Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.
Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.
The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.
"Speech"
Time*
Chapter 41: Many, Many Plans
The next day*
Finalizing... Idle S9Prisoner survived for 43 years.
Idle S9Prisoner brought back 1% of the Mother Pathway - Sequence 8: Doctor's Potion's Ingredient Collection.
Acting Progress... 100%. 3x Boost in effect... 100%.
Unlocking Beyonder's Abilities of the Chained Pathway's Sequence 9: Prisoner.
1. Criminal Knowledge: They gain knowledge that makes them masters of many criminal techniques, such as lock picking with wire, digging tunnels with soup spoons, and killing with seemingly harmless items.
Additional Note: They are also possess knowledge that makes them good at using bombs and explosives.
2. Physical Enhancements: The Beyonders of this Sequence possess strong bodies and keen senses, often possessing not only a staid appearance but also a crazy heart within them.
I gave the Card of Chained a quick glance before switching back to the Card of Fool.
"You know." Momoyo began, her voice dripping with dry amusement. "If I didn't know you were a legit Seer, I wouldn't have believed you when you said Aya's missing body is shipping out of France, and we need to book a flight to Japan." She leaned back in her seat, stretching with a yawn. "Man, I hate using airplanes. The flight alone takes forever."
"I'm more annoyed that I'm heading back to Japan so soon." I muttered, my frown deepening.
With the Sefirah Castle currently inaccessible, I was forced to rely on a variety of other Divinations instead due to not having access to the passive enhancements of the Sefirah Castle when inside to use the Computational Divination.
"And did you really have to make such a big incident back at the airport?" I added, shooting her a pointed glance.
"Hey!" Momoyo scoffed, crossing her arms. "Some idiot tried to grope my butt without my permission. I had every right to punch him. Hard." She rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching in lingering irritation. "Besides, I didn't even hit him that hard. He'll live."
"If I recall correctly, he was announced crippled, no longer having working legs. All three." I blanched at the thought, an involuntary shiver running down my spine. The idea of losing the ability of my third leg, my so-called lower half brain, was a nightmare I didn't want to entertain.
"Again." Momoyo drawled, smirking as she caught my discomfort. "He'll live."
"Right..." I muttered, shifting in my seat. "And beating up all those security guards who were just doing their jobs?"
Momoyo didn't bother to hide her grin. "Collateral damage."
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. The sheer audacity of her actions and the fact that she walked away without consequences was a testament to how powerful her background was in this world. It wasn't like I could single-handedly commandeer an entire plane without massive fallout. But with Momoyo's influence, we'd essentially secured a private flight without so much as a slap on the wrist.
"Never mind." I relented, waving a hand dismissively. "Let's get back to our previous topic before we strong-armed our way into having this entire airplane to ourselves."
She tilted her head, lazily amused.
"Do you plan on going back to your place, or are you sticking with Aya and me until we retrieve her body?" I asked, watching her carefully. "You know, before you decide, it's time to stop wandering so much and stick in one place until something else requires your attention."
Momoyo's grin faltered slightly, replaced by a more subdued expression.
"Why would I want to go back there?" Momoyo murmured. "I'd rather stick with you until I'm forced to go back. There's not much reason for me to return to my family's place."
"Alright, I'm not going to tell you to leave if you don't want to." I shrugged, keeping my tone casual.
Not that I actually wanted Momoyo to leave in the first place. I'd be a fool to dismiss how useful she could be. Unlike Alucard, who I still needed to deal with sooner rather than later. The lingering presence of the Fates' influence on her was a growing concern. If left unchecked, she could become a significant problem.
"Good." Momoyo beamed at me, her grin practically infectious. "Otherwise, I would've fought you until you agreed to let me tag along."
"Wouldn't change much." I snorted, the memory of a particular Computational Divination flashing through my mind. The result had been amusing in hindsight: Momoyo chased after me with boundless enthusiasm once she realized how easily I could switch between fighting styles using the Card of the Twilight Giant.
The thought of her gleefully challenging what she assumed was multiple opponents in one body made me shake my head. Even now, the excitement in her eyes hinted that she wouldn't hesitate to test herself against me if the opportunity presented itself. She was nothing if not relentless.
"And you'd just keep chasing after me until I gave in." I added with a dry chuckle.
"Exactly!" Momoyo laughed, entirely unashamed. "Where's the fun in giving up after one round? Besides, it's not every day I get to fight someone who can keep up with me and surpass me if I let my guard down."
Her eyes gleamed with the spark of a born brawler, and I had no doubt she'd still jump at the chance for a proper match. Not that I intended to give her one. Not yet, anyway.
"By the way." I started, shifting my gaze toward the small curtain separating us from the economy section, "Are you sure it's fine that your... uh, family's staff workers are back there while we're taking up the entire first-class section of the plane?"
The plush leather seats and excessive space around us only amplified the contrast. It felt a little ridiculous to be lounging in such luxury while they were crammed in the back.
"Yeah, they're fine with it." Momoyo replied without a second thought, lazily waving off my concern. "In fact, they'd rather deal with each other back there than have to worry about me being nearby. Less pressure that way."
I arched a brow. "Pressure?"
