With that, the GDI relief operation truly began.
Veronica immediately went to work, generating food and clean drinking water through her systems and distributing the supplies throughout the cathedral grounds. The Royal Navy maids took charge of the cooking, while several women from the village stepped forward to help them. Before long, the smell of freshly prepared food began filling the cathedral, replacing the lingering scent of smoke and blood.
Takao and her sisters moved among the survivors, helping those who were unable to walk or needed assistance. They carefully carried the injured, helped the elderly to their feet, and reassured frightened children who were still shaken by the battle.
Meanwhile, the doctors established their field hospital.
Vestal, Yuu, Mary, and Pepper deployed Med Bays throughout the cathedral. One became two.
Then five.
Then ten.
The cathedral itself was gradually transformed into a massive emergency medical center.
There were simply too many patients.
Every survivor was examined.
The elderly.
Men and women.
Children.
Resistance fighters.
Even those who had suffered injuries during the battle were brought forward for treatment.
Yuu moved between the Med Bays with remarkable efficiency, but she wasn't physically operating each one.
She didn't need to.
Her armor's interface connected directly to the medical systems, allowing her to control all ten Med Bays simultaneously.
Her eyes constantly scanned the information streaming across her display.
Injury detected.
Fracture identified.
Internal bleeding.
Severe tissue damage.
Critical condition.
Each problem was immediately addressed.
The Med Bays responded to Yuu's commands almost instantly, medical systems activating around each patient as advanced treatment began.
Some of the villagers had injuries that should have taken months to recover from.
Some had lost limbs.
Others were barely clinging to life.
Yet before the eyes of their families, the impossible happened.
Severed limbs began regenerating.
Broken bones were repaired.
Deep wounds closed.
Internal injuries were restored.
Patients who had been carried into the cathedral in critical condition eventually opened their eyes again.
Some stared at their restored hands.
Others touched their faces, their arms, or their legs in disbelief.
And then came the smiles.
Small at first.
Then wider.
Families embraced one another.
Children cried with relief.
Resistance fighters who had been certain they would never walk again slowly stood on their own feet.
Yuu watched it all with quiet focus, moving from one patient to another without hesitation.
For the GDI members, the sight was strangely familiar.
It reminded them of the people they had saved back in Autumn Isle.
Once again, someone had arrived after the destruction and refused to let the wounded simply become another casualty of war.
Vestal, Mary, and Pepper could only stare in awe.
They had never seen Yuu work before rather than as their teacher and guide.
But this was different.
She was simultaneously managing ten Med Bays, examining every patient, identifying their injuries, prioritizing treatment, and directing the machines with an efficiency that left almost no room for wasted movement.
Vestal finally understood.
Mary and Pepper did too.
This was why Yuu was the Head Doctor of the GDI.
She wasn't simply an exceptionally skilled physician.
She could coordinate an entire field hospital almost entirely by herself.
Still, Yuu wasn't doing everything alone.
"Vestal, Mary, Pepper. Take the patients with minor and moderate injuries. There seemed to be a lot of them. I am counting on you three."
"Yes, Dr Yuu," Vestal replied.
The three apprentice doctors immediately got to work.
They assisted villagers whose injuries were less severe, examined wounds, applied treatments, and used their medical gizmos under Yuu's guidance.
Every patient became another lesson.
Every diagnosis was another opportunity to learn.
They had already accepted Yuu as their master, and watching her work only strengthened their determination to become doctors worthy of standing beside her.
Inside the village not far from the cathedral, the Bulins were busy as well.
"Bulins!"
The little workers moved through the surviving parts of the village, searching for anyone who had been missed.
Those who could walk were guided toward the cathedral.
Those who could not were carefully carried or assisted by the Bulins, with GDI legions helping whenever necessary.
More and more survivors began arriving.
And with every new patient brought through the cathedral doors, Yuu and the other doctors were ready.
The battle was over.
Now the GDI had another battle to fight—
keeping the survivors alive.
Meanwhile, after helping with the relief effort, Kaguya finally approached Yuuki.
Despite the fact that several villagers were still staring at her, Kaguya paid them no attention. Her usual playful expression had disappeared, replaced by a seriousness Yuuki had rarely, if ever, seen from her.
"Dearest, this wife has urgent news."
Yuuki immediately noticed the change in her demeanor.
He nodded.
"Okay. Let's sit down and relay it to me."
The two moved slightly away from the others and sat down.
Kaguya took a breath.
"There is another Arcane Shipgirl."
Yuuki's expression sharpened.
"Another one?"
"The Arcane of the North," Kaguya continued. "The one called Irisviel von Einzbern."
Yuuki listened carefully.
"She was the one who saved the Town-class sisters. She led them away, fed them, and sheltered them when they had nowhere else to go. She also saved the KanColle Shipgirls and defeated the siren fleet waiting for their arrival to this world."
Kaguya's golden eyes became somber.
"But the Raptures eventually found them."
Yuuki remained silent.
"She was captured while covering Sheffield and her three sisters' escape."
She paused.
"Arcane Shipgirl of the North. Four-Star Mage—Irisviel von Einzbern. She is this wife's northern friend."
Kaguya looked toward the distant horizon.
"They are located in an captured château not far from here. We have to hurry, dearest."
Her voice became quieter.
"Her magic is getting weaker."
Yuuki immediately stood.
"Then we have no time to waste."
He opened his communications interface and contacted Yuu.
"Yuu, I'll leave everything to you."
Yuu's voice came through almost immediately.
"Understood. Go, chief. We can take it from here."
Takao approached after hearing the exchange.
"Shikikan-sama, we can come with you."
Yuuki shook his head.
"No need. You girls stay here and help out. There's a lot of people who still need assistance."
He gestured toward the cathedral and the surrounding village.
"The Legions, Brutes, and Veronica will help out here as well. Kaguya and I will suffice."
Sheffield stepped forward.
"Master! I can help you there."
She pointed toward the direction of the château.
"I know the château inside out. I once infiltrated it while searching for a missing villager. Not thoroughly, but I know the layout well enough."
She bowed her head.
"Please let this maid assist you."
Manchester stepped forward as well, accompanied by Liverpool and Gloucester.
"We can take it from here," Manchester said.
Liverpool nodded.
"A lot of people helped us. It's only fair we return the favor."
Gloucester gave a small nod.
"Especially now that the villagers are assisting with the cooking."
Indeed, several of the women who had already been treated were now helping the maids prepare and distribute food.
Yuuki considered it for a moment.
"I see..."
He reached into his equipment storage and pulled out a compact, triangular armor platform.
"Sheffield, here."
Sheffield accepted it carefully.
"Find somewhere private and take off your clothes. Press the button here, and let the armor assemble itself."
Sheffield examined the device.
"This is..."
"The Echo Suit Mark I," Yuuki explained. "It's the Mark I version of what Takao wore. The Mark II requires the Levelling System to operate properly."
He nodded toward the armor.
"I can lend you this one."
"I see..."
Sheffield nodded.
She took the triangular armor platform into the cathedral, disappearing from sight for a few minutes.
When she returned, the Royal Navy maid was clad in the Echo Suit Mark I.
The sleek armor fitted itself around her body, its systems coming online with a quiet mechanical hum.
Yuuki looked her over.
"Good."
