Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

"Welcome! Oh, a new face here. What would you like to order?"

It seemed that because it was past lunchtime, there weren't many people in the restaurant, so the two of them, as the only customers, were quickly and warmly welcomed by an auntie wearing an apron.

"Ah, that."

After entering the room, Chris was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Well, she's always wanted to try Japanese okonomiyaki, and after doing some research, I heard that the okonomiyaki here is really delicious, so I brought her here to try it."

Lingyi took out the tablet computer that was inside her coat and went up to the aunt.

"Is that so? In that case, I'll definitely treat you well, so it'll be two okonomiyaki, is that right?"

Seemingly satisfied with Lingyi's words, the aunt asked with a smile,

"No, I don't need it. Although I really want to try your cooking, Auntie, if I continue to eat high-calorie foods today, it may cause my weight to become uncontrollable, so please just make one serving for her."

Looking at the tablet in her hand, Lingyi politely declined the aunt's enthusiasm, citing her weight as the reason.

"Weight... sigh, if you ask me, you young girls are just too concerned about this kind of thing."

Hearing Lingyi say that, the aunt stopped taking the second okonomiyaki and began to focus on cooking one okonomiyaki.

Lingyi and Chris, just like any other guests, pulled their chairs out from under the table and sat down.

So, what exactly are we doing here?

As soon as she sat down, Chris couldn't wait to send a telepathic message to Zero beside her, asking this question. However, even though she asked this, she actually vaguely sensed that Zero was the reason why IX did this.

Before that, Chris, take out your phone and look around casually. Although your mind is very discreet, you should still conceal it a little and not be too blatant.

Also, when the okonomiyaki arrives, Chris, please eat slowly and carefully. I have some work that I need you to help me get some time for.

Zero communicated with Chris telepathically, and at the same time placed the tablet on the table and began pointing at it, seemingly playing a game.

【All right. 】

Hearing Lingyi's suggestion, Chris also took out the phone that Finni had given her for easy contact, opened a short video app, and started scrolling through videos aimlessly.

So now you can tell me why you came to this place.

After completing her disguise, Chris continued to inquire.

[No rush, Chris. The reason I chose this place as our first stop for 'shopping' is actually because...]

As the background music of okonomiyaki cooking played, Rei used her tablet to explain her reasoning to Chris telepathically.

P.S. I'm finally feeling better.

P.S. The new Link 4 in Sky Striker... well, it just goes to show how it's depicted in the manga.

Chapter Twenty-Nine Intelligence.jpg

[First, I need to tell Chris that, in addition to activating the Durandal quest, Finney also gave me a quest to capture the first case of the Bio-Relic Fusion Syndrome, named "Tachibana Hibiki".]

A voice echoed in her mind, and Zero began to synchronize information with Chris.

Other tasks? Ah, it was yesterday morning!

Upon hearing Lingyi's words, Chris also remembered that when she came out earlier, she had seen Lingyi discussing something with Finney.

[Well, for the sake of efficiency, I think we can simultaneously carry out simple pre-operation preparations for capturing Tachibana Hibiki while completing the 'date' plan requested by Finney.]

Lingyi said.

[So, Zero, your plan is to fulfill the agreement while also capturing an individual named 'Tachibana Hibiki'... But why come here? Is the Tachibana Hibiki you mentioned related to this shop, or is Tachibana Hibiki this old lady?]

It didn't take long for Chris to understand Zero's purpose, but even after understanding the purpose, Chris still didn't understand why Zero had brought her here to eat okonomiyaki.

[Such a rich imagination, Chris. I think you could definitely become quite famous as a novelist. But unfortunately, Tachibana Hibiki is a first-year female junior high school student at Lydian Music Academy, not this old lady.]

The reason I brought you here is because after investigating Hibiki Tachibana's spending habits, I discovered that besides buying Kazanari Tsubasa merchandise, her biggest expense was this ordinary okonomiyaki restaurant.

After analysis, I believe this place has the potential to become a trap, which is why I brought you here.

Zero denied Chris's conjecture, then explained telepathically while swiping up and down on the tablet.

So that's how it is.

Chris suddenly realized.

[Of course, it's also because it's almost noon and Chris hasn't had lunch yet, so this is a good opportunity to grab a bite here.]

