Chapter 62 - Gathering

Outside the school gates of Sekiko Academy Matsuri was waiting for classes to end. Even though she wanted to talk to Michael but she did not want to disturb him during class as education was important. 

While she was waiting she wondered if she should call Loki seeing as he was working in this school. The moment that thought crossed her mind she immediately shook her head. 

'What the heck am I thinking, I'm doing an investigation. Why did Loki come to mind?...'

Matsuri was confused as this was the first time she lost focus on a case. She was trying to get her focus back when she saw a military vehicle approaching. The insignia on the vehicle was that of a red dragon circling the world. Matsuri clicked her tongue when she saw this insignia. 

'Damn it, so the Dragon Brigade is going for the kid as well.' 

The military vehicle parked beside Matsuri's police car, two soldiers disembarked from the vehicle and glared at Matsuri. Tang Ao then disembarked as well and smiled as he approached Matsuri. 

"I see that you're here as well Detective." 

"It's nice to see you again Captain Tang Ao."

"So Detective I wonder what are you doing here? Of course, it shouldn't be about the incident last night since that is under our jurisdiction, and has nothing to do with the local police."

"Of course not Captain, I'm actually here to meet a friend of mine." 

"Oh, that's surprising so even the Ice Queen could have friends." 

"Captain you know I hate that nickname." 

"I apologize, so who is this friend of yours?" 

"A librarian from this school." 

"Oh, a librarian... That's interesting how about you call that person over now, I want to meet this so-call friend of yours." 

"That would be rather inappropriate, seeing as it's still working hours." 

"Aren't you here now skipping work, so that you can see your friend? Does that mean you're lying to me and you're actually here for business?" 

The two were smiling at each other, but Matsuri was really irritated. 

"Fine, I'll call." Matsuri sighed internally as she took out her phone and called Loki.

...

Loki who was meditating felt his phone vibrating so he took it out. When he saw it was Matsuri calling he hesitated to pick it up. 

'This woman is trouble, every time I deal with her something always happens... Still, she is one of the few people I think is rather trustworthy... Fine, I'll just ask what she wants.' Loki sighed as he answered the call. 

"What do you want?" 

"Oh hey, yeah I'm here now." 

"What the heck are you saying? I'm asking you what you want?" 

"Yeah at the front gates of the school." 

"Hello, do you hear me?" 

"No, it's alright the Captain of the Elite Dragon Brigade will speak to the Principal on your behalf, so you shouldn't worry and just come here." 

"What are you saying, are we having the same conversation here?" 

"Yup, sure, we'll wait for you here, so come quickly."

After saying what she wanted to say Matsuri ended the call. Seeing Matsuring had hanged up, Loki was dumbfounded. Loki then closed his eyes and tried sensing the presence outside of the school. Usually, the current Loki wouldn't be able to scan such a wide area using only his mana, but since he was in the library which was like a holy ground his abilities were currently tripled.

When he did this he noticed that Matsuri was indeed at the school gate with three others. Loki was rather surprised as he scanned the three, as two of them had the same level of inner energy as Leila, as for the other one he was leagues above anyone he has met in this world. He was even stronger than the girl called Leila. 

If you would compare him to the knights in his previous world, the two were newly initiated knights, while the other one was a senior knight. Loki once again sighed as he headed towards the school gates. 

'What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?' 

...

Matsuri and Tang Ao continued to talk using superficial words, knowing that the other didn't really care, or so Matsuri thought. The truth was Tang Ao did have a favorable impression of Matsuri as her dedication to justice was something he admired, but the way she goes about conducting her justice was in Tang Ao's eyes rather improper. After talking for quite some time, Loki finally arrived at the scene. 

"Captain this is my friend Loki. Loki, this is Captain Tang Ao of the Elite Dragon Brigade."

"It's nice to meet you, Captain." 

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Loki." After greeting Loki, Tang Ao had a surprised face as he looked at Matsuri.

"Is this your friend? I wasn't expecting it to be a guy... Tell me the truth detective, is he truly just a friend, or perhaps he is something more than that?"

"... No, we're just friends, right?" 

"Yes, we are just friends nothing more nothing less," Loki responded with a nod. 

The moment Tang Ao asked his question he was expecting Matsuri to simply say no with a straight face, but to his surprise, Matsuri hesitated for a bit before answering. The Matsuri he knew was someone decisive and had no time for any sort of romance. Yet aside from hesitating to answer, Tang Ao noticed for a brief moment when Loki answered yes, Matsuri actually looked a bit disappointed. 

Tang Ao once again looked at Loki assessing him. How could someone like Matsuri who was obsessed with her justice be interested in a librarian? When Tang Ao reassessed Loki he felt something weird. He wasn't sure what it was, but his instincts were telling him something. As he was trying to figure out what the weird feeling was, a group of cars arrived and parked near them. 

An old man wearing traditional Zothril garments got out of one of the cars. This man was emitting a powerful aura that was above Captain Tang Ao's aura, he was no other than the current Patriarch of the Mutou Clan. The old Patriarch who had a few men standing behind him approached Tang Ao. 

"Captain Tang it has been some time since we last met." The old Patriarch greeted with a smile on his face. 

Tang Ao faced the old man and bowed his head in respect, as this was one of the more powerful individuals in the country that was at the level of a Lieutenant Colonel in the military, two ranks higher than Tang Ao. 

"It's good to see you in good health, Sir Mutou." 

After greeting Tang Ao, the Patriarch of the Mutou Clan looked at Matsuri and Loki. He simply took a quick glimpse at Matsuri but stared at Loki for a bit. Even though Loki was looking calm on the outside he was actually panicking on the inside. 

The moment he saw the Patriarch of the Mutou Clan he knew this old man was at the level of a Knight Commander in his old world. If it was his old self as the legendary assassin Fade he could easily deal with any number of the Knight Commander level, but in his current state, he would not last ten moves from the old man in a head-on fight. 

He wasn't sure if his cover was blown as he was already suppressing the tiny amount of mana that he had. Loki started thinking as fast as he can as to what to do if the old Patriarch suspects something.