Early morning sunlight streamed through Azrael's courtyard, still bearing the scars from recent battles with the Crimson Oath Society.
After dealing with Crowley the previous night, cleaning up the scene had proceeded without the dramatic complications Alice might have hoped for. However, Azrael sensed that his senior sister still hadn't returned home.
"I'll have Fredrika arrange for a construction crew," Azrael muttered to himself.
In his opinion, Magnus was completely unsuitable for any villainous role, low emotional intelligence and an unreliable work ethic made him a poor choice for clandestine operations. The thought that the Crimson Oath Society might be filled with such incompetent individuals would have made Azrael laugh if it weren't so troubling.
He had been planning to discuss Fredrika's situation today anyway, and mentioning the courtyard repairs would be convenient timing. While he wasn't entirely certain others wouldn't attempt some underhanded scheme, Fredrika probably wouldn't dare try anything suspicious. Azrael would simply have the Shadowkhan keep watch over the proceedings.
As he contemplated these arrangements, Azrael noticed his senior sister's summoning card dissipate within the house. The next moment, a familiar figure materialized in the living room.
"Senior Sister, you're back?" Azrael called out after washing up briefly and heading downstairs.
"Senior Sister," he greeted again, seeing Alice sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed in rest.
At his voice, Alice opened her eyes, her intelligent features now etched with fatigue. "Junior Brother."
Azrael was about to suggest that his senior sister go rest when something round rolled across the floor toward him.
"I'll avenge you," came a weak voice from the object.
Azrael prodded the ball on the ground with his toe. It was a severed head, and it belonged to Ottarl.
"Oh my goodness, no wonder you returned so late," Azrael thought to himself.
He had assumed his senior sister meant to merely beat up Ottarl, but she had actually killed him.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Azrael didn't ask whether this would cause any political complications. After all, there was always someone powerful enough to handle the consequences. His senior sister was so considerate that there was no need to voice concerns that might dampen the mood.
"They won't raise any objections," Alice's cold voice echoed through the living room, as if reading Azrael's inner thoughts.
In reality, Azrael was overthinking the situation. The remaining noble families hadn't even had time to publicly distance themselves from the Mizuno family, so who would dare speak up for them now? While their attempt to contact the Crimson Oath Society had been carried out with the other families' tacit approval, or even covert support, now that it had failed spectacularly, there was nothing left to discuss.
They hadn't lost anything substantial in the gambit anyway. With the Mizuno family gone, it was simply gone. In fact, it was better this way, since the other families had long coveted the Mizuno family's accumulated wealth and influence. They weren't all bound to the same sinking ship, after all.
"I couldn't locate Crowley anywhere," Alice continued, a hint of concern crossing her weary features. "Be careful."
Although she had eliminated the older Mizuno family member the previous night, the younger one had already vanished when she went searching. The elderly informant across the street had even questioned whether she was responsible for his disappearance.
But Alice had been focused on her lethal mission and had no interest in lengthy explanations with the old man, she had simply eliminated him as well.
Azrael froze slightly at this revelation. If others couldn't determine Crowley's whereabouts, how could he possibly know? He had killed the man himself the previous night. However, he couldn't possibly reveal this to Alice, so he offered a plausible excuse, "Perhaps he fled with the Crimson Oath Society."
Indeed, being completely devoured by Magnus's cards wasn't something he could easily explain.
"I'll remain vigilant. Senior Sister, please go rest now."
The taciturn Alice nodded silently, and in a flash of crackling lightning, she vanished from the living room.
Azrael scratched his head, sighing with relief as he gazed at the now-empty space. He had been worried that if the younger Mizuno family member suffered retaliation, the older one might seek revenge, but now he didn't need to worry anymore. After all, both the older and younger members had already "reunited" in whatever afterlife awaited them.
"Today truly is a good day."
Although he felt increasingly like he was playing the role of a villain in some twisted narrative, Azrael's mood remained buoyant. He hummed cheerfully as he prepared to meet with Fredrika.
What he hadn't anticipated was discovering that Velvet Springhouse was closed during morning hours. Although the Shadowkhan had guided him to the top-floor office, Fredrika was clearly absent from the premises.
[Azrael: Come see me. I'm in your office.]
Azrael pulled out his phone and sent a message.
[Fredrika: I'll be there immediately!]
While waiting for Fredrika's arrival, Azrael had an opportunity to consider what weapon to create for Artoria. He couldn't allow her to remain limited to single-use dramatic attacks forever. Creating a weapon card to complement Artoria's combat capabilities after using her light cannon was becoming a top priority.
With over nine thousand points remaining in his account, he had more than enough resources to craft a single powerful item card. Azrael's first consideration was the Divine Weapons series he had watched on television as a child. Unlike the more mature manga version, the animated adaptation had featured weapons with accompanying martial arts techniques.
Given Artoria's noble status and combat style, the most suitable weapon would likely be something befitting a Divine Emperor, perhaps a Heavenly Crystal sword would be appropriate.
