Exploration

"Master, should we go over and take a look?" Seeing the boy's "as I expected" expression, Kushida couldn't help but ask.

"That might be nice~ I actually find the opponent's methods quite nostalgic."

"Hehe~"

As he spoke, Rinya, eyes filled with contemplation, had already brought Kushida to a corner where they could watch the office of Chabashira from a distance.

"Eh~ Master, shouldn't we get closer to listen?" Kushida asked, looking a bit puzzled.

"No, if we get close, we lose~" Rinya's gaze flickered.

"Is that so..."

Seeing Kushida wearing a confused expression but feeling too embarrassed to ask, Rinya couldn't help but chuckle as he explained.

"Think about it carefully. After I disrupted the last riot plan orchestrated by the person using hypnosis, do you really think they would act so blatantly again?"

"So, Master, you mean..." The girl, seemingly beginning to understand, asked with curiosity.

"The other party is just trying to test us right now." A playful glint appeared on Rinya's face.

Seeing that the girl beside him still looked half-confused, Rinya smiled and didn't mind.

Thinking that he had some free time today, he wanted to put on a show of walking right into the trap for the opponent.

"Reminding him that I've truly arrived—I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing how he reacts."

After a quick, quiet phone call, a boy who looked like he hadn't fully woken up yet soon appeared in the hallway on the other side, yawning and walking toward Chabashira's office in a daze.

"Eh, isn't that Kitatori? Why would he be here?" Kushida asked, her expression filled with confusion.

"Perhaps he's as curious as we are~" Rinya's eyes brightened slightly.

Meanwhile, Kitatori, who had received the call without knowing the specifics, was walking with light, airy steps and reached the door of Chabashira's office in no time.

But just as he crouched down and began to press his ear against the door, he couldn't help but curse in his heart, feeling completely distracted.

"That damn bastard, ruining my beautiful afternoon nap just to make me help him eavesdrop."

"He's too cowardly to do such a small thing himself, just a weakling who only knows how to threaten others."

However, despite his grumbling, Kitatori was so caught up in his own venting that he didn't notice that shortly after he crouched down, a continuous alarm began to blare throughout the entire second-deck cabin.

By the time Kitatori panicked and wanted to make a run for it, the only two escape routes had already been blocked by security guards who had swarmed in from both sides.

Such speed, such clear intent.

The feeling of it made one think at first glance that it had all been arranged in advance.

Unfortunately for Kitatori, who was now surrounded, he was in no state to notice any of this.

Watching the cold-faced security guards closing in from both sides, Kitatori looked completely bewildered: "Wait—what is going on here?"

"Student, may I ask what you are doing here?" The tall, thin man in the lead didn't answer him, but instead stepped forward and asked with a stern look.

"Uh..."

Facing the immense pressure of the surrounding security guards, the naturally timid Kitatori panicked and quickly tried to explain with a smile.

"Hehe, well... I was just passing by."

"Yes, I just happened to stop here to tie my shoelace. Is there a problem?"

Catching sight of a loose lace on his shoe, Kitatori felt as if he had been granted a reprieve and hurriedly began to fabricate a story based on that excuse...

However, after hearing this, the tall, thin man's face showed that he didn't believe a word of it.

"Hmph, I think you have ulterior motives."

"Take him to the security office on the first deck and keep him under observation for a few days."

With that, he waved his hand, ready to have his men drag him away.

"Hey, wait, wait."

"Are you people even being reasonable?"

Seeing that they were actually serious, Kitatori felt an inexplicable sense of grievance.

"I've already explained myself, why are you still arresting me?"

"Come on, even if I were eavesdropping, it shouldn't be enough for this, right?"

Hearing this, the tall, thin man waved his hand, still having his men seize him, before replying: "You're right, it's normal for students to be curious and eavesdrop occasionally, but in your case..."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning icy: "Why didn't you admit to eavesdropping at the start, but instead chose to hide it? I knew your motives were impure. I guessed right—take him away!"

"What the hell? Are you kidding me? Are you security guards crazy?"

"Insulting an officer, that's an additional charge."

"Damn it."

As he was dragged further and further away, Kitatori finally realized why that guy Rinya didn't come himself—he had been lured into a trap.

But it was too late to think about it now.

"I'm definitely going to file a complaint against you all, just you wait!"

"Master, Kitatori-kun, he..."

Witnessing all of this, Kushida felt a surge of surprise in her heart, yet she couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for him.

"It's fine, he might be released in a little while," Rinya said, though his gaze remained fixed like a torch on the room of Chabashira's office.

"Is that so? That would be wonderful~" Upon hearing this, although Kushida felt puzzled, she trusted her master's judgment.

"Slurp~"

"That's the sound of tea..."

Just then, Rinya suddenly whispered to himself.

Hearing this, Kushida, who once again failed to understand the meaning, felt increasingly useless; at this moment, a trace of morbid, violent aura began to emerge, strand by strand, in her eyes.

Of course, she did not notice it herself...

After a short while, Rinya calmly withdrew his gaze, then said with a faint, enigmatic smile: "Heh~ let's go, there's no point in staying here anymore."

"Did you discover something, Master?"

"Of course~"

"This so-called lecture is, I suspect, nothing more than a performance by the person controlling Chabashira, using her hands to intentionally engage in some polite small talk with them."

"Then is he doing this just to pull the wool over everyone's eyes?" Kushida's voice suddenly became sharp and quick.

Hearing this, Rinya sensed something unusual and glanced at her, but he didn't mind, simply smiling back: "Perhaps we'll know the result by tonight~"

"Are you saying he will take action tonight?" Kushida's eyes turned cold and piercing.

Hearing this, Rinya couldn't help but say with deep meaning: "Truly smart people never choose to strike passively."

"So you think that by orchestrating such a purposeful probe, he really hasn't laid the groundwork for something else?"

"You... are you saying that guy will appear in the rooms of the people called from each class today?" Kushida suddenly thought of this possibility.

"Perhaps."

"But let's get one thing straight: we are only going to watch the show, so don't you dare go and mess things up for him."

"Otherwise~" Rinya suddenly looked at Kushida, the warning in his eyes self-evident.

"Tch, I was just asking, I have no interest in that." Saying this, the girl crossed her arms and turned her head away indifferently.