But by the time Tsukishiro Yanagi reacted, Andrew had already run so far that not even his back was visible.
No matter what Tsukishiro Yanagi wanted to say, it was already too late.
She could only watch helplessly, like an incompetent subordinate, as her Section Chief was kidnapped by a man she had just met today, while she herself was powerless to do anything about it.
After all, even if Andrew was criticized for being slow, it depended entirely on who he was being compared to. Furthermore, from start to finish, Hoshimi Miyabi showed not the slightest intention of resisting.
Faced with an Andrew who wasn't burdened in the slightest, it could only be said that Tsukishiro Yanagi alone really couldn't catch up at all.
At the same time.
Before Tsukishiro Yanagi could remember him, Meow-Da had also quietly slipped away to hide elsewhere.
On the other side, Andrew shook off Tsukishiro Yanagi completely. He carried Hoshimi Miyabi all the way to an uninhabited ruin and put down the Section Chief, who hadn't resisted throughout the entire process.
Rather than resisting, from beginning to end, Hoshimi Miyabi was simply puzzled as to why Andrew insisted on taking her to a different place just to speak with her.
As the hand covering her mouth was released, Hoshimi Miyabi immediately voiced the doubt in her heart:
"Andrew, why wouldn't you let me tell Yanagi about the healing method you mentioned earlier, but instead gave her a bottle of potion? You didn't say that when the two of us were alone over there."
"Cough, cough, cough."
Faced with Hoshimi Miyabi's question, Andrew, knowing this was the price he had to pay for spouting nonsense just to rub her ears, coughed lightly a few times.
Subsequently, under Hoshimi Miyabi's somewhat puzzled gaze, he began trying his best to round out the lie:
"Because... because this is actually a special ability unique to me alone."
"A unique special ability?"
Looking at Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes, which held no suspicion but merely pure confusion as she didn't understand what Andrew was talking about...
Although he felt his conscience being constantly pricked.
However, in order not to be exposed in front of Miss Tsukishiro Yanagi, Andrew continued to bamboozle Hoshimi Miyabi:
"That's right. This is actually a special ability that belongs to me alone. Please, Miyabi, you must help me keep it a secret. Do not expose it in front of others."
Hearing Andrew's explanation, Hoshimi Miyabi pondered slightly and then... believed it.
She mused for a moment, then nodded and asked for confirmation:
"I see... But I can't tell anyone? Not even my honored father or The Mayor?"
Tsk, an old fox like The Mayor would definitely know I'm bamboozling people the moment he hears it! Andrew thought. And if Hoshimi Miyabi's father found out, he'd probably rush over immediately to let me experience the wrath of an old father.
Thus, Andrew shook his head decisively and spoke solemnly:
"No. This is a secret known only to the two of us."
Although she wasn't clear why such an ability needed to be kept secret, since Andrew said so, there must certainly be a reason for it.
So, Hoshimi Miyabi, harboring no doubts, nodded very seriously and said:
"Okay, I understand."
Just as Andrew finished his bamboozling.
As luck would have it, Hoshimi Miyabi's phone rang.
And the caller was none other than Tsukishiro Yanagi, who had just been forcibly left behind by Andrew.
Confirming that Andrew had finished saying everything he wanted to say, and knowing that Tsukishiro Yanagi wouldn't call her specifically unless it was urgent, Hoshimi Miyabi immediately answered the phone.
As the call connected, Tsukishiro Yanagi's somewhat helpless voice came through the receiver:
"Section Chief, the debriefing conference regarding the Nineveh interception battle just now will begin in two minutes. You are a key character in this battle; you must attend."
"Mmph..."
Before Hoshimi Miyabi could speak, Tsukishiro Yanagi spoke up in advance, as if predicting what she wanted to say:
"Don't think about finding an excuse to escape. Even if you aren't clear on other details, the Section Chief must attend this meeting. If you are not present, this meeting will be postponed until you are found."
"O... okay..."
Once these words came out.
Knowing she definitely couldn't run away this time, Hoshimi Miyabi could only agree somewhat reluctantly.
"The cultivation of persisting in not attending debriefing conferences... has failed..."
As the Section Chief of Section 6, regarding matters within her scope of duty, Andrew could only express his inability to help.
When the two returned to the original spot.
