Hi guys! Here with a brand-spanking new chapter! You know the drill, standard disclaimer, read, review, moo, yadayadayada.

Thanks to my betas and theMadlad for their work! Now let's do this thing!

READ THE AN AT THE END! IMPORTANT NEWS THERE UNDERLINED!

It's been three, now close to four days since Dabi sent me that photo. Two days of digging around and eavesdropping. And I can feel the proverbial clock ticking.

'Still nothing.'

I glance at an empty plastic bottle near my feet and resist the urge to punt it down the dark street. Even though I doubt anyone would hear it thanks to the blaring music coming from behind me. I pay it one more glance, just in case someone shouts anything important. They don't. Heh, would've been nice though. And so with a sigh and a slap of Concealment, I tug at my hoodie and begin walking.

'I take it then the results of this venture were unsuccessful as well?'

Frustration seeps into my mental voice as I force down the more biting complaint. 'That's putting it mildly; it was a total bust.'

'Mind thy tone. I was focused on my meditations. The noise was irritating to my ears.'

Another sharp breath escapes my lips. Does he even have…? No, not now. 'Whatever is happening, the drunks at the Nine Rings don't know shit. It's the latest talk of the town, but they all have their crazy ass theories…when they're not slobbering over the counter.'

'First, temper thy tongue. Second, every far-fetched tale bears a kernel of truth…but I agree that the kernels here will not contribute to unraveling this problem.'

I nod as I maneuver past pedestrians and idly check the time on my 'work' phone. It's not too late; just enough time to get home and settle in before Mom starts asking questions.

'It does not help thee that any investigations are done so late and in such little time.'

'I know, but I'm not skipping school,' I shoot back. 'I already got the verbal cat-o'-nine tails from Makoto-sensei during that time with the USJ attack. I'd rather not draw her attention - and possibly more of Mom's - again.'

'Then what dost thou suggest?'

By now I'd entered the train station and vaulted over the security barrier. The best thing about this time of night is that it's just before all the office workers head back home from their bar crawls/drinking rounds, so there aren't that many people on the train to potentially sit on my invisible lap. That's good because tonight is one of those nights when I simply don't have the patience to slip into a restroom.

'No clue.' Currently eavesdropping on criminal hangouts and relying on Dabi are my only sources of information, and both of them haven't gotten me anywhere meaningful since that night. There's only so much a drunkard will spill. And I haven't seen anyone who could have a more solid link to the incident, so I don't have anyone to threaten with a gutting…yet.

Then what should I do?

'Wait for the next message.' I freeze in my seat. What!?

'I share thy revulsion, but thine enemy has played their cards well. They taunted you in a manner only thou would understand while hiding the truth from the public and the underworld. They even erased any possible clues. As it stands, there is little for thee to do but wait until another such provocation is sent, something thou had strongly suspected.'

I grit my teeth as my breath turns into a low hiss. A million different thoughts ram themselves onto the edges of my mind, but I shove them all down and take several deep breaths. No Ritsu, don't rush into this situation. You can't screw this up.

I eventually make my way home and to my relief, Mom hasn't come in yet. I check the time on my phone; yeah, I'm a little early. Entering my room, I stuff the mask back into the gym bag and take off the sweater. I cringe as a whiff of its smell enters my nostrils. Yeah, this is going straight to the laundry. Good thing I have two spares.

After plugging in my phone, I take off my clothes and make my way to the bathroom. One massive dump later and I enter the stall, turn on the shower and allow the warm water to soothe my mind. But the frustration refuses to abate.

In hindsight, I should've seen this coming. I killed a lot of people, and in doing so I've painted an enormous target on my back. I mean, yeah, I knew that if given the chance, the whole of Tokyo's underworld and the Heroes would come gunning for my head. I just didn't expect someone to so blatantly try and bait me out.

…when I get my hands on whoever's behind this, I'll make sure to leave a very clear message as to what would happen the next time anyone tries a stunt like this—preferably written in blood, splattered on the walls, or carved onto their body, maybe all of the above. If my Zabaniya doesn't incinerate them that is.

Whoa, no stabby thoughts in the shower. You're supposed to relax.

