After settling the details of the deal with Himari, sacrificing my own looks in exchange for her technical support in personal privacy protection, I returned to the Veritas clubroom feeling satisfied.
After pushing the door open, Hare, who had been saying sothing, looked over at . "...Ah, Sensei, you ca at just the right ti."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Well, it's like this..."
Hare briefly summarized what they had been discussing earlier.
Simply put, upon hearing that they would be facing C&C, Momoi rejected the idea outright without even thinking.
Although the objective of the operation was rely to retrieve the [Mirror] stored in the contraband storage and did not require a direct confrontation with the maid agents, Momoi had heard too many rumors about the opponents and was fully aware of their own combat capabilities, so she naturally grew fearful before the battle even began.
However, when Veritas shared an important piece of intelligence regarding C&C, the Ga Developnt Departnt fell into hesitation.
That was that Neru, the absolute trump card of C&C, was currently not at the school.
This was sothing I already knew beforehand.
Considering our encounter in the Millennium suburban ruins yesterday, and the fact that Neru's reputation would most likely scare the Ga Developnt Departnt into inaction, Rio had dispatched Neru early in the morning to investigate the ruins and planned to recall her at an appropriate ti.
Specifically, to catch the Ga Developnt Departnt in case they sohow managed to break through the blockade ford by the other C&C mbers.
"...In short, we've already decided. We're going to infiltrate the student council and steal the [Mirror] from the contraband storage, to protect our club."
Momoi said this with high spirits.
Midori and Yuzu looked tense, but just as determined.
As for Arisu, who knew nothing about the true cause of the impending turmoil, she nodded and smiled. "Yes, we can definitely do it."
"And before we put the plan into action, there are still so preparations we need to make."
Hare said this, then continued. "Besides the wiretapping and EMP strike we ntioned earlier, we also need... partners."
Upon hearing this word, Arisu, who had spent many days imrsed in RPG gas, clasped her hands expectantly, her eyes sparkling.
Hare paused, then said, "But since our relationship with them isn't exactly great, we'll have to ask Sensei for help. Without their assistance, this operation probably can't succeed."
It seed Hare already had suitable candidates in mind. Speaking of Millennium, groups that were close to and could provide the most help...
"You want to persuade the Seminar mbers to help?"
Hare froze for a mont. "Uh... actually, I was thinking of the Engineering Departnt... but is that possible?"
I pondered for a bit. "I'll have to ask first. Either one."
Suddenly, I thought that having Rio pass along so unimportant information, loosening things up a little, and then letting Neru solo the entire Ga Developnt Departnt when she returned might actually produce a better result.
"Then let's not waste any ti!"
Momoi directly grabbed my hand. "Sensei, let's go ask Utaha-senpai and the others in person right now!"
Seeing this, Midori hesitated for a mont, but Momoi was already dragging toward the door. "Ga Developnt Departnt, all mbers, move out!"
"Yes, Arisu, switch to auto-follow mode."
"Th-then, excuse ."
Having missed her chance, Midori saw that everyone else had already run out the door and hurried to follow. "Onee-chan, everyone, don't run so fast, wait for !"
Holding up the drink she had only finished halfway, Hare took a small sip of the sweet and sour liquid, her gaze flickering as she sank into thought.
—
Engineering Departnt.
After listening to our explanation, Utaha nodded.
"I see. That's a very sound judgnt. Just like you said, without us, this thod would be difficult to carry out."
Right after that, she agreed without hesitation. "Alright, I understand. We'll assist you."
"R-really?" Midori asked nervously. "The Engineering Departnt has so many achievents already, there's no need to take risks like this..."
Utaha admitted frankly, "That's true, you're not wrong. But..."
As the departnt head paused, Hibiki finished the sentence for her. "Because it's more interesting, right."
Kotori added, "Exactly. And we also want to get on good terms with Sensei!"
I had long suspected that the Engineering Departnt might also harbor special feelings toward , but due to the common trait among Millennium's science girls of being bad at expressing themselves, they had never revealed their feelings. Looking at it now, I felt my suspicion was quite convincing.
"Yes, and also..."
Utaha gazed at Arisu's innocent face, hesitating to speak.
In the end, she shook her head. "No, let's leave it at that for now. Please take care of us."
Arisu bead. "Bum bum bum!. The great blacksmiths have joined the party."
Hearing this, the girls of the Engineering Departnt could not help but laugh.
"With this, there's finally a chance of success. But..."
Momoi looked at . "Sensei, do you think Eimi from yesterday would be willing to help us?"
