(Heartfelt thanks to 'Xing Ming Qing Kong', 'Yunqi Qinggu', 'Gs Da Shi', 'Canglan Feixue', and 'I Am a Gentleman' for their rewards!)
"Unfortunately, I don't have that much time to play with you..."
A nightmare-like voice forcefully drowned out Westcott's words, echoing through the air of the entire luxurious room.
The moment they heard that voice, Westcott's gaze sharpened and Ellen's pupils shrank. The two abruptly turned toward its source, and their expressions immediately changed.
At the doorway stood Wu Yan, dressed in black shirt and pants beneath a black coat, with black hair and red eyes, his arms folded across his chest and an inscrutable smile on his face. Beside him stood Tobiichi Origami, expressionless, her shoulder-length hair stirring without wind. As they watched Westcott and Ellen, the temperature in the room seemed to plunge to freezing point.
"Isaac!"
Ellen was the first to react. She leaped in front of Westcott, golden radiance flashing around her as her personal CR-Unit—Pandora Gear—appeared and covered her body.
Drawing the sword-shaped device from behind her, she issued an immediate command in her mind. A laser blade shot from its hilt, brimming with magical power, and Ellen pointed it at Wu Yan with utter vigilance in her eyes.
"You... when did you..."
"Don't be so nervous..." Wu Yan wore the half-smiling expression Ellen feared most as he spread his hands.
"I only just arrived. I don't have the bad habit of eavesdropping on people's conversations, though I can more or less guess what you were talking about..."
"You think I'd believe that?!" Rather than relaxing upon hearing Wu Yan's words, Ellen glared at him even more furiously.
"If you hadn't been following me from the very beginning, how would you have known we were here?!" As though recalling something, Ellen's eyes suddenly widened.