"Kaburagi?" Hyouma rolled his eyes upon hearing that name. "It's no surprise that Ritsuka knows about him. Many of his suppliers are people who practice Witchcraft and other forms of Dark Magic. Though I don't recall ever having sold him anything."
"Do you know where to find him?" Kiritsugu asked. They had already left the store several minutes ago, after the blonde had handed a bundle of cash to the young woman and grumbled about the steep price of whatever he had bought.
"He's far from this area, but yes." Hyouma replied, frowning as he glanced at another nearby store that was packed with people.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing. I was just hoping to stop by another stall to ask if they had something I'd prefer to buy rather than getting it myself, hmm." Hyouma shook his head before shrugging. "Well, never mind. The folks at that place seem to be under siege; I can come back another day."
They walked towards another aisle filled with stalls similar to the ones Kiritsugu had previously seen, but with a few differences. He noticed a folding screen displaying a paradise-like landscape that quickly morphed into something grotesque as soon as someone placed a hand on its surface, a kind of skeletal doll adorned with tattered black rags, sporting a black talisman with an open eye in the center, alongside a series of vases that appeared to be made of huge, crude skulls, with thick, misshapen fangs.
"Made from an oni." Hyouma commented after noticing Kiritsugu staring at them. "What a waste, in my opinion. They're not even useful as paperweights."
Kiritsugu snorted, imagining buying one just to send it to Makihisa. The latter's reaction upon receiving something like that would be memorable... Or perhaps the magnate would choose to place it in the most secluded part of his study as an exotic decoration.
Maybe he should give it a try.
All traces of humor vanished from his mind when a silhouette suddenly loomed in front of him. A tall man, clad in a black tactical raincoat, with a belt surrounded by various compartments and heavy gloves of the same color, highlighted only by vibrant yellow edges. But his most distinctive feature was at the top of his body.
Just where the collar of the raincoat opened, a kind of helmet completely covered his head, leaving not a single inch of skin exposed. The upper half of it was a yellow sphere with two protrusions in the same spot as his eyes, alongside two lines of rectangular holes positioned diagonally several centimeters above them.
But it was the visage beneath the lower half of the helmet that put Kiritsugu on alert.
Below this, held by a structure of opaque gray, there extended a kind of decorative jaw with opaque golden teeth, separated by two strategically placed segments toward the front, almost creating the illusion of three mouths. The fact that three spikes extended from his chin did not help the unsettling visage he presented.
Kiritsugu could also see at least four tubes emerging from the nape of the helmet, descending into the raincoat.
To top it off, the individual held an assault rifle with both hands, which the dark-haired man identified as a Hungarian-manufactured AMP-69 that had undergone a couple of alterations to the barrel and buttstock.
The man seemed unaware of his presence and merely continued walking down the aisle.
"We're almost there." Hyouma remarked after watching him disappear among the crowd.
"What was that?" Kiritsugu asked quietly.
"The reason I said we're close to finding that man." The blonde replied in an unusually cautious manner. "Those only hang around his place; bumping into one confirms it."
He let out a sigh before continuing. "They are the ones who maintain order at Kaburagi's premises. They appeared a couple of months ago, apparently as a group of mercenaries on his payroll, also serving to showcase some of his products. We call them Hornets." He admitted, as if he wanted to spit.
Kiritsugu discreetly glanced back, as if he could still see the silhouette, and frowned.
It didn't take long until they encountered another, practically identical to the previous one but slightly shorter by a couple of centimeters.
This one paid them no mind, remaining posted against a wall, but he was the only one to keep that demeanor.
For when they reached the end of the aisle, leading to a much larger tent than the others, two more emerged from either side, standing to either side of the entrance and watching their every move, much to Hyouma's annoyance, who pointed towards it.
"Here it is." An announcement. "I suggest you go in already; he's probably with other clients, and the longer you take, the more others will come."
"Are you not going to follow me inside?" Kiritsugu asked, somewhat puzzled.
"No, thanks, being near the Hornets makes me nervous. I'll see what else is around. If you take more than an hour, I'll leave; just making that clear," Hyouma replied, placing both hands in his pockets and starting to walk away.
