>>45986406
>The Papal delegation

also it was daylights savings time over here in burgerland so the time fuckery confuzzled me for like an hour.

>>45986406
>The Papal delegation
I wanna use our hidden blade, hopefully we can chop a mage up

File: Academy City Turbines in a row.jpg (145 KB, 1000x561)

145 KB JPG

With a greater chance of Code M accompanying the Papal Delegation, you decided to focus on them. You took the wheel of Nayuta’s self-driving mobile HQ truck and scoped out the route and key locations. They weren’t due to arrive just yet. The flight from Rome would obviously be landing a little later and the talks would then go forward the next day. There were two crowds that had formed at the hotel and at the airport. It was mostly rubberneckers with a small group of journalists and cameramen. It was a Sunday after all. If there were agent provocateurs then they certainly had not revealed themselves thus far. No Code M were present either. Thankful for the tinted windscreen, you sat parked up next to the other Anti-Skill vans with no one being the wiser.

That was bound to change as the saw the plane on final approach. Fifteen minutes after the plane had landed, the delegation walked out to their waiting convoy. You counted five pontiffs, a cardinal, and more bodyguards than you could shake a stick at. Thankfully there were no Code M within the delegation itself as well. Otherwise you were going to have to make an unscheduled appearance.

Of course that didn’t preclude the appearance of other Code M. Four had formed up on a nearby rooftop overlooking the convoy as it was preparing to head out to School District 3. None of them carried weapons and weren’t presently hostile so you supposed they were meant to be discreet. That rested on the assumption that they were friendly of course so you had to make contact to be sure. Turning away from the delegation had its own downsides of course. You could barely make them out visually so it wasn’t out of the question that they were distraction. Kaoru had volunteered to make contact alone but that in turn could provoke a fight.

>Keep shadowing the delegation
>Send Kaoru off to investigate
>Personally investigate the Code M
>Visibly accompany the delegation
>Other (write-in)

>>45987472
>Visibly accompany the delegation
>Send Kaoru off to investigate

>>45987472
>Visibly accompany the delegation
>Send Kaoru off to investigate

File: explosion.jpg (76 KB, 1280x720)

76 KB JPG

Kaoru’s suggestion held merit but that didn’t mean you were going to leave the Papal delegation unsupervised. With the whole team back together, the division of labour was possible. Your helmet folded up with a muted hiss as you left the driver’s cabin. Turning to Kaoru, the two of you exchanged nods. Kaoru would be making contact with the group of Code M. You, on the other hand, were heading towards your car. The delegation’s convoy got rolling. No sooner had they pulled out of the airport, the rumbling of your Camaro’s V8 made its presence known. Rather than pulling alongside them, you slotted yourself at the tail end of their convoy. With your plates Anti-Skill were more than likely reassured that you were on the case.

“Kaoru here,” your colleague reported, “Made contact with the magicians. They claim to be part of the delegation’s security.”

“Keep an eye on them,” Nayuta ordered.

There were no incidents as the convoy reached the hotel. The guard vehicles formed a loose perimeter around the entrance as the delegates’ car went up the driveway. You followed them but not without getting a significant number of guns, and cameras, trained your way. Kaoru was still silent so that was probably a good thing. You stepped out to the flashing of bulbs and other such photographic apparel. Thankfully your helmet automatically compensated. The delegates were already in the lobby and you took a step in their direction before a bright flash took you off guard. No, more like it took the helmet off guard. Then you were buffeted by wind, nearly being knocked off your feet as your ears finally registered the sound and felt the heat wave following the explosion.

