After putting the cat on the floor, Lancer picked up the clothes on the side and put them on. However, when he stood in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but shake his head, because the person in the mirror was significantly different from the real him. For example, the seductive spider lily on his chest had disappeared, and his right arm looked perfectly normal to a normal person, instead of the 'ice block' he saw.
Lancer himself was not skilled in magecraft, but creating two 'illusions' for himself when prepared was not a problem. However, the only problem was that these two illusions only looked like the real thing. Once someone touched them, they would still be able to detect the abnormality of the arm. Fortunately, Koutarou Amon didn't pay too much attention last night, or he might have been noticed as being unusual.
With the somewhat damaged bodysuit on and his CCG-issued trench coat over it, Lancer walked into the living room and saw Akira Mado, holding a spoon and wearing an apron, holding a phone to her head with her shoulder while listening to something. The cat at her feet kept rubbing against her calves, seemingly urging her to bring the breakfast over quickly.
Just as Lancer walked over, she said, "No problem," and nodded to Lancer.
"Breakfast is miso soup. Can you still eat it?"
"No problem."
Looking at Akira Mado, who was tucking a corner of her hair behind her ear and sitting across from him, Lancer suddenly felt a little unfamiliar... No, that description didn't seem quite right. It should be... more like a normal girl?
Perhaps because Lancer gaze was too conspicuous, it even attracted the attention of Akira Mado, who was just raising her miso soup.
"What are you looking at? Eat breakfast. Father said he'll be waiting for us at the headquarters entrance."
"Right away."
Lancer, sitting in the passenger seat of the white sports car, felt a bit strange. Perhaps it was because Akira Mado, having changed into a short skirt and small suit jacket, had reverted to her previous indifferent attitude towards him, which made Lancer feel somewhat awkward, but he couldn't find a topic for conversation for a while. However, when his eyes wandered, he saw a photo pasted in the car.
The photo showed Lancer lying in a hospital bed with a bitter smile, and Akira Mado and Koutarou Amon sitting on both sides of the bed. It was a photo taken just before he was discharged from the hospital.
"By the way, where is Amon? Why isn't he coming with us? I remember he said his dorm was just up ahead, right?"
"Special Class Mado is leaving the branch today. How could First-Class Amon, one of the key combat forces of the Ward 20 branch, abandon his post without authorization..."
As she said this, Lancer felt, and he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, that Akira Mado, who was holding the steering wheel, seemed to have glanced at him.
"Today, First-Class Amon has patrol duty until we return. But you seem to be very concerned about First-Class Amon's matters?"
This time, it was definitely not his imagination. Lancer was certain that Akira Mado had glanced at him, but... what was the problem with that?
Seeing Lancer strange gaze, Akira Mado stopped talking and just drove silently, and the atmosphere in the confined space instantly became extremely strange.
Lancer finally breathed a sigh of relief when Akira Mado's car stopped outside the headquarters entrance more than ten minutes later. For him, dealing with an angry woman was even more difficult than taking out a company of Orcs on the battlefield...
But just as Lancer was about to get out of the car as if escaping, he suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, if things can be settled today, I'll treat you, Amon, and Mr. Mado to a drink tonight. Are you coming?"
"I'll see."
After saying that, the car window automatically closed, and Akira Mado drove back to Ward 20.
That's right, Koutarou Amon was busy with work today, and she was naturally no exception.
Lancer also saw Kureo Mado at the entrance of the headquarters, leaning on a sofa and looking at documents.
"I saw that you didn't seem to have brought anything with you, so I assume your work ID is gone. That's why I came to pick you up. Now, follow me to see the Chairman first."
"Yes!"
For Lancer, almost the entire day was spent immersed in the headquarters. However, the lucky thing was that Kureo Mado's so-called 'physical examination' was actually just a routine blood test. Most of his time was spent on the process of 're-filing,' as he was previously a 'missing person.'
As for his experience during the time he was missing, he naturally brushed it off, and what he said wasn't entirely a lie. Lancer even suspected that even a lie detector probably wouldn't find anything.
However, in addition to these tedious matters, there was one more thing that concerned him.
Based on his description, 'Takatsuki Sen' was completely exposed to the CCG. As expected, Kureo Mado had reported the matter of Takatsuki Sen being a Ghoul and a relatively strong one last night. The CCG naturally conducted a preliminary investigation, but unfortunately, no clues were found in Takatsuki Sen's room. The opponent did not seem to have returned, but this was not unexpected, as her identity had already been exposed. It would be stranger if she returned to walk into a trap, right?
When Lancer finished processing all the matters, he finally regained his status as a 'CCG' First-Class Investigator, but when he went to collect his ID card, an 'unexpected' yet 'expected' thing happened.
"Test?"
"That's right. Although Lancer, you were a Senior Investigator two years ago, you've been away for over two years. When assigning missions in the future, we need to base them on your strength, so we must confirm whether you have sufficient ability... I hope you don't blame us?"
The person speaking to Lancer was Yukinori Shinohara. The opponent was an acquaintance of Lancer and was one of the main commanders during the raid on the shopping mall before. Of course, the opponent had another identity: Kureo Mado's first partner.
"Are you saying that Special Class Shinohara will be testing me?"
"Haha~ Of course not. It's just a simple test."
Seeing Lancer sigh in relief, Yukinori Shinohara couldn't help but laugh, but Lancer was actually not relaxed because he didn't have to fight a 'Special Class.' In fact, it was quite the opposite, because he had been struggling with the thought of what effect it would have if he defeated the opponent, but now it seemed he didn't need to worry about that.
"Then who is my opponent?"
"Don't worry, it's someone you know, Juuzou Suzuya."
With Kureo Mado's words, Lancer followed the opponent's gaze to the distant training ground. Juuzou Suzuya, who had changed into a training uniform, also seemed to have noticed that everyone was looking at him. He actually jumped and waved towards the crowd, looking very happy?