Web of light. Part 1-7. part 25

Huh?! Is this a minimal intervention?! WELL, WOW!!! Apparently, my face was so eloquent that the regional director hurried on:

"I'm sorry, Amakawa-san, but in the current situation, I risked violating the rule of non-interference in the affairs of a minor. May I explain, please? Good. Apart from the fact that, by unfortunate chance, I received an official reason to call you for an interview at the Office of Social Control, I took yours into account... reputation and thoroughness, rather characteristic of much more mature years. You have not only proved yourself to be a successful student, but you have also established informal contacts with both the leadership of your school (Hiroshi-san personally asked me through three supervisors not to conduct further interviews with his student) and the Kaname family. They got to me... There is some information about extremely successful negotiations with representatives of the Polytechnic City University, and I decided to have an informal face-to-face conversation. Oh, if you want, then our communication will end with this conversation and the Social Committee will not bother you anymore, excluding possible official events like the recent commission. But perhaps, perhaps, as an understanding person, you would like to consider some possibilities of mutual assistance that we can provide to each other."

Like that. I leaned back in my chair (leather and nickel, I want to be a director!), and thought hard. If you translate it from a political conversation (and then they chewed it up and literally put all the information in my mouth, fearing that the child would not understand), then Mr. controller offers to take advantage of his opportunities as the topmost cone on the local Christmas tree in exchange for some help that I, in the person of my clan, can provide him. Question: how can an untrained 11-year-old child with partial memory loss help?.. STOP! Who says I'm not trained?! Clan education begins at the age of five, or even four. I have to be able to do something. And I'll bet a couple thousand yen, it's something like a "Light Ferry." But he knows about the amulet... I wonder where from? After all, there is clearly more than one power sealing technique... So let's check the bump for honesty.

"Kouji-san, tell me, how did you find out about the amulet?" It's not like it's a secret...

"I understand you, Amakawa-san. Well, maybe they didn't tell you, but the structure of the "Social Committee"... so let's say, the Jinguji clan oversees, with whom your relatives managed to conclude some kind of agreement... You may remember him. Among other things, your relatives provided us with some information about the procedure for hiding the heir, which was important given the agreements reached."

Aw, Grandpa, aw, son of a bitch... Well, well, I think I'm just now starting to assess the level of paranoia among my ancestors: my parents hedged their bets with the Kuzaki family, and my grandfather, therefore, hedged his bets with the Jinguji family. And not with any family, but with the ruling one. Like, "the amulet will turn off suddenly for everyone, come, protect and marry." Is that so? Hmm, am I watching a leak of information right now?

"Mr. Director, can you tell me where you got the information about the engagement? It seemed to me that this arrangement was not particularly disclosed?"

Wow, how we grimace, I couldn't keep my face! And I couldn't resist — a winning smile on my face is the best trump card in the opponent's hands. Damn it! I have almost never conducted such negotiations personally, I have only been present at something like this. And not for so long! Yes, even his forehead and hands were wet from exertion. Damn.

"Indeed, Amakawa-san, the engagement information came to me... indirectly. This is the structure of the clan to which I formally belong as a younger family: I have to collect my own information about everything as much as possible... and everyone."

Awesome. And here's the threat, or rather, the uncle just let it slip. Now they'll start following me, too. Maybe it's not too tight, but there's no way you can miss an extra "person" in the house! But catching a Shizuka is elementary — just send an inspector... it seems that I can just use the right to inviolability mentioned in the conversation... but then they will start digging three times more intensively. An ambush! And contacts with the "Amakawa group" will burn just like that! And if the guys from the control find out about the amulets, it's absolutely rubbish. Damn, either negotiate right now, or fuck off... But where to? This place is pre-heated... right. Calm down. Don't get excited. We'll find out what the main social worker needs.

"It's a very good opportunity to be able to collect information", I hinted very thickly, "that's really the problem. I know something about my clan, but I've only heard about the rules of the Exorcist Circle..."

(yeah, in the manga "there")

"I don't think it's such a big deal, Amakawa-san. Perhaps you shouldn't even wait for the official entry into law at the age of sixteen... you might be very busy then..."

(Uh-huh, I'll be dragged into bed by Kues... although I don't really believe in such "etty" fragments)

"...Therefore, I could help you in terms of both informational and personal growth... professional abilities."

Oh, oh, did I just get offered magic knowledge? What is protected as unknown, what is more valuable than securities and money? And in exchange for what?

"I'm ashamed to say this, but maybe you could help me too. Oh, no, I don't want to insist on anything, but maybe, maybe you could get a few dozen amulets from the clan stocks... or blanks for amulets like yours?"

STU-PID! Won't your lip crack, Uncle?! What a lip — the whole building can crack from such titanic arrogance!!! Although... If you recall what Hiroe told me about the regional offices of the Committee: "The employees of the two offices just disappeared — that's it. Overnight." Everything became clear to me. This is not arrogance. This is not an attempt to ingratiate herself with Kues' future husband if the engagement does turn into a marriage. It's a gesture of desperation! Y-y-y, you crossed the path of someone "big", like a whale... No, a tyrannosaurus! And you actually closed the embrasure. Yes, you are a strong magician, but Mizuchi is capable of one unexpected blow, and any of the "three leaders" will have a serious chance even alone.

I suddenly calmed down, the nervousness was gone. Out of habit, I perceived my vassals as people, not even magicians... but they are not human at all, and if they want to take out a few magicians, even if they lock themselves in their office, it will not be so difficult for yokai. It will be extremely difficult for me to give an order for liquidation, but if I am pinned to the wall... They haven't nailed it yet, but it's a bye. On the other hand, it became clear that the Tsuchi were already actively waving their hands and smiling, which meant that they could just wait a couple of months and they would be carried out on their own... with some of the stupid civilians, at least building security, it will be enough for me not to deploy the planned patrols... for a while... I "popped out" of my thoughts and found Kouji-san looking at me very intently. It seems that my sudden reassurance was not lost on the director's friend. It's bad. A rat, if it feels itself in a corner, can bite at the last... It can even be fatal. And really, why can he go ahead and I can't?

"Kouji-san, I can probably help you if you can help me too. You see, there is some necessity in the fact that the amulet "closes" me from magic... legal, so to speak. Amakawa's power is not in weapons or amulets — they are, of course, important, but... Our main striking force in recent centuries has been tamed spirits. Your permission for them to live with me (under my guarantee) in the city and information on the "Mystical House" technique, if you agree to "close" me with your powers, and I am ready to take the risk and open the clan warehouse... and release the guards. Moreover, as I understand from your words, there won't be many in the city soon... Are you restless? How do you like my suggestion?

* * *

...Walking steadily a block away from the Committee's office, I boarded a suitable bus, which was still empty, and clutched my head with trembling hands as hard as I could. I walked along the edge, damn it, I walked along the very edge. Yes those Tsuchi damn Fuckers all die! How you got me, not just taking responsibility for life, but deciding and speaking up for everyone! Without hesitation. Without preparation! Without full information! I'm not ready! For this... If you can prepare for this at all... and besides me, there's no one else to take responsibility. I personally have already burned the bridges. And it's been a long time...

But ready is not ready... Roll it up and stuff it in the ass!

..And you can't even get drunk...