"Do I need to be present for the meeting? I can just get the briefing tomorrow," I asked Ito-san as we made our way toward Mr. Kim's office.
"Mary, you know it's best you're present. And from what Miss Karly told you, this is now in our jurisdiction."
She paused and turned around.
"You know how it is."
She adjusted the folders tucked against her arm before continuing down the corridor.
I sighed and caught up with her.
"I hope Megumi doesn't think I stood her up."
"Good morning, Mary. You're around as well?"
Mr. Kim was already waiting for us.
He gestured toward the seats around the table.
I looked at Ito-san, then at him.
Then I simply shrugged.
He laughed.
Ito-san only sighed.
"So, how are things looking?" she asked, placing the folder on the table.
"I have communicated with the Liaison Building. They will be sending people."
Kim picked up a document and handed it to Ito-san.
"An I-2 Operator, four I-1s, a T-2 Specialist, and a Lily Operative."
Ito-san read through the list.
She nodded slowly.
"What's the point of getting the reply from two sources?" I sighed.
My eyes moved down to the document.
Then something caught my attention.
"Do we know which Crimson Lily Operative they're sending?"
I couldn't keep the hope out of my voice.
Kim gave me a look.
"Well, it's the Three of Hearts."
He paused.
"Psychological warfare."
My expression fell slightly.
Ito-san picked up another document.
"Were you able to get our file on the subject matter as well?" Kim asked as he reached into his drawer.
"Wait."
I looked at him.
"The Concord has had an encounter with Lorgan?"
Kim nodded.
"Well, yes. It was during a Sisyphus operation."
Ito-san handed me the document.
"Monsoon."
I looked at the clearance tier.
Then I flipped through the pages.
There wasn't much.
"So, an operative got into a fight with them, but there's not enough to go off on in this."
I looked up, still trying to make sense of the report.
"Sorry, I am late."
The door opened.
"It's alright. The Colonel isn't here yet."
Ito-san turned toward the doorway as Mrs. Noi stepped inside.
"Oh, good. I have gotten back with Mr. Kamon."
She took a seat.
"Good morning, Kim. Ito-san."
A man stepped into the room.
"Good morning."
I stood to shake his hand.
Aries Zeta.
I couldn't help feeling a little excited at the sight of him.
"So, what are we working with?"
He took his seat and picked up the document.
His eyes moved across the page as he read.
"Oh, no other Zodiac Operative is being deployed?"
I looked around the room.
"Ah, I had not noticed that," I murmured.
Everyone seemed to be reading through the document now.
There was a brief silence.
"Well, it's likely because we have Ursa Minor."
The room went quiet.
Mrs. Noi and Mr. Kamon said nothing.
"Ursa Minor?"
I repeated it, turning toward Ito-san.
Before she could answer, a voice came from outside the door.
"The Colonel and the Deputy Operations Officer are here."
A knock followed.
"All right? Oh, well."
Noi stood.
"Mary, I want you to regulate your emotions so we can all speak with a level head," Ito-san said as we moved toward the door to meet them.
"I understand."
"Good morning, Colonel Okabe. Miss Ueno Ayami, please, this way."
Noi led them toward the meeting room upstairs.
The museum was noticeably quieter than usual.
It was a little odd seeing it like this, especially during the Halo Festival.
I followed them up the stairs.
"I understand the Concord wants to engage with this entity, Lorgan?"
The Colonel looked up from the document in his hands.
"Yes, that is correct," Noi said.
I looked toward Ayami.
She was still reading through the paper.
"We would like to partake in the investigation."
She finally looked up.
"I understand, but that would not currently be possible. We would, however, ensure that we send you our findings."
Noi glanced toward Mr. Kamon.
He only wore a slight smile.
"How—"
Miss Ayami had barely begun before the Colonel interrupted.
"We would at least be deploying personnel to create a perimeter and ensure security and surveillance."
The words settled over the room.
"That would be quite alright," Mr. Kamon said after a moment.
The discussion continued.
Questions were raised and answered.
The documents changed hands several times as they went through the details, each person adding what they could or clarifying what had already been established.
Eventually, the meeting came to an end.
"We might need to act fast," Noi said.
Kim nodded.
"But I thought we were going to wait for the personnel from the Dog Province?"
I looked between them.
The urgency in Noi's voice had caught me off guard.
"I will go inform Vic—Nicholas."
Noi turned and walked away.
"Yeah."
Mr. Kim and Kamon made their way back toward his office.
Ito-san and I headed toward the finance office.
"The city might be quarantined. We need to act quickly, and the personnel from the Concord would not take a while."
I looked at her.
"Nicholas is Ursa Minor?"
The light of the setting sun came through the windows as we walked, catching against the glass and briefly forcing me to squint.
"Yes. A minor constellation, and he was already part of the mission architecture."
She continued walking.
"The operatives from the Liaison are coming for a different phase."
I slowed slightly.
The pieces I'd been given were beginning to fit together.
"This is more than getting a criminal, isn't it?"
Ito-san stopped.
Then she turned around.
"As perceptive as usual."
She opened the door.
"We have intelligence that suggests Logan and Morgan might be attempting apotheosis."
"Apotheosis?"
I repeated the word quietly.
I remained where I was for a moment, trying to make sense of it.
The mission had started with Lorgan.
Now there was a possible quarantine.
Concord personnel were being deployed.
And someone might be attempting apotheosis.
Whatever this operation was, it had become much larger than simply getting a criminal.