The black-haired man sighed, but he felt a bit relieved internally. While he had consistently maintained the cold facade he usually wore as the Mage Killer since their first encounter, he had also taken the liberty of altering some of his mannerisms to appear a bit different.
He didn't believe he could afford to indulge himself here.
He ignored the guards who seemed to keep their eyes on him without making a sound and headed inside after opening the door.
If the Nurarihyon Emporium had been large, this shop was practically immense.
Just like the other tent, this one also had supernatural animals on display. Except this time, they were not only free from cages; they were also dead.
Mounted on a wall was a creature the size of an average adult, possessing the body of a large, fierce-looking feline grotesquely fused with the half-body of a goat at its right side. To top it off, instead of a tail, it had the body of a filthy green-scaled serpent with menacing jaws.
It had been a while since he had seen one, but Kiritsugu immediately recognized it as a chimera.
On the other side of the room, no less terrifying, another taxidermied beast was propped against the wall. A muscular, four-legged mound that could easily be mistaken for a pale, bearded bear, if it weren't for the hundreds of folds and slimy tentacles protruding from its head, some parts of its limbs, and its tail, as well as the absence of eyes but the presence of a mouth disturbingly similar to that of a human.
A demonic beast, he was sure of that. But Kiritsugu had no idea what else it could be.
Other items were visible throughout the room. What seemed to be a stone door with wrought iron inlays forming a geometric pattern and a carved effigy of a skull with two crossed bones. A shelf filled with books of various colors, some emitting an aura better left ignored. A mannequin with broken wiring hanging from a beam like a hanged man. A kind of ring made of cubic segments with glowing patterns on their faces rotating on their own axis like a gyroscope, and a tank filled with viscous liquid that contained a fleshy sphere with inert tentacles.
Kiritsugu ignored all those things and made his way through the maze of merchandise until he reached what appeared to be a desk covered with magical paraphernalia and other objects he could not recognize, unlike what was hanging on the wall: firearms.
Pistols, rifles, shotguns, and all kinds of artillery pieces from various countries were on display, and he couldn't recognize a significant portion, which meant they were either new and recent products or extensively modified.
"Can I help you with something?" he heard a pompous voice say.
Calmly, Kiritsugu turned to his right, encountering a burly middle-aged man, well-dressed with small round glasses. In one hand, he held a half-empty beer bottle, while the other held a cellphone.
"Kaburagi-san, right?" the black-haired man inquired politely, to which the man nodded.
"That's me, but you have me at a disadvantage... Sir?" Kaburagi questioned.
"Ken Nakamura." Kiritsugu replied without hesitation, causing the other man to frown.
"Nakamura, Nakamura. I don't recall anyone with that surname booking an appointment recently." Kaburagi muttered more to himself before shrugging. "But if you've come here under that name, it must be for a reason. What can I do for you?" he asked as he moved behind his desk.
"I came here to check out new equipment for my work." Kiritsugu responded calmly. "I was told you're the only one here who can sell me what I need." Then he drew from his long coat the familiar shape of his Thompson Contender, which he placed on the desk in front of him.
Kaburagi shot a glance at it, raising an eyebrow, and a pleased smile crept onto his lips as he realized what it was.
Ah, I see. I have exactly what you need here, Nakamura-san. The merchant let out a chuckle as he began inspecting the revolver. Hmm, this is certainly something you don't see every day, he remarked before holding the gun, ensuring that it was on safety.
"American from 1967, a Thompson Contender single-shot for competitive shooting," Kaburagi recited, running a hand along the barrel. "It has some modifications that allow for various types of ammunition, and it looks like a good portion of the complex mechanisms have been tuned. Were you the one who made the adjustments?"
Kiritsugu shook his head. "No, I just commissioned a gunsmith to modify it according to my specifications, but I have a solid understanding of how to manipulate some of its functions."
I see, I see. Kaburagi snapped his fingers, activating a small soundproof barrier that blocked loud noises, then held and aimed the revolver at the wall to his left. He pulled the trigger, and almost instantly, the gun was on the verge of slipping from his hand due to the force of the shot.
The shot was embedded in a spot on the wall, leaving a series of cracks.
"Not bad," the merchant commented before asking, "What was it loaded with?"
".30-06 Springfield rounds," came the short reply from the dark-haired man.
