(It never said Mina was involved. It only told Big Whale to check whether Mina had any secret communication channels.)
Asaha did not continue chatting with Xiao Ran for long. After a preliminary inspection, the materials Xiao Ran had given him were sent to Akatsuki Works. How Akatsuki Works would make use of them next was something Asaha needed to decide. Asaha himself also had many matters to consider, so after having lunch with Xiao Ran and the three girls, he left. He had them taken to another residence not far from the Asaha estate—a luxurious seaside mansion overlooking the coast.
Xiao Ran was actually quite familiar with this place. It was where Cagalli had lived after moving out of the Asaha estate. It could be considered another residence of the Asaha family.
During lunch, Xiao Ran also met Cagalli. She was very curious about the sudden appearance of a Masked Man and three girls in her home, but she behaved like a proper young lady, polite in every way. Still, the way she looked at Xiao Ran and the three girls was rather strange. She frowned from time to time, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Both Asaha and Xiao Ran knew that Cagalli's quiet demeanor was nothing more than an act. After all, this Cagalli was meeting Xiao Ran for the first time. She had no idea who he was or what status he held. But even someone as foolish as Cagalli knew she ought to behave herself somewhat when Lord Asaha had personally accompanied him for lunch.
For the next several days, Xiao Ran remained in the residence Asaha had prepared for them and did not wander around. He did not even see Asaha again. Cagalli, however, came over several times. Asaha had probably asked