When Flandre returned to the lower hanger levels of Rhodes Island, she ran straight into Kal'tsit, who was just walking out from the inner corridor.
After inquiring about the details of what had transpired out on the plains, Kal'tsit looked at Flandre with an expression filled with genuine gratitude.
"Miss Flandre, I certainly did not expect that Rhodes Island would be saved by your hand once again."
Flandre waved her hand dismissively, repeating the exact same explanation she had given to the others moments before. "Even without me, the probability of Mr. Sharp resolving the situation was very high. Flandre just helped wrap things up a little faster, that's all!"
"Even so, it was a timely rescue," Kal'tsit replied calmly. "Rhodes Island is not an organization that turns a blind eye to acts of goodwill. Feel free to speak your mind; as long as it falls within our operational capabilities, Rhodes Island will do everything possible to meet your request."
Kal'tsit observed the young girl, a subtle glimmer of keen observation flashing in her eyes. She wanted to subtly gauge what Flandre truly thought of Rhodes Island as an organization.
Hearing Kal'tsit's offer, Flandre fell into a brief, thoughtful pause. A moment later, her bright eyes lit up with excitement.
"Then... how about letting Amiya come play with me for two whole days?!"
The instant those words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell over the gathered squad. The surrounding Operators exchanged strange, indescribable glances.
Most of those present were seasoned veterans; the moment Kal'tsit had opened her mouth, they had instantly recognized the political undertones of her trial offer. Yet none of them had anticipated that Flandre wouldn't follow that line of calculated thinking in the slightest.
Asking for Amiya to come play for two days—only a true child would voice a request like that.
The sheer innocence of the response made even Kal'tsit feel a rare pang of guilt, as if attempting to engage in political maneuvering with such a child was inherently distasteful.
"No problem," Kal'tsit said smoothly, reaching out to gently ruffle Flandre's soft blonde hair. "Go find Amiya and play to your heart's content."
A radiant, joyous smile burst across Flandre's face. "Yay!"
Under the watchful, fond gazes of the veteran Operators, she spun around and skipped happily into the depths of the landship.
Once her small figure disappeared down the central corridor, Kal'tsit turned her eyes toward Sharp and the returning intercept squad.
"You have all worked hard today. However, what transpired out on the plains should serve as a stark reminder to every single one of us. Even in the immediate perimeter of Rhodes Island—an area that appears entirely secure—a single moment of carelessness can lead to severe injuries or fatal casualties. Sharp, once you finish dressing your wounds, draft a comprehensive tactical report and read it aloud to everyone at tomorrow's Elite Operator assembly."
Though Kal'tsit referred to it as a standard report, everyone present understood it was essentially a formal self-criticism and admission of tactical negligence. To a warrior possessed of foolish pride, such a demand might feel like a public humiliation. But Sharp simply offered a firm, solemn nod.
After all, looking back at the near-disaster on the dirt road, his back was still drenched in cold sweat. Even if Flandre was correct in stating that he possessed the martial capability to eventually resolve the fight, the root cause of the entire crisis had been his own overconfidence and tactical slackness.
Had he deployed with a secondary backup squad from the gate bay, the archer would never have been pushed to the point of collapse, nor would the team have faced a life-threatening crisis. The danger had been brought about entirely by his own flawed judgment. Even if Kal'tsit hadn't ordered it, he fully intended to stand before his peers tomorrow and take complete accountability for his mistake.
Meanwhile, after Flandre stepped deeper into the landship's sprawling interior, she wandered aimlessly through the maze-like steel hallways for quite some time (having gotten completely lost) before finally locating Amiya's official office.
She knocked lightly on the door frame, but no sound answered from within. Pushing the door open a crack, Flandre peeked her head inside, only to find the room completely empty. Turning around, she spotted a passing staff member and trotted over to ask for directions.
Hearing Flandre's inquiry, the female Operator offered a warm, gentle smile. "Amiya should be over at the school right about now."
"School?" Flandre tilted her head, surprised. "Rhodes Island actually has a school inside?"
