Magician in Type-Moon

Page 671

"This situation is exactly the same as when Lord Baruyeleta first tried to pin the suspicion of the murderer on me. In essence, it is a kind of 'positioning' based on interests."

Finally, he looked at Princess Silver, his tone carrying an undeniable reminder, or even a gentle admonition:

"Moreover, I should have made it clear that this case is to be handled by me."

Matou Ike's words were utterly naked, ruthlessly tearing away the veneer of "decency" and "righteousness" that these magical nobles usually wore, revealing the cold and cruel calculations of self-interest beneath.

"Hey, hey."

Mick interjected at the opportune moment, attempting to interrupt this overly blunt analysis. Seemingly unconcerned that his dark skin was soaked by the rain, he steadily held the umbrella for Inolei, while simultaneously raising his rugged chin, his tone deliberately teasing:

"At this critical juncture, do you still want to continue playing your detective game? No matter how you look at it, it seems somewhat inappropriate, even unreasonable, doesn't it?"

However──

"...You specifically brought this up again at this moment,"

Inole's voice slowly rang out. She ignored Mick's interruption and stared intently at Matou Ike, as if trying to extract every bit of his true intentions.

"It must contain some specific meaning, Matou?"

She keenly sensed that Matou Ike was not revealing things simply for the sake of revealing them.

“Yes.” Matou Ike readily admitted, his gaze meeting Inola’s, calm yet carrying an unwavering determination.

"It's the same reason why the Silver Princess needs you to stay—Lord Balyeleta, if you were to 'slip away' like this, I would be in a real bind."

“Even if you say that, as I have repeatedly emphasized, I have no ‘reason’ to stay here.”

The old woman let out a soft chuckle, her expression one of indifference. The Silver Princess, though standing silently, fixed her gaze, piercing through her thin veil, on Inolei like an icicle.

Matou Ike's brow furrowed even more deeply between the two, as if he were weighing some invisible weight. After a moment of silence, he raised his eyes and proposed a solution to break the deadlock:

"Then, let's make a deal."

Chapter 696 Scale

"trade?"

Inola repeated the word with great interest, the last syllable rising slightly, as if savoring a candy of unknown flavor.

Matou Ike did not answer directly, but responded with a question, her voice unusually clear in the rain:

"Ultimately, for Lord Balyeleta and the Silver Princess, the most important task at present is to find a way to stop the attackers' offensive, right?"

"That's easy for you to say." The old woman let out a sigh that was almost a sneer, shook her head, and a string of water droplets flew out from the edge of the umbrella.

"Since the Gariasta family dared to attack Izeluma, they must have been prepared for the worst. Hoping to get them to back down with ordinary bargaining chips is nothing short of wishful thinking. Besides—"

She paused deliberately, her cloudy yet sharp eyes sweeping over Matou Pond.

“At this point, when the die is cast, it’s difficult to even get them to sit down and calmly listen to what you call ‘negotiations’.”

What she said was indeed true.

As Atram Gariasta might have proclaimed from the distant forest, this was already a war.

Once a total war begins, ending it is a thousand times more difficult than starting it. Even a magician who transcends common sense, as long as he still retains a human heart, will find it difficult to completely escape this psychological inertia.

"I am not trying to negotiate with them."

Matou Ike calmly rejected Inolai's assumptions, his eyes showing no wavering.

“I’m referring to an idea that would ‘force’ them to stop.”

He whispered the details of a proposal to the elderly woman who looked doubtful.

The rain pattered softly, but in that instant, the weight of the proposal seemed to outweigh the clamor of the wind and rain.

Not only did Inola fall silent, but even the Silver Princess, who was listening intently, the seemingly cynical Mick, and the maid Regina, who kept her head bowed, held their breath and fell into a brief contemplation because of the decision and risks involved in the proposal.

After a moment, Inola nodded slowly, almost imperceptibly, her deeply wrinkled face revealing neither approval nor deeper calculation.

"I see... to take advantage of that 'opportunity'? Indeed, if successful, it might be able to turn this quagmire situation around in one fell swoop."

However, she immediately changed the subject, her gaze locking onto Matou Ike like a hook.

"However, who will play this crucial role? Will you take action yourself? Matou Ike, don't forget your current position. Here, you are not only a suspect, but also a 'different' magician with little connection to the Clock Tower. Any action you take could be interpreted as unforgivable interference."

"I'll do it."

A clear, slightly languid voice suddenly broke the brief silence.

Inolai and the Silver Princess both looked in the direction of the sound.

The one who spoke was Arcueid, the blonde girl who had been standing quietly to the side, almost like a background figure to everyone else. She stood there in the rain, her golden hair wet and clinging to her cheeks, yet strangely, she didn't look disheveled; instead, she possessed a transcendent purity.

Aside from Matou Ike, who seemed to have anticipated this, the others—Inolai, the Silver Princess, Mike, and even Regina—

A hint of undisguised surprise flashed across their faces, their gazes shifting back and forth between the girl who seemed out of place in this complex conspiracy and Matou Ike, trying to decipher this sudden change.

