"And then I just threw the gauntlet down, 'What kind of man shoots someone else in the back?' Just like that." Master crows proudly to her adoring audience as she leans heavily on the walking stick she got from the hospital.

"What happened next? What happened next?" Kira excitedly asks. Ken stands beside Kira while staring raptly at Master, nodding along enthusiastically.

Master gets more into the story as her voice begins rising in volume, "He slashed at me with that sword of his, trying to behead me right off the bat. But I caught the blade and destroyed the sword with my magic. Then, as the Master of The Path of Judgment, I unleashed the Fire of Perdition against the villain, ravaging his body and soul. By the time the flames had died down, the coward had fled, but no one can escape judgment!"

Inspector Scott, who has been standing quietly by my side, sourly remarks, "You ravaged Greer with the power of a fan club?"

Rose and I turn to look at Inspector Scott with mystified expressions while Master's face morphs into a look of embarrassment.

Inspector Scott explains, "The Path of Judgment was originally a small society dedicated to the appreciation of some kind of mythological figure and the protection of history. When interest in the object of its admiration began to die off, they stirred up interest through comics and cosplay. These days, the Path still claims to be a serious society, but most of its members, are well, like its Master right here."

Sera snickers quietly at Inspector Scott's explanation while I am sent reeling. This is totally different from what Master had told Rose and I when we were still training under her. Wasn't the Path supposed to be a group of holy warriors or something like that? Its now sounding a lot less impressive.

Master shoots back in a fluster, "We are a serious society! We, you know, just want to live according to the principles laid down by Prince Enma is all. I mean, I have studied all the historical texts and practiced the manuals left behind by the Prince. And I do possess the Fire of Perdition, don't forget that. The proof of our teachings is in the eating."

"That's just pyromancy. Very impressive pyromancy I'll admit, but nothing mythological." Inspector Scott answers in a completely deadpan voice.

Master makes some uncomfortable choking noises in her throat before awkwardly looking away. A look of disappointment crosses Rose's face. Inspector Scott, smelling blood, goes in for the kill.

"And are you sure you should be boasting about beating up your employer's brother in front of all of us?"

Master grumbles in reply, "She's not here now is she? The meeting between Gustav and all the big wigs has not ended yet. Anyway, she was overjoyed at the sight of her brother and I trading blows, notwithstanding the fact that her brother killed someone right in front of us. Let me vent for a bit."

Rose frowns gently at Master's mention of Uncle. Uncle had arrived at The City a few days ago and had settled into the vacant manor originally purchased for Rose. He then announced that a party would be hosted at the manor and invited pretty much everyone important in The City to attend. The most important of these important people were the big wigs Master had been talking about. Instead of partaking in the food and drink, Uncle had the VIPs whisked away upstairs for a closed door meeting.

Rose and I were here at Uncle's request. Neither of us had the chance to meet Uncle yet even though we were his guests. Ken was invited as the heir to his family while Kira and Master had come along as part of their employer's entourage. Inspector Scott and Sera were by my side as bodyguards, because of one particular guest that Uncle had invited to the party as well.

From across the room, I see Nicholas glaring daggers at me. Rose moves behind me for protection and holds on to my arm tightly. Beside Nicholas are a pair of tough looking demons wearing the uniform of the Legion. So, Nicholas did manage to get the Legion's support at the end of the day. The vampire girl that we had fought previously walks towards Nicholas carrying a pair of glasses filled with champagne and hands him one. She notices us locking gazes with each other and gives me a polite smile before gently maneuvering Nicholas to another corner of the room.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Given Nicholas's dislike of me, I would not be surprised that he would become violent given half the chance. That was probably the reason why SOPO had ordered Inspector Scott and Sera to protect me tonight. As my attention is turned back towards Master, I realize that Kira and Ken have remained just as interested in Master's story despite Inspector Scott's barbs and are now badgering Master about her signature technique. Master quickly regains her spirits and starts to regale the pair on the details of her awesomeness as the three of them head towards the buffet counter.

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Sera asks in an amused tone, "She seriously got you guys calling her 'Master' based on her role in a group of hobbyists?"

"Well Uncle seemed to go along with it as well." I reply, "No one really questioned Master's claims. Everyone seemed to agree that she deserved the title, no matter how she actually got it." Rose nods in agreement, the confused look growing on her face.

