Given Bartholoi's style and Lorelei's upbringing, it was unlikely for her to say sothing from a brother's perspective. However, her Dark Hand is soone who values family ties greatly, and over ti, she's been sowhat influenced by that.
Her voice wasn't loud, nor did her tone fluctuate much, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Waver's previously dominant aura involuntarily diminished: "Because the situation was urgent, this was the best approach I could think of."
"Ahem."
lvin coughed twice.
"Lord Bartholoi, their sibling relationship is sowhat unique. Reines often gives Waver trouble, and Waver returns the favor. In their eyes, trouble equals a good relationship. The day they stop bothering each other is when there's a real problem. Moreover, before I ca, Reines had already inscribed the beacon for the Touko Journey on the invitation, showing she had already planned to support Waver. The invitation clearly states that up to two companions are allowed, and those two spots were reserved for Reines."
As he spoke, lvin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth while raising the invitation.
"That's correct. So, it seems I was overthinking things."
Lorelei nodded thoughtfully.
"Then, Mr. lvin, could I trouble you to relinquish Lainur's spot to ? I will compensate you handsoly."
"No need, no need," lvin said quickly, a characteristic smile of delight appearing on his face.
"Lord Bartholoi's presence here is reward enough. Oh, how will this event unfold next? I can't wait to see."
lvin seed unconcerned, and Lorelei said nothing more, turning her gaze to Rodin, Leandra, and the acting manager.
"According to the train's regulations, you won't stop from proceeding, will you?"
"Well..."
Rodin and Leandra looked to the acting manager, who hesitated, clearly apprehensive.
Lorelei added, "I have no other intentions in coming here, only to observe. Although I have brought others along, their task was to monitor Einnashe's anomaly. They have already left by helicopter, so you can rest assured."
In just a few short sentences, she explained her thod of arrival and expressed sincerity by stating that while she did bring subordinates, she boarded the train alone. Of course, there was also an implied show of strength—she had them leave, but that didn't an she couldn't call them back. She was giving them face; they shouldn't push too far.
"Very well, we hope Lord Bartholoi will keep her word."
With a mix of firmness and softening, the train authorities could only compromise. After all, this person's reputation in the Dead Apostle world was already well-established. Many Dead Apostles had fallen at her hands, and even the Twenty-Seven Ancestors had suffered losses against her and her Brigade. Even the nominal king of the Dead Apostles, White Wing Lord, had taken a small hit during a war with her.
"Those with real power don't need to lie."
She gave a typical queenly reply.
"Alright, Professor Velvet, enough small talk. Ti to reveal the truth—who is this impostor, the killer of the Clock Tower mbers?"
"I only have a hypothesis, not a deduction, but the clues are sufficient."
Waver closed his eyes and lit a cigar as if holding the key to unlocking the truth, he murmured.
"Olga Marie once told . Lord Animusphere was also interested in the ritual in the Far East and commissioned soone to investigate it seven years ago, ultimately concluding that the ritual was incomplete and that participation was unnecessary."
"The person who could have colluded with Yvette and handed her the funds to buy the Mystic Eyes."
"The person who could have such detailed knowledge of the Modern Magecraft Theory Departnt to disguise himself as a re student like Caules... and the person capable of opening the Mystic Lock on a vault containing a holy relic."
The impostor nodded at each point he listed.
As the sparks fell, the answer was revealed.
"It would be perfectly normal for you to be able to open the vault. After all, you were the one who made it. The forr Dean of the Modern Magecraft Theory Departnt."
"Absolutely correct."
The impostor—or rather, Waver's predecessor—smiled, a smile completely different from Caules'. Though male, it blood like a flower.
"Before you ca along, Modern Magecraft Theory already existed. Although considered one of the Twelve Departnts of the Clock Tower, it lacked a Lord, functioning more as a token position to et the demands of the tis. No one in the Twelve Families took it seriously; they saw it as a ans to increase the workforce of the New Age. I found it boring, so I gave up the position of Dean and abandoned the stagnant Clock Tower. However, recently, there have been quite a few changes. The new Lord Bartholoi is seeking reform, and the once-ornantal Modern Magecraft Theory has flourished under the leadership of a magus with a background similar to mine—a commoner. So, I couldn't resist coming closer to see how the new Professore operates."
