"Sorry, Ike. I failed to capture the inverted Princess."
High in the night sky, piloting a ch flashing with silver white light and using her Territory to control gravity, she carried Westcott and headed away from the central building.
"Not at all. Just being able to confirm Princess's inversion has already fulfilled our goal."
However, Westcott clearly didn't plan on blaming her too much. Instead, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Besides, even though it was a fluke, for Tobiichi Origami to be able to injure you... She's such an excellent wizard, it really makes want to poach her from the AST. Plus, being able to see that so called Itsuka Shido, in my opinion, the harvest has already exceeded my expectations. I can hardly hold back my laughter. If I had to na one regret..."
"That Spirit who threw the DEM I created into chaos, and also defeated my strongest wizard—Hacker. Things deviated a bit from my expectations, so I couldn't see her in person."
Possessing intelligence and creativity far beyond other Spirits. Using hacking skills that surpass human capabilities to invade and acquire human intel, rendering Realizers powerless. And the most dangerous Spirit who defeated Ellen through the flexible use of tactics and abilities.
Honestly, if the conditions didn't prevent it, compared to Yatogami Tohka, Westcott wanted to use Hacker as an experintal subject even more.
With a sowhat regretful sigh, Westcott looked forward. Then, as if he saw sothing interesting, his eyes widened slightly. A smile unconsciously ford on the corners of his mouth.
In his line of sight, from the Second Office Building in the distance, a figure flashing with blue white light could be clearly seen rushing towards them at a very fast speed.
"Well, this is... It seems today might just be my lucky day. Ellen, if I go back and buy a lottery ticket, do you think I can win the grand prize?"
"I think if you buy lottery tickets with a hundred tis the amount of the grand prize, there's a possibility."
"You really don't hold back when dealing a blow to soone... Well, but it sounds pretty interesting. Should I try it later?"
"..."
Looking at her boss resting his chin on his hand, deep in serious thought, Ellen gave up on trying to figure out if Westcott was being serious.
"...Hacker."
If Westcott could notice it, how could Ellen not? Watching Ryougi Yutsuki constantly getting closer to them, Ellen clenched her fists slightly, and a dangerous light showed in her eyes.
The blue-white electric light approached at a speed visible to the naked eye. When the distance was less than a hundred ters, under the dark night, the girl wearing a black trench coat, with flowing brown hair and amber eyes, revealed herself from the lightning.
"Railgun!"
Imdiately after, without a second word, the pincer-shaped cannon in the girl's hand—Ratziel—fired an orange beam of light right at Westcott, who was beside Ellen.
—Boom!
A fierce collision sound rang out, and the resulting shockwave couldn't help but make people wobble a bit. Although this wasn't much trouble for Yutsuki, she couldn't say she had the upper hand either.
The Railgun was blocked by a Realizer field concentrated into a single point? But that's just perfect...
A smile of having succeeded appeared on her face. She pulled out the tablet computer in her hand, ready to start hacking.
However, before Yutsuki could start, a laser sword shot out from the smoke. As fast as an arrow leaving a bow, it accurately pierced right through the computer in Yutsuki's hand.
"What a rough greeting this is! I'm surprised. I personally thought you weren't the type to act impulsively, Hacker!"
Walking out of the smoke, Ellen spread her shield like Territory field around her again, blocking the electromagnetic interference. She looked at Yutsuki with icy eyes.
"Hah~ Who knows? At the very least, the mont I saw you, I knew slipping away wasn't going to be possible. So rather than that, isn't striking first faster?"
Yutsuki shrugged and looked at Ellen with a smile.
"That annoying little cleverness of Hacker hasn't changed at all. Maybe I should praise you... But, you made an unforgivable mistake! And that is pointing your gun at Ike!"
Ellen said plainly, then her eyes instantly turned fierce. Gripping the laser sword tightly in her hand, she spoke with a tone full of anger, like a volcano about to erupt.
