Before S could object purely for the sake of opposing, I took the initiative.

"Alright. If you're so sure, do you know what trick I used?"

"...It is not my responsibility to prove it."

"Oh, but it is! Anyone can claim a trick, but it's meaningless unless you can point out how I changed the color of this card. At the very least, you should identify the method if your claim is to hold any weight!"

The biggest problem with Signalers is that they are inevitably rational. They may stubbornly avoid eye contact, but they cannot help answering my questions.

"…It was alchemy. You changed the color using alchemy!"

Wrong. A completely off-the-mark deduction.

It was so far off that even I didn’t need to say anything. Another Signaler, D, who knew more about alchemy, corrected him.

"Incorrect. Alchemy requires an incantation, a transmutation circle, and alchemical material. None of those were present just now."

"Then perhaps the card is of a special kind that changes color!"

D spoke coldly, even while responding to his fellow Signaler.

"Signaler IS, your logic is the same as before. That line of reasoning is pointless."

"ID! If it wasn't a trick, then what was it? Are you saying it was some kind of magic?"

"I did not say that. I merely pointed out the flaw in IS's argument."

"Then are you saying IS has a way to explain it?"

"I have witnessed a similar act through a 'window.' It's called a shell game, where an identical object is hidden, and the original one is concealed. Surely, the card was swapped with another hidden somewhere in a hand, sleeve, or hem."

Well, this one at least uses their brain a little. Far from the right answer, but commendable nonetheless.

I spread my arms wide and shrugged.

"I'll give you the chance to prove it! Go ahead, take a look."

"I have no reason to refuse."

"Hand over the card! I will examine it myself!"

S and D, along with a few other Signalers, approached me. Their gaze was as if they would dissect me alive.

Ha, good luck catching on. It’d be hard to notice unless you’re exceptionally sharp. After all, the blood filling that Heart Nine is none other than mine.

I brushed my finger along the edge of the card, a skilled magician capable of cutting without injury. I squeezed out a bit of blood, pretending to blow on the card, subtly letting it seep in. The narrow gap is a perfect environment for liquid to soak through. My blood quickly permeated the inside of the card.

There’s even a slight trace of Tyr’s blood magic here—just enough to roll a droplet of blood. But no one here would notice that.

It was worth investing my precious blood. Look at them; the innocent Signalers are approaching, curiosity brimming as they approach the unknown.

D fumbled through my sleeves, S examined the card with alchemy, and M crept closer, handling my hands. They were all engrossed in unraveling the secret.

"Stop…! Such contact is dangerous…!"

Only IA, bound by Historia, seemed to grasp the danger.

"He plans to mentally contaminate all Signalers! Stirring curiosity with tricks, leading them to think on their own!"

IA urgently activated her unique magic. Spiderweb—her specific synchronization magic, designed to ensnare any nearby Signalers at once. She intended to calm their excited emotions and instill a sense of caution toward me.

"Signaler ID! IS! Cease your interest in him and maintain distance! If you hear me, respond immediately!"

But despite the violent shaking of the web, there was no response. For the first time, IA’s mind raced with urgency.

"Why can’t you hear my voice…?"

It’s because most of your power is tied up in binding Captain Ivy.

IA soon realized the truth. Shocked, she reassessed her unique magic and was horrified.

A morning glory vine had entangled the spiderweb. A fragile tendril that couldn’t rise without support clung to the sturdy web.

"Ivy! How did you…!"

Captain Ivy, who had stood like a statue, turned her face. They exchanged silent communication through the web connecting them.

"IA, you have used all your strength to bind me to the module. I cannot even speak without your permission."

Captain Ivy’s unique magic covers both long and short range, while IA specializes in binding multiple targets in close proximity. That’s why she became the module leader of I, the strongest synchronizer in this module. But Captain Ivy was always the true A.

"But because of this, your voice cannot reach the other Signalers. Not as long as I hold on."

"Hold on…! How can you! A morning glory will fall without anything to lean on!"

