"Master, are you saying you really don't remember anything?"
In the snow, Zane leaned in close to Qingyi, curiosity in his voice along with a trace of surprise.
"What do you mean?"
Qingyi frowned slightly at his words, meeting his gaze with a hint of puzzlement. Had she forgotten something?
"Nothing."
Zane understood the situation and gave a faint smile.
After all, Qingyi had "died" there—her being able to come back at all was already a blessing. Asking her to remember everything on top of that would be too much.
Still, those memories were precious, and it was a shame she couldn't recall them. He had even wanted to see her in that particular attire more often, but now it was hard to bring up...
Besides, telling Qingyi about that experience would sound absurd—and if he went into detail, maybe even embarrassingly sentimental.
And truth be told, the memory felt dreamlike to him. He couldn't be entirely sure of it himself.
Had it all been a product of his own imagination after choosing her as the subject? Or had Qingyi truly gone looking for him?
If it had only been a dream, then any kind of scenario would have been "normal."
If Qingyi still had her memory, he could have asked her to confirm it. But now, he had no such chance.
"You're definitely hiding something from me..."
Qingyi narrowed her eyes but soon relaxed again, choosing not to press him. If Zane didn't want to talk, she wouldn't force it.
She trusted her disciple completely.
If it was something she needed to know, he would tell her sooner or later.
If it wasn't, then even if she asked, she wouldn't get an answer—so why bother? Better to let him feel at ease.
"Zane, I've been keeping an eye on things for you for quite a while. And you come out without even thanking me?"
Shin crossed her arms, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Her wings drooped slightly, making it clear she was in good spirits.
Zane's earlier words had been puzzling, but his meaning was clear. She had achieved half her aim with barely any effort, so she naturally felt relaxed.
"You don't sound like an officer at all—more like a gang boss leading her underlings."
Zane glanced sideways at her, teasing with a smile. He was genuinely grateful for Shin's quick action. Even if no one else could get near the Ether Crystal, being spotted could still bring trouble. Her arrival had cut that possibility off entirely.
"Haha, what gang boss commands the Defense Force of an entire military district?"
Shin covered her mouth and laughed. A military district's Defense Force was a formidable power no matter where it stood.
Few could deal with them the way Zane could. He was a unique case—but that didn't mean the Defense Force was weak.
At present, apart from Zane, she couldn't think of a single person who could take them on single-handedly. Even Hoshimi Miyabi would be hard-pressed. As for the high-ranking Void Hunters, yes, they could be taken down—but only at significant cost.
Against anyone else, the result would be outright devastation.
"Zhu Yuan, how's the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team? I've been gone so long, I feel like an unreliable senior."
Qingyi lifted a hand to pat her head lightly as she spoke to Zhu Yuan. With Zane back, it was time for her to return as well.
"It's just like I told you before. The cases related to Dead End Hollow are wrapped up, and Seth's been in good spirits lately. The team isn't under much pressure right now."
Zhu Yuan's tone was gentle. Ever since Qingyi left, only she and Seth had remained in the unit—but both were capable, so daily operations and missions hadn't really suffered.
"Tsk, when you put it like that, Zhu Yuan, I feel almost invisible... What if... I just retired?"
Qingyi laced her fingers together, stretched her arms upward with a lazy motion, and smiled.
Of course, she was joking.
Advanced Automatons didn't "retire"—getting fired was possible, but that only meant being reassigned elsewhere.
"Senior, we've only been holding things together for a while—it won't last forever..."
Zhu Yuan shook her head helplessly. Her master seemed even more laid-back now, in a way that reminded her of Zane's own attitude...
Back at the Tanuki House, Zane had acted just like a "retired old man."
...
As the three prepared to leave, Shin suddenly seemed to recall something and raised a hand in a wave. Zane stopped and looked back.
Seeing that Shin clearly had something to discuss, Zane told Qingyi and Zhu Yuan to go on ahead; he'd catch up in a bit.
"What is it?"
Stepping up beside her, Zane glanced at Yeyan, who stood just behind. He didn't recognize her and, not having any particular interest, didn't bother introducing himself.
Though... the way the girl was looking at him was odd—like a predator sizing up its prey.
Him? Prey?
Noticing his look, Shin gave a brief introduction of Yeyan before getting to the point.
"Zane, your timing couldn't be better. The day after tomorrow, my family's holding quite a large banquet to celebrate my promotion, and I'd like to invite you."
"Of course, it's not just for fun. There'll be plenty of important people—high-ranking officials, wealthy business leaders. You might find a lot of... interesting developments there, and it could make whatever you're investigating much easier."
"It's a perfect opportunity to plan your next moves. And I can say with certainty—if you show up, you'll cause quite a stir."
Shin smiled faintly, folding her hands loosely in front of her.
"Don't worry about making a scene. No matter how much noise you cause, those stuffy old men will deal with it themselves."
She spoke of her family without the slightest courtesy, as if there were already deep-seated conflicts—and she had no hesitation about exploiting them now.
"Tsk..."
A flicker of interest passed over Zane's face. He had already decided to take the initiative, and Shin's words made it clear—this was indeed a good opening.
"I could work with that. But what makes you so sure I'd cause a stir?"
"Zane, don't underestimate the rank of a lieutenant in the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe... and besides—you're far from ordinary."
Shin's voice lowered slightly as she stepped closer. Her snow-white wings curved inward to frame the two of them. She lifted a hand to his cheek, a playful glint in her eyes.
"And with just a little polish... that face of yours could be dangerously appealing—to women and men alike."
With that, she withdrew her hand and stepped back, waving lightly.
"Alright, I'll go ahead. When the time comes, I'll contact you through the Tanuki House. Make sure you answer."