He then produced two silenced Falcon Elite automatic pistols and handed them to her.
"Bel told me you prefer using two-handed pistols rather than other weapons?"
Sheffield accepted the weapons.
"I can use others, but I prefer pistols."
"Good."
Yuuki turned toward Kaguya.
"Kaguya, hide your ears and tails. We need to go covert."
"Hai, dearest husband!"
Kaguya smiled.
Her ten purple tails gradually demanifested, followed by her fox ears, leaving her appearance completely human.
At the same time, her own Echo Suit Mark II began assembling around her body.
Sheffield stared.
"Master?"
Yuuki turned toward her.
"Is Lady Kaguya your wife?"
Kaguya's eyes immediately lit up.
"Why yes, dear Sheffield. This wife—"
She was about to launch into a proud declaration when Yuuki calmly raised a finger and placed it against her lips.
"Not yet."
Kaguya froze.
"Dearest!"
She pulled back dramatically.
"All I need is your stamp, a ring, a wedding ceremony, and vows!"
Yuuki sighed.
Of course.
Kaguya was an incredibly powerful Arcane.
She was also the absolute epitome of shamelessness.
Yuuki opened his communications channel.
"Hana?"
"Yes, Commander?" Yorktown answered from the Daedalus.
"Have Grimm survey the location of the château. I'll mark it on the map."
"Roger."
High above them, Grimm immediately took off.
The enormous android eagle spread his mechanical wings and soared toward the distant château, beginning his reconnaissance.
Yuuki looked toward the captured Rapture vehicles that had survived the battle.
"Let's take the captured APC."
He glanced at Sheffield and Kaguya.
"The Raptures won't suspect a thing."
With that, Yuuki, Kaguya, and Sheffield prepared to leave.
Their destination was an abandoned château.
Their objective was an Arcane Shipgirl whose magic was fading.
And somewhere inside that château, Irisviel von Einzbern was running out of time.
===========
Deep beneath the abandoned château, several floors below the surface, a secret laboratory remained hidden from the outside world.
Rows of machinery hummed in the dimly lit chamber.
In the center of the laboratory stood a massive cylindrical containment tank filled with translucent liquid.
Inside it floated a woman.
Her long white hair drifted weightlessly around her head, spreading through the liquid like pale silk. Tubes were connected to her body and threaded through her hair, feeding the machinery surrounding the tank.
She was completely naked, but modesty was the least of her concerns.
She was awake.
She simply couldn't move.
Her body remained suspended in the liquid, completely unresponsive to her commands.
The liquid wasn't merely keeping her alive.
It was draining her.
Her physical stamina was being siphoned away through the tubes.
But worse than that—
her magical energy was being extracted.
Slowly.
Constantly.
Painfully.
A scientist examined the readings on the nearby monitor.
"If we drain anymore, she'll die before the day ends."
Another scientist barely looked up from his console.
"Orders were to keep draining her."
The first scientist frowned.
"Oi. What about offending the Von Einzbern family?"
That earned a dismissive laugh.
"Them? They barely have anything left. What are they going to do?"
He returned to his work.
"What about the other two?"
The scientist glanced toward another section of the laboratory.
"What about them? They're just useless Shipgirls."
The machinery continued humming.
The woman inside the tank slowly turned her eyes toward the other containment chambers.
Two more figures were suspended nearby.
One had red hair.
The other had pink hair.
Both were floating inside their own tubes, unconscious and connected to similar machinery.
She remembered them.
They were Iron Blood.
They had been the primary research subjects before she arrived two days ago.
She didn't know their names.
She had never been given the opportunity to learn them.
Her gaze lingered on them for a moment before she looked upward again.
Is this mine prison from now on? Or.. will this one die before she could see the sun again?
The thought drifted through her exhausted mind.
Perhaps she should simply sleep.
Perhaps that was all she could do now.
But then—
she felt something.
Her eyes widened slightly.
An unfamiliar presence had entered her senses.
No.
Not unfamiliar.
An Arcane.
Only an Arcane could truly perceive another Arcane's presence from a distance.
And this one was nearby.
Very nearby.
Her exhausted expression suddenly changed.
She knew that energy.
"Kaguya...?"
Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"Thou art here?"
Hope immediately collided with fear.
"No..."
Her eyes widened.
"Please... stay away."
She knew exactly what would happen if Kaguya came here.
"Do not let thyself be captured."
But then she felt something else.
Something beside Kaguya.
Her entire consciousness seemed to freeze.
A brilliant presence.
A source of light so intense that, within her Arcane senses, everything else seemed to disappear.
Only that light remained.
It was warm.
Familiar.
The same warmth she had felt two weeks ago.
The same light that had appeared in her life after decades of darkness.
She could feel it again.
And this time—
it was coming toward her.
Her heart tightened.
That warmth had always done something to her.
Whenever she sensed it, the negativity inside her mind seemed to disappear.
Fear.
Loneliness.
Despair.
All of it faded beneath that overwhelming warmth.
It was as though the light itself reached into her heart and reminded her that she still had a purpose.
That she still had a reason to exist.
For more than thirty years, she had hidden her identity as an Arcane.
She had lived as a guardian in the shadows.
A hidden guardian without a purpose of her own.
The Von Einzbern family had been nothing more than a cover.
A name.
A façade.
They had even attempted to marry her off for their own interests.
She had endured it all.
Until that light appeared two weeks ago.
For the first time in decades, she had felt something calling to her heart.
She rejected the marriage.
She abandoned the Von Einzbern household.
And she went searching for the source of that light.
She wanted to find it.
She wanted to fulfill her purpose once more.
And there was another reason.
The girls.
The Shipgirls she had rescued ten years ago.
She had secretly returned to see them every few months, watching over them from the shadows.
They had become precious to her.
Then she discovered the truth.
The Von Einzbern family had learned that she had disobeyed them.
They had hired the Raptures to clear the island.
When she finally returned, she found the island already destroyed.
The inhabitants had been slaughtered.
The girls she had protected were being hunted.
Yet four of them had managed to escape.
She had no choice.
She surrendered herself so that Sheffield and her sisters could flee.
And now—
here she was.
Suspended in a laboratory beneath a château.
Her magical energy being drained from her body.
Her strength fading by the hour.
Her life slowly being consumed.
But now she could feel Kaguya.
And beside Kaguya—
that light.
The very light she had been searching for.
The warmth she had felt two weeks ago.
The presence that had awakened something inside her that she had buried for more than thirty years.
Her eyes slowly widened.
"It is coming..."
Her voice trembled.
"The light..."
For the first time since she had been captured, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Kaguya was close.
And the light was coming toward her.
Closer.
Closer still.
Irisviel closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to feel that warmth again.
She had spent decades protecting others.
She had abandoned everything when she finally found the thing her heart had been seeking.
And now—
that light had finally come to find her.
==================
Outside the cathedral, the preparations were nearly complete.
Kaguya now looked like an ordinary woman.
Her fox ears and ten enormous purple tails had been completely demanifested, leaving no trace of the Arcane of the East that the villagers had witnessed earlier.
Sheffield, meanwhile, had been familiarizing herself with the Falcon Elite pistols Yuuki had given her.
She tested their weight, checked the controls, and practiced drawing them.
Yuuki watched for a moment.
