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Magian Company Chapter (IV) is the 4th volume of the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Light Novel Sequel.

Synopsis[]

Shiba Tatsuya, his team at the Magian Company and FEHR, represented by Lena Chevalier, join hands!

Tatsuya dispatches Saegusa Mayumi to form a partnership with FEHR. Negotiations with their representative, Lena Fehr, are going well, but forces are creeping up behind Mayumi and Tookami Ryousuke, plotting to prevent the partnership. Furthermore, FAIR is also making suspicious movements in search of relics.[1]

Chapter 1[]

Mt Shasta

Spoiler

FAIR's team, comprised of more than a dozen of superpower users, is searching for historical ruins on Mt. Shasta, a volcano 4000 meters high that has been worshipped by indigenous people since ancient times. The team is trying to find any “Sacred Relics” that might be buried there and is led by Laura Simon, the sub-leader of FAIR and a witch. The only basis they have to search this particular mountain is the precognitive abilities of this witch, and yet no one claims this to be a fool’s errand.

Laura left the team in the cheap motel that they were staying in because just yesterday, they let Louis Roux from FEHR escape. She returned alone to Mt. Shasta where, after performing a strange ritual, she got an inspiration and then muttered ‘behind a small waterfall’.

[ILLUSTRATION 1, PAGE 30]

In mid-June, Lena Fehr meets with the private investigator that Charlotte Gagnon vouched for. This PI is a woman of east Asian descent called Luca Fields, most likely a pseudonym, in which Lena asks an investigation on the FAIR team diggings on Mt. Shasta, but only to keep an eye on them. She also revealed that Louis Roux had been previously injured with witchcraft.

The Private Investigator real name is Ono Haruka, she escaped Japan when a feud between the Public Security Agency of the Ministry of Police, where she worked ‘part-time’, and the Internal Affairs Bureau of Cabinet Office culminated in the use of force by both sides, where a large amount of people from both sides ended up seriously wounded.

Haruka immediately started her investigation. After FAIR team left, she slipped past two lookouts and went behind a waterfall, where there was an opening that led to a small cave and planted a hidden camera there. She also sensed something in the cave, but she wouldn’t dare got into a narrow space with the target inside.

Next day she observed FAIR team excavating places that Laura pointed. After a while they found a stone tablet which Laura said it was not exactly what she was searching for so they would return next day. Haruka then thought that it would be better to confirm with the client if the investigation should continue.

Chapter 2[]

Envoy From Japan

Spoiler

June 26, 2100 Vancouver, USNA Saegusa Mayumi, Watanabe Mari and Tookami Ryousuke arrive at Vancouver International Airport where they are picked up by Lena Chevalier and Charlotte Gagnon then they proceed to FEHR Headquarters. At the Headquarters conference room, Mayumi relays the message of Tatsuya if they are willing to form a partnership with the Magian Society. Although Lena is under the impression that there are other reasons for Tatsuya to send Mayumi personally for the request, Lena tells her that she needs time to discuss it with her members and will decide after 2 days.

As the group make their way to the entrance, they meet Luca Fields but Mayumi and Mari knows her as Ono Haruka, their counselor at First High School. Lena offers to lend them a room where they can catch up where Mayumi accepts the offer but is hesitant. Ryousuke on the other hand is wary and suspicious of Luca but Charlotte assures him that Luca is trustworthy and she has been working with Luca's detective agency when she was still with the FBI.

◇ ◇ ◇

While Mayumi, Mari and Luca are talking, Ryousuke is suspicious of Luca might be a spy which Lena assures him that they can trust Luca and she is a member of a detective agency that worked with Charlotte when she was working for the FBI. In a spur of the moment, Ryousuke also offers to assist in the investigation of Mt. Shasta but Lena refuses. Lena gives the first reason due to the injury of Louis Roux at the hands of Laura who Ryousuke is aware that Louis is the better fighter than him and also recognizes Louis being the sub-leader of FEHR and the second reason that Lena wants Ryousuke to continue being the liaison of Tatsuya.

◇ ◇ ◇

After Mayumi, Mari and Ryousuke left, Lena and Charlotte discusses FAIR's illegal activities on Mt. Shasta with Luca who gaves them the photos from the video footage she had taken. The initial plan was to submit evidence to the police to detain Laura but Lena has a premonition that if things continue, something terrible will happen.

Lena introduces Louis Roux to Luca who will be joining her in returning to Mt. Shasta. To their surprise, Luca agrees but with the condition that she will be acting independently and escaping alone. After hearing the nature of Luca's Perfect Concealment ability, Louis agrees to her condition.

◇ ◇ ◇

That evening, Lina arrives at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, USNA from Japan where Ralph Hardy Mirfak who is now promoted from Second Lieutenant to Captain due to "Lina's assistance" during the Stars Rebellion. The two then head to Spokane International Airport to take a flight to Vancouver International Airport where they meet Second Lieutenant Sophia Spica to which Lina though that views as First Lieutenant Zoe's successor who died in battle against Minoru at Pearl and Hermes Base.

After changing from military uniform to plain clothes, at the hotel where Mirfak is using for their operation, Lina and Sophia moved to another hotel where Mayumi's group is staying.

◇ ◇ ◇

Next day, Mayumi and Mari decided to take a tour of the city with Ryousuke as their guide since he stayed in Vancouver for four years and to his chagrin. Lina and Sophia are also following the three disguised with Parade and they sense that there are three people tailing Mayumi's group. Sophia affirms with Lina that it is the FBI to which Lina thought that Tatsuya's worry may have been spot and there are indeed groups in the USNA that threatens the Magian Society and FEHR's partnership. And for that reason, Tatsuya sent Lina to the USNA.

