I successfully submitted the request for the custom brushes at the Victor Trading Company. Naturally, they wouldn't be ready immediately, so they were slated to be delivered at a later date.
This was the standard way of doing business. Recently, my sense of time had been warped by Canalis-san’s omnipotence—she tended to have everything ready the moment I asked—but a bit of a wait was only natural. I would look forward to seeing them when they arrived.
"That went much faster than I anticipated," Cornelia remarked.
"It did. We skipped the time usually spent deliberating over materials and combinations by simply ordering every version available. I suppose speed was an inevitable byproduct of that approach."
"True. Usually, that’s the part that takes the longest."
She was right. Ordinarily, one would spend a great deal of time weighing various shapes and materials against a set budget. However, I had bypassed all that through the brute-force method of ordering every single combination possible.
"Well, as we discussed on the way here, shall we head over to listen to the Allegra Symphony? Although, I suppose we should check the performance times first."
"Yes. I asked Anne to look into the schedule and seat availability while we were occupied... How does it look?"
"Right here, Lady Cornelia," Anne replied. "I have summarized today's performance times. The closest showing is this one. As for the seating, the highest-rank seats are currently full, but there are plenty of others available. Buying tickets should be no trouble at all."
I was impressed. Cornelia had been proactive enough to send Anne to scout out the concert details while we were busy at the trading company. The information I needed was presented perfectly.
Just as I was admiring her efficiency, Alice suddenly appeared before us.
"Kaito-san, interested in some tickets? I happen to have two VIP seats side-by-side, plus another seat right behind them that's perfect for a guard..."
"...Hmm. I mean, better seats are always better, and I don't mind paying, but... you have that look on your face. The one you get when you're plotting something."
"Now, whatever could you mean? Oh, and don't worry about any shady business like scalping. I actually own the rights to that concert hall, so I secured these under my own authority."
Alice stood there with a grin, fluttering three tickets in her hand. Since that particular smile usually signaled she was up to no good, I suspected she had some kind of ulterior motive.
That said, there was no denying they were great seats in an ideal configuration. But still... I couldn't shake the feeling that she was setting something up.
"...What do you think, Cornelia? I’m sure they’re excellent seats, but she’s almost certainly up to something."
"Well, for an individual as profoundly resourceful as the Phantasm King-sama, it is only natural that every action would carry various intentions. However..."
"No, it's not that kind of serious plotting. She’s just amusing herself at our expense... though I can't tell exactly how."
"If these are the seats the Phantasm King-sama recommends, I am sure they are the right choice. Out of respect for the Phantasm King-sama's wishes, perhaps we should accept. Since they are the highest-rank seats, they truly are the best way to enjoy the performance."
I knew Alice better than anyone, so I was positive she was finding some entertainment in this, but the details eluded me. What could possibly be so funny about us sitting in a specific spot to listen to an orchestra? She wouldn't do anything I truly hated, but the situation was undeniably suspicious.
Cornelia, however, wasn't as familiar with Alice's brand of mischief. She seemed to think the Phantasm King had some high-minded reason for the recommendation and was in favor of buying them.
"...Alright, fine. Alice, I'll take the seats."
"Thanks for your business! I'll let them go at the list price."
As Cornelia suggested, they really were good seats, so I bought the tickets despite my lingering doubts. Once Alice had pocketed the money, she smiled and gave Cornelia a light pat on the shoulder.
"...Well, I honestly feel a bit sorry for you, so I'll make sure to handle the information control and follow-up."
"Ph-Phantasm King-sama...? Um, why are you looking at me with such pity? Am I about to suffer some terrible fate in those seats?"
"Actually, knowing Kaito-san, it’ll probably happen regardless of where you sit—or rather, I have a feeling it’ll start before you even reach the theater. So it doesn't really matter, in a sense. Anyway, do your best!"
"Phantasm King-sama? Phantasm King-sama!"
Cornelia, her face turning pale, called out to Alice, but the Phantasm King had already vanished with a firm thumbs-up.
Serious-senpai: "Wait... does this mean their seats are near Megiddo and the others?"
???: "Right next to them, actually. Well, they’re bound to run into each other in front of the theater even without the tickets. If anything, seating them near acquaintances is a form of damage control. If the Gorilla realized Kaito-san was there, he’d probably force his way into a nearby seat regardless..."
Serious-senpai: "I suppose that's true. There’s no doubt they’ll cross paths no matter what. In the end, this is actually a win for Cornelia, since you’ve at least promised to mitigate the fallout of the incident..."