Chapter 111: A Plan to Kidnap Noah [1].
Ayane Kagetsu was reviewing something when a phone vibrated. It wasn’t her personal phone, but the device used by the organization.
She had left it on the table precisely because she expected to receive some update during the day, though she hadn’t imagined it would arrive so soon.
Ayane set down her pen, looked at the screen, and the notification was priority with maximum authority level.
[Sender: Great Mother.]
Ayane went still.
’This isn’t normal.’
She picked up the device, unlocked the message, and only needed to read the first few lines to understand she had a problem.
[Kuromiya Unit: The target Noah Reed continues to remain uncaptured.]
[Your unit has maintained repeated contact with the target and holds a superior operational position to any other cell.]
[The lack of results will no longer be tolerated.]
Ayane tightened her grip slightly on the phone as she continued reading.
[A final deadline is hereby established.]
[The capture must take place during the next coordinated operation.]
[Failure to comply will result in other units receiving full authorization to intervene without territorial restrictions.]
Ayane stopped breathing for a second.
’This isn’t good.’
She kept reading.
[The operation will coincide with the upcoming final debate of the student elections. Several units will be deployed in the vicinity of the high school. The target must be obtained alive. No further delays will be tolerated.]
[Message from the Great Mother.]
Ayane slowly lowered the phone and for several seconds did nothing.
The room remained silent, and in front of her were the reports from the last few weeks.
Movements of Yume, of Luna, Noah’s presence, possible escape routes, schedules, areas with little surveillance.
Everything was there, and even so, she had never given the real order to capture him.
At least not in a way that could end with Noah in the organization’s hands, since Ayane had found excuses.
She had reported that security around the target was too high, had exaggerated the danger of the magical girls, suggested that capturing him without a perfect plan was irresponsible, had delayed operations, redirected surveillances.
And when other units got too close, she found some reason to interfere.
Until now it had worked, but no longer.
’They’re going to send more units.’
That was what truly mattered.
If the Great Mother had lost her patience, Noah would cease to be a target managed solely by her team.
Now anyone could act, and other units would not exercise the same care.
Ayane looked at the message again.
"During the final debate..."
The final student debate would gather a large number of students.
There would be teaching staff, members of the student council, security, guests, which also meant a lot of distractions.
A perfect opportunity for a covert operation, or for a disaster.
Ayane stood up and grabbed her coat.
"I’ll have to call an immediate meeting."
Reina Kuromiya was eating ice cream when Ayane arrived at the park, while Misaki sat on a bench checking something on a tablet.
Reina raised a hand.
"You made it."
Ayane looked at her.
"I told you it was urgent."
"That’s why I came fast."
Ayane eyed the ice cream Reina continued eating.
"I bought it on the way."
Misaki didn’t look up.
"You bought two."
"One was for the road."
"The other one’s also being for the road."
"I already got here."
"Then stop saying it’s for the road."
Reina looked at her.
"Want one?"
"No."
"That’s why you’re so unpleasant."
Misaki lifted her gaze.
"And you keep talking while you eat."
"It’s a skill!"
Ayane closed her eyes for a second.
"Both of you."
They fell silent, and Ayane took out the device and set it in front of them.
"We have a direct order."
Reina immediately leaned in, and Misaki set the tablet aside.
Ayane showed the message. The two of them read it, and Reina was the first to react.
"Oh."
Misaki kept a serious expression.
"That changes the situation."
"Yes."
Ayane said as Reina smiled.
"Finally."
Ayane looked at her.
"Finally what?"
"So we finally stop watching him and capture him."
"You don’t seem to understand the gravity."
"I do understand it."
Reina raised the ice cream.
"If we don’t grab him, another unit will."
"Exactly."
"Then we have to kidnap him first."
Ayane frowned.
"Don’t say it like it’s a competition."
"But it is."
"No."
"There’s a reward for the winner."
Ayane hardened her gaze, and Reina raised both hands.
"O-Okay, it’s not a competition."
Misaki cut in.
"In practical terms, it is a competition."
Ayane turned toward her, and Misaki corrected immediately.
