"..."
Most of the Mage's Association's attention was focused on Roman.
A middle-aged woman in formal attire with her hair tied in a ponytail introduced herself in a cold voice:
"Barthomeloi Lorelei."
"Head of the Department of Politics at the Clock Tower. I am here to investigate and review Chaldea, and to assess the legitimacy of your actions."
"Hiss—"
The staff of Chaldea shuddered.
The Clock Tower. The Department of Politics.
As the largest organization within the Mage's Association, the Clock Tower oversaw numerous departments, including the Department of Individual Fundamentals, the Department of Spiritual Evocation, the Department of Zoology, the Department of Astromancy, and the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory.
Chaldea's former director, Olga Marie, had been the head of the Department of Astromancy—a "Lord."
Among them, the most feared and revered by magi, powerful enough to influence international politics and responsible for supervising magi, was precisely the Department of Politics.
The fact that its "Lord" had personally come showed just how seriously—and warily—the Mage's Association regarded Chaldea.
"Without the consent of the Mage's Association, you arbitrarily adjusted personnel and disclosed classified knowledge to ordinary staff and unrelated individuals."
"You repeatedly carried out Servant summoning beyond the restriction of a maximum of seven classes."
"And without authorization from the United Nations or your superiors, you conducted Spiritron Transfers. All of these actions constitute grave crimes."
Lorelei pressed forward aggressively, launching accusation after accusation at Roman and Chaldea.
"You even provided outsiders with data on the Spiritron Transfer system and used it jointly with them. That is a crime warranting immediate purging."
"Uh..."
Even when facing Goetia, Roman had not felt this much of a headache.
The Mage's Association had its own rules, chief among them the Principle of Secrecy.
They practiced thorough secrecy, strictly forbidding the revelation of magecraft to the world. Any conspicuous use of magecraft would be met with liquidation.
During their first contact with the Starsea Empire, Roman had handed over the prototype and data of the Spiritron Transfer system to Setsuna as one of the conditions for cooperation.
At the time, human civilization had already been finished. The United Nations effectively no longer existed, so those rules had been irrelevant.
Now, just like in the original FGO storyline, the Mage's Association had begun its reckoning against Chaldea—only this time, even more severely.
Because Chaldea's violations had reached the level of outright defiance.
"We did this to protect Human Order. We fought for the survival of humanity itself, the last remaining humans in the world," Roman argued reasonably.
"Please. Without us, do you think you'd even be standing here talking? You would've been burned to ashes by Goetia already, okay?!"
Gudako protested angrily.
"Hm—"
"Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that the Incineration of Human Order you describe is true."
Lorelei ignored her.
To the aristocrats of the Clock Tower, a "commoner magus" like Gudako was beneath notice. It was a habit and tradition ingrained over centuries.
From their perspective, they had merely taken a nap and experienced a "blank period of time."
"The fact remains that Chaldea violated multiple prohibitions. To determine whether these actions conceal ulterior motives or deliberate conspiracy, a thorough review is required."
"All Chaldea personnel are forbidden from leaving during this period and must fully cooperate with the investigation. We will dispatch additional staff to evaluate everything you have done."
She announced the decision in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Sigh..."
Roman let out a deep breath.
Once contradictions were resolved, what followed was always the division of power. It had always been this way.
Those magi clung to their "traditions" and "rules," delighting in schemes and intrigue.
Even after Chaldea had achieved such feats, in their eyes it was still something to be manipulated at will.
Unfortunately, he was now just an ordinary person. All he could do was negotiate as best he could and secure benefits for Chaldea.
Suddenly.
A crisp and sharp voice rang out.
"Hey. Are you people done yet?"
"We followed our Master through so many Singularities just to save boring humans like you? Since when did it become your turn to point fingers here?"
Jeanne Alter stood with her arms crossed, looking down at the magi interrogating Roman.
Behind her followed a group of previously summoned Heroic Spirits.
They had been preparing to return home with Setsuna when they learned that something had gone wrong at Chaldea.
"Very well."
Setsuna found a seat and sat down, sweeping his gaze across the room.
"After restoring Human Order... there is indeed some follow-up work to deal with here."