◇ ◇ ◇

Back at the hotel, Lina contacts Canopus, now the Commander in Chief of Stars that holds the consolidated responsibilities of Head-Captain that Lina previously held, Base Commander, Supreme Commander of Stardust and Administrative Director of Starlight. Canopus speculates that the motive of the FBI in targeting Mayumi is to try and accuse her of a crime that will give Senator Rivera, who has ties with the FBI to affect the presidential candidacy of Liam Spencer who has personal ties with Tatsuya through his aide Jefferey James. The other reason is to capture Mayumi and user her as leverage for a deal with Tatsuya which upsets Lina despite knowing that this is how some agencies operate and asks Canopus to further investigate.

Sophia returns to the hotel room from her scouting and reports to Lina that there is no one suspicious in the hotel but just incase placed "Tentacles", a non-systemic magic that Sophia calls Alarms.

◇ ◇ ◇

At the same time, Mayumi and Mari have a discussion in their room before they sleep about Mari's sudden suggestion to go to a cafe earlier since they are being tailed by at least two people and are coordinating with each other as they are watching them. This surprises Mayumi but Mari calmly assures her that she had plenty of training for nocturnal assaults and has already set up anti-personnel sensors and gas sensors in the vicinity so Mari tells Mayumi to go to sleep.


Chapter 3[]

Conspiracy

Spoiler

June 28, 1:00 AM local time at the Hotel in Vancouver.

Sophia wakes up Lina and tells her that an intruder is here who are both staying at a room above Mayumi's group. Sophia takes the lead while Lina backs her up. Lina notices that Sophia takes out a Synthetic Drug Pill that is smaller than a coin and she flicks it with her right thumb and suddenly, one of the intruder stopped moving. At Sophia's suggestions, they both head down through the emergency staircase.

By the time Lina and Sophia exits the stairs, the intruders have already left. Lina questions why Sophia only took out one of the intruders to which Sophia explains that if they took out all of them, there is will be no one to take away their fallen comrades. Their discussion shifts to the pill that Sophia uses and explains that she uses magic to fly it through the target's nose that causes acute intoxication causing them to be caught red-handed for drug use. Lina thought Sophia to be quite mean when she explains her methods with a smirk then they return to their room through the emergency staircase after confirming there are no signs of any intruders.

[ILLUSTRATION 2, PAGE 84]

◇ ◇ ◇

June 28, Afternoon at the FEHR Headquarters

Mayumi, Mari and Ryousuke meets with Lena who is interested in the partnership of FEHR with the Magian Society but has some concerns especially with their conflict with FAIR. Mayumi mentions they also have their share of encounters with Janus, a group also associated with FAIR and their attempted robbery at Four Leaves Technology to get a Magistore. Despite FEHR's conflict with FAIR, Mayumi assures Lena that as long as the conflict does not escalate to an illegal armed conflict, it will not impede their partnership to which Lena responds that FEHR does not resort to force unless its for self-defense.

◇ ◇ ◇

While Mayumi's group is having their meeting at FEHR Headquarters, Mirfak meets with Lina and Sophia who are still watching over Mayumi's group in their car nearby and confirms that illegal FBI operatives are indeed targeting Mayumi's group to undermine Mr. Shiba's connection with Liam, a move which doesn't surprise Lina nor Sophia and another attack could happen during dinner time. Mirfak also informs them that the General Staff Headquarters are apprehensive by the FBI's move so the Defense Intelligence Agency has agreed to supply them with personnel for this case. Mirfak exits the car after giving the information while Lina and Sophia returns to the hotel.

◇ ◇ ◇

Back at their room, Lina and Sophia discusses the activities of FAIR and their objectives. Sophia speculates that FAIR could be trying to replicate the relic while Lina it won't be easy to replicate it. Since relics have been under study for decades in several countries especially in the USNA where lots of human and financial resources has been invested to replicate its effects, only Tatsuya is able to accomplish this. This leads Sophia to infer that FAIR has other plans other than replicating the Relics while Lina is getting a bad feeling about this.

◇ ◇ ◇

June 28, After 6:00 PM at the FEHR Headquarters

Lena and Mayumi's conversations dragged on due to endless subjects from about anecdotes about Tatsuya that Mayumi knows to how Lena formed FEHR which Mayumi is very interested in which formed an air of intimacy between them despite their actual age difference. Mayumi accepts Lena's invitation for dinner and Charlotte sets up a reservation at a resturant in the West End then they board their car and heads out.

◇ ◇ ◇

Before 6:30 pm, Lina and Sophia are still on standby until an incoming call from Mirfak, informing them that Mayumi, Mari and Ryousuke has left FEHR headquarters with Lena and Charlotte and judging by the time; they are going out for dinner. Lina and Sophia heads out to the West End while Mirfak will call again once he confirms their destination.

◇ ◇ ◇

Mayumi's group together with Lena and Charlotte are having dinner at a restaurant with the specialty of poutine, a Canadian dish of french fries, with sauce, cheese, meat, vegetables, egg and mushroom. Lena offers to drive them back to their hotel but, Mayumi declines since Charlotte is looking drunk to be driving but agrees to Lena's compromise that they see them off and asks Ryousuke to call a cab. Ryousuke complies then happily departs which causes Mayumi to narrow her eyes at him and an expression that could be taken as a smile or a look of dissatisfaction.

◇ ◇ ◇

Lena's group exit the restaurant while Lina is getting impatient of just monitoring them and has doubts the FBI will try to attack them but Sophia that even Lina isn't here, they will be working to stop the FBI since not because Mayumi is related to Tatsuya but it is an embarrassment to the country if their government agency attack a civilian visiting the USNA. After five minutes of monitoring, the situation change so Lina and Sophia gets ready.

