"Mm..."
Petra fell into deep thought.
"Under normal circumstances, this would be an unquestionable right. However, registration for this year's Festa is nearly closed. You won't have time to familiarize yourself with potential teammates..."
"Then remove one of the current participants and put me in."
Okita seemed to have anticipated this response. After a brief pause, she added:
"As the academy's director, surely you possess at least that much authority."
"Hmph."
Petra gave a noncommittal snort.
This girl wasn't simple either—she knew how to provoke a reaction.
Understandable, given she came from a war-torn region. Some shrewdness was to be expected.
"Normally, students form their own teams for the Festa. I dislike breaking them up. But you're in luck—this year there happens to be one team I required to participate under my authority as director. To be precise, I ordered one member to team up with my designated participant. I can remove that person and have you partner with my chosen candidate instead."
Petra tossed another spatial window their way.
It displayed two young women.
One of them was precisely the special admission student Roy had learned about from Claudia—Queenvail Academy's secretly nurtured talent!
"Conveniently, she currently lives alone. You'll become her roommate—this should facilitate team coordination. I'll personally inform her about the partnership."
"With both your abilities, this year's championship seems guaranteed!"
Petra appeared thoroughly pleased.
The Festa didn't require numerous participating teams—a single champion outweighed ten runner-ups. Naturally, combining the two strongest competitors would yield optimal results.
Fortunately, with one month remaining before the Phoenix Festa's commencement, participant changes were still permissible.
Sylvia exhaled in relief.
All things considered, this outcome satisfied everyone.
Though Okita had to participate in the Festa, her skills genuinely positioned her as championship material. This might prove advantageous.
"Then I'll congratulate you in advance on your victory!"
Sylvia waved cheerfully at Okita.
"Mhm."
Okita responded with her usual detached nod.
But Roy was inwardly jubilant.
Championship?
That depends on my mood!
Following their agreement, Petra's demeanor visibly brightened.
She personally handled Okita's enrollment procedures. As they prepared to depart, a sudden recollection halted her.
"Oh, Sylvia—have you seen this news report?"
Petra flicked another spatial window into view.
The display showed a recently published article, its bold headline glaringly prominent:
"Terrorist Who Attacked Miss Sylvia Surfaces? Identifies as 'Akatsuki'! Who Is This Mysterious Figure?!"
Sylvia's expression transformed instantly.
Okita's eyes flickered momentarily.
Akatsuki?
What's this?
Planning to carry rice?
Sylvia hurried forward, scrutinizing the spatial window's contents.
The reported incident occurred that very morning—a Tokyo Broadcasting employee had burst into a live news studio, fearfully uttering words seemingly against his will.
"Since you've all been so kind as to issue warrants for my arrest, and seem rather impatient, I might as well come forward and share some news—to be honest, I wasn't entirely satisfied with yesterday's debut show either. From now on, you may address me as 'Akatsuki.' My goal is simple: to transform this world into a beautiful place where everyone can freely vent their malice and slaughter one another! So, anyone here share my vision?"
"Oh, and one more thing. I've been thinking long and hard about yesterday's debut, and the more I reflect, the angrier I get. Henceforth, I will be targeting none other than the world's top diva, Sylvia Lyyneheym, and that cosplay girl by her side. Time and place unpredictable—stay tuned!"
With those words, the Tokyo Electric employee convulsed and collapsed, bleeding from all seven orifices before dying on the spot.
The broadcast ended there.
Sylvia's face darkened, her fists clenched so tightly her entire body trembled with rage.
"I will make that bastard pay!"
Sylvia had been marked.
Marked by an extraordinarily dangerous terrorist.
The worst part? No one could locate the terrorist's true identity. Anyone could be remotely controlled by him, leaving the entire populace in a state of perpetual dread.
Until this man was eliminated, there would be no peace!
In this regard, Okita was in the same boat.
Though, to be fair, Okita was already a familiar—a dead woman. The version here was merely a data backup from the Throne of Heroes. Even if she died, it wouldn't be much of a loss.
"And after seeing this report, you still want me to enroll?"
Okita turned to Petra. If not for her keen eyesight confirming the absence of any threads, she might have suspected Petra had also fallen under the Puppeteer's control.
"You underestimate the power of the conglomerate. As long as that person breathes in this world, they cannot evade the conglomerate's gaze."
Petra remained calm, her faith in the conglomerate's colossal machinery unshaken.
Roy, however, thought she was severely underestimating the Puppeteer's capabilities.
"Besides, I heard you were the only one in all of Tokyo who could spot those threads. Doesn't that make you the perfect candidate for enrollment?"
Petra shrugged and smiled.
Ah.
That made sense.
With Okita around, those threads would never infiltrate Queenvail Girls' Academy. She was the ultimate alarm system against them.
Moreover, this world's technology was unnervingly advanced. The Puppeteer might not remain hidden forever.
Truth be told, Roy had his suspicions about the Puppeteer's identity.
If his hunch was correct...
Then this world was about to face an unprecedented catastrophe.
***
After leaving the principal's office, Sylvia took Okita to her dorm room. Only after Okita had familiarized herself with the route did she head to her own quarters.
Like Seidoukan Academy, the dormitories here were shared between two students.
Arriving at her door, Okita didn't bother knocking—she simply turned the handle and pushed it open.
And there, sprawled before her eyes, was an exceedingly risqué scene.
In the room, a girl with fiery red hair tied into twin tails seemed to have just finished bathing, steam still rising faintly from her body. Her delicate skin bore a soft pink hue.
Her face was strikingly beautiful, enough to rival Sylvia's, but unlike Sylvia's elegance, this girl's charm was bold and unrestrained.
At the moment, having just stepped out of the shower, she wore nothing but a matching set of black lace lingerie—a strappy design that clung to her snow-white figure, creating a dazzling sight that was impossible to ignore.
Damn, girl.
You're really something.
"Hmm?"
Upon noticing Okita entering the room, the girl lifted her head and looked her way.
She didn't scream or immediately pull out a weapon to attack. Instead, after a brief moment of thought, realization dawned on her, and she walked over willingly, extending a friendly hand.
"Hello! You must be the roommate and new teammate the chairman mentioned, right? I'm Stella—Stella Vermillion. Nice to meet you!"
***
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