"?"
Lorelei and the other magi looked at the gathered Heroic Spirits in confusion, their brows furrowing even deeper.
"The Incineration of Human Order has ended, and there has been no announcement of a Holy Grail War. Why does Chaldea still retain so many Servants?"
"Their number already exceeds the permitted limit. They should be dismissed immediately."
To them, Servants were tools, summoned only when needed.
"Because I feel like it."
Jeanne Alter clicked her tongue.
"???"
"The Master is summoning Servants at will and is unable to restrain them? This is a serious violation!"
"The summoning catalysts should be strictly controlled. Where did you obtain—"
Lorelei slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
Shhk—
Clang!!—
In the next instant, blades were drawn as the Heroic Spirits confronted them.
"Sit down. Shut up. Do not be insolent."
Jeanne Alter's sword rested against Lorelei's neck as she spoke coldly.
Bit by bit, she forced her back into her seat.
"I think you're a little confused about the situation... Our Master hasn't even spoken yet."
The Dragon Witch's gaze swept across the room, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"!!!"
No matter how arrogant the magi of the Clock Tower were, no matter how confident they were in their own strength, they had never prepared themselves for a group battle against a collection of Heroic Spirits.
In the history of the Mage's Association, being surrounded and attacked by multiple Heroic Spirits at once was absolutely explosive.
This was insane.
Looking around.
Aside from the standard Servants, there was also Tiamat standing quietly to one side, clearly on the verge of erupting.
"Is Chaldea attempting to rebel against the Mage's Association?"
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, one of the investigators asked coldly.
"No, no, no..."
Setsuna rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment.
Since he was here, there was no way he would allow the Mage's Association to continue making trouble for Chaldea.
"I was just thinking about how to deal with you."
"...After the restoration of Human Order, an organization like the Mage's Association—with its mystifying doctrines and outdated concepts—has no need to continue existing."
"From now on, the Clock Tower, Atlas Institute, and the Wandering Sea will all be placed under the unified administration of the Starsea Empire. I will assign appropriate personnel to oversee and coordinate the work of the Association's three branches."
"The internal structure of the Mage's Association will also be reorganized. Nobility? Prestigious bloodlines?... Those things mean nothing to me."
He spoke leisurely, deciding the fate of the Mage's Association.
"The three branches will be integrated into a subordinate domestic research institution under the Empire, managed by the Imperial Ministry of Magic."
The Mage's Association's three major branches were scattered across the world, with the Clock Tower being the largest and generally regarded as the headquarters, located in London.
Although Type-Moon magecraft was often jokingly labeled as "comedic" by Gudako, its research regarding the Root still contained some useful material.
"..."
The magi across from him froze for a long moment before finally processing just how vast Setsuna's ambition was.
"Ha? Take control of the entire Mage's Association? Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Reorganize the Association's internal structure? Even jokes have limits... hm?"
"How could ordinary magi like you possibly understand—"
Though the Mage's Association claimed and enforced secrecy, an organization with such power inevitably maintained intricate ties with nations across the world.
Even Chaldea itself was, in essence, under the supervision of the United Nations.
"Oh."
Setsuna ignored them and opened a holographic interface.
"Deploy the First Fleet."
"Understood."
The nanomachines supervising the construction of megastructures received the order and relayed the command.
Half a minute later.
Bzzzz—
With a tremor in space, above the Earth.
A fleet that blotted out the sky tore through the clouds, triggering immediate alarms across every nation.
Millions of Angeloids were deployed simultaneously, spreading their wings as they dived toward the ground.
To the magi, those white-winged angels were nothing short of a miracle from the Age of Gods.
Looking up through the windows, they saw a majestic Illustrious-class aerospace carrier slowly passing overhead.
Its hull gleamed in elegant ivory white, escorted by dozens of cruisers and destroyers.
Even from Antarctica, visible to the naked eye, the smallest starship among them rivaled the size of a city.
Countless black-and-red spaceborne aircraft streaked across the sky. With the assistance of Sophons, global electronic communications and air defense systems were paralyzed in an instant.
"???"
"What is... this?"
