Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 32 - Chapter 3

Pros and Cons of the Strategy

Friday, May 6th

A few days after Koutarou and the girls’ first meeting with the Sun Rangers about the Forthorthian ship parts, they were called once again to the conference room. It seemed there’d been a development in the case.

“I’m sorry for calling you so frequently,” apologized Kenichi.

“Is it bad news?” Koutarou asked warily.

“No, actually. For the time being, it’s all good news. We’ve gotten some leads on more parts,” Kenichi declared proudly.

Kenichi had already informed them of the parts the Sun Rangers had uncovered on the black market, but they’d now discovered additional parts that weren’t available for sale. This was indeed exciting news, and Koutarou responded accordingly.

“Really?!”

“Yes. These leads are the direct result of cracking down on customs and investigating corporations in possession of supercomputers.”

It was also a result of the Sun Rangers’ swift work. They’d kept a watchful eye out for anyone trying to make suspicious exports while simultaneously looking into businesses that already had the technology to examine Forthorthian tech domestically. And thanks to that, there had been several developments in the case of the missing parts.

“In regards to the exports, it was just as Black Rose-san suspected. Several foreign metal manufacturers were working together to acquire pieces of the ship’s hull and armored plating.”

“The materials come first, after all. Forthorthian-made metal could be the basis for boundless other products. I’m glad we could stop them before it was leaked.”

Kiriha had been right on the money. In order to replicate any other Forthorthian technology, a manufacturer would need the appropriate base materials—in other words, the right metal. For example, spaceship engines that generated vast amounts of energy also generated vast amounts of heat. Anyone who sought to build one would need metal that could stand up to the job. So when it came to making sure the world didn’t get its hands on Forthorthian technology prematurely, step number one was making sure it didn’t get a hold of Forthorthian materials.

The Sun Rangers were keeping as tight a lid on the situation as they could, but they still couldn’t let their guard down. There was always a chance that someone would try to smuggle out small metal fragments, which would be much harder to detect and much easier to hide among other metal products. The Sun Rangers certainly had their work cut out for them. Really, you could say that their work was only just getting started.

“There are several corporations that are behaving suspiciously at the moment, but we’re staying on top of them,” Kenichi announced.

“Jeez, well, job well done for handling that. What about the supercomputers?” Koutarou inquired.

“We’ve got leads on a small handful of corporations.”

“A small handful? Well, considering the technology of this planet, I suppose there could only be a small handful of them,” Clan interjected.

There was no debating that Earth’s technology was about a thousand years behind Forthorthe’s. That’s why a high-powered supercomputer (by Earth’s standards) was required to analyze Forthorthian technology. Without one, it would take years just to break down basic encryptions. So if a handful of corporations were on the Sun Rangers’ watchlist, that had to mean that every entity with the technology to bid had a hand in the game. That bothered Clan.

“Only one corporation has actually made a move so far. The rest are either working together with other businesses or are presently trying to acquire supercomputers of their own.”

The corporations already in possession of high-end supercomputers were of course aware that the government was watching them. Few were bold enough to take a gamble under the circumstances. Doing so could mean getting cut out of the game prematurely, but not every player was so cagey. There were smaller businesses that had come to the larger corporations to try to get in on a good deal, which had already been their undoing. Then there were other companies that had sought out like-minded compatriots and, in an attempt to fly under the government’s radar, tried linking up several mid-tier supercomputers to get the job done. Such rings were easy to bust due to the sheer number of people involved, however, and the government quickly shut them down as well. Lastly, there were certain businesses that were brazen enough to openly purchase new supercomputers. Needless to say, the government had come down on them as well.

“Ah, so that’s what you meant,” said a relieved Clan.

“Don’t just assume that everyone has a secret supercomputer at their disposal. That part of you is still like a sheltered princess,” Koutarou admonished with a sigh.

“Why you—”

Clan was about ready to explode at Koutarou, but held herself back. It was the small vacuum tube in her hand that gave her the power to look the other way. As she glanced down at it, the expression on her face softened.

“As long as you know about that side of me, then there shouldn’t be any problems,” Clan said with a smile that declared she saw right through Koutarou. “Or are you saying that you can’t accept someone so sheltered as an ally?”

“Th-That’s not what I...”

“If that’s all it takes to fluster you, Satomi-kun, you should just stop teasing her,” piped up Shizuka.

“Give me a break, Landlord-san.”

“Heeheehee. The truth is that Koutarou enjoys seeing Glasses get angry,” Sanae giggled.

Because Sanae could read the auras of others, there was no hiding anything from her. If she commented on how someone was feeling, it was invariably true.

“H-Hey, Sanae, put a lid on it. Don’t go running off at the mouth like that.”

“Fiiine.”

Koutarou hurriedly shut Sanae up, but the damage was done. The girls were all grinning at Koutarou, except for a red-faced Clan who was looking away.

This is getting harder for me as of late...

Recently, Koutarou had been struggling to hide his feelings like normal. The girls were growing wise to his tricks and picking up on the true meaning behind them. Of course, the reverse was also true. But being a teenage boy made the situation all the more embarrassing for Koutarou... especially because he wasn’t totally disappointed with this development.

“Heh... Now, do you mind if I continue, Satomi-kun?” Kenichi said in a very teacherly manner.

Catching a glimpse of adolescence in the normally mature Koutarou, Kenichi couldn’t help but fondly recall his own teenage years. He silently wished Koutarou well as he blossomed into adulthood.

“I’m sorry. Go ahead,” replied Koutarou.

“Well then... Ahem,” Kenichi continued. “In addition to what I’ve already reported to you, we’ve detected some strange movements. This is the real reason we called you here today...”

Acting again as a Sun Ranger, Kenichi signaled Megumi behind him with a wave of his hand. Taking the cue, she pulled up a video on the large screen hooked up to the wall.

“Who’s that?” Koutarou immediately asked.

“This is Professor Christopher Brown. Specializing in theoretical physics, he’s a young star in the world of astrophysics, doing research on black holes and the like,” Kenichi explained.

The screen displayed an unshaven white man in his forties. Kenichi had called him young, but that was strictly in terms of being a renowned scholar.

“Black holes and astrophysics? Those aren’t words I’m pleased to hear with this kind of timing,” Theia said with a stern expression.

