The next day.
Xia Xiu received a summons from Pansy Jane.
He changed into the white protective suit made from [Ember Ingot], put on the Dark Division's signature smiling mask, and headed toward Pansy Jane.
When Xia Xiu arrived at the assembly point, quite a few Dark Division members nearby had already lined up in orderly formation. He studied their arrangement curiously.
They stood in five-by-five formations, with another Dark Division member standing in front of each column.
Xia Xiu recalled Nora, whom he had killed, and quickly understood the rough composition of a Dark Division squad: a special combat unit consisting of one Qualified member and twenty-five ordinary members.
The Qualified member possessed an item that allowed ordinary members to undergo [Aetherization]. Nora had used cigarettes, but Xia Xiu did not know whether those were standard-issue equipment or special equipment customized to personal preferences.
"Wu Liuqi, come here," Zero One called to Xia Xiu as he watched.
Xia Xiu walked toward Zero One and noticed several Dark Division members beside Zero One as well. Unlike the assembled units in the square, these people and Zero One had no ordinary members following them.
Recalling the directly subordinate unit Pansy Jane had mentioned, Xia Xiu surmised that these people, himself included, were probably her personally cultivated "private army." Their duty was to obey Pansy Jane alone.
What Zero One said next confirmed his suspicions.
"We're a special unit directly subordinate to Captain Jane, so we don't need to lead columns. Our duty is to follow the captain's orders," Zero One explained slowly once Xia Xiu approached.
"Understood."
Xia Xiu nodded, then concealed himself in a shadowed corner like Zero One and the others.
Pansy Jane slowly approached from a distance, holding a briefing document. She began assigning the Dark Division's column