This crowd is denser than I expected... looks like I'll have to come up with another plan,
Natsu muttered to herself as she stepped into the museum, her gaze sweeping across the sea of people gathered around the main hall.
She closed her eyes, and within her mind, she began weaving her magic—a silent pulse that rippled outward, mapping every corner of the museum's interior. But as she analyzed the magical systems woven into the building's very structure, her brow furrowed.
The entire museum is linked by runes. Triggering one means triggering them all... it seems I'll have to sever the runes surrounding the artifact itself,
she concluded internally.
Opening her eyes, she glanced toward the Nexus Sapphire—heavily guarded by rows of police officers and security personnel. Her mood instantly soured.
With this many people around, how am I supposed to dismantle the runes?
Noticing her trainer's darkening mood, Slurpuff let out a soft coo and released a gentle cloud of cotton-candy-scented aroma into the air around them. The sweet, calming fragrance wrapped around Natsu like a warm blanket.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the sugary scent, and felt her focus slowly returning.
*...I'll just have to wait for the right moment.*
Just then, her Pokédex buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket to find a message from Taylor.
[How are things on your end?]
Natsu quickly typed back.
[Not good. The entire museum is rigged with runes.]
[Can you still handle it?]
Taylor replied.
[I don't think I can, not like this]
Natsu responded.
[Why?]
[All the runes in this museum are connected. If I sever even one, everything could be triggered at once]
she explained.
[Then force it. As long as we get the artifact] Taylor's message came back almost instantly.
[Wouldn't that cause a lot of casualties?]
[Don't worry. Once we have it, we can bring them all back—or even grant every one of their wishes. That's a small price to pay for your mission]
Taylor replied coolly.
Natsu stared at the screen for a long moment, then typed back.
[...Fine. I'll do what I can. Don't expect too much.]
[So, what's your plan now?]
Natsu asked.
[We'll take the artifact at 21:30. If I'm not mistaken, the museum director—Mr. Alfred—will be giving a speech around that time] Taylor replied.
[Understood.]
Natsu closed her Pokédex and let out a long, weary sigh.
"This is going to be a long night," she murmured to herself.
"Puff..." Slurpuff nuzzled against her leg, trying to offer comfort.
"Thanks, Slurpuff. But if we fail here... we probably won't see each other for a while." She steadied her resolve, squaring her shoulders. "...But I hope this works."
---
Meanwhile, Taylor and the other Team Epitaph members were finalizing their plans to seize the artifact.
[Natsu is already in position. She'll sever the runes at 21:30. We need to anticipate any interference—anyone who might disrupt her or try to foil this operation]
Taylor messaged the others, who had already dispersed to their respective locations.
[Are you sure Natsu will go through with it?] one member replied.
[Of course. There's no obstacle that would stop her]
Taylor responded confidently.
[But aren't her friends there?]
the same member asked.
[She already knows the consequences. I've also told her that if this plan succeeds, not only will everything become better—but everything will unfold in the best possible version of itself]
Taylor replied.
[If that's the case... I hope she does her best.]
Taylor closed his Pokédex and pulled an Ultra Ball from his pocket. He glanced at his wristwatch—20:45.
"Forty-five minutes... I hope everyone is ready on time."
---
On the second floor, the same member who had just replied to Taylor was now keeping watch over Alfred's movements.
A girl with short, dark blue hair and violet eyes—wearing the Etheria Academy uniform—stood before one of the paintings, pretending to admire it while her mind raced.
*Just as I thought... He really doesn't care about Natsu,* she mused, switching off her Pokédex.
Then she noticed something—a young man stepping out from Alfred's private quarters.
Wait... who is that? How did he get into the director's room?
She studied the uniform the young man was wearing and spotted an insignia—Brighton Academy.
*A student from Brighton Academy? What's he doing here? Is this some kind of practical exam? But Brighton Academy is so far from here... why would he be doing his practical exam in a place like this?*
Her mind raced as she tried to piece it together.
This is going to be more complicated than I thought.
She quickly pulled out her Pokédex and sent an urgent message to Taylor.
[There's a student from Brighton Academy here. He's on the second floor right now and appears to be heading toward the third floor.]
Taylor received the message and felt a jolt of shock run through him.
A Brighton Academy student?! This isn't good. Why would a Grade 5 Academy student be here?! If he runs into any of my team members, the plan will definitely fail!
He quickly typed back.
[Warn the others—make sure no one crosses paths with him.]
[Understood. I'll inform the others.]
But then, the blue-haired girl froze as a new realization struck her.
Wait a minute... isn't the boss on the third floor?
---
Back on the third floor, Taylor closed the message and felt a cold knot form in his stomach.
*I'm on the third floor right now... I have to make sure that young man doesn't interfere with my plan,* he thought, his jaw tightening.
Beside him, Rayne and Z—who had been casually admiring a nearby painting—accidentally caught fragments of Taylor's anxious thoughts through their own telepathic sensitivity.
Both of them exchanged a subtle, uneasy glance.
Damn it... why does it have to be like this? they thought simultaneously, their masks of composure barely hiding their growing alarm.