Forthorthe’s space distortion technology was an offshoot of astrophysics, and it had specifically been developed by studying black holes. So to hear those two things come up now, Theia had a rather sinking feeling.

“The professor suddenly arrived in Japan a few days ago. His goals are currently unknown,” Kenichi continued.

“I see. So your surveillance net just picked him up,” Koutarou observed.

He could see why Theia was alarmed by the news of the professor’s arrival. It likely wasn’t coincidence.

“That’s right. After he entered the country, we were able to confirm that he’s in contact with the R&D branch of a certain corporation. Based on the materials said corporation has been dealing in lately, we believe they must have ship parts related to navigation or propulsion on their hands. But the thing is...” Kenichi paused briefly, a perplexed look crossing his face. “Professor Brown was one of the scholars cautioning against a sudden influx of Forthorthian technology.”

Professor Brown had readily foreseen that the introduction of Forthorthe’s highly advanced technology would ruin Earth’s economies. He openly warned people to rein in their desire for personal gain lest a terrible fate befall the planet, and he was as highly respected for his advocacy of restraint as he was for his research.

“That’s strange. Why would someone like that come to Japan to help decode the technology, then?” Koutarou wondered aloud.

“We don’t know yet,” Kenichi answered. “It’s a problem that fell into our lap just this morning...”

“So how did you find out?”

“Well, you see, his daughter has transferred to our school.”

Indeed, the professor had a sixteen-year-old daughter named Emily who’d enrolled at Kisshouharukaze High School as of today. It was only upon seeing her parents’ names on the paperwork that the Sun Rangers realized Professor Brown was in Japan.

“That’s lucky. If it weren’t for that, the professor might’ve flown totally under the radar.”

“We were indeed lucky, but this is ultimately why we called you. If the corporation the professor is in touch with is really analyzing Forthorthian parts, we want you to try to gather some evidence. We currently have our hands full with another matter...”

While it was fortunate the Sun Rangers had picked up on Professor Brown’s arrival in Japan, the issue had cropped up too suddenly. The Sun Rangers had a great deal of other work on their plates, which was why they were turning to Koutarou and the girls for help. They had a certain degree more freedom, and no reason to turn down their longtime allies. Especially not if this involved Forthorthe.

After stepping out of the conference room, Koutarou and company headed straight back to their classroom. They needed information, and they knew just who to get it from.

“Emily-chan? Yeah, I know her. You mean the new girl in class 2-C, right?”

“Attaboy, Mackenzie! I’ve never been so happy for your philandering ways!”

Matsudaira Kenji, a.k.a Mackenzie, was an expert when it came to the fairer sex. Koutarou knew right off the bat that he’d be their go-to for information on Emily, or any girl for that matter, without having to meet her directly.

“N-Nii-san...”

“Now, now, Kotori!”

This knowledge, however, was a point of contention with his little sister, who let him know it by sending a rather sour glare his way. Nalfa did her best to comfort the incensed Kotori, but it wasn’t having much effect.

“Why are you asking about Emily-chan, Kou? Don’t tell me you’re thinking about switching targets.”

There, Kenji unknowingly stepped on a landmine. Now, instead of just Kotori, the eight girls with Koutarou were all glaring at him too.

Ack!

Surrounded on all sides, Kenji finally realized the trouble he’d gotten himself into. But he was used to tense situations like this and did his best to casually smooth things over.

“Just kidding. I know you’re not like that, Kou. So, really, what’s up?”

Kenji put on his best smile and tried to play it off as a simple joke with his best friend. After everything he’d been through, disarming a simple landmine like this was a cakewalk for him. The girls stayed quiet, but their continued glares told him they could still blow at any time if he didn’t tread carefully.

“Actually, it seems her family situation is a little problematic. One of the teachers is worried.”

Koutarou explained himself in a rather indirect fashion. It was currently lunch break and there were plenty of other students around besides just Kotori and Nalfa. He couldn’t tell Kenji the exact truth even if he wanted to.

“So it’s something serious, is it?”

Nevertheless, Kenji could grasp the gravity of the situation from Koutarou’s tone of voice. He narrowed his eyes accordingly, making a face that indicated he was using his brain at full power.

This has to do with Kou’s secret and something about Emily-chan’s family. The teacher he mentioned is probably Matsuzaka-sensei, so the government is probably involved too. In other words, Emily-chan’s family has something to do with the Forthorthe problem, so...

Koutarou usually only saw Kenji wear such an expression every now and then during baseball games, so to see it now, he knew Kenji understood the serious nature of what was at hand. Pleased, Koutarou smiled a bit and nodded.

“Yeah, so tell us what you know.”

“Sure thing. I’d love nothing more than to help a cute girl out, you know?”

“N-Nii-san!”

“Calm down, Kotori! I don’t think it’s what it sounds like!”

Kenji proceeded to tell Koutarou and the others everything he knew about Emily, which only increased the tension between him and his little sister.

As it turned out, Kenji had quite a bit of information to share about Emily. He knew where she was born, what schools she’d gone to, her height, her weight, and even her measurements.

“N-Nii-san! Where on earth did you get that kind of information?!”

“I-It’s not what you think, Kotori!”

“Then what is it, exactly?!”

“I have a friend who can tell someone’s measurements just by looking at them!”

“You’re friends with a pervert like that?!”

“Ah, crap... What have I done?”

The depth and accuracy of the info Kenji had on Emily surprised everyone present, but Koutarou asked him to focus on her family situation and what she was doing in Japan.

“I think she said she’s here because of her dad’s work or something.”

“Wait, Mackenzie, you actually talked to her?!”

“Yeah... Should I not have?”

“No, that’s great.”

“Oooh, Nii-san...”

“Now, now, Kotori!”

Having already chatted with Emily himself, Kenji knew that she’d come to Japan with her mother because of her father’s job. She’d enrolled at Harukaze High because of the increased security after the arrival of the Forthorthian transfer students, but based on the way she talked about it, she hadn’t had much say in the matter.

“Apparently they still don’t have anywhere to stay, so they’re living out of a hotel.”

“So they rushed to Japan despite their daughter being in the middle of her high school career, huh? Hmm...” Koutarou groaned.

“It does sound a little strange, no?” Kiriha chimed in.

