Becoming Aozaki Touko

"The mission is also very simple—provide security services for Umbrella Corporation, and keep all unauthorized and ill-intentioned people out!"

"If you discover a magus intruder, you may also choose to kill them on the spot!"

After a brief introduction, he fell into silence.

Seeing this, Hart leaned back in his seat, gazing at his own reflection in the glass window. It was a face with a fierce, intimidating aura. Though it looked hard to approach, at least it didn't make people think he wasn't human.

Moreover, his appearance was indeed quite imposing—absolutely no problem for scaring people off as security.

"A pharmaceutical company... what kind of medicine can they sell?"

The Werewolf Leader asked the Android again.

"A new type of anticancer drug!"

Without any sign of impatience, the Android explained coldly: "This is a special medicine developed by Miss Aozaki Touko, with very significant effects against cancer."

"...Cancer... what's that?"

Hearing the unfamiliar term, the Werewolf Leader looked baffled.

"Hmm... roughly speaking, it's a mutation of cells—uncontrolled, not cooperating with the body, growing without restraint. It's one of the diseases humans currently cannot solve."

Listening to the Android's explanation, the Werewolf Leader nodded slightly: "Hmm... I still don't quite get it, but anyway, it's something impressive, right?"

"...That's one way to understand it."

The Android gave the Werewolf Leader a subtle look.

"Haha... really falling behind the times, huh~"

The Werewolf Leader let out a somewhat awkward laugh, then lost the desire to speak. He fell silent, staring at the scenery outside the window, as if the world beyond had suddenly become full of charm.

In this quiet atmosphere, The convoy stopped in front of a luxurious building.

Night.

On the rooftop of the building across from Umbrella Corporation, A woman draped in a trench coat watched the company with a calm gaze.

Her mission was to steal the formula for the 'anticancer drug' and confirm that the drug contained no magical elements whatsoever.

"So this is the place... I hope the security isn't too tight!"

The woman named 'Natalia Kaminski' glanced at the watch moving on her wrist, then, with a black case at her side, she left with crisp, decisive steps.

She was a hunter who acted for bounties, and the reward for this mission was ten million US dollars.

Moreover, multiple factions had placed bounties on it simultaneously. That meant if this mission succeeded, she could immediately obtain a huge sum of money and never worry about finances for the rest of her life.

----The clock's hands reached twelve.

"...The surveillance system was hacked so easily. The security doesn't seem that tight either."

Natalia Kaminski dropped down from a ventilation shaft, drew a pistol from her waist, and advanced toward her destination with growing vigilance.

The progress was going far too smoothly, which instead gave her a bad feeling.

"We smelled that succubus scent of yours... the moment you came in."

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out.

Then, in the dark corridor, pairs of green eyes lit up. One by one, werewolves emerged from the shadows, surrounding Natalia. Their beastly killing intent locked tightly onto her.

"...This is just terrible."

"Don't kill me, I surrender."

Natalia showed a bitter smile and decisively raised her hands in surrender.

Though she was confident in her combat ability, she didn't think she could take on a pack of werewolves. She wasn't some superhero from a story—just an ordinary bounty hunter.

"..."

The Werewolf Leader's gaze was cold. After a moment of silence, he said: "Take her into custody... then hand her over to Lady Aozaki for judgment!"

As his words fell, two werewolves stepped forward to restrain Natalia, then brought her to the communications room and dialed the Einzbern's number.

Chapter 17: Who Is the Greatest Doll Master in This World

"Hmm... detain her for now."

With that, Aozaki Touko hung up the phone and turned her gaze to the falling snow outside the window.

As for that magus who had infiltrated Umbrella Corporation, she knew who it was—the foster mother of Emiya Kiritsugu from the Fourth Holy Grail War, with a partial succubus bloodline.

As for her strength, she could definitely be called formidable.

After all, anyone bold enough to take on a Sealing Designation bounty wouldn't be weak.

But these were all trivial matters.

The key point was that her pharmaceutical company had been targeted.

Moreover, it wasn't a single faction. The Mage's Association naturally needed no explanation—to ensure mystery wasn't diluted, they had sent people to investigate whether magic was involved in the drugs. Such a move was hardly unreasonable.

But then, why were vampires also coming to investigate?

"How amusing... The illustrious Twenty-Seven Ancestors, the most ancient of the Dead Apostle Ancestors, actually taking an interest in my research. Could it be because I'm the heir to a Magic User?!"

After mulling it over for a moment, Aozaki Touko gave up somewhat and slumped back onto the sofa.

To be honest, she truly hadn't expected that a Dead Apostle Ancestor standing at the apex of the Dead Apostle world, named 'Valery Fernando Vandelstam,' would take an interest in her.

