Artemisia felt extrely confused.
Just yesterday afternoon, she had received an invitation by text ssage from the Spirit Hacker and had shared a brief afternoon tea with her in a cafe.
Honestly, Artemisia felt that she must have been possessed by a demon to accept Hacker's invitation while hiding it from everyone else.
The other party was a Spirit known as a natural disaster, a devil who brought calamity to this world. Forget accepting an invitation; even communicating with her was absurd in itself. To put it more seriously, it could even be considered a betrayal of all the comrades who had died at the hands of Spirits before.
However, Artemisia could not simply laugh off what Hacker had told her.
DEM's darkness, the truth about the Spirits, and the experiences that had happened to herself and her companions—although she wanted to dismiss all of it as lies Hacker had told to drive a wedge between her and DEM, when she recalled all the incomprehensible signs around her, Artemisia could not deny it all.
More importantly, compared with her DEM coworkers and superiors, Artemisia had, strangely enough, felt human emotions and warmth from the Spirit Ryougi Yutsuki.
"Am I going insane…?"
Unable to help letting out a long sigh, Artemisia returned to DEM's base with a weary heart.
(Westcott should still be in the underground hangar right now…)
"Yo, you're finally back, Artemisia."
"Mulian? Why are you here?"
Looking at the black haired girl waiting at the entrance of the building, Artemisia could not help feeling a little surprised.
"That's what I should be asking you, right?" Ai Mulian crossed her arms and asked speechlessly. "I heard you suddenly left the base yesterday and didn't co back all night, only returning now in the middle of the night? The people in the squad are all spreading rumors about whether you were fooling around outside and picking up n."
"P-picking up n? No, that's not it!"
Hearing that, Artemisia blushed bright red and denied it.
"Really?"
"Really! Besides, I haven't even been in love before!"
Artemisia hurriedly explained.
"I see. As expected of a sheltered noble lady. By the way, I do have experience in love."
"Huh… is that so? What kind of person was he?"
Hearing Ai Mulian's words, Artemisia was slightly curious.
"Not telling. Why should I tell you?"
After shutting Artemisia down, Ai Mulian asked again.
"Back to the point. What did you go out to do this ti?"
"I…"
After hesitating for a mont, Artemisia finally spoke.
"I went to AST."
"AST? What did you go there for?"
Hearing that, Ai Mulian raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"This…"
Artemisia could not help hesitating over how to answer Ai Mulian's question.
(Mulian joined later than , and she didn't have much connection with DEM before. Maybe she's being used too. Maybe she can beco an ally…)
"Actually, I felt that the purpose behind Director Westcott's previous plan was suspicious…"
After that, Artemisia avoided ntioning her eting with Yutsuki and told Ai Mulian that she had gone to AST's base to confirm the matter of DEM planting bombs in Tengu City.
"Mm… So what you an is, the boss lied to us? He really intended to use the citizens as hostages from the very beginning?"
After silently listening to Artemisia's words, Ai Mulian asked flatly.
"Mm. In fact, they didn't receive any notice from DEM at all. The bombs were removed because they received a notification from a retired colleague."
Artemisia nodded, her expression serious.
"Mulian, I think Director Westcott's goal isn't as simple as eliminating Spirits… I'm afraid he has another unknown purpose. I want to try investigating it."
"…"
"Mulian?"
Seeing Ai Mulian silent, Artemisia looked confused.
"Artemisia."
Looking straight into Artemisia's eyes, Ai Mulian smiled and asked in a calm tone.
"Did you et with Ryougi Yutsuki?"
"Eh?"
Hearing that, Artemisia's heart jumped. She answered with a slightly guilty expression.
"Why would you ask that?"
The instant her words fell, a chill spread through her whole body. Ai Mulian's palm suddenly enlarged in Artemisia's vision, carrying a fierce gust of wind.
"—!?"
Artemisia's pupils abruptly contracted. Although she was caught off guard, her rich combat experience and bodily reaction still allowed her to dodge Ai Mulian's palm strike.
However, even though she narrowly avoided it, the sharp wind from the strike still left her cheek slightly numb.
When her first strike missed, Ai Mulian did not stop there. Instead, she pressed forward relentlessly, closing the distance and launching another attack.
"Wait—"
Artemisia wanted to say sothing. But seeing Ai Mulian's fierce montum, she could only helplessly choose to respond.
(…She's serious.)
After exchanging several moves, Artemisia instantly realized that.
Knees, chest, throat, forehead—although she had not used a Realizer, every one of Ai Mulian's attacks aid at Artemisia's joints and vital points. If it were an ordinary person, even if they did not die, they would probably have to lie in a hospital for months.
"Hmph!"
Ai Mulian suddenly stepped forward. A heavy echo ca from the tiles under her foot. Twisting her waist, she slamd her shoulder into Artemisia's chest.
"—Ghk!"
Although Artemisia guarded her chest with both arms, the impact, which exceeded her expectations, still sent her flying several steps backward before she barely steadied herself.
(The force is so strong… My left hand almost has no feeling. The bone seems to have cracked…)
Looking at her slightly trembling hands, Artemisia gritted her teeth and watched Ai Mulian warily.
"Mulian… what are you doing?"
"Tch… hah. Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? Artemisia."
Taking a light breath, Ai Mulian assud a stance and stared coldly at Artemisia.
"You were seduced by Ryougi Yutsuki—by a Spirit, weren't you?"
"…What do you an?"
