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Mid Evening - Late Winter - Year 24 : Acardi Wreckage Island | South of Ampelos, Bahamut

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"Understood. I'll be sure to.. take good care of her.

" Slowly lifting from a polite bow, Leander cast Espera a measured glance of intrigue mixed with skepticism before continuing with some reluctant, mustered pride.

"Rest assured, I'll see that everyone and everything is handled discreetly.

However—" His tone quickly grew cautious. "May I involve Myles in this matter?"

Hesitating mid-wingbeat, I looked past him at the handful of assistants he brought to handle the researchers before releasing myself from thought with a gentle shake.

"No, keep him out of things." -The Aesir, or at least the Holy Kingdom spies, are likely keeping their eyes on him since he's expected to be the next monarch.

.. In fact...- "Don't even alert him to this situation at all, and if he catches wind, tell him it was my order to keep him out. "

Leander’s eyes sharpened in an instant, becoming calculative as the implication settled in, but quickly softened after a moment with an understanding nod. "As you wish." Finally turning back to Espera with a practiced ease, his confidence washed over his speculative thoughts. "Now, time for you..."

Satisfied he had things under control, I spread my wings once more and took to the air with a powerful wingbeat, disappearing into the twilight and making my way toward Ampelos. It was time for me to undertake my own investigation into the nobility of this city, just as Hera and Krystallo were.

But first, I needed to take things one step at a time.

Eventually making it back to the city, I used my aura to peer through the thick but thinning snow cloud blanketing everything until I found a specific, overly luxurious inn in the heart of the city and made my way down.

Known as 'The Eastern Claw', it was our designated lodging during our travels through the festival—a franchised inn found in nearly every large city in Bahamut—though we hadn't really used it yet.

However, it wasn't a place I could ignore in a city I was so unfamiliar with.

Shrinking down and making my way past the receptionist and security with a flash of my ID, I turned down one of the hallways forming the fingers of the dragon's paw-shaped building before arriving at our room.

*Knock-Knock* *Vwoom* Swiftly undoing the mana lock after a gentle knock, I quietly stepped inside.

Our suite was divided into four spacious rooms—enough for everyone to lounge in their draconic forms—around a central living area, but despite expecting to have to search the rooms for the person I was looking for, the moment I stepped into the lounge, I found Chloe asleep atop a large cushion by the fireplace, enveloped in a thick, cozy blanket.

She was completely encircled by stacks of documents—meticulously collected intel on nobility in the city, with some neatly preserved letters from Mother and Father woven into the piles. -She’s certainly been diligent...-

Since the festival began, she'd rarely ventured outside, treating her responsibilities with a reverence most her age would never understand.

But while quite cute, I couldn't let her continue to sleep. Silently shutting the door with my tail, I approached and gently nudged her with my snout.

"Nnn..." She groaned sleepily, shifting slowly.

"Maria.. let me sleep a little lon-" But the instant she opened her eyes, her lethargy vanished like a shadow revealed to sunlight.

"A-Ah! My lord!" Suddenly springing to life, she jumped to her feet, curling and launching the rosy blanket into her room as if hiding evidence.

"I-I'm so sorry to have you come back to such a filthy sight! "

*Vwoom* Releasing a calming pulse of enriched mana, I quickly eased her tension. "You're fine. I told you to treat these places like your home, did I not?"

She froze, gradually relaxing as her wings lowered with a sheepish expression. "W-well, my home is your home, my lord. I shouldn't leave it so disorganized..."

Glancing around at the otherwise spotless room, I couldn't help a quiet chuckle.

"If you can tidy it within minutes, it hardly counts as disorganized.

" Softening my voice further, I gestured toward the piles of papers.

"Besides, I was the one to ask you to do all this.

No need to be ashamed of your hard work. "

"Hardly..." She blushed modestly, sitting down as I began leafing openly through the nearest stack with a flutter. "Did you return needing something specific?"

"Hm..." I paused briefly. "Have you looked much into the Akomi Kai family?"

"Ah!" Finally perking back up, she carefully stepped over the scattered papers before retrieving a neatly organized stack by the door to her room.

"This is what I have on them so far." *Flutter* "It's mainly information regarding their unusual shift in demeanor during the festival.

From what I know, it's because the current-standing patriarch's son is running the event. "

-Impressively thorough...- Setting down my papers, I quickly skimmed through hers.

"From everything I’ve found, they’ve otherwise appeared entirely ordinary—just another family of alchemists and researchers," Chloe continued carefully, "Even according to the foreign intelligence branch informants I met up with."

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

-I see...- However, I knew there was more to it.

Thinking back to the manifestos on the 'merchant ship' transporting uranium to the Holy Kingdom, I clearly recalled the Akomi Kai name appearing a number of times between trade records and even diaries of the crew. -Could that have really just been a distraction?-

It would certainly make sense if that were the case. Assuming the Akomi Kai family had as clean of a record as it looked, they were a prime candidate to eat up the efforts of outside investigators. -But I can't just ignore that they're a family of researchers...-

As far as I could tell, they were still the prime candidate to look into, especially with some special notes regarding the patriarch's daughter being a 'eccentric' researcher stirring the theories in my mind. -If she were studying science, that's what she'd be called...-

But I wouldn't know for sure until I looked into things personally, so after reviewing the rest of Chloe's meticulous research, I set my sights on them.

