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After the hearty lunch, the plates in front of the four were mostly empty.

The satisfaction brought by the food slightly diluted the tense atmosphere from the earlier intelligence analysis.

No one spoke first, simply silently enjoying this brief afterglow.

But the topic soon returned to the main track.

"So," Chisato Nishikigi wiped her mouth with a napkin, her crimson eyes sparkling as she leaned forward.

"That guy named Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, nine times out of ten, he's the 'Supreme Masterpiece' we're looking for, right?"

"For now, I can only say his suspiciousness and potential are the highest."

Walnut closed her laptop, but her fingers still habitually rested on its edge as she added rigorously.

"Even if he's ultimately proven not to be that specific 'Masterpiece,' the sheer fact that his past has been so deliberately erased—the hidden story and the forces involved behind it—are absolutely worth our deep digging. As long as we keep investigating, there will inevitably be unexpected gains."

Walnut said.

Mazumi Mami nodded and summarized, "Then, Walnut, your main task is to continue using your technical advantages to dig deeper into all information on Sakayanagi Arisu and Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, build a more detailed file, and try to track any potentially related leads."

"Understood, young master. Leave it to me."

Walnut acknowledged, putting her computer away.

"What about our mission, young master?!"

Chisato Nishikigi immediately raised her hand, like an eager student in class, and didn't forget to throw an arm around Runa Inoue's shoulder beside her.

"Runa and I have been looking forward to this for ages! We can't let Walnut hog all the glory!"

The embraced Runa Inoue stiffened slightly, but her violet eyes also showed anticipation. She gently freed herself from Chisato Nishikigi's arm and said seriously, "Though Chisato's way of expressing herself is a bit rowdy, young master, we too truly wish to share your burdens."

"Don't worry, how could I forget about you two."

Mazumi Mami smiled, his gaze sweeping over the three distinctive young women.

"Walnut's information warfare is certainly important, but we're already inside the 'battlefield' now. Network intelligence is static and lagging; it can't fully reflect the current dynamics and subtle changes."

"We need to combine it with on-site reconnaissance—use our eyes to see, our ears to hear, even our bodies to feel—to obtain the freshest, most real-time intelligence, and cross-verify it with Walnut's analysis."

Mazumi Mami said.

"Makes sense!"

Chisato Nishikigi's eyes grew even brighter. "So how do we divide the work?"

Mazumi Mami pondered briefly, recalling the words of homeroom teacher Majima Tomoya from the morning.

"Before leaving, Teacher Majima specifically mentioned letting us get familiar with the campus today, experience point consumption, and interact more with upperclassmen... I always felt that wasn't entirely polite small talk, but more like a veiled hint or guide."

He quickly made a decision.

"Alright, Chisato. You're outgoing and good with people. Your task is to approach second- and third-year female seniors, using the pretext of asking about campus life, club activities, or just casual chat, to naturally extract information from them as much as possible."

"Focus on understanding this school's 'traditions' over the years, the 'ecosystem' between different classes, and those unwritten 'rules' or 'hidden rules.' Especially tips and tricks for using 'points' and any hidden functions."

Mazumi Mami said.

"Leave it to me!"

Chisato Nishikigi patted her chest, full of confidence. "I'm the best at gathering gossip!"

"Runa," Mazumi Mami looked at the violet-eyed girl.

"You're meticulous and observant. I need you to systematically investigate all locations on campus that require spending 'personal points'—not just restaurants and shops, but also usage fees for various facilities, prices for special services, and so on."

"Record the pricing system and consumption patterns. Note if there are any abnormally expensive items, or if there are special items or permissions that can only be exchanged with points. Try to analyze the logic behind this point-based economy and possible means of control."

"Yes, young master."

Runa Inoue immediately nodded, her gaze sharpening with focus. "I'll record every detail and try to draft a preliminary 'point consumption map.'"

"As for me..."

Mazumi Mami picked up his cane and stood.

"I'll go check out the teaching building area. Maybe I can 'accidentally' run into some teachers or staff and try some polite 'consultations.' Sometimes, you can catch important information from a few words spoken by the administrators."

Mazumi Mami said.

"Understood!"

The three young women replied in unison, eager expressions on their faces.

Though their tasks differed, being able to contribute to the "young master's" mission filled them with fulfillment and excitement.

"Then, let's move out. Keep communication smooth, stay safe, and don't forget to maintain the proper daily image of 'Mazumi Mami and his maids.'"

Mazumi Mami gave his final instructions.

"Yes!"

The three answered again, quickly gathered their belongings, and left the private room.

Mazumi Mami lingered a step behind. After they left, he hung his cane and walked out of the restaurant at a steady pace, heading toward the teaching building.

As expected, the first-year teaching building area was deserted.

The corridor was empty, with most of the classroom doors on either side shut tight. Through the windows, neatly arranged empty desks and chairs were visible.

The first-year teachers' office was also locked. Clearly, the teachers had either gone to handle opening-related matters or were taking advantage of this half-day break to rest.

"As expected, the new students are either familiarizing themselves with the campus or have already returned to their dorms. No one stays here."

Mazumi Mami glanced around, understanding in his heart.

"If I want to contact faculty who might know the inside story, or observe the school's more routine operations, I have to go up."

His gaze shifted to the stairs leading to the second and third years.

"Though the aesthetic of this red-and-green tracksuit-style uniform is truly hard to praise..."

He looked down at his own combination of a red jacket and green pants, silently complaining inwardly.

"But the only advantage is probably that all the boys in the school wear the exact same thing, with no grade identifiers. As long as I don't run into anyone I know, going up like this won't seem too out of place."

With that thought, he hesitated no longer. Leaning on his walking stick—which concealed secrets within—he set foot on the steps leading to the upper-grade floors.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell. He deliberately suppressed his presence and aura, like a genuinely frail new student just wandering and looking around, slowly exploring upward.

He didn't know what he would encounter upstairs—it could be ordinary teachers, curious upperclassmen, or... something closer to the core secrets of this school.

But either way, taking the initiative to investigate was better than waiting passively.

His campus investigation had officially begun.