I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

"Wow! What's with that expression? Isn't my allocation reasonable?! If I let you, as the boss, ask Sakura, what would you get out of her?!" Noticing Saria's expression, Muirseth lightly slapped the table and said irritably.

P.S.: Give it a push.

Chapter 149 Sakura: The Despicable One Is Me

After confirming the division of labor, Saria and Muirseth separated and set off.

Saria went to the Structural Engineering Department to question the people in the laboratory and search for relevant clues. Meanwhile, Muirsays contacted Sakura on her phone and arranged to meet her at a certain place.

……

A coffee shop —

"Ah~"

"Breakfast has turned into afternoon tea."

Looking at the cake and coffee in front of her, Sakura yawned and sighed softly.

"Well, Sakura, are you really alright? I didn't expect you to reply to my message so soon this afternoon." Looking at her friend who looked a little tired, Muirsey's expression was rather helpless.

She did want to ask Sakura out to ask about some details. But she originally wanted to ask her out in the evening! Who knew, the message was answered instantly.

Then the dinner mentioned in the message turned into afternoon tea...

"I'm adjusting my sleep schedule, so I didn't sleep during the day. Besides, after what happened... I'm having trouble sleeping now." Hearing this, Sakura gently shook her head and said with a complicated expression.

“That’s right, I’m also very frustrated right now…” Muirsey nodded in agreement after hearing Sakura’s words.

Then, as if remembering something, Sakura asked seriously, "So, what did Miu Miu want to ask me this time?"

"Well, I just wanted to ask if you noticed anything suspicious while you were on duty, Sakura." When asked about something serious, Muirsey's expression became serious as well.

"Hmm... I didn't notice anything unusual." After thinking for a while, Sakura gave a positive answer.

“I can’t guarantee anything else, but I can confirm that since I started my night shift, no one has entered through the door I’m guarding.”

"Because apart from the very beginning, I have been guarding the door every night without leaving or patrolling."

"Ah, I still really want to complain... Sakura, you're taking this way too seriously." After hearing Sakura's answer, Muirsey touched her nose and muttered to herself.

The elf lady had no doubts about Sakura's words, because she and Saria had already investigated and reviewed a lot of recent surveillance footage from the Structural Engineering Department.

Just as Sakura said, she did not neglect her post at all, and she was quite serious during the night watch... This was something that Muirsey had wanted to complain about before, but she never had the chance.

“Once you’ve chosen to do something, you should naturally put your heart into it.” Sakura looked at Muirsey muttering to herself, shook her head helplessly, and then answered seriously.

"Even so... but you stayed up all night and barely yawned or blinked. Aren't you taking this too seriously?" Muirsey couldn't help but rub her forehead as she looked at her serious-looking friend.

Honestly, in this respect, Miss Elf is almost seeing the shadow of a certain straight woman in Sakura... I guess that's what you call a subordinate and a superior?

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore." With that, Muirsey waved her hand lightly, then changed the subject and continued, "Whether it was before or after your night watch, Sakura, the surveillance footage didn't capture that guy, nor were there any signs of lock picking..."

"If that's the case, they probably didn't enter through the main gate... It seems they have a special ability, but I don't know if it's like mine, or a space-type Originium Arts?"

While muttering to herself and piecing together clues, Muels suddenly seemed to remember something, then looked at Sakura again and asked, "Sakura, did you hear any strange noises while you were on duty last night?"

"...No, no, to be precise, I don't know. The structural engineering lab is very soundproof. If someone did manage to sneak in using other methods, I probably wouldn't be able to hear them communicating inside." After a moment of thought, Sakura gave Muirsay a vague answer.

Sakura neither said she heard it nor definitively said she didn't, her main goal being to muddy the waters and obscure the investigation path of Muirsey and the other person.

After all, she herself was involved in the matter the two were investigating, and in a sense, she was one of the main executors.

"Ugh, those guys can't even calculate the infiltration timeframe? That's frustrating..." (After listening...)

Even Muirsey was somewhat discouraged by Sakura's words.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't help you, Miu Miu."

Looking at Muirsey, who was slumped on the table, looking somewhat dejected and listless, Sakura's beautiful blue eyes revealed a hint of apology as she spoke.

Muirsey stared at her innocent friend, who was apologizing for not being able to help, and slammed her hand on the table indignantly, saying:

"What does this have to do with you, Sakura... It's all those awful guys' fault! Where did they take Evey?!"

"..."

That wretched girl, Sakura, after hearing her friend's indignant words, touched her nose somewhat guiltily before offering words of comfort:

"Miao Miao, you don't need to worry so much. Since they've taken action, they'll definitely leave clues. As long as there are clues, they'll eventually be found. Maybe they'll be back later?"

"Sigh, if only that were the case... Now we can only hope that Saria can make some progress." Upon hearing this, Muirsay couldn't help but sigh.

