The car continued onward, merging onto the main road leading to Yingtai Advanced Nurturing High School.
The closer they got to the school, the denser the traffic became. There were all sorts of private cars, and even a few vehicles with special license plates that clearly belonged to people of distinction.
The bustle of the first day of school seeped faintly inside, despite the car's top-of-the-line soundproofing.
At last, at an intersection, the long line of cars came to a complete stop because of the traffic light ahead or a jam.
Dawn sat quietly in the queue, beside an aging city bus. Its windows were wide open, and it was packed with students in the same Yingtai High School uniforms, though the colors seemed to vary by grade or class.
Liu Zheng casually glanced to the side.
There seemed to be a minor commotion on the bus. He could make out the sound of an argument, apparently over whether to give an elderly passenger a seat.
He turned his gaze away. Ordinary little frictions like that did not warrant much of his attention right now.
"Since we're almost there, let's use the time we have left to go over the basic information one more time."
He sat up straight. Though he had left Takina's lap, that natural sense of closeness remained.
His tone shifted from relaxed conversation to something more like a mission briefing, though it stayed even.
"Understood."
Walnut responded at once, handing him a printed dossier while rapidly tapping a few keys on the laptop resting on her knees.
A miniature projector hidden in the car's ceiling started up without a sound. A gentle beam fell on the blank panel across from them, clearly displaying a collection of documents, photographs, and relationship charts.
"First, Your Highness, your public identity for this operation."
Walnut's voice was steady and clear, like that of a professional narrator.
"Mazumi Mami, the legal heir to Mizuki Heavy Industries, the largest diversified corporation in the Chongying Protectorate. According to the records, he is biologically female. However, due to the family business's traditions and inheritance requirements, he was publicly announced as a boy and raised as one from a young age."
Most of the projected photos showed either a distant view or a figure from behind: a slender "boy" dressed conservatively and often wearing a hat, caught at the edge of a business event or in fleeting moments as he entered or exited a vehicle.
The frontal photos were either blurry or taken from such awkward angles that his features were hard to make out.
The printed dossier in Liu Zheng's hands, however, contained several much clearer frontal photos—clearly an "internal version" from the Imperial Intelligence Department.
The "Mazumi Mami" in the pictures had short black hair, somewhat pale skin, and dull, light-yellow eyes. His overall appearance was gloomy and introverted.
"My build is similar, and our hair color matches. Eye color... Black hair and golden eyes versus black hair and yellow eyes. From an ordinary social distance and under normal lighting, they'd be hard to tell apart unless someone stared."
Liu Zheng carefully compared the pictures to his own features, lightly tapping the dossier with his fingertip.
"The terms of this identity swap are that the real Mazumi Mami secretly travels to the imperial capital to receive the finest treatment and medical care at the Imperial Medical Academy. He'll 'disappear' for three years in exchange for the chance to regain his health, or even extend his life."
"For Mizuki Heavy Industries, it's a deal with no downside—a frail, chronically ill heir who can barely make public appearances will be 'resting' for a while, and they'll also get the chance to establish ties with the Imperial Royal Family and expand into the wider markets of the protectorate and even the heartland... Tsk, businessmen really know how to work the numbers."
Liu Zheng said.
"An enterprise that has become the leading corporation in the protectorate wouldn't have short-sighted decision-makers."
Walnut nodded in agreement. "This cooperation is an exchange of clearly defined benefits."
"But what about the people on the inside?"
Inoue Runa furrowed her brow slightly, professional caution showing in her violet eyes. "If someone in the Mizuki Family or the company's senior ranks lets something slip..."
"They won't, and they wouldn't dare."
Walnut shook her head, her tone certain.
"Putting aside the fact that our true objective is completely confidential, even if they had their suspicions, they'd never have the nerve to resist or leak anything. No local corporation could defy the will of the Empire. Besides..."
She switched the projection to a family tree of the Mizuki Family and background analyses of some of its key members.
"The Mizuki ancestors did have noble blood from Huaxia. They've always prided themselves on preserving the 'legacy of Shenzhou' and have little sense of belonging to Chongying itself. In their eyes, obeying the Empire's arrangements and aligning themselves with a more powerful central authority is the right path to preserving and expanding the family. Chongying is little more than a place for them to build their capital."
Walnut said.
"Oh? That sounds a little like us, doesn't it?"
Chisato Nishikigi blinked her ruby-red eyes, looking thoughtful.
"Not at all."
Walnut immediately corrected her, drawing a clear and unmistakable line between the two.
"We grew up in a Chongying orphanage. It was a matter of fate, but also the result of the Empire's selection and training. Our identity, our loyalty, and the future that awaits us have always been with the Shenzhou Empire, at His Highness's side. This is merely where we carry out our mission."
Walnut said.
"That's right."
Inoue Runa took up the thought, her voice quiet but firm.
"This is not our home, not when we serve the Empire and His Highness. We've always had only one place to call home."
Her gaze rested on Liu Zheng, calm but carrying immense weight.
"You make it sound so..."
Liu Zheng—or rather, Mazumi Mami—smiled helplessly. "You're making me feel a little embarrassed."
"But that's honestly how we feel!"
Chisato Nishikigi said matter-of-factly, her smile bright.
"That's right."
Inoue Runa nodded.
"Agreed."
Walnut said.
"...All right. I've heard you."
Mazumi Mami took a deep breath, setting aside his trace of embarrassment.
"Still, let's focus on the mission for now. First, we need to get used to addressing each other properly. In public, especially at school, we must never call me 'Your Highness.'"
Mazumi Mami said.
"Then what should we call you? Master?"
Chisato Nishikigi's eyes lit up as she blurted it out, apparently amused by the idea.
"Pfft... That's even more over the top than 'Your Highness,' isn't it? Do you want everyone to notice us?"
Mazumi Mami laughed at her suggestion.
"Then... Mizuki-kun?"
Inoue Runa suggested a form of address that was more suited to an everyday school setting, polite and proper.
"Hmm, that does fit the role, but..."
Mazumi Mami pondered for a moment. "It feels a little too formal, too distant. The relationship we're supposed to have is that of master and servants, but also of 'family' who've been together for a long time."
Walnut, who had been watching them discuss it, now spoke in her characteristically precise, almost electronic-sounding tone.
"How about a compromise: 'Young Master'? It fits our role as maids without sounding too distant, and it's more discreet and natural than 'Master.' It won't seem out of place at school, either. Attendants and servants from prominent families often use that title for their young masters."
Walnut said.
Mazumi Mami thought it over and nodded.
"Yeah, that works. Let's go with that for now. Call me whatever you like in private, but whenever there might be outsiders around, including at school, use 'Young Master.'"
Mazumi Mami said.
"Understood, Young Master."
Inoue Runa replied first, completing her first change of address in a steady voice.
"Yes, Young Master!"
Chisato Nishikigi chimed in with a cheerful grin, deliberately drawing out the words.
"Instruction confirmed, Young Master."
Walnut quickly entered something into her laptop as she responded.
Just then, a louder commotion came from the bus beside them. The argument over the seat seemed to have been resolved, or perhaps something else had happened.
But the thoughts of the four people inside Dawn had already turned toward the unfamiliar school they were about to reach.
At last, the long line of cars began to inch forward.
In the distance, the modern-looking gates of Yingtai Advanced Nurturing High School were now clearly visible, carrying a faint air of solemnity and separation.