Just as this delicate silence was about to spread, another voice, filled with panic and anger, rang out:

"What...what exactly are you plotting?!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that Maio, one of the duo, was stammering and scolding, his face flushed with nervousness.

His companion, Islo, was more cautious, silently following half a step behind him, vigilantly observing the entire scene.

It seems that these two people, who were originally witnesses to the "misfortune that befell the Silver Princess," were watching from afar on the hill.

The arrival and subsequent developments at Matouchi Pond clearly exceeded their expectations, prompting them to hurriedly descend the mountain in an attempt to intervene.

At this moment, although Mai's steps were somewhat unsteady and he appeared trembling, he seemed to be tightly clutching a magical artifact emanating a faint magical fluctuation in his arms, revealing his desire to protect his childhood friend—

The Silver Princess and her maid Regina – their determination.

Faced with this new troublemaker, Matou Ike was not displeased at all; instead, the corners of his mouth curled up in a predictable smile.

"You came just in time."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of control, as if everyone's actions were within his calculations.

"I also have something to ask of you two."

.........

Baron Izeruma fell heavily onto the muddy ground soaked with rainwater, his well-tailored British-style suit instantly stained and looking utterly disheveled.

A woman gracefully looked down at him, clapping her hands lightly as if brushing away non-existent dust from her fingertips. Her voice, a mixture of cruelty and amusement, rang out:

"Master, you look truly pathetic in this state. Forced into such a predicament in your own spiritual land, you resemble a stray dog. Why insist on not letting me take action? Wouldn't it be enough to crush all those eyesores? What exactly are you plotting?"

"Camilla... watch your words."

Bai Longqing covered the bleeding wound between his ribs, struggled to lift his head, and looked up at his follower.

Rain dripped down his chin, and his face was pale from blood loss and depletion of magic.

“These are extraordinary times. War can break out, but its scale… must not get out of control to the point where Servants need to manifest indiscriminately and fight each other. At least, on my territory of Izeruma, I cannot be the one to open that door.”

"Oh? I seem to have heard of a similar theory... In the secular world, it's called 'nuclear deterrence,' right?"

Camilla licked her lips with her scarlet tongue, revealing a malicious smile. "So, you suspect that behind that bunch of scum, there are also Masters and Servants?"

"No, I am fully aware of the forces that are directing them."

Bai Longqing's voice was low and weary, yet carried an undeniable certainty, "What I'm concerned about is..."

His words stopped abruptly.

A series of unhurried footsteps pierced the rain, approaching from afar.

Byron's sharp gaze immediately fell into the depths of the shadows. There stood Setra, his figure slowly emerging from the shadows of the pillars, his face bearing an inscrutable calm.

“It seems you’ve run into some trouble, Lord Baron.” Setra’s voice was calm and unwavering.

"Would you like me to introduce you to a few... friends who might be able to resolve your current predicament?"

Chapter 697 The Broker

The cold rain continued to pound against the broken window sills of the abandoned building, making an annoying pattering sound.

Inside this makeshift shelter from the rain, Seigen leaned against the dusty wall and couldn't help but turn his head to look at Shirou, who was carefully examining some remaining traces on the ground.

His tone carried an undisguised doubt:

"Hey, I'm telling you... is that guy really trustworthy?"

Shirou didn't answer immediately. He slowly straightened up, patted his stained fingers, and made a noncommittal shrug.

"Who knows..." His voice was steady, revealing little emotion.

"Whether we trust him or not is another matter. But one thing is certain—that guy is indeed surrounded by the aura of 'Samael.' Karen's perception won't be wrong about that."

Since that brief but information-rich meeting with Matou Ike, this seemingly clueless investigation has unexpectedly made a breakthrough.

This three-person team, secretly organized by the Church and tasked with hunting down specific dangerous targets, spent several days tracking and investigating.

Ultimately, all the clues, as if drawn by some unseen force, pointed to the same name—

Settra.

A magician with a mysterious background and elusive whereabouts.

Shirou and his companions had very little information about this magician named Setra.

Like a silhouette shrouded in thick fog, only a few blurry outlines can be barely discerned.

All they knew was that this person was wanted by a powerful magic organization in Europe, and the nature of his crimes and danger was self-evident.

Furthermore, fragmented intelligence also points to his involvement in the Far East, specifically the forbidden ritual recorded as the "Night Robbery God."

And a title called the captain of the De Imperial Magic Team.

But that organization was confirmed to have been destroyed decades ago.

Besides, his motives, purposes, and even the origins of his magic system are all shrouded in mystery, like a reef sunk in the deep sea.

However, in these recent days of heightened tension, the situation has taken an abrupt turn.

Setra, who had always been lurking in the shadows like a ghost, his whereabouts mysterious and elusive, unexpectedly and deliberately revealed his location.

Its appearance was not a careless act during a hasty escape, but rather a "display" made after careful consideration and with a clear intention.