The location is a restaurant near the base. The host was General Lars Singh.

  Tatsuya and Hyougo opted for the standard dark suit and tie, whereas Miyuki and Lina donned their shalwar kameez (a loose-fitting shirt and wide pants), gifted by Chandrasekhar for the occasion. For the sake of clarity, they did not wear a dupatta (shawl).

  Lars Singh, for his part, came in his dress uniform of the IPU federal army. His entourage was equally clad in military uniform; ready for dispatch at a moment's notice. The absence of alcoholic beverages on the table was probably a measure to ensure readiness. The religious precepts in Uzbekistan concerning alcohol consumption are traditionally not that strict.

  The subject of Tibet wasn’t raised at the dinner table. The conversation centered on recent internal events within the IPU and complaints about warlords of the former Iranian military. A number of questions were also directed at Tatsuya concerning the battle that took place in Miyakishima three years ago.

  While he didn't consider that Miyakishima battle to be an appropriate apéritif, Tatsuya was gracious enough to share his side of the story with the table.

  Of course, the list of magics he used was omitted in his description. He instead focused on his use of the flying combat suit. He illustrated with his own experience how useful the flying combat suit can prove to be in an urban environment, sparking much interest among General Singh and his subordinates.

  His second encounter with Lars Singh ended on a positive note, after which they agreed on an appointment for a follow-up meeting tomorrow.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Immediately after checking into the hotel in Samarkand, Evelyn went her separate ways from Lena.

  She didn't receive any criticism for self-indulgences or heartlessness. After all, from the beginning, her association with Lena was intended to be a cover for her entry into the IPU. Her duty was to find and extract the Shambhala artifacts and bring them back to her home country.

  105

  There was no room for sympathy. Evelyn herself has been under a lot of stress over the past three days, from Lina revealing her true identity to the"scoop" from Tatsuya that was triumphantly reported to her superiors, only to be dismissed out of hand.

  For Evelyn, who had been walking along the prodigy path all her life and had never known any setbacks, it wasn’t surprising that this situation has left her psychologically disturbed. ─For Evelyn, and for herself, that is.

  Perhaps, or rather definitely, Evelyn was in a hurry. She did not return to the hotel after sunset. As a result, Lena was unable to discuss with Evelyn about the course of action for the future.

  For her part, Lena would prefer not to be away from the Vancouver headquarters for too long with the FAIR leader still missing. However, they couldn't return by their desire alone.

  (If only Second Lieutenant Taylor would give us permission to go home…) (It would be best for both of us, she would also be free to move around…) "Lena, you seem to be troubled by something, are you worried about Ms. Taylor?"

  Those thoughts might have surfaced on her face as irritation, causing Arya to call out to her in concern.

  Lena knew the worry she was causing. But she couldn't simply reveal the truth.

  Although Chandrasekhar assured that "military training" was all the involvement Arya had, chances were good that she was a military officer of the IPU. There was no way she could confess to helping a USNA magician officer gain unauthorized entry into the country.

  "Well, yes, in a way…"

  Lena tries to cover up with a fake smile.

  She wasn’t sure how Arya took that, but her expression took on an increasingly worried look.

  "…Lena, I don't believe we should be worried about Ms. Taylor. I personally… I'm not sure if she has an official military background or not, but she is a combat magician with formal military training, right?"

  From Arya's perspective, even if you took her age and inexperience out of the equation, there are still too many flaws in Evelyn's game. That's why, although unsure of whether she has "official military background or not," it was still obvious to her that Evelyn was a talented combat magician.

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  "I choose not to pry into the profession or background of the magicians who ask to join us. …But of course, I do not welcome active criminals."

  Arya's suggestion of "she might be a combat magician" had the effect of a question, to which Lena responded deliberately and slowly, with a clear pronunciation accompanied by an archaic smile.

  To tell the truth, there was great consternation behind that smile. As a result, the final product barely had any depth to it. Thus, her "false smile" came out as an "archaic smile".