Kaburagi's eyes widened slightly behind his glasses before he placed the revolver back on the desk's surface.
"That explains the modifications. It's a brutal weapon; it may only have a single shot, but it guarantees maximum damage to the poor soul who receives it." Kaburagi shook his head. "A good shot from this would surely pierce an average thaumaturgical defense purely by brute force."
Kiritsugu nodded. Well, one of those had been enough to penetrate through a couple of layers of mercury reinforced by Kayneth's Mystic Code.
"This isn't the only piece of work I have, but it's the most viable one. I imagine you can guess why."
"I figured as much." Kaburagi opened a drawer in his desk from which he extracted a small case, revealing its contents as slightly smaller caliber rounds. Silently, he opened the magazine compartment of the Contender and placed one of these rounds inside before presenting it to Kiritsugu and pointing towards the wall where he had shot moments before.
The dark-haired man held his revolver in his usual shooting stance and pulled the trigger. A second round created a small hole in the wall almost as soon as it fired.
"Next-generation bullets modified with thaumaturgy that, when exposed to a fire pulse, activate a spell that hardens their volume and allows them to achieve an impact force far above their normal caliber," Kaburagi explained with a nearly feral grin. "I call them Doryuuga. But if you're picky about names, their real name is Svyagotor Gvozd."
"Do they have a limit on enhancements?" Kiritsugu asked, intrigued by the nature of the magical bullets.
"One can pour some units of prana inside them to enhance the effects of the spell," the merchant replied with a shrug. "However, there's the risk that the bullet could explode and turn into shrapnel if the magical energy proves counterproductive upon firing."
It was a lot to ask for them to be that reliable, although in retrospect, it made sense. There was a real reason firearms, cannons, and other artillery pieces didn't mix well with thaumaturgy. Some would say it stemmed from firearms being one of the most modern tools and a symbol of an era facing decline in mystery; however, that wasn't the whole truth.
Gunpowder itself was an invention born of thaumaturgy. A substance first recorded in history during the early centuries of the first millennium of the Common Era in ancient China by an alchemist, it was also strongly implicated as a product of the distant past.
However, the development of gunpowder weapons was just a matter of time, and it took millennia to render swords, spears, bows, and other forms of ancient weaponry virtually obsolete in military conflicts.
Yes, it was true that one could argue that firearms, being one of the sharp edges of modernization, were the archetype of the killing of global mystery, and any proud magus of tradition would be entirely justified in despising them; however, the real reason they were not appreciated lay in more practical factors.
Firearms were complex objects with unique structures and mechanisms. A pistol can be enchanted and transformed into a mystical code, or even created as such from the outset. However, the many parts they carry are not suitable for channeling magical energy, which led to disasters that resulted in a loss of effort, materials, and even some lives.
Trying to use pistols enhanced with thaumaturgy sounded easy on paper. Applying it in practice with the same effectiveness or expecting better results was a tremendous hassle.
"I see." Kiritsugu replied. "Would it be possible to commission bullets of that type in the caliber I usually use?"
"Hmmm." Kaburagi stroked his sparse beard thoughtfully. "It would be very expensive if there's no demand for them. Doryuuga are not exactly cheap ammunition, and the manufacturers would have to adjust the measurements they use for these. For a price, I could mention your suggestion to a contact of mine, and we could reach an agreement."
"Oh, I'm sure." Kiritsugu thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. The merchant certainly seemed to have ample experience in his business. The dark-haired man would recognize any attempts like that to make easy money.
"And what do you recommend?" he asked, placing a metaphorical carrot in front of the other man, whose eyes emitted a slight shimmer tinged with the ghost of greed.
"Your Thompson Contender is an excellent hunting tool; I won't deny that." Kaburagi affirmed while turning to examine the row of firearms hanging there, searching for a particular one. "It delivers a very intense punch, and I'm sure that with several of the bullets I have in my stock, it would be something to fear, but…"
"Hmm?" Kiritsugu pressed silently.
"Frankly, Nakamura-san, it's an old relic. It's too heavy, limited to certain types of ammunition, and its modifications are barely sufficient to allow it to fire magical bullets. Plus, it only allows one shot per load." Kaburagi shook his head disapprovingly while finally finding what he was looking for and placing it next to the Contender. "Allow me to present this beauty."