Inspector Scott answers, "That's because despite of your Master's eccentricity, her skills are the real thing. For example, the fight between her and Greer leveled an entire laboratory with both combatants freely throwing about magic. And she managed to walk away from that fight with her life. Not easy at all."

Rose raises her eyebrows in surprise, saying, "This is the first time I heard you use the title 'Master' Inspector."

Inspector Scott shrugs in response, "Well, she deserves it."

"Inspector, about Greer or Gallant .." I begin but Inspector Scott cuts me off.

"Tensei, Irene will do." Inspector Scott, no Irene tells me, "I don't want there to be anymore lies between us. You need to trust me if I am to protect you."

I smile, "Irene then. Do you know who Greer was working for?"

A frown from Irene, "No. We searched the apartment he was staying in but it had been completely cleaned out. Our sources in ORPO state that Mrs Alley had confessed to be working for Greer though."

I blink in surprise at that. I knew Mrs Alley had been arrested recently, but no idea that it was connected to Mr Greer.

Sera takes up the story, "ORPO had originally arrested Mrs Alley for suspected embezzlement of Academy funds, nothing to do with Greer. During the interrogation though, she admitted that Greer had paid her to do various odd jobs and provide him with a cover at the Academy. As to what exactly Greer was up to, Mrs Alley doesn't know. Greer never filled her in on the details."

My mind goes back to the night when I met Greer. Back then I wondered how I would fare if we had fought. Now, after seeing the aftermath of Master and him going at it, I have my answer. It was a good thing that Greer was probably not ordered to hurt me.

Irene extends her hand to both Rose and myself, interrupting my train of thought, "I know that it was not fair to both of you for me to lie about being your teacher, so I want us to have a fresh start. No more canned exercises at SOPO HQ or pretend lessons at the Academy. From now on, I will be a real teacher to you Tensei, teaching you all I know about magic so that you will have the strength to make your own choices. Rose, I won't allow you to come to harm on my watch again. No matter what happens in the future, I will be here, fighting in both your corners."

Sera pipes in as well, "My duty as a SOPO officer and as your friend Tensei, obliges me to do the same as well. Rose, we may have our differences, but my sword will protect you too, especially if its from that slime Nicholas. No one deserves having her future taken away from her."

Rose smiles happily and grasps Irene's outstretched hand, "Thank you. Both of you." She then turns to look at me and says, "Tensei, you and Ken are still not talking right? I'll do my part to bring Ken around. He has already forgiven Kira for her role in that eviction fiasco, its only his pride preventing him from making up with you. Leave it to me."

I scratch the back of my head and respond awkwardly, "Thanks everyone. I'm not sure that I am worth so much trouble but really, thanks."

Before anyone can reply, I hear loud footsteps coming down the manor's central staircase. The doors to the room open and the various VIPs begin to filter into the room. I see the stiff form of Ms Gallant among them and both Kira and Master respectfully fall into step behind her. Ken walks to the side of an old, wrinkled man with a shaved head. His dad maybe? Irene and Sera immediately return to bodyguard mode, eyes sharp and alert.

At the tail of the group of VIPs is a tanned elderly man with silver hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. His body has the look of someone who used to work out but left those days behind him, large but somewhat soft looking. A blank, neutral expression is on the man's face. However, his pointed ears twitch slightly, betraying his agitation. The man scans the crowd, his gaze lingering on Nicholas, Rose and myself.

Rose grabs my arm once more while Nicholas begins to sweat from his brow. The vampire girl scowls slightly and whispers something to him. At this urging, Nicholas nods and steadies himself. I pat Rose's hand gently, but its more to my benefit then hers. After all, I never felt at home before the man before me. Uncle and I were always distant towards each other.

After confirming that everyone's attention is on him, Uncle announces, "My failure to properly handle the affairs of my territory has caused disturbance and inconvenience to all of you. For that I apologize." He then bows slightly to the crowd.

Uncle then continues, "I have requested the presence of everyone here today to act as witnesses, so that a repeat of the disturbance will not occur." Nicholas frowns at this implied censure while the vampire looks on with a smug look on her face.

"Nicholas, Rose, Tensei." Uncle intones, "Come forward."

The three of us move to the front of the crowd at Uncle's command.

"Now, the three of you hear my decision," Uncle pronounces, "and fight for your futures."