Early morning, May 17th.
Just past 8 a.m.
Dressed in the newly tailored black uniform of the Hidden Management Department, the strikingly poised Miss Yukino Yukinoshita was currently feeling deeply troubled.
The source of her distress was naturally the Supreme Chairwoman seated in Luo Shu's usual spot.
And the root cause lay in the document she had just received.
Having reviewed the contents once, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but ask:
"Chairwoman, this is clearly a trap, isn't it?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the document in her hand.
The content was actually quite simple—merely a routine report.
The field investigators from the Operations Department detected anomalies at the Wilton Hotel and submitted a report.
With just a bit more effort from the Intelligence Department staff and further SDS investigation, it wouldn't be difficult to determine that Luo Shu, Director of the Hidden Management Department, who had checked into the Wilton Hotel the previous night, was currently trapped there by unknown enemies.
However, while the intelligence came in around 7 am, Luo Shu had already reported his safety at approximately 4 am.
The information about Luo Shu being at Wilton Hotel was clearly outdated for the SDS by this point.
Hadn't everyone seen the Supreme Chairwoman descend from the heavens to oversee the headquarters of the Hidden Management Department personally?
Deliberately timing the delivery of Luo Shu's trapped status report first thing in the morning - this was obviously an enemy trap, wasn't it?
Yet despite being a trap, why was the Chairwoman before them so determined to step right into it?
"It is indeed a trap."
Lacus tilted her head slightly and smiled at Yukino Yukinoshita:
"Yukino-san, would you like some black tea and cookies? I've specially adjusted the cookie ingredients to be lower in calories. Care to try?"
'This really isn't the time for tea and snacks...' Yukino's cheek twitched slightly at the suggestion.
With a sigh, Yukino complied with Lacus's request, transmitting the documents in her hands to the Divine Pantheon before forwarding them to Origami Tobiichi. Only then did she look up and address Lacus:
"While I don't understand why you're proceeding despite knowing this is a trap, I've sent the documents to Miss Origami as you requested."
"Barring unforeseen circumstances, she should immediately mobilise to rescue the Director."
Among the Familia's demigods, Origami Tobiichi had arrived relatively late yet cared most deeply about Luo Shu.
Given her personality, she would eagerly undertake such a mission even without explanation.
Since Origami had already been exposed to the outside world, Lacus had assigned her directly.
"I have complete confidence in Origami. But that's not what's important right now."
Maintaining her smile, Lacus elegantly sipped her tea before continuing:
"I've brought down a batch of new equipment from Copernicus this time. Have Chisato and Takina collect them later."
"Additionally, Yukino, please notify Familia members at the garrison and ask if they'd like to participate in armament testing. Willing participants should complete voluntary application forms for the trials."
"Armament testing?" Yukino showed surprise at this.
Meeting her puzzled expression, Lacus smiled and explained:
"It's field testing for Skill Demon Gods and combat evaluation of Demigod Armament IS units."
"Dr Shinonono has already calibrated all the armament parameters - only the testing phase remains."
After a thoughtful pause, Lacus added:
"Considering the energy requirements of these armaments, I intend to restrict participation to Elite Rank or above Familia members. Though for the IS units, Hero Rank members would be preferable."
Yukino's expression turned slightly peculiar at this.
While that might be the official stance, did the Familia even have any recruits below Elite Rank these days?
The latest SDS-developed Adjuster Drugs, when used without regard for cost, could reliably enhance humans to baseline Elite Rank capability at a minimum; their life tier just might not reach Elite standards.
As the true core members of the SDS, which Familia member hasn't undergone the most cutting-edge adjustments?
Apart from the three newcomers who joined at dawn, aren't every Familia member rated at least Elite Rank in combat?
Moreover, Yukino Yukinoshita recalled that the Skill Demon Gods were previously the SDS's main individually developed armaments, each possessing Hero Rank combat capabilities.
But... what about the Demigod Armament IS? The minimum requirement for users is Hero Rank—could it really have been developed to counter Demigods?
With Familia and the new armaments combined... Yukino couldn't help but hesitate.
"There are quite a few in Familia who meet the requirements. If they all agree, wouldn't our combat power become oversaturated?"
Faced with Yukino's question, Lacus smiled.
"Don't worry. This time, I've brought enough armaments to meet the entire Familia's needs."
'No, that's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried there won't be enough enemies to go around...'
Yukino fell silent for a moment before a strange thought crossed her mind.
If there were no current pioneers of the Death Flame Sorcerer Class in the Familia, would Chairwoman Lacus have wanted to test that Class's capabilities too?
Just then, Lacus casually added:
"Oh, have Natsuki Minamiya and Aya prepare to expand the space. Otherwise, if the testing area is too small, we might not fully assess the armaments' performance."
"Also, have Honjo prepare some pages from Raziel as Possession mediums."
"The Divine Pantheon has just updated its Faith and Possession functions. If conditions permit, testing them wouldn't hurt."
Hearing this, Yukino suddenly understood something and hesitantly asked:
"Um... Chairwoman, the testing location wouldn't happen to be our garrison, would it?"
Lacus smiled without answering.
Seeing this, Yukino immediately grasped the situation.
'Good grief, the enemies actually plan to attack the Hidden Management Department's garrison?'
'Where do they even get the nerve?'
At this thought, Yukino almost felt sorry for the Desire Faction.
'Why on earth did you have to restrict Director Luo Shu?'
'With the Director away, Chairwoman Lacus immediately turned the battlefield into a testing ground!'
The thought of the witches from the Desire Faction breaking into the Hidden Management Department's garrison, facing the encirclement of Skill Demon Gods and Demigod Armament IS units while also guarding against the coordinated attacks of multiple Demigods stationed there... made Yukino Yukinoshita pity them.
What exactly were these witches after?
Wouldn't it have been better not to restrain Luo Shu and let them fight properly...
At least Director Luo Shu wouldn't think of using the witches as test subjects for weapons...
With this thought, Yukino sighed. As she drafted Lacus's orders for mass distribution, she reported:
"As requested, the draft has been sent to your private account."
Hearing this, Lacus opened the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System and reviewed the notification draft Yukino had prepared. After reading it, she pondered and said:
"If possible, add a reminder at the end of the notice asking Familia members to capture enemies alive whenever possible. If that's not feasible, please try to preserve complete corpses."
Hearing Lacus's words, Yukino felt slightly relieved. Indeed, this leader still had kindness at her core! Was this to be expected from the chairwoman who founded the SDS, the secret organisation that changed the world?
"After all, Tabane Shinonono isn't particularly willing to accept corpses as research material."
Yukino's expression stiffened. She looked up at Lacus's still radiant, smiling face and felt a chill run down her spine:
"I understand. I'll notify them accordingly."
She took back her previous thought - Luo Shu had long devoured this woman's kindness! She was even more ruthless than Haruno Yukinoshita!!
As Yukino nervously excused herself to make preparations, Lacus sat in Luo Shu's office chair, resting her chin on one hand while twirling a pen he'd used. She murmured to herself with some frustration:
"The opposition... seems rather foolish. I can't find any sense of worthy adversaries at all."
"Could their commander truly be a novice?"
Lacus appeared to be mildly perplexed.
...
May 17th, morning.
A residential building in Bunkyo Ward.
The witch Lana, who had just received news, showed a surprised expression:
"The Hidden Management Department is mobilising so quickly?"
After saying this, Lana curled her lips and remarked playfully:
"It seems they're even more impatient than I imagined!"