After a few minutes and a rub of shampoo later, I turn off the nozzle and dry myself off with a towel. I exit the shower and start putting on clothes, but just as I finish putting on my pants I see a notification from my work phone on the desk. Dabi.

Swallowing the sense of dread rising in my throat, I open the message.

'Another message. Different victim.'

Attached is an image, and it's just as I feared - a severed arm, with the same message inscribed. Holding it was some masked hobo.

In one swoop, all the frustration I've washed off in the shower comes back, full force.

'How did you find it so quickly? Or did someone take that pic and share it?' I type.

'The portal thing popped up in the same place. I had a hunch that if they're sending you a message, they'd want to do it somewhere a lot of people would see. Up top is a public square, down here it's the same for crooks. Dunno where the other arm is.'

'And the guy holding it?'

'Some rando that had more balls than most. Started waving it around like a trophy. Managed to snap the pic before a bruiser came trying to take it. Tried to slam him into the floor but the arm melted before he could get it.'

I sit down cross-legged on my futon and run through the new intel. The portal appeared in the same place? That's useful.

'Did you see anything in the portal?'

'No.'

Okay, the hard way it is. 'If this keeps repeating, I'll be there next time. Assuming they stick to a schedule, then I'll have to jump in the portal when they send the next message.'

It's not ideal, but I have little else to go on. I'd be dropping into enemy territory, but with Concealment, I should be able to -

'What makes you think that wherever the limbs are coming from the same place they hack them off?'

I pause, then curse under my breath. That's a good point, a really good point.

'These guys are pros, as in 'if Villains had a Pro system' pros. If the portal is made by the same guy who tried to attack USJ then he's not gonna make it that easy. That's what I would do.'

…fuck this shit and everything else. I resist throwing the phone on the ground and instead opt to glare at it, the PMs seemingly taunting me. That's one avenue of investigation closed off - and so far, the only one.

'Keep searching. Same as before. Dropped off some cash.'

Barely a second later, he sends me a thumbs-up emoji.

I shut off the phone and fall backward on the futon. I idly grip the cloth of the mattress as I stare at the familiar ceiling. Essentially, I'm back to square one - I know who they are and what they want but I don't know where. And all the doors - metaphorical and physical - I could think of and snuck into led into empty houses. No phones to backtrack, no secret apartments to bust into. To say I don't like this situation one bit would be an understatement.

I exhale again. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Nothing will happen if I just lie here, no matter how tempting it might feel; that can come later.

I sit upright and return to the cross-legged position. Steadying my breath, I close my eyes and let the sensations of the Valley cocoon me.

For the Valley of Death is my sanctuary, and may through it may my woes be cleansed.

…

…

…

I open my eyes. My heartbeat feels calmer, and some of my tiredness rescinded. Yet a yawn still gapes my jaw.

I do a little stretch, feeling the muscles in my back move. Heh, guess I'm more tired than I thought.

'Have thou found thy answers, contractor?'

'No, not really.' I reply, lifting the blanket and pulling it over me. 'But I think I have a shot on where to start looking for clues, and I'll do it tomorrow after school.' Hopefully, this time I might actually find something.

I just jinxed myself, didn't I?

Yep, I did.

Thankfully, today was one of the shorter school days so I didn't tarry long there. True, I might have gotten a big chunk of trigonometry problems as homework but hey, that's somewhat manageable, I hope; geometry proofs can go fornicate themselves with my ruler.

So I managed to head out of school without further trouble, change into my outfit in the station bathroom and head right to my destination.

But as I look around the warehouse, I realize a few things.

One, there is absolutely no reason for the perps to leave anything here. If they're smart, Handjob and whoever's with him wouldn't gather a bunch of thugs right inside or next to their hideout. They most likely just found this place and used it once.

Two, I once again have no idea where to go.

Three…number three, come on, what was it?

…

Eh, must've slipped my mind.

Nevertheless, I keep searching. I push barrels, open old lockers, and look at the floor for anything anyone might've dropped. I use my Quirk to keep an ear out for any suspicious sound. But I see nothing. I hear only the sound of the wind flying through the rusty window bars.