Since they were in class around their other classmates, Kiriha was still playing the part of an honor student. Nevertheless, she was as quick-witted as ever.

“Considering the timing, he could have either left his family behind or waited to make the move,” she pointed out.

“And if he knew he was going to be here a while, it would’ve made all the sense in the world to make the arrangements ahead of time, too... Something doesn’t add up,” Koutarou mused.

“There may be complicated circumstances at play. We’ll need to be duly vigilant.”

“Yeah, you’re right, Kiriha-san.”

There were too many unanswered questions regarding Professor Brown’s arrival in Japan, so Koutarou and the girls decided to focus on what the professor was presently up to.

“Did she say anything else about her dad, Mackenzie?”

“She said that he must be busy with work because he still hasn’t come back to the hotel.”

It had already been a few days since the Browns had arrived in Japan, but the professor’s family hadn’t seen him since. Connecting the dots, Koutarou could only assume that he was hard at work analyzing Forthorthian tech. Perhaps the company he was working for was aware the Sun Rangers were onto them. Or perhaps they were just desperate to get a leg up on their competitors.

“Did she say anything about how her family gets along?”

“It sounded like they’re close to me. I think she misses her dad, though. She kept saying she was worried about him and that she hopes he’ll come home soon. That kind of stuff.”

“Thanks. That’s all great information... but something still feels off.”

With Kenji as an informant, Koutarou was able to learn most everything he would’ve asked Emily directly. But it still wasn’t enough to get a handle on the situation. The next step would be investigating Professor Brown himself.

“Anyways, Mackenzie, I mean it. You’ve been a big help.”

“No prob. Should I keep in touch with Emily-chan?”

“Please do. And try to help her out if you have to.”

“...You mean something might happen?”

“It’s not out of the question, but things are complicated.”

“Jeez, Kou. Now, as for my payment...”

“What?”

“Help me pacify Kotori.”

“Okay, but just this once.”

Before he could get to Professor Brown, Koutarou would have to help console poor Kotori, who was currently in tears after hearing how terrible her brother really was with her own ears.

Leaving Emily to Kenji, Koutarou and company decided to pursue Professor Brown. But until they could put their finger on what exactly seemed so strange about his circumstances, they’d have to tread lightly.

“Satomi-kun, the professor’s leaving now just like the Sun Rangers said he would,” reported Maki via Koutarou’s bracelet.

She and Sanae had been watching the front entrance while Koutarou and Harumi were keeping an eye on the back of the building where he worked. They’d decided to split up into teams of two, each with someone who could use magic and someone who could use psychic powers, believing that would give them the most mobility and utility in terms of tailing someone. Ruth had unmanned crafts overhead to serve as backup. Everyone else was stationed nearby in case of an emergency, but they were lying low in order not to stand out and draw attention to themselves. Maki, Sanae, Harumi, and Koutarou were the main detail on this operation.

“Is this really how he’s spending his days?” Koutarou wondered aloud.

That was yet another part of the equation that puzzled him. According to the Sun Rangers’ intelligence, Professor Brown left the research institute around 5 PM to have a quick meal at a nearby family restaurant. Since it was just before the dinner rush, there were never many customers, and he always sat in the same spot. He’d done the same thing each and every day since coming to Japan, which was why the Sun Rangers already had his schedule down to a T even though they hadn’t been able to launch a proper investigation.

“Could this be a trap, Satomi-kun?”

After hearing Maki’s report, Harumi’s first suspicion was foul play. If the professor was intentionally doing the same thing day in and day out, perhaps he was trying to get a lead on anyone who might be tailing him—just like Koutarou and the girls were right now.

“Senpai’s right. Stay on your toes, Aika-san, Sanae. This might be a trap.”

Koutarou knew Harumi’s concerns were valid. Regardless of what was really at play, it would do them no harm to remain vigilant and prepared for the worst.

“Okay, then I’ll conceal us with magic... Actually, hang on, Satomi-kun. Higashihongan-san wants to say something.”

“Koutarou, Koutarou! That stubbly guy has been focused on something this entire time.”

“Can you tell what he’s thinking about?”

“Not clearly... but he’s not aggressive. Really, kinda the opposite.”

From a distance, Sanae could only get a vague read on Professor Brown’s aura. That was enough, however, to tell her that he didn’t mean any harm. She could also tell that his feelings were static, indicating he was fixated on something.

“The opposite?”

If he wasn’t aggressive, that meant he was defensive. But if he’d intentionally laid a trap, there should be some degree of aggression tainting his aura. So if what Sanae said was true, that scenario suddenly seemed less likely.

“Good job, Sanae. Thanks for telling me.”

“Eeheehee!”

“But we haven’t learned anything yet, so let’s keep tailing him. If you can manage to get close and get a better read, we’re counting on you, Sanae.”

“Leave it to me!”

It was still too early to jump to conclusions. There was too much they didn’t understand yet. But they didn’t let that discourage them. The operation had only just begun.

Professor Brown wasn’t particularly mindful of his surroundings as he made his way to the usual family restaurant using the shortest route possible. Sanae used this opportunity to close in on him, continuing to observe his aura.

“It hasn’t changed. He’s still thinking about the same thing... But I think he might be praying?”

“Praying?”

“Yeah. It’s like he feels isolated or something. Cornered, maybe...”

Now that she was closer to her target, Sanae managed to glean some more detailed information.

Why would he be praying at a time like this?

Koutarou took a moment to add up everything Sanae had said so far in his head. If Professor Brown was on the defensive, if he felt isolated or cornered, and if he was praying... Perhaps he was asking for protection.

Does he think he’s being targeted? Or is it for some other reason...?

Koutarou continued to turn gears as he walked along, but he didn’t have much time to think. The professor quickly reached his destination: a high-rise building that housed the family restaurant he frequented on the second floor.

“We’ll go in first. Aika-san, Sanae, you two stick to the plan.”

“Be careful, Satomi-kun.”

Koutarou and Harumi pretended to be on a date, discretely waiting about half a minute before following the professor into the restaurant so as not to be too obvious.

“Heehee...”

As they passed through the automatic door, however, Harumi let out a muffled giggle.

“Senpai?”

“I’m sorry. It’s nothing. I was just thinking that it’s a shame to do this looking this way,” Harumi said with a wry smile.

