Inside Space Colony Copernicus.
Information Command Centre.
Rows of staff clad in white SDS uniforms bustled before various screens.
"Life detection system scan complete. No targets found."
"Orbital monitoring system scan complete. No anomalies detected."
"Navigation satellite system scan complete. No anomalies detected."
"Spatial detection system scan complete. No anomalies detected."
Seated at the centre of the command centre, Tabane Shinonono licked listlessly at a piece of candy in her hand:
"Honestly, not letting me accompany Luo Shu to test the White Knight's performance? Lacus, when did you become so disagreeable?"
"I really wanted to see the White Knight in action with my own eyes"
She whined in a soft, petulant voice. Lacus remained silent, but Ania, sitting nearby, snorted coldly:
"Look at yourself before criticising others."
"Unauthorised modifications to the space city, concealing high-level Abyss Artefacts without reporting them, conducting prohibited lethal weapon research—with so many violations, the fact that you're still standing here is only because Lacus is tolerating you with great effort."
Hearing this, Lacus frantically pressed a finger to her lips, signalling Ania to stop. The real reason Tabane hadn't been punished for all these violations was that only a handful of people knew about them.
If Ania laid everything out here, things would become far more troublesome.
Noticing Lacus's gesture, Ania restrained herself slightly, shooting Tabane a glare before muttering under her breath:
"In my opinion, someone like you should be detained in the Hidden Management Zone, locked up with those Abyss Artefacts."
"Sure, sure!" Tabane didn't seem the least bit offended by the idea of being confined to the Hidden Management Zone. Instead, she brightened up. "Just make sure it's the Tokyo branch. I'd love to go back to the surface for a change of scenery."
'Are you really going back to the surface for fun, or just to pester Luo Shu into testing the White Knight for you?'
Ania gave the excited Tabane a strange look, sighing inwardly. Honestly, she truly felt she couldn't work with this woman!
Why on earth had she been assigned as Tabane's supervisor?
Maybe she should ask Lacus later if a transfer was possible...
Just as Ania lapsed into silent frustration, Tabane's sharp eyes flicked to a nearby staff member's screen. After scanning the data, she blurted out:
"Run another spatial detection scan on coordinates 366,244. Report immediately if there's even the slightest fluctuation in spatial ripples."
"The target possesses the ability to covertly and effortlessly open spatial rifts, so any deviation from standard spatial wave patterns must be taken seriously, as it could signal the target's appearance."
Upon hearing Tabane Shinonono's words, the staff member sitting at the console immediately responded:
"Yes, Dr Shinonono!"
"Restarting spatial wave detection. Commencing retrieval countdown: 10, 9...3...2, 1."
After the system completed its scan again, abnormal wave fluctuations immediately appeared on the staff member's screen.
The staff member's face flushed red:
"Spatial wave anomaly detected! The target has appeared ahead of schedule!!"
Hearing this, Tabane Shinonono calmly continued eating her sweets and waved her hand:
"No need to panic. Activate the life detection system to determine the emergence range, use satellite positioning for auxiliary retrieval, and employ orbital detection to confirm our fleet's coordinates. Calculate the distance between both parties and estimate the encounter time."
Lacus, who had been listening, frowned and pressed the communication button on her chair. After establishing contact with the high-speed vessel, she addressed Natsuki Minamiya on the screen:
"Ahem, can you hear me?"
"Due to unknown reasons, Hoshimiya appears to have manifested in reality earlier than expected. Currently, Ania and Tabane Shinonono are attempting to pinpoint her location. Hmm... why do you all look like that?"
At that moment, Natsuki Minamiya's strained voice came through:
"If you're asking for the reason, it's probably because the target, Hoshimiya, is currently standing in front of the ship's surveillance camera."
Lacus was startled but quickly composed herself:
"Don't panic yet. According to intelligence, the target hasn't exhibited any proactive attacks so far."
"As long as we don't provoke her, Hoshimiya won't initiate hostilities."
"Therefore, please remain calm during this period."
"We'll immediately begin withdrawing our vessels to create distance. Once a safe range is established, you may proceed with contact."
As Lacus finished speaking, Luo Shu, aboard the vessel, stated bluntly:
"No need for such complications, Natsuki. Just use a spatial spell to teleport me out of the ship. I'll distract Mukuro Hoshimiya while the vessel retreats."
Hearing this, Tabane Shinonono immediately leaned over Lacus's shoulder and called out to the screen:
"Don't forget to test the White Knight!"
Ania, standing nearby, was speechless. Shouldn't they be trying to dissuade Luo Shu from risking himself first?
Suppressing her exasperation, Ania swiftly ordered the staff:
"Activate all monitoring equipment and lock onto the situation on-site. Pre-initiate the GS system and stand by for potential interference."
After issuing commands, Ania glanced at Lacus and added:
"Director Luo, please try to buy some time to facilitate the vessel's retreat."
"Understood."
Luo Shu's response came through.
Aboard the vessel, Luo Shu, holding the Wisdom Cube, exchanged a look with Natsuki Minamiya.
Sighing, Natsuki Minamiya raised her hand to cast the spatial spell while reminding him:
"If anything goes wrong, remember to send the coded signal through the system comms. I'll immediately teleport us back to Copernicus."
"Got it."Luo Shu nodded, and as his words faded, the surrounding scenery spiralled and transformed.
The next moment, his figure appeared in the vastness of space, beneath him the bright blue expanse of the planet.
It was Earth, the mother planet, slowly rotating on its axis.
"Hmm?"
Noticing Luo Shu's sudden appearance, Mukuro Hoshimiya, floating in space, tilted her head slightly.
The girl's beautiful face carried an ethereal air. She glanced up at Luo Shu, then immediately averted her gaze—no curiosity, no confusion—simply refocusing on the Hermes high-speed vessel as she slowly raised her irregular, key-shaped sceptre.
"Mukuro Hoshimiya."
Wind stirred in the vacuum of space where no air should exist.
Through the calamity that bestowed gales around them, Luo Shu created an environment where sound could carry:
"Shall we talk?"
"You refrain from attacking the ship, and in turn, I won't retaliate against you. How about we leave each other in peace?"
Hearing his voice, Mukuro turned her head, studying Luo Shu as he floated in space. After a brief inspection, she tilted her head and uttered their first exchange:
"So... you're here to capture Muku, too?"
'Tabane Shinonono, you absolute menace...' Luo Shu cursed inwardly, immediately guessing that Mukuro's response stemmed from that unscrupulous doctor's meddling.
After a moment's contemplation, he replied:
"What if I said I'm not here to capture you, but to help you? Would you believe me?"