stood up in unison, and Mayumi shook hands with Lena and Charlotte.

  Ryousuke had been staring at Lena since the meeting began, but he ultimately did not say anything.

  On their way back to the entrance, being escorted by Lena and Charlotte, Mayumi and Mari bumped into an old familiar face.

  "Ono-sensei…?"

  "Saegusa-san? And Watanabe-san as well…?"

  The person in front of them happened to be none other than Ono Haruka, their former counselor from their alma mater, First High School.

  Although they were indeed reminiscent of each other, they were not that close. Even so, they haven't seen each other in a long time, enough not to dismiss the customary mutual 'it's been a long time' approach.

  "Are you acquaintances?"

  Charlotte interjected quizzically as they exchanged a few words in Japanese.

  "Yes, she was a counselor at the high school we went to."

  Mari answered her question.

  "Oh my! In that case, how about I lend you a room while the three of you talk over a cup of tea?"

  Lena offered this to Mayumi and Mari with a smile so that they could catch up with their old acquaintance.

  "Eh, but…"

  Mayumi glanced at Ryousuke.

  "In the meantime, we'll be keep Mr. Tookami company."

  Charlotte suggested this after seeing Mayumi's hesitation.

  Mayumi knew immediately that her aim was to simply listen to the information that Ryousuke had obtained while in Japan.

  "I see. Then, I'll take you up on that."

  31

  With that note, Mayumi accepted Charlotte's offer.

  "Milady, who was that woman just now?"

  Ryousuke was the first to speak once they arrived at Lena's office.

  "She seemed to be an ordinary person, but she isn't one of ours, is she?"

  By "ordinary person," Ryousuke naturally was referring to those who do not possess the gift of magic. If it were Mayumi now, she would have followed Tatsuya's lead and referred to her as being a part of the "majority," but Ryousuke has not been as influenced by Tatsuya's words as she has.

  "There's no need to worry about her."

  Charlotte placated Ryousuke. The anxiety showing in his tone was due to worry over the possibility that she is a spy working against their organization.

  "She is Luca Fields, a private detective. Even though that name turned out to be a pseudonym, I'm still confident that she is trustworthy."

  "A private detective…?"

  "Yes, she's a member of the detective agency I worked closely with when I was an agent."

  Ryousuke, who had made no attempt to hide his suspicion, lowered his wariness for the moment upon hearing that they were working with a collaborator from her days at the FBI.

  "Did something go wrong that would cause you to request the service of a detective?"

  "We talked about this the other day, remember? About FAIR and what they're up to at Mt.

  Shasta."

  "The other day," that is, was about a month or so ago. Lena used [Astral Projection] to appear before Ryousuke in Izu, and there she shared with him that FAIR was preparing to send some of its members to Mt. Shasta.

  "What are those guys from FAIR up to this time? Are they still trying to obtain a Relic?"

  "We knew for sure that they must be vandalizing some kind of historical ruin, but we still don't know for sure what they're after. Thus why we hired the detective to find out."

  "They're vandalizing a historical ruin! Isn't that clearly a crime?"

  32

  "That whole area is government-owned land, so yes, it's definitely a crime to illegally dig there."

  Charlotte agreed with Ryousuke's words.

  "We've been trying to get our hands on some evidence to prove that FAIR has been breaking the law for the past ten days or so, but it is not until now that we have gotten what we were looking for."

  Charlotte then adds this.

  "—Milady."

  "…What's the matter, Ryousuke? Why the pensive look on your face?"

  Lena asked back with a slightly uneasy smile.

  "Can't I also help you with that?"

  "You want to monitor FAIR at Mt. Shasta?"

  Ryousuke nodded with an overly emphatic expression.

  "No."

  Lena dismissed his request without a second thought.

  "Why not?"

  Although Ryouske didn't raise his voice, it was noticeable from his tone of voice that he was saddened.

  "Because, it's dangerous."

  Lena answered without faltering, with a composure befitting her age.

