Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Hope Diamond ❯ Oligopolis - 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Name: Androgene

Website: http://www.angelfire.com/space/noir13

Email: androgene@lycos.com

Title: The Hope Diamond: The Oligopolies - Five to Eight (One of Two)

Summary: It was said that certain gems are cursed and brings only misfortunes. What if these cursed gems are creatures of magic? Can one love a cursed gem and live happily ever after? YohjixAya/Ran, TakatorixAya/Ran.

Date of completion: 2 April 2002

Date of revision: 2 April 2002

Category: AU, fantasy, drama, angst, action, yaoi, shounen-ai

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Yaoi, OOC galore

Author's comments:

Yeah! Finally done, well at least half of it is finally done. Whew! Sorry to take so long with this story. I had a writer's block and Real Life keeps intruding. If it wasn't for Little Orchid who keeps encouraging me with her 'ganbatte' emails, I doubt I'd ever get this written.

I have to announce this to the whole wide world. Little Orchid gifted me with three very cool fan arts *happiness*. They are all in my gifts section and I order you to go look. She's absolutely spoiling me *grin*.

Dedication: This story arc is dedicated to Little Orchid. Thanks for the encouragement and I love your fan arts.

Disclaimer:

All characters belong to their creators. WeiB Kreuz™ is created by Takehito Koyasu and Project WeiB. I don't own them and I don't profit from using these characters.

Oligopolies

Magnopolis was a city of commerce for two hundred years. The first pioneers of Magnopolis sailed to this new foreign land from their native countries thousands of miles away, braving the dangerous expanse of uncharted oceans, in search of a better life. All of them had come to this land for one reason or the other, most commonly to start over again.

Three of these pioneer groups were of notable or mysterious origins, and they were arguably the three 'pillars' of Magnopolis' wealth and prosperity.

The Takatori clan was a noble family of ancient lineage from the East, exiled in disgrace by their Emperor. They were and are still a family noted not only for their political and business skills, but also for their mage talent. They brought with them their mysterious Eastern customs and quickly established themselves as one of the shrewdest commercial company in Magnopolis.

The Takatori Incorporation was quick to carve out a controlling share of Magnopolis' commerce and trade, steadily expanding their holdings to include nearly every lucrative market in Magnopolis. Their most important operations, however, were still the trade business and the silicon industry.

Despite their commercial front, the Takatori clan also dabbled in politics. Recognizing the need to control the political scene in such a way that it would give them an edge, they have been for years heavily involved in the game of politics through unscrupulous clandestine means.

The second of these pioneers was the Estet Foundation who arrived in Magnopolis around the same time as Kritiker & Co. The Estet Foundation was already a firmly established trading company in Europe and was seeking to expand its business to other parts of the world. Magnopolis was the logical stepping-stone for them to cross the globe.

Unlike the family-run business of Takatori Incorporation, the Three Elders - who shared a talent and fondness for the Dark Arts - headed the Estet Foundation. Not much else was known about the Three Elders, except that each successive generation keep the tradition of reclusive living, as well as the practice of the Dark Arts. When the Estet Foundation first set base in Magnopolis, they left their elite and most trusted group in charge - Schwartz to run the day-to-day operations and insert Estet's presence into Magnopolis' political scene.

Last of these pioneers was Kritiker & Co. The founder of Kritiker & Co was born and bred in Magnopolis and started a small trading business. He was a brilliant man, shrewd and farsighted, and his company quickly grew and prospered. By the time Estet Foundation arrived, Kritiker & Co was in a position to challenge both Estet and Takatori Incorporation. The founder of Kritiker & Co was also a powerful Techno-Mage and had a fondness for cats. This fondness for the feline species was so intense that he legally changed his name to Persia and decreed that all successors to the President's position should use that alias.

When Persia saw how Takatori Incorporation and Estet Foundation were corrupting and manipulating Magnopolis' politics to their own ends, he was angry. He decided, as the only local who actually stood a chance of resistance, he would do everything possible to save his beloved city. He decided to fight fire with fire, or in this case, corruption with corruption. For he truly believed that Magnopolis would only be safe if power was controlled by a patriotic local.

Thus he set up Weiss - his secret enforcers and assassins in the dark, the ghosts of the guilty.

For many centuries, the three companies not only grew and expanded their holdings, they fought a ceaseless battle to consolidate more power and edge out their rivals. Generations took up and continued the power struggle until two hundred years later they all reached an impasse, a stalemate.