Furthermore, since this shop has earned Tachibana Hibiki's approval, it means it has some merit in certain aspects.

[According to the data I obtained by hacking into the Lydian Music Academy system, Hibiki Tachibana eats three times more food than the average student in the school cafeteria, which shows that she cares a lot about her diet.]

Generally speaking, a restaurant that gains the approval of this type of person is usually not too bad and is a good place to have lunch.

Lingyi added.

【Zero, what exactly did you investigate?】

Hearing Lingyi's explanation, Chris complained, "Why did they even find out how much someone eats?"

"That's normal, isn't it, Chris? If you're going to catch prey, you naturally need to prepare bait that will lure it in."

Lingyi didn't think there was anything wrong with this. After all, she considered herself to be quite weak. If she couldn't gain the upper hand in intelligence, many missions simply couldn't be carried out.

[By the way, speaking of which, you might be involved in capturing Tachibana Hibiki later. I'll share the information I gathered yesterday with you. If you have any good plans, you can discuss them with me.]

At this point, Lingyi remembered that the information she had investigated had not yet been shared, so she operated on the tablet and sent a file to Chris via email.

"Me too? Okay, let me see. Wait, so many documents, what exactly did you investigate? You didn't find out even what color her underwear was, did you?"

Chris opened her email on her phone and was shocked by the sheer volume of files that nearly filled the inbox.

From top to bottom, you can see many documents that Lingyi doesn't know where she got them from, such as "Social Software Chat Logs - Tachibana Hibiki", "Medical Examination Report - Tachibana Hibiki", "Summary of Consumption Records - Tachibana Hibiki", "School Punishment Records - Tachibana Hibiki", and "Family Member Information - Tachibana Hibiki".

Chris dares to say that Zero knows Tachibana Hibiki better than Tachibana Hibiki herself.

There isn't much. Thanks to the internet age, this information is easily obtained by searching online. It looks like a lot, but a large portion of it is invalid or duplicate information. If you find it too troublesome, Chris can refer to the file I sent you at the end, named "Intelligence Compilation and Analysis Summary.zip".

"A white compressed file."

Lingyi said.

[Additionally, I should mention that I did investigate her clothing preferences by looking through her purchase history, so I also know what style of lingerie she likes; I remember it being...]

Lingyi added in a very serious tone.

Okay, that's enough, I don't want to know this. Where did you come from, you stalker?!

Hearing the terrible thoughts echoing in her mind, Chris immediately interrupted, saying she didn't care about such strange questions at all.

Don't say that, Chris. Intelligence is intelligence; there's nothing to be ashamed of. All we need to think about is how to find a way to complete the mission from this intelligence.

In addition, my intelligence-gathering methods did indeed draw inspiration from several stalkers who are now in prison.

Lingyi said this to Chris in her heart.

[Zero, what have you been through...? Never mind, I can only say it's a good thing you're not my enemy, otherwise you would be too terrifying.]

Chris was too exhausted to even comment on the other person's abnormality; she was simply extremely grateful, perhaps even nine-tenths, that Zero was on her side.

Chris doesn't know what Tachibana Hibiki will think about this investigation method that doesn't let go of any privacy, but Chris herself is already feeling uneasy.

Anyway, I understand. I'll take a look when I get back.

Chris thought to herself, then hastily closed her email, afraid that if she continued reading, she might develop a psychological aversion to the black-clad figure beside her.

【And then, by the way, speaking of which, Lingyi, you said you needed to do some preparations beforehand. What are you going to do? Does it mean you'll be setting up something around the area afterwards?】

After closing her email account, Chris quickly changed the subject.

Yes, that's right, but I need to correct one thing: it's not something I'll do later, I'm already doing it.

Zero confirmed Chris's question and added the following.

Oh, what did you do?

Chris was a little confused. Since they came in, Zero had been by her side the whole time, but she hadn't seen her do anything that looked like she was setting things up.

"Hey little girl, your okonomiyaki? I'm very confident in my skills. And you little girl in black, although the game is fun, don't play too much."

Just as Chris was wondering what was going on, a steaming hot okonomiyaki was placed in front of her, and then she heard the aunt say this.