  "We sent Louis to Mt. Shasta before we hired Miss Fields. But, before he was able to get his hands on any evidence of them committing a crime, he was discovered and subsequently had to return after being injured. He wasn't seriously injured, but his injuries weren't minor either."

  Lena's expression grew tense, probably thinking back to that moment.

  "Louis was?"

  Louis Roux's fighting prowess is well known to Ryousuke. He knows that it isn't impossible to beat him, given his fighting style, but in terms of overall strength, Louis Roux is undoubtedly the better fighter. Louis Roux is the sub-leader, and Ryousuke recognizes him as such.

  33

  His offer to help with the investigation into FAIR was not the fruit of some deeper consideration. It was more of a spur of the moment decision, an impulse, or perhaps a blind sense of duty, grounded entirely by a desire to be of service to her.

  The surprise must have helped him to cool down somewhat. Ryousuke's expression faded into a pensive look.

  "Also, I want you to continue working with Mr. Shiba as our liaison."

  Just as Lena said this, there was a knock at the door.

  Without waiting for Ryousuke's answer, she answered the knock with a "Come in."

  "Miss Saegusa's group is done with their conversation."

  Lena replied, "I understand," to the member at the door, and stood up to see them off.

  Ryousuke followed her without a moment's pause.

  "As you ordered, Milady, I will continue working as a liaison."

  He said so to Lena and picked up the travel bag he had carried with him into this room.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  After sending Mayumi, Mari, as well as Ryousuke off, Lena now faced Haruka in the conference room with Charlotte in attendance.

  "…So there is no doubt that FAIR is illegally digging there, correct?"

  "Please take a look at this."

  Haruka handed several photos to Lena. These were still photos from the video footage she had taken.

  Among them are images of a man digging into a cave wall with a pickaxe, a man and a woman coming out from behind a waterfall, as well as one of Laura receiving a small stone tablet.

  "…Charlee, what do you think?"

  She passed the photos she had finished looking at to Charlotte one by one, after seeing them all, Lena asked Charlotte as she handed her the last one.

  As she stared at the photo of Laura scrutinizing the stone tablet, Charlotte replied, "I think it should be enough for a criminal accusation."

  34

  "…But, I'm not sure if we should wash our hands of it after just filing a criminal accusation with the police."

  She then added.

  "I suppose that was the plan… but I also understand what you're trying to say, Charlee."

  In fact, Lena was also curious about FAIR's purpose.

  What they unearthed from the cave behind the waterfall was a stone tablet. Apparently it was not exactly what they were after, but if the members brought it to Laura, then they must be trying to get something in the shape of a stone tablet.

  But what is it?

  Does the stone tablet itself possess magical properties like a Relic, or is the knowledge written on the stone tablet valuable?

  This video evidence may be enough to temporarily detain Laura Simon. But she is the sub-leader of FAIR. Although she is undoubtedly an important person for the organization, she is still not its leader. Getting her arrested will not be enough to thwart FAIR's plans.

  Lena has no precognitive abilities. But at this moment, she had a premonition that is all but certain to come true.

  A premonition that… if things continue as they are, something terrible would happen.

  For FEHR — there is no guarantee that if they were to intervene, that they would be able to prevent that "terrible thing" from happening. It may even make matters worse.

  But Lena was determined not to let FAIR's actions go unchecked, even if it meant inviting a potential catastrophe.

  "Should I continue with the surveillance?"

  With perfect timing, Haruka asked Lena about what course of action.

  "Yes, please."

  Lena replied and turned to Charlotte who was seated next to her.

  "If it is possible, I would like for whatever FAIR has dug up to be secured."

  This is a question about the pros and cons of attempting to secure (i.e. steal) whatever has been dug up, as well as who would be the best person for the job.

  "…Should we consult with Louis?"

  35

  Charlotte's answer was the green light for the securing plan, and to recommend the sub-leader Louis Roux for the execution.

  "Isn't Louis still recovering from his injuries?!"

  "But given the nature of the mission, he is the most qualified member we have."

  "…You're right."

  After a moment's deliberation, Lena agreed.

  Then she turned to Haruka again.

  "Miss Fields. If you don't mind, I'd like to leave you with Charlee in this room for a few minutes."

