Chapter 121

Bang--

9.4.

"That's amazing..."

Efnir's series of actions almost stunned Yukina.

Efnir gently lowered the gun, her fingers trembling slightly.

She sighed softly.

Because her wounds had not fully healed, this special pistol designed for agents was still a bit of a burden for Efnir. The huge recoil from the shot had sent a sharp pain through Efnir shoulder.

"Our training cannot stop at simply 'knowing how to use it.' Just like training with firearms, we need to develop muscle memory, which is extremely helpful in combat."

Efnir looked at Yukina.

"Therefore, even if you have mastered the basics, repeated practice is still an indispensable part."

"I see."

"Now, maintain your stance, tense your muscles, try to control your breathing, and when you pull the trigger, make sure your eyes are fixed on your target. Try to pull the trigger with your subconscious mind."

Efnir came up behind Yukina and began to instruct her.

"Yes, that's it, remember that feeling... You can fire now."

Suppressing the rise and fall of her chest, Yukina gently pursed her lips, her fingertips slowly moving before she pulled the trigger.

Bang--

A piercing gunshot rang out, spent cartridges hit the ground, and numbers appeared on the overhead display screen.

"8.92...?"

Efnir stared intently at the tiny hole in the target, pursing her lips.

"Well, for the results of the first training session, it's already quite good."

--In the shooting training test with a maximum score of 10, she scored 8.92, which means that at a distance of 30 meters, Yukina can hit the target's vital organs with an error of less than 15%.

This is an incredibly impressive achievement for a beginner.

It's hard to believe that this is just the result of Yukina's training in just one hour.

Is it any wonder she's called "Fifina"? Just like Fengling Shiyin, Yukina's learning ability in archery and firearms is quite remarkable.

However, compared to Fengling Shiyin, Yukina also showed a terrifying talent in other aspects of her role as an agent. Over three hours, Efnir successively trained Yukina in the awakening and use of the "Stairway," archery, and simple maintenance and shooting of a pistol. Yukina grasped the essentials of each skill at an astonishing speed.

It must be said that Yukina does indeed possess the unique potential to be an excellent agent, not only because Yukina status Absolute Compatible Candidate brings her physical advantages, but also because Yukina herself has extremely high comprehension and adaptability.

174. Unfulfilled Wishes

General Headquarters.

Masaki Hina leaned back in front of her desk, her fingers tapping repeatedly on the solid wood surface.

"Commander."

Shinomiyami Nami was holding a stack of documents.

"These are investigation reports related to the recent Erosion Disaster."

"Okay, I'll leave it here."

Shinomiyami Nami stacked the organized data on the table and looked at the "girl" sitting behind the desk. This baby-faced boss was resting her cheek on one hand, but her gaze was wandering somewhere else.

"She's already spending her first day at the training ground... she really doesn't stop for a moment..."

The "she" in question naturally refers to Efnir.

Masaki Hina stared at the computer screen, but her mind was preoccupied with Efnir.

Seeing Efnir again, she seemed to possess a gentleness that she no longer had.

Simply put, Efnir has always given people the impression of being a "rigid, strict, very reliable and steady older sister", but now she suddenly has a "gentle wife next door" vibe.

Such changes are very subtle, and only those who are close to them would likely notice them.

"After all, it's Efnir... She's always been like this, she hasn't changed at all, she always makes you worry."

Shinomiyami Nami chimed in.

"Hmm. Any new information from Dr. Nishiki?"

"No, she seems to have been with Kanade Kotone since yesterday."

"Is that so?"

Masaki Hina didn't say anything more. She took out a file from the stacked documents, opened it, and quickly read the report.

But after watching for a while, I couldn't calm down.

Masaki Hina longed to talk to Efnir more, but this was clearly not something she could easily express aloud.

Her gaze swept over the investigation report, and after a while, she frowned slightly.

"The West Line Garrison District the 'Boundary Stele System,' which has the weakest point of protection, did not experience Erosion Disaster; on the contrary, the East District is frequently plagued by such disasters..."

"Siyejian."

"Commander, what are your orders?"

"Karina, a former member of the Apostle Squad, is she in the East District right now?"

"Yes, according to surveillance records up to this morning, the target has appeared on C11 Street, where the Gray Group is gathering, and is operating from this new base. The surveillance team cannot get too close and does not know what she is doing. They can only confirm her whereabouts and travel records so far. But strangely, Karina's movements seem to be related to the recent Erosion Disaster."

"What a coincidence. Every time a new Erosion Disaster occurs, she immediately heads towards the disaster site. Rather than saying 'she's related to the disaster,' it's more accurate to say she's 'trying to establish a connection with the Erosion Disaster '... This behavior is too abnormal. I have a feeling that the recent series of Erosion Disaster are foreshadowing some important clues. While the Bushiyuan is tracking and monitoring Karina, we here must also continue to closely follow up on every disaster and not let any suspicious target slip by."

