Under normal circumstances, confidential information that can't be found in the Schicksal database is basically impossible to find through other intelligence channels.
However, just as Rita was preparing to leave, a Valkyrie from the Intelligence Department called out to her.
Rita always maintained a courteous attitude in her daily dealings, whether with ordinary Schicksal staff or Valkyries of lower rank than herself. For this reason, she enjoyed good popularity within Schicksal.
So, after learning of Rita's objective, the Intelligence Department Valkyrie racked her brain a little to help Rita figure out how to obtain the intelligence through other means.
After thinking for a few minutes, the Valkyrie suggested a method.
According to an intelligence search protocol proposed by the A-Rank Valkyrie [Phantom], one of the heads of the Intelligence Department: when information cannot be found through one channel, one should consider whether that information is *only* available through that specific channel.
The Schicksal database generally stores classified intelligence, and information with the highest clearance level is invisible even to an S-Rank Valkyrie like Rita.
But—who says that man's information can only be viewed through classified channels?
After hearing Rita recount the mission details, the Intelligence Department Valkyrie contacted her subordinates directly via her communicator.
"First, let's look at this from a different angle. He's going to Nagazora City, so he must use transportation. If he were from Anti-Entropy, I'd be out of ideas. But..."
"—No one can guarantee he's actually from Anti-Entropy, right?"
"Exactly. But..."
Rita, having already guessed her senior's plan, had a doubt in her mind.
Would this search really go that smoothly?
Over the next period of time, the Valkyrie contacted her subordinates and had them investigate passenger information for various modes of transport arriving near Nagazora City over the last few days, and then confirm the current status of those passengers.
Finally, after verification, among all the surrounding passengers, only one person's whereabouts were currently unknown.
"How about it? Is this the guy?"
Seeing the file her senior had pulled up, Rita narrowed her eyes slightly and bowed to her senior just as she always did.
"Yes, this is the gentleman. Thank you, Senior."
"Hey, it was just a case of a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse. I just figured I'd give it a try. But I didn't expect the person you were looking for... to be so careless."
"Hehe, careless, is he...?"
Not necessarily.
Before coming here, Rita never dreamed she would obtain that man's intelligence through such a method.
Aaron, official age 22. His parents were originally shareholders of a large company but passed away in a plane crash.
However, after his parents' death, Aaron retained the inheritance because his parents had made a will beforehand, preventing relatives from seizing the assets. Having inherited his parents' wealth, he maintained a lifestyle free from financial worry.
His usual hobbies included playing video games, and occasionally going out to buy groceries to cook for himself.
He was relatively withdrawn, with no friends his age... and, well, no lover either.
It looked like a perfectly normal intelligence file. But the more normal the file appeared, the more suspicious Rita found it.
Combined with the fact that Lady Durandal mentioned during her debriefing that she felt Mr. Aaron held little hostility, Aaron's identity definitely had something fishy about it.
Moreover, would a cautious man who constantly concealed his face during battle, and even restrained his power, really reveal such a huge flaw in his travel records?
No, this wasn't a flaw or a slip-up.
He did it on purpose.
This man clearly knew of Schicksal's existence and didn't particularly want to be enemies with Schicksal, yet was forced to act for some reason.
This could only mean that while he didn't want to be enemies, he knew our mission objective conflicted with his. So, he thought to force us to retreat while trying his best not to harm us... Though, isn't that thought a bit too idealistic?
The pressure he exerted on us and the killing intent he radiated back then was no joke. Furthermore, the force with which he repelled my attack was extremely powerful.
It couldn't just be that because I was too weak, Mr. Aaron misjudged my strength and accidentally hit me too hard, right?
Hmm, let's put that aside for now.
For such a careful person to leave such a massive trail in his intelligence file...
Is this a warning for us not to investigate further?
I wonder if Overseer Otto already knew this, which is why he didn't have us continue investigating this man.
Regardless, his identity is indeed unclear.
And Lady Durandal... although she is usually quite naive, her intuition often inexplicably leads her closer to the truth.
If that feeling of blood connection wasn't an illusion, and Mr. Aaron really is related to Lady Durandal, then I must investigate his information even more.
Although Lady Durandal doesn't say it usually, based on Rita's understanding of her, she still wants to know about her own origins.
As for the 'warning' from Aaron...
How should I put it? Rita doesn't feel she will encounter him again anytime soon.
Under this premise, his warning holds little deterrent force for Rita.
However, the decision on whether to investigate this man should ultimately be left to Lady Durandal.
If she truly decides to face her past, I will help her then.
"Rita, what's wrong?"
Sensing her adjutant arrive by her side, Durandal, who had been lost in thought, asked.
"Does the Overseer have a new mission for us?"
"No. Didn't Overseer Otto say so before? The Immortal Blades are to rest for a while and go on missions in a few days."
Rita looked at Bianka's face and suddenly chuckled softly.
"Lady Durandal, usually the moment I walk in, you react. But just now, your reaction was three seconds slower than usual. What's wrong? Could it be..."
"—Have you also reached the age where you pine for men?"
"Wh-What are you talking about?!"
Bianka shouted, looking slightly annoyed.