◇ ◇ ◇

A minivan arrives into the parking lot with four figures inside. Sensing something is "suspicious", Mari shields Mayumi while Ryousuke stands in front of Lena on alert. As the minivan stops, men armed with extendable batons attack them which Mari blocks and withstood the electric shock from the baton with her equipped protectors made from artificial leathers made with highly insulating material. Mayumi tried to attack with magic but she is stopped by Lena since the city has more strict in comes to usage of magic while Ryousuke pulls Lena and Mayumi to move them behind him and faces one of the assailants. Charlotte is also facing one of the assailants despite being unarmed while Mari is battling two of them but as the assailants realizes they are at a disadvantage the longer this takes, they pulled out their CAD's and start using magic.

◇ ◇ ◇

While inside their car, Lina and Sophia continue monitoring the battle between Lena's group and the FBI assailants until the latter starts using magic against Lena's group. Lina deploys a Zone Interference that envelops Lena's group as well as the FBI assailants which prevents everyone within the zone from activating their magic for three seconds. Sophia then follows up by manipulating thin needle like knives with Movement Magic that struck four of the assailants and receives an electric via Release-Type Magic that Sophia calls "Hornet Dagger". The leader of the assailants call for retreat and they run back to the minivan even with the knives from Hornet Dagger still lodged in them.

◇ ◇ ◇

As the assailants escape, Mayumi wonders where the knives came from in which Mari responds she does not know and also was unable to sense any sign of activation nor traces left from it much to her frustration. Lena interjects that the first caster who used Zone Interference is very powerful and the second caster's technical control of Hornet Dagger is quite advanced and going back to the first magician, Lena remarks that the user in terms of power surpasses her to the surprise of Ryousuke remark that someone who could surpass Lena in terms of power is someone from Stars.

◇ ◇ ◇

Lina and Sophia are still in their car and discuss the FBI assailants who Lina perceives to have poor magical skills but their execution is skillful and they were still standing after being hit by Hornet Dagger while Sophia wonders about their background before being hired by the FBI. Lina responds that they can find out once they are caught but Sophia reminds her that there is another group who will be in charge of pursuing them.

◇ ◇ ◇

It is almost midnight when Mayumi and Mari returns to their hotel room where Mayumi immediately lies down in bed to which Mari tells her to take a shower first. Both are exhausted by the ordeal of being questioned by the municipal police that are less harsh since they are the victim and Charlotte who is also a lawyer eases the police's scrutiny towards them. But since they are mostly magicians, with the exception of Charlotte who is a psychic, the police had to confirm that the traces of magic left behind were not theirs and that they had not used magic improperly to they were detained longer than usual.

[ILLUSTRATION 3, PAGE 116]

The FBI assailants objectives were for Mayumi's group to be arrested or at least detained for misuse of magic in the event the arrest didn't succeed. They planned this to setup a scandal by association with Tatsuya who sent Mayumi's group to the USNA and in turn affect Liam's presidential candidacy in favor of their own candidate Senator Rivera. The plan would have succeeded if Lena wasn't there to stop them from using magic and Mayumi is also unaware that she benefitted from being a daughter of the Saegusa Family since her use ofmagic throughout the city has been overlooked by judicial authorities.

◇ ◇ ◇

Lina has already returned to the hotel ahead of Mayumi's group and has already taken a bath and is now relaxing. Sophia returns and passes the report from Captain Mirfak that FBI assailants has been captured and will be handed back to the DIA after their interrogation. Currently they are being investigated if they were brainwashed but they are former Wiz Guards, a domestic security force comprising low level magicians who wouldn't otherwise be considered for Stars but are still capable of practical operations as magicians and soldiers.

During the Mexico Riot in 2097 where the USNA annexed Mexico, the Wiz Guard were charged with assaulting the local population and Lina is deployed to lead the Stars troops as Angie Sirius to quell the riots at the time. The Wiz Guard were court-martialed and jailed but the FBI pulled them out of jail afterwards to be used as assailants against Mayumi's group. Despite successfully thwarting the FBI's operation, it left a bad aftertaste on Lina's mouth.


Chapter 4[]

The Two Stone Tablets

Spoiler

June 29, Evening at Mount Shasta

Haruka and Louis continue monitoring the activities of FAIR at Mount Shasta and witness their digging team come out from behind a waterfall carrying two stone tablets in hand that has the size of a slightly larger letter-size paper. They also aren't very thick and each about the width of a finger. One of the tablet is a white and the other is black.

Haruka suggests that they leave now with the evidence they have gathered but Louis asks her to deliver the evidence of the video they recorded back to FEHR headquarters and plans to stay behind with the gut feeling that he can't let FAIR have the black stone tablet. Haruka thought that Louis is planning something reckless but left quickly.

◇ ◇ ◇

Laura, who is carrying the Black Stone Tablet, while another member is carrying the White Stone Tablet behind her that they unearthed in Mount Shasta, a famous tourist destination due to its mountain hiking trails. While showing a calm demeanor on the outside, she is internally frustrated on their slow movement down the mountain. Her mind is occupied with her desire to deliver the Black Stone Tablet to Rocky Dean.

◇ ◇ ◇

Ono Haruka is a former disciple of Kokonoe Yakumo in terms of Ninjutsu. She became Yakumo's disciple because of her superpower, and unique ability "Perfect Concealment" - that makes her "imperceptible" went haywire and Yakumo took notie and offered a helping hand. In order to control her special ability, Haruka had to learn ninja techniques but in addition, the ways of the classical martial arts. While Haruka did not intend to become a ninja, Yakumo respected this but kept her martial arts training at a "reasonable" level at Yakumo's standards. As such, her ninjutsu training in the forests and mountains comes in handy and she made it out of Mount Shasta, faster than FAIR's team and found a place where she is in range of a regular phone signal and contacts Charlotte.