She grinned. "What? Do you think they're comfortable sitting too close to me? I'd probably scare the hell out of them just by breathing." Momoyo leaned back with a satisfied stretch. "Besides, the fewer people tripping over themselves to impress me, the better."
"Well, alright then." I muttered, conceding the point. I twisted open a water bottle, but just as I lifted it to my lips, something pulled at the edges of my mind. The familiar sensation of a spontaneous Divination swept over me.
A subtle yet vivid flash of vision warned me of a disturbance waiting to unfold. My fingers tightened around the bottle as I caught a glimpse of the probable future.
"Hey, Momoyo." I said slowly, lowering the bottle. "Mind giving your grandfather a call? Tell him to deal with the problem at the airport."
She blinked. "The airport? You mean the one we left hours ago or the one we're heading to?"
"The second one." I nodded. "We've still got about an hour before we land, but trust me. It's best if you make that call now."
"Sure, whatever." Momoyo said with a shrug, pulling out her phone. Momoyo's nonchalance didn't surprise me; she was used to taking my warnings at face value. After all, I'd proven more than once that ignoring a Seer's advice never ended well.
It didn't take long. A short exchange, a few terse words, and a final confirmation. Then, she clicked her phone off, tucking it away like it was nothing.
"So." Momoyo drawled, tilting her head at me with a curious smirk. "Should I bother asking what this problem might be? Or is it one of those 'better not to know' things?"
"Pointless to know." I replied, suppressing a grimace. "But if it makes you feel better, it's nothing that'll reach us mid-flight. I think your grandfather will handle it just fine."
Momoyo's smirk lingered, but she didn't press further.
"You know." A frown formed as a nagging thought bubbled to the surface. "I just realized something important we might have missed. Or more like... I forgot about it."
"Oh?" Momoyo arched an eyebrow, leaning lazily against the plush armchair. "What's that?"
I hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "No idea if you know about them, but I'm part of the Order within the Japanese Association of Assassins." My tone turned serious, carefully watching her reaction.
"Huh?" Momoyo blinked, visibly taken aback. "They're actually real? I always thought the Order was just some urban legend. You're telling me it exists, and you're a member?" Her lips curled into a grin, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes. "Okay, now I'm interested. Do you think I could join?"
I snorted. "Pretty sure your grandfather would have a heart attack if he found out you joined the Order. Besides, their main task is maintaining the balance within the assassin world, making sure things don't spiral out of control when friction arises in the industry. Not exactly your kind of scene."
"Sounds like a lot of politics and boring stuff." Momoyo said dully, though the amusement never left her face. "But I'm guessing there's more to it than just managing turf wars and settling grudges."
"Exactly." I murmured. My frown deepened as the implications settled in. "And now that I think about it... there's something else I overlooked."
Momoyo tilted her head, her stare growing sharper. "What's that?"
"We're not just dealing with assassins and their squabbles." I leaned forward, my voice lowering. "There are supernatural creatures embedded within the Japanese Association of Assassins and likely other organizations, too. The Order doesn't just keep the human world in check; they ensure those... things stay under control as well."
Her expression shifted, the casual air fading as the weight of my words sank in.
"Supernatural creatures, huh?" Momoyo mused. "And I'm guessing they're not the friendly, sparkly kind."
"Far from it." I said dryly. "Some are ancient beings that slip through the cracks, blending into society, while others act as mercenaries or manipulators. The Order handles any situations involving them that could threaten the balance." I shook my head. "But now that I'm returning to Japan, I wouldn't be surprised if we cross paths with a few."
"Great." Momoyo muttered with a sigh, though the faint excitement in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. "As if assassins weren't enough, now we have monsters in the mix. Well, it's not like we haven't dealt with monsters before. This trip just keeps getting better."
"Welcome to my life." I replied with a wry smirk.
Momoyo laughed, but the sound faltered as her expression shifted, a confused look clouding her face.
"Something wrong, Momoyo?" I ask, a flicker of concern stirring within me. Seeing her unsettled like this wasn't exactly common.
"Yeah... It's just." Momoyo began slowly, her brows furrowing. "I'm starting to recall how many incidents involving my family brought up all kinds of questions. But no one ever gave me a straight answer. Besides a couple of vague explanations from my grandfather, I never really understood what was going on." She paused as though piecing things together. "Thinking about it now, some of those incidents might've been related to supernatural creatures. Ones I haven't encountered yet. Or maybe..." Her eyes darkened slightly. "Maybe I was intentionally kept from facing them until I was ready."
I frowned. "So, you're thinking your grandfather believes you're finally ready now? And that's why he sent you on this wild hunt for that painting he supposedly lost?"
"That might be the case." Momoyo admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "It's like he expected me to stumble across something, which I did. First, I ran into that creature, then met you and Aya in the process." She narrowed her eyes. "Actually, now that I think about it, I've changed my mind. I want answers."
I tilted my head. "You're saying you want to visit your grandfather's place?"
"Exactly." Momoyo confirmed firmly. "Before we go chasing after Aya's body, I think we should head to my grandfather. If anyone knows what's really going on, it's him."
"Fair enough." I replied with a shrug. "No objections here. We still got plenty of time to grab Aya's missing body before it's once again shipped off."