The smoke was thick and the guards who had been standing by the van were shouting, trying to determine what exactly happened. Alarms, cries, and other forms added to the cacophony of noise as you stood there. Your radio was strangely silent but you had to,

>check for survivors
>pull out and report back

>>45988626
>check for survivors
What the fuck

>>45988626
>check for survivors

>>45988626
>check for survivors

File: burning hotel.jpg (23 KB, 460x288)

23 KB JPG

CADRE clinically noted the incendiary and chemical nature of the bombing. Clothes, flesh, and all others burned in the presence of white phosphorus. Even your uniform was starting to fray. The ones at the epicentre were probably killed instantly, a mercy if your read the effects of white phosphorus correctly. Already the guards behind you were pulling out gas masks and other such chemical warfare prevention measures not that it would do anyone else good. Still you made your way inside. There had to be something left inside. You managed to clear a small area around you with a waved of your hand but you almost wished you hadn’t.

The bystanders were still alive, if barely. Their bodies weren’t charred. Rather, their flesh looked like they had been flayed by an acid. Gouges of it had been eaten away by the initial explosion. Now they were bathing away in the noxious fumes that had filled the lobby. You didn’t know what you had hoped to find inside. One last tenacious bellboy was trying in vain to smother the burns but soon collapsed stock still. The shock had probably gotten to him with death soon to follow. Where once there was a fancy hotel lobby now there was nothing but flash fried ruins, some of it still burning.

“Nii-chan, report,” Nayuta’s voice broke through at last.

“I’m fine,” you arrived at the epicentre of the blast, “The Papal delegates aren’t.”

There was nothing identifiable of them.

“The cameras are still rolling nii-chan. Find the security room. We need to reconstruct the blast,” she instructed, "This was clearly no random act. Disrupting the talks was the outcome but was the motive ideological otherwise?"

You didn’t argue, not right now but the question occupied your mind. The sight and the aftermath of the bombing, well you were going to leave that to the professionals. Right now, you were mainly feeling,

>numb
>failure
>disgust
>some other emotion (write-in)

>>45989743
Anger toward the sick fucks that did this

>>45989743
>disgust

>>45989743
Cold rage

>>45989743
>numb
>disgust
We can make the fucker that did this pay his due when we find him

File: Sad Holo.gif (154 KB, 360x360)

154 KB GIF

things never work out for anime Catholic church

File: security room.jpg (147 KB, 850x850)

147 KB JPG

You quit the lobby filled with disgust and a simmering anger. Whoever was behind this monstrous act, regardless of their intention, well they were going to get theirs. For now, you had to put those feelings aside so you could find the sick fuck first. Mercifully, the security room was undamaged. The fire that had started spreading but the sprinklers were getting to work so it wasn’t out of control just yet. You plugged Nayuta in to the system as she went backwards through the footage, from the moment the explosion was set off back far enough to note how the packaged had been smuggled in by one of the cleaning staff.

It had been an innocuous bottle of polishing wax stowed away in lobby counter’s drawer. The staff was your next lead as Nayuta directed you towards the evacuation area. People shrunk away at your approach. The rags that were your garments were still trailing smoke as you emerged from the building. They shrunk further still as you gaze travelled over particular parts of the crowd.

“You,” you pointed, arm fully raised, “You are coming with me.”

Everyone around the poor custodian jumped away from them as if they had leprosy.

“What? No! I had nothing to do with this,” the guilty custodian said.

You advanced on him, your stunwhip sparking electricity as it unwound from your wrist. As if the message wasn’t clear enough you added,

“Make my day.”

The time is now later afternoon, the weather is cloudy, and the date remains unchanged.

The janitor sang like a canary. It wasn’t him, he had claimed, but the receptionist who requested a bottle of polishing wax. Clearly the last time he checked it was exactly what it said on the tin. Between then, and now, the contents had been switched. How convenient that the very receptionist that had requested such an odd item was now in a morgue being mourned by a mother half a country away. Still these were two new leads.

>Look in to the receptionist
>Forensics must have a clue

>>45990941
>Look in to the receptionist
Have forensics let us know what they found out too though via video call or something

>>45990941
>Look in to the receptionist

>>45990941
>Look in to the receptionist

>>45990941
>Look in to the receptionist

File: apartment.jpg (6.22 MB, 5760x2451)

6.22 MB JPG

“Forensics isn’t my strong suit,” you told Nayuta.