It was rather impressive seeing Sheffield handle two pistols at once with such natural confidence.
Then Yuuki yawned.
A long, exhausted yawn.
He had been participating in operations almost nonstop.
This was already his fourth operation within twenty-four hours.
He was tired.
Very tired.
Yet there was another problem he had noticed.
Several of the village women were looking at him.
Some were whispering among themselves.
Others were giving him rather obvious signals.
Yuuki didn't pay much attention to it.
His Shipgirls, however, certainly did.
Their relationship with Yuuki was already accepted through the bond between their Wisdom Cubes. Because of that connection, they didn't feel jealous when Yuuki interacted with other Shipgirls.
That bond was something they understood.
Humans were different.
Seeing ordinary human women harboring romantic feelings toward their Commander was another matter entirely.
Takao's expression tightened.
Atago's smile became suspiciously sweet.
Maya quietly watched the women.
Choukai's ears had already begun twitching.
Kaguya noticed everything.
She smirked.
Then she deliberately stepped beside Yuuki.
"Husband, we should be on our way."
The effect was immediate.
Several village women who had been looking at Yuuki suddenly looked disappointed.
The handsome GDI Commander was already married.
At least, that was what Kaguya had just implied.
Some accepted the news.
Others apparently refused to give up that easily.
Yuu walked over before things could escalate.
"Be careful, Chief."
She looked directly at Yuuki.
"Bring Irisviel to me so I can examine her. If she's been drained of magic, I'm afraid her Cube could be damaged."
Yuuki's expression became serious.
"Can it be repaired?"
"Yes," Yuu replied. "Just using the Med Bay."
Yuuki nodded.
"Good."
Yuu smiled softly.
"Be careful. Leave everything to us."
Then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
A deliberate display.
Several of the watching women immediately widened their eyes.
Yuu stepped back.
Her message was perfectly clear.
She stood with him.
Before Yuuki could say anything, Atago approached from the other side.
"Shikikan-sama."
She kissed his other cheek.
Takao stared at her sister.
"Atago-nee!"
Atago merely smiled.
Takao sighed before stepping forward herself.
She gave Yuuki a quick kiss on the cheek as well.
The surrounding women could only stare.
Three Shipgirls had just made their positions very clear.
Yuuki, however, was far too exhausted to process what they were doing.
He simply rubbed his eyes.
"Can we just go?"
Kaguya giggled.
"Of course, dearest."
The three finally headed toward the captured Rapture APC.
Yuuki had already modified its controls, replacing the original Rapture interface with something much more familiar.
An accelerator.
A brake.
And manual steering.
Sheffield climbed into the driver's seat.
"I'll drive."
Yuuki nodded.
"Just keep us on the road."
Sheffield gave the controls a quick inspection.
"Understood."
The APC's engine roared to life.
Yuuki and Kaguya took their seats inside while Sheffield settled behind the controls.
The journey would take roughly an hour.
It was a long way to travel by ground.
But there was a reason they weren't taking the Razor Gunship.
And they certainly couldn't simply fly there.
The captured château would have Rapture air defenses and surveillance systems surrounding it. An obvious GDI aircraft—or three people flying directly toward the location—would immediately alert the enemy.
Worse, if the Raptures realized an Arcane was being rescued, they might simply terminate Irisviel before Yuuki and the others could reach her.
They couldn't risk it.
They needed to remain covert.
The captured APC began moving away from the village, blending into the surrounding territory as though it were just another Rapture vehicle.
Inside, Yuuki leaned back against his seat.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
One hour or less depending on how fast Sheffield drives.
Just one hour before they reached the château.
"Dearest, if thou wish, thou can rest upon mine shoulder for the rest of the ride."
Kaguya smirked.
She remembered how Houshou had taken advantage of opportunities like this whenever Yuuki was exhausted. If her dearest husband was tired, there was certainly no reason for her to waste the opportunity.
Yuuki glanced at her.
"You don't mind?"
"I am thy wife, after all."
"Okay..."
Yuuki leaned back against his seat.
"Sorry, Sheffield. I wish to get to know you, but I'm quite tired."
Sheffield glanced toward him from the driver's seat.
"We can do that later, Master. Please recover first."
Yuuki nodded.
He rested his head against Kaguya's shoulder.
Within moments, he silently fell asleep.
Kaguya looked down at him.
"Poor dearest... Thou must truly be exhausted."
She gently adjusted herself so that his head rested more comfortably.
"Rest, knowing thou art safe in mine hands."
Sheffield glanced at them through the rearview display.
"Is Master really that tired?"
"Yes," Kaguya replied softly. "Mine dearest has been working nonstop. Today was quite an operation. Please do not mind if dearest is extremely tired."
The APC continued along the road.
For a while, the ride was quiet.
The only sounds were the steady rumble of the engine and the occasional vibration of the vehicle passing over uneven ground.
Then Kaguya broke the silence.
"How dost thou know of Iris?"
Sheffield kept her eyes on the road.
"Ten years ago, we fled from the Azur Lane main base. We intended to return to Royal Britain, but it was under Siren watch."
Sheffield's expression became distant.
"Then we met her."
"The Arcane Shipgirl named Irisviel."
Kaguya listened carefully.
"We were ambushed by Sirens. Irisviel single-handedly defeated the entire Siren fleet and led us to an island far from the Siren-controlled waters."
"She delivered supplies to us and visited once every few months."
A faint smile appeared on Sheffield's face.
"We became friends with her."
Sheffield paused.
"Then, a year ago... she arrived with the KanColle Shipgirls."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow.
"We already knew Kashima, Katori, Mamiya, and Irako. They were our KanColle allies whom we had found fifteen years ago."
Sheffield shook her head slightly.
"However, we never expected three more to appear a year ago."
Her expression darkened.
"Then we found Iris again."
Sheffield's hands tightened slightly around the steering controls.
"But she allowed herself to be captured so we could escape."
Kaguya remained silent.
"We couldn't allow ourselves to be captured after that. It would dishonor Iris's sacrifice."
Sheffield looked toward the road ahead.
"But we began putting the civilians here in danger."
Her voice softened.
"We wanted to leave the island and seek Master... but we didn't have enough fuel to even use our Ship Mode."
Kaguya nodded slowly.
"I understand."
She then smiled.
"Then allow this wife to introduce herself properly."
Sheffield glanced toward her.
"This wife is Kaguya. Arcane Shipgirl of the East. Codenamed The Fox."
She placed a hand against her chest with exaggerated pride.
"And this wife is the most beloved wife of Yuuki-san here."
Sheffield blinked.
"But Master said he isn't bound to anyone."
Kaguya's smile became mischievous.
"Yet..."
She leaned slightly closer.
"One day, for sure."
"Oh..."
Sheffield's expression remained composed, but there was a faint change in her eyes.
A small hint of jealousy.
She quickly decided to change the subject.
"That Iris... she is an Arcane as well?"
Kaguya nodded.
"Yes. Irisviel von Einzbern. Four-Star Mage. Arcane Shipgirl of the North."
Sheffield listened closely.
"I call her Iris as well."
"What kind of magic does she possess?"
"She is well-versed in string magic," Kaguya explained. "She forms magical strings and uses them to attack."
Kaguya's expression became thoughtful.
"Iris has yet to discover her true potential, however."
