After a brief silence, Suzuka Dairenji still pierced through the emperor's new clothes:
"You're just here to have fun, aren't you?"
The certainty in Suzuka's tone made Angelina's guilt impossible to hide.
But outwardly, she maintained a stern expression and said:
"You're mistaken, miss. I came here specifically to familiarise myself with the terrain in advance."
She then added:
"Since this is a classified mission, I'm afraid I can't disclose further details."
"If you have any objections, you may submit a formal written complaint to the superiors in the Operations Department or the Hidden Management Department."
"Oh, by the way, you must be a member of the Hidden Management Department, right?"
Seeing Angelina's utterly serious demeanour, as if she were genuinely on a covert mission, Suzuka's lips twitched as she said flatly:
"You're so deep in your own lie that you probably believe it yourself, don't you?"
Pretending not to hear Suzuka's sarcasm, Angelina turned to Luo Shu and asked:
"Director Luo, isn't this lady a member of the Hidden Management Department?"
"She's a newly reported member who doesn't know the protocols yet. Please forgive her, Captain Angelina."
Luo Shu smiled at Angelina before lightly teasing:
"By the way, Captain Angelina, mission reports from direct action teams must be submitted simultaneously to both the department's Director and the Chairwoman."
Angelina immediately lost her composure, her face betraying guilt as she said:
"You wouldn't actually report this to the Chairwoman, would you?"
She had deliberately omitted mentioning the Chairwoman in her earlier statement, fearing the matter might reach Lacus. Now that Luo Shu had pointed it out, Angelina grew visibly uneasy.
Hearing this, Luo Shu replied calmly:
"Rest assured, for now, this young lady doesn't even know which email to use to report to Lacus. Even if she later decides to file a complaint, I'll help suppress it."
He then winked at Angelina and added with a smile:
"After all, everyone needs some personal space, don't they?"
"Exactly, that's right!"
Angelina nodded repeatedly, as if his words resonated deeply with her, while inwardly sighing in relief.
Before a major mission, as the captain, she was supposed to strictly follow protocol, conceal her movements, and ensure operational secrecy.
Yet, ever since before coming to Japan, she had been curious about the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom. After landing, she checked the time and thought she could squeeze in a quick visit before the team assembled.
So while her team was resting and preparing, Angelina sneaked off to admire the cherry blossoms. Little did she expect to coincidentally run into Luo Shu, the Director of the Hidden Management Department, who not only spotted her but also called her out.
Honestly, Angelina was genuinely afraid Luo Shu might report this to Lacus. Though such a minor infraction might not warrant severe punishment, she certainly didn't want her first mission in Japan as the Head-Captain of the direct action team being penalised for unauthorised actions—recorded in the mission logs, no less!
That would be social suicide!!
If that happened, her perfect mission record would be utterly ruined!
Seeing Angelina finally relax, Luo Shu smiled and asked:
"Captain Angelina, were you heading to Arashiyama to see the cherry blossoms?"
"Ah, that? I've already been. The vast sea of cherry blossoms was truly beautiful."
Angelina pulled her phone out of the bag she was carrying, opened her photo gallery, and showed Luo Shu a whole collection of her selfies taken beneath the cherry trees.
Looking at the radiant girl smiling under the blossoms on the screen, Luo Shu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow:
"They really are beautiful~"
He meant the person was beautiful.
"Right, right?!" Angelina lifted her head proudly. "Back in America, I heard Senior Tachibana talk about how stunning Kyoto's cherry blossoms were. Now I've finally seen them for myself."
"Oh, Director Luo, you know Senior Tachibana, don't you?"
Luo Shu nodded in response and added, "She was my former Director."
"Eh? You were also Senior Tachibana's subordinate?" Angelina covered her mouth, looking shocked. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she froze. "Wait, is it true what they say—that Director Luo was also picked up off the streets by Senior Tachibana?"
"Also?" Luo Shu caught the keyword, giving Angelina a strange look.
Seeing his expression, Angelina took a half-step back, slightly embarrassed, and awkwardly explained:
"Well... It's not something to be so surprised about... You must know about that wallet Senior Tachibana carries."
"Oh, the Lucky Wallet? It's with me now." Luo Shu casually pulled the wallet from his pocket.
Angelina's eyes widened in disbelief, her entire figure seemingly turning grey as she muttered:
"No way... Did I really get caught by the same artefact twice?"
"...Perhaps." Luo Shu watched her with faint amusement before extending an invitation. "I'm heading to Katsurazaka Wild Bird Park next. Would you like to join me?"
"This..." Angelina hesitated visibly.
She had snuck out this time and didn't have much time to spare. If she stayed any longer, her team would surely protest.
Yet Luo Shu's invitation left her torn—after all, he had just agreed to cover for her. Turning him down outright felt a bit rude.
Noticing her hesitation, Luo Shu chuckled. "If Captain Angelina doesn't have time, then never mind. We can arrange something another day."
"Then let's meet up next time." Angelina immediately sighed in relief, inwardly grateful for Luo Shu's thoughtfulness. "How about we exchange contact details?"
"No problem." Luo Shu nodded.
The two promptly exchanged contact details before waving goodbye.
Only after Angelina had departed, her figure disappearing completely from Togetsu Bridge, did Luo Shu withdraw his gaze and turn to Suzuka Dairenji, who was staring at him intently:
"Why that expression? Are you upset I neglected you earlier?"
Ignoring Luo Shu's teasing, Suzuka frowned and asked:
"Your next destination is Katsurazaka Wild Bird Park?"
"What about it?" Luo Shu countered.
At this, Suzuka said meaningfully:
"That Katsurazaka Wild Bird Park, which happens to be the Onmyou Agency's secret training ground?"
She continued:
"Following this route, wouldn't your next stop be the Katsura Imperial Villa, the main residence of the Kadenokouji family? Then the Atago Mountain, where the Asakura family resides, then the Kadenokouji family..."
"Tsk tsk. That airheaded Head-Captain was pretending to scout while actually sightseeing, but you're doing the opposite - sightseeing as cover for reconnaissance."
"Are your next targets Nijo Castle, followed by the Onmyou Agency headquarters at Shugakuin?"
Luo Shu listened to Suzuka's words with a faint smile:
"You've already guessed, haven't you? Planning to stop me?"
"Why would I stop you?"
Suzuka grinned cheekily at Luo Shu:
"I'd be delighted if you circled all around Kyoto today!"
'When the body's exhausted, lust can't rise... The more you walk today, the better. Ideally, you'll collapse straight into bed upon returning to the hotel...'
Concealing these thoughts, Suzuka beamed charmingly:
"Let me take you to Katsurazaka Wild Bird Park."
"After all, I did graduate from the Onmyou Agency~"