“I’ll get right on it nii-chan, have you heard from Kaoru-chan yet?”

“No? Should I have?”

In the middle of everything, you had forgotten about Kaoru. It was like a tiny detail that crept back up to you in the most disturbing way possible. Now that you realised it, you asked Nayuta,

“And where’s Kongou?”

“Oh, Kongou-chan wanted to do some paperwork but it’s Sunday so I sent her home,” Nayuta answered, “She probably has something to do since she hasn’t called back yet.”

You noted that Nayuta was deliberately ignoring a portion of her screen.

“Well, let’s trust Kaoru-chan to handle herself while you chase down the new leads alright nii-chan?”

You couldn’t do much more than nod. A short drive later and you were at the modest apartment of the late receptionist. According the records, the former receptionist had been a strange mix diligent yet not ambitious. Strange for a chain hotel receptionist, Nayuta had remarked. This was not a starting position and there was room for advancement. She lived alone as well, seemingly married to her work but that didn’t quite add up to what her surviving co-workers and managers had said about her. She was a native of Japan and while she hadn’t left the City since she arrived her mother liked to travel, sending mementos and souvenirs often.

The collection of dust collectors was evidently displayed as you entered. No one was home, predictably, and at first glance it wasn’t all that spectacular. Not even a copy of Fowl Gods Vol.2 laid open on the living room couch could dissuade you from searching the rest of the apartment. The kitchen had no food but that was no surprise. The bathroom was clean and the bed room was tidy. Her dresser didn’t yield any particular secrets apart from the kind by Victoria.

You looked in to,
>her choice of literature next
>the numerous dust collectors
>somewhere else? (write-in)
>”This lead is a bust”

>>45992400
What do you mean when you say dust collectors?

>>45992400
>her choice of literature next

>>45992400
>the numerous dust collectors

>>45992587
Seriously what is a dust collector?

>>45992400
Look in her trash can. There's always something relevant in those.

File: red-dala-horse-1.jpg (92 KB, 500x500)

92 KB JPG

>>45992498
>>45992633
Souvenirs from trip abroad, often left on a shelf to collect dust.

Example is pic related. I have several of these at home in different colours.

>>45992633
little machines you plug in and their fan sucks in dust so your shit doesn't get covered in dust and the air doesn't get dirty.

my mom has one in basement.

having these meant she didn't come here often

>>45992400
>the numerous dust collectors

File: Saint_Vitus_Cathedral_in_(...).jpg (1.76 MB, 1536x2048)

1.76 MB JPG

A cursory look at her bookshelf revealed a bunch of postcards and tourism pamphlets. Likewise, her trash quite literally held nothing of note. Thus, the souvenirs were all that was left. They were mostly statutes of buildings and places, Moscow’s Kremlin, Notre Dame de Paris, Westminster Abbey, the Hagia Sophia, and a cathedral in Prague to name the few you recognised. The remaining few trinkets were pictures, the city of St. Petersburg, the town of Uppsala, Stonehenge at dusk, and a commemorative coin of the Teutonic Order. If there was a pattern here you couldn’t see it.

Seeing that the coin seemed out of place among the rest you picked it up. To your surprise the faint glow of yellow was visible when viewed faced to face. From the top of the shelf, you hardly noticed, what with the coin being gold itself. You simply thought it was simply shining brightly.

“Any news nii-chan?” Nayuta chimed in.

“I found a Code M artefact, could be the cause of all this,” you replied, “And Kaoru?”

“Ah Kaoru-chan’s back. She lost track of our four ‘guests’ during the bombing and had been trying to,” Nayuta swallowed, “’scry’ them.”

“And forensics?”

“Oh apparently the janitor was right. Our late receptionist was the last one with access to the bottle and we all know how that turned out.”

“Ask Kaoru if she thinks our girl could have been a sleeper agent.”