  Furthermore, her overly conscious efforts to keep her tone of voice from being affected by her turmoil produced a more flat delivery than necessary.

  Furthermore, her overly conscious efforts to keep her tone of voice from being affected by her turmoil produced a more calm and measured delivery than necessary.

  ─The scene reflected in Arya's eyes was that of an embodiment of the "Safeguarding of the Magician's Human Rights" ideology.

  To put it bluntly, a gross misinterpretation.

  However, Arya did not have the insight or the incentive to rectify it herself at this time.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  In the eastern Mexican state of USNA in the pre-great war area of Central America (spanning from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the Yucatán Peninsula), it was almost lunch time. And so lunch was being served to both crew and passengers aboard the small cargo ship departing from Richmond, California.

  Said "passenger", in spite of being a cargo ship, means that she is a stowaway. Laura Simon, sub-leader of FAIR, came aboard under the auspices of "Lü Dongbin", a member of "Bāxiān" special magician operations unit of the GAU military, to travel this far south along the western coast of the continent.

  The leader, Rocky Dean, remains in hiding in Richmond. Required funds for the hiding have been provided by the GAU through Lü Dongbin. As the saying goes, "money is the key that opens all doors", and with sufficient capital, one can get by with almost anything. This is especially true in societies where the rights of citizens are so heavily protected.

  Laura's choice of transport has to do with the warrant on her head, which makes it difficult for her to take an airplane. Even with the help of Bāxiān, it would have been difficult to get a wanted person out of the country without causing a commotion.

  107

  The course would take Laura through the Tehuantepec Canal ─ the so-called "Second Panama Canal" that was dug not in Nicaragua but in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec ─ into the Gulf of Mexico, and then to the Caribbean Sea.

  Her destination is the Maiquetía Airport on the Caribbean coast of the former Venezuela, officially known as Simón Bolívar International Airport prior to WWIII.

  The local government that administers the area and waters north of Caracas, the capital of the former Venezuela, is under the sway of the GAU. Their "sway" doesn't go so far as to include the dispatch of military forces or the deployment of missiles in the region. An act that USNA would be sure not to take kindly.

  The region itself remains outside the reach of USNA officials. From Maiquetía Airport, it is possible for Laura to board an airplane.

  First, she would be landing in Singapore. From there, she would use a forged passport to enter Japan. That was the plan of Lü Dongbin as he accompanied Laura on her trip.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  On the morning of August 9th, Tatsuya was once again invited by General Lars Singh for a visit to the Karshi-Khanabad Air Force Base. He was accompanied by Hyougo alone, with Miyuki and Lina staying behind at the hotel.

  "─A collaborator of mine paid a sightseeing visit to Lhasa and noticed a number of objects emitting waves akin to Relics beneath the hill on which the Potala Palace stands."

  Here is how Tatsuya described the discovery of the deposits in Lhasa.

  "A japanese in Lhasa?"

  General Singh makes no attempt to hide his surprise. Not due to an inability to play the game of masks, probably just a negotiating maneuver. At least that's how Tatsuya interpreted it.

  "He is not Japanese."

  "So the Yotsuba reach extends to more than just Japan… Was tourism really their only interest?"

  "I admit that the intention was to gather information, but not regarding Relics."

  "So it was by chance that he found it?"

  "That is correct, sir."

  108

  Singh didn't push the issue any further since he couldn't find any falsehood in Tatsuya's words.

  Strictly speaking, Tatsuya did not lie; Minoru was presumed dead and had lost his Japanese citizenship, and his purpose in descending to Tibet was to find the ruins of the Shambhala. There might be Relics in said Shambhala, but he wasn't looking for Relics in Tibet.

  Details were left unspoken, as Tatsuya didn't find them necessary to make his point. This is how you play your hands in the bargaining game.

  "How credible is this theory of numerous Relics buried under the Potala Palace?"