"String magic?"
"Indeed."
Kaguya's golden eyes gleamed.
"Those strings can become extremely powerful when wielded properly."
Sheffield nodded.
"So Iris still has much more power within her."
"Far more than she realizes."
Kaguya looked down at the sleeping Yuuki resting against her shoulder.
"And she is this wife's good friend."
Her smile softened.
"Iris has always been a humble one. This wife wishes to see Iris once more."
She gently brushed a strand of Yuuki's hair aside.
"I want to bring her somewhere she can finally call home. Somewhere we can live together instead of constantly being on the run."
She paused.
"Besides... we Arcanes feel a much stronger attraction toward dearest here."
Sheffield glanced at her.
"Stronger?"
Kaguya nodded.
"Arcanes naturally sense tremendous magical power. And dearest possesses an extraordinary amount of it."
She looked at Yuuki thoughtfully.
"This wife never asked him before, but this wife has always wondered why dearest never relies upon his magical abilities."
Sheffield raised an eyebrow.
"Magical abilities?"
"The Sakura Arcanes can even smell powerful magical energy."
Kaguya smiled faintly.
"This wife loves her dearest because that power gives off such a strong scent. It is a scent we Arcanes simply cannot ignore."
Sheffield glanced toward Yuuki.
"But Master doesn't seem like someone who relies on magic. Even against Mendoza a while ago, he just used his giant armor."
"He does not."
Kaguya chuckled softly.
"Dearest once told this wife that he prefers letting others excel instead. He has already had his moment."
Sheffield smiled faintly.
"Master is too humble."
"Indeed."
Kaguya looked down at Yuuki again.
"And Iris would love him."
Her voice carried absolute confidence.
"With his presence... his light... and that tremendous magical power of his..."
She smiled.
"Iris could never ignore him."
It wasn't long before they arrived.
Forty minutes later, the captured Rapture APC reached a massive gate leading into an underground tunnel.
The Rapture droids stationed nearby barely paid them any attention.
Why would they?
It was a Rapture vehicle.
As far as they were concerned, it belonged there.
The APC passed through the gate without incident.
Inside the vehicle, Kaguya looked down at Yuuki, who had spent most of the journey asleep against her shoulder.
She had to admit...
She wanted him to sleep longer.
The more he relied upon her, even for something as simple as resting his head against her shoulder, the happier she was.
But all good things had to come to an end.
"Dearest..."
Yuuki slowly opened his eyes.
"Kaguya? Did I sleep that long?"
"Not that long, dearest."
Yuuki rubbed his eyes.
"Sorry. I needed the rest."
"Pfff... Thy wife really hoped you would sleep longer."
He looked toward the front of the APC.
"I guess we arrived?"
"Yes, Master," Sheffield replied.
Yuuki sat upright and stretched slightly before arming his Mark 86 armor. Then, He turned towards Sheffield.
"Are you fine with me, Sheffield?"
Sheffield remained quiet for a moment.
"I am."
She glanced at him through the rearview display.
"If you were some other commander, I admit, I wouldn't have had any expectations."
She paused.
"But your heart told me otherwise."
Her expression softened.
"Your voice kept me wanting to stay alive. I would've come if I didn't trust you at all. Much less offer myself as a guide to this forsaken place."
Yuuki nodded.
"I see."
Sheffield suddenly realized how blunt she had been.
"Ah, please forgive me if I tend to speak my mind."
She bowed her head slightly.
"I hope you won't think badly of me."
"Not at all, Sheffield. Belfast vouched for you and I trust her."
Yuuki smiled.
"It's fine."
Sheffield returned the smile.
"Sheffy will be fine. My sisters call me that. Bel calls me that."
Yuuki nodded.
"Alright, Sheffy."
The maid smiled to herself.
The APC came to a stop.
Yuuki, Kaguya, and Sheffield exited the vehicle and approached the gate.
They climbed up carefully, keeping themselves low as they reached a position where they could observe the château grounds.
Below them, a Rapture light tank rolled through the entrance and disappeared into the château's perimeter.
Yuuki watched it for a moment before opening his communications channel.
"Hana?"
A familiar voice answered.
"Ah, you finally called, Commander."
Yorktown.
"Sorry. I needed a bit of rest."
Yuuki glanced toward the château.
"So, any eyes?"
"Yes."
Yorktown's tone became more professional.
"Grimm mapped out the château. It seems to be less guarded than expected."
Yuuki nodded.
"Well, they did send their forces out and lost miserably."
"That's probably why."
Yuuki looked toward the massive structure.
"Jarvis?"
His helmet's interface activated.
"Have you scanned the facilities? Any location we can use?"
Jarvis responded immediately.
"Internal schematics indicate that the war room, containing the central computer system, is located on the top floor of the château. Significant information could be found there."
A brief pause followed.
Then Jarvis continued.
"Sir, internal schematics indicate two Master Control Terminals located on opposite sides of the château."
A holographic map appeared before Yuuki.
"One is beneath the greenhouse. The other is beneath the barracks shower facility."
Two points highlighted on the map.
"It is imperative that you hack these terminals to disable the alarm system."
Yuuki studied the holographic layout.
"So we have two objectives before we start making noise."
He looked toward Kaguya and Sheffield.
"Disable the alarm system."
His eyes shifted toward the château.
"Then find Iris."
========
The main entrance was far more heavily guarded than Yuuki had hoped.
A sniper droid watched from one of the towers, its weapon slowly sweeping across the surrounding grounds. Several Rocket Droids hovered high above the château walls, while Rapture helicopters maintained regular patrol routes through the sky.
Getting inside unnoticed would not be easy.
Yuuki activated the stealth systems of his Mark 86.
Kaguya followed suit.
Sheffield attempted to activate hers as well.
Then paused.
"Master..."
Yuuki looked over.
Sheffield was struggling with the suit's interface.
"There are quite a few functions."
Yuuki almost smiled.
"Yeah. The Echo Suit has several combat modes. Stealth, Overdrive, Heroic, Armor, and Speed."
He moved closer and guided her through the interface.
"Stealth reduces your detection signature. Overdrive boosts your performance by injected adrenaline to increase brain activity. Heroic increases your weapon output. Armor prioritizes protection, while Speed maximizes your movement."
Sheffield carefully followed his instructions.
The armor's interface responded.
Stealth activated.
The Echo Suit's systems dimmed, reducing its visible signature.
Sheffield looked at her hands.
"So this is Stealth."
"Exactly. Get used to it since you'll be using it a lot once you join the GDI."
It took a little while before she became comfortable with the controls.
But Sheffield was a fast learner.
Once she understood how the system worked, she began switching between the modes with increasing confidence.
Yuuki nodded approvingly.
"Not bad, Sheffy."
"Thank you, Master."
The three moved toward the nearest tower.
They remained concealed beneath the stealth systems, carefully timing their movements with the patrols.
Grimm circled high above them, silently surveying the area and feeding information back to the Daedalus.
Yorktown continued guiding them through the safest route.
Then—
A transmission came through the Rapture communications network.
"This is Rapture Delta 14. We are dropping a couple of rocket droids to guard the entrance. Only long enough to re-equip. Skip the standard checking. Ravenshaw's orders."
Yuuki stopped.
"Ravenshaw?"
Kaguya looked toward him.
