Parking lot beside the police box in the same town.
As the Santana came to a stop, Luo Shu stepped out and asked Kirika, who had just parked nearby:
"Instead of returning to the café, you had Takina drive us here. Is there something going on?"
"Like I said, the gains this time are far from enough to make me back down."
Kirika raised her index and middle fingers together in a gesture resembling a salute as she got out:
"Besides, after my subordinate got ambushed, not retaliating would be unbearable."
Luo Shu blinked, then said with a strange expression, "But Chief, didn't you just say we were withdrawing?"
"That was a necessary precaution in case we were being monitored. Hey, kid, don't underestimate Sharon Holygrail. Underestimating her gets people killed."
Kirika Tachibana slammed the car door shut and immediately pressed her earpiece:
"Kurumi, where's Mizuki with the package?"
As soon as she spoke, Kurumi's voice came through the shared channel:
"Yo yo, just got off the ring road. ETA six minutes to destination."
"Metropolitan Police Department's special ops team has been contacted. They've brought the special warheads as you instructed. But chief, is it really necessary to go this far? Even bringing out those things?"
"Got to let those underground organisations know we're not to be trifled with!" Kirika said with an amused smile. "Otherwise, do you think the Metropolitan Police Department would willingly cooperate and dispatch their special ops team?"
"Those old boys are fuming, too. Just reported to their superiors about deporting someone, only to get slapped in the face immediately after. As Luo Shu's hometown saying goes, this is called getting stabbed by a returning spear, right?"
Kirika turned to Luo Shu beside her as she spoke.
"That's indeed the saying," Luo Shu responded vaguely before asking, "By the way, chief, what should I do?"
"Nothing. You can rest today, Luo Shu. Controlling that kind of enemy with a Demon Heart must have taken its toll on you mentally. Oh, you could grab some food nearby to recuperate. The pizza here's pretty good, actually."
As she said this, Kirika turned to Takina Inoue, who had just stepped out of the Santana's driver's seat with a stony expression:
"Takina, wipe that scowl off your face. If you're feeling frustrated, join in this time. Let's have some proper fun with Sharon."
Hearing this, Takina immediately stood at attention and responded loudly: "Yes, chief!"
"Good, very spirited!" Kirika praised with a laugh at Takina's suddenly energised voice.
Just then, a red Ferrari screeched around the corner with a dramatic drift, coming to an abrupt halt by the roadside.
"Takina!" Chisato Nishikigi vaulted out of the convertible and rushed over, calling out anxiously, "Are you okay?"
While checking on Takina, Chisato also gave Luo Shu a once-over and asked nervously:
"Luo Shu, you alright? Not hurt?"
"Ah... I'm fine... just mentally exhausted." Luo Shu seemed slightly uncomfortable with the concern, responding somewhat awkwardly.
"...I'm fine, Chisato." Takina blinked in surprise at Chisato's arrival before her expression softened considerably.
"This girl was just beating herself up over letting the enemy escape earlier," Kirika remarked, taking out a lady's cigarette and squinting teasingly.
"Honestly, landing several shots on that Sharon Holygrail - even if her Abyss Artefact probably blocked them - and still not satisfied? Kids these days!"
Kirika shook her head with the air of someone advocating knowing when to quit while ahead. After commenting on Takina, she turned to tease Luo Shu:
"And while I get asking if Takina's hurt, asking about this kid? Might as well ask if Sharon's frustrated enough to cough up blood."
"Tsk tsk, being forced to retreat single-handedly by a complete rookie... I bet that demon-hunting nun is absolutely livid about this outcome."
"Wow!!—Amazing! Luo Shu actually forced Sharon to retreat?"
Upon hearing this, Chisato Nishikigi looked at Luo Shu with astonishment, her face full of disbelief.
But then, her gaze suddenly shifted upwards, spotting the faint lipstick mark on Luo Shu's forehead.
Chisato blinked, then covered her mouth with a sly chuckle, nudging him lightly with her elbow as she approached:
"By the way, what's up with your forehead, Luo Shu? Hmm? Could this be a territorial claim from your girlfriend?"
"Oh dear, did your plan to work part-time at Café LycoReco get exposed? Is your girlfriend worried you'll cheat?"
Seeing Chisato's mischievous grin, Luo Shu's lips twitched as he tried to explain.
Before he could respond, Kirika Tachibana interjected:
"That mark was from me. Just a little advance reward for the kid!"
"Eh?!" Chisato gasped in shock, pointing at Kirika. "As expected, Big Sister is into younger guys!"
"Shut it, Chisato."
Kirika pulled out a cigarette pack, shook it, bit down on a cigarette, and lit it:
"I'm strategising right now."
"Got it!" Chisato replied lazily.
Just then, a small truck turned onto the road, entered the parking lot, and stopped right in front of Luo Shu and the others.
The window rolled down, revealing a tall, flaxen-haired woman in a restaurant work kimono and red-framed glasses. Leaning her arm out, she looked down at them and said:
"Honestly, Chief, suddenly ordering me to bring this thing out... If something goes wrong, don't blame me."
"Enough, Mizuki."
From the passenger seat, Mika adjusted a Barrett sniper rifle before opening the door and stepping out. He tossed it to Takina Inoue:
"The gun's been serviced. I'll handle communications with the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Operations Team."
Pausing, Mika turned to Kirika:
"Don't go overboard."
"Shut up, you damn queer."
Kirika delivered the remark without batting an eye, causing Mika's veins to bulge. She strode to the back of the truck and yanked the door open.
With a creak, the door swung wide, revealing an ice-filled freezer.
Luo Shu stepped closer and peered inside, immediately spotting a sword resembling a spinal column—two fingers thick, with a bone-white hue.
"This is..."
Luo Shu glanced at Kirika, who took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled slowly:
"One of the Abyss Treasury's trump cards from our SDS."
"Currently classified as a Grade 3 Abyss Artefact:"
"—The Kusanagi Sword."
A malicious grin spread across Kirika's face:
"It's about time we taught that uninvited guest, Sharon Holygrail, a lesson in the violence of an official organisation."
Watching Kirika's ferocious expression, Luo Shu's lips quivered slightly as he silently crossed himself in his mind for Sharon.