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*****
George, I need your help with something."
In the grand hall, Aleister, suspended upside-down in his life-support device, smiled as he addressed George.
George waved a hand dismissively.
"No need to be so polite. You've taught me well during this time, so of course, I'll fulfill my obligations. Just tell me what needs to be done, along with any potential dangers and details."
"Academy City is about to host the Daihaseisai festival. Two mages with ulterior motives will be sneaking in—one of them is a high-ranking member of the Roman Orthodox Church.
It appears they plan to use the festival as cover to trade a Spirit Gear called the Stab Sword.
Lola Stuart, the Supreme Archbishop of Puritanism, is concerned that the Roman Orthodox Church intends to obtain the Stab Sword—a Spirit Gear capable of killing Saints—to use against them.
She has requested our assistance in stopping the transaction."
Aleister briefly explained the situation.
Ordinarily, he had no interest in interfering with the conflicts between the Roman Orthodox Church and Puritanism. To him, all mages were enemies—his ultimate goal was to create a world devoid of magic.
However, for now, he was officially in an alliance with Puritanism, making it difficult to outright refuse.
Besides, this incident provided a good opportunity to test and temper Kamijou Touma, so he decided to accept the request.
---
"So, do you need me to kill those two mages?"
A hint of interest flickered across George's face.
Lately, he had been studying the magical craftsmanship behind Spirit Gear, and he was naturally familiar with the Stab Sword, one of the most powerful relics of its kind.
The Stab Sword was essentially a replica of the Spear of Longinus, the legendary lance that had pierced Jesus Christ. Because of its origins, it had a unique effect against Saints.
Its most terrifying aspect was its ability to kill a Saint instantly—no matter the distance—as long as they were in the wielder's line of sight.
However, it only worked against Saints and had no effect on ordinary people.
For this reason, it was often referred to as the most sinister Spirit Gear.
It was said to have been lost to history long ago.
---
In this world, Saints were not just a high-ranking classification of mages. Instead, the term specifically referred to individuals who possessed divine power similar to the Son of God.
Naturally, Saints were among the most powerful beings on the magical side of the world—akin to nuclear weapons in modern warfare. A single Saint could conquer a fully armed, modernized city on their own.
They exhibited physical traits similar to those of a divine child, allowing them to wield a fraction of divine power.
Their bodies were incredibly resilient, their movement speeds exceeded the speed of sound, their close-combat prowess was unparalleled, and their magical reserves were immense. Even the spells they cast were far more potent than those of an ordinary mage.
At present, fewer than twenty Saints existed worldwide.
If the Roman Orthodox Church obtained the Stab Sword, a weapon specifically designed to eliminate Saints, then the Puritan Church's Saints would be in grave danger.
---
"No, there's no need for that. One of Academy City's students will be working with a mage from the Puritan Church to stop the transaction.
Your role is simply to serve as a backup plan. If they fail, you step in."
Aleister chuckled.
To be honest, if this was just a matter of trading a Spirit Gear like the Stab Sword, he wouldn't be too concerned. The weapon was dangerous to Saints, but it had no effect on espers.
Even if the deal went through, it would be Puritanism, not him, that suffered—his plans wouldn't be affected.
What concerned him more was whether the Roman Orthodox Church had come to Academy City solely for the Stab Sword.
Or was there a greater conspiracy at play?
To be safe, he decided to have George on standby.
If something unexpected happened, he wouldn't be able to act personally or mobilize people in time. But considering the power George had demonstrated that day, he was more than capable of handling any situation.
---
"No problem. What are the names of the two mages?"
George nodded. From the sound of it, this mission didn't seem particularly dangerous.
"Lidvia Lorenzetti and Oriana Thomson.
Lidvia Lorenzetti is a devout Roman Orthodox believer from the Vatican, holding a high-ranking position within the Roman Orthodox Church. She is the buyer of the Stab Sword.
As for Oriana Thomson, she is a well-known Freelancer in the magical world, specializing in tracking and counter-tracking magic. She's the Courier delivering the item.
But you don't need to worry about tracking them. The moment they step into Academy City, they will be under my surveillance, and I'll notify you immediately."
Aleister explained calmly.
"Alright, that makes things easier."
George nodded.
Aleister's AIM Diffusion Field Surveillance System comprised fifty million nano-scale mechanical monitors scattered throughout every corner of Academy City.
Nothing that happened within the city could escape his watchful eyes.
---
On the day of the Daihaseisai, George put on his earpiece and flew out of The Windowless Building.
The earpiece was directly connected to Aleister. As soon as the Roman Orthodox mages—both the buyer and the courier of the Stab Sword—entered Academy City, Aleister would notify him.
At that point, Kamijou Touma, representing Academy City, and a mage from Puritanism would work together to stop the transaction. If they failed, George would step in.
George had seen Kamijou Touma before. He wasn't one of Academy City's Level 5 espers; in fact, he was a Level 0. However, his right hand possessed the ability to negate all magic and supernatural powers.
---
"It's pretty lively out here."
Walking through the streets of Academy City, George observed students from nearly every school, dressed in their respective uniforms, flooding the streets.
There were also many outsiders, along with street vendors selling all kinds of snacks and goods.
The Daihaseisai was an annual, seven-day-long grand sports festival organized by all the schools in Academy City. With over 1.8 million participants, it was one of the few occasions when the city was open to the outside world.
For these seven days, non-residents were allowed to enter Academy City as spectators.
Many students' parents would take this opportunity to visit their children.
All competitions were held between students, categorized by their respective schools, and were primarily based on esper abilities.
The event was broadcast globally, allowing audiences worldwide to witness the spectacle.
While the competition events themselves seemed like ordinary sports, the permitted use of superpowers (within limits to prevent harm to spectators) turned it into a dazzling display of supernatural battles.
According to Aleister, the festival served two purposes:
1. A show of force – Demonstrating the power of espers to deter the magic side, discouraging them from making reckless moves.
2. A recruitment strategy – Attracting talented individuals from across the world.
---
"The two mages haven't arrived yet. You might as well take a walk and enjoy the festival.
Or maybe go find some friends. I noticed you got along quite well with Misaka Mikoto and the others before."
Aleister's voice came through the earpiece.
George nodded.
"Alright, just let me know when they show up."
He understood Aleister's intent—he wanted George to interact more with Academy City's students, ideally forming deep friendships with them.
That way, George would be less likely to betray Academy City or defect to the magic side.
(End of Chapter)