Haruka reports to Charlotte that FAIR has managed to get the Relics and she has the video but Mr. Roux insisted on trying to take the Relics from them. Charlotte with a tense expression instructs Haruka to return to headquarters as soon as possible to which Haruka agrees as she has no intention of coming to rescue Louis in the first place.

◇ ◇ ◇

Louis is pursuing Laura's group by using his magic "Doppelganger" but because Laura is a witch who has high magical perception and can easily track down the clone created by the spell than his actual body. Learning from his past encounter against Laura, Louis decides flip things around and have his clone act as the decoy while he himself attempts to take the stone.

◇ ◇ ◇

Back at the FEHR Headquarters in Vancouver, Lena and Charlotte are unable to contact Louis and concludes that he turned of the mobile signal of his device which further makes Lena more anxious even though he repeatedly told Louis not to overdo it. Lena suggests to have Haruka return and try to stop Louis but Charlotte reminds her of the contract they have with Haruka.

Charlotte then suggests that they send Ryousuke who is one of their best in terms of close combat. But considering the distance of Vancouver to Mount Shasta and that Ryousuke might not make it in time, Lena tried to send her astral body but Charlotte stops her because they are dealing with a witch where it is common belief they are adept at attacking the mental body than the physical body. Lena eventually agrees to send Ryousuke and calls him via video phone.

◇ ◇ ◇

After the what happened with the FBI assailants, Mayumi and Mari decides to stay in the hotel for the day, leaving Ryousuke free for the whole day. Ryousuke wants to see Lena but after their encounter with the police, he refrained from doing so since he also knows that the police in Vancouver are very sensitive to magician related crimes.

In 2095, Ryousuke was studying in one of the universities here and was oblivious of the city's strict rules on magician when he used his Reactive Armor after a purse snatcher used a gun on him. This is where Ryousuke and Lena first met and came to his support which eventually leading to Ryousuke to become part of FEHR but this incident also caused Ryousuke to be wary of the Vancouver municipal police.

Ryousuke receives a call from Lena asking for a big favor to which Ryousuke immediately accepts and he proceeds to the south terminal of the airport. Ryousuke is shocked by the revelation from Lena and Charlotte about Louis' reckless action but agrees to help since he also considers Louis to be his friend, a fellow martial artist and both having special magics of their own. Charlotte then introduces Ryousuke to a a pilot who will take him to Mount Shasta but not a member of FEHR then hands him a flight device and once again reminds him not be reckless.

◇ ◇ ◇

Meanwhile, Louis is running through the forest who manages to steal the White Stone Tablet from FAIR but was unable to take the Black Stone Tablet held by Laura. Louis finds a stream that he believes will lead him to the foot of the mountain so he plunges off the cliff and luckily did not injure his legs. Louis manages to find a cave where he decides to stay for now and regain his strength. While inspecting at the White Stone Tablet, Louis thought of pouring his psion to the tablet but didn't do so as it might give away his location.

◇ ◇ ◇

While Louis is resting in the cave, Ryousuke is in flight at a light aircraft for two hours and is flying above Mount Shasta and instructs the pilot to lower the altitude as he prepares to jump without a parachute. The pilot who is used to dealing with magicians and the FBI since he is one of Charlotte's contacts follows Ryousuke's instructions then Ryousuke jumps out of the plane.

[ILLUSTRATION 4, PAGE 144]

◇ ◇ ◇

Ryousuke immediately pressed the activation button of the flight device given to him by Charlotte. Although it is the first time Ryousuke uses flight magic, it fulfills the intent of Ryousuke without the need of using his Reactive Armor to decelerate his descent. Due to the electric propeller used by the plane, FAIR didn't notice the light aircraft passing by and Ryousuke's use of flight magic which lasted only ten seconds. After landing, Ryousuke is about to call Charlotte for Louis' location, Lena's Astral Projection appears above and reminds him not to be reckless once again then after a brief exchange, Lena informs him that Louis is going down a stream about a mile away then disappears.

◇ ◇ ◇

◇ ◇ ◇

Ryousuke picks up his bag containing water and rations and run to the direction that Lena pointed while using his Ki to detect the presence of anyone with in fifty meters from him. After ten minutes of running, Ryousuke finds Louis who is visibly exhausted from fleeing his pursuers. Ryousuke hands Louis the water and rations then insists on carrying Louis out of Mount Shasta, determined to carry out Lena's request to rescue Louis and they run down stream for fifteen minutes.

◇ ◇ ◇

Laura is exhaling smoke from his mouth while holding on to the Black Stone Tablet. The smoke is made from a Witch's Elixir where she stares at the smoke with unfocused eyes the blinks a couple of times and mentioned she sees a trickle of water that FEHR is moving down stream then Laura points at their direction

◇ ◇ ◇

Ryousuke and Louis are surrounded by FAIR so they are forced to fight them. After a brief exchange, Laura launches a curse at Ryousuke that got deflected by his Reactive Armor then Ryousuke retaliates with a flying kick to Laura but it was blocked by on of the FAIR members that gives Ryousuke the impression that it is a werewolf. The man who blocked Ryousuke is under the effects of Laura's Ulfhedin that makes the man to be possessed by a wolf spirit after Laura whispers a chant near his ear. After neutralizing 2 FAIR members, Ryousuke moves near Louis to protect him from enemy fire and for the first time in his life, he felt frustrated for being an Extra and wishes to be able to use Phalanx. Lena's Astral Projection suddenly appears and uses Euphoria, a Mentel Interference Magic that induce a euphoric state of stupor that incapacitates ten people all the way from Vancouver aproximately 1,000 kilometers away. Ryousuke and Louis escapes while Lena incapacitates the FAIR members and once they were out of sight Lena disappears much to the anger of Laura.


