Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

It's unclear whether this area actually had that shape. When Albion died and transformed into this tomb, Albion, its size undoubtedly became far greater than its original body.

Even this area, which should only occupy a small portion of the whole, is unpredictably large.

The surrounding material is still unidentified; it is jet black, indistinguishable as either metallic or organic, and has a smooth texture. The walls and floors are made of this unknown material.

[When Reines confirmed this, a subtle stimulation came from her magic circuits.]

【(“—Reines.”)】

The Second King's voice echoed in her mind.

[“—Hey, brother, did you really make it in time?”]

Reines immediately feigned composure, not letting her thoughts show on her face.

[To be honest, just now, after the Clock Tower opened the dam, Reines already felt there was a 70% chance they wouldn't be able to get here.]

However, to my surprise, even after the dike was opened, magic communication still worked, although the range must have been greatly limited.

[For a second-rate magician like myself to be able to transmit my thoughts so clearly, it's no wonder I'm so close to here.]

[“—It’s a pity we didn’t make it. Although it looks like we reached the ancient heart.”]

[“—Oh dear, it was all a false alarm? I think you already know, the meeting was moved up by about four hours.”]

[“—I anticipated this situation. I will do my best. By the way, have you met with Mr. Graf?”]

"(Yes, I did receive a message from that old magician.)"

Graf, who found Reines earlier, was acting on behalf of the Second King, fulfilling a promise to him.

Having witnessed the other's abilities, Reines intended to hire him as her personal assistant, but unfortunately, Graf did not accept the offer.

The old man had already planned to live out his remaining years; his willingness to help this time was only out of consideration for the Second Prince's bow to him.

Graf had no desire to return to the Clock Tower and get involved in all that backstabbing and intrigue.

【(“—Reines, I need you now…”)】

Chapter 358: Does the Clock Tower belong to everyone, or to the twelve monarchs?

[“—Alright, alright, you want me to buy time in the championship decision before you stop Hartres, right? I'll try my best.”]

After hearing the Second King's request, Reines temporarily suspended telepathy.

Passing through a straight passage extending from the crack, the group quickly entered a spacious area.

[It was a spacious room. In the center sat a round table of indeterminate material. Light gathered on the dome-shaped ceiling, flowing at varying paces, illuminating the distant darkness of the underground like scattered stars—it was as if the sky of a new world were a starry night.]

[Ha, is this some kind of imitation of a roundtable discussion?]

Reines took her seat with the others; all the participants in this Grand Order decision had now gathered.

To Reines's left are the two democratic monarchs, Inola and Magdaniel. To her right, naturally, are the aristocratic monarchs and their representatives, Rufreus and Olga Marie.

As planned, all the neutral parties were absent.

Reines thought for a moment, then walked to the right.

Even if El-Melloi accepts Olga Marie's proposal and agrees to the Albion redevelopment plan, the fact that he belongs to the aristocratic faction will not change.

Koles: "It's really just a simple meeting room."

The Grand Council Chamber in the video is indeed a very simple meeting room, with nothing but a round table and twelve chairs, and not even any decorations.

Fiore: "This kind of place might not be used even once every few years, so there's no need to make it fancy. But the light on the ceiling doesn't seem to be magic; it seems to have always been there."

Gold: "Is it the brilliance of Albion's magic circuits? Hmph, the Mage's Association certainly knows how to pick its territory."

Seeing everyone seated, Marg Daniel said with a pleasant expression, "It seems the preparations are all complete."

"Usually, it's all the same old faces that don't change much, so this time it's really refreshing. Even though I'm a magician, it's better to have a constant flow of new faces in this area."

[Enolai joked, "However, according to this theory, Rufreus and I would be the first to be kicked out."]

Rufreus, expressionless: "Hmph, utterly boring..."

Olga Marie rose and bowed, saying, "My father entrusted me with the voting rights for the Department of Astrophysics, and instructed me not to be disrespectful to any of you."

"Damn it, she's better at this than I am, even though I'm older."

Reines thought to herself that she had been a step too slow.

Now that she was the only one left silent, the gazes of the other monarchs naturally turned to her simultaneously.

[Damn it, that's why she hates being last. Whether it's a casual remark or a witty remark, it's all too obvious.]

Reluctantly, Reines could only conclude briefly: "Please allow me, with my inexperience, to sit in the last position. I look forward to your guidance."