She’d used her magic to disguise herself and Koutarou, so they presently both looked like strangers to one another. Harumi had been looking forward to her faux date with Koutarou, so she was honestly a little disappointed.

“I know what you mean. I’d much prefer to be here under different circumstances,” laughed Koutarou.

“But alas,” said Harumi, “we have a job to do.”

There, she took Koutarou’s arm. Pretending to be a couple right now wasn’t just for fun. It was part of the job Harumi had mentioned. But still, even disguised, there was no denying the blue ribbon dangling from her wrist.

“R-Right.”

“Teeheehee...”

Koutarou stared at Harumi in surprise for a moment before she scooted closer and leaned on him a little. He said absolutely nothing in response. Acting like a normal couple was part of their disguise, so he had no reason to push her away. Arm in arm, they waited for a waitress to show them to a table. They strategically asked for a spot in the no-smoking section by the window, which conveniently put them at the table directly behind the professor’s. They sat down across from each other, however, meaning Harumi had to reluctantly let go of Koutarou’s arm. Koutarou thought it was cute, but he also thought it was a shame he couldn’t see her real face right now.

“You certainly look like you’re enjoying yourself, Veltlion.”

Before he knew it, Clan’s unhappy voice was ringing through his earpiece. She and the others had heard their entire conversation.

“I’ll field any complaints at a later date. What’s going on?”

Koutarou normally would’ve been in for an earful at this juncture, but he preemptively put a stop to that and got straight down to business as he whispered into the microphone hidden in his collar. With Professor Brown right behind him, he couldn’t afford to draw any undue attention to himself. Clan realized the delicacy of the situation and immediately calmed herself.

“Well, Veltlion, we’ve thoroughly surveyed the surrounding area and identified two people we believe to be the professor’s guards: one at the front entrance and one at the back. But don’t worry. They didn’t seem to think anything of you two entering the restaurant.”

“Got it. Good work.”

“Still, please be careful.”

“I will.”

After signing off with Clan, Koutarou looked up at Harumi. She’d been listening in as well and gave Koutarou a small nod to let him know.

“Senpai, what do you want to eat?”

“Hmm, I’m feeling something really cheesy today.”

Harumi and Koutarou chatted about the menu, keeping up their charade as a couple. The other team still hadn’t made their entrance, and they couldn’t do anything until then.

“Satomi-kun, we’re at the restaurant now.”

“Koutarou, can I order cake?!”

Maki and Sanae showed up shortly after Koutarou and Harumi ordered their food. They too were in disguise, appearing as girls from a different school.

“If you do your job, you can have as much cake as you want.”

“You bet I will! That cake is mine!”

The disguised Sanae and Maki took a seat across the restaurant, but their abilities made it easy to communicate even from a distance. It wasn’t long, however, before Ruth also joined the conversation.

“Master, I have something to report,” she said through Koutarou’s earpiece.

Ruth was in control of several drones circling overhead, and it seemed one of them had picked up on something that got her attention.

“Go ahead.”

“We’re recording Professor Brown through the window from the outside. He’s mouthing something, so we enhanced the video feed to read his lips and have the message translated. He appears to be saying: ‘I don’t care if it’s God or the devil. If these words reach you, please help me.’”

“It’s just as Sanae suspected... But what does it mean?”

Sanae had guessed the professor might be praying, but those words weren’t a prayer so much as they were a cry for help—and it sounded like he was willing to take it from anyone. Koutarou couldn’t help wondering what that meant, but Kiriha had an idea.

“Koutarou, can you hear the professor from where you’re sitting?” she asked.

“No, I can’t. Is he still moving his mouth?”

Koutarou’s senses were enhanced far beyond a normal human’s thanks to the psychic powers Sanae had wired in him. But even with his keen ears, he couldn’t hear the professor’s voice. It wasn’t even registering on his bracelet.

“Yes, he still seems to be mouthing something. But if you take into consideration his seat...”

“His seat?”

“He took a table by the window, but the guards can’t see him from where he’s sitting. So if he’s intentionally mouthing something by the window, we can only assume he meant for someone like us to see him.”

“What?!”

Kiriha’s theory was that the professor was trying to communicate with someone. He always sat at a window table in a second-floor restaurant where he would be out of view of the guards following him. At best, they’d only be able to see the top of his head from the street. And it was from this table that the professor silently faced the window and mouthed a desperate message every day. So if he wasn’t trying to reach a higher power, the professor’s only hope would be someone with advanced technology keeping an eye on him from outside.

“The professor is a smart man, however. I’m sure he knows that the chances of anyone actually observing him with the means of intuiting his message are quite slim. He’s not doing this with any conviction that it’ll actually work. He’s only doing it out of hope that it will. That being the case, I think it’s fair to assume the professor is in danger. That is, of course, if this isn’t a trap.”

If this wasn’t a trap, then logical Professor Brown had been reduced to extraordinarily impractical means of asking for help. And he wasn’t asking for help from just anyone. It would take a high degree of tech and savvy for someone to be able to figure him out. If he’d set his standards that high, there was reason enough to assume that he was in serious danger and he needed serious help to get out of it.

Then the question is... Does he really need help or is this a trap?

Hearing Kiriha’s explanation, Koutarou realized the potentially dire nature of the situation. He couldn’t discount the possibility that this was a trap, however. That left him with a decision to make: should they contact the professor in spite of the risks? Koutarou wasn’t eager to waltz into a trap, but if the professor really was in danger, wasting any more time could be fatal.

“Satomi-kun, I think Kiriha-san is right,” said Maki.

“He’s real worried about someone close to him. I think that’s why he wants help,” added Sanae.

The other girls adding their two cents went a long way with Koutarou. Maki was an adept magician whose specialty was mind manipulation magic, and Sanae could readily read other people’s feelings with her psychic powers. If both of them agreed with Kiriha’s theory, then Professor Brown really was in trouble.

With all signs indicating that Professor Brown was desperate for help, Koutarou and the girls agreed to try establishing contact. They decided to use magic for the job, believing it would be safer than using technology right now.

“Think you can do it, Aika-san?”

“I think it’ll work. He’s quite receptive to someone reaching out to him right now.”

