At the mansion of the Hamilton Marquis House in the Arclesia Empire, Marquis Hamilton and Eris sat across from Baron Rich, who had been summoned for an urgent meeting.
Since the Marchioness was currently out, the three of them were discussing the recent developments surrounding Kaito.
"I see. So, an enhancement of the blessing, is it?" the Marquis mused. "We had already noticed the merchants getting restless, but the God Realm’s direct involvement was certainly unexpected."
"I... I honestly have no idea what to do anymore," Baron Rich admitted, his face a mask of weary confusion.
While there were precedents for such enhancements, they were usually temporary measures granted during natural disasters to offset poor harvests. This was different. Because the Goddess Erne hadn't specified an end date, it was assumed the blessing would be semi-permanent—an unheard-of situation.
"With a divine blessing on the line, we will naturally need to consult Her Majesty Chris," Eris noted. "Whether we should promote it or keep it under wraps for now is a decision that requires the Empress's input. More importantly, we need to consider Marie’s mental health. She is going to be thrust into high-society circles far more often now."
"I agree," the Baron said. "That is why I sent her out shopping instead of having her join us. I hoped the luxury district would provide a much-needed change of pace."
Because the blessing would impact a wide territory, they could not finalize a plan without the head of state. Eris looked on with concern, sympathizing with Marie by drawing on her own past experiences of being caught in Kaito's wake.
The conversation eventually turned to the surge of merchant interest in the lands neighboring the Rich Baron House, but they were interrupted by a panicked maid rushing into the room.
"Forgive me! I have an emergency report!" she cried. "Miyama Kaito-sama has been sighted at the bookstore on the Main Street!"
The room froze. Tension shot through the air instantly. Reports of Kaito were always significant, and seeing him in the Arclesia Empire rather than the Kingdom of Sinfonia suggested that something big was brewing.
Eris, however, looked at the maid with a stunned expression. "Wait... sighting information on Kaito-sama actually came in?"
"Yes, my lady."
"..."
Eris fell into deep, serious thought. As a high-ranking noble family, the Hamiltons possessed a vast intelligence network, and the capital was firmly within their sphere of influence. Even so, it should have been impossible to track Kaito.
Normally, gathering intel on Kaito-sama’s casual outings or shopping trips is next to impossible, Eris thought. If people knew he was in the capital, everyone would be clamoring for a meeting. His friends and acquaintances would undoubtedly cause a stir—but that kind of attention is exactly what he finds bothersome. The Phantasm King would never allow it.
In the past, when Kaito had visited pet stores in the luxury district, the Hamiltons had not heard a word, despite the area being under their scrutiny. The fact that the information had reached them so early this time could only mean one thing.
"...Phantasm King-sama decided we needed to know this? But why...?" Eris’s eyes widened. "Wait, it couldn't be!"
"Eris? What is it? No... wait, I see it now!" the Marquis exclaimed, realizing the same truth.
Baron Rich looked back and forth between them, bewildered. Before she could explain, Eris turned back to the maid.
"You likely stopped mid-report because you were startled by our reaction, but there is more, isn't there? The sighting... it said that after leaving the bookstore, Kaito-sama headed toward the luxury district, correct?"
"Y-yes! That is exactly what was reported!"
"I knew it," Eris whispered. "That means... Marie is..."
Baron Rich finally connected the dots and turned pale. "N-no, surely not... The luxury district is enormous! And Marie is at a women's boutique. The odds of a chance encounter are—"
"That gentleman makes those odds," Eris interrupted. "In this massive capital, he is heading toward the exact district where Marie is at the perfect moment. The very fact that this information was leaked to us means the Phantasm King expects them to cross paths."
"Search for other information immediately!" the Marquis barked at the maid. "Check for sightings of any of the Six Kings or their high-ranking executives in the capital! Look for any possible visits or events scheduled for today!"
Experience told Eris and the Marquis that Kaito was almost certain to run into Marie. If other powerful entities were present, the chaos would only multiply.
Understanding that his daughter was about to walk into a social minefield, Baron Rich slumped in his seat, clutching his head and praying for Marie's safety.
Serious-senpai: "So the K-Case Emergency Alert has been initiated... Though if you ask me, it's already far too late."
???: "It’s not an incident happening in the capital; it’s an incident happening in the God Realm! That’s how it feels, anyway."
Serious-senpai: "Someone should really tell them."
???: "I’m telling you, even Alice doesn't know about the God Realm side of things at this point!"