Knowing there was no time to synchronize the situation with Hoshimi Miyabi, and that she would once again have to serve as the main presenter for the report, Tsukishiro Yanagi could only glance helplessly at Hoshimi Miyabi and couldn't resist voicing a complaint:
"Section Chief, you didn't resist at all just now. You didn't do that on purpose to escape the debriefing report, did you?"
Regarding Tsukishiro Yanagi's dissatisfied complaint.
Hoshimi Miyabi offered no rebuttal, only quietly shifted her gaze away.
Tsukishiro Yanagi, who had long known that not a single person in the entire Section 6 was reliable, couldn't help but sigh again, helplessly accepting this reality.
Her gaze shifted to the faces of Andrew and Meow-Da, who had returned accompanying Hoshimi Miyabi and were pretending to look innocent.
Raising her hand to push up her glasses gently, she regained her composure and spoke once more:
"Regardless, thank you both for your assistance in this disaster. Without you, the final result would certainly not have been as beautiful as it is now."
Recalling the incredibly potent items Meow-Da had used during the support period, Tsukishiro Yanagi said with incomparable seriousness:
"Regarding your contributions, no matter how other organizations view it, Section 6 will definitely engrave this help in our hearts."
"However..."
Speaking to this point, Tsukishiro Yanagi lowered her eyes and once again swept over Meow-Da's fluffy tail.
Her tone shifted as she said:
"Speaking of which, Mr. Meow-Da's tail looks exactly the same as the tail exposed under the armor of one of the two suspects who escaped us in the urban ruins a few days ago."
"Meow?!!"
As Tsukishiro Yanagi's voice fell.
Meow-Da, who hadn't expected to be exposed because of this, felt his already fluffy tail bristle instantly. Caught off guard, he subconsciously curled his large tail and sat directly on it, attempting to block it completely from view.
And Andrew, who also hadn't expected Tsukishiro Yanagi to be so sharp, froze in an instant.
During Nineveh's attack earlier, the timing was incredibly tight and the situation urgent. Coupled with how easy Hoshimi Miyabi was to bamboozle, he had completely forgotten that Section 6 possessed two very sharp people.
Faced with Tsukishiro Yanagi's words, Andrew began to laugh awkwardly, unable to think of a way to bluff through it for the moment.
However, seeing the panicked appearance of Meow-Da and Andrew, which was practically a confession, Tsukishiro Yanagi did not choose to pursue the victory and delve deeper.
Rather, seeing the reactions the two displayed, she actually breathed a sigh of relief.
Without waiting for the two to find an excuse.
Before they could speak, Tsukishiro Yanagi took the initiative to deny the suspicion she had just raised, saying:
"However, situations where Felyne Thirens' tails are similar are very common. Simply relying on a similar tail doesn't represent anything."
"So... this time, I probably just made a mistake in identification."
Saying this, Tsukishiro Yanagi pushed her glasses up once more and explained, as if clarifying:
"Please rest assured, you two. The main reason I was looking for them was merely to remind those two kind-hearted people."
Yanagi said pointedly while looking at Andrew and Meow-Da:
"I also ask that when you two act courageously to hunt monsters in the future, please do not continue wearing that outfit that easily causes misunderstandings. It increases the already heavy workload of Public Security and Section 6."
In just a few words, Tsukishiro Yanagi completely changed the nature of that previous arrest incident in front of Hoshimi Miyabi's somewhat blank gaze.
After all.
The constant attempts to arrest them before were because they didn't know whether these two experts lurking in New Eridu were helpers who would step forward in times of danger, or hidden dangers that might explode suddenly and threaten New Eridu.
But after passing through this Nineveh interception battle, whether these two are friends or foes must already be very obvious.
Then, under such preconditions.
Continuing to investigate and attempting to point out their true identities was no longer important. Maintaining a tacit understanding of seeing through it but not saying it was the better choice in this state.
"Cough."
Hearing that Tsukishiro Yanagi didn't really intend to expose them completely but instead offered a way out based on mutual understanding, Andrew realized what she meant and immediately nodded, taking over the conversation:
"That's right, that's right. I think Miss Tsukishiro makes a lot of sense. If I encounter those two, I will definitely pass on the message to them."
Hearing his Boss's words, Meow-Da on the side also reacted instantly, nodding repeatedly and saying:
"Miss Tsukishiro Yanagi is right, meow. I think the two of them will definitely understand perfectly after hearing it, meow."
