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Kyoto, Japan—
Inside a prison near a certain shrine, one specifically used to detain supernatural criminals.
Clank. Clatter.
A massive stone wall layered with multiple magical formations slowly rose, revealing the heavy iron gate within.
Hisano Akatsuki, shackled with magic-sealing cuffs, raised an eyebrow when she saw the familiar faces inside.
"Well, look at that. You're all here."
Across from the entrance, Koyomi Shizuka adjusted her glasses calmly, her own wrists locked in anti-magic restraints.
"It's been half a year, Akatsuki-sensei."
"Hey, hey, what's going on? How'd you end up in here too?"
Shirona Kuraki, also cuffed, stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "You shouldn't have anything to do with the Leviathan incident, right?"
Hisano rolled her eyes. "According to those idiots, I'm 'suspected of being related,' but since there's no evidence proving I didn't assist in the terrorist attack, I'm being treated as an accomplice until I can prove otherwise."
"Wow. That's rough." Shirona shrugged helplessly.
The Leviathan incident. A massive magical terrorist attack that took place on the Dawn Empire several days ago.
According to the public statement from Itogami Island's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was a joint large-scale magical crime carried out by two of Japan's intelligence agencies alongside a multinational corporation.
The goal had been to use the biological weapon Leviathan to flood the entire island. A terrorist attack that threatened the lives and property of over a million people.
In terms of scale, it was labeled the third largest supermassive terrorist act since the establishment of the Holy Ground Treaty.
That was the official line from the Dawn Empire.
Backing that narrative were the other three Primogenitor Empires.
With all four superpowers in agreement, no amount of diplomatic protest from Japan would matter.
After all, when the world's four biggest bullies make a ruling, who dares object?
With both alleged accomplices being domestic intelligence agencies, Japan was scrambling to clear its name, praying to be readmitted into polite international society.
As a result, the top brass, middle management, and rank-and-file members of the Lion King Agency and the Bureau of Astrology, along with affiliated personnel, had all been detained and were awaiting transfer to Itogami Island.
That was why Koyomi, Shirona, and Hisano were all sitting in this prison.
Hisano walked over and sat beside them, leaning back against the wall. "This place is one thing. But they even locked up my granddaughter Nagisa."
"What? Are their brains waterlogged?" Shirona blurted out.
"When have those idiot politicians ever had brains to begin with?" Hisano shot back.
"Just endure it," Koyomi said calmly. "We'll probably be transferred to Itogami Island before Christmas."
"You two might call that a cushy posting. But my granddaughter is getting dragged into this mess for nothing."
Hisano rolled her eyes.
She knew perfectly well that the Lion King Agency had secretly defected to the Dawn Empire and pledged loyalty to Ryo.
As a retired Sword Shaman, she didn't object to the shift in allegiance.
But she was old. She'd married, raised children, and built a life here. Roots were hard to pull up. So she stayed out of it and didn't report anything either.
And yet, in the end, she was still being sent to Itogami Island.
Poor Nagisa. The girl had just started middle school. Now she'd probably have to switch schools again.
Shirona gave an awkward smile. "Which cell is Nagisa in?"
"Next door. 012," Hisano replied evenly. "Yuiri and Shio are with her. She'll be fine."
"Yuiri and Shio?" Koyomi frowned. "So anyone even remotely connected to the Lion King Agency is being shipped off as an accomplice?"
"Have the higher-ups lost their minds? Are they planning to uproot the entire agency?"
Shirona nudged her. "Oi, oi. We're not the Lion King Agency's Three Saints anymore."
"Oh. Right. Habit." Koyomi adjusted her glasses.
"To be honest, I was worrying about how we'd handle the remaining colleagues if we really defected. Didn't expect our new Majesty to pull something like this."
"Branding them as terrorists who tried to kill a million people. He's ruthless," Shirona muttered.
On one hand, this guaranteed that the Lion King Agency and even the Bureau of Astrology would be transferred wholesale to Itogami Island.
On the other hand, that reputation was… ugly.
"Even I, a so-called uninvolved civilian, am being sent away," Hisano said with a dry laugh. "Looks like they don't even want to investigate. Just cutting off the tail to save the body."
She smirked. "Good thing Kojou got dragged overseas by his useless father. Otherwise I'd be worried the Akatsuki family line would end here."
"Kojou Akatsuki?" Koyomi pushed up her glasses. "He always had ridiculous luck."
She glanced at Hisano. "But are you sure it's a good idea to send Nagisa to Itogami Island? With her spirit medium talent… and His Majesty having only three empresses so far… you know what that could mean."
Hisano rolled her eyes, "I'm this old already. What am I afraid of?"
"Not to mention, if I can hold a great-grandchild before I die, I'll have no regrets."
"A great-grandchild? You've got guts." Shirona laughed and clapped her on the shoulder.
Hisano smirked. "Someone seems to have forgotten that her own spirit medium qualifications are even better than Nagisa's."
"If His Majesty really needs another empress, you'll be the one warming his bed before my granddaughter."
Shirona's face went stiff. "Don't joke around. I'm one of the Three Saints of the Lion King Agency. A capable subordinate. I have autonomy…"
Hisano's voice turned soft and pointed. "Wasn't Natsuki Minamiya a capable subordinate too? Look at her now."
"…That's not the same," Shirona muttered, suddenly lacking confidence.
Clank. Clatter.
The massive stone wall rose again.
A female prison guard stood at the entrance.
"Itogami Island's magical forces are here to take custody. It would be best if you cooperated."
Koyomi and Hisano exchanged a glance before standing up together.
"Looks like you're coming out of retirement, Akatsuki-sensei," Koyomi said lightly.
.
.
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