Could We Be Crashing?

"Everyone can... become light... I can too..." Megumi Iruma stared blankly, gripping the Spark Lens tightly, her expression dazed.

After a moment, she recovered from her trance. Seeing Duke in front of her desk, her pupils contracted as she abruptly stood up. "Officer Duke, why are you here?"

"Captain, what are you talking about? Haven't I been here the whole time? I finished my mission and was reporting to you and requesting to return to the team. I've already read all 3,000 words of my report!" Duke looked puzzled. Watching Megumi Iruma with concern, he asked, "Captain, you don't look well. Are you sick?"

"It's nothing. I... I was just... thinking about something else and got distracted!" Without a word, Megumi Iruma put the Spark Lens into the drawer and pretended to take out a document to cover it up.

"Are you sure? Your face keeps going pale, then green... Should I call the medical staff to take a look?"

"It's fine. I probably didn't sleep well last night! Officer Duke, let's get back to the point. Your mission is classified, so there's no need to tell me more. Just report directly to Director Sawai." Megumi Iruma sat back down, crossing her hands on the desk as her expression returned to calm.

"Then if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first," Duke said.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"You too, Captain. Don't always stay up late working overtime, or us team members will feel ashamed." With a smile in his eyes, Duke turned and left.

Watching Duke leave, Megumi Iruma let out a breath of relief. She opened the drawer and took out the Spark Lens, saying thankfully, "Good thing Officer Duke didn't notice, or this would have been a huge problem... I wonder if he saw it. It's