The exclusive Raythean Industries helicopter circled in the air.
Everyone present had at least seen the 'wider world,' so they weren't shocked by a 'small' helicopter, at most sighing internally.
It's great to be rich.
But Ifrit was different.
She seemed to have arrived at Rhine Lab at a very young age.
What followed was endless research.
Growing up, she rarely even left the laboratory she was confined to. Even when she did get out, it was by sneaking out on her own. Needless to say, she hadn't seen much of anything else.
Ifrit's worldview was in a completely untended state. She looked to be over ten years old, but she was completely illiterate. Although Ifrit said Silence would teach her, in reality... Ifrit barely knew a few characters. For example, if you asked Ifrit to write Silence's name, she would dither and struggle, unable to write it.
Without systematic learning and education, and even with nutritional issues.
The current Ifrit was generally below her peers in terms of intelligence, knowledge, personality, and even physical development, only comparable to a child between the ages of 6 and 8.
How pitiful...
Ifrit spent the entire helicopter ride looking up and down.
She kept trying to figure out how such a heavy chunk of iron could fly.
Everyone avoided talking in front of Ifrit, instead whispering amongst themselves behind her back.
For the most part.
After hearing Lucas's description, Jessica and the other two understood the situation.
The more they understood.
The more their hearts ached for Ifrit.
Alone and helpless.
Used as a test subject in the heartless Rhine Lab, and the guardian she trusted so much was actually the head of the entire project.
So cruel...
Even Franka couldn't help but curse the darkness of Rhine Lab.
The helicopter landed on the helipad of the high-end residential complex where Jessica lived.
As they disembarked, Lucas couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
No wonder in many of the animes he watched in his past life, the protagonist's team had to have a top-tier tycoon. He didn't understand it back then, but he got it now. Money really can help the protagonist solve any problem except for saving the world... and then the final task of saving the world is left to the protagonist.
Otherwise.....
If there's an enemy somewhere far away.
The protagonist can't just ride a bicycle there, right? That would be so uncool.
Everyone returned to Jessica's home together.
Franka and Liskarm, the two seniors, were already completely at ease. Liskarm could at least restrain herself, but Franka had always been carefree. She pushed open the door to Jessica's house and did a spinning dive right onto the living room sofa.
However.
Only after entering did they realize there was a guest.
In the living room.
Miss Penguin seemed to be chatting with Ceobe about something, teasing Ceobe until she was a flustered mess.
"Mag..."
"Big Sister Maggie!!"
Ifrit's eyes lit up upon seeing Magallan. She dashed over and threw herself at Magallan. Fortunately, Magallan had taken off her Rhine Lab 'steel plate' utility suit today and was wearing her usual casual clothes. Otherwise, Ifrit would have probably slammed her head into a steel plate again.
Magallan's eyes widened in shock.
It took her several seconds of Ifrit nuzzling into her arms before she finally reacted.
"Ifrit!!!"
Magallan shouted.
"Ifrit, how did you get here??"
"Huh?!!"
Magallan was utterly dumbfounded.
She never would have imagined seeing Ifrit in Jessica's villa.
This isn't good...
Franka and Liskarm frowned simultaneously.
Ifrit seemed to be a very important test subject for Rhine Lab. Transferring her to Jessica's villa without anyone knowing was one thing, but... Magallan happened to be here, and Magallan was from Rhine Lab.
If they just let her leave...
Thinking of this.
Franka's gaze gradually turned 'nuclear.'
"Miss McDonald's, we have a question for you."
Looking at Franka's 'nuclear' gaze.
Miss Penguin's heart skipped a beat. She somewhat regretted her decision to come over to Jessica's place to hang out today out of boredom.
Ifrit is here...
Could it be!!
Miss Penguin seemed to realize she had come at the wrong time and had seen something she shouldn't have.
Jessica gave Ceobe a few simple instructions, asking her to play with Ifrit.
And indeed, two girls with similar mental ages were the most likely to become friends. After just a few sentences, the two of them were running around the villa, seemingly having become friends.
Ceobe even took out her treasured durian-flavored honey cake to treat her new 'good friend', although... the honey cake had gone moldy.
"What test subject?"
Magallan was confused. She looked at them, not knowing what they were talking about.