"Actually, there are numerous other suitable weapons available. There's no need to limit myself solely to the Divine Weapons series."
Just as Azrael was weighing various weapon options, Fredrika arrived at the office, her face glistening with perspiration from her hurried journey.
"Sixth Master, what brings you here so early?" Fredrika forced a welcoming smile and inquired.
"The Mizuno family has been eliminated," Azrael began by sharing the morning's intelligence. "Additionally, I've instructed Magnus to maintain complete cover for the foreseeable future."
He then explained Magnus's activities from the previous night in detail.
Fredrika couldn't help but roll her eyes at the account. She hadn't expected Magnus to bungle such a straightforward operation, but she was more intrigued by another aspect of Azrael's report.
"Sixth Master, could you elaborate on the Mizuno family's destruction?"
"Ottarl was killed by my senior sister, and Crowley was eliminated by me," Azrael summarized the Mizuno family's current situation with characteristic directness.
Fredrika was momentarily stunned by his blunt explanation, but then seemed to grasp the broader implications and shook her head knowingly. "It appears Ottarl made a catastrophically poor decision."
Azrael nodded in agreement. He now understood that from the moment they had contacted the Crimson Oath Society to orchestrate an attack against him, the Mizuno family had already been politically abandoned by their former allies.
"Very well, there's nothing else requiring immediate attention. I'll be departing now."
Azrael's primary purpose in visiting had been to explain Magnus's situation, ensuring that Fredrika wouldn't waste time and resources trying to locate someone for questioning.
Fredrika hurriedly stood up respectfully. "Of course, please take care."
Azrael nodded slightly before disappearing into the shadows, not wasting additional time. After all, he still had classes to attend that day.
Indeed, after an extended suspension due to recent events, Pixar University had finally resumed its normal academic schedule. Alas, even someone holding the prestigious title of Sixth Master within the Crimson Oath Society, a figure of considerable influence in the outside world, still had to attend morning lectures like any ordinary student.
"Could you two please stop staring at me like that?" Azrael's voice carried a note of helpless exasperation through the classroom.
On the first day of resumed classes, he found himself transformed into something of a celebrity at Pixar University. However, given that his previous battle with Crowley had created such a tremendous commotion, he supposed the attention was understandable.
The main issue was that the rotund and lanky duo kept stealing glances at him throughout the lecture, making him wonder if one of his female card had failed to remove a lipstick mark from the previous night's "private activities."
Harold chuckled mischievously. "We're just trying to figure out what makes you different from the rest of us regular students."
"Your cards originate from a completely different world than ours," the heavyset student observed with genuine curiosity.
Azrael was too tired to engage with his classmate's speculation and signaled for a nearby Shadowkhan to distract the man with snacks. He couldn't very well explain that his cards all originated from alternative dimensions, that would make him sound like some sort of interdimensional plagiarist.
From another perspective, thanks to his high-profile battle with Crowley, no students seemed prepared to challenge him to duels anymore. Sun-Myun and Choi-Gyu had become the primary targets for those seeking to test their skills.
According to Harold's reports, before classes had resumed, Sun-Myun had been visiting the university every few days specifically for battle practice.
[Chisaki: Come to the battle club after class.]
The vibration of his phone drew Azrael's attention to an incoming message.
He wasn't surprised by Chisaki's summons, considering the national competition was approaching rapidly. Chisaki undoubtedly wanted to discuss preparations for the upcoming tournament.
"Azrael, it's been quite a while," Oliver greeted him with a warm smile when he arrived at the battle club.
"Indeed, it has been some time."
Seeing that everyone had assembled, Chisaki wasted no time and immediately explained his reasons for calling them together, "The national competition isn't far away now."
"This year, Pixar University has an excellent chance of achieving victory," he continued, his gaze focusing meaningfully on Azrael.
The other four team members understood Chisaki's implications immediately.
"I'll give my absolute best effort," Azrael responded with characteristic directness.
Defeating Crowley didn't guarantee invincibility, there was no telling what hidden talents other universities might possess among their student bodies.
Chisaki shook his head slightly before continuing, "I've called you here to inform you that the university has arranged specialized training for the team."
"However, before that intensive preparation begins, I've scheduled a practice match with Suzhou University's Battle Club." His eyes met Azrael's as he spoke.
Azrael chuckled softly. The previous match against Southeast University had been interrupted because Artoria hadn't properly controlled her devastating power output.
"This weekend, I want everyone to clear their schedules completely. We'll depart for Suzhou City on Friday."
The mention of Suzhou City reminded Azrael of Velkairos, after all, the two cities weren't particularly distant from each other.
After a moment's consideration, he asked, "Professor Chisaki, after the battle with Suzhou University, would it be possible for me to return to Velkairos briefly?"
Knowing that Azrael was originally from Velkairos, Chisaki replied, "Certainly. Just take the express bus back when you're ready."