Chapter 5[]

Homecoming

Spoiler

At the foot of Mount Shasta, Ryousuke and Louis rides a self propelled vehicle to the nearest airport where they boarded a light aircraft. They arrive at Vancouver by midnight where they went back to FEHR Headquarters since Charlotte informed them that Lena is still awake. Lena is relieved that they both are safe. Louis showed Lena the White Stone Tablet and also informs her of the Black Stone Tablet that Laura still have.

◇ ◇ ◇

Next morning, Laura reports to Dean and presents the Black Stone Tablet which witches like Laura calls a Guru Stone Tablet, a grimoire that grants a powerful secret art to whoever possesses it. Laura offers to further investigate its usage since this is also the first time she personally saw one and the magic it contains. Dean consents and questions Laura about the White Stone Tablet which Laura assures that there are more than a dozen of the white stone tablet buried in the cave and plans to have them dug out to which Dean agrees.

◇ ◇ ◇

July 2, 11:00 am, Vancouver International Airport

At the departure lobby Mayumi, Mari and Ryousuke are taking their flight back to Japan after concluding the business entrusted by Tatsuya to them four days ago. As Mayumi and Lena who became good friends exchange farewells, Charlotte asks to have a word with Ryousuke.

At the corner of the lobby, Charlotte hands Ryousuke her terminal with an earpiece to which Ryousuke accepts and place the earpiece to his hear. Ryousuke hears Lena's voice who asks another favor since the matter with FAIR is still not settled despite handing over the evidence and the White Stone Tablet to the police. So Lena asks Ryousuke to arrange a meeting with Tatsuya after returning to Japan and when the time is set, Lena will appear with her Astral Body. Ryosuke returns the terminal to Charlotte who also tells him that Lena wanted to keep this from Mayumi and Mari to which Ryousuke agrees.

On the way to the boarding gate, Mayumi asks about the conversation to which Ryousuke responds with a made-up story.

◇ ◇ ◇

July 3, morning, Fairchild Airforce Base, Washington.

Lina stood at a ramp of a transport plane to return to Japan under her "Lina Brooks" ID card that she used while in the USNA. Seeing her off is Mirfak, Sophia and Canopus each exchanging goodbyes as Lina shake hands with each of them. Lina then boards the transport plane with the inside is as well-equipped as a business-class airliner which flies her to Japan


Chapter 6[]

Request from America

Spoiler

July 5, 4:30 pm at the Director's Office, Magian Academy, Izu

Tatsuya is talking with Ryousuke and Lena who is in her Astral Projection form. Lena explains the activities of FAIR, the White Stone Tablet and Black Stone Tablets unearthed in Mount Shasta as well as the battle of Ryousuke and Louis against them. Tatsuya believes that the White Stone Tablet could be a map to locations of other Relics. Lena then asks Tatsuya to come to the United States but Tatsuya tells her that he cannot give an immediate answer.

The USNA government still sees Tatsuya as a threat for being able to use Material Burst anywhere in the world at a moment's notice but still prefers that he is in the USNA which is an open secret among defense and diplomatic officials not only for cooperation over the Stellar Furnace but to be under their jurisdiction. Despite not giving an immediate answer, Tatsuya assures Lena the will get rid of the problem should harm the stability of the world.

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya discusses his intent of going to the USNA with Miyuki who is surprised that Lena manage to communicate with Tatsuya just by Astral Projection and she remembers why Lena is also called FEHR's Saint. Miyuki suggests to travel the same way Mayumi left but Tatsuya does not want to impose too much and not only intereference is expected but also its resulting loss of time. As such, Tatsuya concludes that its more viable to sneak out of the country even if it might be against the law.

◇ ◇ ◇

Wednesday, July 7th, 2100 Yotsuba Main House

Tatsuya reports to Maya the White Stone Tablet and Black Stone Tablet which concludes the first reason of his visit. Tatsuya then inquires about the progress on the research of Ghost Walker to which Maya tells him that Yuuka is on the laboratory as always.

Tatsuya meets with Tsukuba Yuuka who now manages the research facility that is in a separate building from the Yotsuba Main House for research of both Modern and Ancient Magic and is also to be married but is not comfortable with the topic. With regards to the research on Ghost Walker, Yuuka gets to the point that Ghost Walker cannot be reproduced despite the know-how given by Kudou Minoru to them since the method behind its process is too different from Modern Magic. Yuuka however mentions that it is possible to develop a magic of similar effects that is completely different from Ghost Walker but Yuuka is still a step away from developing it. At Tatsuya's request Yuuka shows the data of the new magic which gives Tatsuya an idea of how to complete it to which Yuuka suggests that Tatsuya take over in the development since she is more focused on ways to neutralize Ghost Walker. Yuuka then hands over the data for the new magic and Tatsuya leaves the research institute

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya works non-stop on developing the new magic to the point that he forgot to eat and sleep on Miyaki Island. After a full day at noon of July 9 he is struck by an inspiration. Hanabishi informs Tatsuya that Jeffrey James has contacted and wants to speak with him about an urgent matter. After a couple of minutes of preparing, Tatsuya receives Jeffrey who appears to be at wits' end, reflecting the urgency of the situation and agrees to meet with him.