Kiritsugu looked down and admired the sleek form of a pistol completely coated in black paint. Were it not for the grip and some unaltered parts of the stock, he wouldn't have realized what kind it was due to the modifications made to its barrel.
"M1911." The dark-haired man identified it, running his index finger along the grip. "How different is it from a standard one?"
"Its new barrel allows it to shoot higher caliber bullets with ease. The casing is very sturdy and doesn't require much maintenance." Kaburagi began pointing out the features. "It also has an extended beavertail, making it easy to grip even in extreme weather, but those are just mundane details."
The merchant smiled again before placing his hand on the pistol. Almost instantly, it emitted a faint glow and seemed to bubble as, to Kiritsugu's astonished gaze, it began to change shape.
The barrel elongated by a couple of centimeters and widened, just like the rest of the pistol. In less than a minute, it was a fundamentally different firearm.
"Meet the MDJ-09. The latest among firearms that have managed to maintain a stable positive reinforcement spell throughout their structure." He lifted it before offering it to Kiritsugu, encouraging him to try it for himself.
"…" Now Kiritsugu was genuinely surprised. He had been literally pondering the reasons why pistols had never been widely adopted among users of thaumaturgy, only for something he thought impossible to be presented to him minutes later.
If he had had such a tool during his days as the Mage Killer, it goes without saying that many of his jobs would not have been so difficult.
"How strong is the reinforcement applied to this?" he asked again.
"Its resistance is impressive; it could withstand several tons on top without receiving a scratch. Also, the bullet change speed is significantly superior, and the best part is that the spell doesn't interfere with its handling, not even when using magical bullets." Kaburagi asserted. "I've had several clients buying whole packages of these, and they have all been very impressed with their performance. And this isn't the only one; I have others in my inventory with similar modifications."
The memory of a modified semi-automatic assault rifle in the hands of the first Hornet he'd seen flashed through Kiritsugu's mind, who blinked before asking, "I imagine the ones your guards carry belong to that category."
"Ah, my precious wasps." Kaburagi nodded. "Yes, although those Hungarian rifles they're carrying are more of an experiment than items for sale. I'm sure that in a month or two I'll have them within reach of potential buyers interested around here."
"I don't envy those who have to face a rain of bullets fired by those guys." Kiritsugu commented, "Especially if they are like the Doryuuga."
"Oh, no. Of course not." Kaburagi allowed himself a hearty laugh. "The Doryuuga are quite special. I don't think they could fire a single shot without the barrel exploding from the inside. They're equipped with another type of bullet that still serves its purpose well."
"I see." Kiritsugu nodded. "I'm interested in the MDJ-09, but first I'd like to know what other types of ammunition you have for sale."
"Good man, I'd be happy to show you." Kaburagi almost immediately opened two more drawers. "I have a wide variety here. Bullets made from the fingers of dead magi, imbued with curses, piercing pellets that can dismantle basic thaumaturgy, witch bullets that atrophy organs from the inside, and even old silver bullets that only Christians seem to use lately... But here I have something I'm sure will interest you."
He pulled out another case with somewhat outdated cartridges. He opened one, revealing the black powder that could quickly be identified as gunpowder and pointed at it. "This is something simpler, but it could very well be better than almost any other type of bullet."
Kiritsugu, who was very familiar with the smell of this, quickly noticed that there was something different in the one the merchant was offering him. "What did you do to the gunpowder?"
"It has ether particles mixed in. That massively amplifies the combustion if a charge is applied." Kaburagi explained with a knowing smile. "And if you have any simple fire spell, the result is dozens of times better."
"How strong?" Kiritsugu asked.
"A couple of shots with this can kill a low-class demonic beast, even if it's natural." The merchant assured before pointing at the preserved beast on the opposite side of the chimera. "With just three of these babies, that thing bit the dust."
The black-haired man took a look at the creature and let out an appreciative whistle. "I was wondering what that thing was; I thought it was someone's failed experiment that ended up being hunted."
"No, they are a rare type of demonic beasts that only appear in certain parts of North America. They are easy to control for someone experienced and serve well as guardians." Kaburagi explained before adding, "The buying and selling of live ghostly species is not my market; that dubious honor belongs to old Nurarihyon over there, and it would be a waste for me to get involved, but that doesn't mean I can't acquire them dead and sell them to those who ask."