For fifty years, the stalemate continued and an air of uneasy peace blanketed the city-country. None of the companies could break the stalemate, and perhaps neither of them wanted to, for Magnopolis was divided almost neatly among them. The stalemate continued until Reiji Takatori took the reins of his clan and family business, a new Persia sat at the head of Kritiker & Co, and Schwartz was replaced by a new and more gifted group of people.

Tension rose again, and the power struggle began anew.

Then one day, almost ten years ago, Reiji Takatori unveiled his Gem to the world. The balance of power began to shift in his favor and there was nothing the others could do but wait and watch.

Chapter Five

He told me to forget about him.

But I can't. His face, his voice, his tears and emotions…all these and more are burnt in my memories. He is the most vivid thing I ever remember.

He told me not to look for him.

But I can't do that. Very few people in the world are fortunate enough to find that special someone. I thought I had found mine a long time ago, but I lost her due to my fault. Fewer are those given a chance to make amends, and I think I'm one of those lucky few. I don't want to let this opportunity slip by me. I have, no, need to know if I can make amends and lay my ghosts to rest. I want to know for sure if Aya is my second chance.

"Yohji-kun," I hear Omi's voice, as though from faraway, "are you still asleep?"

No, not asleep. It is nearly noon but I woke up early willingly for once and spent the rest of the morning hidden in my bedroom, thinking and smoking. My mind keeps returning to that night three days ago, keeps remembering his fragility and despair that bordered on insanity. I can recall every detail how he had felt in my arms - warm and pliant and so right.

Why did he push me away?

"Yohji-kun?"

"I'm up, Omi." I finally answer him.

"Your shift starts in twenty minutes."

"Hai, hai."

Life still continues as usual. Working in the flower shop during the day, and killing during the night. I return frequently to Southbank Park during these three days but no matter how hard and how long I search, I can't find him. All these searching and wondering are depressing the hell out of me. If only I have some ways of tracking him down. I have nothing of his, not even a strand of hair that would allow me to scry for him.

Wait a sec.

Yohji Kudoh, you are an idiot. I don't need to scry for him. I just have to do it the non-magical way. From all our previous conversations, I have the clues to point me in the right direction. Baka! I am so totally blind! See, this is what happens when one gets too dependent on magic. It becomes a crutch.

Hurriedly scrambling into a pair of black pants and tight tee, grabbing my jacket and shades. I sneak down the stairs, careful to avoid the flower shop. If the chibi catches me sneaking out -

"Where do you think you're going?"

I quickly plaster on my most charming smile, as Omi frowns at me from the back entrance of the flower shop, hands on his hips and one foot tapping against the floor.

"Sorry, Omi. I have something very important to do right now."

"If you are trying to wiggle your way out -"

"I'm not, I swear. I'll pull double tomorrow. And besides, " I risk a quick look behind him, "the shop's relatively empty."

"Omi!" Ken calls from the shop. From the sounds of it, he is heading our direction too. If he sees me too, I won't be able to get out of the building. "Is that playboy awake yet?"

"Got to go. Ciao!" I hightail it out of there before Ken can make his appearance. In less than five minutes, I'm out of the back door and into my car, zooming off before my friends can catch me. I swear I can hear Ken's roar of chagrin over the sounds of my Seven's engine.

When I arrive at Southbank Park, I didn't head for the swings like I usually do. Aya told me he visits this park often. He also told me about his meeting with Yamada Jun's sister at the hospital. From memory, I know there are two hospitals near the park, specifically the swings. And I also know that this park is very popular with hospital staff and visitors. Aya must have been visiting someone in a hospital - hopefully someone with the same surname as his.

The clues are so obvious; the conclusion is so simple that I have to kick myself for my sheer blindness. And to think I used to be a private detective.

I decide to try Southbank General Hospital. It's a public hospital - suitable choice for someone whom I get the impression doesn't have much in the way of finances.

Zip. Nada.

After spending nearly fifteen minutes of charming and flirting with the nurses, persuading them to run the search for me, I know for sure there is no Fujimiya staying in the hospital or has been discharged recently. That leaves the Magic Bus Hospital. It's a shot in the dark. Takatori Incorporation owes the private medical institution. It is very exclusive and very expensive, catering to the very rich. It's a place I'm hard-pressed to imagine Aya having anything to do with it.