"Who's pining for men!"
"Oh my? Is that not it? It seems this one has misunderstood."
Rita waved the intelligence file in her hand and smiled.
"This one thought Lady Durandal would want information on that man. But it seems I was just flattering myself."
"Give it to me!"
Snatching the paper file from Rita's hand, Durandal spoke grumpily.
"Is teasing me that fun?"
"This one has no intention of teasing Lady Durandal."
*Just kidding, of course it's super fun!*
Even grown up, Lady Bianka reacts just as cutely as she did when she was a child.
After snatching the intelligence data from Rita, Durandal began to read through it with a serious face.
Then, a minute later, a look of extreme disappointment appeared on her face.
After all, judging by this data, this Shenzhou male named Aaron clearly had no blood relation to her.
And the 'blood connection' she sensed? Looking at this, it was completely an illusion.
This man was not her big brother.
That feeling from before was entirely her own wishful thinking.
Now, she felt like a total idiot.
"Sigh... Was I thinking too much?"
She had thought she finally found a relative, but now...
What is more painful than never having hope?
The answer is: thinking you once held hope, only to discover that light of hope was fake.
"Lady Durandal, do you seem to think this information is everything?"
Seeing the disappointment on Durandal's face, Rita spoke softly to her.
"According to this one's analysis, Mr. Aaron, who was so careful not to leak his combat data on the battlefield, would not make such a rookie mistake as exposing his information through his itinerary."
"Therefore, this one believes this seemingly flawless intelligence is absolutely fake."
"Rita, I appreciate you staying by my side to comfort me when I'm down. But why do I feel..."
Hearing Rita's explanation, Durandal frowned suspiciously and looked at her adjutant.
"That you're just overthinking it?"
"This one isn't speaking carelessly. After all, Lady Durandal, you saw that Mr. Aaron possesses power far exceeding mine, correct?"
"Ah, that is true. Bi—Aaron does have strength greater than yours."
"This one only rests for four hours a day. Although the remaining twenty hours are allocated to various aspects, I am still, after all, an S-Rank Valkyrie."
"Hmm, it's rare to hear you make such un-humble remarks."
"Excessive humility is a greater form of arrogance; this one knows that much. If this intelligence is all true, then who can explain why Mr. Aaron possesses such powerful combat capabilities?"
"It couldn't be that he suddenly awakened some extraordinary talent in the last few days and gained super-powerful combat strength, so the past records failed to document his power, could it?"
"Hmm, while the possibility of Aaron training secretly isn't non-existent, looking at this file... he doesn't seem to have any gym equipment at home, and he rarely goes out."
"Looking at it that way—isn't it even more suspicious?"
The more she thought about the information written in these files, the more Durandal felt something was off.
"This intelligence basically records Aaron's life details, so how did he train his strength?"
"See, even you have sensed something fishy. So, do you plan to continue investigating?"
"I..."
There was indeed something fishy about this intelligence. Although she couldn't figure out the specific situation, Bianka knew very well that if she didn't clarify this man's information, her heart would dwell on it.
Her personality was persistent; she couldn't forcibly ignore things she cared about.
If she left this matter aside, Bianka would inevitably be distracted by it during future missions.
Although her strength was good, being distracted in battle could easily bring danger to herself and her comrades.
Bianka could tolerate being in danger herself, but she could not tolerate her mistakes dragging down her comrades.
So...
"Help me keep investigating, Rita."
"Very well, Lady Durandal. This one understands."
After making this decision, Bianka let out a long sigh of relief.
"Phew, I don't know why, but I feel much more relaxed."
"Naturally. If you have something weighing on your mind, given your personality, you would certainly remain unhappy."
"...You really do understand me. Anyway, thank you, Rita."
"It is nothing. This is what this one should do."
Sure enough, Lady Durandal chose this option.
Then this one should begin the follow-up investigation on Mr. Aaron.
The more I think about it, the more wrong it seems. Mr. Aaron's identity is now certainly fake, so this combat style...
Judging by past intelligence, Anti-Entropy prefers using Titan Mechs for combat.
As for their higher-ups, according to the database, aside from the First Herrscher, Welt, who has been missing since his severe injury, the others are researchers unskilled in close-quarters combat.
The Schicksal traitor Siegfried, who fled to Anti-Entropy, counts as a powerhouse skilled in combat... But according to the intelligence from the Schicksal investigation team back then, they saw the remains of a severed arm at Siegfried's temporary hideout.
Siegfried should be a one-armed man, so this man isn't Siegfried either.
So, he is not from Schicksal, nor is he from Anti-Entropy.
An independent powerhouse from the civilian sector?
Or could it be that outside of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, there is a third major organization in this world fighting the Honkai?
I have a feeling that by following Mr. Aaron's trail, this one might uncover something even more interesting.
.......................
Anti-Entropy HQ
Inside the Anti-Entropy headquarters, after completing her day's work, Cocolia went to that special research room as was her custom.
Following this, as Cocolia stepped into the research room, the researchers, who were already familiar with these footsteps, immediately showed bitter expressions on their faces.
"Lady Cocolia, we are very sorry. Up until now, we still cannot trace Miss Bronya's location."