Remilia turned her head, her crimson eyes glaring directly at her younger sister.
Flandre Scarlet caught Remilia's stern gaze and immediately realized her stealthy maneuver had been exposed.
Without a moment's hesitation, she shoved the stolen bite of cake straight into her mouth and turned to make a break for it, only for Remilia to grab her tightly by the collar!
"Well, well, I certainly didn't expect you to possess such refined thievery skills, Flandre. Spit it out this instant!"
Faced with Remilia's aggressive attempt to retrieve the cake from her mouth, Flandre Scarlet clamped both hands tightly over her lips, her expression declaring she would rather face death than surrender her prize. With a desperate gulp, she forced the cake down her throat.
Seeing her prize vanish for good, Remilia gnashed her teeth in utter exasperation, threatening to spank Flandre's bottom in front of the entire cafeteria.
Taking advantage of the momentary pause, Flandre churned her short legs and successfully scrambled out through the restaurant doors.
A chorus of stifled laughter broke out across the dining hall as the surrounding Operators watched the chaotic sisterly exchange unfold.
Watching Flandre make her grand escape, Remilia turned to Sakuya Izayoi with dramatic, tear-filled eyes. The Head Maid, ever prepared, instantly produced another exquisite miniature dessert from her pocket, finally salvaging the dignified honor of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Meanwhile, inside Kal'tsit's executive office.
The Old Lynx stood before a line of gathered Elite Operators, holding a detailed evaluation dossier regarding the visitors from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
"What are your thoughts on this matter?" Kal'tsit asked, her tone dry and measured.
"I believe Flandre Scarlet, her sister, and the rest of the party claiming to be from the Scarlet Devil Mansion pose no threat to us," Logos spoke up first, adjusting his flowing robes. "First, based on the intelligence gathered from Flandre and the others, they have zero intention of remaining long-term aboard Rhodes Island. In their eyes, a bustling metropolis like Lungmen is clearly a far more desirable place to settle down."
He paused slightly before continuing. "Secondly, whether it is Amiya, [REDACTED], or anyone else who has interacted with them directly, it is blatantly obvious that these people harbor no malice toward Rhodes Island. Their primary purpose in coming here was simply to rendezvous with Doctor Eirin and their companions as agreed."
Logos swept his gaze across the room. "Of course, I do not deny that none of us know where this 'Gensokyo' or 'Scarlet Devil Mansion' they speak of is located. But Terra is vast, and the Sarkaz Royal Court itself has undergone countless fractures and shifts over the centuries; encountering an unfamiliar bloodline or faction is hardly cause for alarm."
His assessment drew murmurs of agreement from several Operators in the room.
Indeed, whether it was Flandre, Remilia, or Eirin Yagokoro, every single member of their group was wrapped in dense mystery. However, the Elite Operators recognized one undeniable fact: from the very beginning, the visitors had never expressed any desire to enlist under Rhodes Island's banner.
Even though Eirin Yagokoro had introduced revolutionary breakthroughs to the Medical Department, she hadn't accepted any official administrative authority within Rhodes Island beyond her title as a consulting doctor. It was as if her entire presence was dedicated solely to studying the clinical pathology of the Infected.
As for Flandre and Remilia, their intentions were even simpler. Lady Remilia strictly adhered to the guest itineraries arranged by Rhodes Island, never venturing beyond designated zones—a remarkable display of noble restraint.
Meanwhile, Patchouli Knowledge, who accompanied them, virtually resided in the central library. The crucial detail was that, aside from consuming vast quantities of literature, she was exceptionally generous when answering questions. Whenever Operators approached her regarding Arts or Magic, she provided absolute clarity without withholding a single detail. Everyone—from junior recruits to seasoned Elite Operators—had gleaned immense insight from her explanations.
As for the others, the Chief Maid, Sakuya Izayoi, remained almost permanently at Remilia's side, and the gatekeeper, Hong Meiling, conducted herself with similar composure. Just a short while ago, Doctor Lena from the Convalescent Garden had sent word praising Meiling's deep familiarity with botanical biology, noting that her recommendations regarding plant cultivation and classification had proven invaluable.