Azrael nodded appreciatively. He had been away for an extended period, and while he claimed not to miss home, the truth was more complicated. His Velkairos residence had been destroyed in the Crimson Oath Society's bombing campaign, forcing him to rent temporary accommodations ever since.
If Cory hadn't perished in the conflict, Azrael wondered what the man's expression would have been upon discovering that his target had become the organization's Sixth Master.
"Alright, you're all dismissed for now," Chisaki announced, bringing Azrael back from his reminiscences.
"The train will be arriving shortly. Our final destination is Suzhou University. Please gather your belongings," came the gentle feminine voice over the railway system's speakers.
On Friday evening, accompanied by the soothing announcement, Azrael and his teammates arrived in Suzhou City. As they emerged from the train station, Chisaki's transportation vehicle appeared once again, though the background music selection had been updated since their previous journey.
"What defines true justice?" the audio system inquired philosophically.
Azrael raised an eyebrow at the unexpected musical choice.
Since the battle club had brought considerable honor to Pixar University, the entire expedition was being funded by the institution. Although such modest expenses meant little to Azrael and his teammates, who had all achieved Silver-level Lore Cardian Master status and the accompanying financial benefits, the gesture was appreciated.
Upon reaching their accommodations, Chisaki had generously arranged for individual luxury suites, saving Azrael the minor inconvenience of booking his own room.
"Professor Chisaki, I'm going out to explore the city," Azrael announced, seeing no other immediate obligations.
Chisaki nodded his approval, and the other four team members, observing this exchange, also expressed interest in sightseeing.
"Just make sure to return early, we're departing for Suzhou University at nine tomorrow morning," Chisaki reminded them with paternal concern.
Azrael waved acknowledgment before leisurely mounting a shared bicycle and departing the hotel for his evening exploration.
During his ride through the city streets, Azrael spotted several Velvet Springhouse establishments, though he remained uncertain whether they represented Fredrika's expanding chain of businesses. He felt no particular urge to investigate these venues.
If there was one notable difference between Suzhou City and their home base, it was the overwhelming concentration of Crimson Oath Society members present! Each Society member appeared like a brilliant beacon in Azrael's enhanced perception, and their numbers seemed to increase dramatically the further from the city center he traveled.
"Incredible, so many Crimson Oath Society members are stationed here?"
Azrael had known that the Society had established significant influence throughout coastal cities, but witnessing this concentration firsthand through his supreme authority gave him a more concrete understanding of their organizational reach.
"They're like cockroaches, when you spot one, there's inevitably an entire nest hiding nearby."
"Wait, that analogy makes me the cockroach king," he muttered with self-deprecating humor.
His fascination with surveying Society members quickly diminished as their sheer numbers became overwhelming. Just as Azrael was preparing to turn his bicycle back toward the hotel, his supreme authority detected something highly unusual.
"What?" he murmured with sudden alertness.
"Why are the spiritual contracts disappearing in that direction?"
"Well, it's just Crimson Oath Society members dying anyway. It's hardly my concern."
Azrael reminded himself that his membership in the organization had been essentially forced upon him. While the Society had treated him reasonably well thus far, that didn't mean he was obligated to risk himself for their welfare. Wanting his active assistance in dangerous situations was asking too much.
"Boss, please just leave us behind and escape," a young man pleaded weakly, his face streaked with blood as he spoke to the muscular figure carrying him.
The older man remained grimly silent, focused entirely on their desperate flight.
The younger man's anxiety mounted with each passing moment. "Boss, if this continues, none of us will survive!"
The burly man was quiet for several seconds before responding with gravelly emotion, "I made a promise to your mother that I would protect you."
"I've already failed her by forcing you to join the Crimson Oath Society alongside me."
The injured youth said helplessly, "Is this really the time for such conversations?"
Suddenly, a bone-chilling gust of wind swept through their location.
Fortunately, the experienced fighter's reflexes proved adequate, he lunged forward while carrying his companion, successfully dodging the supernatural attack.
However, it became immediately clear that further escape was impossible.
A pale-faced man wearing a dark windbreaker materialized directly in their path, blocking any hope of continued flight.
"Why did the Crimson Oath Society choose to release such a pathetic vampire?" came a sinister voice from their pursuer.
"Do you actually believe you can stop me?"
The muscular man maintained his silence, simply rising to his feet and turning to face their tormentor with grim determination.
The enemy displayed obvious signs of grotesque surgical modification across his body, radiating an aura of unnatural menace that made the air itself feel heavy and oppressive.
As another frigid wind attack launched toward them, the Society member's vampire card dissolved into black mist and vanished completely.
The wounded young man lying on the ground displayed pure despair in his expression. Both of their cards were currently on cooldown periods, meaning they possessed no remaining power to mount any resistance.
Just as the deadly cold wind was about to destroy both of their bodies, a tall figure emerged directly in front of the threatened pair.
"I'm afraid I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said."
As the confident voice rang out, a man in an elegant black suit appeared near all three combatants.