I go over the whole place one more time. Still nothing.

My eye twitches as I feel heat rise up through my body. Unable to contain my anger, I kick a small barrel and send it down with a hollow clang.

"GAAAHH! How the fuck is this so difficult!" In the back of my mind I know I'm doing something stupid, but I don't care; if anyone was around, I would've noticed by now. "Can't a guy catch a break!? I've tracked down scumbags before, how the fuck is this so different!?"

After another few good kicks to that same barrel, I stand panting as I clench my fists. I draw in a sharp breath and relax my body. Okay, Ritsu, you've vented, now try and reel yourself back in. Save it for when you find these psychos.

'Excellent, contractor. Thy rage is not something to be used at every instance of frustration. Breathe and focus. Breathe and focus.'

I inhale and exhale several more times, focusing on Mawla's voice as I did. A minute later, I open my eyes.

'Do you have any suggestions? I have no idea where to go from here.'

He goes silent, but I can faintly hear him humming in thought. He's probably tapping on the hilt of that giant sword of his.

'I am ashamed to admit it, but I have very little insight to offer thee on this matter. As I have told thee before, I have never before encountered an enemy that could vanish from one place to another. Hide in the shadows or run so fast that it seemed like he vanished, yes, but not this. Since thy usual methods of tracking are useless here…the only thing left for us to do would be to wait for them to make a mistake.'

I frown and huff. 'Great. Just great.' But I'm not mad at him. Well, maybe a little at the meditation for not really helping me.

'The Muraqabah is not an oracle or a divining trace; it cannot provide thee answers to everything. It is a way of focusing thy being, so that the answers which are already in thy head may assemble themselves and take form.' He pauses for a moment. 'Still, coming here was the correct choice, even if thy tree has borne no fruit.'

I take some measure of comfort in that, though the bitterness still remains. So with that, I turn around and head out the door.

'What are thy plans now?'

'...I don't know. I need to relax. And I don't feel like training or going home.'

I half-expect him to protest, but to my brief surprise and after a moment of hesitation, he accepts. 'Mayhap a brisk walk would help thee. But I ask that thou do so unmasked.'

I briefly halt, a bit stunned by what he said before shrugging. I mean, it kinda makes sense. Also, where I'm going I don't want to wear the mask.

So like before, I enter the nearby station and change back into my regular clothes from the gym bag. During the train ride, I check my work phone to make sure Dabi didn't send me anything - but then I somehow wind up just randomly searching stuff. Heh, am I getting lethargic?

The train stops and I disembark. I head out the station and into the streets, as a familiar building fills the view. Soon, I crack a smile at the sight of my old friend, the World Collection. Yeesh, how long has it been? It can't be that long, but it feels like forever.

I climb up the white stairs and peer down at one of the side pools. I idly take note of the face staring back at me. I'd have thought that after all this time, I would barely recognize myself but…no. I know exactly who that person is. And every time I came back from a mission and looked in the mirror, I saw the same face.

'Then thou art at peace with who thou art. Not many can say the same.'

…am I? I shake my head and tear my gaze from the pool. Not the time for these thoughts.

I climb the staircase and like always, the clerk is there reading off his phone. I approach him and he looks up. He blinks, then cracks a smile. "Well, well, well! Look who it is!"

I smile in kind and give him a little bow. "How are you doing?"

"Me? Just doing my job, not that it's been very hard. But what about you? How's the past month and a half been?"

Huh…so not that long. Still shorter than my six-month hiatus. "School mainly. They're gonna start talking to us about careers soon."

"Yeah you're a second-year now, aren't you? Should be roughly that time of your life to start thinking about the future. Any plans?"

"Not for now. Just trying to enjoy myself before I end up in a cubicle." He lets out a bark of laughter.

"Hah! You're too good to end up in one of those life traps, but I get you." He gestures to the door. "The place is nice and quiet, so if you wanna come in for some 'me' time, this is your chance. We're gonna start doing the tour groups soon."

"Thanks." I head to the door and wave at him. He finger salutes me back as he picks up a phone.

