Caren wasn't brave enough to discuss politics she neither cared nor bothered with, but even she'd heard the big name come up often in her travels. Be they local or across the border, it was hard not to hear about the biggest geopolitical block on the planet at the moment. She nodded to his question.
"Three months ago, following the formation of said organization, we received the official letter." He didn't procure one for her to read. Such a document of import would be archived by the op scribes of the public face of the Vatican. "According to their new laws, the Confederation wants all priests and agents of the Vatican temporarily recalled. The short version of this is that they wish to curb religious tensions between us and them by minimizing the number of churches run by foreigners within their territory. It isn't a full-on usurpation of Christianity by any means as they wish to have local priests appointed to the vacant roles instead. However… The Confederation wishes to do such appointments themselves, without any intervention from the Vatican."
"A polite yet direct correspondence to 'remove the prying eyes of the Church' from their affairs."
"Indeed. We received word that both the Protestants and the Orthodox Clergy received the same treatment. The laws are already being enforced. And try as we might slow down the process, it is inevitably within their rights. After all, our public face no longer bears the right to excommunicate the faithful when they haven't committed crimes against our doctrine. And despite the audacity to remove us, they have preserved peace and contentment amongst their Catholic population. They're even supported by them as well, being called a cultural movement to reinvigorate piety from the ground up." The cardinal sighed tiredly. "As much as it pains me to say, we would lose in the PR department should we oppose, henceforth, it has been decided that acceding will be the best decision."
Minor as her opinions were in a political scale, she could see the strategic logic in such a move. "In any case, our Holy Order's influence is beginning to wane within their borders."
"Sadly, our surface control has indeed been usurped. Yet, our underground operatives have been fighting a losing battle for far longer than this. It didn't take us long to realize that something was terribly wrong within the region, we're not certain heretics are even involved, mind you." He added for clarification, wordlessly implying that magi summoning daemons nor Dead Apostles have not been ruled out. "This alliance, the ACIN, or someone from behind its shadows… they're responsible for the deaths of our brethren hidden from the world as well as the overt push to relieve us of our control. That they've accomplished both almost simultaneously speaks volumes of their capabilities. While the Church has enough resources and sway in any government, when it comes to the moonlit world's activities, we decided to not act without proper preparations…"
The cardinal's words paused. That he had to take a breath, and the fact that he was somewhat sweating amidst the cool Mediterranean breeze that came through the window suggested he himself was feeling the pressure.
"Caren, at this point you must have realized that something is wrong with the recent turn of events. Over the past decade, a number of previously disorganized and impoverished nations have managed to come under one banner, rapidly modernizing and even flourishing faster than many larger nations have before during their early state of strife and civil unrest. Now, they are going after our best agents and demon hunters. Regular governments don't interfere in our business and we covertly compensate for whatever losses they might suffer. But now that the ACIN has no intention to follow such a tradition, we are left with a challenge in preserving the peace we've upheld since time immemorial."
Caren looked troubled. She was never interested in either world or Church politics, but she could see the inevitable confrontation between the Vatican and maybe other Christian Orders against this ACIN. Though not one to whole-heartedly honour the past traditions, she could see the issues of barring the heretic hunters from intervening.
On the offhand they were looking at the worst-case scenario, a nation, or alliance of nations in this case, being backed up or puppeted by a Machiavellian devil from hell would most definitely ruffle the feathers of God's most devout. Such a scenario would spell a crusade the likes of which the modern world had yet to see.
She pushed such thoughts away for a moment. Setting aside how ludicrous a notion was, there was no way the upper echelon of her faith would be sitting back should such already be a reality. Her mind tried her best to come up with any possible scenario on a more reasonable scale. A group who might be behind it and what it was they might be after.
"I'm assuming the Clock Tower has been experiencing issues in the region as well?" Caren asked, but the cardinal shook his head with a defeated sigh.
"Indeed. The Mage Association has never expressed much interest in the region apart from a few hopefuls looking into the area's rich history through the excuse of archaeology. Had it been the case, I actually wished it was them. Then, we'd at least be informed as to who our enemy was and how to appropriately handle them. In this case, however, they suffer from a greater lack of information more so than we do. Unlike us, they who secretly look down upon the mortal realm from their ivory towers, the Clock Tower, have no real influence in the far east beyond some local centres to regulate Asian magi. You should have heard about the Clock Tower's distaste for Japan's magi clans in general, yes?"
The girl nodded in agreement, having been informed of such by her tutors long ago.
"Sounds ludicrous, doesn't it? The infidels look down on their fellow infidels, thinking themselves superior. All the while, they disregard our disciplines and devotion as 'inane idealism' and 'wishful thinking'. Ironic coming from those who would decry the natural order of God for the sake of assuming the Creator's role." The cardinal would've let out a derisive chuckle had he been a part of the Conservative faction. Instead, he merely shook his head, disappointed in the arrogance of sinners. "Such things aside, the magi have been experiencing their own losses in the area. But unlike us, they who know no compassion aren't bothered in the least by it. Or weren't, until they started to notice that the growing number of Asian magi who wanted to study in the Clock Tower dropped significantly. Racist and prideful as they are, London's snobs have always indulged themselves in their ever-expanding reputation among the heretical rabble and humoured the request of lesser magi to join them if only to bask in the sin of superficial superiority."