"Who is that?"
Sheffield answered quietly.
"I don't know much, but he is the man who controlled the Black Hand of this island."
Her expression hardened.
"He ordered Mendoza to attack the village to find us."
Yuuki's eyes narrowed.
"Hmm."
He looked toward the château.
"With Mendoza dead, I think he might pull the panic button."
He paused.
"And I can hear that Behemoth is quite pissed."
Sheffield glanced at him.
"Behemoth?"
"The Rapture leader of this section of the region."
Yuuki continued moving.
"The Sirens seem to be preoccupied with their own troubles right now. But once the Raptures are removed from this island, we might need to install a Gap Generator here."
Sheffield looked confused.
"Why?"
"If the Sirens come here, they'll destroy the village."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
"I'm not letting that happen."
The three continued their infiltration.
Their first target was the left side of the château.
The Master Control Terminal beneath the greenhouse was their immediate objective.
But Yuuki had already prepared a contingency.
Before leaving the tower, he placed a small device behind.
It would serve as a distraction.
Once the first Master Control Terminal was disabled, Yuuki could trigger it and draw attention toward the tower, allowing them to move toward the barracks section while the Raptures investigated the disturbance.
They reached a door leading into the château's maze garden.
Yuuki opened it carefully.
Beyond the entrance was an enormous garden filled with winding paths, hedges, statues, and hidden corners.
It was also heavily guarded.
Rapture patrols moved between the hedges.
Security droids stood at several intersections.
Above them, helicopters continued circling.
Sheffield looked over the garden.
"This is going to be difficult."
Yuuki nodded.
"That's why we have eyes in the sky."
High above the château, Grimm continued his patrol.
Yorktown's voice came through their communications.
"Commander, I've got your route."
A path appeared on Yuuki's HUD.
"Move through the eastern section of the maze. There should be a clear opening near the greenhouse."
Yuuki looked toward Sheffield.
"Sheffy, stay close."
"Yes, Master."
Kaguya smiled.
"Lead the way, dearest."
The three disappeared into the maze.
Silent.
Invisible.
And moving deeper into the Rapture-controlled château.
They climbed over the château wall and remained crouched on the other side, carefully watching the maze garden below.
Rapture patrols moved between the hedges.
The three waited.
They didn't move until the nearest guards had passed.
Sheffield quietly looked toward the greenhouse.
"Master, can you let me handle the Master Control Terminal in the greenhouse? I know that place."
Yuuki nodded.
"Sure."
He reached into his equipment and produced a compact hacking device.
"You can use this. Just let Jarvis in, and he'll take control of the château's security system."
Sheffield looked at the device.
"Jarvis?"
"GDI's main AI."
Yuuki handed it to her.
"Just get close to the terminal, connect the hacking device, and let Jarvis do the work."
Sheffield carefully accepted it.
"Understood."
Yuuki glanced toward the greenhouse.
"Once the terminal is disabled, we'll have an easier time moving through the château."
Sheffield nodded.
Then she activated Stealth.
The Echo Suit's systems quietly engaged.
Sheffield stepped off the wall.
She landed on the ground without making a sound.
Not even the slightest metallic clank.
Sheffield's eyes widened.
She looked down at her armored boots.
Incredible...
The armor looked completely metallic.
She should have made noise.
Yet Stealth had somehow suppressed almost every sound of her movement.
Sheffield glanced upward.
Yuuki and Kaguya remained on the rooftop, watching her.
Sheffield couldn't help wondering.
How could Master entrust me with technology like this?
She had only met him today.
Yet he had handed her an advanced combat suit, weapons, and even access to GDI's technology without hesitation.
He trusted her enough to send her alone into an enemy facility.
Sheffield tightened her grip around the hacking device.
Perhaps that was simply the kind of commander he was.
A man who trusted those who had chosen to stand beside him.
Sheffield turned toward the greenhouse.
"Let's do this."
She slipped into the shadows and began making her way toward the entrance.
Above her, Yuuki watched silently.
Kaguya stood beside him.
The two remained on the rooftop, waiting for Sheffield to reach the Master Control Terminal.
One step at a time, Sheffield disappeared deeper into the greenhouse.
The first stage of their infiltration had begun.
=============
From the rooftop, Yuuki and Kaguya had a clear view of the enormous château.
It was far larger than either of them had expected.
Its sprawling wings, courtyards, gardens, and underground structures made it more like a private estate than a simple residence.
And somewhere beneath all of it was a secret laboratory.
According to Sheffield, the château had originally belonged to a wealthy family. The Rapture Black Hand had captured it only recently, before Sheffield and her sisters arrived.
Why they had chosen to build a secret laboratory underneath it remained unknown.
Yuuki remained crouched on the rooftop, watching the patrols below.
Kaguya stood beside him.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Kaguya broke the silence.
"To be honest, dearest..."
"Hm?"
Yuuki glanced at her.
Kaguya looked toward the distant horizon.
"Mine life was nothing but dull before meeting thou."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"This wife merely walked to town every day. Lived each day as though this wife were an ordinary human."
She smiled faintly.
"No one even noticed that this wife was an Arcane Shipgirl."
Her voice carried a hint of melancholy.
"It was a simple life."
She looked toward Yuuki.
"Everything was dull, dearest."
Then her expression softened.
"When thy light came two weeks ago, descending from the heavens..."
Kaguya's eyes reflected the faint glow of the city beyond the château.
"This wife could not believe that she had finally found something worth living for."
She folded her hands together.
"This wife decided to wait for thee after thou called upon us. Shipgirls and Arcanes alike."
A quiet sigh escaped her.
"This wife wanted to come immediately, but this one could not leave the magical tree on the previous island."
She looked at him.
"Then thou came. The heavens answered mine prayers to see thee."
Yuuki listened quietly.
"I see..."
Kaguya smiled.
"Thou seem to possess immense magical power."
Yuuki sighed.
"You noticed, huh?"
"Yes."
Kaguya's smile became knowing.
"Magical energy is not foreign to this wife. Yours, dearest, is extremely immense."
Yuuki looked away.
"Sigh... I guess I can't hide it in front of Arcane Shipgirls, since you can detect magic."
He rested his arms against the rooftop ledge.
"I wish not to rely on magic, Kaguya. I never intended to."
Kaguya listened carefully.
"I've lived two lifetimes being a hero."
Yuuki's expression became thoughtful.
"Maybe in this life, I wanted to rely on and train heroes instead of being one."
He glanced toward the château grounds, where his Shipgirls were waiting back at the village.
"They're my contingency plans."
Kaguya smiled.
"Like thou said before."
"Yeah."
Yuuki nodded.
"I didn't want to be the guy who did everything."
His voice became quieter.
"Do everything. Solve everything. Save everyone."
He shook his head.
"I wanted you girls to be the ones doing that."
He smiled.
"Becoming the heroes."
"I'd rather be the one leading you."
Kaguya's expression softened.
"Thou truly art a man of talents."
She looked at him fondly.
"Thou hast something prepared for every contingency. Yet thou deliberately refrain from using powers that could harm others."
Her smile widened.
"Thou's level ten-thousand truly means nothing to thee."
Yuuki chuckled.
"I care nothing for levels."
Then his expression became sincere.