It felt like in the next second, she would charge forward and cut Ryougi Yutsuki into a thousand pieces.
This is the first ti she's shown such intense anger! Unleashing ten super finishing moves would be a piece of cake for her right now.
A sowhat grave look appeared on Ryougi Yutsuki's face. She turned her eyes to the gray haired man. It seed this guy was a much bigger deal than she imagined.
"Now, now. Calm down, Ellen. Don't attack just yet. I've always been very interested in this Spirit lady, Hacker~"
Patting the dust off his clothes, Westcott didn't show the expression soone who almost got pierced by a railgun just a mont ago should have. He even had a smile on his face as he stopped Ellen's rampage for Yutsuki.
"...As you wish. Ike."
What left Yutsuki sowhat dumbfounded was that with just that one sentence, the strongest wizard, who was boiling with killing intent like a powder keg about to explode, cald down in an instant and silently stepped back behind him. In a way, it was even more surprising than seeing boiling water instantly freeze.
Westcott examined Yutsuki with a look full of interest and spoke as if talking to himself.
"The mont you saw Ellen, you instantly understood that Ellen definitely wouldn't let you escape, so you chose to strike first. Then, guessing that the person who could be beside Ellen——is definitely no ordinary figure, you bet on the possibility that Ellen would prioritize protecting over herself. You locked your attack target onto , forcing Ellen to focus her Territory field purely on defense, neglecting defense against wireless hacking, allowing you to take the chance to disarm her... Such strategy and courage. Ah~ If you were human! I would definitely try everything to poach you to work under . What a pity..."
Hey, hey! It looks like I've run into a really troubleso guy.
The corners of Yutsuki's mouth twitched slightly.
"Nice to et you~ Hacker... No, the na Ryougi Yutsuki should be more fitting. My na is Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott, the Managing Director of DEM Industries. I've always looked forward to eting you, and I am very delighted by this encounter. Please take care of ~"
Facing the person who had just attempted to kill him in one hit, Westcott acted as if he didn't rember what had happened a mont ago. He introduced himself to Yutsuki with very gentlemanly manners. This made Yutsuki frown.
Slowly breathing in and out, Yutsuki slowly regained her calm. After confirming the current situation, she answered.
"Ho~ To think the Managing Director is so interested in . Could it be that my secret visit last ti made you unhappy?"
"My, my, my! How could that be? Your ability to hack into our company's computers only proves two possibilities: one, my subordinates are hopelessly stupid; two, your abilities are simply too outstanding. No matter which one it is, the mont you successfully hacked into our computers head-on, it ant our complete defeat. Why would I ask for a snub?"
Smiling and shaking his head, Westcott expressed his denial with a bitter smile.
Hey, hey! Is this for real? What kind of crazy person has their stuff stolen and says it's because they weren't strong enough and can't bla anyone else! And that person is right in front of !!
"The way you think really is very different from normal people."
Yutsuki looked at Westcott, speechless.
The hidden aning was that there was sothing wrong with his head. Ellen clearly understood this aning and glared at Yutsuki with hostility. However, Westcott waved his hand, not caring at all: "Indeed, quite a few people have told that."
Not caring about the subtle looks Yutsuki and Ellen were giving him, the corners of Westcott's mouth curled up slightly. Seeming to have thought of sothing interesting, he smiled and said.
"Oh right, you and that boy nad Itsuka Shido seem to have a pretty good relationship, right? Perfect timing, I just t him a little while ago. Do you want to tell you how he's doing?"
Hearing about Shido's situation, Yutsuki's face showed a bit of interest, but in the end, she shook her head and refused.
"...Forget it. The trustworthiness of words coming from an enemy's mouth is too low. I can't believe them."
"How could that be? I have photos to prove it. Shido-kun, you see... is already dead."
The next mont after hearing these words, feeling the powerful aura erupting from Yutsuki, a hidden smile appeared on the corner of Westcott's mouth. Casually, as if to prove his claim, he tossed his phone to Yutsuki.
