Akihabara District, third floor of the Hidden Management Department garrison.
In the brightly lit office, a girl in a Toyogasaki High School uniform with raven-black hair smooth as snow was hard at work.
"April 16th, 15:22, Rome Branch report on activation of Grade 2 monitored artefact 'Eroding Hand'."
"April 16th, 15:31, London Branch report on return of Grade 2 monitored artefact 'Book of Misfortune' to storage."
"Hmm? The Ottawa Branch activated a Grade 3 monitored artefact? Their reason being to counter the Hell Sect's activities?"
Yukino Yukinoshita brushed aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen by her temple, her brows furrowing slightly:
"That makes the seventh incident in America in half a month, doesn't it?"
"It seems the situation over there is rather tense..."
Yukino Yukinoshita currently held a position akin to secretary to the Director of the Hidden Management Department.
Thus, her workload was extremely varied.
From documents concerning the department's daily operations to meeting preparations, even Luo Shu's daily schedule fell under Yukino's responsibilities as secretary, all of which had to be recorded and archived.
One could say that since joining the Hidden Management Department, apart from the first few days, Yukino Yukinoshita had been constantly busy.
Fortunately, Megumi Kato's arrival had lightened the load considerably in recent days, as tasks like schedule management and project coordination—areas Yukino wasn't particularly skilled in—were delegated to her.
This had made Yukino's work much easier lately.
After all, the most troublesome task—managing Luo Shu's itinerary—had already been handed over to Megumi Kato.
Yet even with the reduced workload, the most crucial duty of a secretary—overseeing the SDS's global monitoring of Abyss Artefact usage—still remained solely Yukino Yukinoshita's responsibility.
Compared to organising and managing their Director's bizarre schedule that seemed to consist entirely of wandering outside to abduct women, Yukino found this paperwork far more suited to her tastes.
However, despite her recent exposure to numerous documents, Yukino Yukinoshita still felt somewhat inexperienced when it came to report summaries and similar tasks.
Thus, in this regard, she needed an assistant—one that wouldn't cost a penny.
"The mid-month report will likely focus on developments in America, particularly movements in Canada, especially the recent frequent activities of the Hell Sect."
"Considering the Director's temperament, prepare a written report tonight. After work, leave it at the apartment - I'll collect it myself."
As Yukino Yukinoshita murmured these words, a lazy complaint came from the customised phone displaying an active call on the desk to her right:
"...I say, Yukino-chan. Must you drag me into your work?~"
"Your dear sister has financial reports from the family company to review too, you know~"
On the other end of the line, Haruno Yukinoshita seemed to be lamenting her younger sister's unreasonable exploitation.
Here she was, president of a construction and real estate company, being made to prepare departmental intelligence reports for her sister?
Without pay, no less.
What kind of hellish treatment was this?
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita replied without looking up:
"Shall I hang up then?"
"Eh, no no no, big sister was just joking~ Just a joke~"
"If I don't hear Yukino's cute voice for one night, I might just die~"
Hearing her sister's threat to end the call, Haruno Yukinoshita immediately backtracked:
"Of course, compared to something trivial like my death, helping Yukino establish herself there is far more important, right?"
"Besides, isn't there that ancient saying - 'Like father, like son on the battlefield'~"
"I'll work overtime later to help complete Yukino's tasks, aiming to get you into the Hidden Management Department's upper echelons this year~"
"Regarding your 'like father, like son' comment, I'll report it to Mother after work today."
Yukino Yukinoshita set aside the report, ignoring most of the content to focus on the key phrase.
"Yukino's being mean." A coquettish voice came through the phone.
Yukino showed no reaction, silently flipping through documents instead.
After about two minutes, Haruno suddenly said:
"Alright, I've skimmed through the report."
"Seven cases in half a month, combined with last month's, probably seventeen total. Heheh, this Hell Sect group seems quite formidable, definitely plotting something nefarious."
"But speaking of which, is it really okay to show me these confidential internal documents?"
"And they even delivered confidential computers and phones to me yesterday - feels somewhat suspicious, doesn't it?"
Listening to Haruno's complaints, Yukino adjusted her rectangular glasses with her middle finger and calmly replied:
"It's fine. We obtained prior permission from the Director and Supreme Chairwoman."
"...I feel like I've become your free labour. Am I imagining things?"
Haruno laughed through the phone, with occasional rapid keyboard clacking audible in the background.
"I've extracted the key points - I'll deliver them to the apartment later. Oh, Yukino, next time, ask your Director whether my work for you counts towards your merits."
"If not... hmph... big sister will go collect your debt~"
Ignoring the petulant huffing, Yukino calmly organised the documents before opening the left cabinet to retrieve a two-carat white diamond.
She gazed serenely at the stack of files as the blue gemstone ring on her right middle finger ignited with clear azure Rain Flames.
The moment the Rain Flames activated, the documents levitated and spontaneously combusted without wind, bathing the entire office in blue radiance.
At that instant, Yukino murmured:
"Knowledge Extraction!"
As she spoke, the cerulean flames dissolved each document into distinct characters.
A humming sound arose as the characters spiralled into the diamond in Yukino's hand, completely absorbed within moments.
Having completed this, Yukino exhaled and glanced at the phone on her right:
"Did you ask something just now?"
["Yukino, were you just recording files again? Using that ability developed from the Fairy of Knowledge's Class?"]
["It's so nice being able to store information you've seen into diamonds, extract it when needed, and not worry about data theft..."]
Yukino Yukinoshita could hear the faint envy in her elder sister's tone - envy towards supernatural abilities.
In response, Yukino felt both pride at surpassing her sister and a twinge of heartache.
After a pause, she said: "...If you want to join the Hidden Management Department, sister, it's just a matter of formalities."
'And those formalities might even be approved by your little sister...' Yukino mentally added, already anticipating the predictable reply.
["Oh please, Mother would have a fit if I did that."]
Haruno Yukinoshita immediately seemed to realise her slip of tongue and quickly amended:
["Ah, speaking of which, Megumi mentioned your Director brought another new girl into the department yesterday? And took her straight home?"]
["Is that true? I specifically asked Kisara-san this morning, but she's been dodging my questions all day. How frustrating - why must she be so stubborn about keeping secrets on this topic?"]
"Are you sure Kisara-san isn't responding, or that she hasn't crushed her phone in frustration with you?"
Yukino Yukinoshita asked with a peculiar expression.
["Surely not?"] Haruno replied hesitantly.
Yukino didn't answer directly, only hinting: "She's crushed one in front of me before."
["Eh~~ really?"] Haruno sounded surprised before pressing:
["So it's true then? Your Director brought an extremely cute girl home?"]
As Yukino prepared to answer, her head instinctively turned towards the doorway.
Since the secretary's office was adjacent to Luo Shu's and kept open during work hours, Yukino had a clear view of Luo Shu passing by her door.
She also saw the two girls trailing behind him - trembling, cautious, looking ready to bolt like frightened ostriches at any moment.
["Yukino? Yukino!! Are you ignoring me again?"]
Hearing the voice, Yukino turned back to her phone and said in a strange tone:
"Correction."
"It wasn't one girl."
["Huh?"] Haruno's disappointed voice came through.
Then Yukino continued meaningfully:
"It was three."
After a pause, she added:
"He just brought two more past my office."
Haruno: ["..."]
Miss Haruno Yukinoshita seemed to have temporarily lost the power of speech.