Looking at their reactions.
Knowing her goal had been achieved, Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded with satisfaction. She then led Hoshimi Miyabi—who was still wearing a face full of confusion, unsure what riddles the three were playing at—towards the temporary tent prepared for the meeting.
As she walked, Tsukishiro Yanagi suddenly felt she had ignored something and subconsciously stopped in her tracks.
But on second thought, since it was something she ignored...
Then it shouldn't be anything important, right...
Just like that.
Although the process was a bit twisting, Andrew finally succeeded in covering up the fact that he had instilled some rather not-so-good things into Hoshimi Miyabi.
Watching the two leave.
The relaxed and happy time for causing mischief had passed. Andrew turned his head to look at Meow-Da and began discussing serious business belonging to Hunters.
"Meow-Da, how was the investigation earlier? Is the amount of this specially mutated Frenzy Virus collected sufficient?"
Andrew's expression was very serious when speaking of this matter.
And facing Andrew's question, Meow-Da, who was equally serious about proper business, replied with a serious face:
"Rest assured, Boss, the collected quantity is absolutely sufficient. However, after the investigation, what can be confirmed for now is that the true source of the Frenzy Virus has not been uprooted. From the looks of it, new Ethereals infected with the Frenzy Virus are inevitable in the future, meow."
Andrew nodded gravely at Meow-Da's investigation results, which could only be said to be within expectations.
He said helplessly:
"From the looks of it, the mutation in the Frenzy Virus is not small. The original vaccine probably can't prevent it completely. There is a high probability we'll have to try improving the vaccine ourselves."
Speaking of this matter, even Meow-Da couldn't help but scratch his head in distress.
"Boss, that's easy to say, but relying on us two pure martial artists' scholarship, wanting to research it ourselves is almost impossible, meow..."
To put it nicely, they were pure martial artists; to put it harshly, they were idiots who didn't know how to do even half a bit of research.
Counting on the two of them to research a vaccine themselves...
They'd probably ruin these hard-earned samples completely before researching anything useful.
Speaking of this, Andrew also couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless.
"If only I knew some research-oriented talent... The Frenzy Virus makes no difference to the scholars in New Eridu, but the expertise involved is best suited for types knowledgeable in Ether and Potions..."
Unfortunately.
Let alone experts involved in these two fields.
Having been in New Eridu for a few months, he didn't even know a single scholar among the people he knew.
The only one who could be considered a scholar he knew was Ann...
She was currently squatting in the Public Security jail, and her release date was far off in the indefinite future.
Moreover, the type of research she did was basically related to cloning. Its relevance to vaccine development could be said to be pitifully weak.
Though, if the vaccine were developed and they started attempting experimental effects, her specialty might have miraculous effects.
Thinking of this, Andrew couldn't help but sigh.
But regarding the current situation where he had nothing, Andrew ultimately chose to throw this worry to his future self.
As the saying goes, there must be a way when the cart reaches the mountain.
Maybe in two days, an expert scholar in Ether Potions and Materials Science would suddenly come knocking on the door.
If worst comes to worst, he could just find that old fox, The Mayor.
If nothing else, as long as it was this kind of matter that might threaten the survival of New Eridu, he would definitely spare no effort to support it.
Thinking of this, Andrew stopped agonizing over the difficult problem before him and continued to ask:
"Then, Meow-Da, when you found the remains earlier, besides the Dragon Gem, were there any other abnormal discoveries?"
"Meow?"
Hearing this, Meow-Da couldn't help but lower his head and ponder seriously with some distress.
"The time available to investigate the Dragon Ethereal after its death was simply too short. There was no way to conduct a further dissection investigation like before, meow..."
Suddenly, Meow-Da thought of an anomaly he had never seen before, which he witnessed while carving materials.
He immediately looked up and said:
"That's right, Boss! When the Gore Magala Ethereal dissipated into Ether energy, a dark red mist that I've never seen in the original world also spilled out, meow!"
Saying this, Meow-Da couldn't help but twitch his nose and said very solemnly:
"I analyzed it carefully. This isn't ordinary mist, but is composed of a somewhat special Ether energy, meow!"
Subsequently, Meow-Da said with absolute certainty:
"This definitely isn't something from our original world, meow. If we find out what this thing is, we can definitely use it to find where the source of the infection is, meow!"
____
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