"I could tell." Kiritsugu remarked, pointing to other parts of the shop. "Your business seems to be quite broad as well."
"Did you think I only dealt in the sale of magical weapons?" The merchant asked, amused. "It can't have been long since you were here; I'm the most prosperous merchant in the region. It would be foolish of me to focus on just one thing."
"My 'guide' didn't mention you. He only pointed me to this place and then left for elsewhere." The black-haired man shook his head. "And what a collection you have here. I haven't seen one in a long time, but that over there is an old European automaton. I thought nearly all of them were destroyed." He pointed to the mannequin hanging.
"I bought it from a Greek magus who was fleeing to Australia." Kaburagi replied before adding while pointing at the two preserved beasts. "It's a nice decoration alongside those two. Although the two beasts are more of a trophy that my sales produce results."
"And what else do you have for sale?" He asked, looking particularly closely at other areas like the shelf filled with books that were either enchanted or could contain valuable magical information.
"Some grimoires and other spellbooks, as you can see there." Kaburagi pointed to the shelf. "Remains of ghostly species, especially of demonic beasts in good condition, and more exotic products."
Kiritsugu did not hide his interest in the latter. "I see, and would it be possible for you to show me some? Even if they don't catch my interest, perhaps my employers will awaken one when I go to report back. And who knows? They might consider contacting you to discuss business."
"Hehehe, I knew you would be my kind of guy, Nakamura-san." Kaburagi was almost rubbing his hands together, surely imagining a pile of money on the way. "Follow me, for I have wonders to show you." He said before walking out from behind his desk and pressing a button on the wall that Kiritsugu hadn't noticed.
A couple of segments of the wall separated, revealing a hole that led to a secret room which, judging by some neatly stacked boxes in a corner, seemed to serve as a sort of storage space.
The walls of this room had openings sealed behind glass panels, behind which rested other objects that I had never seen in the shop at all.
The closest one contained glass vials with a spherical bottom and a cork as a stopper, holding a liquid too red to be blood with something resembling a tiny fetus resting in the middle.
Another panel contained bottles with a somewhat straighter shape whose interiors held a shimmering golden powder with occasional pink flashes.
But it was a third panel, which Kaburagi was approaching, that drew his attention the most. Behind a panel reinforced more than the others lay an entire row of vials with a strange shape. More than transparent containers with a defined and even aesthetic form, they seemed to be roughly carved from the same crystal. The cover was a golden metal puncture, equally poorly crafted, and the interior...
A vibrant liquid of a poisonous red was contained within them, causing a bad feeling in Kiritsugu as soon as he laid eyes on it.
"Is that?"
"Magical cerebrospinal fluid," Kaburagi replied, patting the panel. "It's an experimental drug capable of temporarily enhancing the quality of magical circuits. I don't have many vials in reserve because at least six have already been purchased by some of my preferred clients."
"Enhancing the quality of circuits? It doesn't surprise me; I know families that would pay a fortune for an entire shipment of vials like that." Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes mentally. "Whoever crafted this formula must be raking in an insane amount of money."
"I have no idea who it is," Kaburagi adjusted his glasses on the tip of his nose. "One of my suppliers is the one who provides me with them and keeps half of the profits. It's my policy not to ask too many questions."
"A rather cautious measure," Kiritsugu approved, as he took a closer look at the vials. "It's quite an intriguing product, Kaburagi-san, and I'm sure my main employer will be more than interested in this. Do you have anything else here you can tell me about?"
"Well, those over there are blank homunculi from Central Europe," he said, pointing at the jars containing embryos. "No alchemist is needed to activate them, and simply exposing them to a source of prana will make them extremely obedient to the magus who places their signature on them."
Kiritsugu took a glance at them and shook his head slightly in a negative gesture. Aside from the one he had killed in the Edelfelt mansion, the dark-haired man honestly did not believe he could manage those beings given his history with Iri.
"Not?" Kaburagi pointed to the next panel, where rectangular jars with the shimmering powder inside were displayed. "Dust left behind by fairy wings from Europe. I assure you, it's from a reliable source."