I stop by the flower shop on the hospital grounds to purchase a huge bouquet of flowers before heading in. The reception area looks and feels like a hotel lobby - carpeted floor, strategic lightings and soft piped music - all aim to soothe and relax visitors, hiding the fact that this is a hospital behind a luxuriant illusion.

The receptionist smiles too warmly at me. "Welcome to Magic Bus Hospital. How can I help you, sir?"

"I hope so…" I put on my charming yet 'sheepish' look (which I am aware is equally attractive to the opposite gender). "I have a friend staying in this hospital. But I forgot which room he is in. I wonder if you can check it up for me?"

"No problem. What is your friend's surname?"

"Fujimiya."

The receptionist looks surprised. "You don't mean Aya Fujimiya, do you?"

"That's the one," I flash her a happy smile. "How do you know without checking?"

"Fujimiya-chan is under the personal care of Takatori-sama. It's common knowledge among the staff here. Top level, the Eastern Room."

"Thank you." I flash the receptionist my rakish grin, tickled by the fact that the hospital staff actually refer him as '-chan'. Heh, heh, the redhead is anything but cute.

Bouquet in hand, I make my way to the elevator, pondering on the incongruities of the man I'm obsessing over and his apparent background. I thought finding him may unravel some of his mysteries; instead the waters grow murkier. All the hints I get only point to a complicated problem.

Aya isn't some ordinary middle-class earner as I had wrongly mistaken him for. Nothing he had said or done indicated he is linked to such a powerful businessman-politician figure either. Under Takatori's personal care…I'm not sure if that is a good thing, especially after I've witnessed Takatori's cold-blooded behavior at the Human Chess. What's also worrying is that Aya seems to be ill too, if the receptionist is correct. If not, he wouldn't need a room here in the hospital.

Hopefully I can get all my questions answered when I finally locate him.

The Eastern Room isn't hard to find. I stop outside the door, double-checking the engraved nameplate. Hn, it is a girl's name. His parents must be longing too much for a baby girl if they actually named him Aya.

I quietly push open the door and cautiously peep in. Good, no visitors. I'll be alone with Aya, which is what I want. I close the door behind me, peering into the dimness of the ward. The curtains are half-drawn, casting most of the ward in shadows. Ahead of me, I can see the hospital bed and a slender shape lying in it. In the silence I can hear the beeping sounds of the monitoring equipment.

"Aya?" I call softly and get no response. He must be asleep. I head over to the bed, eager to see the beautiful redhead again, eager to see how he will react to my visit -

That's not Aya.

That's…a girl!

I must have stood there for ages like an idiot, gaping at the sight of the peacefully sleeping girl who, for all intents and purposes, seems to be the real Aya Fujimiya. I draw back the curtains hastily, as though by letting in more sunlight, it can change the fact. But no, the girl remains unchanged. Surely there must be some mistake here. I'm looking for a redheaded man, not this tiny slip of a girl. Wondering if I have stepped into the wrong room, I exit to search for a nurse.

"Excuse me," I gently accosted the nearest one. "I'm wondering if there is another Aya Fujimiya staying in this hospital?"

"Let me check for you." I wait impatiently as she checks the hospital database. "No, sir."

Curiouser and curiouser.

"Does Miss Aya have any visitors?"

"Only her brother."

My interest perks up. "He wouldn't be, by any chance, a redhead?"

"Why yes. Fujimiya-san left not too long ago."

Shoot, missed him by a narrow margin. Thanking the nurse, I head back into the Eastern Room. I place the bouquet on the table and gaze at the sleeping girl for a long while. So Aya is this girl's brother instead, and Aya isn't his real name, which makes me wonder why he assumes his sister's name. At least I think this is really is his sister. No matter how hard I look, I just can't see the resemblance between the siblings.

Dark purplish-black hair tied into two neat braids. Her young face sweet and peaceful in her slumber, a sleeping angel. She's roughly about sixteen or so and sleeping too soundly for it to be normal. A flip through her charts tells me that she is in a coma. And if I'm reading the untidy scrawl right, has been comatose for nearly ten years.

Ten years? Without aging?

That's impossible!

This is an unnatural phenomenon, even by Techno-Mage's standards. Casting a cautious look at the door, I raise my watch-clad hand and murmur a tiny spell. The subtle golden glow emitting from the girl's body doesn't tell me anything. I detect no signs of some rare diseases, magical phenomenon or poison at work. How she ended up in this state is beyond what my tiny spell can find.

