Chapter 30
“Those Who Aim for the Three Sacred Treasures”
While Ruri and the others were enjoying their peaceful time together,
a new development began to unfold.
The expression on Takagi’s face—who had been monitoring the situation—suddenly changed.
Ishibashi, sitting beside him, didn’t seem to notice,
but Takagi was already running through possibilities in his head.
“Is that the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office? The Public Security Bureau?
Or… some new organization entirely?”
Recently, Japan had seen an increase in covert operatives from multiple factions,
each working under different jurisdictions.
The stronger the organization, the closer its ties to the upper echelons of power.
He couldn’t tell which group this was,
but considering that the Public Security Intelligence Agency had taken over from the Public Security Bureau before,
it was clear—this house must hold an extraordinary secret.
Now Takagi finally understood why their unit chief had been so insistent:
“No matter what it takes, get the Three Sacred Treasures.”
Whoever managed to seize control of those items
would gain immense influence—that much was certain.
From the way the two men on screen moved,
Takagi could tell they were not ordinary intruders.
“They’re searching through that house,”
Ishibashi muttered, frowning at the monitor.
“They don’t look like thieves to me.
Think they’re the same kind as us?”
“Who knows,” Takagi replied evasively.
If it were just the Cabinet Intelligence Office, he could probably handle it.
But if these men were from Public Security—or someone on that level—
things could get dangerous fast.
Ishibashi would be taken out in seconds.
Takagi kept watching the screen intently.
“Ah—! They just broke into the house!”
It was a standard household lock,
so they easily picked it and slipped inside.
Their movements were clean, deliberate—clearly professionals.
“If they find the camera, that’s bad,” Ishibashi said.
Right then, the men seemed to notice the surveillance camera.
They looked straight up and smirked—
a fearless, mocking grin.
That was enough to tell them the truth:
there was nothing valuable left in this house.
The two men exited as calmly as they had entered.
“Um… they definitely noticed the camera, right?
Should we report this to the higher-ups?”
“Yeah, we should,” Takagi replied.
“There are all sorts of people going in and out of that house.
Isn’t that dangerous for her?”
“Of course it’s dangerous,” Takagi said with a small laugh.
“After all, even we’re watching her like this.”
Then, as he looked at Ishibashi,
he recalled the words of their unit chief:
‘The old man apparently used a mirror.
They say there was a crystal as well,
but the “voice” itself came from that mirror—
a minister who witnessed it confirmed as much.
The other two treasures don’t matter.
Just get that mirror—no matter what.’
But a “mirror” could mean many things.
Just what kind of mirror was it?
If only they could figure that out…
Takagi leaned back and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Meanwhile—
After finishing their picnic sandwiches and spending a fun day at the amusement park,
Ruri and the others returned home.
The moment they stepped inside, they sensed something was off.
Their eyes scanned the room.
“Someone’s broken in again,” Alec said grimly.
Before leaving, he had cast protective magic over the entire house,
just in case something like this happened.
Ruri activated a time spell,
and the image of the intruders appeared before them.
Huh? Who are these guys? They’re different from the last ones.
Just how many groups are after us now?
She couldn’t help but wonder how her grandmother had lived like this.
With people like that sneaking around all the time,
it was a miracle she hadn’t been murdered.
Dying of old age might’ve been pure luck.
Maybe I should check with Mr. Godai about this…
He’s not a spy, right?
Ruri switched the surveillance footage
to a magical projection that would deceive outside monitors.
A harmless recording—
just her cooking dinner, taking a bath, and then watching TV before bed.
That should keep anyone watching satisfied.
“You’re getting pretty good with magic now, Ruri,”
Fenn said with a warm smile.
