The infiltration began under the cover of dawn.
Far above the ocean, the Daedalus remained hidden beyond the barrier perimeter while multiple stealth drones quietly monitored surrounding Siren patrol routes in real time.
The operation itself relied on timing rather than brute force.
Because despite the overwhelming firepower aboard the Daedalus—
Yuuki had no intention of triggering a war unless absolutely necessary.
Inside the deployment bay, a sleek hovercraft slowly activated.
Unlike the primitive transports of the modern world, this vehicle carried unmistakable GDI engineering philosophy behind its design.
The overall appearance resembled the old hovercraft platforms once used during the First Tiberium War.
Angular armored plating.
Low hovering profile.
Compact transport design.
Only now—
Everything had been modernized.
Stealth coating covered the hull.
Advanced propulsion systems reduced sound signatures almost entirely.
Weapon systems remained hidden beneath retractable plating while active camouflage distorted visual tracking around the craft itself.
A true infiltration vehicle.
The shipgirls and Nikkes quietly boarded while final systems synchronized across the hovercraft interior.
Yuuki stood near the front cockpit while holographic tactical feeds floated beside him.
Outside the barrier—
Several Siren patrol fleets slowly drifted across the surrounding waters.
Watching.
Waiting.
Yet strangely—
None approached the civilian traffic entering and leaving the hidden island.
Enterprise quietly narrowed her eyes while observing the tactical feed.
"They're deliberately avoiding civilian vessels."
Yuuki nodded softly.
"That's how we're getting in."
A small cargo ship slowly approached the barrier checkpoint ahead.
The massive concealment field shimmered faintly as portions of the barrier temporarily opened to allow passage.
The moment the opening formed—
Yuuki activated the stealth systems fully.
The hovercraft vanished almost entirely beneath optical camouflage.
Then silently—
It accelerated forward behind the civilian vessel.
No alarms triggered.
No Siren response followed.
The hovercraft slipped through the opening mere seconds before the barrier sealed shut again behind them.
Inside the cabin, Neon quietly whispered excitedly.
"We just snuck past an entire hidden barrier system…"
Then dramatically—
"…using spy movie tactics."
Anis softly smirked.
"Commander's plans are honestly ridiculous."
Rapi however remained focused.
"No. Efficient."
The hovercraft continued gliding silently above the ocean surface afterward while the hidden island slowly grew closer ahead.
Under the moonlight—
The city looked almost peaceful.
Castle lights illuminated the hilltop beautifully while distant music from the masquerade wedding faintly echoed across the sea breeze.
Honestly—
Without knowing the truth behind it—
The island could almost be mistaken for paradise.
But everyone aboard the hovercraft knew better.
Because somewhere inside that beautiful castle—
Prinz Eugen, Javelin, Hipper, and Cocoa were waiting to be saved.
The stealth hovercraft quietly glided across the waters beneath the fading darkness of night.
As dawn slowly approached—
The hidden island became clearer with every passing minute.
Warm golden lights illuminated the coastal districts while the early sunrise painted the old stone buildings in soft orange hues.
From a distance—
The city genuinely looked beautiful.
Elegant canals.
Ancient towers.
Cathedral rooftops.
Stone bridges connecting narrow streets.
The architecture carried a distinctly old-world atmosphere unlike the advanced ruins and war-torn environments most of them had grown accustomed to.
Yorktown quietly observed the approaching city from the hovercraft window.
"…This place reminds me of the Sardegna Empire."
Her voice carried soft surprise.
The others quietly nodded.
The resemblance truly was striking.
Illustrious softly observed the city as well.
"It truly looks beautiful from afar."
Enterprise however remained focused on the tactical display.
"Appearances can hide many things."
Yuuki quietly nodded.
Especially after hearing what Eugen and the others endured inside the castle.
An old Mediterranean-style city somehow preserved untouched from the outside world.
If not for the hidden suffering beneath it—
The island almost looked peaceful.
Then Yuuki finally slowed the hovercraft near a smaller harbor district away from the main wedding entrance.
"This is your stop."
Rapi, Anis, Atago, and Takao immediately prepared for deployment.
The Da'at Yichud armor systems quietly activated around the Nikkes while Atago and Takao secured their rifles across their backs.
Then—
The helmets assembled smoothly over Rapi and Anis' faces.
Golden segmented armor folded upward before sealing completely while tactical visors illuminated softly beneath their hoods.
The transformation looked almost unreal.
Like futuristic assassins preparing for war.
Atago softly smiled afterward.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"You two truly look terrifying now."
Anis grinned beneath her visor.
"Heh."
Then proudly—
"I feel terrifying too."
Rapi meanwhile calmly checked her weapon systems.
"All systems synchronized."
Yuuki gave a final nod toward them.
"Stealth first."
Then more seriously—
"No unnecessary engagements."
Takao quietly nodded.
"We understand."
The rear hatch slowly opened afterward.
Cold sea air rushed into the cabin.
Without hesitation—
The four infiltrators silently descended onto the quiet harbor docks below.
The moment their boots touched the stone ground—
Their stealth systems activated.
Optical camouflage distorted around their bodies instantly until their forms nearly vanished from sight completely.
Only faint shimmering outlines remained visible for brief moments before disappearing entirely.
Even Yorktown looked slightly impressed.
"…That technology still feels absurd."
Yuuki quietly watched the tactical feeds updating across his HUD.
"Move."
The four stealth operatives immediately separated into formation before advancing deeper into the city without interacting with civilians nearby.
No footsteps.
No visible movement.
Only silent specters moving through the dawn streets.
Meanwhile—
Atago and Takao deployed the VSD sniper drones.
The compact flying platforms unfolded silently before rising upward between rooftops.
Additional holographic pathways immediately began appearing across Yuuki's tactical display.
Guard patrols.
Blind spots.
Servant routes.
Castle entrances.
The drones mapped everything in real time.
Takao's calm voice soon echoed softly through the communication channel.
"Castle routes updating."
Atago followed shortly after.
"Minimal patrols near servant corridors."
Then softer—
"And the wedding preparations appear fully underway."
Atago softly smiled afterward.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"Our first stealth infiltration mission together."
Yuuki stepped closer toward them afterward.
"Remember. Avoid direct engagement unless necessary."
Then more seriously—
"You four are our eyes."
Rapi nodded immediately.
"We understand."
Anis gave him a thumbs up.
"Leave it to us, Commander."
With that—
The four girls silently disembarked onto the harbor platform.
The moment their boots touched the stone docks—
Their stealth systems activated.
The Da'at Yichud armor shimmered briefly before optical camouflage completely distorted their figures.