Does Aya know about her condition? He must know, since he is providing for her care. And since this is such an exorbitant hospital, and if what I know of Takatori is correct, I have a bad feeling as to what 'being under his personal care' is costing Aya, especially in regards to his looks.

Suddenly I find the spacious room oppressive as though all the air is being sucked out of it, a heavy crushing feeling that the sunlight does nothing to dispel. The urge to leave overwhelms me. It is as though I am not welcomed in this ward. I recognize the sensation for what it is - a charm spell meant to keep out and chase off unwanted intruders.

It is high time to go before the maker of the charm spell senses my presence through his spell. For all my questions, now is not a good time to get them answered.

* * *

It is a long while before I can shake off the oppressive feeling. Now that I'm far from the hospital, my mind has cleared enough for me to ponder about the girl who apparently shares the same name as Aya. But why does he assume his sister's name?

"Back so soon?"

I look up at that sarcastic voice as I close the backdoor. Ken stands at the back entrance of the flower shop, a displeased look on his face. Silently I curse myself for not paying attention to my surroundings. Ken is so going to rip me a new one for abandoning my shift today.

"Sorry, Kenken. I have some important matters to see to."

"And you chose today, of all days, to forget to bring your cell phone. Do you know what you're supposed to do today?"

I stare at him blankly, and then it hit me out of the blue. "Oh shit, I forgot! Is he -?"

"Hai." The word is barely out of his mouth when we hear a muffled explosion from the attic.

"Omi!" I sprint for the attic at once, cursing myself for my absent-mindedness. Ken is faster; he's already bounding up the stairs even as I dash after him.

Omi has a lab in the attic for his alchemistic experiments. Usually these experiments are small-scale, but alchemy is a volatile and dangerous art. Which is why I usually play backup for Omi during his experiments. A week ago, he told me about an experiment he's going to conduct today. And damn it all, it slips my mind totally. If anything happens to Omi, I will never forgive myself.

Heedlessly, we plunge into the attic, tearing and coughing from the smoke that smells of sulfur.

Omi is just getting up from the floor from where he was thrown a fair distance from his workbench. Ken is by his side at once, checking for injuries while I rush to fling open the window to let in fresh air. All around us, the shielding wards on the walls are glowing dusky red. On the spacious workbench, toxic-looking fumes are spilling over the small cauldron simmering above the Bunsen burner.

I quickly turn off the burner as a precaution and walk over to the dazed boy. "Are you hurt?"

"Iya," Omi replies. "Just banged my head."

"Hang on for a sec." I place a finger on Omi's forehead. I can sense that his personal shield has been severely weakened by the blast. It has probably saved his life by absorbing most of the impact but it won't withstand another explosion. Very carefully, I take down his personal shield.

"That was one heck of an explosion," Ken remarks. "We should get your head checked."

"I'm fine really." The boy sits up. "Just wasn't expecting the mix to blow up."

"Sorry chibi," I apologize. "I should have been here, like I'm supposed to."

"It's okay, Yohji-kun. I honestly didn't think the experiment was dangerous enough to have a backup."

"Dangerous or not, I should have been here. Come on, let's get you out of this room."

"But it's not finished yet."

"It can wait," Ken tells him.

"No, it can't. Yohji-kun, tell Ken-kun it can't wait."

"Well…" I'm highly conscious of Ken's glare on me. I look at the workbench and then back to boy. "I suppose I can finish it for you."

"Really?"

"If you tell me what to do."

In quick details, Omi gives me instructions on what to do. It seems easy enough, shouldn't give me any problems. Chemistry and alchemy were not my strong suits when I was still in school. I shut the window again as Ken carries Omi out of the attic, and turn my attention to the workbench.

The toxic-looking fumes have dissipated, revealing an equally horrid-looking liquid bubbling inside the cauldron. I make a face at the mixture. How on earth Omi can stand tinkering around with something that looks and smell so awful the whole day is beyond my comprehension.

With a sigh, I erect my own personal shield and fish out the items with a pair of tongs. I transfer the items to a clean aluminum tray, careful not to drip any of the corrosive liquid onto the tabletop. Whatever Omi is making is nothing more than a twisted bundle of undistinguishable black fabric at the moment. Taking the tray well away from the burner, I uncork a test-tube filled with a yellow liquid and pour it over the cloth. The fabric catches fire instantly and in a heartbeat, it burns itself out.

