Kotori was truly growing impatient.
The oppressive atmosphere at Ratatoskr, with its undercurrent of darkness, made her desperate to get away as quickly as possible.
To be honest, Schicksal wasn't necessarily a great alternative either.
But after explaining the situation to Shiori last night, the question Shiori had posed left Kotori lost in thought for a long time.
What exactly had Mobius done that was so bad?
Kotori wanted to say Mobius had done plenty, but the words died on her lips.
When she really thought about it, she realized her own deep-seated wariness—and that of most people in the world—toward Mobius was based almost entirely on conjecture.
Mobius wants to rule the world. Their research into Stigmata must involve unforgivable human experiments. Everything they do is part of some sinister plot.
But looking at it another way, even in nations and organizations already under Mobius's control, they seemed to hold their immense power in reserve rather than wield it ruthlessly.
Take the Stigmata—a technology that allowed ordinary girls to lift multi-ton trucks with ease.
Logically, such a thing couldn't have been developed easily; it must have involved countless experiments and sacrifices.
Yet... so far, that logic remained just speculation, with no solid proof.
Even if human experiments were involved, why did everyone assume they had to be inhumane or horrific?
The Valkyries were fiercely loyal to both Schicksal and Mobius.
Why couldn't it be that Mobius simply possessed the charisma to inspire such devotion, rather than the Stigmata brainwashing them?
Thinking this through, Kotori felt her long-held perceptions of Mobius shatter, much like her feelings toward Ratatoskr had.
But... when it came down to it, while she couldn't prove Mobius was evil, she also couldn't prove they were good.
Kotori wasn't one to see the world in simple black and white. So, Shiori's words merely prompted her to re-examine Mobius with a fresh perspective, free from old prejudices.
What truly convinced Kotori that Schicksal might be worth a shot was Durandal.
"I can't bring myself to trust the others," Kotori admitted. "But if it's you... I think it's worth taking a gamble."
She laid out her terms: "If I join Schicksal, I want to remain the lead executive of the Spirit Conquest Plan, with the project placed under the sole jurisdiction of the Immortal Blades."
"The crew of the Fraxinus are all people I've personally vetted—they're trustworthy, not spies. Of course, Schicksal is welcome to conduct its own thorough background checks if there are concerns."
Her intent was clear: she wanted Durandal as her direct superior and shield.
While ultimate authority would still lie with Mobius, this arrangement would prevent them from bypassing Durandal to interfere directly with Kotori's operations.
'The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal'—that was the basic idea.
As for the Fraxinus crew, Kotori hoped to bring them along.
They were her veteran team, people she could rely on. If she abandoned them now, the consequences for them would likely be dire.
Rita's eyes lowered slightly. This request had a whiff of using personal connections to gain favor. And bringing the entire Fraxinus team along? Given Durandal's character, it bordered on emotional blackmail.
But Rita kept these thoughts to herself.
As she'd mused before, leveraging power for personal gain was a gray area, but if a company's executives couldn't secure any advantages for themselves or their people, that company wouldn't last.
Talented, ambitious individuals wouldn't stick around for mere promises on paper. While there were exceptions—those with ability but no ambition—they were rare.
True capability almost inevitably bred ambition to match.
So, personal gain was acceptable, as long as it didn't harm the company's interests.
As for the emotional blackmail... well, that was a matter of willing parties. If Durandal agreed, it was her choice.
"I can agree to that," Amber said, nodding without hesitation, driven more by friendship than any complex calculation.
"Thank you," Kotori replied, surprised by the immediate acceptance.
She assumed her defection had been anticipated by Mobius, and that Durandal was simply acting on their instructions.
Being placed under Durandal's command was likely Mobius's way of offering reassurance—a signal that, for the time being at least, they had no immediate plans to move against the Itsuka sisters.
Rita, though fond of the adorable-looking Kotori, maintained her professional demeanor.
With a smile, she added on behalf of her sometimes-absentminded superior, "From now on, we'll be comrades. A warm welcome in advance, Commander Kotori, to Schicksal. Let's work together for our shared goal."
She left that goal deliberately vague. It could be interpreted many ways: 'For all that is beautiful in the world,' 'For Schicksal's advancement,' 'For Mobius,' or 'For Durandal and the Immortal Blades.'
Whatever the interpretation, the underlying message was clear: once you're in, you must contribute meaningfully. Don't embarrass Durandal.
"Of course," Kotori responded firmly. "Whether as a comrade or a colleague, I'll prove that my position as commander isn't just due to being a Spirit."
She understood Rita's subtext perfectly. It wasn't offensive; even outright mockery wouldn't have bothered her much in her current predicament.
After all, she was in a tight spot. While Schicksal had likely planned to take them in all along—essentially waiting to offer a favor—Kotori wasn't in a position to be choosy.
The fact that they were willing to offer the favor at all was something.
Kotori's clear-eyed self-assessment made Rita's smile warm with genuine approval, and she said nothing more.
With these matters settled, Kotori felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
As Kurumi and Dark Amber arrived with an assortment of water toys—floating arena platforms, inflatable bumper boats, and the like—the atmosphere grew lively and boisterous.
Even Kotori found herself drawn into the fun, pulled along by Shiori.
Kurumi felt somewhat out of place in this cheerful chaos, but a deep-seated yearning for joy and normalcy overcame the restraint born from her insecurities.
After being repeatedly and enthusiastically taunted by Kaguya, she responded with a tight, thin smile, summoning several clones—an army of one.
Only after soundly defeating every other Spirit present did she withdraw her forces, satisfied.
Remembering the one Spirit who hadn't joined the gathering, Kurumi decided she shouldn't be left out. She snapped a photo of the dejected, waterlogged losers and sent it to Miku via Line.
--+--
Miku was seated backstage at a commercial shoot, basking in the envious gazes of the supporting performers, when her phone chimed with the distinctive tone she'd set for her 'extraordinary' contacts.
Unhurried, she opened the message.
The high school idol, who had remained flawlessly composed under the mix of admiration, envy, and spite from her peers, stared at her screen, her expression going completely blank for the first time.
Miku: You're having this kind of fun behind my back!?
Kurumi: We invited you. You said you didn't want to join us.
That's because all you Spirits seemed to have it out for me! But now there are two new beauties I've never seen before—of course I'm interested!
You never said the new arrivals were that high quality!
Even without them, a whole group of stunning girls in swimsuits is a feast for the eyes!
Not to mention the chance for some playful touching and brushing during games... I can't believe I'm missing this!
Regret washed over Miku. She never should have rushed off to shoot this ad.
When she thought about it, could this commercial really not wait? Even if she skipped this one, other top luxury brands would be lining up.
And besides... Tokisaki Kurumi was definitely sending this on purpose. To tease her, to let her see what she was missing and throw her off her game.
Damn you, Kurumi!
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.