I enter and take a moment to savour the sight. The museum is empty of tourists and the exhibits look all nice and shiny. This is way more like it. Peace, tranquility, and history. What more could a guy like me want?

'As I recall, thou stated the same about thy food and games.'

'That was rhetorical, and I meant at this moment.' He hums in what I think is understanding, but doesn't comment further. I start walking down the aisles and admire the pieces of antiquity; the khanjar, the canteen, an old prayer mat, and even a few shards of pottery. Ooh, gold coins. No, that one is copper.

Eventually, I wind up next to the familiar display case where Mawla's giant broadsword is held. Once more, the sight of it sends a chill down my spine.

'As it should. Before thou ask, I shall not reveal its name. When the time comes, thou will know.'

I nod in acceptance. That's what he said last time, and I didn't think anything changed in that regard.

I stare at it for a minute or two before turning away and heading towards the staircase to the upper levels. But as I take the first step, I hear someone walking down from above. I look up and to my surprise, I see none other than the curator himself.

"Zelretch-san?"

The old man looks down and a wide smile stretches his wrinkled face. "Ah, young Ogawa, as I live and breathe!" He descends the stairs as I ascend to meet him; when we do, he reaches out for a handshake. "It warms this old heart to see you!"

I grasp his hand and give him another short bow. "It's been a while, Zelretch-san. Sorry I couldn't meet you after that one time."

He waves his hand. "Rubbish! You are a youth on the cusp of adulthood. I'm sure that whatever kept you from visiting was far more important than an old scholar's feeling."

I blush again as I try to make an excuse, but I see his smile is still on his face and I can't help but chuckle. "Yeah, it was."

"Do not be ashamed, my boy. I was being serious; the journey to adulthood is a crucial part of life, and should not be squandered. As I told you on our first meeting, if my collection has helped to educate at least one person, that is enough for me." He taps his cane. "But since you are here, would you like to see my new exhibit? It is due to open in a few days, but I think I can make an exception for you."

I pause. An early viewing of a new exhibition? "I would be honored."

"Splendid!" He turns around and…is his robe doing that dramatic swoosh thing from movies? "Then as the French say, suivez-moi!"

Fortunately, my limited French vocabulary includes that phrase, so I follow him to the second floor. We turn left and walk to the end of the building past a rope safety barrier and into a large hall. The last time I was here, there was an exhibit on Hindu mythology. Now, the general aesthetic seems far more…medieval. There's a tapestry on one wall, an assortment of banners and…heraldry, I believe, on another, glass display cases filled with all manner of wooden and iron artifacts. But the eyecatcher has got to be the massive suit of armor placed upon the mannequin of a horse. The steel shimmers in the setting sun, causing the gold seams along the steel plates to gleam. From behind them, I catch glimpses of a chainmail vest. The helmet resembles that character from one of those famous sci-fi movies, with a sloped curve of metal protecting the neck. The face is completely obscured, with only a thin slit for a visor. In its right, gloved arm it held a long spear-like weapon - ah, a halberd, right? - and a greatsword was attached to a belt on its hip.

I freeze at the sight. The sight is…menacing, to say the least. I can only imagine what the people of the time would've thought at the sight of this…human war machine on the battlefield.

"Impressive sight, is it not?" Zelretch's voice snaps me out of it and I turn to look at him. He spares me an amused glance, but the main focus of his attention is on the armor. "Found in Germany, in the attic of a wealthy friend of mine. It was gathering dust there, so I asked and he agreed to help me share this treasure with the world."

I try to form words to answer, but I'm still drawn to the armor, so my response isn't as…elegant as I might've wanted it to be. "Uh…how generous."

He bares his teeth - for a moment, they look like fangs - in a mischievous grin. "Yes, I said the same after I captured his queen and put him in checkmate. His face was…well, a bit like yours now."

That fully rouses me as I school my face back to a calm look. Though I don't think the blush is helping. He's still staring at me so…yeah, not at all.

Zelretch waves his cane at the setpiece. "Go on then, take a look."

I nod and slowly make my way around the knight. As I do so, I take closer looks at the plates. While the gold inlays and shining steel do make it look brand new (no doubt thanks to a good polish), I notice faint dents in some places such as the legs. On the back, I see the markings of a larger indent - something round and heavy. A mace? I don't think cannons were a thing back then. This thing had definitely seen battle.

