After reviewing the intelligence in her hands, Lana casually addressed a cloaked succubus:
"The intelligence arrived reasonably promptly. It seems Naruse isn't just idling her time away in Tokyo."
Hearing this, the succubus lowered her head, seemingly somewhat intimidated by Lana.
Lana didn't react much to this. As a native-born witch from Truth Astronomy's creator lineage, she was accustomed to such subservient attitudes from newcomers.
For such people, giving them just enough of what they wanted while maintaining control was sufficient - no need for excessive concern.
"Tell Naruse I'll give her triple the agreed payment and have her prepare to receive it."
"You may withdraw."
After the succubus left, Lana turned to look at Emilia and Echidna present in the room.
Emilia could be disregarded - her excessively kind nature made her seem like anything but a proper witch in Lana's eyes.
On the contrary, a woman like Echidna, who was calculating and had clear desires, made Lana feel quite comfortable.
After all, her mother had been the same way—it was the standard temperament of a witch.
Thus, Lana preferred discussing matters with Echidna.
As for Emilia, simply following orders would suffice.
"It seems just as I predicted. That Director Luo from the Hidden Management Department holds significant importance to the SDS—so much so that they immediately dispatched a rescue team upon confirming his potential disappearance."
Hearing this, Echidna tilted her head slightly in curiosity:
"Did the SDS send a Demigod?"
"Most likely."
As she spoke, Lana retrieved a photo from between the pages of the intelligence report.
The image unmistakably showed Origami Tobiichi's profile.
"Though her exact name and abilities remain unknown, according to my sources, this woman is likely the Demigod who previously confronted that Celestial Master from China and was subsequently concealed by the SDS."
"Oh? A Demigod? This little girl?"
Echidna stared at the white-haired girl in the photo, her expression one of surprise.
Though her divinations had never yielded information on Demigods, judging solely from the photo, the girl's eyes didn't belong to some ancient relic who had lived through countless eras.
In other words, she might genuinely be a teenage Demigod?
Now that would be interesting!
"If the intel is accurate, it should be her."
Lana studied the youthful face in the photo, her eyelids lifting slightly as she mused:
"She appears no older than her teens. A reincarnator? Or perhaps a special lifeform? Maybe even a pseudo-Demigod fabricated by those high-ranking artefacts?"
Lana mentally reviewed her family's records on Demigods, privately leaning toward the third possibility.
According to the archives, certain Top Tier Class Demigods in Hell could employ special methods to grant compatible individuals power approximating that of a true Demigod.
Additionally, some Abyss Artefacts could achieve similar effects.
However, such artefacts were exceedingly rare and unique—so much so that even the witches of the Gorgon clan couldn't confirm their existence in this world.
Yet based on current intelligence, the SDS's so-called Demigods might all be such pseudo-Demigods.
This would imply the SDS might possess only one genuine Demigod—or perhaps none at all.
Their so-called Demigod affiliates were likely just imitations borrowing power from the real one.
That would explain how these supposedly young Demigod prodigies could so obediently follow SDS orders.
Their power originated from the SDS itself. With the source controlled, rebellion became impossible.
Lana deduced the SDS likely possessed an Abyss Artefact capable of creating pseudo-Demigods—and Luo Shu might be its keeper.
After all, according to that esteemed figure in Hell, Luo Shu was a Hero Rank individual of Top Tier Class.
Perhaps that Top Tier Class belonged to the artefact itself.
An Abyss Artefact that could manufacture imitation Demigods, with an inheritable Top Tier Class...
Did the SDS even deserve such a treasure?
At this thought, Lana exhaled sharply: "Make your preparations. Once the target enters the trap, we'll immediately launch our attack on the Hidden Management Department."
The witches, cloaked in robes behind her, bowed their heads humbly at these words.
Echidna, hearing this, narrowed her eyes slightly, her flower-like smile giving no hint of her true emotions.
Amidst the scene, only Emilia took a deep breath, her thoughts drifting to Aya Tokoyogi—still imprisoned within the Hidden Management Department's garrison, with no signs of transfer detected yet.
'Teacher, are you alright right now?'
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Puck, perched on Emilia's shoulder, felt his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
Not only had the Director of the Hidden Management Department been lured out so easily, but Lana's simplistic plan had also managed to draw out a Demigod.
'Are there just too many Demigods in the SDS? How can they casually send one out like this? Aren't they worried about walking into a trap?'
The thought sent a chill down Puck's spine.
As a spirit, Puck was acutely aware of his connection to the natural world.
If even he felt this sense of foreboding, something was definitely amiss.
Perhaps the SDS had already set a trap ahead, lying in wait.
With this in mind, Puck couldn't help but speak up. "I think we should proceed with more caution."
To his surprise, however, Lana didn't even acknowledge his words.
No—she outright ignored him, not even sparing him a glance.
'Damn it, I definitely spoke just now!' Puck's eyes burned with frustration.
In his view, no matter how influential Lana's background might be, could it really compare to his own?
Together with Emilia, they were practically the equivalent of two Top Tier Class Demigods.
Even if Lana's family had numerous Class holders, none were Top Tier, let alone Demigods.
Otherwise, the Desire Faction wouldn't have previously sworn allegiance to Aya Tokoyogi.
'Those old fools in the Desire Faction probably thought that since Aya Tokoyogi ascended to Demigod status so quickly, they could too. Have they already deluded themselves into being Demigod candidates? How dare they look down on a Top Tier Class holder?'
'A bunch of blind old fools...' Puck cursed inwardly and was about to voice his concerns to Lana again when—
Suddenly, that familiar chill ran down his spine once more.
The same foreboding sensation he'd felt earlier about the Hidden Management Department's trap.
And this time, the source felt dangerously close.
Realising this, Puck turned his head—only to meet Echidna's gleeful, smiling face.
'This woman...' Puck's mouth opened, but no sound came out. His feline features froze in place.
Despite Echidna being only a Hero Rank and a High Tier Class holder, she had somehow suppressed Puck, a Top Tier Class being, rendering him completely mute.
The reason for this inversion of hierarchy...
'A master-servant contract...' A wave of dread washed over Puck. 'When did I ever form a contract with Echidna? Why don't I remember any of this?'
'And why is Echidna stopping me from warning Lana? What exactly is this woman plotting?'
As Puck frantically combed through his memories, trying to recall when this contract was established—
Lana stood up and issued a stern command:
"Begin. The hunt belongs to us witches!"