The camera was ready!
After briefly agreeing on a time and place, Kiana sneaked back to her room.
Once Kiana had left, Bai Yan instinctively began giving his female superior a routine work report.
Doing so helped him think through what came next.
Strictly speaking, his influence on Kiana's growth might accelerate it, causing Otto to move up the original timeline of his plans.
For Kiana, the boost to her intelligence multiplier was simply too profitable. At this rate, he might have to make a run for it early.
First, he would give his work report, then casually—though Sister Tazi would definitely notice—mention his fear and concern about Raiden Mei, and act a little cute with Sister Rita...
In Rita's eyes, the information she and Bai Yan possessed was asymmetrical. Those expressions of concern would be magnified. She knew where the true danger lay and would therefore handle things more carefully.
Then Bai Yan saw her reply, every line brimming with gentleness.
Only after receiving Rita's soothing reassurance did Bai Yan express his determination to keep going, bid her good night, and log off.
Just as he was about to change clothes, Bai Yan remembered something.
It seemed he had not entered the Hyperdimensional Space tonight?
Better go in.
Lighting the Spiral Incense and sensing that strange feeling of eternity, he once again stepped onto the familiar ground moistened by clear water.
The water level seemed to have risen slightly, making Bai Yan frown.
At this rate, would master and disciple end up communicating while soaking in water someday?
After imagining that scene, Bai Yan's brow relaxed.
It actually seemed pretty nice. Let it rise.
Mm... huh?
Bai Yan looked up and saw Jingliu.
She wore an eyepatch and gripped an icy longsword. Her white hair hung loose and disheveled, while flecks of crimson stained the hem of her skirt and the ground at her feet.
At that moment, Jingliu gave off the feeling of having drawn her sword, looked in every direction, and found herself at a loss.
"Master, what happened to you?"
"..."
Jingliu froze for a moment, glanced around, then put away her ice sword and removed her eyepatch.
"Today, you seem to be late." She stepped forward and stared at Bai Yan.
Only then did Bai Yan understand.
If she had never met him, she could have endured the Mara-struck state until it passed. But once there was a chance to relieve it, it was hard not to become addicted.
"Something unexpected happened tonight, so I was late."
"Mm. Be more careful. Once you become stronger, you'll be able to deal with all kinds of situations."
Bai Yan did not correct her minor misunderstanding and quickly began today's swordsmanship lesson.
Jingliu had always taught diligently, but tonight she was especially serious. She even personally tested Bai Yan's practical combat ability.
That brief sparring session left Bai Yan drenched in sweat.
Meanwhile.
Just after Bai Yan was put through a brutal training session by Jingliu, Durandal went to find Ragna.
"I don't know either. His mission is completely confidential. Why not ask Rita?"
"Rita has a confidentiality obligation. After all, it's something she's in charge of."
"Uh, do you think I don't?"
"The Bishop didn't mention it, and neither did Rita."
"So little Bianca, you want to exploit a loophole?"
"No."
"I think you should wait. Maybe one day, when he has time, he'll contact you himself?"
For the first time, Durandal discovered that Ragna could brush her off too, so she left unhappily.
"Little Yan is in a bit of trouble..." Ragna muttered inwardly as she watched Durandal's retreating back.
Dumb Goose Found Out
St. Freya's new semester had fully gotten on track, and some students burdened with obvious flaws had begun having no choice but to face their difficulties.
For instance, Miss Bai Yan and Lady Kiana, who had already started taking turns serving as each other's crutch.
Any book that required thinking could deal true damage to Kiana.
Even with the motivation of having passed the A-rank exam and Bai Yan's help, Kiana was still in a state where she needed Hua Tuo to operate on her every day.
In Himeko and Theresa's eyes, the girl's changes were simply earth-shattering.
Theresa had already begun to panic.
What would she use to fulfill the promise she had made to Kiana then?
As her aunt, she could not possibly go bankrupt on credibility in less than a year, could she?
Bai Yan...
Theresa looked at the file on her desk. Even after repeatedly messing up her own hair, she still could not think of a solution.
Should she tell her not to help Kiana? Then could she still count as an elder? That would be ridiculous!
Theresa crouched on her chair, her white hair in disarray. Several buttons on her clothes had been undone, as though she could not breathe otherwise, and she clutched her head in anguish.
If Bai Yan knew she had such a side to her, his heart would already be bleeding.
Principal, this student is willing to ease your worries!
Just a few dozen photo sets, and Sigfried's whereabouts, Auntie's dignity, and her niece's trust would all be settled!
Then she could give the photo sets away as gifts. Connections and advancement would be no problem.
Once her network and position rose, there would be even more room to maneuver.
Sometimes Bai Yan felt that he truly had a talent for being a speculator.
"I'm a reseller at Schicksal."
