In a dimly lit alley, a girl with braided hair, wearing the Saikai Academy high school uniform, pushed up her black-framed glasses and set down the book in her hand.
Natsuki sighed helplessly, turning back to glance at Aslan, who was teasing Aurora nearby.
"Those two are way too relaxed."
Then Natsuki waved her hand and stepped into the dim alley, looking at the girl. Or rather, one of the three Saints of the Lion King Agency, Shizuka Koyomi.
Natsuki crossed her arms, glaring at Koyomi unkindly. "Shouldn't we be the ones asking you, Koyomi?"
"What did one of the Lion King Agency's three Saints see after spying for so long?"
She really thought Natsuki hadn't noticed the Lion King Agency members hiding nearby, secretly observing—especially Koyomi, who was tailing Sensai.
"Shouldn't we be the ones asking you, Minamiya Natsuki?" Koyomi's tone was flat. Though she countered with a question, she didn't sound angry. It felt more cold.
"You took Matrix No. 12 without permission and brought it to Itogami Island."
"Witch of the Void, do you really want to be a Participant?"
"Huh?" Natsuki was stunned. She couldn't hold back a laugh and sneered, "Aren't you the lowlifes who want to be Participants? Matrix No. 12 is right there. If you're brave enough, go take it yourself!"
Did they really think Natsuki wanted to host the Fourth Primogenitor? If it weren't for that guy's coercion, how could she be with Aslan?
As for being a Participant? That was even more absurd. Aslan never needed support from backstage sponsors, let alone from others.
"And you guys, to better support your Participant to become the Fourth Primogenitor, you organized the Blazing Banquet and made Itogami Island its venue."
"To avoid citizens being affected by the Fourth Primogenitor's awakening and to increase his chances of winning, you really went all out." Natsuki said with a grim expression.
They turned the entire Itogami Island and its 560,000 residents into an offering for the Fourth Primogenitor without anyone's consent.
The Fourth Primogenitor, Lord of the Night of Flame Light, was called an illusory vampire. He had the ability to take memories on a massive scale and convert them into accumulated time for himself. Simply put, he could steal others' memories to boost his magical limit.
Thus, to fully awaken the sealed Fourth Primogenitor, he needed what was called an offering.
Thinking of this, Natsuki couldn't help but sneer. "Maybe in two or three years, once the Fourth Primogenitor fully awakens, everyone on this island will lose their memories of the past three years. You guys are really something."
This was the real reason Natsuki didn't get along with these executives. Though she was an Attack Mage, she cared deeply about Itogami Island and its people. Personally, losing three years of memories could affect someone's life. Let alone 560,000 people.
"…"
Koyomi fell silent for a moment, not responding. This was indeed an unethical act by the Lion King Agency, Japan's executives, and Itogami Island's leaders. With so many parties collaborating, no one cared about Natsuki's thoughts.
After a while, Koyomi pushed up her glasses and said, "Sorry. But it hasn't happened yet."
What could she do? She'd only been a Saint for less than a month. Agreements like this were clearly decided long ago.
If not for Aslan's sudden appearance, combined with interference from the Black Death Emperor, Matrix No. 12 would already be in the Lion King Agency's hands. Japan was the biggest investor in the MRA corporation.
"It hasn't happened doesn't mean your wrongs can be covered up." Natsuki snorted coldly, turning her face away, unwilling to look at Koyomi's cold expression.
Koyomi frowned, sighed, and said, "Of course. I can represent the Lion King Agency to offer you compensation: a list of the names of those who signed the agreement."
A dead enemy is better than a dead teacher. Clearly, this Fourth Primogenitor and the Witch of the Void weren't magnanimous. Or rather, they were very vengeful, with very small hearts.
Just because others had slight intentions, they took control of all Itogami Island's executives and even planned to clean them out. So, to avoid the Lion King Agency being swept up in the purge, Koyomi did the same as Yukari—she surrendered.
"Hmm?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow, her face slightly confused.
Koyomi continued flatly, her expression unchanged. "Of course, this compensation isn't enough. As an apology from the Lion King Agency, we'll fully support your side in competing for the Fourth Primogenitor qualification. Naturally, we also have a duty to monitor your side to prevent mass casualty incidents."
