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Imperial Standard Time, 15:10. In the Seventh Assault Garden’s agricultural development block. The eighteenth platoon’s battle vehicle crossed through the gate Fenris had opened for them and drove through an underground personnel route to reach the designated spot. This area was on the outer rim of the Assault Garden and hadn’t become embroiled in the fighting yet.
“…Hmm. Are you sure this isn’t some kind of trap, Lady Selia?” Regina asked as she climbed down from the vehicle’s roof.
Riselia had the same misgivings, but—
“This is our only lead about where Miss Finé is.”
But also, the voice that called them had been familiar. She honestly didn’t know much about whoever it was—Miss Finé herself didn’t trust them, either. But even through the phone call, Riselia could feel that person was speaking with sincere emotion.
The three disembarked the battle vehicle, manifested their Holy Swords, and looked around cautiously. Since the entire area was given an evacuation order, the place was deserted. This massive harvesting factory, the cutting edge of magical technology, stood still and lifeless.
“There’s no one around…”
“I don’t feel any Voids, either,” Sakuya whispered.
But then they felt someone behind them.
“You made it.”
“…?!”
The trio turned around, Sakuya holding up Raikirimaru. The scenery warped before their eyes, and the figure of a woman in a white coat emerged from the shadows.
“Miss Clauvia…” Riselia stopped Sakuya and spoke to the woman.
Clauvia Phillet—a senior officer from the Anti-Void Research Laboratory, and Elfiné’s older sister.
“Where did you come from?” Sakuya demanded, her hand still on Raikirimaru’s grip and her eyes glinting dangerously. “I didn’t even sense your presence…”
“That would be the power of my Holy Sword, Sneak Ring. You could throw me in the middle of a swarm of Voids and I could mask my presence. A power worthy of a coward like me.” She smiled in self-derision and turned her eyes to Riselia. “I haven’t seen you since the Holy Light Festival, young Lady Crystalia.”
“…Yes.”
Riselia met Clauvia some two months ago, when she showed them the dragon trapped in the ice block in the Sixth Assault Garden’s museum. Soon after that, the situation went out of control…
“Miss Clauvia, why do you have Miss Finé’s terminal…?”
“Oh, her copy terminal. I borrowed it during the Holy Light Festival.” Clauvia shrugged, looking unapologetic. “Finé’s an amicable enough girl, but she doesn’t have many friends. I thought you’d be the only ones I could count on.”
“For what? What happened to Miss Finé?” Regina asked, her expression grave.
“Finé was abducted.”
“…What?”
“Taken by Phillet’s private militia.” Clauvia bit her lip. “I was careless. I didn’t think they’d act in broad daylight—”
“W-wait!” Riselia drew on Clauvia. “Why would they take Miss Finé…?!”
“She became too involved in the Phillets’ dark side. I have the Emperor’s younger brother to back me, but she tried to fight that man all on her own…”
“…What man?”
“Count Deinfraude Phillet,” Clauvia spat out the name bitterly.
“…”
The trio exchanged looks.
Elfiné had told them about the Phillet Foundation and its involvement in the D Project when they lodged together before the Holy Sword Dance Festival.
“Looks like Finé told you about at least some of it already.”
“Yes…”
“Honestly, I don’t know why that man decided to act now. But it’s clear he’s planning something awful, using this Stampede as a cover.”
Saying this, Clauvia straightened out her back and bowed her head to the three girls.
“Please. Save my sister.”
“Miss Clauvi—”
“Part of the army might be in Deinfraude’s pocket. They can’t be relied on. You’re the only ones I can count on right now—”
“W-we understand!” Riselia nodded and clasped Clauvia’s hand. “We’ll save Miss Finé. You can count on us.”
Regina and Sakuya nodded in agreement.
“…Thank you.” Clauvia bowed her head again.
“So do you know where she’s being held?” Sakuya asked.
Clauvia pointed at the tower standing at the center of the agricultural block.
“The Phillet’s seventh research facility. I analyzed surveillance camera footage from all over the city, and the car that took Finé definitely went there.”
“So you don’t know exactly where they’re keeping her.”
“No.” Clauvia shook her head. “The Astral Garden’s protection is strong there, and I couldn’t hack into the facility’s internal cameras.”
“Sneaking in isn’t an option, then.”
“Yes. I could use my Holy Sword to mask my presence, but that wouldn’t help me take her out of there. There’s Phillet’s private militia guarding the place, too.”
“—Some of them might be Holy Swordsmen, too,” Sakuya whispered.
Riselia nodded. “In that case, Miss Clauvia, we’ll have you hide yourself with your Holy Sword’s power and look for where Miss Finé is held. We’ll serve as decoys while you do that, and once you know where she is, you can regroup with us and we’ll go to her rescue. Are you all right with that?”
“Yes, I’m on board with that plan,” Clauvia said.
“No objections on my side, either,” Sakuya said.
“It’s a plan, then,” Regina aimed the Drag Striker’s muzzle at the Phillet tower. “We can’t waste a second. Let’s go save Miss Finé!”