And Flandre's contributions spoke for themselves.
Although Kal'tsit's heart had nearly jumped out of her chest when Flandre took Amiya soaring into the open sky earlier that afternoon, the young girl had proven herself remarkably disciplined. Once Scout laid down the safety boundaries, her aerial excursions stayed strictly within those rules.
Even without formally joining Rhodes Island, the assistance provided by these visitors over the past few days was undeniable. Under such circumstances, overstepping with excessive hostility or suspicion would only alienate them—and spark objections from Rhodes Island's own crew.
Considering these factors, Kal'tsit gave a subtle nod.
"In that case, we shall suspend formal surveillance operations regarding their party," Kal'tsit declared quietly. "As Logos stated, there is no need for Rhodes Island to treat potential allies with paranoia. Furthermore... the fact that Rhodes Island successfully opened a dialogue with Reunion in the first place was largely thanks to Flandre's initial suggestion."
With the briefing concluded, the Elite Operators filed out of the executive office.
Once the room cleared, Kal'tsit turned her eyes toward Amiya, who had been sitting quietly at a side desk recording the meeting minutes. A rare flicker of warmth softened the senior doctor's cool demeanor.
"Amiya, come here."
Amiya gathered her notebook and walked over to Kal'tsit's desk. "Doctor Kal'tsit, here are the official records from the session. Would you like to review them for any errors or omissions?"
Kal'tsit smiled softly, taking the notebook and laying it gently on the desk. "I have already heard the opinions of the operational leaders. What about you, Amiya? What are your personal thoughts regarding Flandre?"
Amiya blinked in surprise at the question. Recalling her encounters with Flandre over the past two days, a genuine smile lit up her face.
"Flandre? She is a truly wonderful person," Amiya answered softly. "When she plays, she casts aside all worries and enjoys the moment with pure happiness. But when it is time to be quiet, she can sit completely focused, immersed in a book for hours."
Amiya paused, a hint of deep envy creeping into her voice. "And she never hides how she feels. She laughs when she wants to laugh, completely unfettered... she is as free as the wind."
As a young girl carrying the immense weight of Rhodes Island on her shoulders, Amiya often wished she could express her feelings so freely—to laugh when she was happy, or cry when she was overwhelmed. But she lacked that luxury. She wasn't merely living for herself; she had to serve as an unshakeable pillar and role model for every Operator on board.
Sensing the subtle heartache behind Amiya's words, Kal'tsit felt a sharp pang of sympathy.
"Everyone carries responsibilities they cannot abandon," Kal'tsit said gently, resting a hand on Amiya's shoulder. "You see her current freedom, but think back to her actions in Ursus. If she hadn't single-handedly halted an entire imperial army group and established a safe haven for Reunion, she wouldn't be able to play so carefree today, would she?"
Kal'tsit offered a comforting look. "She enjoys her freedom now because she has already accomplished feats far beyond the reach of ordinary people."
Amiya listened intently, then gave a firm, resolute nod. "I understand, Doctor Kal'tsit. My path is different from Flandre's, but I will give my absolute best—at the very least, to ensure that everyone aboard Rhodes Island can live a good, peaceful life."
While the meeting wrapped up in the executive office, Flandre Scarlet found herself intercepted in the central library corridors by Warfarin.
"I originally intended to have a proper chat with you this afternoon, but you were having far too much fun taking everyone flying," Warfarin said, gesturing toward a secluded corner table tucked away between two tall bookshelves. "Now that you're finally free and my schedule is clear, shall we sit down?"
Flandre nodded agreeably, following the elder vampire over to the private table.
Once they sat down, Warfarin leaned back, her sharp eyes carefully evaluating the young girl before her.
"Scarlet..." Warfarin began, her tone laced with genuine intrigue. "To be completely honest with you, I am intimately familiar with every Blood Demon bloodline—major and minor alike—across the history of Terra. Yet, I have never once heard of your family name..."