"Ohhh~~" Natsuki showed an intrigued expression. She wasn't interested in the Lion King Agency's help but was more curious about their attitude.
"I didn't expect the Lion King Agency to be so dishonest."
They secretly provided support for the Blazing Banquet, ignoring Japan's executives, and backed the Fourth Primogenitor. Wasn't that already considered betrayal?
With just those words, if they leaked, the Lion King Agency would be done for and even attacked by Japan's forces.
Facing Natsuki's mockery, Koyomi said flatly, "The Lion King Agency's founding philosophy was to protect the general public. We're just adhering to that original philosophy."
"You're deliberately making me laugh, right? After leading the signing of an agreement like that, you say your philosophy is protecting the public?" Natsuki shrugged, unable to hold back her laughter.
Those words sounded so disgusting, didn't they? She could only say they fit her stereotype of executives perfectly.
"Losing three years of memories is better than losing lives." Koyomi thought to herself. But she didn't say it aloud. She knew Natsuki would never agree with that idea, because she herself didn't either.
"And to show the Lion King Agency's sincerity, we've decided to provide critical information to your side first." Koyomi didn't care what Natsuki thought. She didn't look at Natsuki but into the distance, at Aslan walking with Aurora.
Koyomi knew well that everything she said was mere nonsense without that person's approval. Aslan was the leader in this conversation. The distance wasn't too far, and the conversation's content wasn't beyond Aslan's expectations.
"Your Excellency, what's your opinion?" Koyomi spoke toward Aslan. Her purpose here was to gather information about Aslan, especially his personality.
To decide whether to fight to the death with the Fourth Primogenitor or surrender immediately. Now, her goal was achieved. She'd confirmed they could surrender to Aslan, the Fourth Primogenitor. And Sensai had gained immense benefits.
Thus, the Lion King Agency naturally didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Interesting." Aslan's voice reached Koyomi's ears. "Your critical information has piqued my interest. Share the information, and I'll decide whether to accept your surrender."
Aslan's laughter-filled voice echoed in the dim alley.
"Japan's executives have decided to activate the Logic Bomb in Your Excellency's body to destroy you and then select a new Fourth Primogenitor."
"Oh? Interesting. So that's the Logic Bomb, huh." Aslan found things getting intriguing.
What was the Logic Bomb?
The Origin soul died too quickly, and the Sun Authority in his body was too strong. He felt nothing, and everything was already destroyed.
Hearing Aslan's voice, Koyomi couldn't help feeling immense excitement.
Good that Aslan was aware of the Logic Bomb in his body. That way, the Lion King Agency could offer further help and secure a higher position.
"Of course. It's a safety device set by the Devas in Your Excellency's body. But the Lion King Agency can help you remove the Logic Bomb."
The Divine Vibration Wave Technique made magic and spiritual power from higher dimensions collide, neutralizing magic. Thus, it could resolve any magic.
"But I've already removed it?"
Koyomi's heart sank. This was terrible news. It meant the Lion King Agency had lost its most crucial bargaining chip.
But she was also relieved. Relieved she hadn't believed Japan's nonsense that they could fully control the Fourth Primogenitor by activating the Logic Bomb. If they'd been reckless, who knew how many Lion King Agency members would survive?
"Oh, by the way, if you really want to surrender, why doesn't the Lion King Agency matchmaking bureau introduce me to some candidates?"
Koyomi fell silent. A real silence.
The Lion King Agency matchmaking bureau—was he talking about them?
Did the Lion King Agency have a nickname as a matchmaking agency?
Koyomi said with a strange expression, "The Lion King Agency will send Mikos as observers and Shamanic War Dancers as escorts. But either way, it has nothing to do with matchmaking."
"Exactly! That's the classic Lion King Agency matchmaking style—meeting through observation!"
As he said that, Aslan's voice couldn't help but grow excited, his tone rising.
"So, where's my date—er, observer? You're not sending a few observers, that's making things hard for me."
"…But the Lion King Agency really isn't a matchmaking agency." Koyomi couldn't help twitching the corner of her mouth. She still wanted to salvage the Lion King Agency's reputation.