"Adelard Abbey, Adelard Abbey... Found it!"
Sayaka cheered and opened the electronic file recorded in the archives.
Adelard Abbey.
Established fifteen years ago.
"The investor is... an Aldegian?"
Sayaka frowned.
The investor on record was a completely unfamiliar face, with only the nationality field filled as Aldegia. The rest of the information portrayed an ordinary rchant who seed to have invested on a whim.
How was this connected to the Kingdom of Aldegia?
Wasn't that a European country?
A small Nordic nation facing the Baltic Sea, rich in natural beauty, with industry—especially magitech industry—ranking among the most developed in Europe, giving it considerable status.
Sayaka temporarily set this aside and continued browsing.
After the abbey was built, the director was decided to be a woman nad Nina Adelard, and even the abbey itself was nad after her surna.
"The director really isn't an ordinary person!"
Looking at the photo in the file, Sayaka grew more convinced of her speculation.
This was a photo from fifteen years ago.
And the Director Nina from fifteen years ago looked exactly the sa as she did now. There were clear clues to follow; conservatively estimating, she had to be a long-lived species or sothing similar.
After Nina inherited the abbey, she intermittently adopted many orphans.
"Why is this list so short?"
Sayaka opened the docunt folder.
She had intended to see who had been adopted, but the list was surprisingly brief.
The conspicuous word "fire" caught her eye.
She imdiately understood why the list was so short.
In the ten years after the abbey was built, Director Nina adopted a total of sixteen orphans. Fourteen of them died in a fire, leaving only two survivors.
One was nad Kanon Kanase, who had since been adopted by her uncle and currently lived at the Magician's Industry Corporation.
The other was—
"How could this be?!"
Sayaka was instantly moved.
The photo showed a boy who, though still young, wore sunglasses and a mask.
In the na field beside it, the na "Eiji" was prominently written!
"That guy actually stayed at the abbey too?"
Sayaka was greatly surprised.
He had never ntioned it before!
Even that night when they went to the abbey, he hadn't expressed any opinion!
Sayaka's feelings suddenly beca very complicated.
Back then, that guy must have been affected by the scene too, which was why he was persuaded by her words to stay outside the abbey instead of following her inside.
Moreover, she never expected that the na Eiji was actually his real na.
Looking at the field that read "Current na: Eiji Nanjo," Sayaka sighed with emotion.
Everything he said was true.
It was already impossible to distinguish between real nas and pseudonyms.
"So, he and Nanjo Natsuki have an adoptive relationship."
Sayaka understood.
They weren't siblings, let alone mother and son.
"No, wait a minute!"
Suddenly, sothing seed to click in Sayaka's mind.
"Why Nanjo Natsuki?"
"So many people could have adopted him, why did it have to be Nangong Nayue who took him in?"
That's the Gap Witch we're talking about!
Back in Europe, she slaughtered demons so fiercely they trembled at her na—definitely not soone kind-hearted. Plus, she's a single woman—why would she adopt such an older child?
Could it be that she actually likes children?
Or is she trying to raise a child groom?
Sayaka's thoughts imdiately derailed onto a train track, chugging along incessantly.
"There still seem to be secrets left uncovered!"
Sayaka perked up.
After both children were adopted, Director Nina funded the reconstruction of the burned-down monastery and hadn't taken in any more children since then.
The monastery's records ended abruptly there.
"Excuse , could you help find information about this person?"
Sayaka approached the receptionist and showed her the list with Eiji's na written on it.
"Is he an Attack Mage?"
"Uh... is, is he?"
Sayaka froze for a mont, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
Oh no, she actually didn't know whether Eiji was an Attack Mage or not!
In Japan, anyone who graduates from middle school can apply to beco an Attack Mage. Pass the exam and you get licensed. There are both official governnt Attack Mages and private Attack Mage companies—it's closer to private detectives than civil servants.
With Eiji's skills, if he applied, becoming an Attack Mage would be practically guaranteed.
"In that case, please search by na for ."
"Okay."
Sayaka provided both nas "Nangong Li" and "Eiji" consecutively.
The receptionist searched online for a while but found no registered Attack Mages under either na.
"Now check Nangong Nayue for !"
Sayaka insisted stubbornly, refusing to believe it.
"Whoa, you want to investigate the Gap Witch? Don't tell anyone I helped you later!"
The receptionist looked at Sayaka fearfully.
Nangong Nayue is a top-tier Attack Mage, so her information was easy to find.
"There's no record of any adopted orphans becoming Attack Mages."
"No way? Let see!"
"Wait, Attack Mage records can't be shown to outsiders casually!"
After arguing for a long ti, the receptionist wouldn't budge.
Sayaka didn't want to leave a dirty record of coercing staff in the Attack Mage Agency's files, so she reluctantly gave up.
She had to accept the fact that Eiji wasn't an Attack Mage.
"If he's not an Attack Mage, we don't have detailed records here either."
Helpless.
Sayaka could only leave the Attack Mage Agency.
What could be found at the Agency was basically information any normal person could obtain with so ti.
More confidential intelligence wouldn't be kept in such a place.
Sayaka took out her phone.
"You're calling quite frequently—any discoveries?"
"I want to know about Eiji's past. Does he have any history with the Lion King Organization?"
"Isn't this unrelated to investigating the Fourth True Ancestor?"
"It's related!"
Sayaka stubbornly insisted.
It actually wasn't related, but she adamantly claid it was!
Because she personally wanted to know about Eiji's past!
"I don't know."
The liaison's cool voice hung up imdiately.
Sayaka looked utterly exasperated.
Right.
She had already checked the Lion King Organization's internal archives during the day and found nothing, which was why she went to the Attack Mage Agency.
How could a re liaison officer know information that even an elite Shamanic War Dancer like her couldn't uncover?
"Boom!"
Right at that mont.
The roar of thunder resounded throughout Itogami Island.
"Such intense magical fluctuations—this isn't ordinary thunder!"
Sayoka's expression tightened.
She looked up at the sky.
Only to discover that, unnoticed until now, massive thunderclouds had already enveloped the northern district of Itogami Island.
"This island truly never rests for a single mont!"
Sayoka let out a long sigh and imdiately started running toward the northern district.
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