"No matter what, I will not let you take Ling away," Hoshimi Aya said seriously.
"Aya, we are just simply taking Ling to conduct some investigations."
"We won't do anything excessive," Hoshimi Miyabi explained, as she did not want to fight Hoshimi Aya at this moment.
"Whatever it is, clarify it right here."
"Whatever you want to ask, you can make it clear right here," Hoshimi Aya frowned.
"That's right, that's right, just clarify it here."
"Uh... hey, sister with two tails, can you stop staring at me so fiercely?!" Soukakku looked at the cat that was still staring intently at him.
"Aya, Neo-Eridu is currently in a very critical period."
"The heads of all functional departments are gathered. Any oversight could shake the foundation of the city's operation."
"Can you understand what I mean?"
"Moreover, given our relationship, I would not do anything excessive to Ling," Hoshimi Miyabi explained again.
"... I'm not listening," Hoshimi Aya fell silent, indicating she didn't understand what was just said.
Her hand quietly rested on the hilt of her blade.
"Aya, given your simple nature, I have every reason to suspect you have been deceived by them now."
"It seems like you have been concealing the truth since a moment ago."
"If this Miss Ling truly has no issues, then why won't she come with us for questioning?" Tsukishiro Yanagi pondered, looking at everyone.
"I know everything you just said."
"I know it all too," Hoshimi Aya nodded. She had been involved in these matters.
Although most of the conversations were left to Ling, she was still clear on the situation.
"Nicole and the others only showed me a vague clip."
"And this clip could be in any form."
"Perhaps you should also come with us for interrogation."
"If it really is my fault, I will try my best to make it up to you," Hoshimi Miyabi finished, exchanging a look with Tsukishiro Yanagi.
Suddenly, several gunshots rang out not far from them.
Hoshimi Aya and Hoshimi Miyabi simultaneously drew their blades, splitting the bullets fired at them in half before they landed.
"What's going on?!" Hoshimi Aya was confused.
Hadn't Officer Sarah already run away?
Where did these gunmen come from?
Hoshimi Miyabi, standing nearby, figured out what was happening almost instantly.
"Cunning Nicole, you actually colluded with the villains."
"And you deceived Aya!" Hoshimi Miyabi questioned Nicole while defending against the incoming bullets.
"What are you talking about?"
"Aren't these arranged by you?" Nicole retorted; she hadn't prepared any of this.
Suddenly, the roar of an engine approached. Pai Pai arrived driving a vehicle.
"Good opportunity, Aya, let's retreat quickly!" With that, Ling prepared to pull Hoshimi Aya into the car.
"I need to stop her."
"Little A, you go with her." After speaking, Hoshimi Aya grabbed Girl A and pushed the two into the car.
"Stop, don't you dare leave!" With that, Hoshimi Miyabi prepared to chase after them.
But she was stopped by Hoshimi Aya after only a few steps.
"Sorry, I can't let you pass," Hoshimi Aya looked at Hoshimi Miyabi.
The others had also found their respective opponents.
... Meanwhile
On a distant hillside.
Officer Sarah, with one arm in a cast and the other holding binoculars, watched the scene of internal conflict over there.
"Tsk."
"How interesting. Infighting?"
"It seems these two Void Hunters are not as harmonious as they appear on the surface," Officer Sarah watched the scene of Hoshimi Aya and Hoshimi Miyabi fighting.
Although she didn't know the specific details, this scene was enough to explain something.
"Officer Sarah, you can leave these matters to us."
"You just had surgery; strenuous activity is not advisable." A rebel said respectfully.
"It's fine. I suffered such a serious injury."
"These matters are not for me to handle."
"Someone will take care of it," Officer Sarah smiled.
Then, leaning on a cane, she returned to the car.
The convoy then split into two parts: Officer Sarah traveled alone in one car toward the city center, while the other part went in pursuit.
... On Hoshimi Miyabi's side, she didn't get bogged down fighting her sister for too long.
Instead, she seized an opportunity and directly broke away from Hoshimi Aya to chase after Ling.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya also followed in pursuit.
The others saw this and maintained a distance, each finding a vehicle to chase after them.
"Wait, what's going on?"
"What's wrong with Nine-Tails?"
Hoshimi Aya, after chasing only a few steps, suddenly sensed something and stopped.
She saw that the blade was no longer being used by Hoshimi Aya, but it was still emitting a red glow, appearing unusually active.
"... Wait, did I... miss some detail?" Hoshimi Aya pondered.
She then sheathed Nine-Tails, and nothing happened. Ever since that last time, she had been able to control Nine-Tails quite well.
It was basically impossible for such a small disturbance to make her lose control; at most, it would just make Nine-Tails a bit more active.
Suddenly, Hoshimi Aya remembered something.
"I almost forgot."
"The loss of control scenario!" Hoshimi Aya suddenly realized, the suddenness of the events had made her forget.
Wasn't this segment supposed to be the plot where Hoshimi Miyabi loses control?
But... hadn't she just experienced this not long ago?
Did the Praise Society have a new event so soon?
It shouldn't be. Her previous incident...
The Praise Society should have lost quite a few people, so why was there a new targeted event so quickly?
"Nine-Tails, quiet down!"
"Can't you see I'm thinking?" Hoshimi Aya scolded the demonic blade emitting a red glow in her hand.
Instantly, the red glow emanating from the demonic blade receded, as if the active red light hadn't come from it at all.
"..."
"Let me give a warning first." With that, Hoshimi Aya directly called Soichiro.
As expected, the line was busy again.
"Tsk."
"What's going on?"
"Wasn't it supposed to be online 24 hours?"
"Twice now!" Hoshimi Aya clicked her tongue looking at the busy phone screen.
She remembered Soichiro saying his phone was open for her 24 hours a day, and she could call him anytime.
How could his call be busy two times in a row?
"... Forget it." With that, Hoshimi Aya prepared to resume the chase.
Suddenly, the sound of a vehicle came from behind Hoshimi Aya. A transport truck stopped in front of her.
"Aya, get in the car!" Nicole pointed to the door.
Hoshimi Aya nodded and got into the car. Although it was a bit crowded, now was not the time to worry about that.
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