Theresa was at her wits' end. After thinking it over, she still felt that she should speak with Bai Yan.
She would use Bai Yan's recent practical combat results as an excuse. They fluctuated between forty and fifty-nine points every time, and she could never truly reach the level of a B-rank Valkyrie.
In a sense, she was an even more troublesome problem student than Kiana.
You said you were bad at fighting, but then let me ask you: what was the point of having such high Collapse Energy resistance?
What were those battle-hardened veterans, who had low resistance yet endured Collapse corrosion year-round, supposed to think?
And what were those newcomers with poor talent, who could never break through their ceiling no matter how hard they worked, supposed to think?
Theresa's gaze became resolute.
As the principal, she had to make that child succeed!
Even if only as repayment for helping Kiana, she had to do something!
Elsewhere, taking advantage of the weekend, Bai Yan found a quiet hotel room rented by the hour and held a direct secret call with Rita.
It was all for safety, because the chances of being unexpectedly seen in the dormitory or cafeteria were too high.
"I've already gained the target's trust, and every week I have at least one opportunity to be completely alone with her...
"I haven't had a chance to approach the person in charge of the Far East branch yet, but I believe she will notice me before long..."
Besides the people he had approached, Bai Yan also reported the other intelligence he had gathered, such as the security forces and the deployment mechanisms of the Valkyrie units.
Professional, career-minded spies often did not limit their intelligence gathering to the terms of their mission. They would seek out other relevant information on their own.
Bai Yan's female superior had taken him under her wing precisely because she valued his ability to take initiative.
As for his succubus physique? It was only somewhat useful for first impressions. Women like Rita possessed an extremely high resistance to that sort of thing.
Back to the point.
Submitting a portion of the Far East branch's Valkyrie deployment mechanisms was necessary from every perspective.
When Bai Yan worked in logistics, he had once helped one of Dumb Goose's teammates by relying on his understanding of the headquarters' Valkyrie mission system.
After the mission report ended, Rita showed no intention of stopping and instead brought up another topic.
Little Yan, Lady Durandal still has not given up on finding you. You should prepare yourself mentally for that.
"I'm no longer insisting on staying undiscovered. It's just a little awkward in front of an old friend. Besides, Bianca is a sensible person. She won't easily bring her emotions into work."
"Awkward" was actually coded language, meaning that Bai Yan's identity had been exposed.
Little Yan, don't you think highly of her? Why do you keep refusing? Of course, this is only casual conversation.
Bai Yan held the phone in one hand and aimlessly flipped through the muted television channels with the other. He replied casually, "Even Sister Rita has to push herself that hard to keep up with her. It would be even harder for me, so my current position is better."
On the other end, Rita sighed inwardly.
Have you gotten used to things over there recently? For example, do you feel uncomfortable in a completely different environment?
It was still coded language, meaning "living as a girl."
"It is a little awkward, but I'll get used to it."
If anything is making you unhappy, make sure to tell me. Keeping it bottled up inside will feel terrible.
"Mm, I will."
That's good—Lady Ragna, do you have something to say to Little Yan? Mm, all right—Little Yan, Lady Ragna wants to say a few words to you.
After a stretch of distant conversation from the other side, Ragna's voice came through the receiver.
Little Yan, it's been so long since you talked to me. Have you missed me?
"Of course. Ragna is like my mother. How could I not miss you?"
What a sweet mouth. Tell me, how many have you fooled at the Far East branch?
"I haven't had time to carry out the mission, and I never fool people..."
Rita stepped behind Ragna and listened to their conversation, a faint smile appearing on her lips. She silently left the room and gently closed the door.
The instant she turned around, she met a pair of icy blue eyes.
For a moment, Rita nearly suffocated.
Durandal's forehead was lightly beaded with sweat. Her golden hair was tied into a ponytail, a sweat towel hung around her neck, and her fitted sportswear outlined her curvaceous figure.
When had she arrived?
Rita believed her earlier call would not arouse suspicion, but Ragna and coded calls... She had been careless!
As though responding to Rita's concern, Durandal stared at her and conveyed "Don't interfere" with her eyes before pressing her ear against the door.
Her expression remained cold, and it did not change after she listened in for a while.
In fact, when Ragna had blurted out "Far East branch," Durandal had already begun to form a vague suspicion.
Rita did not make a sound, because nothing she said now would help. It might even have the opposite effect.
Second by second, time passed, and Durandal showed no intention of leaving.
When she eavesdropped on the latter half of the conversation, Ragna said something unknown, and Dumb Goose's face grew darker and darker.
Finally, she stepped away from the door and took two steps back.
The next moment, the door opened.
"Rita, I'm done talking, you—uh, little Bianca..."
For the first time, Ragna felt guilty before her most outstanding student.
Durandal held out her hand, and Ragna silently placed the communicator in it.
Before you continue