—"I now fully understand what happened. You've worked hard. The Investigation Institute will be grateful for your efforts."
In a bedroom bathed in the setting sun, a young girl's voice came from the mirror on the table. A girl clad in golden mage robes and wearing a smile nodded slightly toward the mirror. "I will send magical girls from the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau to assist Black Ash Dawn's pursuit as soon as possible. You will also receive the appropriate compensation and rewards, Miss Larkspur."
"You know that isn't what I want to hear."
On the other side of the mirror, the girl in a blue dress remained expressionless. "If you only intend to spout official platitudes, then let's end this here, Director."
After the attack on the night of the Full Moon Festival, Larkspur had contacted the Investigation Institute. Since this matter involved Black Ash Dawn's true upper ranks, Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye had accepted this conversation.
Yet after Larkspur finished recounting the entire incident, Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye displayed no particular reaction. She merely gave an exceedingly official response as usual—one that was utterly useless.
This left Larkspur deeply dissatisfied, leading to the exchange above.
"Official platitudes... It seems you have something else to say?" Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye appropriately showed a trace of confusion.
A porcelain teacup had appeared in her hand at some point. She seemed to have intended to end the conversation, but now had no choice but to stop what she was doing. "Very well. If you are willing, perhaps we can fill in some omissions."
"I have no intention of continuing to dance around the issue with you. You deceived me, Director." Larkspur spoke bluntly.
"...I do not understand what you mean, Miss Larkspur." Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye blinked.
"You could not possibly have been unaware of the