The Operator nodded warmly. "That's right. Although our teaching staff and student body are relatively small at the moment, Dr. Kal'tsit has always maintained that the underage Infected living aboard Rhodes Island deserve a proper education. Only by mastering real knowledge can they gain the skills required to fight for their own futures when they grow up."
Flandre let out a soft sound of realization, then eagerly asked where the classroom was located.
"It just so happens that I have a lecture scheduled there in about ten minutes," the woman smiled, reaching down to offer her hand. "Come along, I'll walk you over!"
Flandre happily took her hand as they walked down the brightly lit corridor.
"My name is Lya," the woman introduced herself as they walked. "I am a medical officer in the Medical Department, and also an instructor appointed by Dr. Kal'tsit to teach foundational healthcare and first-aid to the children."
"My name is Flandre! You can just call me Flandre, Big Sister Lya," she replied brightly.
Lya smiled warmly. "Of course I recognize you, Flandre! Since your party arrived on board, Amiya's mood and spirits have been noticeably brighter than before. We're almost there; the classroom is right up ahead."
Lya guided Flandre around a final corner, arriving at a spacious, well-lit classroom built into the deck superstructure. Inside sat roughly a dozen children of various ages. Flandre instantly spotted Amiya sitting near the middle row—after all, those long, velvet bunny ears were entirely unmistakable.
Amiya looked up in surprise, clearly not expecting Flandre to come looking for her during study hours.
"There's an empty seat right over there. Flandre, why don't you sit there for today's lesson?" Lya pointed toward a desk near the side aisle.
Flandre walked over and slipped into the seat under the curious gazes of the gathered children.
Lya stepped up to the podium, arranging her notes before scanning the room. Seeing that all the students were seated properly, she offered an approving nod. "Today, we will be covering emergency field treatment protocols—specifically, what immediate steps you should take when you or a companion sustain a physical injury in the wild..."
Flandre sat below, listening with rapt attention. Up on the podium, Lya broke down complex medical concepts into exceptionally simple, easy-to-understand language, tailoring the lesson perfectly for a class of children under the age of fifteen.
Lya truly proved herself worthy of being an instructor handpicked by Kal'tsit; her ability to explain profound medical theory through simple, vivid analogies was exceptional... It reminded Flandre immensely of the structured lectures she used to attend back in Lungmen, leading her to nod along in earnest praise of Lya's teaching style.
Half an hour passed quickly, and the lecture came to a smooth conclusion.
Lya closed her notebook and looked down at Flandre with a gentle smile. "Class, we have a new friend joining us today. Would everyone like to hear her introduce herself?"
"Yes!" the children chorused in unison, turning their eyes toward Flandre.
Seeing all eyes on her, Flandre stood up smoothly from her desk. She gathered the hem of her skirt and performed an impeccably elegant, standard lady's curtsy before looking up with a beaming smile.
"My name is Flandre Scarlet! I am the younger sister of the Scarlet Devil Mansion's master, Remilia Scarlet! I like all sorts of fun and interesting things! As for what I'm good at... I'm actually really good at Magic! I even took formal Arts classes back when I was staying in Lungmen!"
Flandre stood before the classroom, speaking about herself with complete confidence and zero stage fright. The moment she finished, the room erupted into enthusiastic applause. The children stared wide-eyed at this tiny girl who looked under ten years old, admiring the radiant, sunny demeanor she possessed—a vibrant warmth that stood in stark contrast to the heavy, cautious air carried by most Infected children.
"Alright, class dismissed!" Lya announced with a gentle wave. "Everyone take a break, and don't forget to head to the central cafeteria for lunch in a little bit."
After bidding Flandre a soft goodbye, Lya gathered her materials and stepped out of the room. The very next second, Flandre was swarmed by the eager crowd of students, all chattering at once and showering her with curious questions.
Flandre didn't feel the least bit shy or overwhelmed. Standing right in the middle of the crowd, she answered every single question with a bright, easy smile.
Outside the circle of children, Amiya stood quietly, observing Flandre with deep curiosity. This girl, who constantly brought new and wondrous experiences into her world, radiated a boundless confidence and warmth that caused waves of quiet inspiration to swell within Amiya's heart.