"Hmph, playing dumb? Anyway, after hearing whatever nonsense she fed you, you started wavering and wanted to betray us, right? I did feel before that you were naive, but I never thought you were soone with so little stance and integrity."
"Ghh—no."
The harsh words made Artemisia feel a slight sense of guilt, but she still gritted her teeth and spoke in a low voice.
"My wish from the beginning has been for world peace, and for everyone to be able to live safely. I beca a Wizard for that reason."
"I see… So that's why you went to AST to investigate and confirm whether the boss wanted to harm the citizens?"
Hearing that, Ai Mulian spoke without much concern.
"How do you know AST is telling the truth? Maybe they've already been hit by Diva's brainwashing or so other mind control, and they're using that to exploit and deceive you."
"Who knows… Honestly, I don't understand what I should believe right now either."
Hearing that, Artemisia could not help smiling bitterly.
"But Mulian, don't you feel Director Westcott's abnormality too? Accepting that eerie way of doing things as a matter of course… How can you be sure that you haven't been brainwashed?"
"Ah?"
Hearing that, Ai Mulian gave a scornful laugh.
"I think the one who's been brainwashed is you. Please don't misunderstand and sympathize with like that. I'm not interested in any of that. Rather than letting you get in the way in the middle of battle later, I might as well send you back to London for rehabilitation right now."
After saying that, Ai Mulian took out the tal plate on her body. Seeing that, Artemisia also silently tightened her grip on the plate in her right hand.
"Mordred—"
"Lancelot—"
Just as the two were about to equip their Realizers and resu the battle, a laser suddenly swept between them, leaving a deep groove in the ground.
"This is…"
Artemisia looked in the direction the laser had co from. There, Ellen, already equipped with platinum white chanical armor, was flying toward them.
"What are you doing? DEM is not a place for you to fight among yourselves. If you want to fight, go to the training field."
Ellen scolded them with a serious expression.
"Or do you want to spar with ?"
"Eh? Ellen-san, I didn't do anything wrong."
(Two against one… I should find a way to withdraw first.)
Seeing the situation before her, which was overwhelmingly unfavorable, Artemisia could not help calculating inwardly.
However, without warning, like a silent venomous snake, a hand suddenly stretched out from the darkness and rested on Artemisia's shoulder.
In an instant, a bone chilling cold spread through her entire body, making Artemisia afraid to move.
"All right. Artemisia, Mulian, calm down. I don't want my important subordinates getting hurt."
As he spoke, a gray haired young man stepped out.
"Director Westcott…"
"Ike."
"Yo, perfect timing, boss."
"Mm, I had just finished the work in my hands when I saw you all standing here ready to fight."
After greeting the three of them, Westcott asked curiously.
"What happened, Artemisia? Did you have a conflict with Mulian?"
(Calm down. Calm down—)
Hearing Westcott ask her a question, Artemisia took a deep breath, worked to steady her rapid heartbeat, and explained according to the excuse she had initially prepared.
"…No. I had sothing to discuss with you, Director Westcott."
"With ? Is this about asking about the progress of your leave application from last ti?"
"No, you misunderstand. I ca this ti to confirm so details about the previous battle. According to what I learned from AST, when they dealt with the bombs, they did not seem to receive any contact from DEM. I was worried that there might have been so flaw in the communication and coordination between AST and DEM, so I wanted to confirm it with you."
"They didn't receive it?… Strange. I rember sending it."
Hearing that, Westcott muttered with a puzzled expression.
Taking this opportunity, Artemisia carefully observed Westcott's reaction.
Data could be fabricated. Evidence and testimony could also be created through brainwashing. For Artemisia, confirming what was true and what was false from among all of that was far too difficult.
The only thing she could trust right now was her own intuition.
(It's still the sa… I can't feel any weight.)
Without question, Westcott's acting was excellent, and he was very calm. As one spent ti with him, he always gave the impression of an amiable superior. But in reality, every word he said was as light as a feather. Artemisia could not feel the slightest sense of responsibility or conviction in it.
"In any case, you did well, Artemisia. Indeed, if there was a flaw in our communication with AST, we might fail sowhere unexpected."
eting Westcott's gaze, the last trace of hope in Artemisia's heart finally disappeared.
What empty eyes they were. Clearly, she was right in front of him, but Artemisia could not see any reflection of herself in those eyes, nor could she see what he was watching or pursuing.
To him, it seed that she, his companions, the company, and even the entire world were all irrelevant.
[Be careful of Westcott. He's different from other people. Social rules, morality, law—normally, even ordinary people, even criminals who commit great evils, are still bound sowhere by these things. But he is different. He only uses those things as a disguise to make others believe he is no different from ordinary people. In reality, if he truly wanted to, whether lying or killing, forget blinking, even his heartbeat wouldn't speed up by a single beat.]
"…Thank you for your praise, Director Westcott. Considering how to resolve this issue, I have an idea…"
_____________
"Is this all right, Ike?"
Watching Artemisia leave, Ellen could not help frowning as she asked.
"Why wouldn't it be? Stationing her at AST as a special envoy to assist with communication between DEM and AST, as well as helping with civilian evacuation. With such a legitimate reason, how could I refuse?"
Westcott chuckled lightly, sounding impressed.
"But she's clearly already suspicious…"
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine! It won't affect anything anyway. Rather, with her making this choice… things may beco even more entertaining."
Looking at Westcott's grin that seed as if he had gotten away with tax evasion, Ai Mulian could only shrug helplessly.
"Honestly, boss, you really have bad taste."
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