Within seconds—
They vanished.
Only faint ripples in the air briefly hinted at their movement before disappearing entirely.
The four sniper operators immediately began advancing through the harbor district without interacting with civilians or guards.
Fast.
Silent.
Precise.
From above—
The hidden drones observed everything.
Guard patrols.
Wedding security.
Servant routes.
Castle entrances.
Meanwhile below—
Rapi led the group efficiently through narrow alleyways while Atago and Takao secured flank positions naturally.
Anis quietly whispered through the communication channel.
"Commander."
Her voice carried excitement beneath the professionalism.
"We're in."
Above the city—
The hidden sniper drones silently continued their surveillance while the stealth team vanished deeper into the streets toward the castle overlooking the island.
As the hovercraft approached the main harbor district closer to the castle, Yuuki activated another hidden system integrated into the vessel.
The outer hull immediately shifted.
Metal plating reconfigured itself smoothly while holographic projection systems layered over the stealth coating.
Within moments—
The GDI hovercraft no longer resembled advanced military technology.
Instead—
It now appeared as an elegant noble transport vessel common throughout the island.
A disguise system inspired directly from the Sudden Transport technology once used by the Empire of the Rising Sun.
Visual mimicry.
Thermal masking.
Electronic signature falsification.
To outside observers—
They simply looked like another wealthy noble group arriving late for the masquerade wedding.
The disguised vessel slowly docked near one of the private harbors beneath the castle district.
And honestly—
The wedding atmosphere had already fully begun.
Elegant guests flooded the streets and stairways leading toward the castle grounds.
Nobles wearing elaborate masquerade masks.
Musicians playing across balconies.
Servants carrying trays of wine and food.
Decorated carriages arriving one after another.
The city almost looked festive.
If not for the tension hidden underneath it.
The hovercraft hatch opened silently afterward.
Yuuki stepped out first wearing his formal black tuxedo and masquerade mask while the girls followed shortly behind him.
The contrast between their beauty and the luxurious city around them honestly made them blend in frighteningly well.
Nobody questioned them.
Nobody suspected them.
To everyone nearby—
They merely appeared as another high-ranking noble group attending the ceremony.
Once they moved away from the harbor crowds slightly, Yuuki quietly turned toward everyone.
"All right."
His voice became calmer.
"From this point onward, we separate."
Then more seriously—
"Maintain communication at all times."
Belfast nodded first.
"Yes, Master."
The head maid immediately led Ade and Soda toward the servant access routes already identified by the reconnaissance drones.
The three girls naturally blended among the castle workers almost instantly.
Their maid uniforms.
Their posture.
Their professionalism.
Honestly—
Nobody would ever suspect them.
Within moments, they were already carrying serving trays while quietly entering deeper sections of the castle interior.
Meanwhile—
Enterprise, Yorktown, and Illustrious moved naturally toward the noble gathering areas.
The three women looked dangerously elegant among the masquerade crowds.
And unlike the infiltration units—
Their mission relied entirely on social interaction.
Mingling.
Listening.
Asking careful questions.
Learning about Prince Pierre and the royal family without drawing suspicion.
Honestly—
Yuuki almost pitied any noble foolish enough to underestimate those three.
Then came the smaller group.
Neon and Nimi naturally guided Laffey and Unicorn toward the younger guests gathered near the outer castle gardens.
Children laughed while running around decorative fountains beneath the morning sunlight.
And because the destroyers themselves looked youthful enough—
The guards barely paid attention to them at all.
Which made infiltration significantly easier.
The girls played along naturally.
Smiling.
Blending in.
Slowly moving closer toward inner castle sections while pretending to simply wander around curiously.
Honestly—
Using adorable girls as infiltration specialists felt absurdly effective.
Yuuki meanwhile finally separated from the others completely.
His expression slowly sharpened beneath the masquerade mask.
The operation had fully begun now.
Around him—
Snitch drones silently hovered throughout the city.
The VSD sniper drones continued mapping rooftops and patrols from above.
Rapi and the sniper teams already occupied elevated overwatch positions.
Every movement inside the castle slowly fed back into Yuuki's tactical HUD.
And now—
It was time for him to begin surveillance personally.
Rapi and Anis moved silently through the narrow elevated pathways overlooking the city while their stealth systems distorted their appearances almost perfectly against the surrounding environment.
The Da'at Yichud armor functioned flawlessly.
Optical camouflage bent light around their figures.
Thermal masking suppressed their heat signatures.
Even their footsteps barely produced sound against the old stone rooftops.
Above them, the VSD sniper drones silently floated across the skyline while continuously feeding tactical information back toward the Daedalus.
Atago and Takao moved separately along adjacent rooftops while securing overwatch positions around the castle perimeter.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
Too smoothly.
Then—
For barely half a second—
A minor fluctuation occurred.
The stealth systems around Rapi and Anis flickered briefly while they passed through one of the hidden mountain pathways leading toward their sniper vantage points.
Just enough.
Not enough for ordinary humans to notice.
Not enough for guards.
But enough—
For someone else.
Far above the city upon a quiet mountain path overlooking the island—
A wandering monk slowly paused beneath the morning breeze.
Long silver hair flowed gently behind her while light teal eyes quietly observed the distant rooftops.
Her wide straw hat cast shadows across her expression while butterfly ornaments softly swayed beside her kimono drape.
The monk remained perfectly still.
Watching.
The moment the stealth distortion flickered—
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Hm?"
The hidden figures vanished again immediately afterward.
Yet she had definitely seen them.
Not clearly.
Only fragments.
Golden armor.
Distorted silhouettes.
Movement impossible for ordinary people.
The wandering monk quietly stepped closer toward the cliff edge overlooking the city.
Her gaze remained calm.
Curious.
Not hostile.
"…Interesting."
The spiritual energy surrounding her subtly shifted afterward.
Because whatever those hidden figures were—
They did not belong to this island.
And somehow—
The strange feeling she sensed last night had now grown even stronger.
Something had arrived here.
Something powerful enough to disturb even her intuition.
Far below meanwhile—
Rapi remained completely unaware she had been observed.
"Position nearing completion," she quietly transmitted.
Anis adjusted the massive Ramjet rifle across her back afterward while grinning slightly.
"This is honestly the coolest mission I've ever been on."
Above them—
The silver-haired monk continued silently watching from afar beneath the dawn skies.
===============
Rapi, Anis, Atago, and Takao eventually reached their designated vantage points overlooking the castle grounds from several elevated rooftops and bell towers surrounding the city.
The positions had been carefully selected earlier through drone reconnaissance.
Wide visual coverage.