"What time period is this from?" I ask.

"Late 14th century, sometime during the start of Wenceslaus IV's reign." The name doesn't ring a bell, but the time period does.

"Holy Roman Empire?"

"Bohemia, to be specific. A turbulent reign, one that ended with his being executed. Though I couldn't trace to which family the armor belonged."

"Oh right, for armor like this you needed to be loaded, right?"

"It was the human equivalent to a tank back then, so yes - or having the right connections." Or bribing the right people - but that would still need you to be filthy rich.

'Most impressive. Such suits of armor were not around in my time. Some heavy cavalry regiments did wear steel breastplates, but no one was armored to this level.'

'Yeah, mainly chainmail, helmets and cloth, right? Both the Muslims and the Crusaders wore variations of those.'

'More or less; as its namesake suggests, heavy armor is troublesome to move around in unless thou were mounted, and the treacherous desert condition further served to impede one's progress.' He stops for a moment, probably to take another look. 'I find his comparison to modern war machines apt. Mine fid'ai would have faced more challenging missions if such armor was more commonplace in my time. Armor of this caliber makes any dagger or knife useless unless thou know exactly where to hit. Not to mention the chainmail.'

I nod in agreement. Yeah, kind of hard to assassinate someone when they're clad head to toe in steel. "Looks tough, really tough. But isn't wearing so much metal tiring?"

"Yes, but not as much as you think. It varied from knight to knight, but in addition to their constant training, the plates that made up the armor allowed for far more speed and flexibility than one would expect. They couldn't perform circus acts, but they could certainly do a backflip."

I chuckle. Interesting way of putting it. I keep moving and point at the sword. "Did that come with the armor?"

"No, but it was from around the same region and time period. It's listed separately on the plaque." He moves closer to me. "A longsword, a common weapon for a knight to use alongside the halberd. With a good swing, a man's limbs would be sent flying."

With all of that? Yeah, no kidding. I hum and step back. All in all, it's amazing. "Very impressive. Is this going to be on the new tour?"

Zelretch perks up. "Oh, my clerk told you? Yes, in fact, I'm making this exhibit the main attraction of the tour. Nothing gets young people excited like violence!"

I titter, though I can't really deny that fact. I move to make another round of looking at the armor when I notice something rather…out of place.

I point forward. "Why is that mannequin naked?"

To the left of the knight is another taxidermied horse with a human-shaped mannequin atop it. Unlike the knight, it bore not even a shred of clothing, the same went for the horse.

Zelretch follows my finger and when he sees what I'm pointing at, he sighs. "That…is a bit of an unfortunate tale."

I frown and tilt my head. "What happened?"

"After I had acquired the German set of armor, I managed to get my hands on another set, complete with a sword. Its origins were - and still are, I must admit - unknown to me. I was eager to bring it here at once to study and display to the public, but because of certain bureaucratic issues, I was forced to ship the armor sets separately instead of together. The one you see here came first. But less than two months ago, as the armor and another artifact - a helmet - were being transported here, a Villain attack broke out just as the artifacts came to Tokyo, and the rail car that carried them was looted and destroyed. No one was hurt, thankfully."

I'm starting to get where this is going. "But the artifacts weren't so lucky?"

"Alas, that is the case. The artifacts were lost in the destruction and I've seen neither hide nor hair of them since. I've put up a request with the police, but I've yet to receive even a scrap of new information."

Okay, this is just wrong. One doesn't treat pieces of history like they're garbage or common loot. I can't even begin to imagine what I'd do if someone damaged my mask or dagger. Not that they'd ever get the chance. "The robbers haven't been caught?"

"That's the strange thing: they were caught a few days later trying to sell a bunch of jewelry they stole from that train, but the police told me that there was no sign of the armor or the helmet. The criminals said that they didn't see anything like that when they looted the car."

"So the armor and the helm, they just…fell off somewhere?"

"It seems like it. They were in separate containers and the whole suit of armor was in one by itself, so the pieces didn't just scatter to the winds. But so far, I have not heard anything new about their whereabouts."

