Chapter 67: The First Flame, Pyroas.

As Kaito navigated the winding, torch-lit corridors, his mind was already shifting back to corporate logistics.

Cassandra was drafting the EULA, Jeanette was mass-producing the cloning serum, and Vera was prepped for the audio-visual intimidation. The trap for Nick the Chosen Hero was (almost) set.

'Efficient.' That's the only thing his mind said.

Suddenly, the ambient magical lighting in the corridor flickered, making Kaito stop in his tracks.

It wasn't a power outage. It was the main villain of this story: the System, intruding upon his reality with an urgency he hadn't seen since the initial reincarnation sequence.

Instead of the usual, annoying translucent pink boxes, the air directly in front of Kaito shattered, revealing a massive, incredibly imposing window framed in dark, celestial gold and pulsing red runes. It emitted a low, resonant hum that vibrated in Kaito's teeth.

[SYSTEM OVERRIDE: INCOMING TRANSMISSION FROM THE HIGHER REALMS.] [Priority: ABSOLUTE / URGENT.]

Kaito’s purple eye narrowed. The "Higher Realms" was the vague, omnipotent chat room of gods, VIP viewers, and cosmic investors who funded this miserable LitRPG reality. They usually restricted their interference to dropping random buffs to the Hero or sending annoying text messages. They rarely issued direct, localized overrides.

The golden text shifted, spelling out a message that made Kaito's blood run cold.

[A SOUL TRADER OF THE HIGHER REALMS HAS DONATED ONE OF HIS CREATIONS TO US. IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED!]

[Entity Type: Anomalous / Unregistered.]

[Drop Coordinates Acquired. Location localized.]

[DONATOR NOTE: 'Take care of her. She's my treasure.']

'Oh fuck. That was unexpected. I should be really worried.' he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

A map flashed on the screen, a glowing red beacon pulsing aggressively.

Kaito stared at the coordinate, and his strategic mind instantly cross-referenced the geographical data with the maps Ugo kept in the archives.

He recognized the location immediately.

It was the same dungeon where Larry and Carry had been deployed for sanitation duties recently. The same dungeon where Larry had stumbled upon Jin and his high-level adventuring party, playing cards with them, removing all the edginess from the solo cheater.

"A Soul Trader..." Kaito whispered to the system, his jaw tightening.

He didn't fully understand the complex hierarchy of the cosmic entities that ran Aethelgard, but he knew enough corporate jargon to read between the lines.

A 'Soul Trader' sounded like an independent contractor, a rogue investor, or a VIP with too much power and not enough supervision. If they had "donated a creation," it wasn't a gift. It was a problem, speaking in terms of this world. It was a foreign, unregistered variable being dropped directly into a territory Ravenloft Holdings had already claimed and sanitized.

The System was demanding immediate action, likely expecting Kaito to march out there and deal with the anomaly himself to generate entertainment value for the viewers.

"Not tonight," Kaito said coldly, dismissing the golden window with a sharp wave of his hand.

He couldn't leave Fort Blackstone. Not when the trap for the Hero was being finalized, and certainly not when his Chief of Staff was lying in a hospital bed with half her life force burned away.

But he couldn't ignore an anomaly in his territory, either.

Kaito closed his eyes, accessing the deep, foundational network of dark mana that connected him to his highest-ranking executives. He bypassed the physical realm entirely, establishing a direct, secure telepathic link. A magical 'Discord Call'.

Ping.

The connection was established instantly.

"My Leader," Ugo’s deep, echoing voice resonated in Kaito's mind. "I made sure that Pyroas was out of danger, and I am currently overseeing the distribution of the prototypes of cloning serum to the goblin barracks. How may I assist you?"

"Ugo, there has been a change of plans," Kaito transmitted, his mental voice sharp and authoritative. "The Higher Realms just dumped an unregistered asset into the unfinished Dungeon, the one sanitized by Larry. They took advantage of it and probably installed a new boss. The coordinates of the unregistered soul are being forwarded to your primary ledger now."

In the archives, Ugo’s massive red pupil flared as the data packet arrived. "Coordinates received, My Leader. The location corresponds with the recently sanitized zone. Shall I dispatch the Vanguard? Or perhaps deploy the newly acquired S-Rank party?"

"No," Kaito replied. "I don't want to risk new assets on an unknown variable. And I don't want an army. I want efficiency. I urgently need you to deploy Larry and Carry to clean the final depths of that dungeon."