Clear firing lines.
Minimal civilian interference.
Perfect overwatch territory.
The four quickly settled into position with practiced efficiency.
Rapi deployed her sniper rifle first before synchronizing the scope systems directly into her Da'at Yichud visor interface. Beside her, Anis carefully positioned the monstrous Hawkeye Ramjet Rifle against reinforced stone support while quietly grinning to herself.
"This thing still feels ridiculously illegal."
Atago meanwhile deployed the first VSD sniper drone into the skies.
The compact machine silently ascended before splitting into multiple reconnaissance feeds across their HUD systems.
Takao immediately followed with her own drone deployment.
Within moments—
The castle grounds began rendering into a live tactical map in real time.
Guard patrols.
Servant routes.
Blind spots.
Ballroom entrances.
Watchtower rotations.
Everything slowly unfolded across the holographic tactical overlays.
"We count multiple armed guards around the palace interior," Rapi quietly transmitted through the encrypted communication line.
Anis adjusted her directional microphone systems afterward.
"Most concentrated around the eastern and central wings."
Takao calmly chambered a tranquilizer round into her rifle.
"Preparing non-lethal ammunition."
Atago softly smiled while observing the castle below through her scope.
"My…"
Then quietly—
"They certainly are nervous for a wedding."
Far below meanwhile—
Belfast, Ade, and Soda had already fully infiltrated the castle servant network.
The three maids moved naturally among the staff while carrying trays, linens, and cleaning supplies through the palace interior.
And honestly—
Their infiltration efficiency was terrifying.
Because unlike soldiers pretending to be servants—
They truly were maids.
Every movement.
Every gesture.
Every expression.
Perfectly natural.
The Snitch drones had successfully mapped the island itself earlier—
But the internal palace layout remained largely inaccessible due to shielding and interior interference.
Meaning the girls now had to manually explore deeper sections of the castle themselves while pretending to perform normal servant duties.
Belfast calmly organized wine trays for noble guests while subtly observing corridor layouts and servant access points simultaneously.
Ade meanwhile quietly assisted kitchen staff while memorizing internal routes.
Soda used her natural friendliness to blend among the castle maids surprisingly well.
The infiltration progressed smoothly—
Until armed guards began wandering closer toward restricted sections.
Several times the girls nearly encountered direct inspection patrols.
Each time—
They either pretended to work naturally—
Or quickly hid behind servant corridors and storage sections before detection occurred.
Then one guard suddenly turned a corner unexpectedly toward Soda.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Before he could fully react—
Pfft.
A tranquilizer dart struck his neck silently from above.
The guard barely managed half a step before collapsing unconscious.
Takao calmly lowered her sniper rifle from the distant rooftop afterward.
"Target neutralized."
Atago softly laughed through the communication channel.
"My sister truly is reliable."
Belfast immediately moved first.
The head maid calmly caught the falling guard before his armor could loudly strike the floor.
Ade and Soda quickly assisted afterward.
Together—
The three maids dragged the unconscious body into a nearby storage room before hiding him beneath linens and supply crates.
Soda quietly exhaled afterward.
"That was close…"
Belfast however remained perfectly composed.
"Continue moving."
Then more quietly—
"We are getting closer."
==================
Meanwhile—
Yorktown, Enterprise, and Illustrious seamlessly blended among the noble guests throughout the castle ballroom and surrounding courtyards.
And honestly—
The three women attracted attention effortlessly.
Yorktown's calm elegance naturally drew respectful conversations from older nobles and military figures alike.
Enterprise's composed beauty and heroic aura caused many guests to quietly assume she belonged to some distinguished military family.
Meanwhile Illustrious—
Illustrious practically weaponized noble etiquette itself.
The elegant carrier smiled gracefully while guiding conversations exactly where she wanted them without anyone realizing they were being interrogated.
And nobles—
Unfortunately—
Loved talking.
Especially while drinking.
Especially while gossiping.
Within less than twenty minutes—
The girls had already gathered disturbing amounts of information regarding Prince Pierre.
Yorktown quietly listened while holding a wine glass elegantly near one of the balcony halls.
"So the prince truly intends to marry two shipgirls today?"
One older noble laughed softly.
"Ah yes…"
Then mockingly—
"Pierre certainly possesses… unusual tastes."
Another noble snorted afterward.
"Tastes?"
"He treats those poor girls more like possessions than wives."
Enterprise quietly remained silent nearby while listening carefully.
Another conversation slowly revealed more details.
Prince Pierre belonged to one of the Six Great Noble families of the island.
The Feivel Household.
Specifically—
The second son.
And apparently—
A disgrace to nobility itself.
Descriptions from the nobles quickly painted an ugly image.
Curly purple hair.
Matching purple eyes.
Thin frame.
Unhealthy pale skin.
And despite his noble status—
Pierre apparently looked permanently disheveled.
Wrinkled clothing.
Alcohol smell.
Unkempt appearance.
A man constantly drunk regardless of time or place.
One noblewoman quietly sighed while gossiping nearby.
"He reeks of whiskey more than refinement."
Another guest laughed bitterly.
"That man possesses neither discipline nor dignity."
Illustrious softly continued guiding the conversation while maintaining perfect etiquette.
"And yet he still became heir to political influence?"
The nobleman immediately lowered his voice afterward.
"The Sacred Tree crest."
He glanced carefully around before continuing.
"Members of the Six Great Noble Houses possess divine authority because of it."
Enterprise quietly observed the crest descriptions through her tactical HUD afterward.
A symbol engraved upon Pierre's right hand.
The same power currently being used to suppress Eugen's shipgirl abilities.
Then another conversation nearby became even uglier.
One drunken noble casually spoke while laughing.
"Pierre once beat servants publicly because dinner arrived late."
Another added casually—
"And apparently he strikes his fiancées too."
Yorktown's fingers quietly tightened around her wine glass.
The synchronized connection immediately allowed Yuuki to feel the sudden anger rising inside her heart.
Enterprise's expression also noticeably cooled.
Even Illustrious' gentle smile became slightly thinner afterward.
The nobles themselves spoke about the abuse almost casually.
As if it were merely another unpleasant personality flaw rather than monstrous behavior.
One older noblewoman sighed quietly while holding her wine glass near the ballroom balcony.
"Those poor girls…"
Then more softly—
"I heard the poor purple-haired one cried after the last incident."
Yorktown immediately focused.
"Incident?"
The noblewoman blinked in slight surprise.
"Oh?"
"You truly do not know?"
She lowered her voice afterward.
"The blonde destroyer was apparently captured and sold to him recently."