Jeffrey arrives at Miyaki Island at the northeast airport instead of the public airport in the northeast where Tatsuya guides him to the reception room. Jeffrey informs Tatsuya of a phenomenon occurring at Oakland City in the west coast where a number of people lost the ability to speak similar to Wernicke's aphasia. They have already ran mutiple tests together with Stars and have already ruled out the possibility of this incident to be a virus or toxic gasses to which Tatsuya deduces that Jeffrey is consulting him because they suspect that it was caused by magic. Jeffrey suggests that Tatsuya goes to Oakland city to see the patients and the site where Tatsuya accepts the invitation after Jeffrey confirms that the first appearance of the illness occurred seven days ago, the time where FAIR acquired the Black Stone Tablet. Jeffrey is very grateful while shaking Tatsuya's vigorously and repeatedly saying "thank you".

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya arrives at the Chofu Apartment in Tokyo via VTOL at 8:00 pm where Miyuki and Lina are waiting then after dinner, he discusses with Miyuki and Lina the request from Lena and Jeffrey with regards to FEHR's battle with FAIR and the sickness in Oakland respectively. Tatsuya concludes that he will go to the USNA but requests Lina to stay in Japan in preparation for the trip which starts with a trip to Hokkaido.


Chapter 7[]

Trip to America

Spoiler

July 11, Sunday

Tatsuya and Miyuki are on a car trip to Hokkaido for the summer vacation to look for an open house which was supposed to be a promised trip at the end of may but Tatsuya was unable to deliver.

◇ ◇ ◇

While Tatsuya and Miyuki are enroute to Hokkaido, the National Defense Forces' Intelligence Department upon getting word of their trip to Hokkaido begins monitoring them since they departed hoping they will not provoke the Great Asian Union nor the New Soviet Union since Hokkaido is the frontline for the two nations. In addition to the Intelligence Department, the Public Security Agency and spies from enemy nations also begin monitoring Tatsuya's trip with their own means and methods.

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya left Chufu at 7:00 am and arrived in Hakodate at 5:00 pm at a fairly leisurely pace after stopping at an area full of vacation to keep up appearances. Tatsuya is well aware of the eyes on him but he pays no heed of them and because of his leisurely driving most of them have concluded that this is just a premarital trip and they are just wasting their time.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day, Tatsuya drove to the southern region of Hokkaido where a neighborhood full of vacation homes are located but has no intention of buying a vacation home, intending to create an alibi. They then head to Lake Toya anjoying the scenery and at this point only two members of the Intelligence Department left following them.

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya arrived at Chitose where they checked into the hotel they have booked advanced and after a day of sightseeing, they retire for the night. The next morning, a man and woman dressed as hotel staff came to the suite where Tatsuya and Miyuki are staying to make it appear to be as a morning room service so neither of the intelligence operatives posing as other hotel guests would suspect anything who are actually Lina and Hanabishi under the effects of Parade.

After having breakfast, Tatsuya and Miyuki were also disguised with Parade while Lina and Hanabishi are disguised to look like Tatsuya and Miyuki where they drive out of the hotel and the Intelligence officers starts to tail them again. Meanwhile Tatsuya and Miyuki rides the Air-Car left by Hanabishi and they head to New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Air-Car flies to a large military transport aircraft and are brought to a nearby Joint-Use National Defense Air Base. Tatsuya and Jeffrey who worked with the Pentagon to shift the dates of the joint military exercise to conceal Tatsuya's departure due to Tatsuya's move being watched closely by the entire world. Thus, the military transport aircraft with Tatsuya and Miyuki on board enroute to west coast of USNA.

◇ ◇ ◇

After nine hours of flight from Chitose, the aircraft arrives at Beale Air Force Base in California just after midnight local time. Jeffrey personally greets them and after processing their passports, they board a car to a hotel in Berkeley driven by Jeffrey himself.

◇ ◇ ◇

Since Tatsuya and Miyuki arrived in Berkeley at dawn, it would be impossible to check-in at this time unless it is arranged by the Secretary of Defense. After the check-in Tatsuya and Jeffrey part ways where the Tatsuya and Miyuki shared the bathroom and went straight to bed without having breakfast.

At mid-afternoon, Tatsuya and Miyuki are having a late lunch where they are joined by Jeffrey, Abigail Stuart; USNA's renowned specialist in Magic Engineering and lead researcher of Stars and Ariana Lee Shaula who Tatsuya rescued in Midway Prison along with Canopus and now promoted to First Lieutenant. Stuart is assigned to lead the investigation of the case although she insists that the sickness is outside his expertise but was forced to be in charge since Stars is involved while Shaula is ordered to be Tatsuya's escort since she specializes in counter magic against Mental-Interferene Type Magic and has high resistance to it to which Tatsuya asks her to be Miyuki's escort instead.

◇ ◇ ◇


Chapter 8[]

The Divine Punishment Magic

Spoiler

Jeffrey part ways with them who is busy preparing for his boss' presidential campaign while the rest head to the response center established in an area adjacent to Oakland City where Tatsuya uses his Air-Car to trail Shaula's car. They arrive at a house that was bought by the military for the investigation of the sickness with the exterior of the house looking like an ordinary wooden-frame house but the interior is filled with data processing equipment. Inside the house, Stuart shows the data they've gathered as well as the area where the outbreak occurred.