"But I really am happy seeing you girls moving up in levels."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Seeing you girls grow stronger is quite intoxicating."
His eyes returned to Kaguya.
"This is your world."
"You determine whether you save it or not."
"I only give you the tools."
Yuuki smiled.
"I wanted you girls to be strong, Kaguya."
"So you won't have to rely on me."
He paused.
"I've always fended for myself."
Then he looked at her.
"But seeing you girls worry so much, even knowing what I can do..."
His smile became warmer.
"It made me happy. Knowing someone cared for me."
Kaguya's eyes softened.
"Ufuu..."
She moved slightly closer.
"It is rare for this wife to have thee alone like this."
Her voice became gentle.
"Forgive this wife for wanting to be selfish for once."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"This wife truly does love thee."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"It is not merely because this wife sees thee as a powerful being with immense magical energy."
Her smile faded into something more sincere.
"Thou possess such a strong and pure heart."
"And thy scent..."
She breathed softly.
"This wife cannot love anyone but thee."
Yuuki listened quietly.
"We Sakura Arcanes have our own ways of detecting scent. When we find a scent we truly love, we love that scent for all our lives."
She smiled.
"Like a pet remaining loyal to its owner until death."
"You're not a pet, Kaguya."
Yuuki smiled.
Kaguya's expression softened.
"This wife knows."
"But this wife has loved thee since the day thou married mine heart."
She looked toward the sleeping village far beyond the château.
"There were times when this wife trusted only mine own strength."
Her gaze returned to him.
"Now, this wife wishes to dedicate it to serving the light within thee."
Her voice became almost a whisper.
"Thou art now my light."
Yuuki shook his head.
"I'm not such a man, Kaguya..."
Kaguya immediately smiled.
"Thou might not be the man chosen by the heavens."
She stepped closer.
"But thou art the man chosen by the heavens for us."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"Where no one wanted us, thou led us."
"Thou empowered us instead of doing everything thyself."
"Thou became the man we would follow."
She smiled mischievously.
"So allow this wife to be selfish."
Yuuki gave her a tired look.
"We're on a mission, you little fox."
Kaguya giggled.
"But I promise we'll properly go out with each other. I wanted to get to know my soon-to-be arcane wife."
Her smile widened as she lean on him.
"This wife shall hold thee to that promise, dearest."
=================
Sheffield entered the greenhouse under the cover of Stealth.
Her Echo Suit's systems remained almost completely silent as she moved between rows of plants and ornamental structures. Every step was deliberate, every movement timed with the patrols outside.
Above her, Grimm watched from the sky.
The android eagle circled silently over the château, constantly scanning the surrounding grounds and feeding everything he saw back to the Daedalus.
So far—
No one had noticed anything.
Sheffield continued deeper into the greenhouse until she spotted something unusual.
A narrow section of the wall appeared slightly different from the rest.
She approached and examined it.
A hidden security corridor.
Sheffield slipped inside.
The corridor descended farther into the château before opening into a small security room.
Several Rapture droids stood inside, their mechanical bodies connected to consoles and security systems.
Sheffield studied the equipment.
"This must control the first half of the château's security system."
Two separate security systems.
That explained why Yuuki had insisted they disable both Master Control Terminals.
Sheffield stepped closer to the terminal and raised the compact device Yuuki had given her.
A voice came through her suit's communications.
"Stand still, Miss Sheffield. I will initiate the hack."
Sheffield paused.
"You must be Jarvis."
"Yes. Very nice to meet you, Miss Sheffield. If you require anything, you may ask me."
"I see."
The device connected to the terminal.
A faint electronic pulse travelled through the interface.
"Initializing hacking sequence."
Lines of data began moving across Sheffield's visor.
"I can now control the security system. If an alert is triggered, I can instruct the system to ignore it."
Sheffield nodded.
"Proceed."
"Understood."
The hack completed.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then—
The security system spoke throughout the corridor.
"Stand down general alarm. Intruder alert canceled."
The droids continued their patrols as though nothing had happened.
Sheffield lowered the device.
"Quite convenient."
Jarvis responded calmly.
"That is what I am here for, Miss Sheffield."
Sheffield allowed herself a faint smile before slipping back into Stealth.
She exited the security room and retraced her route through the greenhouse.
By the time she emerged—
Yuuki and Kaguya were already waiting.
Yuuki looked at her.
"Done?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good."
Sheffield approached them.
"You're really the agent type."
Sheffield blinked.
Yuuki continued.
"Yorktown told me you and Edinburgh once infiltrated the shipyard where Orochi was stored."
His eyes narrowed with amusement.
"Even stealing the metal cube."
Sheffield looked slightly embarrassed.
"Master... you knew about the Orochi?"
Yuuki gave a small grin.
"We defeated it and claimed it."
Sheffield's eyes widened.
"Orochi now serves as the GDI Second Naval Fleet flagship."
Kaguya, standing beside him, let out a quiet sigh.
"This wife wishes to be able to join the battle as well. Alas..."
Yuuki glanced at her.
"Well, you might get to fight alongside it instead, little moon."
Kaguya blushed to herself hearing him called her 'Little Moon.'
Sheffield was still processing what she had heard.
"You have Orochi?"
"Yep."
Yuuki shrugged.
"Don't worry. The metal cube is busted and is currently being researched at Philadelphia."
Sheffield listened intently.
"Jarvis is also now the main AI controlling Orochi."
He paused.
"Not all of us were in that battle. At the time, I only had nine Shipgirls controlling the GDI First Naval Fleet."
His expression became thoughtful.
"Wales, Nimi, Eldridge, and Sandy had only just been recovered."
Sheffield's eyes widened further.
"We even recovered those who perished during the ambush years ago."
Yuuki continued speaking as though recounting another chapter of a long campaign.
"We defeated Akagi and Kaga, too."
A faint grin appeared.
"And now those crazy foxes are under my command."
Sheffield stared at him.
"Akagi and Kaga?"
"They're doing better now."
Sheffield shook her head slightly.
"Wow... you really are something, Master."
Then another question came to her.
"So... you really did recover Southampton?"
Yuuki's expression softened.
"She was among the fallen who haven't been revived yet."
Sheffield's smile faded.
"But her Cube remained intact."
He continued quietly.
"Alongside Kent, Repulse, and Suffolk."
Sheffield's breath caught.
"But they're not the only Royal Navy Shipgirls we've recovered."
Silence.
Sheffield lowered her gaze.
"I see..."
Her voice became quieter.
"So there are more of us."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"More awaiting to be called back into the world."
Sheffield tried desperately to hide the tears forming in her eyes.
Yuuki noticed.
"Be grateful that you survived."
His voice was gentle, but firm.
"None of them had that luxury."
He paused.
"Not even Elizabeth."
Sheffield lowered her head.
She knew.
The Queen had fallen.
And as painful as it was to admit, Sheffield knew that Her Majesty had wanted nothing more than for her people to live.
To survive.
To find a way to call those who had fallen back into this world.
Sheffield wiped the corner of her eye before looking up again and she understood something profound.
Her survival had not been a conclusion.
It was a beginning.
And somewhere beyond the battlefield, more of her fellow maid were still waiting for their chance to return.
"Sir, I recommend proceeding to the barracks shower facility and accessing the second Master Control Terminal. Once I establish a connection, I can disable the remaining security controls and prevent reinforcements from being deployed to the château."