Another noble quietly added—
"A shipgirl too."
Then almost casually—
"Such rare creatures."
Enterprise's expression immediately cooled further.
The way these nobles spoke about shipgirls—
Like exotic possessions instead of people—
Made the atmosphere feel increasingly disgusting.
Yorktown immediately transmitted the information through the encrypted communication network.
"Commander."
Her voice remained controlled.
But Yuuki could feel the anger beneath it clearly through their synchronized hearts.
"Pierre is worse than expected."
Enterprise added immediately afterward.
"He physically abuses servants and the shipgirls publicly."
High above the city—
Anis nearly growled through the communication channel.
"Oh now I REALLY want to kill that bastard."
"Language," Rapi calmly corrected.
"That wasn't even the worst thing I wanted to say."
Silence lingered briefly afterward throughout the communication network.
Then Yuuki finally answered.
"…Understood."
His voice sounded calm.
Far too calm.
And honestly—
That worried several girls more than if he sounded angry.
Because when Yuuki became genuinely furious—
He tended to become quieter instead.
Then Rapi spoke again while analyzing gathered information from the nobles.
"Still no precise explanation regarding this Sacred Tree."
One noblewoman nearby continued gossiping helpfully for Yorktown and Illustrious.
"They say the Sacred Tree protects the island itself."
Another noble nodded immediately.
"It's practically divine."
Then lower—
"Magic."
Inside the communication network—
Yuuki blinked.
"…Wait."
Then again—
"Wait."
"Magic?"
Rapi sighed softly.
"Yes."
Then more dryly—
"We also find it absurd."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead while continuing surveillance through his tactical HUD.
"A magical sacred tree protecting a hidden island…"
Then quietly—
"So we're genuinely dealing with fantasy nonsense now."
Enterprise immediately corrected him calmly.
"Commander, magic is not entirely unknown within this world."
Yuuki looked slightly baffled through the communication feed.
"…Seriously?"
Enterprise nodded while continuing to mingle among the nobles naturally.
"Several isolated islands possess unusual technologies, relics, or systems mistaken for magic."
Then more thoughtfully—
"Some may genuinely operate outside conventional scientific understanding."
Illustrious softly added—
"And considering this barrier hides an entire island from Sirens and Raptures…"
Her elegant smile slightly thinned.
"…I do not believe ordinary technology alone explains everything here."
Yuuki quietly exhaled afterward.
"All right."
Then more seriously—
"If we're dealing with Sacred Tree users…"
His expression hardened slightly beneath the masquerade mask.
"…then I'm not confronting that drunken noble without understanding what exactly I'm dealing with first."
The tactical overlays continued updating around his vision while the operation progressed.
Then Yuuki asked another question immediately.
"Any information regarding the location of the Sacred Tree itself?"
Yorktown blinked slightly.
"Why?"
Yuuki's answer came instantly.
"Because I need to understand how its power functions."
Then more quietly—
"For Eugen and Hipper specifically."
His expression sharpened while reviewing everything they learned so far.
"According to Nimi, those two sisters are incredibly stubborn."
Then firmly—
"They would never submit quietly without resistance."
The communication network became quieter afterward.
Because everyone immediately understood what Yuuki implied.
Pierre must possess leverage.
Something powerful enough to keep strong shipgirls obedient despite their hatred toward him.
And the Sacred Tree—
Likely played a major role.
Yuuki's voice became calmer afterward.
"So keep gathering information."
Then decisively—
"Find the location of the Sacred Tree."
His eyes slowly narrowed beneath the masquerade mask.
"I'm going to investigate it personally."
Then finally—
"The rest of you continue locating Eugen, Hipper, Javelin, and Cocoa."
Meanwhile—
Nimi's group had already quietly moved far deeper into the castle interior than anyone expected.
The smaller girls blended naturally among the children and noble families wandering through the outer halls and decorative gardens surrounding the wedding grounds.
Honestly—
The plan worked absurdly well.
Because nobody paid close attention to them.
To the guards and servants—
They merely looked like lost young girls wandering around a large castle during a crowded noble celebration.
Neon casually led the group through the corridors while pretending to admire decorations dramatically.
"Wow…"
Then loudly enough for nearby servants to hear—
"This castle is huge."
Nimi quietly sighed beside her.
"You are overacting."
"That's called blending in."
Meanwhile Laffey quietly held Unicorn's hand while the sleepy destroyer silently observed guard patrol routes through half-lidded eyes.
Despite looking sleepy—
Laffey missed almost nothing.
Several guards eventually noticed the girls wandering too far from the ballroom sections.
One armored guard frowned slightly while approaching them.
"Young ladies, this area is restricted—"
Before he could finish—
Pfft.
A tranquilizer dart silently struck his neck.
The guard blinked once in confusion before collapsing backward immediately.
Another guard barely turned his head—
Pfft.
A second dart struck him moments later.
Both men dropped unconscious without making noise.
Far above the castle rooftops—
Rapi calmly lowered her sniper rifle afterward.
"Path secured."
Anis softly laughed through the communication channel.
"Nice shot!"
Nimi immediately moved first.
"Quickly."
Together, the girls dragged the unconscious guards behind decorative curtains and unused servant storage alcoves before continuing onward naturally.
Unicorn looked slightly worried afterward.
"Will they be okay…?"
Laffey softly nodded.
"…Sleeping."
Neon meanwhile looked completely unbothered.
"Heh."
Then proudly—
"Our sniper girls are terrifying."
The group continued deeper into the castle interior afterward.
And the deeper they went—
The more security they noticed.
Additional patrols.
Locked hallways.
Hidden checkpoints.
This part of the castle clearly protected something important.
Neon's expression gradually sharpened.
"Security's getting tighter."
Nimi quietly nodded.
"Which means we are close to something important."
Then Neon suddenly spotted a side corridor hidden behind decorative curtains.
Several wires extended beneath the doorway.
"…Bingo."
Nimi blinked.
"What?"
Neon grinned afterward.
"Security room."
Her eyes sparkled dangerously.
"Ohhhh…"
Then excitedly—
"Time to commit tactical crime."
Nimi immediately pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You are enjoying this too much."
Neon proudly pointed at herself.
"Commander trusted me with infiltration."
Then dramatically—
"I shall infiltrate gloriously."
Laffey quietly yawned nearby.
"…Neon scary."
The girls carefully slipped toward the hidden side corridor while avoiding additional patrol routes moving through the castle interior.
The deeper they moved—
The more obvious it became that this section handled internal surveillance and castle security operations.
Neon immediately grinned afterward.
"Ohhh…"
Then proudly—
"Commander gave me cool spy weapons for a reason."