Including Roman and the staff of Chaldea, everyone stared in stunned silence.
As the starships drifted past outside the window, the sheer shock left them speechless.
The magi of the Clock Tower opened their mouths, swallowed, and found no words.
"You spent all that time talking about the rules of the Mage's Association."
"Now, let me teach you what the rules of the Starsea Empire are."
...
Swish—
[First Fleet has arrived at the target world.]
[Encountered minor anti-air resistance. Suppressing.]
[Confirmed. Current world technology level: pre-spacefaring era. Presence of limited mystical forces detected.]
Inside the black-and-red flagship, a shipgirl in military uniform with blonde hair and blue eyes observed the situation below.
Accompanying her aboard the vessel were the Spirit of Origin, Tohru, and other members of the Empire's Ministry of Magic.
They were already thoroughly familiar with the process of conquering worlds. As for the magi hiding in the shadows, that merely added one small extra step.
"This is flagship Bismarck. All units, proceed according to the established plan."
"Deploy Sophons."
An invisible higher-dimensional particle first expanded into a curtain enveloping the Earth at a higher level of reality, then contracted into a singular point suspended above the North Pole.
At the same time, the projection of a woman in formal attire with a cool, refined face appeared beside Setsuna.
Her appearance was identical to that of the Sophons in the imperial capital and in countless vassal worlds.
[Sophon No. 36 has joined the Sophon Joint Network.]
[Constructing global surveillance network... 36%, 55%, 78%...]
[Communications monitoring network established.]
A holographic interface of Earth was projected.
Every hidden corner of the planet was clearly marked upon it, along with every conspiracy being discussed within those corners.
Whether it was nuclear missile silos concealed in remote mountains or underground bases across various nations, or the secrets buried beneath the Clock Tower, the Wandering Sea, and deep under the Atlas Mountains—under 643-dimensional observation, nothing could remain hidden.
At the same time.
All member states of the United Nations, as well as the three major branches of the Mage's Association—especially the Three Great Families who managed the Clock Tower and the twelve Lords—received Sophon's ultimatum.
In the Department of Creation, where magecraft was being researched, in the Department of General Fundamentals, where lectures were being given, and in the labyrinthine underground city dozens of kilometers beneath the Clock Tower where magi conducted secret research around grand magical circuits—a holographic projection suddenly unfolded before them.
Sophon's cool face appeared upon it, gazing down at everyone with indifference.
"This is the Starsea Empire. I hereby proclaim the Imperial Edict."
"From this day forth, this world is incorporated into the Empire's territory. All administrative and governing authority shall be reclaimed by the Empire."
"All nations must immediately disarm, cease resistance, transfer authority to the appointed planetary governor—that is, myself—and swear loyalty to the Supreme Commander."
"The Mage's Association, the Holy Church, and all similar organizations shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Ministry of Magic. Report immediately to the Ministry's head and submit to restructuring and reorganization."
The first half of the announcement was directed at human civilization and was largely procedural.
The latter half targeted organizations such as the Mage's Association and the Holy Church, which in this world concealed themselves within human society and rarely appeared openly.
Routine administrative affairs would be handled by Sophon, while matters concerning magecraft would be entrusted to professionals.
"You have five hours to consider. This is the final ultimatum and the only proposal. No negotiations will be accepted."
"After five hours, we will purge all who reject this proposal."
Sophon's voice echoed across the globe.
"..."
"!!!"
With a single declaration, the nations were shaken.
As in every human world confronted with an extraterrestrial civilization.
The United Nations immediately convened an emergency session, consulting with member states to deliberate this event that would determine humanity's fate.
From the moment the fleet descended, the Angeloids and starships had already demonstrated overwhelming superiority.
All anti-air defenses and electronic warfare systems had been paralyzed. Even if they wished to resist, the nations were powerless.
Looking up at the Angeloids arrayed in formation in the sky, ready to strike at any moment, and at the colossal ships casting shadows over entire cities, countless turrets locked onto the ground below.
After consulting think tanks and scientists, most nations quickly recognized the gap between them.
They could not win. Not at all.
It was a complete technological and military suppression—a dimensional strike from an interstellar civilization against a native one.