Using magic to establish a mental link between two people normally only worked with allies. There needed to be some kind of connection between both parties already. Trying to use it on a stranger typically failed, but Professor Brown was a special case. He was opening himself up to communication, making it easier for Maki to magically get in touch with him.

“All right, Satomi-kun. I’ve cast the spell.”

“...Professor Brown, can you hear me?”

Normally there was no need to actually speak with magical communication, but Koutarou did so anyway because it was easier for him to focus that way. Maki then took what he said, translated it into English, and passed it directly into Professor Brown’s mind—an extra measure she took for caution’s sake.

“Wh-Who’s voice is that?!”

Hearing a strange voice in his mind, Professor Brown nearly jumped up out of his seat in surprise. But he said not a word. Not out loud, at least. He was all too keenly aware of the position he was in.

“Please calm down, Professor Brown. We can hear your thoughts.”

“You mean you’re reading my mind?!”

“Yes. But unfortunately, I’m not God or the devil.”

“You’re not God or the devil...? You mean you picked up on my message? Just who are you?!”

“I can’t tell you that yet. Where exactly you stand is still unclear to us.”

“Th-That’s fair... Just a moment, please.”

Realizing how shaken this sudden development had left him, the professor took a deep breath to calm himself. His actions spoke volumes to his mental fortitude and quick thinking. Enemy or not, Koutarou could tell just how remarkable the professor was.

“I don’t have much time, so I’ll make this quick... My family is being held hostage and I’m being forced to help analyze Forthorthian technology. I need assistance to escape.”

“I see.”

It finally made sense. Something had continually seemed strange about Professor Brown’s behavior because he was being forced to act against his will.

“Koutarou, I don’t think he’s lying. His aura is calm, if a little flustered.”

“I’m of the same opinion. His subconscious indicates the same emotions he’s betraying on the surface.”

Sanae and Maki combined could tell what the professor was thinking and feeling. All signs indicated he was being honest.

“I understand your situation now. We’re striving to prevent Forthorthian technology from falling into the wrong hands, so I think we can work together.”

Koutarou decided to cooperate with the professor, but knowing things could still go awry, he withheld his identity.

“You’re going to help me?!”

“I hope that we can, so please give us more details.”

“Thank god! But I’m out of time for now. I’m leaving a memory card behind in my seat. It’s something I prepared ahead of time in the case anyone ever answered me... Please take a look at it.”

A scant five or ten minutes wasn’t nearly enough time for the professor to explain his situation. And if he took too long, the guards would come looking for him. Having already taken all this into account, Professor Brown had compiled all of the relevant data on a memory card.

Considering his brainpower, it’s no wonder the corporation wanted him to analyze the tech...

Koutarou was convinced. This was the kind of meticulous thoughtfulness and attention to detail one needed to take full advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. If he himself had technology to analyze, he’d definitely want someone like Professor Brown on his team.

“Understood. We’ll speak again tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to a positive response.”

And so their first encounter with Professor Brown came to an end. It had been brief, but they were able to get what they needed. What happened next would depend on the contents of the memory card.

The data on the memory card was password encrypted, leaving Koutarou and the girls at something of a loss. Professor Brown hadn’t shared the password with them. Clan was prepared to use a Forthorthian computer to brute-force her way to the data, but someone else managed to crack the code before she got a chance.

“How about this?!”

Shizuka rhythmically tapped away at the keyboard, happily punching the enter key at the end with far more force than necessary.

“All right! I got it!” she declared, pointing to the screen with a big smile on her face.

“Really?!” exclaimed Koutarou.

He looked to the computer in excitement, and sure enough, Shizuka was right. It had accepted the password and was now decoding the contained files to bring them up for viewing.

“What was the password, Landlord-san?” he asked.

“It was ‘I don’t care if it’s God or the devil.’ This kind of riddle-solving is pretty common in books, you know,” Shizuka boasted as everyone gathered around her.

She enjoyed reading mystery and adventure novels, so she was familiar with this kind of puzzle. That said, she’d managed to guess the password on what was practically pure intuition. Though Kiriha was a little slower to the punch, she explained the solution to the rest of the group.

“The fact that he didn’t tell us the password meant that we should already know it. It had to be something anyone who contacted the professor would know, meaning the answer was simple. This was why he had us read his lips.”

Professor Brown’s prayer was the key to unlocking his files, which were ready for viewing a minute or so after Shizuka typed in the password.

“Would you mind, Ruth?” Koutarou asked.

“Leave it to me,” she replied readily.

Koutarou and company were currently using the highest-tech computer they had access to: the one in the Hazy Moon’s laboratory. It of course belonged to Clan, but Ruth didn’t hesitate to sit down and use it herself, bringing up the files on a holographic screen so that everyone could see them.

“...So Emily-san and her mom are hostages? No wonder the professor is doing everything they say. That explains why his behavior seemed so odd.”

Professor Brown’s family was being used against him. That was the whole reason for his sudden move to Japan in the first place. That much made sense to Koutarou.

“Strictly speaking, his wife is being confined while Emily is being monitored at all times. Perhaps going through Mackenzie instead of contacting Emily ourselves was the right choice,” mused Theia.

Professor Brown was currently working at one of Bell-Tesla Electronics’ research facilities, but not by choice. It was only to keep his family safe.

The professor’s wife, Claire, was confined to her hotel room, completely cut off from the outside world. Their daughter, Emily, was attending Kisshouharukaze High School, but company watchdogs calling themselves guards kept a constant eye on her. If Koutarou and the others had contacted her directly, it likely would’ve put the company on high alert. In that regard, Kenji approaching Emily so naturally and casually was a genuine blessing.

As for the professor, he was being kept away from his family. He was allowed to call and email them, but Bell-Tesla Electronics—popularly known as BTE—monitored all of their contact, making it impossible for them to coordinate an escape. That’s why the best the professor had been able to do was hope someone like Koutarou and company would appear.

“Let’s see. The professor is currently researching...” mumbled Clan as she scanned the data onscreen. “Oh no, they have an entire intact navigation device!”

Said navigation device was one of the ship parts the Sun Rangers hadn’t been able to track down yet, and it was a particularly dangerous part to have fall into the wrong hands. Once analyzed, it could reveal the secrets of space distortion, which would open the floodgates to an entirely new field of technology that hadn’t previously existed on Earth. This was terrible news. Since the ship had self-destructed, Koutarou and company hadn’t expected to find any of the parts whole and unscathed. And unfortunately, someone else had found this one before them.

