Rorschach reminded the Forest Patrol Falcon, "Our ambassador can be the one to notify the Church and the Magic Guild. Isn’t that his responsibility?"

The Forest Patrol Falcon nodded. "Good point. The Empire’s ambassador has more to do than just discuss the meaning of life at night with the passionate Madame Valuva."

When the carriage finally stopped and Rorschach stepped out, he found himself right back where he had started.

’Did they just take me for a ride in a circle?’ Rorschach asked uncertainly, "Are we done?"

"Take care." Brother Jun lowered the window curtain. The carriage, plain on the outside but luxurious within, started to move, heading off to some place unknown to Rorschach.

「...」

Having finished the last blueprint, Rorschach blew on the fresh ink, hoping it would dry faster.

Things had been calm lately, so Rorschach had used the downtime to copy numerous blueprints and transcribe excerpts from the Tower of Stars’ library.

It was time to leave the Holy Kingdom.

That was the signal the Forest Patrol Falcon had sent him.

But Rorschach had no intention of returning to the Empire empty-handed. He was plotting how to convince Andre and his family to accompany him to Bayern. With Andre on board, he would have the talent needed to build and operate a new Collector.

The members of the Alchemy Department wouldn’t be easily poached, which made Andre—a near-apprentice with practical experience—the most "cost-effective" hire.

Of course, uprooting one’s entire life wasn’t something anyone could easily accept, but Rorschach believed that Golden Eagle Coins would be far more persuasive than the Holy Kingdom’s increasingly devalued paper currency.

’What else can I take with me?’ Rorschach had a strong premonition that this time was different. Once he left Valuva, he might not be able to return for a very long time.

Just as Rorschach was about to go talk with Andre, he received a summons from Master Kano.

"You’re to stop participating in the Non-Magic Alternative Technology Experimental Group for the time being." This was the first thing the Great Mage commanded upon seeing Rorschach.

"Why?" Rorschach’s first thought was that he was being given a different assignment.

But Kano had other concerns. He tossed a newspaper onto the table. The headline read: "Empire Announces Suspension of Grain Exports; Numerous Valuva Grain Merchants Bankrupt."

"The harvest was poor this year, and now the Empire pulls this stunt. Some of the more paranoid types are starting to think the Empire is targeting the Holy Kingdom. Your identity is a bit sensitive, so it’s best you avoid contact with those stubborn, set-in-their-ways instructors for now."

Rorschach had only learned of this a few days prior. Brother Jun had told him merely as a way to remind him that "this is no place to linger," a trivial, mandated signal.

In truth, word of the embargo had not been entirely unheard of within the Holy Kingdom. Powerful merchants could always glean some information from their Imperial business partners or from well-bribed checkpoint managers. Only the grain merchants who were over-leveraged with promissory notes and debt were caught off guard and crushed by the sudden ban.

Combined with the poor domestic harvest, Lords and major grain merchants were already rubbing their hands together, eagerly hoarding the essential commodity.

Everyone hoarding grain knew they were profiting from misery, but since they’d already committed to being monsters, what was the point if they didn’t make an absolute killing? To not do so would be to waste their inhumanity.

And so, the price of bread in Valuva continued to skyrocket.

"Will the Magic Guild stockpile grain?" Rorschach was curious about the countermeasures of the Magic Tower and the Guild.

"Perhaps. The grain merchants affiliated with the Guild might. I’m not too familiar with that side of things."

"Aren’t you or the Guild concerned? Rumors are swirling all over the Royal Capital that it’s going to be a bad year."

"And what of it?" Kano’s attitude was one of complete indifference. "The Kingdom has a population of roughly twenty-five million. In a normal year, it produces enough grain to feed thirty million, with some of that going to exports and livestock."

"So if the harvest is poor this year, does everyone go hungry? Let’s assume there’s only enough food for twenty million people. The answer is that about ten million people won’t have enough to eat, and of those, perhaps half a million at most... will meet an unfortunate end."

"You, I, and every other Mage will not be among those who go hungry. That is all I can guarantee."

"And as of now, my sources tell me Dipresy still hasn’t persuaded the King to issue a grain export restriction, because the Royal Family’s own estates need to sell their grain to the Istani for hard currency—real gold and silver."

The absolute number of Mages was still small. Compared to the vast quantities of materials the Magic Guild mobilized for casting and alchemy, grain was simply not a significant enough concern to trouble the head of the Tower of Stars.

Having calmly stated the facts, Kano returned to the main reason for their meeting. "Now that you’re off lab duty, don’t just sit around. Go liaise with the Star Robe Mages."

"We’ve received external intelligence that a new wave of Underground Sect members and malevolent creatures has infiltrated the Holy Kingdom. Since you were the one who reported it to me, Rorschach, and since both the people and the creatures are from your homeland, you will assist the Guild’s armed forces with the investigation."

"Understood. After this mission is complete, I’d like to go to Bayern."

"...Very well."

This was Rorschach’s first contact with combat mages. They all wore deep blue Mage Robes adorned with star patterns, their expressions grim and their movements sharp and efficient.

But then Rorschach spotted two familiar, identical figures: a pair of gleaming metal tin cans.

"Hey?" Rorschach greeted the Full-Armor Alchemist Warriors. The two perfectly synchronized tin cans took three steps back in unison.

"You know them?"

"I’m quite familiar with the Alchemy Department," Rorschach said with a smile, extending his hand. "Rorschach, Middle Level Mage."

The leader of the Star Robe Team was a woman with short hair. She pulled off her black glove and shook his hand. "Zhen. I’m in charge of this operation."

The hand Rorschach shook was not soft and delicate, but a warrior’s hand—lean, strong, and calloused. Looking closer at the gear they wore beneath their robes, he saw that all the members carried not only Scrolls and Potions, but also had Short Guns tucked at their waists.

Captain Zhen was an exception; like the Full-Armor Warriors, she also carried a melee weapon—a short axe from the southern part of the Kingdom.

"Do you need to be issued a sidearm?"

"No, thank you. I’m more comfortable with my own walking stick." ’A Hand Cannon in untrained hands is just a noisemaker. You’d be lucky not to injure yourself with it.’

Rorschach raised his Civilized Stick. Captain Zhen saw at a glance that it was a Magic Item and didn’t press the issue.

It was still afternoon, not the usual time for the Star Robe Team to be deployed, but they all pulled their robes tight to conceal their weapons and headed out into the streets.

"After the last operation to exterminate the so-called ’Mouse King,’ the Return to the Holy Mother Order laid low for a while. The last time those vermin surfaced was in the catacombs of the East Suburb, but unfortunately, the Church took the lead on that one, so our intelligence is limited."

Pavard, a Star Robe team member who had participated in the "mouse hunt," explained that the Magic Tower had analyzed the residual aura of Mother Earth.

Their surveillance of Valuva had revealed that a similar aura had been appearing repeatedly in recent days, and it seemed to be converging.

"How are you monitoring the entire city?" A flicker of alarm went through Rorschach.

Pavard dodged the question. "Technical details. Not my department! Anyway, they’re gathering, and you’ll never guess where the focal point is!"

"Saint Miller Cathedral?"

"...You’re correct, Rorschach Mage." Pavard produced a map. It was covered in many green dots that converged on the grand cathedral like stars orbiting a moon, growing denser the closer they got.