Huh. Strange. If they fell on land then they should still be there, but if the train was robbed next to a river…yeah, it makes more sense. Still, for an entire suit of armor to just vanish…yeesh. And a helmet.

Zelretch stares at the mannequin with a distant look, then shakes his head. "No matter. I have a full set to show, and for now, it is best to work with what I have. No use crying over spilled milk, even if it was exquisite milk." He pauses and pulls out the pocket watch from our first meeting. "Speaking of milk, would you care to join me for tea again? I have a fresh supply of those cookies you enjoyed."

Free cookies? Say no more. "Lead the way."

He turns around and heads out of the room, and I follow him. We go up another level and enter his office. Unlike the exhibit room, it hasn't changed a bit.

He gestures to one of the armchairs. "I'll prepare the tea." Dropping my gym bag to the side, I accept and sit down, letting out a content groan as I feel the softness of the fabric. Man, my feet are sore. Did I seriously just circle that armor once? Or is it the fact that I moved through most of the bottom floor?

My thoughts go back to what he said about the missing armor. That had to suck. Looks like I'm not the only one who can't find something…

"So, what has been troubling you, young Ogawa?"

I blink in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You have the look of someone who has been trying something and failing repeatedly. I should know that, seeing as how I saw that expression on the faces of my students many times. How many sugars?"

"Two. You have students?"

"Not as many as in my younger days, but yes. I was - and still am - a professor of history in England. I don't teach much these days though." There's a small ding and he stirs a teabag into two cups. "But back to my previous question, what is bothering you?"

I bite my lip as I try to think of an answer. I mean, I can't tell him anything direct, but I'm getting desperate. If I wanted to catch these scumbags in time, I needed a solution. So maybe another perspective could help…that's what Mawla sometimes said. And the teachers in video games.

"I'm…trying to find something, but I don't know where it is."

"Oh? Did you lose something valuable?"

"No, I didn't lose anything…but I'm afraid I might if I don't find it soon. No one seems to know where it is and I've looked everywhere I can think of."

"Hmm, that is concerning." Zelretch stops stirring and brings two plates, each with a steaming cup of tea and cookies. "And you say you have exhausted all your options?"

I nod as I pick up a cookie. "Yep, or at least I feel like it."

I take a bite and enjoy the flavor of the treat. Nice and buttery. Zelretch flashes me a smile and calmly sips his own cup. A few minutes pass like this, each of us alternating between eating and drinking at our own pace. Eventually, he puts down the cup.

"Well, if you cannot find it where it was lost, perhaps you can think of where it might be if someone had found it."

I pause mid-sip.

"A better way to say it would be, 'if I was that object, where would I be?'"

I put the cup down and think. If I was cutting people's arms off, then I would want to keep them somewhere where they couldn't run away. Or I would just snatch them off the streets and do it on the spot - no, this feels too meticulous for that. So someplace that can hold people, isolated from most folk. Since he's cutting up limbs and dealing with bodies, it has to also have a means of hiding the stench of death.

…still doesn't solve the teleporting issue though.

"Did that help?"

I look up and meet his red eyes. "A bit, but there's still a lot I'm missing."

"Ah, well, I'm sure that you'll figure it out. You're a smart young man." I nod reluctantly. I really hope he's right.

The old scholar picks up a newspaper and reads it. "Hmm, you would think that after that USJ fiasco crime would go down, but it always seemed to be popping up like a gopher."

I nod absentmindedly. "What happened?"

"Oh, just the usual robberies, Villain attacks, and the such. What's scary is that they can come from anywhere."

"Well, yeah, but it's obvious in some places more than others."

"True enough. One would feel far safer in the heart of Tokyo than in say, a run-down neighborhood on the outskirts. But it isn't always that apparent."

I raise an eyebrow. I think I understand, like the time with the trash who threatened my mother. "Do you have any examples?"

