After leaving the apartment, Tobiichi Origami walked home expressionlessly, her mind, however, was rapidly analyzing the recently acquired intelligence.
(Itsuka Shido. Phoenix-in Chinatsu. Close interaction. Scheduled meeting for tomorrow.)
(Synthesizing these variables, the derived conclusion: The probability of the two going on a date tomorrow is higher than 87%.)
This conclusion caused a subtle, almost imperceptible ripple of displeasure to flicker in Origami's light blue eyes.
As someone harboring clear affection (one might even say obsession) for Shido, she felt it was necessary, and indeed mandatory, for her to intervene.
(A strategy for interference or intervention must be formulated. Minimum objective: accompanying surveillance. Maximum objective: ensuring Shido recognizes that I am more suitable than her.)
She began listing the strategies and equipment she might need tomorrow, determined to demonstrate an advantage over Phoenix-in Chinatsu during a "chance encounter" or "reasonable intervention."
However, just as she stepped through her door, preparing to further refine her plan, her personal AST communicator emitted an urgent buzzing sound indicating an emergency assembly.
Origami frowned slightly. She had originally planned to decline, citing "private matters," but when she saw the authority level of the message sender
—coming from Captain Ryouko Kusakabe, and marked as "Highest Priority, Mandatory Call-up"—she immediately changed her mind.
(At this hour, highest priority... Has a Spirit appeared?)
Without hesitation, she quickly changed into clothes suitable for action, grabbed her backpack, and rushed to the AST Amamiya City Branch base with the speed and precision of a machine.
When she entered the brightly lit main operations meeting room at the base, she found the atmosphere unprecedentedly solemn.
Not only were almost all members of the Amamiya City AST squad present, but also the elites from DEM Company's Second Executive Division, rarely seen on regular days, were in attendance.
The two figures leading them made her focus intently—Takamiya Mana, and Ellen Mathers, the one known as the "world's strongest magician."
Captain Ryouko Kusakabe stood at the front, her expression serious. She surveyed the room, and her voice carried across the silent conference room via the microphone:
"Attention, everyone! We have received confirmed intelligence and joint operation orders from DEM Company! Tomorrow, we will simultaneously execute two subjugation operations targeting Spirits!"
A wave of suppressed commotion rose from the audience. Two simultaneous subjugations? This was extremely rare.
"Operation One," Captain Ryouko continued.
"Target: Nightmare. Specialist Takamiya Mana will lead the mission, with the First and Third Squads providing support."
"Operation Two," her voice grew heavier.
"Target: Herrscher of Reason. Madam Ellen will personally command, and our main force, including Sergeant Tobiichi Origami, comprising the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Squads, will fully cooperate with the DEM Company Special Operations Team to execute the subjugation mission!"
(Herrscher of Reason? The Spirit who caused the large-scale structural phenomenon?) Origami felt a stir in her heart, but maintained her expressionless face.
At that moment, Ellen Mathers strode to the front of the stage with elegant yet oppressive steps.
Her sharp gaze swept over every AST member present; skipping superfluous greetings, she cut straight to the subject.
"Ladies and gentlemen, regarding the target 'Herrscher of Reason,' we have obtained new critical intelligence." She signaled for her assistant behind her to operate the projector.
An image immediately appeared on the screen—it was the recorded image of the Spirit previously suspected to be the "Herrscher of Reason," known as "Welt."
"We have long suspected that 'Welt' is not its true form." Ellen's voice was cold and clear.
"Following DEM Company's highest level of Spirit Wave Tracing and Reality Reconstruction analysis, we can now confirm—the appearance of 'Welt' is a disguise constructed using its abilities!"
The moment she finished speaking, the image on the projection screen began to disassemble and reassemble like a stream of data.
After the image of "Welt" peeled away like shattered glass, what gradually appeared was an image that caused Origami's pupils to contract sharply—
Icy blue long hair, an exquisite and flawless face, a cool temperament... It was none other than Phoenix-in Chinatsu!
"Whoa—!"
The audience instantly erupted in an uproar! Most of the AST members had seen this transfer student who had just enrolled at Raizen High School. Who could have imagined she was a Spirit?!
"Silence!" Ellen sharply commanded, suppressing the commotion.
She pointed to the two parallel Spirit Wave diagrams displayed on the projection.
"This is the result of comparing the Spirit Wave pattern detected when 'Welt' was first observed, with the extremely weak yet consistently present silent Spirit Wave detected on the target 'Phoenix-in Chinatsu.'"
"...We are not speculating blindly. Since the target 'Welt' first appeared, its unique Authority of Construction has been designated as a top-priority alert target by our company. And yesterday, during that ridiculous cooking competition at Raizen High School, Phoenix-in Chinatsu used her abilities in plain sight—
—Although she thought she hid it well, the essence of her Authority, which controls material structure, still leaked a decisive Spirit Wave. It was this wave that ultimately matched the core frequency of the 'Herrscher of Reason' recorded by our company, allowing us to confirm her identity tonight. The time has come; there can be no delay."
She deliberately highlighted one parameter: "Core Frequency Modulation Pattern Similarity: 7.3%."
This number immediately sparked renewed discussion.
"7.3%? That similarity... isn't very high, is it?" A bold AST member raised a question.
"Madam Ellen, based solely on this and the speculation that she might be a Spirit, is it too rash to launch a subjugation against a student who is outwardly a 'normal person'? If we are wrong, the consequences..."
Ellen seemed to have anticipated this question. She glanced coldly at the team member, her tone brooking no argument:
"Your concerns are meaningless."
"First, even if she is not the 'Herrscher of Reason,' a Spirit capable of manifesting so perfectly in silence, and even disguising herself as a student to integrate into society, poses a potential threat far exceeding that of an ordinary Spirit! She must be eliminated before she causes greater harm!"
"Second, DEM Company's Spirit Wave analysis technology is at least thirty years ahead of the rest of the world. This 7.3% similarity, occurring between two completely different physical forms, has statistical significance far beyond your imagination! It is sufficient proof that the two share the same origin!"
"Third... 7.3%? Hmph. To put it in a way you can understand, this is like accurately pinpointing the sole suspect in a vast crowd using a single, fragmented fingerprint. DEM Company's Spirit Wave Tracing technology analyzes the most fundamental'signature' of the Authority, not its superficial fluctuations."
"While the superficial Spirit Wave differs greatly between different forms, the core'signature'—which is the parameter we are comparing—remains constant. To find a 7.3% core signature match between two completely different forms..."
"This is no longer a matter of probability, but conclusive proof of identity. Our company's database and algorithms are the absolute authority in this field. Your skepticism stems from ignorance."
She paused, her voice carrying a hint of cruel finality:
"Better to kill the wrong person than let the right one go. That is our attitude toward Spirits. As for the issue of revealing ourselves to ordinary people..."
A cold curve appeared on her lips, "As long as the cleanup is fast enough, 'ordinary people' won't have time to react. Even if there is some leakage, DEM Company has sufficient capability to manage the aftermath."
This cold and aggressive statement made many AST members uneasy.
But under Ellen's powerful aura and the absolute authority of DEM Company, no one dared to speak up in rebuttal.
"Now, everyone proceed to the lounge and stand by, conserving your energy. We depart tomorrow according to assigned tasks!" Ellen issued the final command.