"Operational. That’s what I meant."
Reina smiled.
"That’s what I said."
Ayane breathed slowly.
"Noah cannot fall into the hands of another unit."
The two looked at her, and Ayane continued.
"The debate will be the action point."
Misaki nodded.
"There’ll be too many people."
"Also too much coverage."
Ayane replied.
"And too many variables."
Reina finished the ice cream.
"Then let’s keep it simple."
Ayane already suspected she wouldn’t like the proposal.
"Talk."
Reina stood up.
"We go in."
"That was already included."
"We see him."
"Continue."
"We grab him."
Ayane looked at her while Reina raised a hand.
"And we leave."
There was silence. Misaki slowly lowered the tablet, and Ayane didn’t respond, but Reina smiled.
"What?"
Misaki was first.
"That’s your plan?"
"Yes."
"Go in, grab him, and get out?"
"Exactly."
"At an event packed with students?"
"Yes."
"With Yume and Luna probably nearby?"
"Of course."
"With high school security?"
"I’m already tired of answering..."
"And with other units from the organization operating at the same time?"
"..."
Misaki observed her.
"Your plan depends on everyone present losing the ability to react."
Reina shrugged.
"We can do it fast."
Ayane brought a hand to her forehead.
"Denied."
Reina frowned.
"Why?"
"Because no."
"It’s efficient."
"No, I don’t think so."
"It doesn’t need preparation."
"That’s not an advantage."
"For me it is."
Misaki let out a sigh.
"Your strategy would produce an open fight in less than thirty seconds."
Reina pointed at her.
"Then present a better one."
Misaki picked up the tablet.
"I already have one."
Ayane looked at her with more hope.
"Show it."
Misaki stood and turned the screen toward both of them, displaying a complete map of the high school.
Routes, schedules, arrows, marked zones, and probable positions.
Ayane approached alongside Reina, and Misaki began.
"The debate will take place in the main auditorium."
She pointed to one area.
"Aria Celestia will be here."
Another.
"The candidates will be behind the stage."
One more.
"The audience will occupy these accesses."
Reina already looked bored, but Misaki continued.
"We’ll enter from three different points."
"Why?"
Reina asked.
"Because it would reduce the chance of them detecting us together."
"We can use a disguise."
"That doesn’t eliminate the risk."
"A wig."
"No, just listen."
Misaki kept speaking.
"Reina will enter through the north access fifteen minutes before the start."
"Why me?"
"Because you’re the least suited to remaining still for a long time."
"That was offensive."
"And it’s an exact description of what you are."
Reina looked at Ayane, but Ayane didn’t defend her, while Misaki continued.
"I’ll be in an adjacent building."
Reina raised an eyebrow.
"With the rifle?"
"Yes."
Ayane looked at her immediately.
"No."
Misaki stopped.
"No?"
"I don’t want a rifle pointed at Noah."
"It wouldn’t be pointing directly at him."
"Even if you say that, still no."
"It would only be for cover."
"I said no."
Misaki fell silent, at which Reina began to smile, but Misaki ignored her.
"Then I’ll use optical observation without armament."
"Good."
Ayane nodded, and Misaki continued.
"When Noah enters the auditorium, we’ll identify his position."
"Obviously."
Reina said, but Misaki continued ignoring her and went on with her explanation.
"After that we need to generate a controlled separation."
"How?"
"A false alarm."
"Fire?"
"No."
"Monster?"
"No."
"Bomb?"
Ayane and Misaki looked at her, so Reina raised her hands.
"Just asking."
Misaki breathed slowly.
"An electrical failure in the west sector will cause part of the maintenance staff to be redeployed."
Reina observed her.
"You’ve already lost me."
"I haven’t even been talking for a minute."
"Exactly."
Misaki continued as if she hadn’t heard her.
"At the same time, a minor interference in the network will cause problems with the event’s transmissions."
"What for?"
"To reduce active cameras."
"You can just break them."
"No."
"It’s faster."
"We’re not looking to leave evidence."
"We’re going to kidnap a guy."
"Precisely."
The discussion is only just beginning.