Copernicus Spaceport.
After some time, Ai Haibara—now somewhat adjusted to the zero-gravity environment—floated mid-air, gripping a handrail as she gazed at the distant, azure-blue Earth.
"It really is a space city..."
Though she had already learned about Copernicus from the common knowledge instilled by the Familia, Ai Haibara couldn't resist seeing it with her own eyes.
So, once she had adapted to moving in space, she slipped into the spaceport while Luo Shu was in a meeting, Touka Kirishima was asleep, and her sister, Akemi Miyano, was still adjusting to the environment, to observe the cosmos firsthand.
"To have the capability to construct something like this in space... It seems the SDS's strength truly matches the common knowledge—a secret organisation second only to the Five Great Powers..."
"After leaving the Distillery, joining an organisation like this... I suppose I've changed, haven't I?"
As Ai Haibara stared blankly at space, a gentle woman's voice sounded beside her.
"The view of space is beautiful, isn't it~?"
Ai Haibara turned her head and saw a mature woman with golden-orange hair floating toward her along an automated handrail.
Despite being approached by a stranger, Ai Haibara felt no wariness—instead, a faint sense of familiarity.
'A fellow Familia member?' she wondered, then voiced her question aloud.
"You are...?"
"Mira Tsubakihara." The woman smiled as she introduced herself. "You must be... Ai Haibara, right?"
"That's me." Ai Haibara nodded, then asked curiously, "You know me?"
Mira Tsubakihara's smile carried a hint of maternal warmth:
"I only found out about you 20 minutes ago. By the way, haven't you checked the list yet?"
"List?"
"The participant list for the experiment! It should have been sent to your private inbox via the group's direct messaging function."
Hearing this, Ai Haibara froze for a moment, then silently thought 'open Divine Pantheon' in her mind. She quickly found the list of experiment personnel privately sent by Lacus:
"There really is..."
Ai noticed the experiment's start time on the list was in Tokyo time: 3:30 am on May 6th.
Calculating the time, it seemed only 40 minutes remained.
"But this fast?"
Ai Haibara looked slightly surprised:
"The experimental data for APTX4869 hasn't even been delivered yet? And they're already starting clinical trials for the antidote... Isn't this too reckless?"
Mira Tsubakihara smiled cheerfully at this: "I suppose it's because our Chief God is quite an impatient person."
Hearing this, Ai frowned. She couldn't quite understand how Mira could still be smiling.
In her view, research into an APTX4869 antidote was long-term work requiring at least three years. Achieving immediate success was simply impossible.
Demanding results within 40 minutes - were they not just fooling around?
Thinking this, Ai couldn't help but ask:
"Aren't you going to stop him?"
"Him? You mean Luo Shu?" Mira seemed surprised. "Even if I wanted to, it was little Lacus who issued the summons."
Ai was momentarily stunned, then fell silent. Because in her view, although Lacus Clyne had initiated the plan, the one who truly wanted the antidote was Luo Shu, hiding behind Lacus.
It was he who urgently needed the antidote.
If that was the case, shouldn't the solution be to approach Luo Shu?
Just then, a somewhat cold female voice spoke up:
"You're already here, Mira."
Ai turned to see a blonde, blue-eyed girl with a red scarf walking towards them with an ordinary gait.
Seeing the blonde girl, Mira smiled and greeted her: "Long time no see, Ania."
Ania's lips moved slightly, as if chewing candy:
"If you consider two days a long time, then yes, long time no see."
Saying this, Ania continued calmly:
"Natsuki Minamiya has transmitted all the data on Drug A. Prepare to alchemise all the equipment needed for its production."
"Alchemy?"
Ai was startled, then immediately heard Mira's response:
"No other special requirements?"
Hearing this, Ania said indifferently:
"Just some common research equipment. No enchantments needed, no techniques to inscribe. Simple for you, right?"
"The data's been sent to your private inbox. Can you finish within 15 minutes?"
Mira glanced at the Divine Pantheon's internal data. "I'll try to compress it to 10 minutes."
Having said this, Mira waved at Ai:
"Looks like there won't be time for chatting now. How about afternoon tea after work? Consider it your welcome party, Ai?"
"...O-okay."
Ai responded blankly. Only after Mira left via the escalator did she realise what she'd agreed to.
'Afternoon tea? I wonder what desserts they'll have...'
'No, the tea isn't important. What matters is replicating Drug A's production line in 10 minutes?'
Ai stared blankly at Mira's retreating figure, her mind in a state of complete turmoil.
Was she the odd one, or were the SDS members the odd ones?
This all sounded like mythology to her.
Finishing a production line in 10 minutes - was that something humans could do?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!!
"What's that developer over there spacing out for?"
Ai Haibara, her mind full of impossibilities, turned her head to glance at Ania standing beside her with arms crossed and a cold expression.
Before she could answer, Ania said flatly:
"Dr Tabane Shinonono needs to see you. There are some unclear experimental drug data points. Come with me now."
"We only have 30 minutes. You'll produce the first batch of antidote within that time, no problem?"
"Uh...uh huh."
Dazedly, Ai Haibara followed Ania. Only when her hand touched the escalator did she realise what she'd just agreed to.
'Produce an antidote for Drug A in 30 minutes?'
'If you want me dead, just say it outright! No need to beat around the bush!'
'Just kill me now!!'
Ai Haibara now seriously doubted whether joining the SDS had been a mistake.
This place is even crazier than the Distillery!