"Then, the Clock Tower's concern was born from losing the opportunity to gloat at the expense of the less fortunate?" she muttered to herself but didn't refrain from concealing her surprise.
How could such a society exist for so long was beyond Caren's understanding? As far as she knew, every magus, at least those the Church was very wary of, was a ruthless maniacal sinner with a never-ending desire to gain fame, power or influence. Often a mix of two from the three if they were self-preserving, but most often all of the above and more, as is expected of such deplorable and ambition-driven creatures. Even someone like her, a child with a twisted personality and snappy mouth to back it up, didn't want to meet or associate with such despicable beings.
At least, not until recently. With the passing times, she'd grown… well, more bored of her clergy colleagues' simple distaste for her words and actions. And while she wouldn't be so crude as to try with the more common folk, she did wonder in passing just how long would a magi's patience last with her.
"Knowing those self-absorbed vermin, they are as petty as they are many. They deride their fellow's weakness, yet are weak to the notion of being labelled weak themselves. One of our own has speculated that this blow in the magi clans' pride would push some to proactively expand their reach to the rest of the old world, but that's not going to be the primary issue for our organization in the near future. Not with the ACIN around. There's also the fact that recent events would imply the lesser magi of the Asian continent no longer desire to join the great pit of snakes in London, meaning something of a power displacement, or maybe the birth of a new group is in effect."
"Small-time magi would band together to compete with their former superiors? Would that not be tantamount to suicide?"
"Would the Mages Association proactively eliminate them beforehand? But if not to the Clock Tower, where would such sinners of small-time repute congregate then? Considering the formation of ACIN and our own issues, all of these paint a troublesome picture on a grander scale."
"Everything is related. The ACIN, our clergy's fallen brethren, the Clock Tower and… … the Great Fuyuki Fire—my father and grandfather's demise?" The analyzing expression turned into one of shock, overwhelming Caren's normally regulated indifference as realization struck her. You mean to inform me that the ritual in Japan may have something to do with current events?"
The cardinal nodded, satisfied by her deduction abilities. "The reports about your intelligence were accurate, as is your deduction. Yes, you're correct, child. My fellows, the other cardinals and his holiness, the Pope, were looking at this matter for a long time. Where our agents have been reported missing or dead, the areas affected by the ACIN's new laws, the massing number of Asia's burgeoning heretical population in the centre of ACIN's power base, as well as when these dominoes of events began cascading… After examining all possibilities and the data we have, we've come to a frightening conclusion. Whatever happened during the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki may inexplicably be related to the many events that took place in the past decade. Both our Church and the Mages Association have a newfound interest in the Asian continent, most especially concerning the birth and rapid growth of the ACIN and their sudden rise of power around the world…"
'Rise to power' was putting it mildly. But it wouldn't be until later when Caren was deeply engrossed in her mission would she figure out just how far their reach was.
"Perhaps the strange fire that claimed the life of so many and your family was the birth of a fearsome demon." The holy man shook his head after sympathizing with Caren's surprise at the gravity of the situation. "Or maybe mere happenstance due to a victor of the false Holy Grail wishing for a better world. In any case, none of this can be a mere coincidence. We don't know who they are or how many of our foes are out there, but they exist. The 'coincidental casualties' and the letter now labelled a 'polite ultimatum' of his holiness are proof of this. We cannot sit back while this enemy continues to breed and spread their rot in God's garden. They'll bleed us dry should we remain idle. Therefore we have come up with a long-term plan that includes you, mainly one of our best daemon detectors and because of your relations to the two Executors we lost in Fuyuki."
To that, the girl blinked twice in contemplative silence. "I don't follow, your eminence."
"You'll be taking a… you could call it a 'simple trip', Caren. Despite being an ally to Western nations ever since the end of the Second World War, Japan is slowly but certainly moving closer to ACIN. What with their geopolitics and rivalry with their neighbours in recent years, they've been looking for 'new friends'. The ACIN just happens to be close business partners that don't directly border them, hence their advancing agenda to publicly cooperate with the Confederation." There was likely more to it than that but none relevant to her mission as the cardinal went on. "Our eyes and ears in the Japanese government found out that they are aiming to deepen relationships with the Confederation even further. Sooner or later, we will lose a foothold there as well. While they aren't going to blindly follow the new laws that limit our agents, it is believed whoever is pulling the strings in ACIN would want to minimize the amount of outsider influence nestled inside the island nation. Be they ours or the Mage Associations, at that. That's why we want to counter this and send you as our unofficial representative to Fuyuki."
"You would have me use the excuse of 'deceased family'."
"That's right. Thanks to your family connections to the two victims who died around the time that the accursed fire took place, you have a legitimate right to visit their graves. State that you're visiting the city to seek closure and learn more about your father and grandfather from their 'close acquaintances'. What you may find during your stay… that's within your rights to 'share with us', the Church." The man genuinely smiled. "Your current family on this earth."