-They're throwing a party, huh...- Pausing, staring into the paper detailing the event they were holding, I thought of Mother, who had hired one of Atlas's most renowned tailors to craft my wardrobe for exactly such an occasion.

"Haah..." -I guess I am due for a new look.

..- "Where are all the clothes and jewelry Mother sent with you? "

Instantly lighting up with a childish perk, Chloe hurried and disappeared into her room before returning with a sizable chest of valuables. "Here! Shall I help you dress?"

*Flash* Smoothly shrinking down to my humanoid form, I used my aura to open up the chest and began pulling things out. "I'm alright, I just need to see what I'm working with."

However, as it turned out, the clothes she tailored for me weren't something I could create in an instant like my current attire.

-Mythril strings..? Really?- Looking up and down the ridiculously extravagant, well-fitting suit, I questioned just how out of my style it seemed. -Suits really caught the trend, huh...-

Compared to my current clothes, it was a contrast so stark it was almost blinding—certainly not something I'd make and wear on my own. -But I guess that's why Mom went through the effort to tailor it for me...-

Weaving through the various articles of layered clothes and jewelry, I eventually decided I would just put it on like a normal person, having Chloe help with my wings and tail for convenience's sake.

Even if, after shrinking to her humanoid form, her face glowed so red it was worrying. "Are you alright?"

Holding my tail like a delicate piece of porcelain, she fervently nodded without uttering a word, as if her mouth refused to move.

-Maybe I should have just put it all on myself...-

Eventually getting everything on, I adjusted the ornate cuffs, slipping black gloves and a series of rings onto my fingers before shortening my usually wild hair to a tidier length, having Chloe drape a heavy cape over my shoulders to complete the look.

With a baggy white undershirt kept under a tight-fitting waistcoat, the suit was far more formal than anything I could even concieve.

But at the same time, I didn't mind it. -I guess I'm leaving my sword here...- *Vwoom* Quickly moving it away and leaning it against the wall, I looked into the mirror Chloe held. "Hm... What do you think?"

As if going to burst if she kept staring, her eyes darted away the moment I caught her gaze. "Y-You look amazing, m-my lord!"

Running my fingers through my fur-like hair in the mirror, I gave myself one more look over before making a few final adjustments around the collar and waist.

Until eventually, I found an odd piece on my waist. -What's this for..?- It looked like a retractable sheath. "Is it normal to bring something like a sword to such a formal event?"

Chloe, finally recovering her composure, replied softly, "I-In some cases, yes. High nobles, especially, will use it to show their family's crest, while middle nobles will show it somewhere on their clothes or jewels. I believe it's called a 'ceremonial blade'."

-I see... then perhaps I should make something fitting...-

Before I could act though, Chloe seemed to remember something and hurried into her room, only to return with a beautifully crafted sword. "Your Mother had Sir Vathys Atsáli make a sword for this kind of occasion, if you wish to use it."

The sword’s hilt was made with pure rose gold, the blade, shimmering platinum, etched with intricate black mythril engravings, donning the Ragnarok crest on the crossguard while my Fenririan insignia decorated the pommel.

*Tap* Lifting it, the blade hummed gently with every motion, lighter than air, yet perfectly balanced.

-How over the top...- But it wasn't like it would be out of place paired with the rest of my suit.

Wearing something so intimidating had its own merits, after all.

-If they have anything to hide, they might inadvertently expose themselves when I show up. ..-

*Click* Fastening the sword inside the sheath, I tidied myself one last time before giving Chloe a gentle pat on the head and making my way out.

From what I could tell, the event was mainly centered around connecting traveling nobility that were using the festival to look for a place to settle down rather than the youth.

But I had no intention of playing the role of a young noble exploring his options.

Eventually approaching the estate, its courtyard dotted with research towers, statues of accomplishments, and records of old achievements, I kept my palm calmly rested on my sword's pommel and marched toward the entrance with a casual yet authoritative stride.

And despite my tail gently swaying in my wake, as I approached the grand front entrance, the maids didn’t so much as glance at the fenririan details of my form.

They saw only the sword, the insignias carved into its hilt, and scurried to line up and open the gates with a mix of reverent and fearful bows.

But I didn’t acknowledge them, simply keeping my eye on the young messenger sent inside to notify the estate of my arrival, letting the echo of my steps carry me into the heart of their home like a storm that was yet to release a drop of rain.

A subtle yet unmistakable warning.

I wasn’t here to mingle, but rather observe.

To find out if they were wolves, a curtain hiding them in their folds, or simply a tool to draw away the shepherd's attention.

-Now, let's see if they welcome me like a guest.. or an executioner...-