Meanwhile, the corridor outside the theory room had emptied. Acting as the organizing chair of the International Student Self-Government Committee, Milly had sent the students hoping to gawk at the Special-Rank Researcher off to register at their dormitories. Tabane had dearly wanted to record the scene, but one look from Chifuyu had stopped her, leaving her to regretfully tuck the Miniature Camera Drone back into her sleeve.
"My, my, little Regent, you work fast."
Lin Cuo glanced at her. "If you mean establishing a preliminary foundation for personnel stability in the Theoretical Group, then yes, the process was highly efficient."
Tabane's smile widened. "That certainly wasn't the kind of fast I meant."
"Dr. Tabane," Lin Cuo said very calmly, "if you continue to characterize efforts to stabilize the mental health of national-level research talent in that fashion, I will hand your pizza budget over to C.C. for approval."
"How terrifying." Tabane wasn't frightened in the slightest. "But Nina really is easy for you to steal away. She looks as though she's finally discovered that someone in this world can see her formulas, her face, her panic, and the fact that she hasn't eaten, all at once. Little Regent, you're such a bad boy."
"I gave her a laboratory, authorship rights, a Security Committee, and a future where Britannian nobles won't ridicule her."
"Mm-hmm." Tabane drew out the sound. "And, while you were at it, a pretty boy who calls her his big sister and makes her feel she's finally no longer that weirdo in the corner."
C.C. walked over, holding a box of unfinished pizza, and cut in coldly. "You two sound like a pair of kidnappers planning to open a children's amusement park."
Lin Cuo turned. "Why are you here again?"
"Aren't I your temporary advisor now? A temporary