Yuan Shikai was curious about the secrets beyond the Gate, but idle speculation would get him nowhere. He would find out once he arrived.
Yuan Shikai planned to bring Yustiza along too, since she was the Third Magician, even if the title still needed "apprentice" tacked onto the front.
That did not change her identity as the Third Magician. With the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Magicians all attending, there was no reason for the Third to be absent.
Did this count as an offline meetup exclusively for Magicians?
He arranged for Jeanne d'Arc to help look after Arcueid Brunestud and told Qi Huang to visit Princess Kaguya on the moon whenever she had some time.
Yuan Shikai set off with Yustiza, heading straight for the cave entrance where Aozaki Hachisuke was waiting.
The cave entrance was not far away, near Aozaki Hachisuke's old residence.
Traveling at full speed, the two arrived in about ten minutes.
Outside the cave, Kishua, Aoko Aozaki, Alice Kuonji, and Aozaki Hachisuke in his soul form seemed to have been waiting for quite some time.
Aoko was still arguing with Hachisuke, and their dispute had reached a fever pitch.
Hachisuke listened expressionlessly, as composed as an old monk in meditation, occasionally offering a word or two in reply.
Aoko, meanwhile, kept ranting. Perhaps because she was so worked up, her face was already flushed red.
Even Yuan Shikai and Yustiza's arrival failed to make Aoko stop.
Kishua watched their argument with keen interest.
Alice sat in a chair, sipping black tea elegantly, while Robin perched on her shoulder and watched the show with her.
Aoko seemed furious over something Hachisuke had done.
Yuan Shikai asked, "Why are those two arguing?"
Kishua replied, "Hachisuke mocked Aoko, saying her use of the Fifth Magic was terrible. All