-1036- Causing trouble

The noisy clamor, incessant and ever-present, filled the air.

People's shouts, the rumble of vehicles, the whir of helicopters, the blare of cruise ships' horns—all these sounds mingled together, creating a constant cacophony.

Natsuki stood amidst this chaotic scene, staring blankly in the direction of the Old Southeast District, lost in thought for a long time.

After an unknown period had passed, a voice finally rang out from behind Natsuki.

"I didn't expect that you wouldn't be able to stop your younger brother from joining the banquet, Attack Mage Minamiya."

With the sound of this voice, a quiet girl holding a book, wearing glasses, and sporting a ponytail appeared behind Natsuki.

Natsuki didn't turn around but regained her composure, speaking with extreme displeasure.

"Was this also within your calculations, Lion King Agency?"

At her words, Shizuka Koyomi sighed.

"No matter what, I couldn't anticipate that your younger brother would possess such power."

This should be the truth.

After all...

"We could never have known that the true 'God' was always by Minamiya Nichiyo's side, protecting him. You've kept this secret very well, Witch of the Void."

Shizuka Koyomi said this lightly, but her gaze was anything but calm.

In response, Natsuki only snorted coldly.

"Now that Nichiyo has brought Avrora into the banquet, it's about time you stated your intentions, Lion King Agency."

Natsuki turned around to face Shizuka Koyomi.

Her questioning was naturally directed at several unanswered questions.

"Why did the Lion King Agency become the arbitrator of the Blazing Banquet?"

"Why assist the awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor?"

"Why hold the ritual on Itogami Island?"

Natsuki made several inquiries in a row, even issuing a warning.

"If you don't answer my questions properly, don't blame me for intervening this time."

Natsuki warned without reservation, making it clear to Shizuka Koyomi that she was not joking.

So...

"The awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor is inevitable and absolutely unstoppable."

Shizuka Koyomi remained silent for a moment, then continued in a subdued tone, suppressing her emotions.

"Whenever a turning point in history occurs, the Fourth Primogenitor will inevitably awaken. Even if we try to stop it, it's useless. This has been confirmed in past history."

Like fate, its endpoint may change, but its starting point will never change.

The awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor, once it begins, is unstoppable, no matter the method used.

"It's a cyclical inevitability of causality that humans cannot resist."

Shizuka Koyomi spoke lightly.

"So, when Balthazar Zaharias of the Nelapsi Provisional Autonomous Government proposed holding the banquet, we at the Lion King Agency deliberated and concluded that rather than futilely attempting to prevent it, it would be better to actively assist, thereby maintaining control over the situation."

Like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, natural disasters cannot be prevented by human effort; they can only be suppressed as much as possible.

The awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor is such a phenomenon for both humans and demons.

Therefore, the Lion King Agency believes that instead of futile attempts to stop it, it is better to assist actively to maintain control over the situation.

In light of this, the Lion King Agency decided to hold the banquet on Itogami Island.

"The Fourth Primogenitor is a weapon, and the most powerful one at that. If any country obtains it, it will upset the world's military balance, and its existence itself will inevitably lead to conflict. Any country or faction that obtains it will certainly bring misfortune to the world, except on Itogami Island."

Itogami Island is an exception, a safe zone.

Based on the provisions of the Sanctuary Treaty, the Demon Sanctuary can accommodate all demons and prohibits political exploitation.

However, Itogami Island is an artificial island built in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by sea on all sides. It lacks self-sufficiency, and various supplies need to be transported from the mainland to sustain its operation. Once food and essential supplies are cut off, it will immediately face a crisis.

In this way, at least superficially, the Fourth Primogenitor is "isolated."

Countries around the world need not worry that the Fourth Primogenitor will dominate Itogami Island, forming a fourth Night Empire centered around Itogami Island, and impacting the world situation. This is because the fate of Itogami Island is entirely under control.

