Aya Tokoyogi, who had suddenly appeared, indifferently stopped the two, though she didn't expect them to cease fighting. She simply stated:
"Luo Shu sent word. He wants you to come with me and bring her back."
After speaking, Aya Tokoyogi glanced at Emilia before adding coolly: "The attackers have all been dealt with. There's no need to keep up the act."
With those words, Aya Tokoyogi said nothing, yet seemed to say everything.
At the very least, though Emilia didn't understand the situation, she chose to stop resisting.
Seeing Emilia's stance, Kotori Itsuka clicked her tongue in annoyance and said:
"Honestly, I was about to win, but Luo Shu told me to stand down."
"Whatever, the fight's over anyway. I can't be bothered with this anymore. You deal with this little white-haired brat, Aya."
As she finished speaking, Kotori Itsuka's figure transformed into a blaze of fiery light and vanished from the two girls' and the cat's view.
Witnessing Kotori's 'thoughtfulness', Puck suddenly wondered if he and Emilia had forgotten to gather intel on Aya Tokoyogi's status within the SDS.
Wasn't Aya Tokoyogi supposed to be imprisoned, even experimented on?
This situation didn't seem to match that at all!
Meanwhile, seeing Kotori leave, Emilia immediately turned to Aya Tokoyogi and called out softly:
"Teacher..."
"Come with me. I'll take you for treatment. I'll explain everything else to you later." Aya Tokoyogi turned to leave as she spoke.
Emilia responded loudly: "Yes, Teacher!"
...
Just as the Hidden Management Department's garrison began wrapping up its operations...
In the orbital space above Italy.
Massive green-skinned alloy pods were rapidly descending towards the city below amidst crimson flames.
In the command centre of the Space City Copernicus.
Utaha Kasumigaoka, dressed in a white senior commander's uniform, stared somewhat stiffly at the densely packed screens before her while listening to the busy communications staff reporting to her in turn.
"Communications normal. Drop armour operational status good."
"D1-D3 units currently descending towards Milan at Mach 5. Estimated arrival over target in two minutes."
"D4-D5 units approaching designated orbit. Estimated commencement of orbital descent on Munich in one minute."
"D6-D7 units nearing projected orbit. Estimated commencement of orbital descent on London in thirty seconds."
Hearing these reports, Utaha Kasumigaoka scratched at her tied-up black ponytail, cleared her throat, and asked Andrew beside her:
"Are the IS units all prepared? Have our Familia comrades established remote links?"
"Have we verified all the stronghold intel extracted from those witches' memories?"
Seeing Utaha's nervousness, Andrew couldn't help but chuckle reassuringly:
"Everything's ready. We're just waiting for your orders now. Don't stress too much, kid. If Lacus put you in charge of this, it means it's nothing major. Just relax."
Hearing this, Utaha closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then commanded the staff below:
"Then I declare, Operation Football officially begins!"
"Wipe out every single witch stronghold across Europe!!"
"Yes, sir!!" xN
...
While Copernicus conducted its orbital descent operation to purge the Desire Faction's European strongholds...
In the underground fifth-floor medical facility of the Hidden Management Department.
Emilia lay inside what looked like a sci-fi movie nutrient pod, a detector attached to her head, staring bewildered at the expressionless Aya Tokoyogi before her:
"So... Teacher, you actually stayed here voluntarily?"
"The Hidden Management Department has something I need."
Aya's reply was flat, almost cold:
"Moreover, I have no interest in being those demons' lapdog."
Hearing this, Puck, floating mid-air, couldn't help interjecting:
"That still doesn't explain why you didn't send any messages back?"
Aya merely responded icily:
"In your recollection, did I truly not send any messages?"
At this, Emilia and Puck exchanged glances before exclaiming simultaneously:
"Echidna!"
In their memories, within the Desire Faction, only that woman would do something so underhanded.
Only that woman would deliberately intercept Aya's letters to Emilia, intentionally creating this situation.
"But why would she do this?"
Puck crossed his arms, his feline face full of incomprehension.
Just then, the door opened as a gentle female voice spoke:
"Likely to divert attention."
Hearing this, Emilia and Puck turned towards the doorway to see a pink-haired beauty in a white sundress approaching with graceful steps, her face perpetually adorned with a soft smile.
Emilia recognised her - or rather, few on the mystic side wouldn't.
The founder of the SDS, scornfully dubbed 'Enchantress' by Truth Astronomy's chairman, a prominent figure of the mystic side named Lacus Clyne.
One could say she was the number one enemy of Emilia's organisation.
Yet now, such an adversary stood before Emilia, leaving the girl somewhat unsettled.
"How are you feeling, Miss Emilia?"
Lacus approached Emilia, asking gently while offering a small apology:
"My apologies. Kotori's still rather young and acts somewhat recklessly. I'd assumed the more level-headed Kurumi would be the one receiving you."
Hearing Lacus describe Kurumi Tokisaki as 'level-headed' even made Aya raise an eyebrow nearby.
Though Emilia didn't notice her teacher's reaction, instead looking at Lacus somewhat stiffly:
"I suppose I'm... alright?"
"We shouldn't describe such matters with 'suppose'."
Lacus sighed softly, as if confronting another troublesome child.
She turned to Kanae Kocho, operating the equipment:
"Just to be safe, let's give her a full examination. Therapeutic materials can be extracted from the Hidden Management Zone."
"Oh, and according to Aya, there's another personality within this child."
"For safety, administer 3-11 'Slumber Blossom' to let the anomalous personality sleep awhile."
"Understood, Madam Chairwoman." Kanae nodded immediately in acknowledgement.
Having made arrangements, Lacus turned back to Emilia with a smile:
"Rest and recover here for now. There's no hurry to leave until you've healed properly."
"Oh, and remember to delete the treatment records yourself before you leave. After all, some things are better handled personally for peace of mind."
At this point, Lacus couldn't help but think of Luo Shu. If it were him, he'd probably already be suspecting that someone might be collecting his bodily data for nefarious purposes, wouldn't he?
The thought of Luo Shu's suspicious expression made Lacus smile knowingly.
Yet faced with Lacus's gentle demeanour, Emilia wore a peculiar expression.
Though it might sound a bit harsh, weren't she and Lacus supposed to be enemies before?
Being so concerned about an enemy like this—is that really appropriate?
And even reminding her to destroy the treatment records to prevent bodily data leaks... Are you sure you know what you're saying?
Feeling extremely puzzled, Emilia glanced at Lacus, unsure how to address the matter, and could only change the subject:
"Earlier, you mentioned that Echidna was using a diversion—what exactly did you mean by that?"
Hearing Emilia's question, Lacus didn't hide anything and explained with a smile:
"Just now, the SDS branch in Kyoto sent a report."
As she spoke, the curve of Lacus's lips deepened:
"A serious collapse accident occurred at the Onmyou Agency headquarters in Shugakuin."