She smoothly pulled out the Falcon Automatic Pistol from beneath her dress afterward.
The sleek futuristic handgun looked wildly out of place inside the fantasy-like castle.
Nimi quietly whispered beside her.
"Please do not get carried away."
"No promises."
The girls quietly peeked through the doorway.
Inside—
Several guards monitored magical surveillance systems and primitive observation devices connected throughout the castle.
Crystal screens.
Mirror projections.
Rotating patrol maps.
Honestly—
The entire setup looked like medieval fantasy trying desperately to imitate modern security systems.
Neon softly exhaled afterward.
Then—
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Three suppressed shots quietly echoed inside the room.
The tranquilizer rounds struck the guards almost instantly before any of them could properly react.
One man barely turned around before collapsing unconscious across the console.
Another slumped backward against the crystal display systems.
The final guard dropped beside the monitoring station entirely asleep.
Neon proudly spun the pistol afterward.
"Heh."
Then smugly—
"Tactical firepower."
Nimi immediately sighed.
"You enjoy this far too much."
Meanwhile Unicorn carefully entered the room afterward while looking visibly nervous.
"…There are so many sleeping people…"
Laffey meanwhile calmly began dragging unconscious guards aside with frightening efficiency despite still looking half asleep.
The tranquilizers used by Takao's sniper systems were extremely potent.
Strong enough to keep targets unconscious for most of the day safely.
Neon immediately jumped into the surveillance station afterward.
"All right…"
Then excitedly—
"Let's see what fantasy security systems look like."
The holographic interface from her compact tactical wrist display connected directly into the primitive surveillance devices surprisingly quickly.
Crystal projections flickered across the room.
Castle hallways.
Wedding guests.
Guard patrols.
Restricted corridors.
Neon's eyes sparkled immediately.
"Ohhh…"
Then dramatically—
"I'm hacking magic."
Nimi looked genuinely exhausted suddenly.
"That sentence should not exist."
Neon continued searching through the surveillance feeds rapidly afterward.
"Come on…"
Then more focused—
"Find the girls…"
Suddenly—
The security room door opened.
One armored guard stepped inside casually—
Then froze completely.
Because standing inside the room were four suspiciously well-dressed little girls surrounded by unconscious guards.
"…What…"
Silence.
Then immediately—
"I AM SORRY!"
Pfft.
Unicorn reflexively fired the tranquilizer pistol in panic.
The dart struck the guard directly in the neck.
He collapsed instantly.
Unicorn immediately covered her mouth afterward.
"…Ah."
Laffey calmly walked over afterward before catching the unconscious guard before he hit the floor loudly.
"…Good shot."
Then quietly—
"Sleeping now."
Together, the girls dragged the newest unconscious guard beside the others already piled inside the room.
At this point—
The security room looked less like a tactical center and more like an accidental sleeping camp for armored guards.
Neon meanwhile proudly continued controlling the surveillance systems.
"Heh."
Then confidently—
"Castle security officially belongs to us now."
Neon rapidly cycled through the captured surveillance systems while multiple crystal projections flickered across the security room.
Castle corridors.
Restricted chambers.
Guard patrol routes.
Then suddenly—
One particular feed caught her attention.
A heavily guarded room located near the upper sections of the castle.
Neon immediately leaned closer.
"…Wait."
The image sharpened.
Inside the room—
Cocoa could clearly be seen attending quietly to another figure seated near the windows.
Additional guards surrounded the hallway outside.
Far more than usual.
Neon's eyes widened immediately.
"Lady Belfast!"
Her voice echoed through the encrypted communication line.
"Fifth floor. Heavy guard concentration."
Then excitedly—
"We found Cocoa!"
Several communication channels activated immediately.
"She's attending someone inside the room."
Belfast's expression quietly sharpened afterward while pushing a food cart naturally through the servant corridors alongside Ade and Soda.
"Understood."
The three maids maintained completely calm expressions despite the sudden development.
"Thank you, Neon."
Then softly—
"We shall proceed from here."
The infiltration immediately escalated afterward.
The fifth floor possessed significantly tighter security than the lower palace levels.
Armored guards patrolled every corridor intersection while additional personnel monitored restricted entrances constantly.
Yet even then—
The three maids still blended naturally among the servant activity.
Belfast calmly pushed the food cart while Ade and Soda carried trays behind her with perfect professionalism.
No hesitation.
No nervousness.
Just elegant servant efficiency.
Several guards glanced toward them briefly before immediately losing interest.
After all—
Why would anyone suspect three maids?
Still—
Whenever isolated guards grew suspicious or lingered too long—
The Falcon pistols quietly solved the problem.
Pfft.
A dart struck one guard behind a hallway corner.
Pfft.
Another collapsed silently near a storage section moments later.
Each unconscious body quickly disappeared behind curtains, storage rooms, or maintenance alcoves before patrol rotations noticed anything wrong.
Eventually—
The three finally reached the upper fifth floor corridor itself.
And immediately understood why security tightened here.
Seven guards stood stationed throughout the hallway.
Not ordinary patrols.
Dedicated protection detail.
Belfast quietly observed their positions afterward.
Two near the entrance.
Three spread across corridor intersections.
Two further back overlooking the chamber itself.
Direct infiltration risked immediate exposure.
Belfast softly touched her communication earpiece afterward.
"We require sniper support."
High above the castle—
Rapi immediately synchronized her scope.
"Marking targets."
The tactical HUD instantly assigned enemy positions.
Anis quietly aligned her silenced sniper rifle while grinning slightly.
"This is honestly awesome."
Atago and Takao simultaneously locked onto separate targets from adjacent rooftops.
Within seconds—
All seven guards received designated firing assignments.
Rapi on target one.
Anis on target two.
Atago and Takao on three and four.
Belfast herself quietly drew her concealed pistol beneath the serving tray.
Ade and Soda mirrored her movements immediately afterward.
The communication network fell completely silent.
Everyone waiting.
Everyone ready.
Then—
"Execute."
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Seven synchronized tranquilizer shots fired almost simultaneously.
The guards collapsed together before any alarm could trigger.
Perfect timing.
Perfect coordination.
Not a single sound echoed through the hallway.
For a brief moment—
Silence dominated the fifth floor.
Then suddenly—
"FLAWLESS!"
Neon shouted excitedly through the communication line.
Nimi immediately groaned nearby.
"Please stop celebrating stealth assassinations."
==============
"Well done, ladies."
Belfast's calm voice flowed through the communication line while the unconscious guards were quickly dragged aside and hidden from view.
The operation had proceeded perfectly.