There was a brief pause on the line. Deploying the janitorial staff to handle a cosmic anomaly dropped by a god seemed incredibly unorthodox. But Ugo was a consummate professional, so he did not question the CEO.

"Understood, CEO. The janitorial team will be deployed via the spatial portal immediately. They are heavily equipped with premium sanitation supplies," Ugo confirmed.

"Good," Kaito said, his mental tone softening slightly. "And Ugo... one more thing. I am approaching the Executive Recovery Suite. Please ensure the entire wing is cleared of all medical personnel and guards. I need to be left completely alone with Pyroas."

"It shall be done immediately, My Leader. The wing is locked down. You will not be disturbed," Ugo promised, and with a soft mental click, the call ended.

Kaito then opened his eyes. The immediate logistical crisis was delegated to the most terrifyingly efficient skeletons in existence. He could finally focus entirely on the reason he was walking down this corridor.

He turned the final corner, arriving at a set of double doors forged from dark, polished oak and reinforced with temperature-regulating enchantments.

This was the Executive Recovery Suite: a private, highly luxurious room reserved exclusively for the upper echelon of Ravenloft Holdings. (Thank you, Brenda.)

The corridor was empty. 'Oh, good job, Ugo.'

Kaito placed his hand on the brass handle and turned it slowly, almost hesitantly, and then stepped inside as quietly as possible.

The suite was expansive, featuring dark mahogany furniture, thick velvet curtains, and a massive, four-poster bed in the center of the room.

Usually, whenever Kaito was within a fifty-foot radius of his Chief of Staff, the ambient temperature would rise. Pyroas was a living embodiment of the First Flame; she radiated a fierce, confident, and comforting heat that announced her presence long before she spoke.

But as Kaito stepped into the room, the air was uncomfortably cool.

He walked slowly toward the bed.

Pyroas lay atop the dark silk sheets, and she wasn't wearing her immaculate, tailored black business suit. She had been changed into a simple, loose-fitting white cotton gown.

She looked impossibly fragile.

Her fiery hair, usually a vibrant, roaring mane of crimson flames that defied gravity, was lying flat against the pillows. It wasn't burning; it was merely glowing, a dull, weak, sputtering ember that looked like it could be extinguished by a strong breeze. Her skin, normally healthy and sun-kissed, was pale and almost translucent.

Kaito stood beside the bed, looking down at the woman who, despite being the first trope he met, always followed him. He remembered the feeling of her crashing into his chest in the courtyard, the desperate, terrifying grip she had on his coat, and the realization that she had ripped her own soul apart only to find him.

He raised his eyes, focusing his gaze slightly above her resting head. He needed to know the exact extent of the damage, so he willed the LitRPG System to display her diagnostic interface.

A translucent window materialized in the air, but it wasn't the usual, cheerful blue interface. It was bordered in a harsh, flashing crimson red, indicating severe, critical trauma.

[Familiar: Pyroas (First Flame)]

[Title: Chief of Staff]

[Core Status: CRITICALLY DAMAGED.]

[Diagnostic: The entity has manually overridden core safety protocols, detonating 50% of her maximum elemental life force to establish an emotional resonance tether. Severe magical burnout detected. Soul pathways fractured.]

[Estimated Natural Recovery Time: 50 Years.]

Kaito stopped breathing.

The ambient noise in the room faded into a ringing silence. He stared at the glowing red text, the words burning themselves into his retinas.

Fifty years.

It wasn't a simple debuff or a wound that could be fixed with a few high-tier health potions or a good night's sleep.

She had sacrificed five decades of her vitality, five decades of her life, in the span of a single microsecond, just to cast a beacon into the dark because she was terrified about his disappearance.

The absolute, devastating weight of her devotion crashed over Kaito like a physical blow. He had spent his previous life giving everything to people who took him for granted, bleeding himself dry for a future that was a lie and reincarnated believing that loyalty was a transaction, a contract signed in blood and mana.

But this wasn't a contract. The System hadn't forced her to do this. No corporate mandate required an employee to burn fifty years of their life for their boss. She had done it out of pure, unadulterated, desperate love.

Kaito slowly lowered his gaze from the system window, looking back down at Pyroas's pale, sleeping face.

In that moment, there was only a man profoundly humbled by the woman lying before him.

Kaito slowly pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and sat down, but he didn't speak.

With trembling hands, he reached out and gently, carefully took her cool, pale hand in his own, holding it with a delicate reverence, as if it were glass.

