“That aircraft was stolen goods. The TV station is saying the request for a flight plan was done with stolen codes as well.”

Tatsuya was taking a phone call from Fujibayashi in his room.

The conversation was about the aircraft he’d encountered the other night, and the results of the investigation into whether the people who had caused Tatsuya such pain with their suicide attack were terrorists, a mafia, or what.

“They seem to be the Chinese mafia, but unfortunately, we couldn’t figure out any more than that.”

But like Fujibayashi said, the investigation’s results were unsatisfactory ones.

“The Chinese mafia—you learned where they came from, ma’am?”

“Yes, but not all of them. They had a bone to pick with you personally, too.”

“…You don’t mean No-Head Dragon?”

“Their remnants, anyway. We confirmed that Robert Sun, Richard Sun’s nephew’s cousin, led the heli-jack.”

“His nephew’s cousin, ma’am…?”

He was about to point out that that made him practically unrelated, but he swallowed it back down. He’d just remembered particular relatives of his own who were considered blood even at that distance.

“Well, he’s practically unrelated. When No-Head Dragon collapsed, only a few close ‘brothers’ answered his call.”

But that seemed to be something anyone would have thought. Still, now wasn’t the time to be worried over something that trivial for too long.

“Of course, last night would have been impossible with that few men, so there must be a mastermind, or at least some kind of support…”

“Whom we haven’t identified, ma’am?”

“Yes.”

The situation was graver than Tatsuya had thought. That there had been a failed terrorist attack in the heart of Tokyo was bad enough—but whoever the mastermind was, even Fujibayashi’s investigative skills couldn’t root them out. Of course, at the moment, they had far too few clues, and he supposed he had to think about that as well. That, though, didn’t change the fact that this opponent was not one to make light of.

What crossed Tatsuya’s mind at this time was not I hope this doesn’t turn into a big mess, but a more self-centered wish: I hope Miyuki and I don’t end up involved in this massive mess.

A downtown at night. On a smaller road a short way from a main street, there was a shop.

Nakura checked the shop’s name by its modest illumination.

This was definitely the place the current head, Kouichi Saegusa, had instructed him to come.

If you hadn’t known there was a shop here, you’d have passed it by—the door was made from an inconspicuous alloy whose only merit was how sturdy it was. He opened it, then went up the stairs to the second floor. The surly man showed him to a private room, where the other party to the meeting had already arrived.

“I apologize—have I made you wait?”

“No, not at all. I myself only just arrived,” said a handsome man brimming with charm and youth on an entirely different level from Nakura’s as he stood from his chair.

“My name is Nakura.”

“And mine is Zhou. Come, take a seat.”

A young woman, pretty and charming—the exact opposite of the male employee who had shown him here—was waiting in the room, off to the side. At a glance from Zhou, the beautiful waitress led Nakura directly across from Zhou with practiced motions and pulled out the chair for him. After seeing Nakura sit down without hesitation, Zhou returned to his seat as well.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“I would perhaps like some baijiu.”

Zhou’s eyebrow twitched in surprise. As far as he knew, guests who actually requested alcohol after such pleasantries were rare.

“…In that case, though it may be commonplace, might I suggest the Maotai?”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

The wine came immediately after Zhou ordered it. Once the spirits were poured into their small glasses, Nakura and Zhou gauged each other’s breathing and simultaneously downed the entire thing.

Placing his emptied glass in the middle of the table, Nakura peered into Zhou’s eyes.

“Mr. Nakura.”

The first one to speak was Zhou.

“My master wishes for an amicable relationship with your master, Mr. Nakura.”

“My master desires to move forward with your proposal, Zhou.”

Zhou gave a bewitching smile at Nakura’s answer. “Well, well. I’m flattered to have earned your trust. Shall we move on to more concrete matters, then?”

“Our basic conditions haven’t changed from what we previously informed you of.”

“Yes, of course. I am aware. I would never do aught to bring disfavor to Master Saegusa, nor are my interests aligned with the GAA.”

“And the media manipulation?”

“I’m well aware of that as well. I’ve already made arrangements to refrain from further campaigns targeting magicians as a whole.”

“All right, then let’s work out the details.”

Zhou sent another signal to the female employee.

The beautiful waitress bowed deeply before exiting the room. The conversation inside would not be known to any but Nakura and Zhou.

Fin