  "I cannot tell if they are buried or in storage, but I don't doubt their existence."

  "So your collaborator of yours who infiltrated in Lhasa is that good."

  "Their overall magical skills are certainly greater than mine."

  This was also Tatsuya's honest opinion. His only argument for his victory over Minoru was that he was more adept and experienced in combat beyond magic.

  "Hm… If you say so much, you have a strong point in these Relics being there. ─And you are willing to let us have a monopoly on it?"

  Lars Singh's question made Tatsuya smile, as it sounded that his proposal baffled him as

  "unthinkable".

  "There is virtually no hope of me obtaining it, and I would much prefer in your hands than it to fall into the hands of the GAU."

  "In that, I must agree."

  The veteran general, who physically looked no worse for wear, broke into a broad smile.

  But that smile faded shortly after, replaced by a penetrating gaze at Tatsuya.

  "One last thing, I'd like you to answer me frankly."

  "What is it, sir?"

  Of course, that charm did nothing to disarm Tatsuya in any way.

  He looked straight back into Lars Singh's eyes.

  "Is it your plan to have us bash our heads against the GAU over Tibet?"

  Tatsuya's expression took on a puzzled tone, but without the smile.

  109

  "I am aware that your country and the GAU have been fighting over Tibet for a long time now… but it's not like you were retreating from Tibet at this point, is that correct?

  ".…Yes, that's true. Forgive me, that was an inadequate question."

  General Singh let out a wry smile at Tatsuya's rebuttal.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Since the hotel where Tatsuya and entourage were lodging was frequented by many wealthy foreigners, the military seemed to be very considerate about protecting the privacy of its guests.

  The IPU claims to be the liberal movement as opposed to the GAU. A move most likely to avoid accusations of a "surveillance society" from foreign countries.

  Thanks to this, Tatsuya's group was able to slip out of the hotel as planned.

  Early in the morning of the next day, after the smooth conclusion of the meeting with General Lars Singh, Tatsuya, accompanied by Miyuki, Lina and Hyougo left the city of Karshi in a self-driving car that Chandrasekhar had arranged for them at the hotel.

  Driving on without stopping, they arrived at Kagan, shortly prior to Bukhara, before daybreak.

  "What now, Tatsuya? Should we get a hotel for now?"

  Lina asked Tatsuya as the car with Hyougo behind the wheel pulled up on the outskirts of Kagan.

  The self-drive car Chandrasekhar had arranged was a wagon-type camper, but it was too small to accommodate four, two women and two men. It would be fine if it were just Tatsuya and Miyuki, but not with Lina and Hyougo also riding along. The hotel was the most sensible option.

  "First, we need to get what we need."

  "What we need?"

  "Tatsuya-sama, even if you say so, how would we…"

  Lina and Miyuki asked respectively.

  Tatsuya took out a device about the size of a small comms unit from his luggage and got out of the car.

  110

  Everyone followed.

  Tatsuya had the car parked next to a flat, open space. It looked like a suitable camping spot.

  But camping was naturally not on Tatsuya's mind.

  He made a quick horizontal swing of his right arm, the one not holding the machine. A split moment before that, there was an output of an activation sequence around his right wrist. Fleeting as it was, neither Miyuki nor Lina missed it.

  So when they witnessed the change that occurred the next moment, they were not surprised, as they knew that "Tatsuya must have used magic."

  As soon as Tatsuya waved his arm, the land in front of him was leveled into a circle about 20 meters in diameter.

  Next, Tatsuya operated the small device in his left hand.

  They knew the device was a CAD, as it received psions and outputs an Activation Sequence. It would be too small to be a communication device, but as a CAD device, it is quite large. Surely that accounts for a significant increase in computing power required for the output of the activation sequence, which suggests that Tatsuya must be attempting to perform a rather sophisticated magic.

  The magic was immediately activated in front of the fascinated eyes of Miyuki and Lina.

