Anyway, it was too risky to invite Alice directly to the dormitory. After all, the daughter of Victor Livka, whom she had (allegedly) killed, was still here!
Besides, Alice wasn’t human. Even if Fran hid in a closet or left the dormitory, the sensors other than Alice’s eyes (main camera) might still pick up traces of her presence.
The morning interview had already proven her keen observation. For now, it was best not to take risks, lest she discover Fran’s existence.
Thus, the two of them eventually agreed to meet at a café in the city park. Although Alice, being a robot, couldn’t drink coffee, the café at least provided shelter from the cold wind outside. The secluded café would have almost no customers at night, making it perfect for plotting something shady.
“Over here.”
Clara, her face flushed from the cold, rubbed her hands as she entered the shop. A girl with long black hair sat in a corner of the café, waving at her.
She wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses slightly wider than her face, and plain, monotone winter clothes…
It was Alice.
Only when Clara saw the headphones hanging around the other’s neck did her slow-witted brain recognize her.
“Ah, Miss Alice has a disguised form?”
Clara blinked and trotted over. The latter made a shushing gesture.
“Shh, keep your voice down.”
The Alice Clara had seen before always had silver-white hair that seemed to glow, fitting the cold impression of a robot. In comparison, her current black hair made her blend in with the crowd. Although in Central City, pure black hair like Clara’s and Lucia’s was actually rare.
With the dowdy thick-rimmed glasses and that Uniqlo-style plain winter outfit, Alice’s appearance was no longer striking. She looked like an ordinary passerby.
“Miss Alice really resembles a human.”
When Clara said that, Alice explained:
“I can’t exactly go around in my ‘Mechanical Angel’ image when I’m acting privately, can I? We top-tier heroes easily attract retaliation from evil organizations… And speaking of disguises, isn’t Miss Clara the same?”
Indeed, Clara also wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses.
But these glasses were what Fran had insisted she wear, and the lenses were plain glass… Yes, they were those spy glasses that doubled as a walkie-talkie and were packed with sensors.
At that moment, Fran was remotely peeping on Alice and Clara’s meeting from the dormitory.
But could such a thing really be hidden from Miss Alice?
[All sensors except the camera have been turned off.]
[It shouldn’t be that easy to detect.]
‘I hope so.’
Guiltily, Clara sat down on the sofa across from Alice, crossing her legs and tucking her frozen hands between her thighs to warm them. She replied quietly:
“When I act as a hero, I wear a gas mask, so not many people know my real face. Wearing glasses is just a precaution, a bit of a disguise.”
As Clara explained, Alice pushed the coffee cup in front of her toward her.
“Huh?”
Clara didn’t understand her intention, so Alice explained:
“I haven’t touched it. Drink it; it’s still warm. It’ll warm your hands. I felt obliged to buy something since I sat inside, so I ordered a cup when I came in. I added milk and sugar, so you should be able to drink it.”
An artificial intelligence experiencing the feeling of being “obliged”?
Miss Alice, you’re just like a real person.
[Maybe this is the advantage of a wetware computer?]
[Nyx can show emotion by borrowing your neural network.]
‘Please don’t suddenly propose such a terrifying hypothesis.’
Clara frowned slightly, picked up the cup, and took a small sip.
The coffee had a rich aroma, but even with milk and sugar, the bitterness upon entry was too much for Clara’s little tongue. She couldn’t help sticking out her tongue.
‘Back when I was Squill, I occasionally drank coffee to stay up late drawing, and my undiscerning tongue could handle it then. Why can’t I drink it now?’
Nevertheless, Clara had the pride of an adult. Even if her brows were knit, she would continue drinking…
“If you can’t drink coffee, you don’t have to.”
Alice stopped her and called a waiter.
“Please bring this child a hot milk.”
“Mmph…”
‘Sure enough, Miss Alice’s observation is remarkable.’
Clara lowered her head, trying to hide the blush on her small face.
“So, Miss Alice, did you call me out late at night to ask something?”
Clara’s nervousness toward Alice had eased considerably by now. As long as it didn’t involve her identity, she could handle it calmly.
Alice replied:
“The Association is still conducting an internal investigation, but we can’t rule out the possibility of an external perpetrator. Later, they might also investigate the heroes who visited yesterday, so before that… I came to give you a heads-up.”
“Investigation? Perpetrator?”
Alice’s words were abrupt and confusing.
“Is there something wrong with the Hero Network?”
Alice shook her head.
“The Hero Network is fine… It’s the god’s relic that’s been stolen.”
“Huh?!”
Clara had long known that the glass jar was empty. Nyx had told her during the morning tour. She had assumed that the Association had moved the relic to another container for safety reasons, but…
It really had been stolen!
[They might be planning to frame you. Be careful in the following conversation.]
‘So letting me into the storage room so easily yesterday really had another purpose?’
Clara became alert, but Alice reassured her:
“Please don’t be nervous. I know you’re not the culprit. After all, you entered and exited the storage room with me. Just on that basis, I can testify for you.”
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
Clara breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Although I had originally intended to steal it too—or rather, had plans to steal it? By the time I tried, someone else had already stolen it first. It seems quite a few people had their eyes on that “god’s relic.”’
Just as Clara thought that, Nyx came up with a new idea.
[Isn’t this our opportunity?]
[Offer to help the Association solve the case, then hide the relic before they recover it, turning this into an unsolved case.]
‘That sounded more reliable than directly stealing from the Association.’
“So, you came to ask me to help the Association solve the case?”
Alice shook her head.
“The loss of the relic is the Association’s dereliction of duty, so the investigation is being handled by a special team from the Abyssal Administration Bureau. At the same time, since I entered the storage room yesterday morning, I am also under suspicion.”
“That strict?”
“But it’s fine. Although the storage room’s surveillance was jammed, my personal action recordings still exist, which can prove both our innocence perfectly.”
“Robots are convenient like that, huh?”
‘Built-in action recorder?’
[Nyx can also act as your action recorder.]
‘No, I’d rather not. Recording every trivial daily routine from a first-person perspective is too embarrassing.’
Alice continued:
“Actually, I got a clue about the culprit. I wanted to ask Miss Clara if you have any leads.”
“A clue?”
Data streams flashed in Alice’s eyes, and then a video recording played on Clara’s phone.
“Hm?”
It was from Alice’s own perspective, in the Relic Vault.
Then, under the table of the containment light pillar, she picked up a small, shiny object—an exquisite patterned button.
But shortly after she picked it up, the button dissolved into motes of magical light.
Cold sweat broke out on Clara’s spine.
The second update is late because of the Dragon Boat Festival trip to visit home.
I’m working hard on writing. The third update will be at the usual time. It will come!
Someones in trouble