  After waiting for Haruka's "Yes, I don't mind," Lena rose from her seat and left the conference room.

  Lena reappeared in the conference room about fifteen minutes later.

  When she returned, she was not alone. Accompanying her was a black man around the age of 30.

  "Miss Fields, allow me to introduce him. This is Louis Roux, the sub-leader of this organization."

  After Lena's introduction of him, Haruka and Louis shook hands after she had introduced herself.

  "Miss Fields. I would like to have Louis accompany you in your investigation, if that's all right."

  Haruka was not too surprised by Lena's request. She had probably anticipated this turn of events from the moment she had been introduced to Louis.

  "I have one condition."

  These words too, seemed to have been prepared in advance.

  "Please tell me."

  "If the need to escape arises, I will be acting independently. If that's okay with you, that is."

  Lena and Charlotte both widened their eyes at this unexpected condition.

  36

  For his part, Louis remained calm.

  "You mean that you'll be abandoning anyone who's slowing you down?"

  There was no sarcasm in what Louis said. He confirmed what she meant in a matter-of-fact tone.

  "As long as I am alone, I can escape no matter how many opponents there are, as long as they don't use weapons of mass destruction. On the other hand, I'm hardly, if at all, a fighter. My skills can't help anyone other than myself."

  "By that you mean your ability?"

  "My particularity."

  Haruka's tone was one of self-mockery as she answered Louis.

  It's no understatement when she mentioned her lack of combat skills, it's a fact. Because of the nature of her abilities, she could probably do something like assassinating someone by approaching them surreptitiously from a blind spot. In this sense, she is at least not totally helpless in combat.

  However, she does not have the abilities to help allies escape in a situation where they are surrounded by countless enemies.

  All she can do is abandon them and escape on her own…

  This is the same feeling of powerlessness Haruka experienced during the feud that caused her to flee Japan, an emotional wound that will never fully heal.

  Perhaps because they sensed the heavy trauma bleeding through her tone, not only Louis but neither did Lena nor Charlotte delve any further into the reasons for her condition.

  "Well, that condition is fine with me."

  Louis answered, thus deciding that he would accompany her.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  That evening. A military transport plane inbound from Japan landed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.

  The eyes of the servicemen stationed on the runway were drawn to a young female officer as she came down the ramp (loading ramp). She was certainly the proprietress of a glamorous appearance that fully justified the attention.

  37

  Her tightly coiffed hair gleamed golden even in the poor light. Had she been in the sun with her hair down, the blond hair would've no doubt brilliantly shimmer in the wind.

  Yet her gorgeous blonde hair wasn't the only thing to her charm. Her eye-catching sapphire blue eyes drew attention to a face worthy of the "unparalleled beauty" moniker beyond any exaggeration.

  It was an appearance that bordered on the inhumanly perfect. For all that, it was the energetic, lively, sunny aura that radiates in abundance from her that must be what keeps her from ever coming across as artificial. Were she not a human being; far from being a doll or other artificial object, she would be a war goddess or a servant of the virgin goddess of the hunt.

  A male officer, who appeared to be around 30 years old, rushed up to the female officer and saluted her.

  "Head-Captain, it's been a long time."

  The male officer said with the salute.

  "Yeah, long time no see, Hardy. But I'm not the head-captain anymore, remember?"

  Lina, dressed in the uniform of a USNA federal military lieutenant colonel, responded to the male officer, Captain Ralph Hardy Mirfak, with a salute of her own.

  "I see you've been promoted to captain."

  Lina spoke to him shortly after they boarded the self-propelled car being driven by Hardy himself.

  "Yes, thanks to you."

  Ralph Hardy Mirfak had been a star-class member of the Magician Unit "Stars," that reports directly to the USNA Military Joint Chiefs of Staff, of which Lina had been the head-captain until shortly before she sought asylum in Japan. The unit insignia on his uniform indicates that he is still a member of Stars.

  He was a second lieutenant while Lina was still serving in Stars. And after just three years, it seems like he was promoted to the rank of captain.