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Ingralowe was one of the most developed cities of Seperion, but that did not free it from having slums. It could even be said that being more developed increased the wealth gap between the poor and the rich compared to smaller villages, and there was likely no city without a poor neighborhood.

But located in the slums were also various warehouses of the Platiboros Company. They had bought a plot of land for cheap, then hired everyone who lived nearby as security, letting them operate safely and without disruptions.

Some people from the slums or in positions of power commended the company’s move, calling it charitable, but all the people they hired received no formal training, and were largely still street thugs. From a different point of view, it could also be said that the company was trying to create a location hidden from the eyes of the law, where the nature of the location would obstruct any investigation. But most people were too shallow to really consider that possibility.

Arrold was inside one of those secure warehouses, his back slouched down.

“I’ve had to evacuate my business from Bamel, my source of human hearts up and vanished, and I even lost the completed prototype of the Crystal Ball of Postponement. I feel like nothing is going as planned lately.”

In Bamel he had partnered with Grog from the Blacksmiths’ Guild, but then Grog’s crimes were unveiled and he became a wanted criminal, so Arrold had no choice but to stop trading with him. At least Arrold burned all the evidence and warehouses he had with Grog, only leaving behind a small shop.

Then there was the serial killer he commissioned to bring him hearts, but one day she simply vanished and he never heard back from her again. She was proficient enough to have garnered the nickname Heart Collector, but there was no official report of her capture from the authorities either. Maybe one of her victims had managed to turn the tables on her, or she had died out in the wild somehow. Either way, Arrold had already given up on ever hearing from her again.

He even had completed a working prototype of a Crystal Ball of Postponement, an item that allowed humans to control demons, a higher type of being. He had given it to a man named Lacks to test its functionality, but one day he gathered many of his men and then never returned too.

Paying people off to sabotage someone else was a common tactic amongst merchants, but he had been careful to make sure Grog and Lacks were completely unrelated. But experiencing failure time and time again was demoralizing.

“Well, I suppose it’s time to retrieve that Sorcery Core. It might be a bit difficult to take it from a noble’s daughter like that, but that core should be able to do it.”

His latest project was an experimental Sorcery Core, which had an additional instruction to force it to come back to him¹.

Usually Sorcery Cores could not perform any actions by themselves, but there was one more modification made to this one. That gave Arrold confidence that it would find its way back home.

“I would’ve preferred to conduct the experiment within the company, but I have to be careful about the response from the government. The company president really likes to fuss about everything like that.”

Arrold then sighed and languidly activated the return command.

After leaving Plum in the laboratory, I go to the training grounds to practice shooting, but soon after I hear an explosion.

I turn around to the source of the explosion, and see there’s black smoke billowing out of Annabelle’s laboratory, which gives me a really bad feeling.

“Ruri!”
“It seems something happened, let’s go.”

Ruri also arrives here hearing the explosion, and together we head to Annabelle’s laboratory.

The corridors inside the research campus are covered in soot, and there’s still a burnt smell in the air.

Only ashes remain from the laboratory’s door, and inside I see everything burned, and in a corner Annabelle protecting Christina under a barrier. And Plum in front of them, her hand charred black.

“Miss Annabelle, what happened-”

Before I can finish asking, I instinctively jump back. A liquid that shot out of Plum’s hand sprays on the spot where I had been standing, producing a small explosion.

“I don’t know exactly why, but somehow she’s gone berserk.”
“Miss Annabelle!”

Annabelle is down on one knee and Christina is trying to prop her up. Her usual sly smile is still there, but her usual confidence and seemingly little care for worldly things was gone. Her barrier is still up, but I doubt it’ll last much longer.

“Plum, stop! This is an order, stop right now!”

Christina uses her authority as Plum’s master to stop her.

I don’t know what caused this, but even when a magic automaton loses control, their master’s orders should be absolute so-

“Error. A high-level command is being executed, no other orders can be accepted.”

Plum’s response dash all our hopes.

“That can’t be, I’d swear I registered my name as your master…”

While Christina tries to reason with that, more liquid forms on Plum’s palm before being shot. The barrier blocks the explosion, but also shatters after that. Annabelle looks exhausted, leaning forward and unable to regenerate the barrier.

“Unable to stop. All obstacles will be removed. Lady Christina, please flee.”

Plum continues saying that, and I feel like she’s actually trying to stop, but she can’t oppose whatever is driving her to do this. At the same time there’s more liquid forming in her palm, but this time it keeps growing instead of being shot instantly.

“Tsk.”

I click my tongue as I dash forward, wrapping my arms under Plum’s armpits. Parts of her are made of metal, so she’s heavier than a regular person, but I’m also stronger than a regular person so I can lift her without issue.

“Ruri, out of the way!”

I turn around while I yell at Ruri by the entrance as I rush outside, heading to the nearest window and breaking it with my back as I jump outside.

I forcefully aim her hand up just as the large mass of liquid gets shot, which then explodes like fireworks in the sky.

Once we fall on the ground I roll a bit from the impact. Luckily my magic automaton body is resilient enough that jumping from the second floor doesn’t hurt me, but the impact makes me let go of Plum.

“Gh… Plum!”

If she’s really running berserk like Annabelle said, I have to stop her. I raise my face thinking that, but Plum is already on her feet, pointing her arm at me.

“All obstacles will be removed. Sister, please flee².”

1. Silva: Uh oh
2. Robinxen: At least she recognises that she’s acting incoherently and wants to avoid damage.