I heave a sigh of relief, glad to have the last stage over and done with. I cautiously pick up the black cloth. It is dry and feels like supple leather to me. Smoothing it out, I realize that it is actually a pair of black leather gloves, fingerless and sleek. Judging from its length, the gloves will reach up to the elbows. Strange things to be conducting alchemistic experiments on though.

Carefully covering the cauldron and placing it in a safe area to wait for Omi to dispose of the liquid mix, I head for the kitchen with the gloves in hand. Omi is holding an icepack to the back of his head while Ken applies medication to his forearm when I arrive.

The chibi brightens when he sees the gloves in my hand. "It's done!"

"Yep." I go over to Ken. "Burn?"

"Mild," Ken grunts. "Thank God."

"Gomen ne."

"Stop apologizing," Omi lectures. "It's also my fault too. Ken did try to dissuade me from conducting the experiment after you have left but I didn't listen."

"This won't happen again, I promise you that." I take the seat opposite him. "From now on, no experiments when I'm not around."

"Hai, hai. Now can I have the gloves?"

I push the gloves over to him. "What are these for, Omi?"

"Oh, I'm just making some armor for Ken-kun."

"Huh?" Ken looks up from his task.

"Put these on."

Ken looks dubiously at the sleek pair of leather gloves. "It will just get in my way."

"No, no. I create a solution that will give the gloves titanium hardness while keeping the suppleness of leather. It's durable and resistant to all kinds of impact. Put it on, Ken-kun."

Rolling up his sleeves, Ken pulls on the pair of gloves.

"My, my," I stare at his forearms appreciatively. I have to admit; the sleek gloves look really good against that large expanse of tanned skin. "Aren't you sexy in those gloves?"

"Yohji!" Ken turns beet-red.

I smirk and rub it in further. "All you need now is some nice skin-tight leather clothes."

"Omi, maybe I shouldn't wear this." Ken says somewhat desperately.

"But what will happen if you goes up against a swordsman again?" Omi retorts. "You fought the Blood Diamond up in the mountains with no protection. His blade could have easily cut off your arms, Ken-kun."

"Omi's right," I drop my teasing front and regard Ken seriously. "I don't want to have to fix you up with a new limb."

"You have a point." Ken flexes his arm, studying the leather gloves thoughtfully. The fingerless gloves allow him free access to his fingers. He unsheathes his claws, slightly curving digits, razor-sharp and almost two-inches long. His claws aren't the delicate, easily broken type. These are Hunter's claws - the toughest and deadliest natural weapons designed for slashing and grappling. Coupled with the black gloves, Ken suddenly looks dangerous.

"You should be able to use those gloves like a shield," Omi says helpfully.

Ken smiles at the young boy. "Think I can put this to a test first?"

"Sure," Omi beams at him. "My crossbow against your gloves? We can try ofuda bolts too, just to see how well the gloves will hold up."

"Just don't cripple the guy," I tell Omi. "We need him in one piece."

"Speaking of one piece," Ken suddenly turns to me. "What's up with you these days?"

"Huh?"

"Stop playing dumb." Ken peels off the gloves and sits down beside Omi. "You've been very preoccupied lately; your mind thousands of miles away. Take today for example, it's not like you to forget such an important task."

"And you haven't gone out on a date in ages, Yohji-kun." Omi pipes up worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Not when it can affect our missions."

"It won't."

"Yohji…" Omi begins in that half-plea, half-order tone. I notice he drops the '-kun', which in Omi's talk, means he is truly worried.

"Is it girl trouble?" Ken asks unexpectedly.

I sweatdrop. "What makes you think it's a girl?"

"Okay, so it's boy trouble. Who is it?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"Really?"

"Really. I appreciate your concern but really, there's nothing to tell. I don't even know him." Which is not a lie in a warped sense. I really do not know anything about Aya.

"But you will tell us if there's something, right?" Omi asks anxiously.

"Hai, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that promise, Yohji-kun."

The distant tinkle of the bells signal the arrival of customers in the shop. Moments later, we hear a familiar voice. "Are you open?"

"Manx's here." Omi tosses the icepack into the sink and heads back to the flower shop.

"She's early," Ken remarks as he peels off his gloves. "It's not even closing time yet."

I put on my rakish smile when I see the red-suited lady standing in the empty flower shop carrying one of those A4-sized carton. "Afternoon, Manx. For once, your timing is good."