They probably did not know that the Super Phenonon Task Force (SPTF) was actually a club completely subordinate to the Seminar.
I replied ambiguously. "Well, I'll have to ask about that too."
In reality, I ant asking Rio.
"Mm, thank you!"
Seeing the bright smile on Momoi's face, I could not help pinching her soft cheeks, which earned a dissatisfied protest.
After that, we hurried back to Veritas to discuss the concrete battle plan.
—
The contraband storage was located on the west side of the top floor of Millennium Tower. From the entrance, one would need to break through nearly 400 surveillance caras, 50 security robots, dozens of combat robots confiscated from black-hearted corporations, and the Seminar mbers.
To enter the storage, one had to take an elevator equipped with a fingerprint recognition system that only student council mbers could pass.
Moreover, most importantly, every room on the top floor of Millennium Tower was divided into zones corresponding to the security system. Likewise, the gates could only be lowered or raised with the fingerprints of Seminar mbers.
If an unregistered fingerprint was detected or a strong impact was applied, another layer of even sturdier titanium alloy gates would drop, requiring dual iris and fingerprint authentication from Seminar mbers.
At the sa ti, if soone chose to force their way through the elevator, all zone gates would drop.
The defenses could hardly be described as anything but tight.
After summarizing both enemy and allied information, the plan gradually took shape amid heated discussion.
First was how to pass through the elevator without being noticed.
There was a minuscule flaw in the Seminar's security system. When its power supply was cut from the outside, it would automatically connect to an external network. By using the ultra-mini EMP provided by the Engineering Departnt, they could secure six seconds to gain a hacking opportunity.
Although it was only six seconds, for Hare, it was already enough.
Next was how to pass through the gates equipped with recognition systems, or even turn them to our advantage.
This was once again where the Engineering Departnt ca into play.
In fact, the Seminar's security system, including the gates, was originally handled by the Engineering Departnt.
Although the Engineering Departnt claid they had never left any backdoors in the past, the truth of the matter was probably known only to them.
In any case, the Engineering Departnt stated that for this operation, they could make a small exception.
Because it was not very complex, if they rushed the work after returning, they should make it in ti.
Hearing this, I could not help thinking of Schale, which had also asked the Engineering Departnt to handle its renovations, and suddenly worried about whether I might one day be attacked by the Engineering Departnt myself.
However, to deploy the tampered new security system, two issues had to be considered.
First was how to destroy the original gates. Second was how to get the Seminar to use the tampered new gates, even if they might suspect the Engineering Departnt's involvent.
For the forr, it would probably have to rely on Arisu using the Sword of Light.
As for the latter, it was relatively simpler. The Engineering Departnt only needed to rush in another batch of anonymous, slightly lower-quality products.
The more I listened, the more worried I beca.
With that, the counterasures for the security system were more or less settled.
And what remained was the most critical part.
How to deal with C&C, the maid club.
Excluding the director with code na 00, Mikamo Neru, C&C had three mbers.
Code na 01, Ichinose Asuna.
Code na 02, Kakudate Karin.
Code na 03, Murokasa Akane.
Among them, Asuna's elusive nature could be set aside for now.
Akane would most likely appear on the top floor to intercept them. At that ti, the gates with hidden backdoors could be used to temporarily trap her, as well as Asuna if she appeared.
The one that required the most attention was Karin, who served as the sniper.
Utaha volunteered to work together with Hibiki, one in the open and one in the shadows, to restrain Karin.
If everything succeeded, the Ga Developnt Departnt would have enough leeway to retrieve the [Mirror] from the contraband storage and retreat safely.
However, the premise was that everything succeeded.
If even a single link in the chain went wrong, allowing any one of the maid agents to break free and intercept them, this plan would end in a disastrous failure.
Therefore...
We needed soone who, if everyone else failed, could infiltrate the contraband storage without attracting attention.
For example, soone who failed to escape in ti during the elevator sabotage and was detained in solitary confinent?
The most suitable candidate, and one that would not arouse the Seminar's suspicion, seed to be only one person.
Arisu, who already bore the task of using the Sword of Light to destroy the elevator.
"That's how it is."
I said to the Seminar president standing before . "Rio, you've already thought of this too, haven't you?"
"...Yes. It seems there's no need to let the Seminar suffer damage."
Rio nodded. "Our goal was rely to test and probe Arisu."
I smiled slightly.
"Thank you for providing the intelligence. Then, I'll have Eimi follow your instructions."
"Mm. And is that all?"
Rio frowned slightly. "What?"
"Toki."
I t Rio's gaze, my tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Asuma Toki," I said. "She's your person, isn't she?"
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