Masaki Hina's gaze fell on the investigation report in her hand.

"If we don't find clues about the other side soon, then no matter how we counterattack, it will only be scratching the surface. The next step of the plan has not yet been finalized, and there will be Erosion Disaster every two or three days. I'm worried that something else is coming. We must prepare as soon as possible."

Masaki Hina sighed.

"Speaking of which, has there been any new developments in the Special Disaster Division's surveillance of Karina?"

"We haven't been able to contact the surveillance team this afternoon."

Shinomiyami Nami paused her work for a moment.

The surveillance team is currently headed by Fushihara Ayaka, and the members are all from the Special Disaster Division. Due to the special nature and high level of secrecy of the mission, headquarters cannot maintain real-time communication with the other party indefinitely for security reasons. Instead, they use a periodic contact method to exchange intelligence.

"As of this morning, intelligence sent by Colonel Bushiyuan Plains indicates that after leaving the previous stronghold, the surveillance target, Karina, immediately moved towards the East District. There is no evidence yet to suggest any unusual activity on her part, and the surveillance team is still tracking her."

"Tsk..."

Masaki Hina was secretly speechless.

Is this guy a rat?

Masaki Hina put down the investigation report, stood up, picked up the military cap on the table, and casually put it on her head.

Shinomiyami Nami took a coat from the coat rack and draped it over Masaki Hina.

"Get ready and contact the Bushiyuan for me, but don't reveal my whereabouts to anyone else... um... except for Efnir."

"Is the commander going to the Special Disaster Division?"

"No, it's just that there are some other things I'm concerned about... Could you do a thorough investigation of those guys in C11 District for me, from their medical records to their contacts, including their past employment records and criminal records, and put them all on my desk?"

Masaki Hina paused for a moment.

"Report anything else that happens to me immediately."

Headquarters of the Orderkeepers Organization, Special Control Zone

Uzuki Saori leaned blankly against the cold corner of the wall, hugging her knees, staring listlessly at the pale white light above her.

The fluorescent green indicator light flashed, turning into blurry spots of light.

The blood at the corner of his mouth had not yet dried and smelled of blood and rust.

She silently raised her arm, which bore only faint, dark bruises. Her most important piece of equipment as an agent, the Beacon, the silver bracelet, had long been confiscated and put into custody.

She coughed softly, somewhat forgetting how long she had been there.

Since that day, she has been imprisoned here, confessing everything she knew. She eats, is tortured, sleeps, repeating the same things every day, and then waits for her punishment.

--A few days later, she will be stripped of her agent status.

Through the technology of the Ruins Beacon System, the power Resonance with the Order Force is forcibly severed. The agent's ability to Resonance with the Order Force, which is also a characteristic of being a "Eligible," will be completely erased.

This means that Uzuki Saori will completely bid farewell to her identity as an agent, along with the memories of the past year, and will continue to live as an innocent girl whose memories remain from before she joined the agent, as an ordinary person, in the city she once fought for.

Saying goodbye to her self named "Lily," she also becomes a complete stranger to Shiina Rin.

What will life be like after that...? Whether it's the desire to act as an agent or the desire to love Rin, everything will be stripped from this body at that time.

After struggling bitterly, all that awaited was still a fruitless end.

Saori lowered her eyelashes and buried her face in her arms.

Ultimately, the person who betrayed their friends, their seniors, and this city is themselves, and the only one who has no right to ask for anything is themselves.

But Rin shouldn't have to bear all of this for herself.

But there was no choice in the Saori.

Her thoughts slowly surfaced from the bottom of the water, and she drifted off to sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps slowly approached.

"Saori is right here."

A young, innocent female voice.

Author's Note on Launch

From this point onward, all subsequent chapters will be available for purchase. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement.

Well, I'll try my best to make everyone spend money (laughs), and I'll try my best to keep updating and to fully depict this story.

Then, whether it's suggestions, praise, or criticism, I'd be very happy if everyone were generous with their comments and feedback! I'll always be reading them~

Finally, I would like to thank again all the readers who have accompanied me along the way, and those who will come here in the future.

Your support and affirmation are my greatest motivation.

Your suggestions and blessings are the direction for my progress and my efforts.

Thanks!

2021/12/10

[Update counter is ready! Starts promptly at midnight! (just kidding)]

175. An Unfulfilled Wish [Chapter 1]

"... I'd like to talk to her face-to-face, is that alright?"

"Can."

"Thank you, Commander..."

"It's alright, go quickly, she's been waiting for you."

"Um!"