"My timing is always impeccable, Yohji. Here, take this." Unceremoniously, she drops the carton into my arms. It is either to take it or drop it, and I don't think Manx will appreciate me dropping it.

I grunt a little under its heavy weight. "What's in it?"

"Your mission, what's else?" Manx tosses back over her shoulder as she heads for the basement mission room. "Coming?"

"Be right along. We just need to close up the shop first," Ken says.

I glance at the carton and then at Manx's disappearing back. This mission must be very important if our mission package is this big.

Turns out I am right.

A week from now, Reiji Takatori will be throwing a party to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his Gem's creation. This is not a secret. Every year, he will throw such a party to commemorate the day he created his Gem. Last year was just as spectacular for it came complete with fireworks.

This year, it will be a weekend bash hosted at his private island just off the southwestern coast of Magnopolis. It will be an exclusive event catered for the invited few from the super-rich echelon of Magnopolis and around the world. Thirty guests will be attending the anniversary bash, including Persia and Schwartz.

Security is going to be tight; deep undercover is going to be extremely risky especially with Schwartz attending the weekend bash as well. The current four-men team that heads the Magnopolis branch of Estet Foundation has a precog and a telepath in it, a dangerous and possibly unbeatable combination of rare psychic talents. It will be so easy for them to ferret out any deep undercover agent without literally lifting a finger.

"The Three Elders are going to be present too," Manx says. "They were personally invited by Takatori himself."

"Now that's rare," Omi remarks as he goes through the guest list. "The current three haven't left their homeland in years."

"They are not our targets, are they?" Ken asks.

"Maybe." Manx sits herself comfortably in the armchair. "Rumors have it that both Estet and Takatori are forming an alliance. An increase in the communication between the two corporations seems to indicate that the rumors are true."

"Which means Kritiker will be outnumbered."

"If it is just an ordinary business deal, Kritiker can handle it without needing Weiss. However, our sources claim that this deal is not of the business nature. Even both Boards of Directors are not privy to it. From what we gather, the Three Elders and Takatori are personally negotiating a deal without the aid of their staff."

"Magic then," Omi concludes.

"We don't know that for sure," Manx admits. "When we hear that the Three Elders are coming down personally for this anniversary bash, it's clear that they are up to something. Your task is to infiltrate the party and find out everything you can about their deal."

"So basically you want us to waltz into the lions' den and waltz back out again with the info," Ken says glumly.

"But none of us look the super-rich class type," Omi points out.

"We have prepared three identities for you. Both Siberian and Bombay will be extra help hired for the occasion. You will circulate among the staff and probe them for information. You will probably have access to areas restricted to guests. Balinese, you will pose as a businessman - a prodigious success story, in order to get you invited. Kritiker has secretly maintained a dummy businessman cover for quite some time, so your background will be relatively foolproof. You would need to do a crash-course on the business of the silicon-industry and up your mage level to Class-D. Bombay, you will have to completely suppress your mage talent as Takatori does not hire people with mage potential."

"But I would be drawing unwanted attention if I up my mage level," I have to point out. "Takatori is known to be very jealous of other mages' potentials, especially if they are business rivals as well."

"It is the only way to explain your 'rapid rise in the business world'. Besides some of the guests will be bringing their own Techno-Mages along, all Class-A. A Class-D is the least of his worries. Bombay, will you have trouble dampening your mage talent?"

"It will be strenuous," Omi replies. "But it shouldn't be a problem."

"Manx," Ken begins, "the Blood Diamond has seen our faces. Balinese can use glamour to disguise himself but what about me and Bombay?"

"Kritiker's disguise expert will start working with you from tomorrow onwards. He will not only disguise your looks but also teach you how to shield your thoughts from that Schwartz telepath. Balinese, I expect you to take part in those lessons."

"I already know how to shield my thoughts."

"Mastermind is a powerful telepath. You'll need to strengthen those shields. Besides, you need the additional practice."

"I do not!" I sputter indignantly.

"Oh? Then why did the demon exorcism at the Human Chess tire you so easily?"

"It has been a long time," I protest.

"It was only a wyrm."

I clamp my mouth shut, glaring at Omi as he giggles.

Manx rises to her feet. "That's all I've got to say. Omi can pick up the rest. One more thing before I go, Persia and I will be going on the trip as well. We do not know you and you do not know us. Got it?"

"Yep."

"Good luck, boys, and come back to us."

"With the information preferably," I can't help but add.

"But of course."