“Ruth-san, let the Sun Rangers know we found the navigation device!” Koutarou shouted.

“Right away!” Ruth replied instantaneously.

“This is the worst possible scenario... I now understand why the professor was being so cautious,” Kiriha said with a bitter expression as she crossed her arms.

Considering the situation, they wouldn’t get a second chance if they screwed this up. The professor could only cooperate with them once. And if things fell through, the price would be high. The professor, his family, and the navigation device would all disappear forever.

“This means that we’ll need to nab the professor, his wife, his daughter, and the navigation device all in one fell swoop... And it’s not going to be easy,” Koutarou observed with a grimace.

Collecting four different, strictly-guarded objectives at the same time was going to be a difficult task, even for the likes of Koutarou and the girls.

“What do we do, Koutarou?” asked Sanae, a bit nervous.

“Well, we’re just gonna have to save them,” he replied unflinchingly.

“Yeah!”

Koutarou had his mind made up from the start. He knew the path he needed to walk, and he wasn’t going to abandon it just because it would be difficult. After fighting alongside Alaia, his sense of responsibility was unshakeable.

The next day, Koutarou and the girls psychically contacted Professor Brown again to let him know of their plans to rescue him and his family, as well as to recover the navigation device. They also informed him they were working on behalf of Forthorthe, though the professor had no way of confirming that. He would have to decide for himself whether or not he trusted them.

“All right... I’m going to wager on you guys.”

And in the end, he decided to take a chance. It was better than nothing in his current situation. Even if Koutarou and company turned out to be part of another evil corporation, two sides clashing over him was better than being monopolized. It could lead to information leaks and big changes. There was even a possibility that the government would take notice if things escalated to that level.

“Thank you, professor. All that’s left is for us to prove ourselves.”

“I’m delighted. I... Well, I’ve done what I can on my end. All I can offer you now is prayer. I’ll beseech both our Holy Father and Forthorthe’s goddess on your behalf.”

“I’d appreciate that. I tend to have some rotten luck.”

“Hahaha, you’re an interesting man, you know that? I’m looking forward to getting to meet you.”

“Likewise. Well, until then, professor...”

After their secret liaison with Professor Brown, Koutarou and company made their way back to the Hazy Moon. They’d gotten new information from the professor that they’d need to take into account before beginning the operation.

The new information the professor had surrendered concerned his wife, Claire. He’d managed to gather bits and pieces of intelligence by eavesdropping on the guards. So far, he’d only been able to determine the name and location of the hotel where she was being held, but that was enough for Koutarou and the girls. They were quickly able to figure out the exact room by checking the hotel’s security cameras remotely.

“The fourteenth-floor penthouse of the Traditional Kisshou, is it?”

Kiriha was looking up at a holographic screen with a somewhat stern expression. Claire was confined to room 1401, which was the most luxurious suite in the entire hotel. It was a VIP suite, so it was designed with security in mind. And that was precisely why Kiriha looked so severe at the moment.

“You see the bad guys treat hostages hospitably in movies every now and then... I guess that happens in real life too,” Maki remarked in surprise, looking at a hotel brochure.

Pictures of the penthouse featured a crystal chandelier, antique furniture, and silk linens. They were luxury accommodations in anyone’s book and came with a price tag to match.

“I don’t think it’s as much about hospitality as it is practicality,” said Kiriha. “The wife and her guards are together, after all.”

“I see. That does make sense,” said Maki with a nod.

As the master suite of the hotel, room 1401 had multiple bedrooms within. That allowed both Claire and her guards some privacy. (They had discussions they didn’t want her to overhear, after all.) So between being spacious and defensible, the penthouse was ideal.

“Well, what are you thinking, Kiriha?”

Theia, who was currently looking at schematics for the suite, was ready to start talking about a plan. As battle-oriented as she was, she’d already formulated a few strategies in her head and wanted to know how they checked out against Kiriha’s.

“We’ll need several people. Six at the least.”

Looking at the layout of the penthouse—which consisted of one large living area and two bedrooms—Kiriha surmised that there would be four guards. After factoring in their different equipment and abilities as well as the pros and cons of offensive and defensive tactics, Kiriha concluded that they’d need at least six people on the operation. Seven or eight would be better if they wanted complete assurance.

“I agree. Whether we attack head on or sneak in, we’ll need at least that many people on the job. The problem is that we’ll need even more to rescue the professor and Emily too.”

Between Koutarou and the girls, they had a team of ten to divide up however they needed. But if rescuing Claire took six people, then that only left four of them to go after the professor and Emily. That would be a struggle, and the frown on Theia’s face said she knew it.

“Let’s ask the Sun Rangers for help. They have their hands full, but considering the importance of this operation, they should at least be able to lend us their support,” suggested Kiriha.

The Sun Rangers were currently working on tracking down and retrieving the missing ship parts. But considering an intact navigation device was easily the most pressing part of all, they should be willing to spare what resources they could to help with the operation. Even a few extra hands could make all the difference.

“Then we need to decide on a plan of attack,” said Koutarou, who’d only been silently listening in so far. He wasn’t much help in the planning and logistics stages of an attack, but the attack itself was his forte. Pulling together his thoughts on the matter, he shared them with the group. “The professor wants us to prioritize his family, so we should focus on rescuing Claire-san and Emily-san at the same time. Then we’ll get the professor and the part.”

When it came to Claire and Emily, it was paramount that they be rescued together. Once one of them disappeared, BTE security would be on high alert. If they still had one of the women in their clutches when that happened, the situation could get ugly.

That went for the professor as well, but there was no getting around the fact that his family needed to be extracted first. Moreover, he had an additional level of security that his wife and daughter didn’t. He was useful, after all. It would cost BTE dearly if they decided to get rid of him.

But most of all, Koutarou wanted to respect the professor’s wishes. Professor Brown’s top priority was his family, and Koutarou planned accordingly. They would retrieve Claire and Emily before swiftly moving on to the professor.

“That won’t be easy,” said Theia. “A double rescue will be twice as noticeable.”

“Indeed,” agreed Kiriha. “We’ll probably need some kind of cover. A ruse that would let us come into contact with Claire and Emily would be ideal.”