P.S. It's definitely more comfortable to type during the day.

Chapter Thirty Arrangements

"game?"

Picking up the okonomiyaki, Chris reflexively glanced at the tablet in Zero's hand after hearing what the aunt said.

The game appears to be a small airplane dodging monsters and obstacles in the room, eventually reaching a target point. The game's setting seems to be a restaurant?!

[Is this all the preparation you made beforehand, Zero?]

Chris realized that Zero seemed to be manipulating something to do something to the okonomiyaki shop.

[Did you notice? Well, it's nothing special, just leaving a set of surveillance units and spatial coordinates here. After all, I prefer to engage the enemy in visible and teleportable locations.]

Noticing Chris's gaze, Zero explained her current job to Chris.

But I see five or six red dots on your screen. According to you, you shouldn't need that many target points, right?

Thinking about what she had glimpsed earlier, Chris asked Zero about it, and at the same time picked up her chopsticks and began to eat the okonomiyaki slowly, just as Zero had said.

[They are simply different types. Although they are all surveillance units, each individual unit in the same group has different concealment and detection mechanisms.]

The reason for this setup is twofold: firstly, it allows other units to continue monitoring even after one type of unit has been detected; secondly, if two or more types of units are detected, it forces the enemy to consider whether they might have even more types of monitoring units.

In addition, these surveillance units are equipped with self-destruct mechanisms. These mechanisms will automatically destroy themselves upon detecting exposure, and multiple self-destruct methods are available to minimize the speed at which the enemy can obtain intelligence.

Zero gave Chris a brief explanation of the reason.

[This is no trivial preparation at all, and Zero, where did you get so many ways to monitor and self-destruct?!]

Listening to Zero's explanation, Chris ate her okonomiyaki while mentally complaining.

In her view, setting up surveillance equipment of this level basically meant that this place could not possibly escape Zero's surveillance.

[It's just a common application of heretical technology; my Flashblade is quite good at this kind of thing.]

Lingyi replied in her mind, then continued to use the tablet to control the aircraft and began to set up the next target point.

So you've been tinkering with this kind of thing all these years?

Chris asked herself.

"Pretty much. That's why I'm cooperating with Finney. She has a lot of the heretical technologies I need. More technology means more preparation, more preparation means more options, and my personal safety is better guaranteed."

Lingyi replied.

Meanwhile, as the two chatted, the surveillance unit for Zero's last target point was set up, and Chris's okonomiyaki was almost gone.

Alright, after we finish eating, we'll leave here and head to Lydian Music Academy. We'll set up some surveillance units and a few teleportation guide units there, and then our mission for today will be complete.

Seeing that it was almost time, Lingyi closed the guide software on the tablet that had been deliberately given a game interface filter, and said to Chris in her mind.

"Have you finished eating, Christina? If you have, let's go. Our next stop is a visit to Lydian Conservatory of Music. I've already made a reservation for you."

While explaining this in her mind, Zero also said the same thing to Chris in reality.

"Ah, Rosé, I'm done eating."

Looking at Zero, Chris felt a strong sense of disconnect. She couldn't understand how Zero managed to do it, running this dual-process without any bugs.

"Oh, you're going to Lydia? Is that where you're going to school?"

At this moment, after hearing what Lingyi said to Chris, the aunt casually asked.

"Hmm... I guess so. Actually, Christina's goal is to become the world's strongest songstress, so she wanted to see what kind of place could nurture Kazanari Tsubasa."

Seeing the woman's actions, Lingyi glanced at the tablet and replied in this way, adding more character details to Christina's identity.

"Yes, that's right. I've always admired Miss Kazami Tsubasa, so I want to understand her, surpass her, and crush her under my feet."

Couldn't you at least tell me before you give me this weird character description?

Chris, who has been given a bizarre new persona by Zero, tries her best to act in a way that fits the persona, while inwardly complaining to Zero.

Sorry, I didn't expect the auntie to ask so suddenly, so I added a little extra scene for you.

[But don't worry, Chris. When you can't react in time, I'll manipulate your clothes and the collar around your neck to make you act in accordance with your character.]

Lingyi apologized to Chris and then promised her that she would never let Chris ruin her image.