"Ah."

Sakura nodded in agreement after hearing Muirses's words. However, she knew very well that the situation on Saria's side was likely even worse than hers.

Because Himer had already developed a deep misunderstanding about Saria while she was frantically investigating outside... If the misunderstanding wasn't cleared up, let alone revealing the secret, she probably wouldn't even get a friendly look.

-----------------

the other side--

Although the accident did not injure many people, Ahrendts Parves, the head of the structural engineering department, still gave the researchers in the laboratory leave so that they could go home and rest.

And it is precisely because of this situation that Saria's actions have become much more troublesome and difficult.

You should know that her initial target was Himer, who usually took care of Ifrit, but unfortunately, she couldn't find him because he was on vacation, and no one answered her messages and calls.

So, she had no choice but to temporarily settle for second best and went to ask other people in the lab about the matter.

Unfortunately, Saria has not gotten any useful information after asking around so far.

Finally, having obtained no useful information, Saria decided to go to Himer's dormitory room again to try her luck.

P.S.: Give it a push.

Chapter 150 Mission Completed and Follow-up

Frustrated by Ifrit's situation, Himer quickly treated her scrapes and left the Rhine Lab headquarters building to wander aimlessly.

Because she always kept her electronic devices on silent during work hours, she didn't notice that Saria had sent her a message or made a phone call while she was outside.

After all, if she had noticed, Hermer would probably be even more agitated right now... because the last person she wanted to see was Saria, the one who made her feel so conflicted.

However, no matter how much you wander around, it will eventually come to an end... After realizing that it was getting late, Himer, having cleared her head, stopped lingering outside and headed back.

However, it was this very decision that led her to bump into Saria standing at the door of her room.

"Director Seria, is there something you need from me?" Himer looked at the person in front of her whom she didn't want to see at all, and quietly switched back to her previous form of address.

"...Yes, I would like to ask about some details regarding Ifrit."

Seeing Himer's somewhat pale face, Saria assumed that she was upset because of Ifrit's matter, so after carefully considering her words, she asked.

"You...go ahead and ask."

Upon hearing the purpose of Saria's visit, Himer was initially taken aback, but then tried to remain calm as she spoke.

"There's no need to be so nervous. Ifrit should be out of danger now; she's just been taken away." Seeing Himer's somewhat off expression, Saria couldn't help but reassure her.

"Eh...why do you say that?"

After hearing Saria's words, Himer was startled again and quickly asked another question.

Faced with Himer's persistent questioning, Saria did not provide an answer. Instead, she gently shook her head, then lowered her eyes and said:

"This matter involves a great deal of people, so it's best if you don't know about it. This is for your own good. As for Ifrit, I will find her and have her bring her back."

Although Saria wanted to explain everything to Himeru, the issues involved were far too complicated.

To protect Himer's safety, she had no choice but to remain silent on these matters.

"..."

After hearing Saria's explanation and promise, Himer didn't react much, but simply lowered his eyes and avoided her gaze.

To be honest, Saria's words were not too unexpected for Himer... but even so, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed and unwilling.

She was disappointed that Saria, whom she had always admired, was really like that, and she was unwilling to accept her own weakness...

After taking a short while to calm herself down, Himer said, "Director Seria, please feel free to ask me anything. I will tell you everything I know."

"Ah."

------------------

Möbius's Secret Laboratory

"call-

—”

As all the Originium in Ifrit's body was meticulously emptied and all her wounds were healed, Bianca, whose nerves had been on edge, finally let out a soft breath and relaxed.

After several hours of such meticulous operation, she eventually exhausted a lot of her mind and energy.

Just as Bianca relaxed, the system's long-lost voice rang in her (and their) minds.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, for successfully completing the mission to save Ifrit.]

The reward has been issued; please check it yourself.

"Although the mission is complete, just in case, you should check Ifrit again later. If there are any problems, continue; if not, I'll go back."

After storing the Black Abyss White Flower in her hand into her spatial storage, Bianca turned to look at Mebius, who was diligently recording data, and said...

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Mebius, who was intently focused on the recorder in his hand, didn't even look up.

"..."

Seeing Mebius working diligently and unable to break out of his reverie for the time being, Bianca shook her head helplessly and then found a corner in the laboratory to rest.

I have to say, I quite like someone when they're working; they're serious and not at all wicked... unlike their usual self, who's so sarcastic and annoying...

……

After recording the data, Mebius quickly examined Ifrit's body to check for any omissions.

After confirming that Ifrit's body contained no foreign objects other than the [Flame Demon Fragment], Mebius finally stopped what he was doing and smiled at Bianca, saying:

"Alright, everything's settled~ Our Miss [Radiant Knight] can go back now~"

"You'd better shut up and go to work."

Hearing that familiar tone, Bianca's initially pleasant mood instantly soured. After a sharp retort, she immediately had Rita summon her back.