Clumsy Move

(Ceruno)

I inquired further about the funeral, but nothing seemed particularly special.

It was just a simple funeral ceremony.

We pay our respects to the deceased, offer flowers in farewell, enjoy a banquet, and then watch as the body is taken away for cremation, placed in a square wooden box, and buried in grand style.

After saying all that, Miss Anjie lowered her head and added another sentence.

"Now that I think about it, Chairman Sun and that family head were probably just casual acquaintances."

This was meant unintentionally, but I asked it anyway.

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

Miss Anjie replied:

"Your father didn't show much sadness at that funeral. Although he only showed weakness in front of your mother, it was still a funeral. Normally, he would have shown some sadness... even if it was an act. Since he didn't even bother to pretend, he must not have been very close to her. He was just going through the motions out of courtesy."

Miluno interjected.

"That was two years ago, wasn't it? You remember it really well."

"My memory is excellent to begin with, especially since it involved... with Chairman Sun."

She was truly devoted to my father, but unfortunately, her love was misplaced.

The old man couldn't possibly be unaware of Miss Anjie's intentions, yet he still treated her like a disposable tool. This is truly outrageous...

"Miss Anjie, if you ask me, you should just forget about my father."

I stepped forward, took her hand, and continued:

"The clues you provided are very useful... although we don't know how useful they are yet, at least they prove that Dantai Society is indeed connected to my father."

The speculation that "there is an insider in the Dantai Society" is based on insufficient evidence now stands even more firmly.

Miss Anjie kept her head down.

"... This is no big deal."

"But thank you anyway for being willing to tell me."

After thanking them, I turned to look at Miluno and Mono.

"Alright, have you finished discussing things with Principal Xiao Yi?"

Miluno replied:

"Yes, the negotiations were almost complete before you arrived."

"Good!"

I stepped forward and took her arm.

"Then come with me to the Engine Department. Didn't you want Metal to be your photographer? I also need her help with something!"

"What's up?"

"Let's go first and then figure it out~"

Principal's Office →→→ Engine Room

"Yeah, it's no problem for concert photography. The drone's automated operation program is very sophisticated; I can direct eight cameras all by myself without any issues..."

Wearing a dirty onesie, Metal sat cross-legged on the workbench in the Engine Room.

"... However, Ceruno's request might be a bit difficult."

"Still unable to create small Magic Crystal?"

"Well, the combat suits aren't a big problem, but no matter how refined the Magic Crystal are, they can't be extracted to a size that can fit inside a normal Crystal. That's the technological bottleneck."

Miluno's enormous Star Crystal was truly unprecedented and will likely remain so forever...

"Is there no other way?"

Metal crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then asked:

"Ceruno, you're planning an infiltration investigation, aren't you? Why don't you just have Miluno go with you? One Magic Supply System is more than enough to maintain two Ghost Combat Suit. As long as you maintain the stealth cost, you can connect you with a conduit."

Doesn't that mean Miluno will have to work with me?

It doesn't seem like it's impossible...

After all, infiltration investigation is different from door-to-door investigation. If I am exposed, a conflict may break out, and my ability to fight head-on is still a concern.

"May I?"

I looked at Miluno, but she pinched my cheek.

"You don't need to ask for my opinion when you ask me to do something; just tell me."

"Miss Metal, I want a Ghost Combat Suit too!"

"Okay~"

Miss Metal responded, then jumped off the workbench and pulled a leather measuring tape from behind her back, her eyes gleaming as she approached me.

"So, Ceruno- chan~ let your older sister see how much you've grown lately~"

"Wait a minute!"

Magical girls don't grow up at all!

Miluno no help whatsoever; in fact, she supported me from under her arms, allowing Miss Metal's hands to freely... measure my body?

"It's just taking measurements, why are you so resistant?"

"Do we need to measure things like leg circumference?"

"Of course it's necessary, after all, it's a bodysuit, and even the leg length needs to be calculated!"

The measuring tape is practically sticking under her skirt! Is it really necessary?

After measuring her bust, waist, and hips and putting away the measuring tape, Metal took an opaque purple hexagonal prism from the workbench. The material looked like metal or ore, and casually tossed it to Miluno.

"Try this thing when you have time; it's an experimental product that Professor Stratos came up with."

It's about the thickness of a hand and shaped like a pillar.

But there's an inconspicuous dividing line in the middle; the upper and lower layers should be able to twist...

"What is this?"

Miluno tossed it in her hand.

"It's quite heavy."

"Didn't Aldebaran develop a special aerosol for magical girls? Professor Stratos is extremely competitive. Although she didn't know how to counter the Magic Suppressant, she worked tirelessly for two days and two nights to create this thing that's similar to the Magic Suppressant, and she was so exhausted that she just collapsed in bed... Theoretically, this thing could be effective against witches."

"Targeting witches?"

Mono stared in surprise.

"What's the principle behind it?"

Miss Metal explained, "It's similar to the effect of the Magic Suppressant. This stuff can disrupt the flow of Dark Energy in the surrounding area. Witches with poor control might suffer internal injuries from the rampaging darkness within them... Of course, that's what she said; the actual effects still need to be verified in actual combat."

"Shall we try going to Prison Island to find the witch?" I asked.

Miluno shook her head and pointed to herself.

"No need, the witch is right here."

A surge of Dark Energy emanated from her body, then retreated back in, and her skin...

"Do you want to use yourself as a test subject?"

"The Dark Energy within me is controlled by Mono, so there won't be any problems."

Miluno said that, Mono nodded proudly, hands on her hips, boasting to herself.

"That's right, my manipulation of darkness is far stronger than that of the average witch! This thing might not work on me!"

Miluno twisted the top and bottom of the hexagonal prism, and a stream of purple gas sprayed out from the twisted gap...

Or is it an aerosol?

This is similar to the Magic Suppressant, but the color looks almost poisonous. Is the professor really that concerned about his theme color?

"Oh, I see."

Mono frowned slightly shortly after coming into contact with the gas.

"Intentionally inducing Dark Energy to go out of control can, at best, render a witch incapable of fighting, and at worst, cause her to suffer a qi deviation and die. This stuff is even more despicable than Magic Suppressant, but it's completely useless against me!"

Since she still has the energy to grumble, she's probably not seriously injured...

"Hmm."

Dizziness.

A sudden feeling of exhaustion.

Mono is fine, but I'm too weak to maintain my balance...

After staggering a few times, she fell towards Miluno, too weak to even raise her hand to support herself.