Then, he bowed his head, resting his forehead lightly against the back of her knuckles, the silence of the room broken only by the weak, sputtering sound of her dying embers, and the promise he was making to her in the dark.

Kaito sat there in the heavy, chilling silence of the recovery suite, his thumb gently stroking the back of Pyroas’s knuckles.

Usually, he looked at his subordinates and saw numbers, efficiency ratings, and corporate assets. He had conditioned himself to view the world through the lens of a CEO to protect his own heart.

But right now, looking at the pale, exhausted face of the First Flame, he saw no spreadsheets or LitRPG stats. He only saw a young woman who loved him so fiercely, so completely, that she had torn her own soul in half to leave a light on for him in the dark.

'I hate being aware of everything. I hate having a brain sometimes.'

As if sensing his presence even in her deep, magically induced coma, Pyroas stirred. Her fingers, weak and trembling, instinctively curled around his hand, seeking his warmth.

She let out a soft, pained sigh, her brow furrowing as she mumbled in her sleep.

"Don't leave me... don't go..." she whispered, her voice incredibly small, entirely stripped of her usual executive authority. "Please... I love you..."

Kaito froze.

Those three words. 'I love you.'

Hearing them spoken in that specific, vulnerable, sleepy tone sent a sudden, agonizing jolt straight through Kaito’s heart. In a fraction of a second, he wasn't in the luxurious recovery suite of Fort Blackstone anymore.

He was back in a cramped, freezing apartment in Tokyo. It was 5:00 AM. The alarm clock was buzzing, the smell of cheap instant coffee lingered in the air, and outside, the rain poured relentlessly.

He was trying to put on his heavy work jacket, but a pair of arms had wrapped around his waist from behind. Lucy, half-asleep, was burying her face into his back, begging him to stay in bed just a little longer.

"Don't go to work today," the memory of Lucy whispered in his mind. "Stay here. I love you."

Kaito closed his eyes, swallowing the hard lump in his throat. It was a memory that used to bring him immeasurable comfort, and then, immeasurable agony.

Now, it has just brought a profound, heavy melancholy.

He opened his eyes, looking down at Pyroas.

The context was different, the world was different, but the raw, desperate human emotion was the same. He knew that he couldn't just leave her like this. Fifty years of her life force was an unacceptable price to pay for his own emotional breakdown.

"System," Kaito whispered into the quiet room, his voice hard. "There has to be a way to fix this. I want an immediate restoration protocol. Now."

The air in front of him shimmered. A pink, highly ornate LitRPG window popped into existence, accompanied by a soft, almost romantic chime that made Kaito immediately suspicious.

[SYSTEM SUGGESTION: MANA TRANSFER PROTOCOL DETECTED.]

[Description: A high-tier magical transfusion can accelerate the healing process of a critically damaged familiar by transferring a portion of the Summoner's own life force and mana into the recipient.]

[Activation Method: Direct mucosal contact (Mouth-to-mouth mana transference). Duration: 30 seconds.]

[Risk to Caster: Temporary -15% to all stats. 3 days recovery.]

[Note: The 'Mana Transfer Protocol' is highly requested by VIP Viewers and is often romanticized in fantasy narratives as the ultimate display of affection...]

Kaito didn't finish reading.

"No."

The word came out dry, sharp, and absolute.

The System window flickered, seemingly confused by the immediate rejection of a classic, fan-favorite anime trope.

[SYSTEM: The procedure is highly effective. The VIP viewers of the Higher Realms are willing to sponsor this action. Refusal may result in prolonged damage to the familiar.]

"I said no," Kaito replied, looking up toward the ceiling, glaring at the invisible cameras of the Higher Realms, staring down the cosmic entities that wanted to turn this girl's genuine sacrifice into a cheap romantic spectacle.

"I can't. Not after everything that happened today. Not after Lucy."

The System window pulsed again, flashing a warning color.

[SYSTEM: The Saintess is not a factor in this equation. The efficiency of the magical transfer is not dependent on your previous romantic entanglements. It is a biological necessity.]

"She is always a factor," Kaito interrupted, his voice tired but carrying an unyielding, unbreakable resolve. "It just happened. The conversation is still echoing in my head. My wounds are still bleeding. And kissing another woman right now—even to save her life, even to satisfy your pathetic narrative—would be... wrong. It would be an insult to Lucy. It would be a disservice to Pyroas. And it would be a betrayal of myself. And, it would be a sexual assault since she's in a sort of coma."