"Why, as a matter of fact, yes!" He picks up a cookie and starts to nibble. "A week ago I was out on a walk in a nice neighborhood, somewhere in northern Chiyoda, I believe. Yes, that was it. I had just finished a tour of the imperial palace and decided to pass the time with a stroll. It started out fine, with great views, and nice people, but after I turned a corner I felt this…uneasiness." I slightly lean forward, the cookies forgotten. "Now, I still don't know why, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was next to something unsound, something foul. I headed out of there as soon as I could."

I rub my chin in thought. A place where one would least suspect an act of murder to occur…it certainly seems like a good cover.

'Contractor, I suggest thou go and investigate this Chiyoda.'

Outwardly, I show no reaction, but I am rather confused. 'Mawla, are you telling me you think that whatever it is Zelretch felt has a connection to our problem?'

'I am telling thee that it would not hurt to look. Thou hast exhausted all possible locations, correct? This man…he holds wisdom, I can sense it; it would be unwise to ignore his words. And was he not the one who gave my mask to thee? At the very least, thou now have a narrower field to search.'

…he has a point. But what about -

'There is nothing thou can about it. For now, thou must assume that the butcher is in this city until proven otherwise. It is where they planned the attack on thy friend's school, so it stands to reason that they hold their base of operations here as well.'

I mull over his words, and then let out a huff. Well, it's a better lead than before…

I straighten myself and rise from the chair. "Thank you for the tea, Zelretch-san. The cookies were also very good." I give him a bow, but he waves it off.

"Think nothing of it, young Ogawa. You are always welcome here." I flash him a smile before tossing my gym bag over the shoulder and moving to take my leave. Yet as I take one step outside his office, I pause and look at the stairs.

"Zelretch-san?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"What does the armor look like? In case I might cross paths with it."

I hear him chuckle, and for a moment his voice sounds…deeper. A bit like Mawla's. "Oh, don't worry. It's impossible to miss."

…

…okay, then. With that, I descend the staircase and make my way toward the exit with a spring in my step. I finally have a possible lead - this calls for ice cream!

And I'll also keep an eye out for the missing artifacts. Compared to what I've been through, it should be a walk in the park. How hard can it be to find a whole suit of medieval armor?

PAIN.

AGONY.

That was all he felt. Histheir whole life had been nothing but these two things.

Life was a fog, a never-ending cloud of black that hethey could not see past. Pain marred their beginning. Scorn tarnished their youth.

Once, there had been hope. A faint light in that damnable smog. Maybe it even bloomed into a radiant sun. (A light so bright that hethey followed) And then -

BETRAYAL

Murder. Treason. Blood. Fire. Death.

WhywhywhywhwhyWHYYY!?

The PAIN returned. The AGONY tenfold. Unbearable. Inescapable.

Yet, there is something else. Something that had been forming for a long time.

What was it? What roiled in histheir body, histheir very essence?

"Hey, who the hell are-whoa!"

This nameless, formless, thing that threatened to erupt at any given moment?

"A little too late to be out cosplaying, aren't ya?"

This torrent that somehow seems to be the only thing that kept himthem going?

"What's the matter, have one too many bottles?"

The one thing that now gives histheir life purpose?

"Tell ya what, we're nice guys. Sit down and let us take off that thing so you can-"

…

…oh, yes. That was what it was.

How could they forget?

"Hey! Let go you-AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

RIPTEARSLAYPAINDESTROYSUFFERDIEDIEDIEDIE!

…

…silence.

No, it was just there! What is missing? The warmth, the stench, the red, it's right here! So what is missing!?

Clap, clap, clap.

"Wow, look at you. Barely ten seconds, nice work!"

Who dares-

He was on the ground. The pressure came and vanished in an instant.

"Ah-ah-ah~ don't get too antsy there, now kneel!"

It came again. He tried to move, but could only get on one knee. Was this…familiar? Yes, yes, it was. Then he must be…

"Much better. Wouldn't want to wreck this lovely neighborhood, would we? Especially after all the trouble I went through to find you. For a big guy, you sure know how to move around quickly."

…

"Now now, don't sulk. You'll have a chance to quench your first. In fact, I know someone who will help you! So if you don't mind, hold still…"

A hand on his head. A scent, an aura, a presence, inscribed into the air.

The pressure vanishes, but he dares not stand.