◇ ◇ ◇

Back at the Berkeley hotel, Tatsuya and Miyuki concludes that the sickness is caused by magic but the purpose is still unclear nor it could be confirmed as an act of magical terrorism. As they are having a modest dinner, Miyuki speculates that the sickness could be for field testing to which Tatsuya concurs and that FAIR is confirming the effects of themselves rather than a preparation of a terrorist attack.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, Tatsuya's group meets at a hospital where those affected by aphasia is staying where the patients are kept at a regular room since the patients does not exhibit any other anomalies aside from their inability to communicate. After looking at a brain scan, Tatsuya points out that there is a Psion Information Body embedded in the patient's own psionic body that makes it difficult to detect and makes Shaula frustrated that she and many other magicians had done all sorts of experiments but are unable to detect the Magic Sequence Tatsuya pointed out.

After confirming with Stuart that magic can be used in the hospital, Tatsuya instructs Miyuki to create a Selective Zone Interference that prevents no one but the caster and others Miyuki designates to be able to use magic which is not easily done unless the caster is intimately close to that person like a lover or a spouse.

With the Selective Zone Interference that prevents magical interference from third parties and also prevents observation magic being used from outside, Tatsuya uses Gram Dispersion on the patient. Tatsuya then introduces himself then asks the name of patient who gives her name, surprised and burst into tears causing Stuart to call a nurse who further examines the patient. Out of the sixty three patients in Oakland, Tatsuya cures twenty seven on that day.

◇ ◇ ◇

July 15, evening local time at FAIR Headquarters in San Francisco

At Rocky Dean's office, he is discussing the progress of the sickness they field tested on Oakland with Laura and a newcomer of FAIR Helen Schneider who is valued by Dean for her magical powers and recruited by him when Helen was a prostitute. Due to Helen's blind devotion to Dean, Helen is the choice on being the test subject for the magic granted by the Guru Stone Tablet called "Babel" short for [Divine Punishment of the Tower of Babel]. Laura was hesitant to use the Stone tablet out of fear of unknown adverse side effects so Helen managed to master the Ancient Magic. Laura then reports that some of the patients have recovered since yesterday to the surprise of Dean. Laura also reports that the appearance of Shaula from Stars visiting the hospital where one of the patients are healed they have no further information if Shaula is capable of Counter Magic of this caliber.

◇ ◇ ◇

For the past three days, Tatsuya has treated eighty seven patients in Oakland that is commended by Stuart in the hallway of the hospital where they with Miyuki and Shaula. Although they are talking in a public area, they are not noticed by the public because of Tatsuya's new magic [Aidoneus] that was derived from Ghostwalker that causes a sort of face blindness or "Prosopagnosia", causing others to lose interest in the user. Thanks to this, Tatsuya and Miyuki is able to move freely in the USNA west coast without being spotted.

◇ ◇ ◇

Since yesterday, Helen has been searching for the magician who nullified the effects of Babel and is supported by FAIR agents to track down the hospital where the patients are being treated. While they concluded that Counter Magic was used to destroy Babel's Magic Sequence none of the FAIR members were able to detect any activation of magic. With only one patient remaining, Helen rushes to Alameda, west of Oakland while being sure that the magician will also go there.

While pretending to be a visitor of the hospital, Helen spots Shaula through the photo provided by FAIR for this operation an is accompanied by Tatsuya, Miyuki and Abigail heading to the patient's room. Despite Helen's senses are on high alert, she still could not detect any magic that was used and afterwards, Shaula and her companions leave the room where Helen still could not tell if the patient is treated or not. Helen follows the four as they leave the hospital and upon overhearing that Tatsuya is the magician who dismantled Babel's magic sequence so Helen unleashed Babel on Tatsuya .

◇ ◇ ◇

Tatsuya senses the activation of Babel and responds with Gram Dispersion to dismantle the Magic Sequence at a high speed since he has accumulated experience of destroying the very same Magic Sequence for the past three days. Turning to the source of Babel, Tatsuya sees Helen and concludes that she is the magician responsible and moves to neutralize her but Miyuki had already used Icy Thorn and causing Helen to collapse.

[ILLUSTRATION 5, PAGE 245]

As Miyuki mutters in anger at the insolence of Helen for attacking Tatsuya in Japanese while Shaula rushed over the fallen woman no matter how much Shaula calls on the Helen, there was no sign of her regaining her consciousness. Tatsuya sees a "familiar" that Minoru was talking about that is visibile for less than a second and afterwards Tatsuya is unable to track it. Since Miyuki has no intention of waking up the assailant, this makes Tatsuya the only person who can use the Non-Systemic Magic needed to release Icy Thorn so Helen can be questioned and so he lets out a sigh and heads back to the hospital to wake up Helen. Shaula and Stuart also prevents any attempt to charge Miyuki for the unauthorized user of magic.

◇ ◇ ◇

That evening, Laura notices that the Guru Stone Tablet has reverted to its former unused state which she has been studying even though Helen is possessed by the "daemon" that gives her the Babel magic and muttered that Helen is dead without a feeling of regret nor mourning while wishing that she have collected more data.

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July 17, 7:00 pm Berkeley, California

After rushing from the east cost, JJ invites Tatsuya, Miyuki, Abigail and Shaula to dinner at the hotel where Tatsuya is staying. After the toast, JJ sincerely thanks Tatsuya since the Babel incident makes his boss look bad with upcoming Presidential Elections. Tatsuya is also able to gain valuable insight from also questioning Helen who also informs them of the Guru Stone Tablet. Stuart and Shaula also confirmed that Canopus has forwarded the testimony against FAIR to the municipal police. Stuart invites further research on Babel but Tatsuya declines as he is more concerned about the cave that FAIR was excavating in Mt. Shasta.

Tatsuya asks for tacit approval to go to Mount Shasta after contacting FEHR to which JJ approves and also offers to also have Shaula to accompany them but Tatsuya declines.