At the same time, other countries cannot make a move to obtain the power of the Fourth Primogenitor, as the Sanctuary Treaty stands in the way. Any attempt to politically exploit the demons in the Demon Sanctuary will be immediately suppressed by the signatory countries of the Sanctuary Treaty.

"In this way, there is no need to worry that countries around the world will become embroiled in disputes to obtain the Fourth Primogenitor, nor do we need to worry about the Fourth Primogenitor establishing a new empire and becoming a threat. The world situation can be maintained intact. That's why we chose Itogami Island as the location for the ritual, with the approval of the government and the Management Cooperative."

Shizuka Koyomi explained in this manner.

"Furthermore, we went a step further and chose the old area located southeast of Itogami Island as the location for the ritual and sealed it off. This way, the danger won't even reach the main island of Itogami but can be contained in the old southeast area."

Considering the harm caused by the Fourth Primogenitor, such control is considered quite sophisticated.

Compared to awakening elsewhere, if the Fourth Primogenitor revives in the old southeast area, the damage will undoubtedly be minimized.

However...

"The old southeast area still has a population of exactly 28,000, accounting for about five percent of the total population of Itogami Island. These people will all be sacrificed."

Natsuki pointed out coldly.

"...This is already our best effort," Shizuka Koyomi said, with a helpless tone that others couldn't perceive.

"Tch..." Natsuki couldn't help but click her tongue, then said, "Even if you can isolate the Fourth Primogenitor from the international standpoint and the world situation, preventing the Fourth Primogenitor from being politically exploited, there's still the concern that the Fourth Primogenitor itself is a threat. If he's left alone, he might find a way to leave Itogami Island and start a war. What will you do then?"

"We will stop him," Shizuka Koyomi said without hesitation. "We will first attempt to negotiate a peace treaty with the Fourth Primogenitor."

"A peace treaty?" Natsuki sneered. "That's the butcher who triggers the 'Holy Slaughter.' Are you sure he'll compromise with humans?"

"He will," Shizuka Koyomi said indifferently. "Even if the Fourth Primogenitor has no desires, he will at least want to restore all of his power. If exchanging it for the matrices of Kaleid Blood is an option, I believe, making him compromise is not impossible."

"Exchange for the matrices?" Natsuki was taken aback at first, then understood and said, "I see. That's why there are two matrices missing from the Chaos Zone, not participating in the banquet, to be used for exchange with the Fourth Primogenitor, right?"

That's why there was no outbreak of the vampire infection in the Chaos Zone.

Once the Fourth Primogenitor awakens, if he finds himself missing two Beast Vassals and his power is not complete, he will surely seek the remaining two to restore his full power.

At that time, it will be the time for these two matrices to appear.

This is the purpose of the Lion King Agency.

"And what if the Fourth Primogenitor refuses to compromise?" Natsuki asked.

"I will be responsible for killing him," Shizuka Koyomi said calmly.

"The Lion King Agency also has holy spears capable of killing Primogenitors. As long as we use it, along with my abilities, it is not impossible to kill him before he leaves Itogami Island."

It is for this reason that the Lion King Agency was chosen as the arbiter.

Natsuki wanted to refute, but couldn't.

Because Natsuki was well aware of how powerful Shizuka Koyomi's abilities were.

With her abilities, coupled with the holy spear capable of killing Primogenitors, there was indeed a high probability of killing the Fourth Primogenitor.

Unable to prevent the awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor, they had to find a way to control him and eliminate him when he lost control. That's all the Lion King Agency's actions were about.

The premise is...

"That everything goes smoothly."

Shizuka Koyomi raised her eyes, glanced ahead, sighed, turned around, and left.

Natsuki watched Shizuka Koyomi leave, then turned her head back and looked ahead.

There, the bridge leading to the old southeast area had disappeared, and even the sea under the bridge was bubbling as if boiling. The air was filled with an unprecedentedly terrifying and hot atmosphere, along with dazzling sparks burning.

"Really... you just have to keep causing trouble..."

Natsuki smiled bitterly, a rare sight.