Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Meanwhile, there was little known about Ira Muerte, and Jorg’s testimony was not enough to carry out a proper arrest. So it was better to bring them in due to their connection to Chimera Clauzen first.

That had the added effect of masking their pursuit of Ira Muerte, making it seem they were looking for something else.

“Ah, here! This one could work too!”

It was no surprise that merchants that were involved with one corrupt group joined others, so soon Alma was picking out more and more names that appeared in both lists.

That went on for a while longer.

Then they went on to review the list of assassination victims, thought up plans to capture a Linker, and compiled all of it into more digestible files, which would be provided to the intelligence agencies.

After some time talking like that…

“This could work.”

Alma highlighted one name on the list.

He was another merchant, who appeared like a common and regular merchant. But he had a secret, one revealed by Jorg. He acted like a Linker, and was also involved in selling a variety of highly illegal items in the black market.

“Let’s get him to help us out.”

A grin spread on Alma’s lips as she thought of a plan, a frigid light deep in her eyes as she explained it.

(A lure huh… I can see it working out so that’s good enough.)

Once they wrapped up their discussion, Mira headed back to the oracle’s room. Alma and Esmeralda called an urgent meeting with the government’s higherups, to share the compiled information and their plans.

Kagura’s role was complete too, so she returned to the inn where Tiriel was waiting for her. But she knew that they might need her help again, so she left behind her white tiger shikigami Gautarou, which shrunk to the size of a kitten to stay with Alma.

Whenever they needed Kagura again, Alma could just summon her through Gautarou.

“Uhmm, I think it’s like this…”

Mira stood in front of the large gates leading to the oracle’s room, where she brandished the key Alma gave her, and tried to follow the instructions she wrote down.

Past all the gates and doors, she rushed through the garden, heading to the living room where she left Iris.

“This is bad, meow… I’ve used up everything I had… But it’s meow’s life motto to always find a way out!”
“Wow, that was really good! I really thought I had you there! It’s only a matter of time though!”

Two lively voices could be heard from the living room.
They were the First Lieutenant and Iris, clearly having fun with whatever they were doing.

“I see you’re having fun over here.”

Mira entered the living room, glad that Iris was in a good mood, who quickly replied, “Welcome back!” while beaming a warm smile.

“Yes, I’m back.”

Mira could not stifle a smile seeing Iris like that. She also took note of what Iris was holding, which explained why the two were having so much fun. Both of them were holding cards, with more of them piled up all over the table.

The two were currently duking it out in a match of Legend of Astelia.

Mira had left them watching the final matches of the tournament that morning, which likely influenced them to play. They had been going at it for quite a while, as the First Lieutenant’s sign had a record of their previous matches.

So far Iris remained undefeated. There had been a few close calls, but all of them always ended with the First Lieutenant’s defeat.

“There has been neowthing to report!”

The First Lieutenant jumped on his feet to salute and indicate he had properly protected Iris.

“Good, you did well.”

Mira nodded approvingly, the scene in front of her nothing if not peaceful. She approached the table, taking a closer look at the cards just as the finishing blow was dealt.

“And this is check mate!”
“I’ve lost againnn!!”

The card Iris used sealed the deal. The First Lieutenant spun back in an exaggerated defeat motion, soon after getting back up while mumbling, “This is all just a difference in experience meow,” trying to explain away his loss.

And that was not the end, as he followed it with, “There have to be better cards!” and dove straight into the pile of cards.

Mira took note of a large box placed on a corner of the table, which had not been there that morning. It was surrounded by many cards as well, all owned by Iris. She was lending those to the First Lieutenant, so he could have a deck to play.

Meanwhile she was sticking to a couple of fully built decks, which she kept in cases near her.

In other words, Iris had been using her polished and refined decks, while the First Lieutenant had to quickly improvise his. So it was no surprise that he kept losing. That was how Mira interpreted the situation, until Iris dropped a truth bomb.

“He’s actually doing really well, he’s an amazing player! He’s been putting up a really good fight despite having never played before. I’d say he’s already better than Noin! His main shortcoming is the main card of his deck. For now a summoner deck is a bit tricky to play out, maybe he would do better with the Vice-Wiseman Creos or Ocean King Deepsea Avalanche cards, but those are really rare so I don’t have them.”

Iris had actually played against him, so she had a better grasp of his ability. In her eyes, he was extremely talented to play this well while using an improvised deck and playing for the first time.

But what struck Mira the most were the rest of her words.

“That can’t…be…”

The card game was mirroring reality in a cruel way. Summoners were in a harsh position. After all, Legend of Astelia had been modeled off the real world. So with no summoners standing out, they also had a minimal role in the game.

While Mira stared blankly, horrified by that realization, Iris continued to comment how the First Lieutenant would win in the blink of an eye if he switched to a Magician deck.

The First lieutenant quickly reacted to those words, filled with new motivation.

“That does it then. I’ll come back with a completely new deck neow!”

Saying that, he threw aside his summoner deck and began building a new one.

The discarded cards were carefully picked up by Mira, who looked at them while internally debating on visiting the company producing the game, and terrorizing…or rather educating them on how powerful summoners actually were.