No alarms.
No witnesses.
No casualties.
The moment the hallway was secured—
Belfast, Ade, and Soda immediately abandoned the serving cart and rushed toward the guarded chamber.
Neon meanwhile continued rapidly scanning surveillance feeds from the captured security room.
"All right…"
Then focused—
"Now where are Javelin and Eugen hiding…"
Crystal projections continued shifting rapidly around her while Laffey quietly watched the hallway entrance and Unicorn nervously held her tranquilizer pistol with both hands.
Elsewhere—
Inside the guarded room—
Cocoa quietly attended to the girl resting near the bed.
Admiral Hipper.
The Iron Blood cruiser looked visibly weakened.
Pale.
Exhausted.
And thinner than she should have been.
The moment the chamber door suddenly opened—
Cocoa immediately flinched and moved protectively in front of Hipper instinctively.
Then she froze.
Because entering the room were three familiar figures dressed as noble castle maids.
"…Ade?"
Soda's eyes immediately widened with emotion.
"Cocoa!"
"Ade! Soda!"
The three maids immediately rushed toward each other before tightly embracing.
Cocoa almost broke down instantly.
"It's been too long…"
Her voice trembled badly while hugging them desperately.
Soda immediately began crying too.
"We finally found you…"
Ade softly held the trembling maid closer.
"You're safe now."
Meanwhile—
Hipper slowly turned weakly toward the final figure entering the room.
And the moment she recognized her—
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Belfast?"
The elegant Royal Head Maid quietly approached afterward.
"Lady Hipper…"
For once—
Even Belfast's composed expression softened visibly.
"It has indeed been too long."
Hipper weakly laughed afterward.
A bitter.
Exhausted laugh.
"Yes…"
Then quietly—
"I apologize for meeting you in such a pathetic state."
Belfast immediately shook her head.
"There is nothing to apologize for."
She gently kneeled beside Hipper afterward while carefully observing her condition.
Bruises.
Signs of restraint.
Malnourishment.
Exhaustion.
Also, cuts and loss of her legs.
Even without words—
The evidence already spoke clearly enough.
Belfast's eyes quietly hardened for a brief moment.
Then softened again immediately.
"You have endured well."
Hipper quietly looked away afterward.
"…I failed."
"No."
Belfast's answer came instantly.
"You survived."
The room quietly fell silent afterward.
Because somehow—
That simple distinction mattered far more than anyone realized.
Cocoa meanwhile continued hugging Ade and Soda tightly while trying not to cry again.
"I missed you both so much…"
Ade gently stroked her hair afterward.
"We came to bring you home."
Cocoa visibly trembled hearing those words.
"…Home…"
As if the concept itself had almost become impossible to believe anymore.
"Everyone."
Belfast's voice quietly echoed through the communication network.
"We located Cocoa and Lady Hipper."
Immediate relief spread across nearly every connected channel.
Even the sniper teams visibly relaxed slightly.
"Cocoa appears physically stable."
Then Belfast's voice lowered afterward.
"But Lady Hipper…"
A brief silence followed.
"She is in very poor condition."
Inside the surveillance room—
Nimi immediately froze.
The Iron Blood destroyer quietly clenched her hands while listening.
"…How bad?"
Belfast glanced toward Hipper again.
The cruiser could barely sit upright properly.
Bruising remained visible beneath her sleeves and collar despite attempts to hide it.
Her body showed clear signs of long-term neglect and abuse.
Belfast's expression quietly hardened again.
"We will need to carry her out."
Then more softly—
"She is genuinely in bad shape."
Nimi immediately lowered her head afterward.
Even through the communication network—
Everyone could hear her struggling emotionally.
Because despite Hipper's difficult personality—
She was still one of their own.
Still family.
And hearing what happened to her hurt deeply.
"…At least she's alive…"
Nimi's voice sounded shaky afterward.
Laffey quietly moved beside her inside the security room before gently holding her sleeve.
"…We found her."
Nimi quietly nodded.
Meanwhile inside the castle chamber—
Hipper looked slightly confused hearing the communication chatter.
"…There are really others here?"
Ade softly smiled afterward.
"A lot of them."
Soda nodded excitedly through her tears.
"You should see it."
Then proudly—
"We have shipgirls and Nikkes together now."
Cocoa blinked several times.
"…Together?"
Belfast quietly helped support Hipper upright afterward.
"We shall explain later."
Then immediately—
"We need extraction."
Yorktown's calm voice answered through the network.
"Get her to the docks."
The tactical map immediately updated with highlighted evacuation routes.
"Akashi is already waiting aboard the hovercraft."
Then more quietly—
"Commander anticipated medical emergencies."
Enterprise added afterward.
"The issue is the route."
Several corridors and outer checkpoints flashed red across the tactical display.
"The path remains heavily guarded."
Atago quietly observed the patrol rotations from her rooftop scope.
"Additional guards are moving toward the fifth floor now. They must realized the others are not responding."
Takao immediately chambered another tranquilizer round.
"We can clear pathways."
Rapi's voice remained calm.
"We'll support extraction."
Cocoa still looked overwhelmed while helping support Hipper carefully.
"…Why are you here?"
Then more confused—
"How did you even get here?"
Ade softly smiled afterward while glancing toward Belfast.
"This is Lady Belfast."
Cocoa blinked.
"The Lady Belfast?"
Belfast calmly bowed her head slightly.
"Head Maid of the Royal Maids."
Then quietly—
"And Master's personal maid."
Soda proudly added afterward—
"And Head Maid of the Global Defense Initiative."
Cocoa visibly looked even more confused now.
"The Global Defense… what?"
Then another word finally registered.
"…Master?"
Belfast nodded calmly.
"Our Master is the Commander of the GDI."
Then more carefully—
"He does not belong to this world."
Cocoa froze.
"…What?"
"He is not from the Ark."
"Nor from any known faction."
Ade gently helped Hipper stand more steadily afterward.
"But he possesses technologies beyond anything we have ever seen."
Then softly—
"He can heal Lady Hipper."
Hipper quietly looked downward afterward.
"…I see…"
Honestly—
She sounded too exhausted to even fully process everything properly anymore.
Belfast immediately refocused.
"We shall explain properly after extraction."
Then firmly—
"We must leave immediately."
But suddenly—
"We can't."
Everyone paused.
Belfast's expression sharpened slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Hipper weakly clenched her hands afterward.
"…The prince."
Her voice carried visible hatred.
"He possesses powers against us."
Then lower—
"If we attempt to leave the island…"
Her eyes quietly trembled.
"…he will kill us."
The room became colder afterward.