Jarvis's voice came calmly through Yuuki's communications.
"Understood."
Yuuki turned toward Sheffield.
"Come on, Sheffy. We're moving."
"Yes, Master."
Yuuki took Sheffield into his arms before activating the silent-flight systems of his Mark 86.
Kaguya followed beside them.
The three silently rose above the château wall.
Below them sat the light tank Yuuki had previously hacked. It remained positioned near the tower, waiting to serve its purpose as the main distraction once Yuuki triggered the attack.
Their destination was farther ahead.
The barracks.
Or, more accurately, the Rapture facility responsible for housing personnel and producing droids.
As they approached, Sheffield noticed something unusual.
There was a helipad near the facility, along with several large underground entrances.
Yuuki studied the layout through his HUD.
"The place is bigger than I expected."
The facility was nestled between several hills, making it difficult to spot from outside. Most of its external access points appeared designed for underground transport vehicles.
The trucks entered through concealed passages, collected newly produced droids, and transported them toward the village or other Rapture-controlled areas.
It was less a barracks and more a hidden logistical hub.
And judging from the lights and movement inside—
Humans worked there as well.
Whether willingly or under Rapture control was another matter.
Yuuki's expression hardened slightly.
They passed silently over the outer gate.
Then descended toward the underground vehicle entrances.
The Mark 86's silent-flight systems continued operating without producing more than a faint mechanical hum.
Yuuki landed gently with Sheffield still in his arms.
Kaguya touched down beside them.
Sheffield immediately released herself from Yuuki's hold and checked her surroundings.
Kaguya glanced at the pistol attached to her Echo Suit.
She was far more accustomed to magic than firearms, but she had already proven capable of adapting quickly.
The Falcon pistol was not particularly difficult for her to understand.
After all, compared to manipulating magic, operating a firearm was relatively straightforward.
Yuuki looked toward the barracks.
"We expected this place to be full of droids."
Kaguya nodded.
"And it is."
The distant mechanical footsteps confirmed it.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Which makes what we're about to do even more useful."
He raised his hand.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, sir?"
"Let's activate the distraction."
"Understood."
Yuuki accessed the device he had previously planted near the tower.
With a simple command—
Beep.
The device activated.
A moment later, the château's main entrance erupted into chaos.
WEE-OOO! WEE-OOO!
The general alarm screamed across the grounds.
Droids immediately scrambled toward the main gate.
Rapture personnel rushed from their positions.
Security units repositioned.
The light tank Yuuki had previously hacked moved into position as part of the deception.
But there was no enemy.
No attack.
Nothing.
The entire response force had been pulled away from the barracks for nothing more than a false alarm.
Yuuki smiled.
"Perfect."
The three moved deeper into the facility.
Sheffield followed closely as Yuuki guided them toward the second security room.
After several minutes, they reached the hidden access corridor.
Yuuki entered the room and approached the second Master Control Terminal.
He raised the hacking device.
"Jarvis."
"Ready, sir."
Yuuki connected the device.
Data immediately flooded across his HUD.
The second security system resisted for several seconds before Jarvis began overriding its controls.
"Security protocols are being bypassed."
Sheffield watched the process.
The first terminal had already been compromised.
Now the second was falling as well.
Then—
"Access granted."
The system went silent.
A few seconds later, the château's announcement system activated.
"Stand down general alarm. Intruder alert canceled."
The alarms ceased.
The facility returned to its normal operating state.
Except now—
Jarvis controlled it.
"All security systems are now under our control," Jarvis reported.
Yuuki nodded.
"Good work."
The château's cameras flickered across his HUD.
One after another, every camera feed became accessible.
Hallways.
Courtyards.
Staircases.
Security rooms.
Barracks.
Laboratories.
Jarvis had eyes everywhere.
"Sir," Jarvis continued, "I now have control of the primary surveillance network."
Yuuki looked at the numerous camera feeds appearing across his visor.
"Nice."
He glanced at Kaguya and Sheffield.
"Now we can move without worrying about walking into an ambush."
Jarvis continued.
"Sir, the alarm caused the majority of the guards to scramble toward the main entrance. This presents an excellent opportunity."
A route appeared on Yuuki's HUD.
"I recommend entering the château immediately and proceeding toward the upper floors."
Yuuki studied the route.
"The main computer?"
"The primary computer is located on the uppermost floor of the château."
Jarvis highlighted the destination.
"Accessing it should provide complete control over the facility's internal systems."
Yuuki nodded.
"Then that's our next target."
He looked toward Sheffield.
"You ready, Sheffy?"
Sheffield checked her Falcon pistols before giving a confident nod.
"Ready, Master."
Kaguya smiled.
"Then let us rescue mine northern friend."
Yuuki turned toward the route leading back into the château.
"Let's move."
With Jarvis watching through every camera and the Rapture forces still distracted at the main entrance, the three slipped deeper into the enemy stronghold.
The château had no idea that its own security system had already betrayed it.
Yuuki had no interest in exploring the place.
He wasn't here to admire the château, investigate its history, or waste time searching through every room.
He had one objective.
Find the laboratory.
Find Irisviel.
And get her out.
As they moved through the corridors, Kaguya suddenly slowed.
Her expression changed.
"Dearest..."
Yuuki looked at her.
"It's getting even weaker."
Her golden eyes narrowed as she concentrated.
"She is deep underground. I can sense her presence, but I cannot determine how to reach her."
Yuuki's expression hardened.
"I know."
He glanced toward the upper floors.
"Let's go to the main computer. If anything can show us where that laboratory is, it'll be the château's central system."
They continued upward.
Eventually, they reached the dining hall.
Yuuki briefly stopped.
Unlike the mechanical facilities below, this section of the château was occupied primarily by humans.
The Black Hand wasn't composed entirely of machines.
Most of its personnel were human.
Traitors to humanity who had willingly chosen to serve the Raptures.
Yuuki's eyes swept across the room.
"Figures."
Kaguya quietly followed him.
Thanks to Jarvis controlling the security network, the cameras no longer posed a threat.
Every movement they made was invisible to the château's automated security.
But that didn't mean they could simply start shooting.
If the Black Hand realized something was wrong, they could trigger another response—possibly one that would alert the entire facility.
And with Irisviel somewhere beneath them, Yuuki wasn't taking that risk.
They moved through the dining hall without attracting attention and continued toward the upper floors.
Eventually, they reached the highest level.
"And the village will be under our control?"
A voice suddenly came through the communications channel.
Yuuki's voice followed immediately.
"Oh? Whose voice is that?"
The Black Hand personnel standing near the terminal stiffened.
"You have our word," one of them replied.
Yuuki's tone became colder.
"You mean your life?"
The man swallowed.
"I have your life on the line. You better see this through, or Behemoth will have my head."
Silence followed.
Then the mysterious voice disappeared from the channel.
The cathedral doors suddenly opened.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Sheffield immediately opened fire on the Black Hand personnel.
The men barely had time to react before the Royal Navy maid's weapons were trained directly on them.
The atmosphere inside the cathedral changed in an instant.
Whatever deal had just been made, Sheffield clearly had no intention of letting these men walk away.
Beyond them was not another living area.
It was a war room.
Large tactical displays covered the walls.
