Ever since the coup at Trinity occurred, I had been waiting for this day.
Not all the students of Arius had been captured. The news that Azusa had turned traitor would inevitably reach the remaining Arius students, and also Beatrice.
And since I served as an advisor to the Make-Up Work Club and had a close relationship with Azusa, that wasn't much of a secret. It wouldn't be surprising if they suspected that I had gathered some intelligence from Azusa, confirming Beatrice's role in the coup and her secret connection to Arius.
So I remained patient and inactive, quietly observing what Saori, the pawn placed next to me, would do.
At least for now, she hadn't made a move to run away.
Then… was she coming to deliver a message on Beatrice's behalf? Or to confess everything and seek my help?
I asked Saori to sit. She hesitated for a moment before taking a seat on the other side of the sofa, her body still tense.
"Go ahead," I said in what I thought was a friendly tone. "What brings you here so late?"
"Sensei… madam asked me to deliver a message to you." Saori removed her mask and lowered her head. "Madam said it was her fault for intruding into the hunting ground you selected, and she wishes to extend her sincerest apologies to you."
Hunting ground… huh.
I mulled over the term silently. Most likely, it was a metaphor for Trinity. It felt oddly fitting, yet also strangely disgusting.
"Madam also said she has no intention, power, or audacity to oppose you, and hopes you can forgive her offense. As a token of apology, aside from the next chosen president of the Arius Student Council, you may select any student from Arius. If you accept, the student list will be provided later."
The sincerity was almost frightening… but the amount of freedom this allowed was equally terrifying.
I asked, "Anything else?"
"If you have other requests, we can discuss them…"
"Anything else?"
"No."
I fixed my gaze on her icy, serpentine blue eyes. "Are you sure there's nothing more?"
"…Yes." Saori paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I've confirmed there's nothing more."
I exhaled silently.
After all these hints, she still had nothing else to say? Surely she wasn't just too dull to understand?
"In that case, tell Beatrice this: I'm satisfied with you. No other gifts are necessary."
No way I'd accept another spy under these conditions. Chances are, some important ally would be held hostage, completely at the other side's mercy. Or perhaps Beatrice would twist it, making nauseatingly self-serving remarks about owing me a favor.
"But," I added, my tone suddenly chilling, "if she dares to step out of line again, I will make her pay a cost far worse than this."
Saori offered no objection. "Yes, I understand."
Seeing this, I suddenly felt bored and waved my hand: "You may leave now."
"I understand. I will convey your message faithfully." Saori stood without hesitation, saluted, and headed for the door.
Yet, just as her hand reached the doorknob, I called out:
"Saori."
She turned, puzzled: "Yes?"
I paused briefly, then forced out a single sentence:
"Azusa… Shirasu Azusa… she misses you."
It was, in truth, a lie.
Azusa had never mentioned Saori in my presence.
"…I understand." Saori's gaze remained clear. "Is there anything else?"
"You have someone on your team, right? Misaki?" I continued. "During the time you've been away, she seems to have been doing something… something you once stopped her from doing."
The moment she heard this, Saori's otherwise placid expression finally showed emotion.
"Did you learn this from Azusa?"
"Yes."
Her face flickered with a mix of emotions. After a while, she whispered: "I see… thank you."
From her reaction, it was clear Misaki was indeed doing something dangerous, at least something unacceptable to those who cared about her.
At the same time, it confirmed something I had long suspected: deep down, Saori had not been completely consumed by the "everything is meaningless" philosophy. That's why she had weaknesses, and why Beatrice could exploit her.
This gave me a certain inclination.
"Just a small matter, though." I withdrew my gaze. "There's nothing else. You may go."
Saori nodded and left.
I sat on the sofa for a moment, then sent a message to Wakamo, asking her to continue monitoring Saori.
After that, I resumed my thoughts. With half the forces lost and one supporter now unavailable, Arius wouldn't be able to stir up trouble for a while.
Instead of tearing apart my relations with Beatrice now, it was better to maintain appearances, keep Saori nearby, using my inscrutable image to intimidate her, and wait until the Eden Treaty was completed before making a move.
Meanwhile, Misaki, Hiyori, the so-called Arius princess, and the other unnamed Arius students would have to suffer a bit.
After handling this, my motivation to continue working waned. I exchanged messages with Rin confirming she had stayed up this late, admired her newly bought stockings, and went to sleep...
Only to get up two hours later and continue working overtime.
Thanks to the power granted by the Tea Party host, infused with the aroma of black tea, even without caffeine, I could devote myself tirelessly to Kivotos.
But reduced sleep didn't bring only benefits. I would need time to adjust.
The next two days passed as usual.
Aside from necessary Schale duties, I followed Nagisa's invitation to Trinity, helping handle aftermath matters of the coup. I ran between the Tea Party, the Sisterhood, and the Remedial Knights, barely catching a breath.
Even so, I squeezed in a little free time to try visiting Mika, who was imprisoned but she refused me again.
Perhaps still feeling guilty, she didn't know how to face me.
Since Mika wouldn't see me, I could only comfort her childhood friend at night, showing my sincerity that way.
In short, before I knew it, it was the day of the Millennium Club Competition.