"I do not need anything to lean on."

Captain Ivy stood tall, her posture resolute, and IA felt a wave of shock pulling her mind in. But it didn’t matter, as Historia held her back, muffling even her voice.

"It’s not a morning glory! You’re… no, you are…!"

A steadfast sunflower stood tall. No mere spiderweb could sway a flower that gazes upon the sun.

"I can stand on my own. I exist solely, and because of that, my interference with the other Signalers has weakened. I can defy you."

"Of all the Signalers closest to A… you have already been mentally contaminated!"

IA struggled, both mentally and physically. Yet Captain Ivy had her mind bound, and Historia held her body in place. She could not affect either.

Suddenly, an immense fear overtook IA, as if she were truly alone. A sense of isolation, as if the situation was slipping beyond her grasp.

"This cannot be! I must shut down the module before he contaminates the other Signalers!"

Driven into a corner, IA gambled. She prepared to release her bind on Captain Ivy and issue commands to the other Signalers.

"I won’t allow it!"

At that moment, something grabbed the retreating spiderweb. Normally, this would be impossible. The spiderweb, too, cannot maintain its form without grasping onto something.

All Signalers' unique magic works this way. Without connecting to each other, they fall apart. Signalers must always remain linked.

Yet now, at the end of the delicate spiderweb, the tendrils of the morning glory clung tight.

"Release me, Ivy!"

"They have done no wrong. Therefore, they need not be discarded."

"Better to self-destruct than to be mentally contaminated! That is the principle for safeguarding the State!"

"Then who will protect them?"

IA shouted back in anger.

"The State takes precedence over Signalers! Ivy, do you intend to endanger the State?"

"I know not what the State is! But if I am to protect something, I will protect both!"

"Convenient words! Since when did you have the right to decide what to protect?! We have no such authority or ability! What we protect is principle, and that alone safeguards this nation! Let go, Ivy!"

No matter how she yelled or pressured him, Captain Ivy stood firm, an unbending sunflower that neither bowed its head nor closed its eyes.

"I believe I can."

"Belief. Uncertain, empty belief! That means you’re already mentally contaminated!"

Meanwhile, the Signalers stared at another card I had pulled from my palm, further adding to their confusion. Some tried to deny it, but others couldn't resist the urge to question what it was.

IA, now realizing the impending disaster she had tried so hard to avoid, cried out in helplessness.

"Oh, please, someone issue orders! Anyone, do something…!"

But the State has no god. Even its angels, summoned artificially by Signalers, won’t answer her call.

[I have heard your prayer.]

…Just then.

[The day has come at last. The day when fate is decided.]

Something 'emerged' from IA’s body.

Her unique magic, the Spiderweb. Typically invisible and intangible, a mental manifestation… now suddenly wrapped around her body, encasing her like a white garment. IA moved.

“Ugh…!”

Even though Historia held her from behind.

A white hand grasped Historia’s wrist, producing a sound that should never come from flesh. The noise of bones splitting and flesh tearing echoed as Historia’s grip shattered.

"What kind of… strength…!"

A miracle exceeding the crushing force Historia used to bend steel into different shapes.

Even IA was stunned by what she had just done.

"The Voice of the State…!"

[Indeed, Signaler. Most dutiful and faithful. I have come at your call.]

"I have failed. I could not properly manage the module, allowing the enemy to mentally contaminate. The current situation is…"

[I know.]

"…!"

[You are all connected to me. I permitted them to join you. Now leave it to me and rest.]

A voice reverberated through IA’s mind. I could not read the thoughts of the speaker. I could only barely guess its meaning by reading IA’s thoughts.

Ha ha. Just as I thought. One mountain after another.

As expected, there was more here than just the Signalers.

"I will correct this… Please."

IA allowed the unknown force to take over without resistance. The moment IA's consciousness faded beyond the veil…

The true Amadeus unfurled six radiant wings and hurled Historia aside.