Time rewound to when the call had been made.
"Hello, young master. What can I do for you?"
Chisato Nishikigi's voice came through the phone, as energetic as ever. The distant commotion of club activities could be heard faintly in the background, making it clear that she was carrying out her mission to "talk with the upperclassmen."
"Chisato, I have a sudden assignment for you."
Mazumi Mami briefly explained Sakayanagi Arisu's situation, his assessment, and his plan.
Their communication devices had long since been thoroughly encrypted and modified to prevent eavesdropping by Walnut, so there was no need to worry about their conversation leaking.
"So, young master needs me to use my life magic to brew a bottle of... hmm, a 'nutritional solution' that needs to be taken over a long period before it gradually takes effect, to 'attract' the young lady from the Sakayanagi Family, right?"
Chisato quickly grasped the key point and accurately identified the crucial requirement: "taking effect over a long period."
"Exactly. This is just a hook, something to give her hope and let her taste the benefits, but it mustn't satisfy her all at once. We need her to keep feeling dependent and looking forward to more."
Mazumi confirmed, then added, "Also, remember to include a 'marking' function when you make it. If I remember correctly, as long as an individual has been steeped in your life magic or marked by it for a long time, you can sense their general location and condition, no matter how far away they are?"
"Calling it sensing her 'every move' might be a bit of an exaggeration..."
Chisato's voice carried a laugh, but her tone was certain.
"But pinpointing where she is and judging whether her general vital signs are stable is absolutely no problem. It's not just within this campus—even if she went to the other end of the Chongying Protectorate, as long as your magic mark remained inside her, I could 'mark' her out of a crowd."
Chisato explained.
"That's more than enough. Keeping track of this young lady will be a great advantage to us. She's the chairwoman's daughter, after all. Who knows... she might become our 'guide' to finding the S System's core server room or other critical facilities."
Mazumi lowered his voice.
"Got it! I'll go find Takina right now. She's bound to have a suitable specially sealed bottle in her spatial storage. Since it's a 'nutritional solution,' the packaging has to look 'high-end' too!"
Chisato immediately came up with a plan of action.
"Right, we'll have to put some effort into the packaging."
"Also, be sure to disguise it and prevent it from being detected. Our 'abilities' are among the biggest secrets in this world. At least for now, the Chongying Protectorate doesn't seem to possess any similar power. We absolutely can't let anything unusual show up under conventional testing methods."
Mazumi said.
"Don't worry, young master!"
Chisato sounded full of confidence.
"The nature of my life magic is extremely special. Under conventional scientific instruments, its properties and energy fluctuations are almost indistinguishable from high-quality nutritional supplements or certain rare biological extracts."
"This power surpasses the level of knowledge of current mortal technology. Their existing systems of knowledge simply can't understand or identify its true nature."
"After all, this is the result of more than a thousand years of technological development in the Shenzhou Empire. They're deluding themselves if they think they can crack it in a single generation."
Chisato said.
"Good. I'm counting on you, Chisato."
Mazumi said.
"Leave it to me!"
Chisato replied.
After ending the call, Mazumi didn't have to wait long.
About twenty minutes later, accompanied by a brisk patter of footsteps, Chisato appeared at the entrance to the little garden.
She jogged over, her face flushed from exertion, carefully holding a finely crafted long-necked glass bottle with a frosted finish.
Its sleek contours reflected a soft sheen in the sunlight. The mouth was fitted with a complex screw-top seal, along with a delicate dropper.
The liquid inside was pure milky white. When it swayed slightly, it seemed a little thicker than water, gleaming with a pearly luster.
"Young master, it's here!"
Chisato handed the bottle to Mazumi, her movements light but steady.
"Thanks for the effort. Do you want to sit down and rest for a bit?"
Mazumi took the bottle. It felt cool to the touch, with a smooth, delicate finish.
"Hehe, I'm fine! My 'intelligence gathering' isn't finished yet. A few of the upperclassmen seem to know some pretty interesting things."
Chisato winked, a mischievous glint flashing in her amber eyes.
"But, um... once all the tasks are done for the day, young master had better give my shoulders a proper massage! Running around is exhausting, you know~"
Chisato said.
"No problem. You've got my word."
Mazumi agreed with a smile in his eyes.
"Then I'm off! Good luck, young master!"
Chisato waved and turned, dashing away like a gust of wind. Her short golden hair bobbed in the sunlight.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat quietly on the bench and watched. Only after Chisato had disappeared behind the greenery did she speak.
"That maid of yours... certainly has a distinctive way of doing things. She's lively, outgoing, and full of energy. You'd never guess she'd undergone rigorous professional training."
Her tone was even, making it impossible to tell whether she meant it as praise or criticism.
"That's exactly what I like about her."
Mazumi turned around and gently set the bottle of nutritional solution on the bench between them.
"If every maid looked as though she'd been cut from the same mold—stiff, proper, and utterly devoid of personality—how dull life would be. Rather than see them shackled by rigid rules and turned into puppets on strings, I'd rather see them show their true selves and their unique personalities. As long as they can be relied on when it matters, what's wrong with letting them be lively the rest of the time?"
Mazumi said.
"True."
A faint trace of agreement crossed Sakayanagi Arisu's purple eyes. "I also hate... people and things that are too boring."
"Now, back to the matter at hand."
Mazumi tapped the delicate glass bottle with his finger.
"This is a sample of the 'special nutritional solution' I take regularly. It isn't a miracle drug that cures illnesses outright. Instead, it steadily replenishes special nutrients the body needs and gently regulates its physiological functions. It improves one's constitution from the ground up and lays the groundwork for any further treatment that might be needed."
He pointed to the clearly marked, precise graduations on the bottle.
"One bottle is a week's supply. Take it once a day, about one-seventh of the bottle each time. You can drink it directly or mix it into warm or plain water without affecting its effectiveness. It's best to take it at a set time so that the concentration of its components in your body stays stable."
Mazumi explained.
"Is that all there is to it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze shifted from the bottle to Mazumi's face, scrutinizing him.
"Of course. This is only the 'foundation' and the 'hook.'"
Mazumi answered frankly. "A more thorough, more direct treatment plan would require mutual trust and a proper assessment.
"For now, this 'meeting gift' should be enough to let you feel the difference and believe that I'm telling the truth, shouldn't it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent for a moment, then reached out and picked up the glass bottle, which still felt slightly cool.
Her fingers slowly traced the bottle's smooth surface. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the milky liquid, searching for the secrets within.
"Aren't you worried I'll secretly have it analyzed and then free myself from depending on you?"
Sakayanagi Arisu asked.
"Suit yourself."
Mazumi smiled.
"You certainly have a lot of confidence."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled.
In the end, Sakayanagi Arisu nodded and carefully put the bottle away in a small bag she carried with her.
"Then I'll accept this 'meeting gift.'"
Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"I look forward to hearing your feedback and impressions after you've used it, Classmate Sakayanagi."
Mazumi smiled, his amber-gold eyes seeming especially deep in the dappled shade. "And I look forward even more to the day you finally agree to my little proposal."
"Then... we'll see."
Sakayanagi Arisu let out a soft breath. The usual calm and distance returned to her purple eyes, though deep within them, there seemed to be a faint ripple unlike anything before.
The afternoon sun filtered through the branches, casting shifting patches of light between them.
A secret exchange concerning health and loyalty, potential and control had quietly sealed its first unspoken contract with the handover of this seemingly ordinary bottle of "nutritional solution."
How things would unfold in the future would depend on how real the "change" brought about by this liquid proved to be—and on how these two equally clever, equally unwilling-to-submit young people would weigh their options, maneuver, and choose in the school life ahead.