บท 309: C309
Waver was quite "generous". After receiving compensation from the deceased's son, he wasted no time in inviting Shirou to grab a bite at a roadside barbecue stall, leaving him at a loss for words.
"Come on, eat more, don't be polite," Waver brought a plate of fried calamari and said warmly.
Shirou said somewhat incredulously, "So, this is what you call a grand feast?"
"It's already a big deal for me. I still have a 2 million debt to my teacher, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous debts, which adds up to a total of 3.74 million! Usually, I survive on bread crumbs and instant noodles, so this outing to a roadside stall is quite the treat."
"You, being a Lord, seem to live quite modestly, don't you? What about the Clock Tower and your students? Haven't they said anything about it?"
"Some factions do poke fun at me every now and then. But honestly, who cares? I'm not some coward who needs to hide behind a facade."
Shirou chuckled, "You've really changed."
"That's because someone told me that if I keep hiding behind a facade, I'll forever remain trapped in a narrow world. I made a promise to that person to become his loyal subject, so I can't allow him to look down on me."
As they savored their food and engaged in conversation, reminiscing about the past and sharing stories of their personal growth, Reines, Gray, and Caules, who had tagged along, attentively listened to every word exchanged between Shirou and Waver.
With the exception of Adashino Hishiri, who had already departed as a member of the Department of Policies, everyone else was present at the gathering.
Reines, in particular, had her ears raised high, keenly absorbing every valuable nugget of information that came her way.
"By the way, there have already been five incidents involving True Ether this year," Waver mentioned.
"Have the True Ether incidents been causing a lot of trouble in London?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Over the past few years, there has been a strange phenomenon where particles associated with the Age of Gods, including True Ether, continuously surge out from the ley lines."
"Has this kind of occurrence never happened before?"
"Well, it has, but it's been extremely rare."
"I see..." Shirou nodded, deep in thought.
It seemed highly likely that what Zelretch had mentioned held some truth—the Age of Gods was resurfacing, leading to disturbances such as the erratic movement of particles like True Ether.
Shirou, too, found himself at a loss when it came to this matter.
Even at this point, he had yet to uncover the underlying cause behind the resurgence of the Age of Gods.
For now, all he could do was eagerly await the information that Zelretch would provide, hoping it would shed light on the specifics and help him determine his next course of action.
He firmly believed that all wars should be waged based on information, and acting rashly was the epitome of foolishness. Therefore, upon hearing the news about the resurgence of the Age of Gods, his initial response was to maintain a composed and collected demeanor, rather than succumbing to panic.
"By the way, now that you're here in London, do you have any specific tasks or errands? If it's within my capabilities, I'd be more than willing to assist you," Waver offered.
Shirou nodded appreciatively and replied, "Actually, there is something I could use your help with."
Curious, Waver asked, "What is it?"
"Have you ever heard of someone by the name of Lev Lainur Flauros?"
"Lev Lainur Flauros?" Waver furrowed his brow and shook his head, "No, I'm afraid I don't know that person. I haven't even heard the name before."
"Are you sure? I recall that he is involved in the field of Archaeology."
Waver remained adamant, shaking his head once again. He then turned to Reines and asked, "Reines, do you happen to be familiar with this person?"
She smiled lightly, "I have absolutely no clue. I have no interest in unknown people."
Shirou pondered, rubbing his chin in thought.
Besides delivering the Class Cards to Zelretch, his primary reason for coming here was to find Lev.
A few months ago, after his life had finally settled down, he had devised a plan to avert the incineration of humanity. However, when he used his Clairvoyance (EX) to monitor Lev, he had come up empty-handed. There was no trace of him to be found.
Furthermore, his search for Chaldea had also been fruitless so far.
Despite lacking the precise knowledge of Chaldea's exact whereabouts, based on the setting of Fate/Grand Order (FGO), he knew that it was situated at an elevation exceeding 6,000 meters, constantly enveloped in snow.
He had meticulously surveyed various regions, ranging from the majestic Himalayas to the vast expanse of the Antarctic ice sheet, and even the towering peaks of the Andes Mountains. He had explored every location on Earth that matched these criteria.
However, his efforts had been in vain.
He refused to believe that Chaldea possessed the ability to elude his eyes.
Thanks to his second Noble Phantasm and his Clairvoyance (EX), Shirou possessed the extraordinary power to see through everything. Whether it was physical objects or abstract concepts, nothing could escape his eyes. If Chaldea truly existed in any of those locations he had scoured, it would have been absolutely impossible for them to conceal themselves from his all-seeing eyes.
"So, Waver, Miss Reines, have either of you heard anything about Chaldea? Or do you have any clue about the whereabouts of Marisbury Animusphere, the Head of the Department of Astromancy?"
"All I know is that Marisbury hasn't made an appearance in quite a while."
Reines chimed in, "I'm pretty much in the same boat as Waver. I don't have much information about my uncle's whereabouts either. He disappeared after entrusting you to me and went off to do his magical research, making it hard to reach him."
"I see," Shirou nodded in understanding.
Lev's whereabouts remained a mystery, and Marisbury Animusphere, the very first Director of Chaldea, seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
Honestly, it was quite puzzling.
But then again, could this somehow be connected to his ties with Solomon, who had existed over three thousand years ago?
After all, he had previously shared information about the grim fate of humanity and the events surrounding it with King Solomon from over three thousand years ago.
Was it possible that King Solomon had taken some drastic measures that somehow erased Lev's existence from the very beginning?
He couldn't say for sure, but what truly mattered at this moment was the sudden resurgence of the Age of Gods.
The resurgence of the Age of Gods was no less than a catastrophic event, comparable to the devastating incineration of humanity, at least for the modern people.
No.
In fact, he couldn't shake off the feeling that the true nature of this event was even more ominous and sinister than anything he had encountered before.
Humanity vanished without a trace as the incineration of humanity unfolded, disrupting the very fabric of existence and erasing people from the world. The order that once relied on cause and effect crumbled into nothingness, leaving no remnants behind. This cataclysmic event brought about an end that was surprisingly painless, sparing people from suffering.
In stark contrast, the resurgence of the Age of Gods introduced a grim reality where True Ether was used as a lethal weapon, directly targeting and poisoning the remaining population. People fought desperately, enduring excruciating pain and torment as they succumbed to a slow and agonizing death.
As Shirou's concern about the resurgence of the Age of Gods weighed heavily on his mind, he engaged in a casual conversation and shared memories with Waver. During their interaction, they decided to exchange contact information.
Waver expressed the value of having a dependable friend, emphasizing that such a bond is priceless, even more valuable than gold. However, Shirou, known for his practical nature, responded with a lighthearted remark, summing it up in a single sentence: "Just remember, no borrowing money!"
Waver: "..."
Waver's face flushed with embarrassment, as Shirou's comment unintentionally made it appear as if he had ulterior motives for befriending others—to borrow money. This situation left Waver feeling somewhat mortified, sensing the assumption reflected in the expressions worn by Reines and Gareth, who seemed to silently agree with the sentiment.
Meanwhile, Gray, being her usual reserved self, maintained a lowered hood and discreetly tried to fade into the background, not openly participating in the conversation.
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