In the photo, Shido was lying on the ground, blood continuously spreading outward from the floor, looking like a lifeless corpse. Miku, seemingly seeing soone die for the first ti, showed a pale face full of fear. Tohka, raising her Angel Sandalphon was hitting the glass, crying and seemingly letting out a scream of despair.
You could say this was the picture Yutsuki least wanted to see.
And on the side, was Ellen holding a laser sword that was still dripping blood with an icy face, and Westcott smiling as if watching an interesting play.
"Well, Ellen really thrust that sword in viciously. After piercing into Shido-kun's stomach, she even chopped Shido's head off. Even I felt it was so cruel to watch~"
"...The target seed to possess self-regeneration abilities beyond expectations. To ensure a more efficient execution, I did that. Is there sothing wrong?"
—Crack!
"...This is enough."
Seeing Ryougi Yutsuki crush his phone in one grip with a gloomy face, a smile appeared on Westcott's face.
"Hah... Phew..."
Right then, a short breath slowly ca out of Yutsuki's mouth. Subsequently, the violent aura around her gradually pulled back. As Yutsuki's facial expression slowly returned to normal, she covered her face helplessly and said: "Ah, to be so easily shaken by the enemy's words... My training is truly lacking..."
"Oh... Cald down so quickly." Westcott said with a bit of surprise. "I thought you would at least be blinded by anger after learning Shido died."
"Would you put full trust in a photo that looks like it could have been staged?"
Although she couldn't see anything fake about it, Yutsuki knew that if she lost control of her emotions because of this, it would be exactly what he wanted.
"Well... as expected, just a photo isn't enough..."
To Yutsuki's question, Westcott nodded in understanding.
"But~ I'm definitely angry, that's for sure. I'm so angry right now I feel like I want to chop you two into a million pieces..." Stretching her joints slightly, Yutsuki seed to have reached the peak of her anger and circled back, saying with a bright smile on her face, "So, I have to calm down properly and think carefully about what thod to use to make you two regret being born into this world~"
"Ho... with just you? You right now are more than a little bit weaker than you were back then..."
Moving the cannon muzzle on her armor under her arm and aiming it at Yutsuki, a provocative light showed in Ellen's eyes.
"My... Having lost to every ti, do you still not get it? The strength of power isn't the key to deciding victory or defeat for ... As for you, don't use the wound on your chest as an excuse for losing~"
Looking at the new wound on Ellen's chest, right where Shido had left a scar before, Yutsuki said with a beaming smile.
However, towards this scene thick with the sll of gunpowder, Westcott, the only powerless man here, was the most relaxed person. He sighed with a look of regret and said.
"Hah... It seems Hacker is the type to beco calr the angrier she gets. I was hoping we could create another Inverse like Princess. It seems my spur of the mont idea is impossible to realize after all."
"Inverse... Are you talking about Tohka?"
Yutsuki frowned slightly. The term "Inverse" she just heard gave her a very bad feeling.
"Oh... right, right! I suggest you hurry over to Tohka's side right now. Otherwise, Itsuka Shido, who barely managed to escape death, might just be killed by Princess."
Tohka killing Shido. Yutsuki widened her eyes as if she heard sothing unbelievable.
"You're not telling so lie again, are you?"
"Hmph~ Who knows. Anyway, whether it's true or not, with Yutsuki-san's quick wit, it shouldn't be hard to judge!"
Old fox! After cursing him in her heart, Yutsuki stared fixedly at Westcott for a while. Finally, she turned around, dove behind the shadow of a wall, and disappeared without a trace.
"That's..."
Seeing this scene, a surprised look appeared on Ellen's face.
"Nightmare. It seems this Hacker wasn't bluffing when she said she'd teach us a lesson." Westcott sighed, looking a bit troubled as he said, "My, my, it seems I've offended an incredible... Spirit."
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