"Now go, my friend! Follow the trail! Stick to the shadows, and when the scent is strong, rampage to your heart's content!

And when that moment comes, LET THE WHOLE WORLD QUAKE BENEATH THY RAGE!"

Ritsu Ogawa (Assassin - Hassan-i Sabbah)

Stats:

Strength: D++

Agility: C

Endurance: C-

Mana: C++ (Only when using Power of the Valley. Otherwise, nonexistent.)

Luck: C+

Skills:

Presence Concealment C-: The ability to hide from others. A semi-decent level for any Assassin. Against ordinary criminals and some intelligent ones it works well.

Throwing (Dagger) B and Throwing (Retrieval) B: The expertise for throwing projectile weapons; in this case, daggers. His daggers have the same destructive power as firearms when thrown, typically spelling certain death for human targets. He can retrieve them to his hand with but a mere gesture

Information Erasure C++: Erases all traces of the user's identity, physical or digital, after leaving a scene of assassination. It does not hide the user's identity in any other situation, and clues can be pieced together to deduce identity. If the user's identity is discovered, then the effects of the skill weaken. Rank increased thanks to multiple exposures outside of Presence Concealment.

Power of the Valley of Death C++: A unique connection forged as a result of finding a relic of Alamut. Assassin can draw power from the Valley to perform certain skills he would otherwise be incapable of doing.

Quirk - Super-Hearing C+: A power gained as a result of evolution. Allows the user to hear precise details within a certain range. Can extend the range in exchange for loss of detail. Also alerts the user of incoming danger provided they can react to it.

Muraqubah D+: A meditative state that enhances Ritsu's connection to the Valley. If used enough times/for long enough, combat specs have a chance of increasing. In addition, it also enables ?

Noble Phantasm:

Zabaniya - Delusional Judgment Rank C+

An 'ultimate assassination technique' bearing the same name as the angels of hell, a title which all previous 'Old Men of the Mountain' used for their own techniques. Unlike them however, who were forged by extensive modification of the Hassans' bodies, this technique is a reflection of the Assassin's desire to inflict what he deems true judgment. Calling upon his unique connection to the Valley in the Shadow of Death, Assassin drags his target's soul to the Valley, where the First Hassan awaits them. Their soul is laid bare before the Great Founder and should they be found guilty of whatever sin Assassin finds them to have committed, the flames of Gehenna will burn away their soul and body until naught but ash remains.

Good day to all my fellow readers and writers! I'm here, and Ritsu is beginning to uncover the remains of this dastardly plot to bait him out. Let's hope it doesn't come back to tear his arse off later. And who are these mysterious individuals at the end of the chapter? Well, as my friend athingofvikings always says, RAFO.

IMPORTANT NEWS #1: I have to admit, I really struggled with this chapter, because it and the Paradox Spiral arc represented a pivotal point in the story, a 'make-or-break' if you will. Meaning if I screwed this up it would either become hated or degenerate into another standard power fantasy fic. Now, I don't want that - only the highest fiction quality for myself and for my readers! After much consulting with theMadlad (writer of Fate/Defiance, great fanfic btw) and Santo of Spacebattles, I've decided to change some future aspects of this story so that it won't go too off the rails. I normally hate using deus ex machina, so I hope this came as not too disorienting. Please let me know in the comments/reviews how I did - it's critically important to me.

IMPORTANT NEWS #2: On a brighter note, THIS STORY HAS GAINED A TVTROPES PAGE! THANK YOU SIRGALAHAD OF SB! Ahem, please go check it out and update it if necessary.

If you're feeling helpful, go to my page at pat . reon/ user?u=47732921 and donate a bit! Patrons will also get previews of future chapters!

I'm a member of the Shiro's Gaming Omniverse Discord (discord . gg/wd3tUYWVCd.) server and the Emerald Library (discord . gg/elibrary). If you want to hop over and chat, either about this story or anything else, feel free! I also have my own server Drake's Lair, at (discord . gg/2bD4UgyyPA).

If you enjoyed this story, check out my other ones and look at my profile for challenges!

Most importantly...

Read and Review! REVIEW!