Caren pursed her lips.
Setting aside her twisted personality, the Church was, to put it lightly, her work. She had beliefs that aligned with their doctrines, yes. But that didn't mean she wholeheartedly accepted all they do and believe as 'the right and just path'.
Still, she never bothered talking back to her superiors beyond witty remarks and innocent insults during casual moments. This was a time for such banter. She wasn't entirely a fan of this idea. If she couldn't learn anything meaningful about her father when he was alive nor find answers to her questions after death, what would visiting his place of demise brings to light? Cover story or not, closure was the least of her concerns. It would only serve as a nasty reminder that she couldn't ever hope to find peace within her mind on this matter. Having to go to Japan, to the place where Risei and Kirei had died… wouldn't help her any.
What was to gain when the man's memory was as much a blight as her 'blessing'?
"With all due respect, your eminence. I can't help but wonder, is my presence absolutely necessary? Setting aside my abilities, I'm only fourteen, a minor according to Japan's laws. And, beyond my special gift, I doubt I can serve as a useful agent in this foreign land."
The cardinal nodded. "I understand your concerns. But besides detection, your primary task is to primarily observe the situation in Fuyuki itself and try to make contact with local magi clans in order to get more information. While some of our Orders would prefer you root out any would-be daemon lurking in the shadows, it would do us no good to lose you in such a risky manner. Instead, you will act on your discretion using your talents and expertise in subterfuge and observation. Your role is to be God's eyes and ears as you always have been. Perhaps there are clues hidden amongst the people who survived the tragedy, or maybe agents related to the ACIN attempting to make contact with the local clans. A mission like this isn't going to be as grand or gritty as your previous ones, but they will be just as demanding of your sharp eyes, nevertheless. Oh, and don't worry about your age. While on duty, we will send someone to work alongside you. Can't have an underage girl living alone in a foreign country after all, can't we?"
"You would send a member of our clergy with me?" Caren internally winced, wondering if they'd be a pain. That or she would be too much to handle on their own. Unless they were superior or higher, they would likely not find her the most accommodating of travel companions.
"Unfortunately, no. You will be accompanied and protected not by an Executor but by an experienced Enforcer. A Magus." The man's distaste surfaced momentarily. "They will act as your legal guardian while there in certain capacities, but will function mostly as a partner on a need-to-know basis." A timely knock on the door had the cardinal's brow rising. "That must be them. Perfect. You can come in!"
The older man stood up to nod a greeting to the new arrival. Caren carefully observed them, a redhead woman in a suit that made her look professional and more business-oriented than an actual guard, as she made her way to stand before the desk right next to the girl. It was apparent from the get-go that she wasn't a member of the Church in that her show of respect to a cardinal was a simple nod and nothing more.
"Because of the unstable situation in the world, the worrying future of Japan in particular, and especially after receiving news of the terrible accident in London this morning, it has been decided that some manner of limited cooperation is required between the Clock Tower and our Holy Order." The holy man that was a cardinal then brazenly spat vitriol at his new guest. "Even magi heretics, blasphemous they may be, have cordially agreed that the current situation is untenable. Setting aside our differences, we shall work to investigate the matter of a third power taking hold in our midst. And, should the need arise, work together to take them down."
"Hmph. So long as neither party would break the terms of our standing agreement, we will cooperate." The woman, unconcerned with the cardinal's spats, took the moral high ground and simply stared the man down with crossed arms.
"We expect nothing less from your… professionalism." The priest, for all his pomp and distaste for the magi kind, took it all in stride as he turned to Caren. "Enforcers have been a frequent help in our hunts against Dead Apostles and the occasional rogue elements of their faction harrying our own. Our guest here has proven her worth on multiple occasions and has become… somewhat of a more tolerable presence to our moderate members. Let me introduce Bazett Fraga McRemitz, your bodyguard for the entire duration of your visit to Japan."
Bazett gave a dismissive nod to the cardinal before stepping closer to Caren and extending her hand. "I was told about your talents, Lady Caren. Please be assured I will do everything necessary to keep you safe and sound."
Caren's neutral expression barely changed but the corners of her mouth rose up in amusement. "I do not doubt it, Miss Bazett. As for me, I will make sure our stay in Japan won't be a bore."
The older woman took a second to blink. Likely confused by the choice of words, she didn't let it bother her. Though, she seemed to have looked to the cardinal for an explanation, one which the old man waved her concerns away.
He did send Caren a knowing smile, however. One she returned coyly.
As long as both accomplished their mission, all was good and well. He likely wouldn't mind if Caren's quirkiness bothered the magi Enforcer at a later date. Once they were out of sight and stuck together on their little mission. All that mattered was the success of their mission, everything else came secondary. The church was worried, terrified that there might be more demons hiding in the shadows of the new power, so much so that they'd work with the detestable magi clans.
And with even someone as unconcerned to the daily woes of other mortals as Caren taking note, they were likely right to fear something amiss.
'Perhaps visiting my father's grave wouldn't be entirely pointless.'