Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

"Alright, alright, you three stop fooling around here."

Reines also emerged from the inner room, followed by the mercury maid Trimmau, as was customary.

"Grey, did Yvette actually provide any information?"

"Ah, yes. It's here."

"Haha, this is going to be a very busy time."

Reines took the documents and sat down in a chair, a miserable expression on her face.

"So the issue we're facing is indeed the Grand Council? I don't think the Grand Council is necessarily convened because of El-Melloi... No, the current situation is terrible. Attending the Grand Council without sufficient information could be a fatal blow to the El-Melloi faction if the opposing monarch makes a proposal."

[Grey: "What's going on?"]

[Reines: "Hartleith is from the Modern Magic Department, just like us. He's the former dean of the department, right?"]

【"ah!"】

Grey instantly understood what Reines meant.

Hartres's identity and plans will certainly become a point of attack for his adversaries.

Is this all the information being collected to avoid being put on the defensive?

The information provided by Yvette was classified data obtained from the Mayastia faction, the very faction that drove out the El-Melloi faction and seized control of the Minerals Department.

Meanwhile, Yvette was also a spy sent by Meastia to the modern magic department, but she had already been captured by the Second King and secretly defected.

[I must say, this young lady is actually quite adept at being a double agent.]

While the Meastia faction publicly claims neutrality, their underhanded tactics are no less frequent than those of the other two factions.

Kenneth: "Hmph, Meastia, huh—"

He had also met the current monarch of Meastia, "Kalmagliv Meastia Drucker," and he was indeed a wolf who knew how to hide his true nature.

He appears humble and respectful on the surface, giving off no sense of authority, but deep down he is actually a very arrogant man.

At the same time, this guy is also a very smart person. Fortunately, El-Melloi will have Waver and Reines in the future, otherwise he will probably be devoured by the other party without leaving a trace.

However, this guy finally messed up once, as the spy he sent out was turned against him.

I just don't know if this guy really doesn't know or is pretending not to.

Cowles: "The factional infighting at the Clock Tower is really fierce."

Lion's Robbery Jie Li: "This is nothing. You haven't seen anything more intense yet."

Reines quickly flipped through the documents, pulling out several files.

"Sphinx, compare these documents with the previously compiled materials. I have a lead, but it would be easier for you to check them."

【"I see."】

At the same time, the Second Prince also emerged wearing a bathrobe, apparently having just finished bathing.

[Grey: "Teacher, are you alright?"]

[Second Generation: "In terms of physical condition, it's absolutely terrible."]

His stomach started hurting again—and I'm not exaggerating, it really hurt.

Rin Tohsaka: "So the Second really does have a stomach ailment. I thought it was just a figure of speech."

Weber: "How did I get this disease?"

Second generation: "Is there any need to say that? Don't you even consider what kind of life you'll be living in the future?"

Weber: "..."

After taking his medicine, the Second Prince lit a cigar and said with a bitter expression, "I received two letters today. One was from Melvin on behalf of Lord Baleyeta."

The Second Prince opened the drawer and took out two exquisite envelopes.

"Isn't it ridiculous? We've been changing hotels every day to avoid being tracked, yet the letter is being sent to this hotel as if it were perfectly normal."

"The other letter was from Lord Euryphus, the monarch of the Spirit Conjuring Department and a member of the aristocratic faction."

Reines chuckled, "Fortunately, the dates of their invitations didn't clash, which prevented a situation where the democrats and aristocrats would test our loyalty. Oh dear, if our loyalty had been tested, I would have seen my brother's rather amusing expression."

[Second Generation: "Madam, please understand, we're in the same boat, okay?"]

Reines: "Of course I understand. Although I regret it myself, it seems I have an innate tendency to prioritize pleasure over self-destruction."

[Second Generation: "...This is terrible."]

Reines: "Hmm, that's a really nice compliment."

Shizi Jieli: "Hehe, it seems that hiding everywhere is useless. It's an easy thing for people to find you."

Weber: "Yeah, it's really annoying."

