Elysia watched Mobius's back, which was practically a "panicked escape," and playfully blinked.
"Aiya, Dr. Mobius is still so shy. I kindly prepared clothes for her, and sometimes she really should change into something different to wear~"
Her gaze fell onto the pile of clothes in her arms, and suddenly she caught sight of a familiar black-and-white outfit.
"Eh? This is…"
When Elysia picked it up, it turned out to be the maid outfit she had secretly stuffed into Mobius's wardrobe earlier.
Her eyes darted, and a lively smile spread across her face, "Mm, what a great idea! I'll wear this to the banquet tonight then!"
That night, the banquet hall glittered with bright lights.
Elysia had changed into that cute white maid outfit, carrying a tray full of drinks, cleverly blending in among the staff.
While handing drinks to newcomers, her sparkling eyes kept darting about, searching for that "Van" whom Mark had mentioned.
Unfortunately, even after circling around several times, she didn't spot any new face that radiated an especially strong aura.
So, Elysia thought to herself, 'Since he was brought by Dr. Mobius, then the doctor must know where he is, right?'
Taking advantage of nobody noticing, she quietly strolled her way to the door of Mobius's laboratory.
Elysia pressed her ear cautiously against the door to listen for a while. Inside it was silent, no screams, no strange sounds of experiments.
'Looks like the doctor's not here?'
Her courage rose, and she gently pushed the door open, slipping inside.
The lab was pitch-dark, with only the light from the corridor faintly outlining the room's shape.
By the dim glow, she could make out instant noodle boxes piled up on the floor and on the desk.
"Dr. Mobius really is such a busy person~ she doesn't even have time to eat properly."
She muttered softly, curiosity nudging her to fumble around in the darkness to see if she might find some interesting files or information.
Just as she bent down, trying to make out the writing on a paper on the desk, a cold and unfamiliar male voice suddenly sounded behind her without warning, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Elysia's body froze, and she turned her head a little awkwardly.
Through the sliver of light from the door, she could see a black-haired youth standing in the shadows.
His figure was tall and straight, his features handsome but expression indifferent, watching her quietly.
"Um…" Elysia quickly switched to an innocent smile, attempting to muddle through with cuteness.
"If I said I was just a kind maid passing by, here to help clean up, would you believe me?"
The youth didn't answer, just stepped forward silently and pulled a blunt-edged training sword from a nearby weapon rack.
"Although I don't know who you are," the black-haired youth said lightly, "as long as I take you to Mobius, it should become clear."
Elysia's heart gave a thump.
Her sneaking maid outfit into Mobius's wardrobe had already been risky enough.
If she was caught again sneaking into Mobius's lab, the consequences would be absolutely unthinkable.
She quickly waved her hands, her smile even sweeter, "Aiya, no need to call Dr. Mobius, right? I'll just leave, right now, immediately, okay?"
The youth shook his head, lifting the sword tip slightly to point at her, "Now you have two choices. First, step obediently into the light yourself, so I can check whether you're carrying anything you shouldn't."
"Second, be subdued by me, and then I'll check whether you're carrying anything you shouldn't."
Hearing this, Elysia wasn't frightened at all. Instead, she blinked playfully, her tone carrying a teasing lilt.
"Aiya~ No matter what, you want to check my body? I didn't expect you to be that kind of boy~"
The youth's gaze sharpened slightly, and he said nothing more.
"Looks like you've chosen the second option."
Before his words even fell, the youth moved.
His steps were swift, the training sword in his hand stabbing forward at a tricky angle.
Elysia reacted instantly, twisting her body to dodge, and at the same moment her wrist flipped, pulling out a bow from who-knows-where to block.
A clear clang rang out, their weapons collided at once.
In the darkness, their figures crossed.
Within just a few seconds, the two had already exchanged several moves.
Both were slightly surprised in their hearts, taken aback by the other's skills, far beyond those of ordinary members.
Elysia's suspicion was almost certain now, this youth before her must be that newcomer Van.
At that moment, from outside the lab, a voice rang out, extremely impatient, thick with drowsiness.
"Hey! Van! Didn't I say today you had a day off? Why'd you run back here again? So noisy… Looks like you really want to do experiments with me right here, right now, immediately, huh?!"
It was Mobius. She had actually come back.
Elysia's heart panicked, and her movements froze for a moment.
In that instant of distraction, the black-haired youth sharply seized the opening.
With a twist of his wrist, his training sword skillfully knocked Elysia's bow aside.
Then, stepping forward smoothly, his other hand seized Elysia's wrists with precision, pulling her entire body back.
"Ah!"
Elysia gave a small cry, caught off guard as the force pressed her back against the cold wall.
Almost at the same moment, click, the lab's lights switched on, the blinding white instantly sweeping away the darkness.
Dr. Mobius stood in the doorway, eyes half-shut with sleep, her face full of annoyance at being disturbed, "Hey! I said! What the hell are you..."
Her voice abruptly stopped.
Under the lights, she clearly saw the scene inside the lab.
The youth she had brought back was gripping Elysia's wrists tightly, pressing them against the wall.
In his other hand was the training sword, its cold blade resting beside Elysia's pale neck.
And Elysia was pinned between his body and the wall, dressed in that familiar maid outfit, her face carrying an embarrassed, caught-in-the-act look of surprise.
Mobius's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over the two of them locked in an extremely close, even slightly ambiguous posture.
The sleepiness and impatience faded quickly from her face, replaced by a complex expression.
There was shock, confusion, and even a faint trace of something she herself might not have noticed, discomfort, and jealousy.
"...Elysia?" Mobius's voice sounded dangerous. "You… what are you two doing here?"
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