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Rod ultimately received Griselda's latest mission.
[Mission: Kyoto Turmoil]
[Objective: Investigate intel regarding the God-Child Watchers and witches. Deliver findings to Griselda.]
[Reward: Random reward ×1]
While Rod already had a general idea of the situation, some of the specifics definitely warranted deeper investigation.
Which meant, naturally, he'd have to put himself on the line again.
Just yesterday, he promised Suzaku Himejima he'd behave like a regular tourist. Today, he was gearing up for espionage.
Not that Rod felt even a hint of guilt or hesitation. What, say no to free loot?
His moral flexibility was legendary.
Still, investigating this mess wouldn't be simple.
Although the mission map had already flagged key locations, Rod knew better than to assume it'd be as easy as just showing up.
Thinking it through, he remembered that most of the shady factions active in Tokyo had ties to the group known as the Fallen Ring.
And conveniently, he just so happened to have an in with them.
With that in mind, Rod scrolled through his contacts and called Jeanne.
"Hello?"
She picked up quickly.
"Didn't expect you to call so soon. Missing me already?" Jeanne's voice had that familiar sultry lilt.
Rod didn't need to see her face to know exactly what kind of expression she was wearing.
"Of course. A day apart feels like three autumns. If I could, I wouldn't mind getting a little more… acquainted with you."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then came a faint, noticeably heavier breath.
"Well now, I didn't think you'd be such a sweet talker. Way better than Sieg or Heracles ever were."
At the mention of Sieg, Rod couldn't help thinking of the protagonist from Fate/Apocrypha, basically a guy who started off in nothing but tighty-whities and pieced his gear together one scrap at a time.
Jeanne eventually developed feelings for him, only for FGO to hard-reset their dynamic with a "we barely know each other."
"Actually," Jeanne continued, "I've got a little job on hand. Not sure if it's your kind of thing, but no harm in hearing it, right?"
"Go ahead," Rod said.
"There's this group we've been trying to track called the Abyssfall. We had brief contact with them in the past, but now we've confirmed they're operating in the Far East. We're looking to send someone in for direct negotiations."
Jeanne's tone was measured and patient.
Back at that vampire bar in Rome, she'd been surprised by Rod's strength. Turned out, he was way more powerful than she'd initially thought.
Sure, those mid-tier vampires weren't that strong to begin with, but the way he dispatched them was clean and efficient.
She had reported it to Cao Cao and the rest of the Hero Faction, and naturally, Cao Cao, always on the lookout for capable allies, welcomed the idea of recruiting Rod.
"Of course," Jeanne added, "you're still free to accept or decline. If you don't take it, we'll send someone else."
[New Mission from Jeanne: Abyssfall]
[Objective: As a representative of the Hero Faction, make contact with local underground factions and gather intelligence.]
[Reward: Random reward ×1]
Rod couldn't help but admire the perks of dual affiliations.
One situation, two missions, two rewards.
If he could find a way into the Five Great Clans too, maybe he could squeeze out a third.
Though that one was a stretch.
The Clans were notorious for their exclusivity, like the ancient noble families in fantasy novels, where every last progenitor was cut from the same genealogical cloth.
Outsiders didn't stand a chance.
...
After making sure Asia was settled, Rod followed the system map to a secluded, run-down factory.
He didn't bother snarking about villains and their obsession with abandoned buildings, though seriously, maybe if city councils just bulldozed these eyesores once in a while, half the world's problems would be solved.
From the outside, there were no signs of life. The place looked like a dead zone.
But Rod could sense it, layers of magical barriers had been cast across the area.
Step past a certain threshold, and the mage controlling the array would know instantly.
Which is exactly why Rod hated dealing with mages.
Stealth wasn't an option unless you wanted to start murdering your way in.
Fortunately, he didn't need to sneak. With his Hero Faction credentials, he could walk right in.
At about fifty meters from the main entrance, Rod felt a surge of magic scan over him. Moments later, several cloaked figures emerged from the shadows.
They wore dark robes, their upper faces hidden beneath drooping hoods.
As Rod approached, the rusted front gate creaked open under the influence of magic, revealing a small group of figures waiting inside.
One of them, clad in a much more vibrant purple robe than the others, stood out immediately.
Her face was fully visible: a Western woman in her forties or so, with sharp blue eyes, golden hair, and a prominent aquiline nose that lent her expression a fierce edge.
Behind her stood a young girl dressed in gothic l0lita fashion, with short hair and a doll-like expression that was watching Rod with wide, curious eyes.
She looked utterly out of place among the robed figures.
"I've heard from Satanael that someone claiming to represent the Hero Faction might come knocking," the purple-robed mage said, looking Rod up and down with unveiled disdain. "Looks like that's you."
Rod had dressed appropriately for the meeting, fitted tactical gear, a Nichirin blade on one hip, a pistol on the other.
Sure, it was technically a diplomatic visit, but he wasn't about to show up in flip-flops and cargo shorts.
"I know all about your little faction. All of you are supposedly descendants of ancient heroes. But you don't look old enough to be anything more than a mascot. Is the Hero Faction really sending kids now?"
She didn't bother hiding her contempt.
As a high-ranking mage from the Land of Oz, her condescension toward ordinary humans came naturally.
As for those so-called heroes?
Unless one of the originals showed up in person, she wasn't impressed.
"So then, which hero are you descended from?" she asked.
Rod paused for a beat, then replied smoothly, "Standing before you is Rod, former freelance exorcist, descendant of the Crimson King, scion of the Dragon's Lineage, heir to one of the Three Kings. Current honorary member of the Hero Faction."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
The surrounding witches stared at him in disbelief.
Rod didn't even flinch. After all, it wasn't technically a lie.
Besides, when you're out in the world, your identity is whatever bullshit you say.
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