Cocoa slowly lowered her gaze.
"It's connected to the Sacred Tree…"
Then quietly—
"That's why nobody escapes."
Hipper suddenly looked toward Belfast desperately afterward.
"…Eugen."
Belfast immediately focused.
"Lady Eugen?"
"She agreed to the marriage to protect me."
Pain entered Hipper's voice afterward.
"You have to save her…"
Then shakily—
"Please…"
Belfast gently placed one hand over Hipper's shoulder.
"We will."
Then immediately—
"And Javelin?"
Cocoa answered this time.
"She was captured by another noble."
Her voice sounded bitter.
"Then sold to Pierre yesterday."
Soda quietly clenched her fists.
"…That bastard…"
Belfast remained composed.
"Locations."
Cocoa immediately answered.
"Eugen is preparing for the wedding inside the cathedral district."
The tactical map updated instantly through the communication network.
"They're dressing her for the ceremony now."
Then softly—
"The wedding starts within a few hours."
Hipper weakly continued.
"Javelin is likely still inside her assigned chambers."
Then bitterly—
"Probably being prepared like a doll."
Cocoa quickly shook her head afterward.
"We can't extract Javelin separately yet."
Then quietly—
"Not while Eugen remains here."
Because if one bride vanished before the ceremony—
The entire castle would immediately enter lockdown.
Belfast quietly understood the implication.
They needed to remove both together.
"Master is currently searching for the Sacred Tree."
The room immediately quieted.
"If its power is what binds you to this island…"
Then more seriously—
"We neutralize the source first."
Cocoa immediately remembered something afterward.
"The guards mentioned something earlier."
Everyone focused immediately.
"A tree…"
Then carefully—
"…on top of the mountain."
Hipper weakly nodded.
"A temple."
"Some kind of sacred shrine."
The tactical overlays immediately updated again.
Possible mountain structures appeared across Yuuki's HUD.
Then suddenly—
"Master, did you hear all that?"
Yuuki answered immediately.
"Loud and clear."
The moment his voice echoed clearly through the room—
Both Cocoa and Hipper visibly froze.
Especially Hipper.
Because she recognized it instantly.
That voice.
The same voice that reached them before.
The voice that answered their prayers when they had already lost hope.
Hipper slowly looked toward Belfast afterward.
"…Belfast."
Her voice quietly trembled.
"…Is that really him?"
Belfast's expression softened immediately.
"Yes."
Then gently—
"It truly is."
A faint smile appeared on her face afterward.
"He is our Commander."
Then more warmly—
"And my beloved Master."
"Our," Ade and Soda corrected simultaneously.
Belfast blinked once.
Then gracefully corrected herself.
"…Apologies."
Then with surprising sincerity—
"Our beloved Master."
Multiple girls across the communication network immediately laughed softly afterward.
Even Yuuki weakly sighed.
Hipper however quietly stared downward afterward while processing everything.
Belfast looked healthy.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Nothing like someone abandoned by the world.
Which meant—
Someone truly had saved her.
Protected her.
Cherished her.
The voice was real.
Not a dream.
Not false hope.
Her prayers had truly been answered.
"Finally…"
Ade softly smiled while still holding Cocoa close.
"Our old maid squad is assembled again."
Soda nodded happily beside her despite the tension around them.
"Yes."
Then proudly—
"We finally have our leader back."
Cocoa blinked several times afterward.
"…Leader?"
Even Belfast tilted her head slightly.
"Maid squad leader?"
Soda immediately nodded.
"Back then, Maid For You was led by Cocoa."
Belfast looked genuinely surprised for once.
"My…"
Then thoughtfully—
"Quite young to lead a maid squad."
Cocoa awkwardly looked away afterward.
"Back then…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"…everyone just pushed me into it."
Ade softly laughed.
"You always took care of us first."
Then gently—
"That's why."
Cocoa quietly looked toward Belfast afterward.
Then carefully—
"…Lady Belfast."
Belfast calmly met her gaze.
"May I work under you?"
The desperation hidden beneath her voice was painfully obvious.
"…Anything to escape this place."
Belfast's expression softened immediately.
"We are Master's maids."
Then gently—
"If you are willing to serve him sincerely…"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"…then naturally you are welcome among us."
Cocoa visibly relaxed afterward.
"For someone to protect Ade and Soda…"
Then quietly—
"…I'm grateful to him already."
Soda immediately smiled afterward.
"Not just him, Cocoa."
Then proudly—
"Even Counters Squad serves him now."
Cocoa blinked in confusion.
"…Counters?"
"Rapi, Anis, and Neon."
Then immediately—
"Righto!"
Neon's energetic voice suddenly echoed through the communication line.
Cocoa froze instantly.
Because she recognized that voice immediately.
"…Neon?"
The cheerful Nikke proudly answered.
"Still alive and awesome."
Cocoa visibly looked emotional afterward.
To hear Neon again—
To know Rapi and Anis were nearby too—
It almost felt unreal.
Meanwhile—
Belfast's expression suddenly sharpened.
Her tactical HUD updated instantly.
"Multiple guards approaching."
Atago's calm voice followed through the communication line.
"Estimated arrival in less than three minutes."
Belfast immediately turned toward Cocoa.
"Please support Lady Hipper."
Then calmly—
"We shall provide cover."
She looked toward Ade and Soda afterward.
"Ladies."
Her voice became more formal.
"Switch to power suits."
Ade and Soda immediately nodded.
"We need to move Lady Hipper out first."
Without hesitation—
The three maids quickly removed their outer maid uniforms, leaving only their undergarments and internal combat layers beneath.
Cocoa and Hipper quietly watched in confusion while Belfast calmly retrieved a compact metallic device from beneath the serving cart.
Then Ade and Soda mirrored her.
The Da'at Yichud armor units.
The compact systems were placed directly beneath their feet.
Then—
The suits activated.
Golden hexagonal light erupted upward instantly.
Nanomachines and modular armor fragments expanded around their bodies with mechanical precision while glowing interfaces assembled layer by layer.
Leg armor.
Torso plating.
Arm systems.
Shoulder modules.
Visor systems.
The armor formed around them almost beautifully.
Not bulky.
Not crude.
Elegant advanced combat systems designed like futuristic knight armor.
Cocoa stared completely speechless.
"…What…"
Hipper's eyes widened slightly as well.
Even she had never seen technology this advanced before.
The armor finished assembling around Belfast first.
Then Ade.
Then Soda.
The three former maids now looked more like elite futuristic operatives than ordinary servants.
Ade quietly flexed her fingers afterward while observing the glowing armor systems around her.