"You don't know about Ifrit's situation? Miss Magallan."
Seeing that Magallan showed no signs of lying, Lucas became even more puzzled.
"I do know."
Magallan said frankly, "Isn't Ifrit being treated for her illness at Rhine Lab?"
"Treated?"
"Then the Flame Demon inside her can't be explained."
After 'interrogating' Magallan, they pieced together from her fragmented words that Magallan was just an innocent bystander, completely unaware of the situation. Of course, this was the best-case scenario.
"Wait!"
Magallan suddenly shuddered.
"Mr. Reeve, did you say Flame Demon?!!!"
From Magallan's expression, everyone knew she seemed to be privy to some inside information.
"This is just a rumor I heard, okay? There's a little-known project within Rhine Lab. It's usually disguised as a normal project to deceive people, but it's secretly named the Flame Demon Project. Hiss!! Don't tell me Ifrit is!!"
"A legend?"
Franka retorted.
"Aren't you from Rhine Lab? Why are you talking about legends?"
Miss Penguin clicked her tongue, speechless.
"Rhine Lab is huge, with ten major sections. I'm just a humble explorer in the [Science Investigation Section]. Our section is considered a niche department in Rhine Lab. How can we compare to the five lofty academic research sections? Besides, each section is more like a different company. We're really not familiar with each other."
"But, more than that, I'm curious... how did you find Ifrit and even bring her back? I remember Ifrit is supposed to be locked up in a lab all day, isn't she?"
At this point.
Everyone turned their gazes to Lucas.
Lucas sighed and explained.
He said that he actually had many soul fragments, and one of them happened to be in the beast-bone necklace Ifrit wore.
The more Lucas spoke.
The more stunned Magallan became.
By the end of it.
Miss Penguin looked like a deflated balloon, slumped in her chair, her eyes lifeless.
"Huh?"
"Waaah!! I can't believe I just gave away the only person in the world who ever called me by my correct name!!!"
"?"
"Ifrit's necklace... I bought it for two-fifty from a stall on my way back from Sargon... Now I'm the clown, I'm the real idiot!"
Miss Penguin wailed, lamenting her misfortune.
Jessica, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he wasn't with Medivh.
Otherwise, she'd probably get jealous.
Although there was one in Ursus, that one seemed to be an old man. And while there was a girl named Alina, she was too far away for the jealousy to have any bite. The new one was just Ifrit, a child. A child is fine, it doesn't matter.
Magallan lunged to grab Lucas, but her hand passed right through his body.
"Almighty Mr. Reeve, where are your other soul fragments? I'll go buy them right now!"
Franka slowly raised her hand.
"Get me one too."
Jessica protectively grabbed Lucas's hand and took a careful step back.
Jessica was even already muttering to herself, planning to spend money to find a way to bring all of Mr. Reeve's fragments scattered across the world back...
Ifrit and Ceobe were having a great time playing together.
Meanwhile, the adults were discussing what to do about Ifrit's future.
"Why don't we have her live here with me, like Ceobe?"
Jessica suggested.
As a rich girl, she didn't have to worry about one more mouth to feed. Besides, having Ifrit with her would be like having another Mr. Reeve by her side, right?
"But.."
Magallan said slowly.
"The Flame Demon Project is of utmost importance to Rhine Lab... it's a project with an almost absolute top-secret classification... With Ifrit missing, those directors won't let it go easily. Even high-ranking military officials might get personally involved... after all, the Flame Demon Project is a really big deal... I'm worried it will bring you trouble, Jessica. Although as the heiress of Raythean Industries, you're certainly not afraid, but... it's not good for you either way. After all, even though Rhine Lab is smaller than your Raythean Industries, it's... still a corporate giant."
Jessica was also conflicted.
Although she was the heiress of Raythean Industries, she didn't want to cause trouble for her parents because of her... moreover... a huge enterprise like Raythean Industries couldn't possibly be monolithic. Other factions were naturally eyeing the chairman's position. The internal structure and backstabbing within such a large company were no less complex than a small country's.
For a moment.
Everyone fell silent.
Only Lucas looked at them in confusion.
"Why do you all think... Ifrit would bring trouble to Raythean Industries?"
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at Lucas.