He wasn't a visual novel protagonist collecting waifus. He was a man trying to heal. And kissing Pyroas now, when she was unconscious and vulnerable, treating her feelings like a transactional healing potion, disgusted him to his core.

"I am the Supreme Necromancer," Kaito growled, his purple eye flaring with intense, dark energy. "I am the CEO of Ravenloft Holdings. I dictate how souls are managed in this company. I don't need to lock lips to transfer mana. This isn't a Mashima anime where every emotional crisis is solved with a dramatic power-of-friendship speech. And it sure as hell isn't Sword Art Online, where the heroine has to make out with the comatose protagonist to upload his soul back into the server."

Mordecai stood up from the chair, but he didn't let go of her hand. Instead, he reached out with his other hand and gently rested his palm directly over the center of Pyroas's chest, right where her fractured elemental core resided.

"System override," Kaito commanded. "Initiating direct soul-conduit transfer. Bypassing mucosal requirement."

[SYSTEM ERROR: Invalid action! Direct soul-conduit without a physical mucosal anchor may result in a severe feedback loop and a stat loss! Warning! Warning!]

"Shut up and process the transaction," Kaito gritted his teeth.

He closed his eyes and dug deep into his own life force. He didn't just summon his ambient mana; he reached into the very foundation of his existence. He visualized the fifty years she had burned, the massive, gaping void in her soul, and he began to pour himself into it.

A blinding clash of colors instantly illuminated the room. Pitch-black, heavy necromantic mana flowed from Kaito’s hand, but as it entered Pyroas’s chest, it miraculously ignited, transforming into a brilliant, roaring crimson fire.

The pain hit Kaito instantly. A massive, draining weakness washed over his muscles. His vision swam, and his knees buckled slightly, but he locked his joints, refusing to break the connection. He was taking the -15% stat debuff, and he was taking it the hard way.

"Take it," Kaito whispered, sweat forming on his brow as he pushed the roaring energy into her core. "Take everything you need. You're not dying for me."

On the System interface hovering above the bed, the crimson-red warnings began to dissolve rapidly.

He was basically recharging Pyroas like an electric car.

[Core Status: REPAIRING...] [Soul Pathways: REALIGNING...] [Estimated Natural Recovery Time: 10 Years... 5 Years... 1 Year... FULLY RESTORED.]

With a sudden, explosive gasp, Pyroas arched her back off the mattress.

A massive wave of pure, revitalized heat blasted through the room, instantly evaporating the chill. The dull, dying embers of her hair erupted into a magnificent, roaring mane of vibrant crimson fire that danced wildly in the air. The healthy, sun-kissed color returned to her skin in a rush.

Kaito stumbled backward, his energy spent, and caught himself on the edge of the chair, panting heavily, a tired but profoundly relieved smile spreading across his face.

[Target: Pyroas (First Flame)] [HP: 100% / Mana: 100%]

In that moment, Pyroas’s amber eyes snapped open.

She sat up abruptly, her chest heaving as she pulled in a massive breath of air.

Then, she looked at her hands, feeling the absolute, overwhelming surge of power coursing through her veins. Her core wasn't just healed; it felt stronger, fortified by the dark, protective mana of her Master.

She turned her head, her wide, golden eyes locking onto Kaito.

He was leaning heavily against the chair, looking paler than usual, but his purple eye was soft and filled with an undeniable, profound affection.

"M-My Lord...?" Pyroas breathed, entirely disoriented. "My core... it was shattered. How am I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Kaito stepped forward.

He didn't give a corporate nod or a polite, distant handshake. He just reached down, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her into a tight, fierce, entirely human embrace.

Pyroas gasped, her eyes going wide as her face was pressed against his chest. The smell of his dark coat, the sound of his steady heartbeat—it was overwhelming.

"Thank you," Kaito whispered into her fiery hair, his voice thick with raw, unfiltered emotion. "Thank you for what you did. Thank you for not giving up on me. You almost made me feel... special, Pyroetta."

Pyroas’s entire body went completely still.

She had served him for all this time, respected his strength, feared his intellect, and idolized his authority.

She had fallen in love with the impenetrable fortress of a man who had saved her from being a useless tsundere, only made to satisfy marketing.

But the man holding her right now wasn't a fortress. The towering, unbreakable walls of CEO Mordecai were gone.

She could feel his soul as part of him was inside of her.

It wasn't the chaotic, freezing blizzard of suppressed anger and grief that she was used to. It was calm, remarkably, beautifully serene.

The dark mana that usually felt oppressive now felt like a warm, protective summer night. He was beginning to heal.

