December 27, 2017.
The review and reception team, which had arrived in Antarctica a month prior and made their way to the base of the snowy mountain where Chaldea was located, had finally reached their destination today—after being trapped in a blizzard for an entire month.
As the Director, Olga Marie gathered everyone in the Chaldea control room to welcome their arrival.
"So, who exactly is this new deputy director, Goredolf Musik, the one coming to divide Chaldea's authority?" asked Ritsuka Fujimaru, while the group stood on high alert.
Although she had gone through a fair amount of material in the past few days, the others had intentionally kept her away from anything too confidential. She understood—it was their way of protecting her.
"He's from a distinguished alchemy family under the Department of Policies. According to the file, he's only twenty-eight—slightly younger than the Director," Romani explained. "That said, while the Musik family does have a long history, they haven't made any notable contributions to Magecraft. They're just older than most families, and considerably wealthier."
Shiomi crossed his arms. "In short, a mid-tier lineage at best. If I started a Magus Family in the Clock Tower from scratch, it'd take no more than three generations to outdo the Musik family's achievements."
"Well, considering you're an unaffiliated Magus, it's not surprising you're unconventional in every way," Da Vinci quipped.
She was the only Servant present.
As for Morgan and the others, some adjustments had been made.
In Chaldea's official records, "Morgan" and "Aesc" were listed separately. The former was registered as a summoned Servant who assisted in the restoration of Human Order, while the latter was only identified as a direct relative who had entered Chaldea alongside Shiomi.
Given the unpredictable composition of the incoming review group, there was a real chance that Morgan's true identity might be exposed. To keep her identity hidden—and serve as a hidden trump card—she remained in her room, observing the situation through Magecraft.
Additionally, while Chaldea's records showed that Scáthach and Artoria had departed, the truth was that both of them were still covertly present within the facility.
Revealing your full strength too early only invites unnecessary suspicion.
"But Dad, I do plan to take on students at the Clock Tower in the future, but I'm not planning on getting married," Sakura said with a pitiful look.
"I was just making a comparison..." Shiomi waved it off. "Besides, marriage isn't the only path in life. If you don't want to settle down, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
Caren flashed a sharp, knowing smile. "That's reassuring. Once everything with Chaldea is wrapped up, I don't want to keep working."
"Hey..." Shiomi sighed, then cleared his throat. "Anyway, there's no way I believe some rich kid just happened to get the portion of Chaldea's authority that Marisbury ceded—unless Lorelei was working behind the scenes."
Romani scratched his head. "They're all part of the Aristocratic Faction, and yet this is how it ends up..."
"Lorelei may be the leader of the Aristocratic Faction and a strong contender for the next Director of the Clock Tower," Olga Marie explained, "but right now the Democratic Faction is riding high. Animusphere and El-Melloi haven't really been involved in that conflict in recent years. So it's only natural Lorelei would try to seize this chance to gain some leverage."
"Lorelei has always aimed high," Shiomi said offhandedly. "Among the Aristocratic Faction's Lords, only the previous Lord El-Melloi was someone they respected. The only one who could ever stand on equal footing with them would be someone capable of manifesting the First Magic…"
"She's one of the most hardline aristocrats among the aristocrats," Olga Marie added with a sigh.
Truth be told, she'd grown up with both aristocratic and commoner values ingrained in her through her education. She'd once believed that was simply the way things should be.
But her time in the El-Melloi classroom at the Clock Tower—and especially her experience overseeing the restoration of Human Order at Chaldea—had shaken those convictions.
And Shiomi had even half-jokingly invited her to lead Animusphere into the Democratic Faction.
If she ever said yes, he would back her completely—of that, she had no doubt.
Now, watching Lorelei's blatant moves to assert control, Olga Marie had already made up her mind.
But this wasn't the time to discuss it.
...
As Chaldea's broadcast system announced the arrival of the review delegation, the visiting group entered and was guided by staff to the control room.
"I didn't expect much from a workshop in such a remote wasteland, but I must say—this is far more modern than I imagined! No, even more advanced than anything you'd find in London! What a stroke of luck!"
A pompous, slightly nasally male voice rang out as the automatic doors slid open.
The speaker was a rotund man in an overly extravagant white suit. Though the files listed him as only twenty-eight, his pointed goatee gave him the air of someone pushing forty—or even older.
Shiomi raised a hand, signaling the others not to speak. He and Olga Marie would handle this.
"What a flashy way to make an entrance," Shiomi said bluntly. "At the Clock Tower's social banquets, you used to get weak in the knees just seeing me, and now here you are raising your voice like you own the place, Goredolf Musik."
He knew the man wasn't a bad person—but that didn't stop him from wanting to tease this posturing aristocrat a little.
And sure enough, once Goredolf recognized the speaker, his face instantly drained of color. He looked as if he'd just seen a ghost.
After being dazzled by Chaldea's high-tech interior the entire way in, he'd completely forgotten that this facility housed one of the most "dangerous individuals" around.
"...M-Mr. Shiomi..." Goredolf immediately turned cautious.
Standing next to Shiomi, Romani looked at Goredolf with sympathy. Inwardly, he couldn't help but mock how Shiomi complained about the nickname "Noble Slayer," yet wielded that very reputation to intimidate one of the Clock Tower's elite.
"Mr. Goredolf, no matter how uneasy you feel around older men, you really shouldn't let it show this much," said the pink-haired woman beside him, feigning disappointment. "It's not great for your reputation, you know."
That line hit like a shot of adrenaline. Goredolf immediately straightened up and regained his composure.
"Next time, say that in my ear, Koyanskaya," he said, regaining his bluster. "Besides, I simply respect top-tier Magi like Mr. Shiomi—this isn't fear. Not at all!"
"Then can we move on to the actual business at hand, Goredolf Musik?" Olga Marie said, lifting her chin. "I'm the Lord of the Department of Astromancy, the Director of Chaldea, and—once you take over a portion of Chaldea's authority—your superior. Olga Marie Animusphere."
...
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