Though resentment and fear lingered, to avoid further destruction, after token resistance they followed the same path as human civilizations in other worlds and declared surrender to Sophon.
"The United Nations accepts the conditions of the Starsea Empire."
The representative contacted Sophon two hours later.
"Wise. Very good. We will lead you into a new era. As for those nations unwilling to accept... we will deal with them as well."
"..."
Meanwhile.
Within the Mage's Association, a tremendous upheaval erupted.
All research and teaching ceased immediately. Magi studying abroad were urgently recalled.
They gathered at the Association's headquarters—the Clock Tower—to deliberate this crisis.
In the past, changes in human regimes had little impact on the Mage's Association.
Whether humans waged war, replaced rulers, changed nations, or even changed citizenship, most magi regarded it as irrelevant.
They adhered to the Principle of Secrecy, rarely interfering in the mundane world. Possessing supernatural power themselves, they maintained a tacit balance with human governments.
Matters of magi were handled by the Mage's Association. Matters of ordinary people were handled by ordinary governments.
Only when encountering large-scale anomalies or dangerous technologies such as Spiritron Transfer would limited contact and cooperation occur.
But now, the Starsea Empire and Sophon were coming directly for them.
And the conditions proposed were unprecedented.
Not only were they to submit the long-independent Mage's Association to the Empire's rule, but its entire organizational structure was to be completely reformed.
The Clock Tower had Three Great Families: Barthomeloi, Trambelio, and Valualeta.
Together with other prestigious mage lineages, they had ruled and controlled the Clock Tower for over a thousand years. They were the overlords of the entire magical world.
To demand that those proud aristocrats hand over power was nothing short of fantasy.
"The United Nations has already surrendered to the Starsea Empire. What remains now is a matter between us."
Within the administrative chamber of the Clock Tower.
A burly man in his fifties spoke.
The head of the Department of General Fundamentals and one of the Three Great Families of the Clock Tower—McDonell Trambelio Elrod.
In the small secret conference room, aside from the Lord of Law and Politics who had led the delegation to Chaldea, all departmental Lords were present.
"It is unacceptable for outsiders to trample and destroy our rules. Traditions passed down since the Common Era cannot be altered because of foreign interference."
The head of the Department of Spiritual Evocation declared.
"It makes no difference. As long as they do not interfere with our research, who governs the world is irrelevant. I wish to establish contact with this so-called Imperial Ministry of Magic."
The head of the Department of Creation responded indifferently.
"They claim to wield magic rather than magecraft. If they have truly reached the realm of Magic, perhaps we can uncover secrets of the Root from them."
"...What connection does the Starsea Empire have with Chaldea? Why had we never heard of its existence before this so-called Incineration of Human Order?..."
The Mage's Association was far from unified. Magi were equally fond of pursuing their own research and intrigues.
Some clung to doctrine, intent on defending aristocratic honor.
Others focused their attention on the Starsea Empire itself, more interested in foreign civilizations and alien magic.
Still others lingered at the margins, unconcerned, or outwardly declared resistance while privately cursing the Lords as fools and preparing to surrender first.
The assembly fractured into several factions.
After intense internal debate.
The magi advocating defense of the Clock Tower reached a preliminary consensus.
McDonell spoke toward the sky, guessing Sophon could hear him:
"I am the Lord of the Trambelio family, Head of the Department of General Fundamentals at the Clock Tower. I speak to the Starsea Empire."
"The Clock Tower predates modern civilization. It exists independently of the human world and should not be subject to any secular authority."
"The abuse of magecraft would bring unpredictable consequences to human society—"
"..."
Seconds later, Sophon's projection appeared nearby.
"Rejected. You are not worthy of an exception from the Commander."
"...We demand appropriate respect. The Clock Tower was built by us—"
"Rejected. You possess no authority to negotiate."
Sophon dismissed their demands outright.
The magi, long accustomed to pride, immediately darkened in expression.
"Report to your Commander. We will take all necessary action to defend the dignity of the Clock Tower and the Mage's Association."
"..."
After a brief pause, Sophon severed the communication.
"The Commander knows. The Commander does not care."