Tears immediately pricked the corners of Pyroas's eyes. She slowly raised her arms, wrapping them tightly around his waist, burying her face deeper into his coat.

"I love you," Pyroas confessed, her voice trembling, stripping away all of her executive titles and corporate formalities.

The words tumbled out of her mouth naturally, effortlessly. "I love you, not as the Chief of Staff, and not as My Lord. I love you as Mordecai. As a man."

She pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes, her own amber irises shining with absolute sincerity.

"You're different," she whispered, reaching up to gently touch his cheek. "The coldness... the anger that was always hurting you... It's gone. This serenity inside your soul... I prefer it so much more. You're beautiful like this."

Kaito felt a profound, overwhelming warmth spread through his chest.

He didn't panic. His Dense Protagonist skill didn't activate because this wasn't an anime trope. This was a genuine, heartfelt confession from a woman who had just proved her devotion in the most absolute way possible.

He looked down at her, seeing the raw hope and love in her expression, and he perfectly knew that he couldn't lie to her. He couldn't say "I love you too" because his heart, while healing, was still fragile, still putting itself back together after the devastating closure with Lucy.

It wouldn't be fair to Pyroas to offer her a broken, incomplete love.

But he could offer her something else. He could offer her absolute certainty.

Kaito reached up, gently placing his hand over hers where it rested against his cheek. He smiled, and it was the most genuine, unburdened smile she had ever seen him wear.

"Repeat these words to me whenever you feel the need to say them again," Kaito said softly, his voice a steady, comforting anchor. "Because I promise you... I will always be here to listen. I'm not running away anymore."

It was a gentle, beautiful delay. He wasn't rejecting her; instead, he was asking for time while simultaneously promising her that his presence in her life was a permanent fixture.

Pyroas’s breath hitched as a radiant, overjoyed smile broke across her face, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

It was exactly what she needed to hear. She didn't need him to fall to his knees and profess undying love right now; she just needed to know that the door to his heart was finally unlocked, and that she was allowed to walk through it.

"I will," Pyroas promised, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, her fiery hair blazing with cheerful, vibrant energy. "I will tell you every day if I have to."

Kaito chuckled softly, stepping back and allowing her space to breathe.

Then, he adjusted his dark coat, a hint of his old, charismatic authority returning to his posture, but it was warmer now, lacking the bitter edge.

"Now then," Kaito said, his tone shifting gracefully into a more professional register. "I am glad your HP bar is back at one hundred percent, because we have a company to run. And I have a very specific, highly embarrassing assignment for you."

Pyroas blinked, instantly sitting up straighter, her corporate instincts kicking back in. "Anything, Mordecai. What do you require?"

"Nick the Chosen Hero is gonna march toward the Northern Dungeon," Kaito explained, his eyes glinting with tactical amusement. "I'm gonna send a message to the Saintess, who's gonna feed the Church a prophecy. Moreover, I told Nick that a Dark Lord has kidnapped Princess Pyroetta Von Serylda, so he'll be coming to rescue her only to repair his damaged public image. Ah, don't ask about the Saintess. Let's say that she's on our side now."

Pyroas’s jaw dropped slightly, feeling also a pang of jealousy. The memories of her very first encounter with Mordecai—back when the System forced her to play the role of the spoiled, red-twintailed tsundere princess—flooded her mind.

"No," Pyroas groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Please tell me you don't want me to..."

"I need you to be the mosquito again," Kaito smiled, his purple eye twinkling with sheer mischief.

"The twin-tails? That disgusting Mytrhil armor my father gave me? The screaming?!" Pyroas whined, her cheeks flushing a bright, embarrassed red. "Mordecai, I am the Chief of Staff! I can't go back to being 'Princess Pyroetta'! I'll die of cringe!"

'Die of cringe? I guess I poured the worst part of my soul inside her. She now talks like me.' Mordecai thought, almost amused.

"It is a critical component of the trap," Kaito reasoned, though he was clearly enjoying her misery. "We need the bait to be authentic. You don't have to do it for long. Just stand at the end of the dungeon, act terrified, call him a 'baka' a few times to lure him into the boss room, and then Ugo will teleport you out before the real fight begins. And don't worry, I'll ask Larry to give you emotional support."

Pyroas looked at him through her fingers. She clearly didn't want to be that spoiled princess again.

But then she looked at Kaito's face.

He was smiling at her, not with a cynical smirk or a menacing grin. It was a bright, teasing, genuinely happy smile.