"…Amazing…"
Soda's eyes sparkled immediately.
"I feel so strong…"
Belfast meanwhile calmly checked the tactical displays projected across her visor.
"Ladies."
Her voice entered the communication network immediately afterward.
"We require several minutes for complete synchronization."
Then more seriously—
"Please provide cover."
=============
Rapi quietly adjusted her sniper scope while tracking incoming guard movements through the castle corridors below.
"We'll cover you."
Beside her, Anis rested the massive Ramjet rifle against the rooftop support while grinning confidently.
"Leave the scary stealth murder stuff to us."
"Non-lethal," Rapi corrected immediately.
"…Mostly," Anis added afterward.
On another rooftop overlooking the fifth floor windows—
Takao calmly synchronized targeting data across all sniper units.
"Everyone."
Her voice remained composed and sharp.
"Sync your shots."
Multiple hostile markers appeared across the shared tactical HUD.
"We eliminate them sequentially before any alarms trigger."
Atago softly smiled while chambering another tranquilizer round.
"My sister truly sounds reliable during operations."
Rapi immediately locked onto the first moving patrol.
Anis selected another approaching guard further down the hallway.
Atago and Takao acquired the remaining targets.
Four sniper scopes quietly aligned simultaneously.
Then Takao spoke again.
"Neon."
Inside the captured security room—
Neon immediately straightened proudly while typing rapidly across the hybrid magical surveillance systems.
"Okay!"
Then excitedly—
"Jamming communications now."
Ancient crystal devices flickered violently across the room afterward while signal interference spread throughout nearby guard channels.
Neon honestly looked deeply offended by the technology quality.
"These guys use really weird equipment."
Then dramatically—
"And it's all ancient."
Nimi quietly sighed beside her.
"You are insulting medieval fantasy security systems."
"Yes."
Neon proudly continued hacking the communication systems afterward.
"Castle communications now belong to firepower."
Back outside—
The guards approaching the fifth floor remained completely unaware.
Several armored men advanced cautiously through the hallways after noticing missing patrol check-ins.
One guard reached toward his communication device.
Static answered him instead.
"…What the—"
Pfft.
A tranquilizer dart struck his neck immediately.
He collapsed silently.
Another guard turned sharply—
Pfft.
Second target down.
Takao calmly shifted targets again.
"Third patrol approaching east corridor."
Rapi fired instantly.
Another unconscious guard collapsed before fully understanding the situation.
Anis softly whistled afterward while adjusting the oversized rifle.
"Heh…"
Then proudly—
"We are seriously bullying these guys."
Atago quietly fired next.
Another guard slumped against the wall unconscious.
The operation continued with terrifying efficiency afterward.
Each synchronized shot removed targets silently one by one.
No alarms.
No screams.
No gunfire.
Only guards quietly collapsing throughout the castle corridors while invisible sniper teams controlled the battlefield from above.
Inside the fifth floor chamber meanwhile—
Cocoa continued staring at Belfast, Ade, and Soda in complete disbelief.
The advanced power armor glowed softly around the three maids while their helmets covered their heads. Hiding their long hair from sight..
Hipper quietly looked toward them as well.
"…You really weren't exaggerating…"
Belfast calmly secured her pistol at her side afterward as the golden cloak and Hood formed around her, Ade and Soda.
"Master dislikes unnecessary exaggeration."
Then softly—
"He simply tends to accomplish absurd things naturally."
=======================
"We found Javelin!"
Neon's excited voice immediately echoed through the communication network while surveillance feeds shifted toward another secured chamber deeper within the castle.
"Fourth floor."
The tactical map updated instantly.
A highlighted route appeared connecting the security room toward Javelin's location.
Nimi immediately straightened.
"Finally…"
Even Laffey looked slightly more awake hearing Javelin's name.
Then suddenly—
"Neon."
Yuuki's voice entered the channel calmly.
"Commander?"
"If possible…"
Several highlighted magical surveillance devices appeared across Neon's HUD.
"…take those crystal systems with you."
Neon blinked.
"You want the weird magic TVs?"
"Vergil would absolutely want to study them."
Then thoughtfully—
"Honestly, crystal-based projection technology is surprisingly convenient."
Yuuki's tactical mind had already shifted toward research implications.
"If magic truly exists in this world…"
His expression quietly sharpened.
"…then we need every advantage we can get before eventually confronting people who use it."
Enterprise quietly listened nearby while mingling among nobles.
The statement honestly made complete sense.
Because if magical civilizations existed—
The GDI would eventually need countermeasures.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"Use the dimensional storage cube I gave you."
Then more seriously—
"Collect anything worth researching."
Neon immediately saluted proudly despite nobody seeing her.
"Roger!"
Then dramatically—
"Firepower archaeology begins now!"
Nimi quietly rubbed her forehead again.
"That phrase should also not exist."
Neon immediately activated the dimensional storage cube afterward.
A compact spatial field opened beside her while the magical crystal systems quietly vanished one after another into storage.
Projection crystals.
Communication devices.
Surveillance arrays.
Power conductors.
Even several enchanted mirrors disappeared into the cube.
Neon's eyes sparkled dangerously.
"Heh…"
Then excitedly—
"Commander's gonna love this loot."
Once the collection finished—
The girls immediately moved again.
Their new target:
Javelin.
The group advanced rapidly through the fourth floor corridors while avoiding main patrol routes.
At this point—
Castle security had already begun subtly destabilizing due to missing patrols and communication failures.
Which ironically made infiltration easier.
Several guards eventually spotted the girls moving through restricted sections.
"Halt—"
Pfft.
Neon instantly tranquilized one before he finished speaking.
Another guard turned—
Pfft.
Nimi shot him immediately afterward.
The two destroyers immediately looked toward each other afterward.
"…I got that one first," Neon whispered smugly.
Nimi adjusted her pistol calmly.
"Incorrect."
Then firmly—
"My shot landed first."
"You're cheating with German efficiency."
"You are simply slow."
The two girls immediately began competing silently afterward over who could neutralize guards faster.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Armored guards quietly collapsed throughout the hallways with increasingly absurd efficiency.
Meanwhile—
Unicorn and Laffey followed behind them dragging unconscious bodies into hidden storage rooms, curtains, and decorative alcoves.
Laffey calmly carried two unconscious guards at once despite still looking sleepy.
"…Heavy…"
Then quietly—
"…but manageable."
Unicorn nervously looked around afterward.
"Are we really okay doing this…?"
Neon proudly pointed at the sleeping guards.
"They're alive."
Then confidently—
"That means Commander approves."
Honestly—
That logic somehow worked frighteningly well on everyone.