Chapter 9[]

New Target

Spoiler

At the the urging of JJ and directive of Secretary of Defense Spencer, the DIA backs down on monitoring Tatsuya which is also followed by other intelligence agencies. Back at the hotel, Tatsuya contacts Hanabishi to instruct Minoru to descend to which he did one minute later.

[COLORED ILLUSTRATION 2, PAGE 6 to 8]

Minoru who lives in the Spaceship Takachiho descended from space via magic of an engraved Mock Teleportation magic circle, also referred to as "Virtual Satellite Elevator" by Tatsuya and his associates. Tatsuya asks Minoru to steal the Guru Stone Tablet in FAIR's Headquarters at San Francisco and also shares the details from Helen's interrogation. After hearing the potential of Babel to make more Strategic-Class Magicians if it can be mass produced with Modern Magic, Minoru accepts Tatsuya requests then heads to the balcony and returns to Takachicho.

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July 18, FAIR Headquarters

Laura reports to Dean that the Guru Stone Tablet is operational again due to Helen being incapacitated. Like Laura, Dean has no words of sympathy for Helen since no one in FAIR is hearing them. Dean refuses to use the Guru Stone Tablet since it might cost him to lose his Dionysius ability so Helen volunteers to do so instead. Dean then commands Laura to go back to Japan to steal the Relic once again with the use of Babel.

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July 18, Berkeley Hotel, California

Tatsuya contacts Lena through the number she provided when the latter originally contacted him via Astral Projection. After introducing Miyuki, Tatsuya informs Lena that they are in California right now and the recent activities of FAIR with Babel has already been resolved. Tatsuya then asks for the location of the cave in Mount Shasta to which Lena gives him the number of the private detective they have been working with.

◇ ◇ ◇

At 11:59 AM, Tatsuya receives a phone call from Luca Fields who introduces herself in a way to keep the pretense that they are strangers but Tatsuya refers to him as Ono-sensei and went straight to the matter at hand bluntly which causes an audible sigh from Luca.

[ILLUSTRATION 6, PAGE 267]

They agreed to meet near Mount Shasta at 3:00 PM at a public park. By the time Luca arrives at the park, Tatsuya is already there but Luca does not recognized him due to the effects of Aidoneus until Tatsuya confirms it himself and they head out.

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Haruka brings Tatsuya and Miyuki to the cave where FAIR had been illegally digging while holding back her curiosity about Aidoneus since she knows fully well that Tatsuya will not answer her. Tatsuya retrieves the Octagonal Stone in one of the walls inside the cave and upon further examining it, he confirms that it is a relic. Tatsuya thanks Luca for her help and also gives her an envelop containing a money card that surprises Luca on the amount it contains to which Tatsuya also mentions that it includes hush-money as well then Tatsuya and Miyuki boards their Air-Car and drives the Air-Car in the opposite direction from town.

When there are no longer people nor devices in sight, the Air-Car lifts off. Tatsuya and Miyuki talks about their newly acquired relic and they both conclude that it is a compass and that the direction it is pointing could be anywhere in Alaska, Siberia or even beyond that to Central Asia are any of these possibilities and the map could be the White Stone Tablet.

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July 19, San Francisco, California

Minoru infiltrates FAIR's headquarters at the early dawn after using the metropolitan for his entry point instead of the shore on the lake last time. Through the use of Parade, Minoru enters the headquarters looking like an ominous ghost. After searching every rooms starting from the first floor, Minoru finds the White Stone Tablet and took pictures of all 15 tablets. Finally, the Guru Stone Tablet is located at the center floor room of the third floor where Dean is also there with the Guru Stone Tablet right behind him although neither Dean nor any FAIR members are Minoru's target.

Minoru soundlessly approach the Guru Stone Tablet but Dean felt as if there is the devil or Grim Reaper appeared in front of him and used a magic to attack spiritual beings instead of his Dionysius. But Minoru is unaffected by the spell as he walks away from a trembling Dean who he did not even put to sleep. Laura wakes up and rushes to Dean upon learning what happened and assured him that she has already used the Guru Stone Tablet and can use Babel but Dean is enraged by this humiliation and grabs Laura by her hair and commands her to find the thief.

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On the morning of July 19, FAIR Headquarters is raided by the San Francisco municipal police with the Wiz Guard as their back up. A fierce battle between the police and FAIR members break out and there are casualties on both side and eventually ending in the arrest of the remaining members except their leader Rocky Dean and sub-leader Laura Simon is missing. The news is relayed to Tatsuya and Miyuki by JJ where Tatsuya reveals that Laura is a witch and her knowledge in witchcraft enabled them to unleash Babel. After the exchange of words, the military transport carrying Tatsuya, Miyuki and the Air-Car takes off enroute to the Western Pacific Ocean.

◇ ◇ ◇

The aircraft lands at the USNA Navy's aircraft carrier, the Independence at 15:00 JST on July 20 then Tatsuya and Miyuki on board the Air-Car that arrives at Miyaki Island at two hours later. Then at 20:00, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Lina with Minoru and Minami are present. Minoru hands over the Guru Stone Tablet and the photos of the White Stone Tablet to Tatsuya which Minoru has already deciphered some of the characters with Takachiho's AI to confirm they are Sanskrit characters. Minoru and Tatsuya concludes that the White Stone Tablet could be a map to Shambhala.

Minoru interjects that while the map on the White Stone Tablet is visible they need a compass to pinpoint their location to which Miyuki, Minoru, Lina and Minami looks at Tatsuya who brings out the box containing the Octagonal Stone they retrieved from Mount Shasta. After Tatsuya pours psion on the stone which moved two centimeters and saying that it could be a compass while the rest silent but has eyes that shone in anticipation.

(To be continued.)



Gallery[]

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References[]

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