A long time ago, when she first realized she was falling in love with him, Pyroas had made a silent wish to the universe. She had wanted, more than anything, to see the heavy, depressive shadows lift from his face. She had just wanted to see him smile.

And there he was, doing exactly that.

Pyroas let out a long, dramatic sigh, dropping her hands to her lap. She couldn't say no to that smile. Not in a million years.

"F-Fine," Pyroas grumbled, though a fond, amused smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "I will be the stupid, kidnapped tsundere princess. But I am filing a formal request for hazard pay, and I demand double overtime for emotional distress. Baka. Mpf—!" She then pouted and crossed her arms, perfectly embracing the role.

"Approved," Kaito laughed, a warm, rich sound that filled the room. "Get dressed. Once you feel up to it, head to the main hall. Cassandra and Brenda are finalizing the plan. They're gonna need you."

"Consider it done," Pyroas nodded, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She felt perfectly fine; in fact, the dark mana Kaito had infused into her core made her feel more energetic than she had in weeks.

Kaito turned toward the door, his hand resting on the brass handle. He paused, looking back over his shoulder at the First Flame.

"I mean it, Pyroetta," Kaito said, his voice soft. "Thank you."

Pyroas offered him a radiant, beautiful smile, her golden eyes shining. "I'll see you in the boardroom, Mordecai."

With a final, warm nod, Kaito opened the heavy oak doors and stepped out into the corridor.

The weight of the world felt significantly lighter as he walked the final stretch to his executive office. The company was healed. His employees were safe, motivated, and fiercely loyal. The trap in the North was set to absolute perfection.

'What a stressful day.' He thought.

Kaito let himself fall into the chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The fatigue was heavy, but his mind was still sharp. Too sharp, perhaps.

He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling, clearly remembering something important.

"Ugo," he called, activating the telepathic link. "Still there?"

"Always, My Leader. The goblins are receiving the cloning serum. Distribution is proceeding without issue."

"Good. I have another task for you. Not urgent, but important."

"My ledgers are open. Proceed."

Kaito leaned down, opening a drawer in his desk. He pulled out a blank sheet of paper—not magical parchment, not enchanted paper, but [Ordinary Paper] (Tier SSSSSS). Then, he picked up a pen—not a magical inkwell, not a phoenix feather, but an [Ordinary Pen] (Tier SSSSSS).

He began to write.

His handwriting was messy, that of an electrician who had spent too many hours signing safety forms. But it was his.

He wrote in Japanese. In Hiragana. The language that no one in this world could read.

The message was short, direct, and professional.

"Target acquired. Northern Sector Dungeon. 20 km from Oakhaven. I am using the fire elemental as bait. Send everyone there. Make sure the blonde idiot is at the front of the formation. PS. Be sure not to eat any peanuts if you don't want to suffer from gastric reflux. — K"

Kaito read the message once more. Then he folded it into four.

"Ugo," he said, "can you get me a pigeon?"

Silence. Then:

"...A pigeon, My Leader?"

"A normal pigeon with zero mana. It needs to cross the Cathedral's defenses without being detected. A normal pigeon raises no suspicion."

Ugo was silent for a few moments, processing the request.

"...In my long existence, My Leader, I had never considered the possibility of employing common birds as couriers. It is... a brilliant idea in its simplicity."

"I know. Find me one."

"It will be done. I have located a dovecote near the western market. I will retrieve a suitable specimen within the hour."

"Good. Once ready, tie the message to its leg and let it fly toward the Cathedral. The window of Lucy's suite is the one with the broken grate on the east side. Don't ask me how I know." (Thanks, System.)

"...You have used this method before, My Leader?"

Kaito smiled. A small, tired, but satisfied smile.

"Let's just say that I have a good pigeon. Now go."

The connection closed.

Kaito remained silent for a moment, then stood and walked to the window. Outside, the moon was high. Fort Blackstone was quiet.

"Pigeons," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Who would have thought."

Then he returned to his desk, activating the crystal orb.

"Let's see what the Soul Trader thought was a good idea to dump in my territory," he muttered.

The crystal orb flared to life, projecting a crisp, high-definition magical hologram into the air above the desk. The feed connected directly to the visual perspective of the Vanguard's premium sanitation team.

The projection materialized, showing the dark, damp, and thoroughly sterilized depths of the Eastern Sector Dungeon, where Larry and Carry were currently standing, mops in hand, ready to face whatever cosmic horror the gods had decided to throw at them.