"Raythean Industries and Rhine Lab are competitors. And what is Ifrit? She's equivalent to a 'nuclear weapon'!! Think about it, Jessica stole her competitor's 'nuclear weapon' and brought it home. What does that mean? Shouldn't everyone at Raythean Industries be celebrating with gongs and drums?"
The women's eyes widened.
They really hadn't thought that far ahead, only considering Rhine Lab's retaliation and completely overlooking the bigger picture. Thinking about it that way... it's true!
After a final discussion and decision.
Jessica decided not to contact her family for the time being and let Ifrit stay at her villa temporarily. She couldn't bear to throw such a cute and pitiful child back into the lion's den. It was also a good opportunity for Ceobe to have a playmate; their mental ages were similar, so they could get along well.
That evening.
Ifrit was indeed missing Silence and Saria a little, even asking Lucas to take her back to Rhine Lab.
But with Magallan's persuasion, the temptation of food, and the allure of the various entertainment facilities in the villa, the playful Ifrit gradually dismissed the idea of going home.
Magallan also stayed at Jessica's place that night. After some discussion, it was decided that she would act as a 'spy' to sound out Silence and Saria.
Because..
Magallan could never believe...
That Silence would let Ifrit be a subject in a cruel experiment.
——————
Next day, morning, at a top-level meeting in Rhine Lab.
The usually assertive Director Saria's expression was icy cold. The other directors all bowed their heads and said nothing.
"Parvis! You arbitrarily changed the project lead, resulting in the loss of 'Ifrit' and years of Rhine Lab's research. Director-General, I request that Parvis be temporarily suspended for observation!"
Saria turned her head to look at the Director-General seated at the head of the table.
She was different from the other directors.
The others always showed a degree of fear towards the Director-General.
But Saria looked at him as an equal, and although her words were a request, they sounded more like a demand...
The Director-General shook his head, signaling Saria to sit down, then turned to look at Parvis with a playful expression.
"Director Parvis, I'll give you three days to find the test subject. Otherwise... even I might not be able to save your position..."
After the meeting...
The Structural Section Director's face was ashen. He looked at the chief of his section's special operations team, wanting to slap him but restraining himself.
"It's been a day!! A whole day! Not a single trace of the test subject!! She couldn't have just flown away in a helicopter, could she?!"
Parvis roared.
"Where's our intelligence network? Isn't our Rhine Lab intelligence network supposed to be the second-best in all of Columbia? How come we can't find a single test subject after all this time!!"
Just as Parvis was losing his temper.
A squad captain from the operations team ran in.
"Report, Director, we have news..."
Parvis's expression softened slightly.
"Speak."
However..
The captain seemed hesitant, and his expression gave Parvis a bad feeling.
"Didn't you hear me? Speak!!"
"Director... we know where the test subject went, but... the destination might be a bit...."
"Oh?"
"By reviewing surveillance and using facial recognition, we've tentatively identified the three women who escaped with the test subject yesterday."
"Franka, female, Blacksteel Worldwide elite Operator, B.P.R.S specialist."
"Liskarm, female, Blacksteel Worldwide elite Operator, Operator Franka's partner."
"Jessica, female, Blacksteel Worldwide regular Operator, assigned to Franka's squad."
Parvis clicked his tongue and said disdainfully.
"Three mercenaries from Blacksteel Worldwide got you this scared?! Have you been idle for so long that you've grown timid, captain?"
"No... Director!"
The captain quickly said.
"It's mainly that Operator Jessica. Her identity is... unusual..."
Parvis: "How unusual? Is she the daughter of a Columbian councilman?! A councilman's daughter would become a mercenary? Pfft...."
"Not a councilman's daughter..."
"She's... the daughter of the chairman of Raythean Industries. According to our investigation, the test subject is currently in Jessica's villa."
*Clatter*...
Parvis, who had been leisurely picking up his teacup, lost his grip, and the cup fell to the floor.
After a brief moment of shock.
Parvis finally recovered. His expression shifted unpredictably before he immediately gave an order.
"Mobilize the troops!! Go steal her back! Before the test subject is sent to Raythean Industries headquarters! Find a way to steal her back! Remember, do not harm the Raythean Industries heiress. Just knocking her out is fine..."
"That other guy can be used too. Do whatever it takes to steal her back!"