The Rainbow Mist had vanished completely, and the sea had returned to its usual calm. The Marines were wrapping things up.
Atlas first threw a tremendous tantrum, laying into the half-ruined buildings on the docks with a barrage of bangs and crashes. It was practically demolition work.
"-Phew-"
Although Atlas had not sweated, she still wiped her forehead and flashed a hearty smile. Then she instinctively looked back.
"...Urk-"
She saw Shining, Babbage, and Issho simply watching her.
Atlas's "little face" flushed red, and her ears and tail stood straight up.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself... Sorry for the wait."
The enormous half-loli, over seven meters tall, pressed her hands together in an apologetic gesture.
As far as she knew, Shining was "in the know," but Babbage might not be. That Great Angel's "retainer" probably knew nothing.
So she felt a little embarrassed.
"We only waited a few minutes. Besides, little sheep, isn't this pretty cute? We can't let the 'Honor Student' find out, though."
Shining floated in midair, his electrical expression forming a relaxed smile. The current "Shining" was already Sephiroth himself.
"..."
The corner of Issho's mouth twitched slightly, but he held it in.
He knew about "One Ornament, Two Horns."
...My lord is really committed to this performance.
Atlas and Shining briefly explained what had happened inside the mist to Babbage and Issho. For the time being, that brought the matter to a close.
"...That's how things stand at this stage..."
Publicly, Atlas claimed to be a "Science Unit rear admiral" who had undergone modifications by Vegapunk.
She maintained that persona in front of Babbage and Issho as well.
She did not know whether Shining had ever "leaked" anything about that. Judging by Babbage's behavior, though, he at least showed no sign of being "in the know."