Something just felt off.
Staring at the seat where Asagi Aiba usually sat, Cid lightly tapped his fingers against the desk.
Asagi Aiba did take time off every now and then, but yesterday she had just said she would try to secure a Piece, and now she was absent today. It felt a bit too coincidental.
"Ding-ding-ding…"
Just as Cid was starting to wonder if something big had happened without involving him, the class bell cut off his thoughts.
He raised an eyebrow, then casually tidied up his desk and prepared for class.
Why think so much? It's none of my business anyway.
...
"Yukina Himeragi, come with me for a moment."
Natsuki Minamiya pushed open the classroom door. After saying that in front of everyone, she turned and left.
"Ah… oh, okay."
Caught off guard, Yukina Himeragi responded instinctively before snapping back to her senses. She signaled to the teacher, stood up, and hurried after her.
She followed Natsuki Minamiya all the way to the office. As Natsuki Minamiya sat down behind her desk, her small frame somehow gave off an inexplicable sense of pressure, making Yukina Himeragi swallow nervously.
"What mission has the Lion King Organization given you recently?"
After a long moment of silence, Natsuki Minamiya spoke first.
"Huh? Minamiya-sensei, how do you know my identity…"
Under Natsuki Minamiya's increasingly deep gaze, and recalling what Cid had once told her, that many people in this school likely knew her true identity, Yukina Himeragi gradually realized the situation. Her voice grew softer and softer until it faded away completely.
"It seems the Lion King Organization didn't tell you who I am. I'm the Chief Instructor of the island's Security Force. Your previous mission only succeeded because they coordinated with me in advance."
Seeing that Yukina Himeragi had caught on, Natsuki Minamiya took out an ID and placed it on the desk, casually revealing information that shocked her.
Yukina Himeragi lowered her head, biting her lip tightly. There was no doubt about it now.
"Since you know my identity, tell me about the mission you received this time. Focus on the important parts."
Ignoring her reaction, Natsuki Minamiya simply repeated her original question.
"None."
"None?"
Yukina Himeragi quickly steadied her emotions, then raised her head and answered seriously.
"Yes, none. The last mission I received was a week ago. The objective was to join the Mitsugoshi Company…"
As Yukina Himeragi explained the situation, the confusion on Natsuki Minamiya's face only grew.
With her insight, she could tell Yukina Himeragi wasn't lying. But if she was still carrying out the order to join the Mitsugoshi Company, then how should she interpret the Lion King Organization's recent actions? Had they suddenly changed their approach?
After the explosion that nearly killed a group of Security Force personnel, and with Shadow's involvement, the terrorist organization known as the Black Death Emperor Front, which had already been under investigation, was immediately elevated several levels in priority. The resources devoted to tracking them increased severalfold.
Based on what Shadow had said at the scene, she made a bold guess. This incident was likely the result of a joint operation between the Black Death Emperor Front and another organization called the Cult of Diablos.
Although they had suffered heavy losses, the fact that there were no casualties and that they had obtained useful intelligence was still a positive outcome. At the very least, it provided some leads.
With the Security Force operating at full capacity, she quickly uncovered some traces of the individuals the organization had been in contact with.
The awkward part was that the person they identified as being in contact with the Black Death Emperor Front, someone they assumed was from the Cult of Diablos, turned out not to be from that organization at all. Instead, it was someone from their own Security Force.
Maybe the others couldn't recognize them, but she certainly could.
What was the point of hiding so thoroughly? That attack style, the way it felt like time itself had stopped, there was only one person on this island she knew who could do that.
One of the Lion King Organization's Three Saints, Koyomi Shizuka.
Since the Lion King Organization was involved, she couldn't just act recklessly. No matter what, they were still colleagues, and she had to show them a bit of respect.
Of course, she would have to settle things with the Lion King Organization first for stirring up trouble on her territory without informing her. They had nearly caused dozens of Security Force casualties, and that was not something she could just overlook.
But before that, she needed to figure out what the Lion King Organization was planning this time, and decide whether or not to intervene depending on the situation.
Given their usual methods, it was easy for her to connect the situation to Yukina Himeragi and Kojou Akatsuki, and from there conclude that the Black Death Emperor Front was likely just another Rudolf they had arranged.
At first, Natsuki Minamiya thought she had already seen through everything. She only came to the school to ask Yukina Himeragi as a precaution.
But now, she was confused.
Since Yukina Himeragi was no longer carrying out the mission to monitor Kojou Akatsuki, how exactly was the Lion King Organization planning to use their usual tactics to send her out? If they tried to force it, it would feel far too contrived.
Could it be that the Lion King Organization had changed their approach this time? That instead of following their usual pattern, using women as the core of their schemes to gain benefits, they were planning to pursue something else instead?
No, no matter how she thought about it, that was too unrealistic. This was the Lion King Organization.
Closing her fan, Natsuki Minamiya lowered her head, deep in thought as she paced back and forth across the office.
Yukina Himeragi stood nearby, watching her walk in circles, feeling conflicted. She wanted to ask if there was anything else, but at the same time, she was afraid of interrupting her.
The room fell into silence.
After a while, a spark flashed in Natsuki Minamiya's eyes. She tapped the folded fan against her palm with a crisp sound and looked at Yukina Himeragi.
"Has anyone else from the Lion King Organization come to this island recently?"
This was a possibility she had just considered. Earlier, she had focused too much on Yukina Himeragi and overlooked this point.
She had assumed that since Yukina Himeragi hadn't been reassigned, she would continue receiving orders from the Lion King Organization. But she had missed one thing. Their operations were not always carried out by a single person.
Just like trainee shrine maid teams, they usually worked in pairs, one using a bow and the other a spear.
By the same logic, even though Yukina Himeragi's previous mission had failed and she was still carrying out the order to join the Mitsugoshi Company, that didn't mean she was the only one who could approach Kojou Akatsuki.
"Mm…"
This time, Yukina Himeragi did not answer.
She simply turned her head away.
The earlier questions weren't sensitive. Given Natsuki Minamiya's status, it wasn't strange for her to know those things. But this was different. This was not something she could disclose.
Seeing her reaction, Natsuki Minamiya immediately understood.
She had guessed correctly.
Her eyes narrowed as she fixed Yukina Himeragi with a serious gaze.