Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Assistant
Chapter 4:
"___" - Speech
(___) - Thoughts
{___} - Internal Voice(s)
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The room was dimly lit by a lonesome lamp that sat in the corner of the room. Not to mention it was just as quiet save for the faint humming of the air-conditioning unit strapped above the door frame.
With a tense look on his face, Jin's lilac pupils darted over the array of photos he had scattered around his dining table. The only comfort being some sort of alcoholic beverage his boss had given him as a good luck charm.
And to his dismay, it wasn't exactly doing its job.
(It wasn't in the church, and it wasn't with him. All of the rogues have been killed yet not even one of those swords were located —shit.)
The dots weren't connecting, there had to be a missing piece somewhere but he didn't have the faintest clue as to where to look.
Whilst harrowing over his assignment, an amber-colored runic circle appeared in his residence as a figure started to manifest from within.
It was a young man with mildly wavy, short, dark brown hair and bangs framing his face. He sported what seemed to be a long dark trench coat hanging off his shoulders with a rather peculiar emblem on the back.
An inverted gold-colored cross with four wings hanging off the side.
Furthermore, his pupils radiated an even deeper violet complexion than Jin's.
Unlike the last time his shop had an intruder, Jin was at ease, as if he had been expecting his arrival.
"Are you the assistant he sent me?"
"That is indeed correct, Jin-sama."
He bowed politely as Jin carefully glanced at him.
"Your name?"
"Oron, I hope I can be of service to you."
"That makes two of us, also drop the 'sama' please. I think the both of us know you're the stronger one here."
Jin's comment earned an inquisitive glance from his new aide, whilst the latter knew it to be true he certainly didn't expect him to admit it openly.
"I insist on the honorifics Jin-sama, it would be uncouth of me otherwise."
"Suit yourself." Jin shrugged as he returned his attention to the mess of notes he had laid on the dining table.
"I was updated on the situation beforehand, so I did a bit of scouting work and stumbled across something rather interesting."
(Finally, some good news.)
"Go on."
Oron handed him a photo of what looked to be a harmless elderly man wearing a priest's outfit.
"Who is this?"
"I spotted him around the area where you alongside those Devils got rid of the traitors, according to what Grigori told me he's a man by the name of Balba Galilei— also known as the 'Genocide Archbishop'."
(His face certainly contradicts his title. However, I've already got a hunch that he and that Exorcist guy might be connected somehow.)
"I'm guessing he's involved with the church in some manner?"
"That would be correct, he spearheaded an assignment known as the 'Holy Sword Project' where experiments deemed inhumane by the church were conducted on children to try to create ones capable of wielding the fragmented pieces of Excalibur. Naturally, he was soon exiled for his crimes."
(I don't have much of an appetite for murder, but part of me says the aftertaste of getting rid of this guy won't be all that hard to swallow.)
"Moreover, alongside one that had gone missing during the war, each of the different branches of the church have had exactly one Excalibur stolen from them and brought here."
"That's the part I still don't get, why bring it he—"
Jin's train of thought suddenly derailed as the dots started to connect.
"Jin-sama?"
"Oh, the only variable in this town is the Gremory Ojou-chan and the other one from the Sitri household. In other words —Devils."
"I'm afraid I don't quite follow."
"Think about it, what exactly are Holy Swords designed to do?"
Oron's expression mimicked Jin's as he finally caught on to what the latter had concluded.
"You believe they're being targeted? But what would be the point of that other than enticing conflict?"
"I haven't the faintest clue, it could be a grudge, a hired job, or even just plain animosity. Whatever it is, it's probably for the best that we don't let either of the Heiresses die."
Jin peered over at the photos of the rogue Fallen Angels marked in red.
"Raynare, Dohnaseek, Kalawarna and Mittelt. They were all two-winged, correct?"
"They were, what about them?"
"I might be pulling at straws here, but considering how compact Grigori is —surveillance shouldn't be much of a problem. Not to mention a priority, I mean if they had succeeded we would be at war would we not?"
His fingers drummed across the dining table as he held up the photo of Raynare.
"Again, I'm not sure where this is headed."
"Oron, were there any executives in Grigori not on-site?"
"Well, I'm not exactly privy to something like a status report. But if you're asking me based-off what I've witnessed, both Baraqiel-sama and Kokabiel-sama haven't been around for a substantial amount of time. Don't tell me you're suspecting them?"
"I haven't come to any sort of verdict, however, one of them might've made it easier for those four to slip through Azazel's fingers."
"But even if that's true then it would suggest one of the higher-ups actively wants to bring harm to the Heiresses. What would be the point?"