"Oh, my stomach hurts so much."

[Sob, she only wanted to give this feeling to her brother, she didn't want to experience it herself.]

[Margo Daniel: "Alright, let's convene the Grand Order decision then."]

Weber: "(ーー゛).."

The Conqueror: "Hahaha, kid, your fiancée is really cute."

Kenneth: "Hmph, it's because he dumps everything on others and lacks experience himself that that girl from the Animusfia family beat him to it."

[Marg Daniel: "Before that, I'd like to introduce someone to you all."]

As soon as she finished speaking, a brown-skinned woman emerged from the darkness and introduced herself: "Hello everyone, I am Ashira Mystras from the Materials Department of the Secret Corpse Dissection Bureau."

Reines was naturally a little surprised to see Ashira suddenly appear.

"As you all probably already know, the topic of this discussion is the right and wrong of the Albion redevelopment project, right?"

Marg Daniels chuckled, “To discuss this matter, the opinion of the Department of Unseen Corpses Autopsy is indispensable. That’s why I asked her to be a witness.”

"Oh, right, to avoid any misunderstanding, let me clarify first, she is my adopted daughter."

Olga Marie: "What!!"

Reines: "!!!"

[This was the first time she had heard this information; Hartles's apprentice was actually Marg Daniel's adopted daughter, and worked in an important department of the Bureau of Secret Relics Dissection?]

They've been tricked.

【(“Hey, brother…”)

【(“—Well, things have changed completely now. Although I had heard before that Margot Danielle had more than a dozen daughters, I never expected…”)

Lion's Robbery: "That was a brilliant strike, catching everyone completely off guard."

Rin Tohsaka: "Heh, that old man's face is so gloomy it's practically dripping water."

[Margo Daniel: "Haha, even so, the autopsy bureau won't present information that only benefits me. But explaining it afterward would complicate things, wouldn't it?"]

[Marg Daniels is planning to end the discussion with his first blow.]

Since Olga Marie's relationship with aristocracy is not particularly close, this meeting can be easily concluded by addressing this point.

Looking at Rufreus again, his thin hands gripped the armrest tightly, as if he wanted to crush it.

Reines thought to herself, "The reaction here is also very bad. If I calmly switch sides, he might fly into a rage and attack me, ignoring everything in the meeting. Of course, I can't believe Marg Daniels would risk his life to protect me."

Rin Tohsaka: "Killing people! Isn't this the Supreme Council meeting? How could something like this happen?"

Kenneth: "According to the rules, of course not, but—"

He knew his teacher's personality very well; such a thing was very likely to happen.

There's nothing we can do; Elmero is already an easy target in the future.

Fiore: "Ha, so you're getting angry, aren't you? This is what you call aristocratic monarchs."

Gold: "They've really lost all sense of shame."

Olga Marie: "I heard that the meeting's agenda was the redevelopment plan for Albion."

[Margo Daniel: "Of course. Is that alright, Ashira?"]

[Ahira: "Yes, Father—no, Lord Tramberlio."]

Ashira transformed into MagDaniel's secretary, placing several sheets of paper in front of them.

Is this meant to emphasize the relationship between them?

[Marg Daniel: "Because Ms. Enolae also asked me to provide detailed information about Albion, I asked her to prepare it."]

[Enolai: "Yes. Good job, little Marg Daniel."]

"Although we are using modern photocopying paper, this is the standard practice of the Secret Corpse Dissection Bureau. We hope you will understand."

[Marg Daniel began his explanation: "As the data shows, the amount of cursed material that can be mined from Albion has been steadily decreasing recently. If we want to maintain the Clock Tower, now is the time to make a decision."]

"If things continue like this, as the mystique diminishes, the likelihood of us achieving our goals as magicians will continue to decrease. If things continue like this, we will lose our reason for being."

Rufreus interrupted, "You mentioned...maintaining the clock tower...so...what do you think is maintaining the clock tower?"

[Margo Daniels: "I think it's the future of magic."]

"...Hahaha...How ridiculous..."

Rufreus scoffed, “Listen carefully… the so-called Clock Tower is… us… Since you say you lack cursed bodies, then just cut back on that new generation… If that’s still not enough… then cut back on those pointless branch families… There’s no need to invest further manpower and magic.”