“Highly unlikely,” Kaoru’s voice cut in, “A coin is not indicative of any spell, or compulsion, that could have been laid on her, merely a red herring in this case.”

“What about Teacher’s Pieces of Silver?” you asked.

“The coin is gold is it not?”

“As far as I can tell.”

“Then it probably isn’t it the cause. What do you think of her collection of statues, perhaps there is a pattern there.”

“Well…”
>Write-in
>”I think the coin is much more important.”

>>45993924
little knick knacks of churches and religious places throughout Europe...

ask for a list of the places her mother visited, maybe something will stick out

>>45993924
lot of churches and holy lands all from the mother. a cursory search says Teutonic order were crusader that aided people in pilgrimages to the holy land. mother is probably a member.

>>45993924
>”I think the coin is much more important.”
The pattern is that almost every one of these things has a connection to faith of some sort. The coin must be that and a Code M artifact. Grab it and try to identify it later.

>>45993924
We're the delegates from any of those places?

File: Jaswinder's face when.jpg (644 KB, 800x1000)

644 KB JPG

“Well they all are religious sites of some significance.”

You turned your head at towards the shelf and let both Nayuta and Kaoru get a clear view of the shelf.

“Were any of the delegates from any of these places and what about her mother?”

“I’ll get on that second bit,” Nayuta turned away to start typing.

“The delegates were clearly Roman Catholic. I would not make sense to have several different major denominations present in her collection.”

“But the coin is clearly the only Code M artefact in the whole apartment so there has to be a connection there.”

“Perhaps it is,” Kaoru was thoughtful for a moment, “A communications spell of some sort. A cursed piece of gold that taints the victim’s intentions with the intentions of the caster would be plausible. I hate to say this Kyril but I wish I had access to the Index in times like these.”

“I’m back,” Nayuta announced her return, “Well I trawled through some of Japanese databases and look what I found.”

The file was brought up in a side view.

“She was from Nagasaki and what’s Nagasaki famous for?”

“The atomic bombing?” you hazarded.

“Not in this case,” Kaoru had an epiphany, “It is location of a major Christian centre in Japan, historically speaking. I would wager her mother is of the faith and she as well.”

“So clearly the culprits are the Christians,” you remarked sarcastically, “That doesn’t make much sense.”

“Unless some sects are profiting from the war,” Kaoru said, “The media are focused on the Pope’s response to this senseless act. This will sabotage any attempts at a white peace we could have. There’s no evidence that she’s Christian in the first place.”

“No, but we can make it happen right Nayuta?”

“Well I don’t agree with it but yes, essentially we could nii-chan.”

“I still would rather find the culprits before sweeping this under the rug.”

[1/2]

>>45995201
Well all that was left was to have Kaoru have a look at the coin and see what she made of it. Still, as she was not as well-versed in Christianity she could have some trouble. You didn’t want to go see Index because as far as anyone was concerned, she was under the protection of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Maybe you mother might know, though she was more Eastern Orthodox in background if you remembered correctly.

See a magical expert, who?
>Let Kaoru handle it herself
>Bug the Brits and the Index
>Ask your mother for help
>other (write-in)

>>45995264
>Bug the Brits and the Index

Index has a library in her head

>>45995264
>>Bug the Brits and the Index
this is clearly a better idea.

>>45995264
>Ask your mother for help

>>45995264
>>Bug the Brits and the Index

>>45995264
>Let Kaoru handle it herself

I wonder how Index's novel is coming along

File: Index.jpg (57 KB, 352x601)

57 KB JPG

The time is evening, the weather is rainy, and the date remains unchanged.

You liked to think that Touma was sticking around for the food rather than the interesting and pleasant company. Kaoru snorted, no doubt thinking the complete opposite. Getting access to the British Embassy was surprisingly easy. Either Touma had more pull than you thought or the Brits were getting ideas about you. You had caught them at dinner and since you had a meal since lunch, the Princess’ invitation seemed like a good way to kill two birds with one stone. The Index was still a glutton, though she was now very much aware of the, “perverted Sikh,” at the dinner table. Kaoru explained that it was a private joke. Everyone else at the table doubted it.