This made Kiritsugu raise an eyebrow. Products from fairies weren't really common, and much less in Asia. The price for something like that would be far higher than anything he would want to buy and honestly, it was rather useless for someone like him unless he wanted to sell it.
Something that would only attract the wrong kind of attention, which for obvious reasons he planned to avoid at all costs.
"Interesting; it will go on the list of things my employer will likely wish to acquire. Would this be everything?"
For a moment, it seemed like it would be, and he was almost prepared to leave the storage room and proceed to purchase the gun and some ammunition to get away.
But Kaburagi simply smiled before rubbing the gem in the center of his ring. One more compartment opened behind him in two sections, exposing its contents.
And it took every ounce of Kiritsugu's willpower not to look extremely surprised.
Because what looked back at him from the other side of the vault were dozens of distinct eyes, preserved in disturbingly familiar and ornate jars. And judging by the color of the irises as well as some unique patterns among them, there was no doubt that they were...
Mystic Eyes... Kiritsugu practically declared, taking a tentative step forward.
"A small part of my collection," Kaburagi continued, clearly proud of the fact. "I possess those of Enchantment, Illusion, Compulsion, Binding, Flame, and even Contract here. All excellent, and ready to be sold or exchanged for higher quality ones."
Oh? My master has always longed to possess one of the rather rare golden-ranked ones. Kiritsugu commented, adopting an almost zealot expression that looked completely unnatural on his face. Kaburagi-san, I will be generously rewarded if I manage to acquire one for you, and I'm sure you will receive a fair payment.
A golden-ranked one? Kaburagi let out another laugh. Nakamura-san, I have more than just one of those in my possession. Arrange an audience with your employer if he still has interest, and it will be my pleasure to assist you. He affirmed, beginning to walk towards the exit with the black-haired man following him.
That sounds perfect. Kiritsugu replied. I trust that the select assortment will have promising options for my lord. He finished, before pointing at the box of bullets loaded with altered gunpowder.
I would like four cases of these, and the MDJ-09. He decided before glancing at the forgotten package of Doryuuga. Although I believe I will return in the future for those.
Ha, I'm sure of that. Kaburagi responded before starting to tally up the products that the black-haired man had decided to purchase. It would be about 486,332 yen for everything.
A rather reasonable price, Kiritsugu thought as he pulled out another wad of green bills from inside his overcoat and set them beside his purchases.
Kaburagi took them before murmuring a spell softly and examining the bills closely. After nearly a minute, he seemed satisfied with the result and accepted them, indicating to Kiritsugu that he could take his purchases.
Ahhh, how I love the smell of American greens in front of me. Kaburagi sighed before carefully storing them in a safe beneath his desk. I'm not trying to disrespect our illustrious currency, but dollars will always be welcome here. I can expect good business if customers are willing to pay in those.
You must conduct quite a bit of business with Americans then. Kiritsugu commented, as he tucked the gun and the two cases into his overcoat.
The Mage Association doesn't have much presence in the United States, so some places there are a paradise for several magi who have escaped its clutches. There are underworld forces that work closely with them, like the Scladio Family or the Marble Trading Company, who reach out to folks like me from across the pond to acquire resources for their protégés. Kaburagi shook his head. Given your interest, I thought you might be affiliated with one of them, but I have my doubts.
It was Kiritsugu's turn to shake his head. No, I don't work for any of the American groups and I'm not with the Association either.
I see. Then the Spiral Mansion, because those from the Onmyou Bureau are on a budget set by the government. The merchant deduced. And since you don't look like one of their thugs, you must be a consultant for one of the families there, ha.
Precisely. Kiritsugu nodded. And I will make sure to inform them of your products. If you'll excuse me, I will take my leave now. I appreciate your time.
Not at all, man. Come back soon if you need anything. Kaburagi replied, just as the black-haired man turned towards the exit, only to stop dead in his tracks as he heard him speaking again.
Wait a minute. How would you feel about going for some beers in the evening so we can discuss business after I inform my superiors?
Kiritsugu turned around, facing the trafficker, and seemed to consider the proposal for a couple of minutes before nodding.
Sounds good to me. He replied, but inside he felt a hollow pit in his stomach.
I'm going to have to have a long call with Makihisa.