"You —I mean we lost the most in the war, one or both of them may be planning on enacting some form of revenge. Any guesses?"
Though Jin's hypothesis disturbed Oron greatly, after what had happened with Raynare and her group it wasn't entirely out of the question.
"Don't take this as gospel, but from what I've heard Baraqiel-sama is fiercely loyal to Azazel-sama, so if we're going off probability he's far more unlikely to disobey."
Jin nodded as he drew the photo of Balba closer to his face.
"Stray's can't survive without the assistance of Fallen Angels. Someone below the Leader-Class certainly isn't capable of sheltering someone with as much notoriety as this Balba guy. Grigori's mismanagement started this situation, I don't see any reason for it to not be the root cause."
"Let's say you're right, how are we supposed to deal with someone of Kokabiel-sama's caliber? Shouldn't we consult Azazel-sama about it first?"
Jin shook his head helplessly as he turned his head towards his newfound assistant.
"He wants me to complete this on my own."
Oron's brows snapped together, it didn't make any sense for the Governor-General to expect a complete greenhorn like Jin to supposedly tackle a Leader-Class all on his lonesome.
"What makes you so sure?"
"Oron, how much do you know about me?"
"I'm aware that Azazel-sama reincarnated you, other than I wasn't told much else."
"He did more than that, for some reason unbeknownst to me he labeled me as his 'right-hand'."
(What? That title should be reserved for Shemhazai-sama, and there has been no mention of a change in rank. Unless he's in training?)
"Also, he left me this."
He pulled out a scrunched note from his breast pocket and handed it to the stunned assistant.
"Eh!? He won't meet with you until you've finished the assignment!?" Even he, found it difficult to contain his composure, the Governor-General wasn't exactly known for being an iron fist nowadays.
"I'm aware neither of us are capable of even putting a dent in Kokabiel, which is why we might end up having to use the Devils."
"Those children? I'm aware their bloodlines are strong but I doubt even their combined forces would be enough —there'll likely be fatalities."
"Perhaps."
Jin puckered his forehead as he reached over to the cabinet and started to pour himself a drink.
"However, I'm not relying on their strengths."
"Then?"
"If I make it known that those two are in imminent danger, chances are it'll draw out the Satans. I've heard the Gremory in particular are known to be awfully compassionate, surely one of their own being in danger is more than enough to elicit a response?"
"That's far too risky, and why would either of them believe a Fallen Angel who doesn't even have an official title within Grigori? Chances are you'd end up being ghosted."
"I've already established contact with the Gremory heiress. If I can convince her to call upon her older brother I'm confident he'll respond."
"But to do that—"
"I know, first we'd need proof."
"And how exactly are we going to obtain that?"
"Well, it's not like we can just snap a picture of Kokabiel and run away, which leaves only one other choice."
Oron took a minute to contemplate before he caught on to the insanity of what Jin was proposing.
"Direct confrontation!? Have you lost your mind!?"
"It's viable, if Kokabiel becomes an active threat in Kuoh they'll have no other choice but to intervene."
"Even so, how are you going to lure him out? It's not like he's going to respond just because you asked."
"We've already confirmed that this Balba guy is present in Kuoh. That should mean he's the one currently acting on his behalf, however, if we get rid of him—"
"There'll be no one left to do his bidding, meaning he'd have to do it himself."
"Exactly."
"However, your plan is still flawed. You're planning to make direct contact with Kokabiel before informing the households, you'll need to stall him until the Satan's arrive. Which is way beyond your skill set."
"I know, which is why we'll bring all of the Devils in Kuoh alongside us once we've killed Balba."
"Is that possible?"
"It's their territory, they'll feel obligated to protect it. Though they certainly won't even put a dent in Kokabiel, with their combined strength they should be able to hold out for a bit. Also—"
Jin reached into his randoseru and pulled out a silver bracelet with a purple jewel embedded into it.
"I have this."
"What is that?"
"It was a last resort Azazel gave me before he left, it has the power to forcibly activate [Balance Breaker] —but only for a short amount of time."
"He isn't a genius for nothing, but are you sure your Sacred Gear will suffice?"
"It won't be used on me."
"Then?"
"The Gremory Ojou-chan seems to have recruited the Welsh Dragon onto her side. I didn't examine him in detail, but hopefully, a Longinus should be enough to increase our odds of lasting until the Satans arrive."
"I see, that certainly would be helpful. Although, during the time between Kokabiel's arrival and the Satans —aren't we still risking possible casualties?"
Jin carefully set aside his glass as his mood seemed to darken ever so slightly. "Maybe."
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