Realizing the monumental nature of the task in front of them, Theia and Kiriha began discussing ways to make Koutarou’s plan a reality. In terms of efficiency, it would be better to go straight for the professor and the part. That would give them the highest chances of success and assure that they could prevent the navigation technology from being leaked. But both girls knew that wasn’t the route Koutarou wanted to take, so neither voiced a complaint.

“Koutarou, do you think Kenji would cooperate with us?” Kiriha asked.

“I think he’ll end up helping on his own even if I don’t say anything,” Koutarou answered honestly.

“Then I’ll take that into consideration.”

“...”

“Ruth-san, I know what you want to say. I really do, but try to hold it in. Let’s leave that to Kin-chan, okay?”

“...”

Certain parties had objections to the plan, but it was gradually taking shape as Theia and Kiriha worked out the details.

“To be honest, I’m glad Satomi-kun isn’t like that...”

“Shizuka-sama, if Master were that kind of man, I’d bite my tongue and die.”

Overhearing the girls, Koutarou couldn’t help muttering an apology to his absent best friend.

“Sorry, Mackenzie...”

Kenji’s reputation was in a free fall, but it wasn’t as important as the safety of the professor and his family right now.

With the plan decided, Koutarou and the girls proceeded with preparations. They needed to gather the necessary gear, check out the relevant locations, and so on. Koutarou was assigned the job of scouting where they planned to rescue the professor. Since they would rendezvous there after rescuing Claire and Emily, it would be the most dangerous part of the operation. They’d have to be thorough and careful.

“This place is older than I thought,” said Koutarou when he saw the building.

“It’s apparently a factory belonging to an affiliated corporation. Only the above-ground portion is supposedly running now, but during the bubble, the entire basement was in use too.”

Koutarou was currently outside an old factory with Maki. Her indigo magic made her an ideal partner for scouting operations like this.

“So the research facility is occupying the basement now?”

“It seems so. The rest of the factory is more or less being used as a front.”

The BTE research facility they were investigating was situated below the factory. The factory itself had no direct financial ties to BTE. Its owners hadn’t even had any recent dealings with BTE, but they did have quite a history together. Several large deals in the past had established a long-lasting friendship between the two companies, which was why BTE had chosen this location for their facility. Incidentally, this was all information Professor Brown had turned over to Koutarou and the girls when he told them about his wife.

“It seems BTE arranged the use of the facility by baiting the factory owners with a new contract just as business was dwindling. Production’s not set to start for a while though...”

“I guess it was an offer they couldn’t refuse. That’s too bad...”

Koutarou and Maki were observing the factory from the shadows, comparing it to the blueprints they’d gotten from the Sun Rangers. It was a mostly concrete building with several metal pipes protruding from various locations, and the entire facility was surrounded by a tall wall. But even with the wall in the way, the mechanical sounds of the factory still reached Koutarou and Maki. Much like the building, the machinery contained within was showing its age.

“Anyways... I’m counting on you, Aika-san.”

“Of course. Keen Sense. Clairvoyance.”

There, Maki cast two spells on Koutarou. One enhanced his senses and the other let him see through physical objects. His vision was already quite sharp thanks to the psychic powers he’d gotten from Sanae, so he was able to see straight inside the factory from where he was standing with Maki’s magical help.

“There’s been some remodeling, but it mostly follows the blueprints.”

Koutarou marked the relevant updates on the map at hand. They were from the building’s construction years ago, meaning they were somewhat outdated. There were a few new hallways and a few partitions that had been knocked down to make them—exactly the kind of details that would be critical to know during a rescue operation.

“What about the basement?”

“It’s too deep for me to be able to see it clearly. The best I can get through the ground is a glimpse of the top.”

“Maybe we should ask Clan-san to send in a reconnaissance drone later.”

“I can’t wait to hear her yell about that...”

The thicker something was, the harder it was for the clairvoyance spell to penetrate it. The walls of the building were no obstacle, but the basement was beneath several meters of dirt and concrete. In reality, hiding things underground was a simple and effective way of concealing them from such magic. Detecting them there would be much easier with technology, but their technological go-to had gotten a little fussy recently about being asked to use such shady tactics. Koutarou could already see the face she was going to make when he asked her to do it.

“You just need to tell her that you need her, Satomi-kun.”

“...Is there any other way?”

Koutarou could never bring himself to be honest with Clan, and he actually enjoyed getting under her skin and seeing her flustered. It made it all too easy to tease her.

“Why can’t you say it to Clan-san? You say it to me.”

“That’s because you need to hear it, Aika-san.”

“Clan-san needs to hear it too, you know? Really, we all do now.”

In Maki’s eyes, Koutarou was naive. The girls around him all knew how they felt, and they all knew what they wanted from Koutarou. That manifested differently from girl to girl, be it a desire for playing, fighting, or something else. But in the end, they all really wanted the same thing... They wanted Koutarou to be honest with them.

“I’ll try my best to, you know... say something nice.”

“I think you should.”

Even the dense Koutarou had come to realize the changes happening around him. The girls had a firm grasp on his heart, and their grip was far too tight for him to shake it off now. He knew that better than anyone, but pretended not to. His pride as a man got in the way of accepting it in earnest.

“Enough of that. We have work to do.”

“Heehee.”

Maki couldn’t help giggling as she lovingly touched the headphones hanging from her neck. Shizuka had told her once that a good woman didn’t prod a man too much, and Maki figured now would be a good time to put that advice to practice. Besides, they did indeed have work to do.

“Satomi-kun, that car’s worth a lot, isn’t it?”

“That one? Yeah, it’s an expensive model. And there’s two of them here. Maybe Bell-Tesla Electronics people are here.”

“If they brought two cars, there’s probably between five and eight of them. Maybe they’re here to put together some experimental equipment.”

Koutarou and Maki scrutinized the factory, poring through every detail to learn anything they could about their enemy. It was dull, tedious work, but they were building the foundation for a successful operation. Koutarou was used to this kind of thing from scouting opposing teams and whatnot back in his baseball days. And as a former member of a militant organization, Maki had plenty of experience in recon. So the two of them quietly went about their work without complaint.

“Hwah?!”

Or so it went until Maki suddenly let out a wild gasp. When Koutarou turned to look at her, she began rubbing her wide eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Satomi-kun, look over there!”