Kenneth: "So the Euphrates faction is involved too? It seems this Grand Order decision is likely to be a competition between the two factions, both trying to recruit you."

Weber: "Ah, factional strife, how troublesome—"

Rin Tohsaka: "So, Director Ken, which faction are you from?"

Kenneth: "Needless to say, it's the aristocratic faction."

Chapter 324 The Second Generation Died Again

Grey hadn't expected things to get this complicated, and she couldn't think of a solution. She could only ask, "Um, what should I do?"

Reines: "Wow, so full of energy! It's a bit of a waste for such a good boarding student to be with his brother, isn't it?"

[Second Generation: "Shut up, I know that perfectly well."]

Reines: "Yes, yes. We've already planned it out; we'll group them according to their aptitude."

"First, a group of people went with my brother to meet the important person who brought the message."

"Sigh, besides my brother and me, no one else would be suitable. At this level, even the slightest breach of etiquette will be seized upon and relentlessly criticized, and your thoughts are all too easily written on your faces."

"Then, a team launched an investigation based on the information gathered earlier."

"This team is tasked with tracking the whereabouts of Hartless, the former Dean of the Department of Modern Magic, to prepare for the Grand Order decision. The team consists of Grey, Flat, and Sphinx."

"Tracking can be handled by Sven's nose, and analysis is Flatt's forte. I hope Grey can keep a tight rein on the two of them."

[Second Prince: "However, if you are about to encounter Hartres and Faker, you must retreat immediately. This is an absolute condition for your involvement in this matter."]

[Grey: "Okay, okay. I'll try my best."]

Weber: "Going it alone—well, all the troubles have piled up at once, so this is the only way."

Kenneth: "The Grand Prix decision and Hartres' actions are no coincidence."

Webber: "Yeah, Hartley must be planning something during the Grand Prix decision. That guy has the guts to do it."

Time flew by, and the day arrived for our meeting with Balyeleta.

The other party had specially arranged a carriage to pick them up, and the driver was very polite, showing that they valued the trip highly.

[As planned, Grey and her two companions traveled by bus throughout London searching for Hartley's whereabouts.]

However, the two sides did not actually separate.

[Flatter: "Hartles's disciple?"]

[Second Generation: "Yes, that's right. Although the records from the Modern Magic Department have been deleted, various intelligence has been left behind by Meastia. Hmm, although it's difficult to distinguish without comparison, there's also information leaked from Ryori to corroborate it. I've determined the locations of about five of his disciples. Go and investigate their locations."]

Rin Tohsaka: "Five! That means besides the boy at the beginning, Heartless has four other disciples."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "The beginning and now both mention Hartres's disciples, so it seems that the final story is definitely related to those disciples."

Weber: "Does the teacher know about this information?"

Kenneth: "How would I know? Hartles destroyed all the intelligence when he left, and El-Melloi had never paid attention to them before. Only that cunning guy, Meastia, would have kept it."

[Flatter: "Okay~"]

[Second King: "Flatter, stay in the back as much as possible. Sphinx, you'll be in charge of most of the negotiations. I'll assist you if necessary, so try to find clues that connect to Hartles. By the way, even though we're investigating like this, Hartles' actions might not be related to the Grand Order decision at all."]

[Sphinx: "I understand. But, given your current state, isn't it impossible for you to show your face in front of others?"]

[Second Generation: "Hmm..."]

Flat almost burst out laughing.

Standing next to Sphinx was a Q-sized version of the Second Generation, its surface shimmering with a dazzling metallic sheen. Its hair and clothing were only a tenth the size of its original form, no bigger than a palm.

[It's like a second Trimmaurian.]

Everyone: *chuckles*

Weber: "..."

Second: "..."

Conqueror King: "Hahaha, kid, you're actually quite cute like this."

Wife: "So cute!"

Weber: "...Heh, I'm tired. Let's just destroy it already—"

Kenneth: "Ahem, it's a stand-in made by sharing consciousness and using lunar marrow elixir as a base, isn't it? That's quite something."