"Perhaps... this is an intersection called fate!"

Suddenly, a pleasant female voice rang out. Irisviel pushed open the door and walked in, settling down beside Aozaki Touko, a gentle smile on her face.

"Don't you think it's a coincidence, Touko? Your Rose Maiden is almost complete, and then two of the world's rarest strongest doll masters will be drawn by fate to compete for supremacy!"

As she spoke, her ruby-red eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation.

This kind of fateful event carried an epic, legendary feel—it was incredibly captivating to her, especially after watching so many movies and reading so many books lately.

"...Sigh."

Listening, Aozaki Touko thought for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Though I don't know the reason, if I can match Van Fem in Dollcraft, that wouldn't be a bad thing at all!"

That was right—not as a challenger, but as an equal in a contest of skill.

This wasn't arrogance, nor ignorance. She was confident she had enough power to face this most ancient Dead Apostle Ancestor, without needing to rely on her grandfather the Magic User, only her own strength to stand against him.

"I believe in you, Touko... You will definitely be the strongest doll master!"

Irisviel's slender hand brushed back her silver hair, her ruby eyes filled with unwavering conviction.

There was no one in this world who understood Aozaki Touko's level of Dollcraft better than she did, after all—she was the one Touko communicated with most and was closest to.

In fact... she had even personally witnessed the birth of the Rose Maiden.

"Is that so..."

Aozaki Touko rose from the sofa, revealing a sunny smile. "Then, as your husband, I have no choice but to answer my wife's expectations."

"I'll work overtime right now and finish the Rose Maiden!"

With that, she bent down and kissed Irisviel on the forehead, then turned and walked toward the magic workshop, intending to speed up the creation of the Rose Maiden.

"Touko... you're really dazzling!"

Irisviel touched her forehead, a tender smile spreading across her exquisite face.

She loved Aozaki Touko's eyes—those eyes utterly free of hesitation or panic, as if they didn't know what difficulty was, always so calm and composed.

Just gazing into them stirred a sense of security in her heart.

This was probably what a true strong person was like—possessing clear goals, an unwavering will without doubt or delay, and displaying astonishing drive.

Like the sun itself, blindingly radiant.

As long as she stayed by her side and watched her, she forgot fear, brimmed with confidence, and made those who followed her unconsciously feel admiration.

Berlin.

Umbrella Corporation.

"What a mess!"

Looking at the werewolves surrounding her, Natalia sighed softly and reached into her pocket for a cigarette to ease her rollercoaster of emotions.

But then, the next second.

A werewolf's claws had already firmly restrained her.

Even moving was difficult.

"What do you think you're doing!"

A werewolf stared coldly, his grip tight on this human's hand. At the slightest suspicious move, he would immediately use physical anesthesia to put a stop to this Female Mage's little tricks.

"I just wanted to smoke a cigarette!"

Natalia said with a wry smile.

"No. Stay put and behave!"

The werewolf refused outright.

"It's really hard to deal with the craving... Since I'm cooperating with you so well, just let me have one, okay? Consider it special treatment for a prisoner?"

Natalia put on a pained expression, as if her nicotine withdrawal was acting up.

"..."

At this, the werewolves exchanged glances with each other.

Then, the werewolf who had spoken earlier gave a slight nod.

"Don't move... we'll help you take out the cigarettes!"

Saying this, a female werewolf cautiously reached out, retrieved a pack of cigarettes from Natalia's pocket, sniffed it carefully with her nose, and, sensing nothing unusual, handed the cigarettes back to Natalia.

"Sorry... could you trouble me to take out the lighter as well?"

Taking the cigarettes, Natalia showed an apologetic smile.

"..."

The female werewolf paused for a moment, then took the lighter from her pocket and handed it over.

"Thanks... you saved me!"

Seeing this, Natalia wore a relieved expression, skillfully pulled out a cigarette, and contentedly lit one for herself. She began to smoke slowly.

Meanwhile.

In a small tavern in Berlin.

"...Werewolves, huh. Looks like I can't save them for now."

Emiya Kiritsugu stared at the handwriting emerging on the paper, his expression contemplative.

The information appearing on the paper came from a secret technique known only to him and his foster mother—by lighting a cigarette and adjusting the frequency of puffs, they transmitted messages.

Since the need to smoke was rarely refused, this method generally allowed them to covertly pass along information.

Chapter 18: The Stage Gathers

Ignoring the incident unfolding at the 'Umbrella Corporation,'

they detained the intruders and then acted as if nothing had happened—or rather, there were more pressing matters to attend to.