“Over there? What’s...”

Maki was pointing to the back door of the factory. Someone was pushing a handcart loaded down with several plastic trash bags. Based on their uniform, it appeared to be a factory employee... But Koutarou knew that face.

“Th-That’s Yurika!”

“I thought so!”

“Wait a minute! Were we supposed to infiltrate the factory?!”

“We didn’t make any plans like that!”

If there had been plans for an infiltration, then Koutarou and Maki’s scouting trip would’ve been wholly unnecessary.

“So what’s she doing here?!”

“Well, today, Yurika was...”

There, Maki went agape. Koutarou peered at her with a puzzled look, unsure of what was happening. When she realized that Koutarou was in the dark, Maki pulled herself together and answered his silent question in a parched voice.

“Y-Yurika said she was working today...”

“Damn it! How does she always end up working as an evil underling?!”

Koutarou whipped out his phone and immediately gave Yurika a call. While it was ringing, he remembered that he’d talked with Yurika about her new part-time job at a factory. She said she’d learned from her past mistakes and chosen a respectable local business to work for. She hadn’t been wrong... just very unlucky this time. Koutarou knew that, but he couldn’t help the harshness in his voice.

“Hello, hello! You’ve reached Yurika!”

“It’s me!”

“Wha? Satomi-san?”

“Don’t ask questions! Just come out the back!”

“Huh? I’m getting a weird sense of deja vu...”

Yurika left her handcart and followed Koutarou’s instructions, leaving the factory grounds through the back gate. When she arrived, Koutarou and Maki stepped out from the shadows to greet her.

“What are you doing in a place like this?!”

“That’s my line! What are you and Maki-chan doing here? Wait, d-don’t tell me...”

That’s when it struck her. Her sense of deja vu was because this had happened before. At her previous job, no less. And when that realization set in, a chill ran down Yurika’s spine.

“It’s exactly what you think it is. This factory is being used as a front for the professor’s research.”

“Nuuuuu!”

Yurika defiantly shook her head, her long twintails flipping about behind her. She’d been playing with Sanae during the strategy meeting, so this was all news to her. News that wasn’t easy to hear.

“Manager Yoshiwara is a master! He can tell if things are uneven just by touching them! He’s even better than a machine and can level things in an instant! All the apprentices like him too! He’s not a bad guy!”

Yurika’s new job seemed to be a nice place. Everyone was hardworking and kind. They took good care of newbies like Yurika and made her feel like part of the team as they watched over her. She couldn’t believe they were up to anything bad.

“That’s the problem! A master craftsman and his team are being used for evil!”

The tight-knit nature of the factory, however, had backfired on them. Even with production dwindling, they couldn’t bring themselves to let go of any of their employees. They were just barely scraping by, and that’s where BTE came in. The big contract dangling in front of the factory would allow them to keep everyone on board with a raise and even hire new staff, so they were willing to let BTE do whatever they wanted in the basement.

“Waaaaah! Don’t tell me I’ve been working for nothing again!”

That was the real reason Yurika couldn’t bring herself to accept the truth. She was paid daily at her last job, so she’d only missed out on a single day’s pay when the company was busted. But at the factory, she only got paid once a month, meaning her losses would be much greater.

“Sorry, Yurika.”

“Can’t we at least push the plan back until after payday?!”

Payday was the 25th of every month, which was still a couple of weeks out. There was no way they could delay the plan that long. Yurika knew that in her heart of hearts, but had to ask anyway. She already knew what she wanted to spend her paycheck on.

“Like I said... Sorry, Yurika.”

“Noooooooo!”

With that, Yurika broke down crying on the spot. Magazine subscriptions, new manga, merchandise from an anime that had premiered in the spring, and the Blu-ray releases of a few movies she’d missed while in Forthorthe... All gone, just like that.

Yurika’s workplace had once again turned out to be a den of evil. This was devastating to her, but the others weren’t especially surprised.

“And that’s what I heard about the basement from Yurika,” reported Harumi.

A hologram of the basement was displayed behind her. It was a 3D model that Clan had made while listening to her report. Such a feat was easy for her in the Hazy Moon’s conference room.

“It seems the basement’s more complicated than we thought. It’s fortunate Yurika’s been working there,” Kiriha commented.

Thanks to Yurika, they’d gotten free insider information in a most casual fashion. They wouldn’t even need to send in a reconnaissance drone now. Like Kiriha said, it was a rather fortunate turn of events.

“And what about Yurika?” Theia asked.

“She’s in bed. It seems that finding out she was a henchman again came as quite a shock...” Harumi said forlornly.

As her best friend, it had fallen on Harumi to get the information out of Yurika. But not even the sweet Harumi could console Yurika right now. The matter of her paycheck was bad enough, but finding out she’d been playing the part of an evil henchman again wounded her pride as a magical girl. This was a nightmare for Yurika, and she didn’t know how else to deal with it other than hiding in bed after she told Harumi everything she knew about the basement. With her lifestyle and her pride both compromised, she was undoubtedly curled up in the wardrobe crying right about now.

“Koutarou, can’t you do something? It was Yurika’s fault before, but it wasn’t this time, right?” Theia asked.

“...But what am I supposed to do?”

“Satomi-kun, please! I can’t stand seeing Yurika like this... It’s totally different from when she sulks after you yell at her!” Shizuka begged.

“Landlord-san...”

With both Sanae and Shizuka pleading, Koutarou started thinking. As he did, the other girls began looking to him as well. It seemed they all felt the same way.

It’s true this was just bad luck...

Thinking about it calmly, he knew this incident wasn’t Yurika’s fault. It wasn’t like she’d jumped for the highest bidder. She’d carefully considered her employment options, picked a job she thought would be honest labor, and been working hard ever since. No one could’ve known BTE was scheming at a local factory.

Moreover, the girls are right... I hate to see her like this...

Koutarou’s thoughts turned to Yurika’s crying eyes. He didn’t like seeing her sad, so he wanted to do what he could to cheer her up.

“I’ll think of something.”

“Attaboy, Koutarou!”

“Thank you, Satomi-kun.”

Yurika and Sanae were constant sources of energy for the entire group. With Yurika down and out, they all were in a way. Koutarou couldn’t stand for that.