His irritation was evident in his voice. Lyssa tried to read between the lines.
The logical assumption was that Jofi was the primary target. Nothing linked Lyssa, Samuel, Lee, and the others who’d been attacked other than the spirit. Killing her was most likely incidental to the goal of capturing or eliminating Jofi.
Although Jofi’s pistol form was useful, it wasn’t as if he were a uniquely powerful weapon compared to other spirit weapons and shards throughout history. The showstoppers were powerful but limited in their area of effect. She couldn’t take down a skyscraper if she used every last one.
The careful moves and gathered intelligence suggested someone of experience, skill, and resources. They could get more powerful individual weapons. That all suggested the goal wasn’t Jofi in pistol form but rather his unsealed form as a grand emptiness spirit.
Lyssa looked puzzled. That didn’t make sense. An unbound Jofi would be most likely to eat the soul and body of any Sorcerer nearby, not give him power. They’d sealed him with Lyssa’s help because they had no choice other than sacrificing Illuminated lives.
What other possibilities could there be? Was it some sort of complicated attempt to make a spirit bomb for use against Last Remnant?
It wasn’t impossible, but it felt far too convoluted. Involving Lyssa in Jofi’s sealing had been a result of her being the closest Sorceress with a compatible essence and regalia. There were skilled spirit Sorcerers on Last Remnant, including a member of the Tribunal, along with the most powerful shards created by the Society. It’d make more sense to smuggle a nuclear weapon there and set it off rather than anything relying on sorcery.
The other possibility was a spirit bomb targeting another location. In that case, it made even more sense to travel to the island.
“Okay.” Lyssa nodded. She could go around and around thinking about it, but she didn’t know anything for certain other than someone was coming for her. “I can hide for a while.” She pointed at Samuel. “But I’m still going to Last Remnant when all this is over. If I end up solving this crap, that’s only more of a reason I deserve to go.”
“I can’t disagree with you there, Miss Corti,” Samuel replied. “But you need to survive until then. I’m in daily contact with the Tribunal on this matter. This is a matter of unusual concern, and it might be a threat to the entire Society.”
Lyssa groaned. “When you put it like that, I don’t have any choice but to hide out in some seedy motel.”
“Good.” Samuel gave a nod. “Now that you’ve agreed, I have a few details we need to go over.”
One advantage of being a biker was being used to traveling light. Lyssa stuffed a couple of Kawatsu-chan shirts into her backpack. She couldn’t risk leaving the memory card, but she didn’t care about her whiteboards. Whoever was trying to kill her might be related to the earlier incident. Even if they weren’t, it didn’t matter if they stumbled upon another conspiracy.
Her gaze flicked to the two pistols housing Jofi lying on her bed. She almost laughed aloud at the idea of two different conspiracies targeting her. There were different grand paranoid theories she could string together, but a theory without proof wasn’t a good way to predict the future and react to the world around her.
“What do you think is going on?” Jofi asked.
“Huh?” Lyssa frowned. “I know what’s going on. Someone’s trying to kill me.”
“But they are also trying to kill Elder Samuel and others,” Jofi replied. “And they’ve succeeded at two assassinations. Your link to the others remains unclear to me.”
Lyssa forced a weak smile. The last thing she needed was Jofi questioning everything and becoming suspicious. She’d need his power to stop anyone coming to take him.
She was surprised the Tribunal hadn’t demanded she come to Last Remnant for some painful, soul-risking ritual involving the spirit. It confirmed what she’d always suspected, despite what Lee had told her. They’d barely known what they were doing before and weren’t sure what to do if the seal broke other than encourage Lyssa to offer her soul.
“If we kill the guy, his reasons don’t matter.” Lyssa shrugged.
“And you don’t think it has to do with your brother?” Jofi asked.
Lyssa shook her head. “I can’t be sure, but I doubt it. None of the people on the card are the targets. If there was the least bit of overlap, I’d think there was a link, but this is one time where I think it’s just a coincidence. I’ve worked a lot of jobs as a Torch, most of those for Samuel. It’s not crazy that I’ve pissed someone off. I figure it doesn’t matter as long as they find the guy and take him out.”
“But you’re all hiding. You won’t be able to find him.”
“The Tribunal might be upset about losing Lubon, but that means they’ll double-down on investigating.” Lyssa started shoving magazines from her safe into her backpack. “Two dead Sorcerers killed not far apart is a big deal.”
“Be more cautious than Miss Khatri,” Jofi said. “Her arrogance caused her injuries. You can’t deny that.”
Lyssa rolled her eyes. “It was tungsten bullets, which are unusual, but I get what you’re saying. It’s not like I’ve ever been the type to stand there and let people shoot at me, even if the Night Goddess is tougher than some regalia.”
“I’d be at a loss if you died.”
Lyssa laughed. “So would I.”
“Do what you need to do to survive,” Jofi said. “It’s better to use all your possible choices and risk death than hold back and ensure it.”
Lyssa eyed the two showstopper magazines in the safe. “I’m not going to go down easy if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m going to finish packing, and we’re going to get the hell out of here with the help of cash and a fake ID. I’m going underground, just like Samuel wanted. I’m also leaving my main phone here. Samuel’s
