Zofia came from Dubai in the Western Regions. No one would have imagined that this young woman—born into wealth, rarely leaving home, and prone to tripping the moment she did—was in fact the operator of a secret organization.
She was a girl worthy of admiration. She had every opportunity the world could offer, yet chose to carve out her own path and step onto an unknown battlefield.
The fact that she could keep the entire organization running smoothly while remaining hidden from MOTH's sight was proof enough of her ability.
Of course, that was how the other members of the party saw Zofia.
Only Zofia, as Mr. Mad Hatter's secretary, knew the truth: the reason the organization operated so seamlessly was largely due to Mr. Mad Hatter's concealment engineering, secret tools, and meticulous planning.
As the Performer Zofia, she was not only the public-facing operator of the Mad Hatter Party but also its steward. While Vill-V was imprisoned, she had already procured various necessities in advance.
For instance, the commercial submarine Vill-V had used not long ago had been something Zofia "procured" from North America. On her return to the Far East, she received a telegram sent by Expert, using dismantled prison electrical gate components.
As they cruised through the shallows of the Pacific, Vill-V learned from Zofia about the Mad Hatter Party's current situation.
First, finances.
During the previous operation on Dusk Street, ten billion pounds had been scattered at the curtain call. (The sponsor had said they wanted to burn ten billion, so Magician granted that wish.) Even after that, nearly forty billion pounds remained.
After all, they had effectively severed a major artery of the European financial consortium. Accumulating that much money was only natural. Vill-V had singlehandedly triggered yet another financial crisis in Europe. If those tycoons managed to secure public support, perhaps they could survive the winter. If not, they could prepare for bankruptcy—and prison.
To launder the money and avoid investigation, most of it had been converted into fixed corporate assets. The available liquid funds amounted to less than five billion pounds.
Even so, it was still an astonishing fortune.
Though the pound had depreciated severely due to Europe's economic downturn in this world, the sum was still enough to place them on the global rich list. Perhaps it could even rival the future Eden.
Vill-V had barely basked in the joy of wealth for a few seconds before Zofia stacked a thick pile of reports in front of Conductor Vill-V, giving her an immediate headache.
Running an organization was like this—daily approvals, audits, and tracking countless plans.
Fortunately, Conductor didn't have to suffer for long.
Expert pinched the bridge of her nose. Though this had happened many times before, she still couldn't help complaining.
"Why do I have to handle the calculations again? Sigh—let's finish quickly and get some sleep. There's a major project tomorrow afternoon."
By the next day, when Conductor awoke at the base and checked again, all the reports had already been organized and entered into the computer, every column of information clearly arranged.
After silently thanking the little Expert sprite in her heart, Conductor Vill-V compiled some additional recent developments.
The base had gained many new items.
And lost quite a few as well.
Numerous outdated props had vanished from the warehouse, including the "Passionately Burning 🔥 Party Badge" created by Magician to celebrate the organization's founding, the "Mad Hatter Knight Mask-Type Transformation Device" crafted by Expert, and the "Excessive Healing Dog-Skin Plaster" made by Occultist.
Since they had been stored in the backup warehouse, the losses were discovered only much later.
Judging by the timing, they were noticed the day after a certain newcomer entered the base.
That newcomer had also disappeared.
Vill-V covered her face.
It had to be that while Zofia went "procurement shopping," Pardo had also gone "procurement shopping."
While the boss was in prison, Pardo had truly shown no restraint.
Vill-V could practically hear Pardo's hawking cry in her head:
"The largest resistance organization against MOTH is going out of business!"
"That scoundrel boss Vill-V ran parties with fraud and trickery, racked up ten billion in debt, and went to prison!"
"We've got no choice but to use the organization's magical props to pay wages! Originally one million, two million—now all ten pounds! All ten pounds!"
Shaking away the bizarre thought cloud above her head, Vill-V rubbed Zofia's head—more precisely, the crystal headband atop it—and activated Pardo's communication watch.
The crystal headband shimmered, projecting a holographic screen before Zofia.
On the screen, Felis lounged in the sun surrounded by cats, stretching lazily as though she had just woken up.
"Mm~ Sister Zofia, what's up? Got a new product for me to taste-test? No problem. I'll be back tomorrow."
Instead of Zofia, however, Vill-V's smiling face appeared in the projection.
"Pardo~"
Pardo froze mid-lick.
"V-Vill-V Sis? Why are you there? Did Sister Zofia get locked up too?"
Vill-V made a show of wiping imaginary tears.
"So little Pardo wishes I'd stay in prison forever? I'm heartbroken."
Pardo hurriedly defended herself.
"How could that be? While you were gone, I was worried sick about whether you'd come back. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Look, I've even lost a lot of hair."
She casually grabbed a tuft of cat fur and held it up to the camera, thoroughly insulting Vill-V's intelligence.
Whether Pardo's "worry" meant concern about getting caught stealing, or genuine concern for Vill-V's safety, either interpretation was very much in character for her.
"Pardo, the goods from the base sold quite well, didn't they?"
"N-no way. How could I come to your base one moment and start thinking about procurement the next..." Pardo denied it flatly.
"Speaking of which, I heard a timed bomb went missing from the base yesterday. That bomb will explode if its password isn't entered periodically..."
Before Vill-V finished, Pardo leapt up like a fish. Her figure blurred from the sudden movement.
"Vill-V Sis, quick! What does it look like? The password—right, how do I enter the password?"
"I'm joking, Pardo. Who would design such a troublesome bomb?" Vill-V covered her mouth and laughed.
Zofia quietly reminded her from the side.
"Mr. Mad Hatter, your [Heavenly Father] robot that goes beep beep and loses control if you don't wind it daily is far more dangerous than a bomb."
"Hey, don't scare me like that, Vill-V Sis. I thought my little nest was about to blow up." Pardo wiped the sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh of relief.
Then she suddenly realized something and panicked.
"Wait, Vill-V Sis, listen to my explanation..."
"Alright, Pardo. No need to explain. I won't pursue what you've already taken. But next, you're coming with me somewhere to procure some goods."
After all, everything she'd taken had been little more than "junk the warehouse couldn't hold anymore." If it was gone, it was gone.
At the word "procure," Pardo's spirits immediately lifted.
"Vill-V Sis, when you say 'procure,' you mean the kind of 'procure' I'm thinking of, right?"
Patting her small chest confidently, Pardo declared,
"No problem! Leave it to me. Just say where we're going and what goods we're looking for."
"The Far East," Vill-V replied.
"Nagazora City."