“So my dear VERDICT, or should I say Mr. Torikov, how can I help you this evening?”

Princess Carissa went straight to the heart of the matter.

“You’ve heard of the bombing?”

Touma frowned and said,

“You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have a person you’re after.”

“Not quite yet,” you produced the coin, “But I do have a lead.”

Touma’s attempt to touch it was arrested swiftly with a firm but fast grip, and one of those looks Nayuta often used. The Index picked up the coin and contemplated its mysteries.

“It is a doubloon,” she finally said, “Strange that it would bear the insignia of the Order of the Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem.”

“The old Spanish currency?” the Princess wondered as she turned to you, “Where did you find it?”

You gave her the summary of your day so far, as did Kaoru. Touma was disturbed by the general picture. The Princess on the other hand was more interested in how you survived standing near ground zero.

[1/2]

>>45996785
“The coin was definitely cursed but there’s so many out there that it would take days to nail it down. As for the method, that would be alchemy, transmuting the polish in to something that could polish off a pontiff,” the Index finally spoke, “Hmm that’s a good one, I’ll use that later.”

“Then at this juncture I can only imagine there are three possible suspects to this bombing,” Her Royal Highness concluded, “One, the Amakusa Catholics smuggled this in for reasons unknown, given the Nagasaki link. Two, the Roman Catholics did it, looking for a way an excuse to prolong the war. Third, this was simply chain of events that clearly was of no use.”

“Better than nothing,” you were annoyed that there was simply another step in the chain.

“Though by the description of the delightful Hindoo, one of the Roman Catholic magicians sounds very familiar to me, if you would officially allow my involvement, I believe I can bring that question to heel much faster.”

Bring the Brits in to this mess?
>Yes
>No

>>45996897
>Yes
the animu/light novel loves that British church that was only created so King Henry could divorce his wife

>>45996897
>Yes
might as well.

File: Spoiler Image (103 KB, 1280x720)

103 KB JPG

The time is now morning, the weather is still rainy, and the date is now February 12.

Kaoru’s warning from last night came to mind.

“I am not opposed to cooperation, but you are going to explain this to Nayuta.”

The way she said it, she might as well be having a right laugh at your expense. She was having one now, if her slight smile was any indication. The rare right would be captured forever if not for the fact that Nayuta was upset with you again. She was mostly worried how the old fuddy-duddies upstairs would take the inevitable PR hit when the story broke. Given the inquest yesterday, you were on thin ice as it were. Regardless, when a familiar green Jaguar rolled up to the mobile HQ, you certainly weren’t going to leave her hanging. Reluctantly, Nayuta watched you ride off with them.

“I did not think that we would be so fortuitous,” Her Royal Highness spoke.

Kaoru had discreetly photographed the four Code M Roman Catholic guards.

“It’s no surprise really, he is quite the mercenary,” she continued, “It wouldn’t surprise me if the late Pope Matthias had offered him employment.”

It turned out that she did know who you were looking for and even how to look for him.

“And if he is anything like I remember, then you won’t find him in a Church, praying like his fellows. You’re going to find him in a good old English pub. And there is only one such pub in this Godforsaken city.”

Silently, you followed the Princess. Your scepticism was unfounded. Kaoru clearly recognised the man at the counter. He glowed a clear yellow it was almost blinding. He turned as your group entered and a spark of recognition was in his eyes.

“Your highness,” he intoned gravely.

It was spoiled by the tankard of beer in his hand.

“Sir William Orwell,” the Princess returned, “What a pleasant surprise.”

Episode End.
https://twitter.com/BoredofDirector
The Saint. We must dissent. Can you salvage the situation? When writefag and /tg/ meet, the story begins.
That's it for tonight.

>>45998291
thanks for running

I hope we don't have to fight him

archived