The order came directly from Anti-Skill headquarters, Yomikawa-sensei's superior, its tone unyielding and leaving no room for negotiation.
This suggested the attackers were likely affiliated with Academy City's collaborators.
Yomikawa Aiho frowned at the message on her phone.
She was struggling to connect the dots between criminals who assaulted students and so-called 'collaborators' of Academy City.
If these assailants were operatives dispatched by certain power structures, then what meaning did Academy City's rules and regulations hold for them?
It was just like the Dark Side.
Her jurisdiction only activated when their activities spilled into the surface world and caused disruption—like two parallel one-way streets never meant to intersect.
In this city of cutting-edge technology, the hidden chaos and depravity were terrifying. The most necessary, yet most useless, thing here was a so-called sense of justice.
Slipping her phone back into the vest pocket over her abdomen, Yomikawa reined in her emotions.
As an active-duty Anti-Skill, she couldn't openly defy a direct order from her superiors.
After a brief exchange with Kanzaki Kaori and the others, she informed them of Academy City's decision.
Although the case was being transferred to Anti-Skill headquarters, the involvement of two Level 5s meant she didn't have to worry about it being swept under the rug.
Honestly, this wasn't the first time headquarters had snatched a case from the District 7 branch.
But the speed this time was unprecedented. It really made one wonder if they had something like a satellite constantly monitoring Stiyl's every move.
"The opening ceremony is tomorrow. If we can't destroy the core, then the minimum requirement from above is to ensure Meigo Arisa doesn't set foot on that elevator."
"Furthermore, we must deal with that tower and stop the magic circle's operation."
Stiyl patted his pockets, only to find his cigarettes were all gone, probably lost somewhere.
Even though he'd been handed this extremely dangerous mission, his face remained as placid as ever.
"Actually, as long as it possesses the power of a Saint, the identity of the core shouldn't matter, should it?"
Kanzaki Kaori spoke up after a moment's thought.
From the very beginning, Kanzaki had sensed something off.
If the enemy only needed a Saint, then Arisa wasn't the only option. Moreover, they couldn't even be certain she was a Saint.
When it came down to it, the reason Meigo Arisa became the core of this magic circle was simply because its creator lacked the power to capture another Saint.
Given that premise, a target who hadn't fully developed her power and was also lured by the prospect of performing on stage—Meigo Arisa was the perfect choice.
"In that case, we should take advantage of the enemy's inability to activate the magic now, tear back the veil on this space elevator, and stop the opening ceremony. That's precisely why I suggested involving Academy City just now."
A singer's desire to stand on stage paled into insignificance in a situation like this.
As soon as she finished speaking, a look of seriousness crossed Kanzaki's face, quickly followed by a flicker of doubt.
From the construction of the space elevator to its completion, the individual hidden within Academy City had done nothing to intervene.
With that person's level of magical proficiency, it was impossible they hadn't detected the problem.
"I understand. I'll be meeting with him shortly."
Stiyl nodded, his gaze following the retreating figure of the Anti-Skill.
--+--
Meanwhile, at Judgment Branch 177.
Using an air current to gently carry Uiharu's computer tower—now sporting a dented corner—Natsume-san floated blushing amidst the crowd, helping to tidy the thoroughly wrecked room.
She'd read on some forums that a broken computer case wasn't a big deal; you could even rig something up with a plastic bottle if needed.
As messy as the room was, it was still far better than the corridor outside, which was scorched clean.
While cleaning, Natsume-san still found time to keep an eye on the three captives, ensuring they didn't try to escape or anything.
"Be diligent now. Clean the hallway properly."
After setting the computer back in place, Natsume-san floated a centimeter off the ground, drifting lightly along the hallway. She was now holding a few items she'd somehow acquired from the captives.
A fan, a broom, and a single, lightweight feather—all trophies Natsume-san had claimed from her prisoners.
She wasn't quite sure how to use them, but judging by their reactions, her captives valued these items greatly.
"If we help with the cleaning… you'll really give them back to us?" asked Jane, the one in the little bear-eared wizard hat, blinking pitifully with her face smudged with grime.
Beside her, Mallybath and Marie looked equally dejected, clutching mops.
"Of course. I'm not some kind of monster, after all."
Natsume-san nodded. She wasn't lying—though she intended to keep the items until the entire branch office was fully restored.
Her attention drifted for a moment. Kanzaki-san and the others had been talking for an awfully long time.
Natsume-san actually got along quite well with Kanzaki-san. They'd spent nearly three months together inside that magic circle, and she'd come to trust this sword-wielding girl from the magic side a great deal.
In fact, much of Natsume-san's understanding of magic had been taught to her by Kanzaki-san.
"Darn it, to think we lost again," grumbled Marie, the eldest of the three, her face scrunched in frustration as she scrubbed the floor hard with her mop.
With their master off chatting with someone else, and their magical tools confiscated by this esper girl, they seemed well and truly trapped.
"Yomikawa-sensei? What brings you here?"
While Natsume-san was minding the captives, she heard the firm tread of approaching footsteps.
"I've received orders from above. The Anti-Skill branch in District 7 is dropping the assault charges against Stiyl Magnus and his associates. The case is being transferred to Anti-Skill headquarters. Personnel from HQ will be arriving here shortly."
"So, my job now is just to assess the damage here."
Yomikawa-sensei sighed wearily at the scene of devastation.
Although the case remained with the Anti-Skill, she had lost her jurisdiction over these particular offenders.
"I see," Natsume-san nodded. The branch and the headquarters—on the surface, they didn't seem all that different.
But the real difference lay in the people. Natsume-san trusted Yomikawa-sensei far more.
"Still, what I care about more is why they attacked Meigo-senpai."
Pausing for a moment, Natsume-san spoke with renewed seriousness. That point remained the most important.
The fact that a red-haired magician and his girl gang could run amok in Academy City clearly indicated they had backing from higher up.
She remembered the last time that magician who controlled the earth golem showed up; he was immediately swarmed by a whole crowd, including Judgment.
But then again, Kanzaki-san was also a magician. She probably had connections too, it seemed.
The area was slowly regaining its bustle. The road, previously sealed by magic, was finally clear again.
Passing students peeked inside, perhaps deterred from entering by the sheer intensity of the scene.
With the arrival of several Anti-Skill armored vehicles, a perimeter was quickly established.
The magician named Stiyl voluntarily entered an armored vehicle sent by headquarters, but he left his three disciples behind.
Watching their master's retreating back, the three magical girls looked dazed.
They knew he was going to meet someone, but they couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
Their hands were empty; they hadn't gotten their magical tools back yet. Those were still the spoils of a certain bun-haired girl.
"The master said we should follow Kanzaki-sama for now."
After just a short time cleaning the hallway, their already dark wizard robes were now even blacker with grime.
The three soot-streaked magical girls hung their heads as they spoke. In the presence of this Saint, they were still very much the underdogs.
Spotting the certain bun-haired girl standing not far behind the Saint, Jane, the youngest of the three, instinctively took a step back, her face instantly flushing with nervousness.
Clearly, the recent events had left this magical girl with quite a few unpleasant memories.
"Understood. You may stay with me for the time being."
Kanzaki Kaori's demeanor was as gentle as ever, her aura serene and her nature kind—a stark contrast to her rather non-conformist attire.
"However, before that, we need to explain everything clearly to everyone."
Kanzaki nodded towards Natsume-san and the others behind her.
They were all ultimately working to save the world from magical harm, yet things had somehow devolved into conflict between them. Stiyl's overly aggressive personality bore much of the blame for that.
Really, that guy should take proper responsibility for once.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.