The Slayer's Dogma

Complications, The Threat Underlying The Problem
"...and they said it left as soon as he scoured through the wreckage. Dozens of injuries were heard but thankfully any mortal ones were tended to immediately on site," Diana listed off, her body's image flickering in front of him within his study. It wasn't the first time they had their talks like this, having used the TPR to communicate long distances without stressing their personal magical stores. Hearing of the news upon investigating the incident, she reported immediately to Victor while he had waited the day for the news in full. "it didn't leave any signs of its presence."

"Interesting," Victor said aloud, his eyes furrowing as a expression of dispassion crossed his jawline. "this is the fifth train that's part of my company. The Intercontinental Magic Advancement will suffer if this perp continues his raids. Especially if they all happen within the span of a single month."

"At least we confirmed he's working alone," Diana said aloud with a hint of optimism, her body language and tone insistant on brightening her Master's disposition. "not enough signs of a large contingent, and the lack of stolen goods barring destruction and ransacking. Unfortunately we have no leads as to what kind of Mage he is or what he looks like."

Victor took a longing sip, pondering on the information that had been collected. It had been a little over a month since he upped the amount of Lacrima shipments to other newly established hubs for his company in other countries. Fiore, while its capital HQ, was going to be one of five other countries with official bases of operations. From there distribution and manufacturing could be easily managed between his elected managers he placed in each country.

What was disturbing was that specifically routed trains trying to leave the country were targeted by this single assailment. Capable of overturning an entire shipment without the standard security noticing or too swift to notice, many would be injured in the process. He could not account for any accidental deaths involved in the other attacks, but so far the saboteur aimed to incapacitate to reach his goal. Which brought up a reflexsive spark to light up within his eyes.

"Diana," Victor said aloud, his revelation fueling the vigor his tone now showed, turning on his seat to face her attentive frame, "you said that the perp approached the train and searched its contents after derailing it?"

"I cannot speak for the other attacks, but it appears to be the case for this one," The dutiful Virago spirit responded, tilting her head ot the side with curiosity, "why?"

"For one, it confirms the intelligence leak is minor. Perhaps spoken by people among those who work on the train, passed by other locals as rumors. Secondly it also disproves that he's a radical attempting to inhibit our company's aim. If he were so inclined to break the train, why would he try to search its contents and yet leave empty handed? No, this individual is looking for something but is grasping at straws. There is a specific type of item he is trying to find without being seen or known by those he assaults. Something in our cargo that isn't usually shipped but is supposedly transported by us. Such sloppy guesses are more out of fixated determination than a desire for thievery," Victor deduced, swiveling the remaining contents of his cup idly while keeping eye contact with Diana.

"I have the list of the cargo that was originally intended for Bosco," Diana nodded, knowing what was foremost on her Master's mind. Looking slightly up, she focused on recalling the information as she recounted for his benefit. "100 crates of Magic Malleable Metal. 200 boxes of Lacrima glass cannisters. 50 boxes of Fire Element Lacrima. 50 boxes of Water Lacrima. 50 Boxes of Ice Lacrima. 50 Boxes of Lightning Lacrima-"

"Stop," Victor said in a level, authoritative tone.

"Sir?" Diana inquired a furrow of her brows.

"I'm going to delay shipments out of country for a week and limit it to a single faux shipment that I will personally announce at one of my rallies in a few days," Victor said with a cunning smile, raising his tea up to be parallel with his hair covered chin, "our attacker won't help himself but to strike this shipment since I've eliminated any alternative targets. This one will be full of all kinds of material that is all but useless for our manufacturing plants but should be useful to a single individual. A recycling shipment if you will."

"What is it going to be...recycling?" Diana scrunched her brows further, still unable to understand her superior's logic.

"Lacrima," Victor said with an elated smile, "our Mage attacker is after a particular type of Lacrima. Once I have a buffet line ripe for the taking and heading out of the country he won't help himself. Either our friend is an addict or has something big planned out. If what he seeks is there, he won't refuse this chance."

With a bright gleam sparkling into Diana's eyes, a enthusiastic smile breached across her normally stoic face, "That's incredible, Master Victor!"

"This assailant is powerful, though, to take down trained men capable of staving off most Dark Guild attacks and bandit groups," Victor said with a more stern tone, his expression returning to a more business dispassionate visage, "most of my Guild is still in its infant stage. Already doing jobs for the greater parts of Fiore to set up a reputation before I assign them to protect the company's interests. I can't call upon a Guild for leaking out our inability to handle this ourselves. It would look bad for everyone if a Mage from a hired Guild took care of our attacker."

"Shall I safeguard the shipment?" Diana asked expectantly.

"I think it will possibly even exceed your abilities. After all, an unknown is a much more capable force than one we can understand," Victor shook his head, finishing with a final sip of his cup. Gently placing the empty container upon the saucer, Victor bridged his hands in front of his face, his eyes looking more determined. A projective glint of fiercesome intent crossed his body, as a silhouette enamored his being within the dimly lit study in the dark of the night of his mansion, "I shall be taking charge of this operation. You and the others shall accompany me, but should I command it, do not interfere when I approach the saboteur. I want to know what precisely is the object of value he seeks and why is it important to him."