  A line of light ran across the flat, leveled soil.

  Not natural light. Streaks of Psion light .

  Countless streaks of psion light intersected, painting intricate geometric patterns on the ground.

  "…Is this a magic circle?"

  Miyuki asked, and Tatsuya nodded, "That's right."

  "I don't get the purpose, though… Guidance? No, that's not right…"

  Lina mumbles, unclear as to whether this is a question or a soliloquy.

  "Good guess."

  Even if it was a soliloquy, Tatsuya responded regardless.

  "This magic circle aids in magic targeting. A magician activates a magic aiming at this magic circle and will perceive the 'distance' as close, even if it's a completely unfamiliar place."

  111

  A magic's success rate, and the event interference power required, is not dictated by the physical distance, but it is by the informational, or perceptual distance. The rates of a successful activation increase if the caster is familiar with the target area or object, even if it's far enough to be out of sight. The inverse is true if the details of the target area or object are not well understood, even if said target is at arm's length.

  By having the magic circle he drew as a target, Tatsuya meant that magic could be used on unknown spots and buildings just as well as on places familiar to the caster.

  "Tatsuya-sama. Could this be for─"

  Before Miyuki could conclude her deduction, the answer fell in front of them.

  A figure stood on the magic circle drawn by Tatsuya. Neither Miyuki nor Lina were surprised by its instantaneous emergence.

  A figure stood on the magic circle drawn by Tatsuya. Neither Miyuki nor Lina were surprised by its instantaneous emergence. It was clear to both that it was the result of [Mock-Teleportation]." Nor was there the question of "where did they come from." The answer was clear when they saw her face.

  "Good morning, sir, madam."

  A girl, in a short-sleeved one-piece dress adorned with an apron, politely bows to Tatsuya directly in front of her.

  "It was you who came, Minami. Thanks for your time."

  The one that aimed at the magic circle and came down from the satellite orbit was Minami.

  "Since this is an important delivery, I have asked Minoru-sama to assist me from Takachiho."

  "Assist with what?"

  Lina directed her question to Miyuki at her side instead of to Minami.

  "I think Minoru-kun operated the [Virtual Satellite Elevator] with Takachiho and brought Minami-chan down here."

  The [Virtual Satellite Elevator] is a specially tailored instance of [Mock-Teleportation] in the format of an engraved magic circle designed for travel between the Takachiho in satellite orbit and the ground.

  "Minoru-kun is probably taking care of her way back as well."

  Miyuki's answer elicits a small tilt of Lina's head.

  112

  "I thought Minami could use the [Virtual Satellite Elevator] by herself."

  "Wouldn't it be safer to focus on shielding yourself while having someone else send you?"

  This time, Miyuki received a nod of agreement.

  During the process of [Mock-Teleportation], the moving person or object is encased in a cocoon of air. This means that built-in to the [Mock-Teleportation] sequence is a function to protect the target object from the vacuum with a shield. Assuming no obstacles, that is.

  Moving while shielding with anti-object barriers means a simultaneous activation of

  [Mock-Teleportation] and [Anti-object Barrier], which is far more demanding than the moving process alone.

  Minami post-parasitization parameters considered, it would not be too much of a heavy burden, but it's at that point that Minoru's consideration for her comes into play. Or perhaps pampering would be a better word.

  Tatsuya and Minami stood by Miyuki and Lina's question-and-answer session. Neither added anything, partly because Miyuki's answer was correct, but mainly because they were handling the package delivery, the main task at hand.

  Minami carried a large suitcase, which was passed to Tatsuya, who took it from her hand and handed it to Hyougo without checking its contents. The latter carried it into the camper.

  "Package received, please pass my thanks to Minoru as well."

  "If there is any problem, I will bring a replacement immediately."

  "I'm sure it will be fine, but thank you."

  "Okay. Then, Tatsuya-sama, Miyuki-sama and Lina-sama, if you will excuse me."

  Minami bowed respectfully.