The impostor spoke, blinking repeatedly as he did so.
On the fifth blink, Caules disappeared, replaced by a completely unfamiliar person.
The man's age was indeterminate, sowhere between twenty-five and forty-five, and any number within that range seed acceptable. He was tall and thin, with flaming red hair that contrasted sharply with his pale skin, leaving a lasting impression. His attire had also changed into a navy blue suit—even his clothes could transform, a feat in the realm of animal magecraft (Chira). Combining clothing alteration with spiritual empathy from the summoning departnt was the pinnacle of transformation magecraft.
"Old acquaintances called Dr. Heartless, and I'd be pleased if you addressed the sa."
The only thing unchanged was the smile on his face. It appeared gentle, but it sent shivers down one's spine.
"So, it's the most outstanding mber of Modern Magecraft Theory, Changeling—I never expected to et you here."
Lorelei's expression remained unchanged, seemingly very composed. Only Shinji knew that her calm exterior belied an inner turmoil, evident by the trembling tip of her magic wand.
The Changeling, one of England's famous legends. On the land of Britain, mysterious fairies exist, enjoying various pranks, like stealing your shoes, cleaning your room, or even more seriously, abducting people.
It's said that those taken by fairies rarely return to what is known as modern reality.
It's a place magecraft cannot reach, a distant shore.
Or perhaps it's the abyss they yearn for, a gift from the heavens.
Heartless was such a person. He was once abducted by fairies, who also stole his heart. The na Heartless derived from that incident.
"After all, before you beca Lord before Velvet took over Modern Magecraft Theory, I had already left the Clock Tower and couldn't witness it in person."
"Indeed, after killing many magus—in reviewing the files, I suspected it was you."
Lorelei's gaze turned cold. She represented the rules of the Clock Tower, and Heartless was the rule-breaker, the one who must be punished.
"It's an honor to be rembered by the current Bartholoi."
Even with the highest echelon of modern magus focused on him, Heartless maintained his floral smile.
"Is that so? Then let give you even more honor."
The wand, resembling a teaching rod, was raised, with cyan currents and an icy killing intent swirling together.
"It's not good for young people to be so impatient. Velvet's deduction show isn't over yet. The most crucial part—Whydunit—hasn't been explained. I could explain it myself, but it's much more interesting to hear it from him, especially with such a well-prepared stage."
Why commit the cri?
What goal is worth the risk of committing such an act?
Waver didn't make him or anyone else wait long and quickly answered.
"This incident is just a remnant; your real goal has already been achieved."
Indeed, killing Trisha was to eliminate a contingency, and competing for the Mystic Eyes of Transcience was rely an additional bonus. It was desirable but not essential.
Heartless's goal had long been achieved.
It all began ten years ago, in 1994, during the Fourth Holy Grail War.
At that ti, the most brilliant figure in the Clock Tower, Lord El-lloi, went to Fuyuki City in Japan and didn't return for three years. Almost everyone believed he was dead.
This event caught the attention of the Departnt of Astromancy, Marisbury Animusphere. To uncover the truth of the ritual, Marisbury commissioned soone to conduct a thorough investigation of the ritual in Fuyuki, that person being the then Head of Modern Magecraft Theory, Dr. Heartless.
Heartless had a secret technique that allowed him to extract and keep others' heads alive, using their Mystic Eyes as his own. The Headless Serial Killer case from seven years ago was his effort to collect those heads with Mystic Eyes.
Using the power accumulated from Mystic Eyes, Heartless conducted a detailed analysis of Fuyuki City's ley lines and concluded that the Holy Grail War was incomplete and could not beco the so-called wish-granting device.
Marisbury, aware of Heartless's abilities, did not doubt him. However, such a significant secret couldn't be shared with anyone, so neither Olga Marie nor Trisha knew about it, leading to the tragedy that befell Trisha.
This event beca a turning point in fate, a divergence in the world's tiline.
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