"Hmm... detain her for now!"
With that, Aozaki Touko hung up the phone, then turned her gaze to the falling snow outside the window.
Regarding the Mage who infiltrated the Umbrella Corporation, she knew who it was: Kiritsugu Emiya's adoptive mother from the Fourth Holy Grail War, possessing a partial succubus bloodline.
As for her strength, it was absolutely formidable.
After all, anyone who dared to accept a designated sealing bounty would not be weak.
However, these were all irrelevant issues.
The main point was that her pharmaceutical company was being targeted.
Moreover, it wasn't a one-sided force. The Mage's Association, of course, needed no explanation. To ensure the preservation of mystery and prevent its dilution, they specifically sent people to investigate whether the medicine contained any magic. This kind of thing was, after all, understandable.
However, why would Dead Apostles also come to investigate?
"Interesting... The esteemed Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, the three oldest Dead Apostles, would actually be interested in my research? Is it because I am the inheritor of a Magician?!"
After a moment of thought, Aozaki Touko leaned back on the sofa as if giving up.
To be honest, she really hadn't expected that a Dead Apostle Ancestor, named 'Valerius Fernando van Fendilstam,' who ranked at the pinnacle of the Dead Apostle world, would take an interest in her.
"Perhaps... this is a fated encounter!"
Suddenly, a melodious female voice rang out. Irisviel pushed open the door and walked in, sitting beside Aozaki Touko, and said with a gentle smile:
"Don't you think it's quite a coincidence, Touko? Your Rozen Maiden is almost complete, and then two of the world's rarest and strongest puppeteers will compete for the strongest, guided by fate!"
As she spoke, her ruby eyes showed a hint of excited anticipation.
Such a fated event, full of epic and legendary feeling, was very appealing to her, especially after recently watching many movies and reading many books.
"...Oh~"
Listening, Aozaki Touko pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Although I don't know the reason, if I can compete with Van Fem in puppetry, then it's not a bad thing!"
That's right, it wasn't as a challenger, but a competition on equal footing.
This was neither arrogance nor ignorance. She was confident that she had enough power to face this oldest Dead Apostle Ancestor, without needing to borrow the power of her Magician grandfather, but relying only on her own strength.
"I believe in you, Touko... you will definitely be the strongest puppeteer!"
Irisviel gently smoothed her silver hair with her delicate hand, her ruby eyes filled with unwavering conviction.
No one in this world could understand Aozaki Touko's puppetry skills better than her, after all, she was the person Touko communicated with the most and was closest to.
Even... she had personally witnessed the birth of the Rozen Maiden.
"Is that so..."
Aozaki Touko got up from the sofa, showing a bright smile: "Then, as your husband, I must live up to my wife's expectations."
"Now I'll work overtime to finish the Rozen Maiden!"
Saying this, she bent down and kissed Irisviel's forehead, then turned and walked towards the Magecraft workshop, intending to speed up the creation of the Rozen Maiden.
"Touko — — — you're truly dazzling!"
Irisviel touched her forehead, a gentle smile gracing her beautiful face.
She loved Aozaki Touko's eyes, those eyes devoid of confusion or panic, as if she didn't know what difficulty was, always so calm and composed.
Just looking at them would bring a sense of security to her heart.
This was probably what a true strong person was like: possessing clear goals, an unwavering will without confusion or hesitation, and demonstrating astonishing initiative.
She was simply as dazzling as the sun.
Just being by her side and watching her would make one forget fear, fill them with confidence, and make those who followed her feel admiration spontaneously... Berlin.
Umbrella Corporation.
"This is terrible!"
Looking at the surrounding werewolves, Natalia sighed slightly, intending to take a cigarette from her pocket to ease her rollercoaster of emotions.
Then, in the next second.
A werewolf's claws had her firmly under control.
Even moving felt difficult.
"What do you want to do!"
One werewolf's eyes were cold, gripping the human's hand tightly. If she made even the slightest movement, he would immediately use physical anesthesia to stop the female Mage's small actions.
"I just want to smoke a cigarette!"
Natalia said with a bitter smile.
"No, just stay put!"
The werewolf flatly refused.
"Nicotine cravings are really tough... considering how cooperative I'm being, just let me have one cigarette, as a courtesy to a prisoner, okay?"
Natalia looked distressed, as if her nicotine craving was acting up.
"..."
Seeing this, the werewolves exchanged glances for a moment.
Then, the werewolf who had spoken earlier nodded slightly.
"Don't move... we'll help you get the cigarette!"
Saying this, a female werewolf cautiously reached out, took a pack of cigarettes from Natalia's pocket, then sniffed it carefully. After sensing nothing unusual, she handed the cigarettes to Natalia.
"Sorry... could you also get the lighter out for me?"
Taking the cigarettes, Natalia gave an apologetic smile.
"..."
The female werewolf was silent for a moment, then took the lighter from her pocket and handed it to her.
"Thank you... I'm saved!"
Seeing this, Natalia showed a look of relief, skillfully pulled out a cigarette, and then happily lit one for herself. She slowly began to smoke.
At the same time.
In a small bar in Berlin.
"...Werewolves, huh? Looks like I can't save her for now!"
Kiritsugu Emiya looked at the words appearing on the paper, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The information appearing on the paper was a secret technique known only to him and his foster mother, where information was transmitted by lighting a cigarette and based on the frequency of smoking.
Because the request to smoke a cigarette usually wouldn't be refused.
So, in most situations, it allowed for discreet message transmission.