Chapter 2.3

Samukawa Group was already hard at work when Reiko and Fujiko arrived at the former Hokkaido Government Office the following afternoon.

Kanna stood at the front gate, directing delivery crews hauling luxury furniture and reinforced bulletproof glass into the building. A fleet of helicopters loomed above in groups of three and circled around the nearby prefectural headquarters.

“You’re here,” Reiko waved at Kanna, surprised. “I thought you didn’t care about the Egregore’s security.”

“The situation’s changed. Unlike you, I spent last night getting screamed at by the Prime Minister’s Cabinet,” Kanna yawned. “I have to thank you and your team, by the way.”

“What, did we get you in trouble?”

“No,” Kanna shook her head. “Quite the opposite. If it weren’t for your heroics, they probably would’ve torn my head off. So, thank you. Truly. I owe you one.”

“And thanks for taking care of Kobayashi. Let’s just call it even then.”

“Agreed. I hate remembering favors,” Kanna groaned. “I just got a call from Tokyo. The Prime Minister’s finished kissing the hands of every witch. They’ll be here soon. Where’s the rest of your team?”

“Kobayashi was discharged an hour ago,” Reiko replied. “She’s on her way. I suppose Fujimoto won’t be too far behind her.”

“Right well, here’s what I’ve been told,” Kanna explained. “Aside from the Egregore and their escorts, Section Eight will be the only personnel authorized to enter the building once the tea party starts.”

“What about food?” Reiko asked. “I thought you were responsible for catering.”

“I am,” Kanna shrugged, “We’ll leave the food at the front door. You can have a member of your team or ask one of their escorts to take it the rest of the way.”

“No extra security?” Reiko raised an eyebrow. “What about the NPSC?”

“Like I said, you’re the only ones with access,” Kanna replied. “We’ve locked down all the roads in a fifteen block radius. I’ve got drones, helicopters, and security detail for tracking activity around the perimeter of the building, but you’re the only eyes and ears allowed inside.”

“Jealous?”

“Hardly,” Kanna laughed. “I’d rather not put my people in harm’s way in the event the witches start something petty. I’ll leave the gritty details to you, captain.”

Kanna walked off in pursuit of a delivery crew hoisting an ornate table too wide to move in through the front door.

“If what Miss Samukawa says is true,” Fujiko said, “we’re understaffed.”

“I agree,” Reiko unholstered her radio. “Section Chief? Kazuo?”

“I hear you,” Kazuo’s irritated voice bit through the radio.

“Chief, Miss Polar Bear just mentioned Section Eight’s the only team they’re letting run security detail for the tea party.”

“...That’s right,” Kazuo said, after a brief pause. “That was the original order, Reiko.”

“You don’t find that ridiculous?” Reiko asked.

“Arataki just held an emergency meeting,” Kazuo sighed. “He’s recommended the PM to withhold all of the NPSC’s resources. Officially the purpose is to ‘not stir up too much trouble,’ whatever that means. I tried to get Arataki to make some last minute temporary transfers to Section Eight, but that went nowhere.”

“Something’s not right, Kazuo.”

“Of course something’s not right,” Kazuo hissed. “Look, Reiko, I’ll try to get to the bottom of this, but my recommendation? Be careful, and maintain priority on Lisa Everest. Shinomiya out.”

“What are we going to do?” Fujiko asked.

“Well, we wait for Fujimoto and Kobayashi first,” Reiko muttered. “Then we’ll go greet some guests.”

Once Mamoru and Miyuki arrived, Reiko assembled the team inside the venue. Samukawa Group removed historic paintings chronicling Sapporo’s history in the first corridor and shuttered the entrances to the tourist shop and cafeteria. They carried plexiglass upstairs to add additional protection around exhibits they couldn’t move.

“I remember going on field trips here,” Reiko murmured.

“Oh my god,” Miyuki stumbled as she glanced back at the main entrance.

Lady Baba Yaga stood there. The worker crews averted their eyes and shifted their movements to the north and south wings. One by one, Samukawa Group emptied the Red Brick Government Office until only Section Eight remained.

The youngest Egregore was flanked by three individuals in umber suits. The tallest guard was a broad shouldered, white-haired woman who carried a wide chiseled jawline and muscles that strained the fibers of her clothes.

“That’s Maria Akhmatova,” Miyuki gasped. “Everyone expected her to be the next Egregore until Lady Baba Yaga ascended.”

“Not everything is a race you know,” Fang Fang entered behind Baba Yaga. “Unless you really hated meeting with this country’s leader so much.”

“It is from him that this country learns to never say what they mean,” Baba Yaga replied.

Fang Fang’s eyes shifted to Reiko, then scanned her three other juniors. A look of familiarity sparked Fang Fang’s eyes. Had they met before, Reiko wondered. The Egregore approached, and Miyuki tried to stop herself from fainting.

“Hmm,” she looked Reiko up and down. “I recognize you. You’re the mage who quelled the imaginarium yesterday, aren’t you?”

“Not just me,” Reiko replied. “I had help from my team.”

“The Prime Minister did mention they had personal security arranged for us,” Fang Fang mused. “A rather interesting case, though, don’t you think, Gentiane?”

Reiko heard the clap of a closing book. An index finger pressed against her back.

“A rather elegant seal,” the Librarian Egregore observed. “This one should not be alive, Fang Fang.”

“And yet she is,” Fang Fang grinned. “Not a bad choice for a bodyguard.”

“Do you want to make her the Question of this tea party?” Khali called to her fellow Egregore from the second floor. Dahlia and her cat wandered further up the stairs. “What is imaginarium? Seriously? We’re going to spend this year of our precious lives debating that?”

“You’ll have to excuse my fellow hags.”

Lisa Everest, strutted into the building with heavy shopping bags. Unlike everyone else, Lisa extended her hand towards Reiko.

“Captain Nakamura?” she smiled. “I’ve learned all there is to know about you. It’s not easy carrying this event’s security with such a lean team. I’ll try my best to help and keep these ladies in line.”

“I appreciate the assistance,” Reiko shook Lisa’s hand cautiously. “Lisa Everest. I’ve heard about you. The Witch Who Rewrites Reality.”

“A rather farcical title,” Lisa waved her off. “I tell Stories. That’s all.”

“Working on anything new?”

“A novel. Ten years in the making.”

Lisa tapped the space next to her to unzip a fragment in spacetime. She set her shopping bags inside.

“What are we waiting for ladies? ” she declared. “Let’s answer a Question.”