Maps, communications terminals, intelligence reports, and operational data filled the room.
Yuuki immediately approached the central computer.
"This is it."
He connected his hacking device.
"Jarvis, get me everything."
"Understood, sir."
The system began opening files.
One after another, reports appeared across Yuuki's HUD.
Then Yuuki's eyes widened.
"Wait..."
Kaguya looked toward him.
"What is it?"
Yuuki rapidly scanned the information.
His expression darkened.
"This..."
He opened another file.
Then another.
The operation reports were unmistakable.
The Black Hand stationed on this island had been responsible for the operation that led to Sheffield and her sisters being hunted.
But there was more.
The intelligence reports contained information supplied by the Von Einzbern family.
Yuuki's expression became cold.
"This!"
His fist tightened.
"They betrayed Iris!"
Kaguya's expression immediately turned furious.
"Thou meanest the Von Einzbern family?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah."
Kaguya's golden eyes burned with anger.
"The family that raised her..."
She clenched her hands.
"They handed her over to these monsters."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"Relax, little moon."
His voice remained calm.
"We'll get her back."
Sheffield had been silent until then.
She stepped closer to the terminal and read through the reports.
Her expression slowly hardened.
"The Von Einzbern family..."
She stared at the information.
"We will remember this."
Her voice was quiet.
But there was unmistakable anger behind it.
The reports contained more than just information about Irisviel.
There were records concerning the capture of Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Glasgow.
There were also files concerning the KanColle Shipgirls Akashi, Prinz Eugen, and Asahi.
Sheffield recognized the operations immediately.
But most of them were old.
Belfast had already destroyed the ship carrying the captured Shipgirls, along with its accompanying Siren fleet.
Those files were no longer useful.
Then—
Yuuki found something different.
A file marked with Irisviel's name.
He opened it.
The atmosphere in the room changed.
Images appeared across the screen.
Irisviel.
Captured.
Restrained.
Her magical energy being extracted.
Yuuki's expression darkened.
"What the hell..."
Jarvis began analyzing the files.
"Sir, these documents indicate that the Black Hand has been conducting extensive research into magical artifacts and Arcane energy."
Another file opened.
A diagram appeared.
A portable device containing a glowing magical core.
"The device appears to function as a portable magical extraction system."
Kaguya's eyes widened.
"They are draining her."
"Yes."
Yuuki stared at the data.
"They built a portable magical core specifically to extract her power."
Sheffield looked horrified.
"And they are keeping her alive while doing it."
Yuuki scrolled through the research.
The Black Hand had accumulated an extensive collection of magical artifacts.
Some had been recovered from ruins.
Others had been acquired through unknown sources.
Others appeared to have been supplied directly by the Von Einzbern family.
But the purpose was clear.
They weren't merely studying magic.
They were trying to understand it.
Replicate it.
And weaponize it.
Yuuki's hand tightened around the edge of the terminal.
"So this is what they've been doing."
Kaguya stepped beside him.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"They have been torturing Irisviel this entire time."
Yuuki's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"Not for information."
He looked at the magical extraction device displayed in the report.
"For her power."
The room fell silent.
Then Jarvis spoke.
"Sir, I have located references to the laboratory's security network."
Yuuki immediately looked up.
"Where?"
"Below the château."
A three-dimensional map appeared on Yuuki's HUD.
"Multiple subterranean levels. The laboratory appears to be located significantly deeper than the known underground facilities. Access is gained through the dining hall."
Kaguya closed her eyes.
She could feel Irisviel's presence again.
Weak.
Faint.
But still alive.
"She is there."
Yuuki nodded.
"Then that's where we're going."
He disconnected the hacking device.
"Let's get our girl back."
However, Yuuki wasn't finished with the computer.
He turned back toward the terminal.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, sir?"
"Search for Ravenshaw."
The system immediately began scanning the château's records.
A file appeared.
Gideon Raveshaw.
Yuuki's eyes narrowed as he read through the information.
General Gideon Raveshaw.
Founder and first leader of the Rapture Black Hand.
The Black Hand was not simply a collection of Rapture-controlled soldiers. It was a human organization—a brotherhood formed by people who had willingly pledged themselves to the Raptures and Sirens.
In other words—
Humanity's traitors.
The organization had existed for years, spreading quietly across different regions and factions.
Some of its members had infiltrated Aqua, Ark, and various other human factions, hiding in plain sight while secretly serving the Raptures.
Yuuki's expression became colder as another file opened.
A list.
Names.
Aliases.
Locations.
Covert members.
"Interesting."
He downloaded the information.
"This won't destroy the Black Hand."
Yuuki looked over the list.
"But it gives us a place to start."
Kaguya stepped closer.
"Thou intends to hunt them?"
"Eventually."
Yuuki closed the file.
"I'll find a way to expose every one of them."
He had seen organizations like this before.
Groups that hid behind ideology while betraying the very people they claimed to belong to.
He wasn't going to allow the Black Hand to grow into something more dangerous.
Not on his watch.
"Better to end them now before they become a major subfaction like the Brotherhood of Nod was in my world."
Sheffield looked at him.
"You truly have experience dealing with organizations like this."
Yuuki gave a humorless smile.
"Unfortunately."
Then—
Jarvis interrupted.
"Sir."
Yuuki looked up.
"I have located General Raveshaw."
The three immediately focused on the terminal.
"Where?"
"Underground."
A location marker appeared on the château's three-dimensional map.
Yuuki's eyes sharpened.
"He's here?"
"Yes, sir. His security identification confirms his presence within the subterranean complex."
A faint smile appeared on Yuuki's face.
"Well."
He reached toward the terminal.
"This might be our chance to eliminate him."
Kaguya's tails flickered behind her.
"Then let us end the humanity traitor."
"Not yet."
Yuuki pulled up the security schematics.
"We still need Irisviel."
He studied the underground layout.
The laboratory was several levels beneath the château.
Raveshaw was somewhere in the same subterranean complex.
That meant they had another opportunity.
If they were lucky, they could rescue Irisviel and eliminate the man responsible for this entire operation in one strike.
Jarvis highlighted a security access point.
"Sir, I have identified a security key required to access the deeper underground levels."
Yuuki immediately located the corresponding physical key through the computer's inventory records.
"There."
He reached into the secured compartment and pulled the key free.
It was a heavy electronic access device, marked with the Black Hand insignia.
Sheffield looked at it.
"Where does it lead?"
"Deep underground."
Yuuki glanced at the map.
"We'll need to descend to the basement first."
He pointed toward an elevator shaft.
"Then use this key to access the restricted elevator."
Kaguya looked toward the underground schematic.
"And beyond it lies the laboratory?"
Jarvis answered.
"Correct. The laboratory is located beneath the restricted subterranean levels."
Yuuki closed the map.
"Then we have our route."
He looked at Sheffield.
"Stay close."
"Yes, Master."
Kaguya stepped beside him.
"Let us bring Irisviel home."
Yuuki nodded.
"And if Raveshaw gets in our way..."
His expression hardened.
"He won't be leaving this château."
The three left the war room.
Behind them, the central computer continued silently feeding information to Jarvis.
For the first time, the château's entire security network belonged to the people invading it.
And deep beneath the ancient estate—
Both Irisviel and the man who had ordered her capture were waiting.