Yang Hui arrived at the Attha residence at top speed. The moment they met, Cagalli lunged at Yang Hui with claws bared, looking ready to fight to the death.
"You bastard! What have you done to Mana—"
Click—
Her flying tackle, angry questioning, and even her tears were all abruptly cut short.
"Young Master Yang Hui..."
"Disarm him!" Seeing Kisaka move, Yang Hui immediately ordered his men to strip Kisaka of his weapons and restrain him.
"Stop! What are you—"
Bang—
With Mana captured and her last pillar of support, Kisaka, now subdued, Cagalli's fiery temper flared up again—only to be extinguished halfway, leaving her chilled to the bone. Yang Hui had fired without hesitation, the bullet grazing her ear before embedding itself in the wall behind her. The heat and sting of the near-miss lingered.
"You... you..."
"What day did you first run away from home? Why? How did you return?" Yang Hui ignored Cagalli's tears and repeated the same questions he had asked Mana.
"What the hell are you trying to do!? I—"
"Answer my questions!"
"I... I... How could I possibly remember something so trivial from so long ago!?" Cagalli wanted to lash out but didn't dare move. The icy killing intent in Yang Hui's eyes told her that if she acted recklessly again, he really would shoot.
"Mana's first failure in duty nearly drove her to suicide. You caused that. And you just forgot?" Yang Hui pressed coldly.
"What? Mana actually—"
Bang—
Before Cagalli could finish, Yang Hui fired again, this time hitting her right leg.
"Ah—!"
A scream of pain tore from her throat as Cagalli collapsed, clutching her bleeding leg. Yang Hui had already concluded that this Cagalli was also a Carbon Human. While it was understandable that the real Cagalli might not immediately recall childhood events due to her scatterbrained nature, the incident where Mana nearly took her own life was something she would remember if prompted—especially since Mana was one of the people Cagalli trusted and loved most. Forgetting it entirely was impossible.
"Young Master Yang Hui! What are you doing!? She's—" Kisaka, witnessing this, struggled furiously against his restraints.
"And you..." Yang Hui walked over, delivering a sharp chop to Cagalli's neck to knock her unconscious. After ordering someone to stop her bleeding, he turned his gun on Kisaka. "...Have you always been single?"
"Young Master Yang Hui..."
"Answer the question, Kisaka. Unless you'd prefer to face the consequences. Or... is there something you'd like to confess?"
"...No. Before coming to Orb, I was engaged to my childhood sweetheart. But she died in the war. I survived by chance and was brought to Orb by Lord Uzumi." Kisaka wasn't a fool. Though rage had clouded his judgment earlier, the threat to his life forced him to calm down. He now realized the situation might be far more complicated.
"Five years ago, September 30th. What did I say to you?"
"You ordered me to protect Lady Cagalli while also monitoring her, reporting any unusual behavior to you. But I refused."
"Then what about January 15th four years ago?"
"...You were secretly cursing Lord Uzumi and Lord Yang Hongyu because they intended to arrange a marriage between you and Miss Cagalli. I happened to pass by and overheard it accidentally. The location was in the Yang Family's back garden. That day, I went to the Yang Family to deliver a message from Lord Uzumi to Lord Yang Hongyu."
"..." These questions were all highly personal, especially the last one. That incident was purely coincidental and entirely a trivial life memory. In theory, a Carbon Human's accepted memories shouldn't contain such useless information.
But Yang Hui still couldn't immediately confirm whether the Kisaka before him was the original. What if it was just a lucky coincidence?
"Let me ask you—during the time Cagalli was missing, were there moments when she was out of your sight?" Yang Hui inquired. He had narrowed down the time of Cagalli's replacement to her disappearance for two reasons:
First, aside from that period, Cagalli was under Celestial Being's surveillance 24/7. Librarian Works wouldn't have had the chance to swap her. Only during her disappearance was she out of their sight.
Second, if Cagalli had been replaced long ago, there would have been no need to stage this "disappearance" act.
"...Yes. Miss Cagalli went to the restroom twice, each time for about five minutes, Young Master Yang Hui."
"Do you remember the exact locations?"
"I do."
"Take two more squads with him and search within a 5-kilometer radius of those locations. Keep communications open and report every five minutes. Watch him closely—if he tries to flee, you're authorized to shoot on sight." Yang Hui ordered the leader of the intelligence team.
"Yes, sir!" came the unified response.
"Young Master Yang Hui, what exactly is going on? Miss Cagalli, she..."
"Go with them first. We'll check everything when you return." Yang Hui didn't explain the situation to Kisaka, opting instead to issue direct orders—because he still hadn't ruled out the possibility that this Kisaka was a Carbon Human.
"..." Kisaka opened his mouth but said nothing. Yet he understood the gravity of the situation—the Cagalli he had brought back was problematic. Otherwise, Yang Hui wouldn't have fired at her after asking those personal questions.
So he chose to comply quietly. Since his own suspicion hadn't been cleared yet, he trusted Yang Hui would explain once it was.
"Take her to Prison Zero for detention. Be careful on the way—don't let anyone notice."
"Understood."
After the group departed, Yang Hui had his subordinates escort Cagalli to a secret prison. Though a fake, the replica was highly accurate. If exposed by malicious parties, it could trigger unrest within Orb.
"...Liumei, you go personally. Otherwise, I won't be at ease." Considering this, Yang Hui speculated—perhaps this was the enemy's goal? Deliberately exposing Mana (Carbon) and releasing Cagalli (Carbon) as bait to hinder Orb's rapid development?
That's why he insisted Wang Liu Mei personally escort Cagalli (Carbon)—only then could he rest assured.
"I'll set off immediately without anyone noticing." Wang Liu Mei nodded. She had already guessed that this Cagalli was fake, most likely the same Carbon Human they had encountered before.
"Return as soon as you deliver her. We need to discuss this matter in detail."
"Understood."
After Wang Liu Mei left with her team, Yang Hui immediately sent messages to Sumeragi and Creuset, instructing them to go straight to the team's private meeting room. This included Creuset, who was currently keeping watch over Mentor Malchio outside. Cagalli's disappearance was now the top priority—everything else, short of Orb's complete destruction, would have to wait.
If this matter wasn't handled properly, it might not lead to national collapse, but civil unrest was inevitable.
Just as Yang Hui was leaving the city hall, he ran into another person who required his constant attention at the entrance.
"Yang Hui, I heard about Cagalli..."
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