Flandre Scarlet was overjoyed upon hearing that Clever had settled comfortably into her new quarters. Reaching into her coat, she retrieved a brightly stitched pouch she had carefully set aside earlier and extended it forward.
"This is a hand-crafted sachet Amiya and I put together today! I kept one specifically for you."
Clever stared at the colorful pouch resting in Flandre's small hands. A sudden surge of emotion washed over her, and tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.
The sudden tears gave Flandre quite a fright. "Wh-why are you crying all of a sudden? What's wrong...?" Flandre stammered anxiously, hastily pulling out a delicate handkerchief to dab away the tears on Clever's face.
Clever looked into Flandre's crimson eyes, her voice trembling slightly. "Why... why are you so kind to me?"
Flandre tilted her head in genuine confusion, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world. "Because we are friends, of course!"
"Friends..." Clever repeated the word softly, a radiant, wonderfully fulfilled smile breaking through her tears. "Thank you so much, Flandre."
"Hehe! Just don't burst into tears out of nowhere like that again," Flandre giggled softly. After pressing the fragrant sachet firmly into Clever's hands, she gave a cheerful wave and skipped back toward where Remilia Scarlet and the rest of her household were seated.
Standing silently near the entrance of the cafeteria, Dr. Kal'tsit observed the entire interaction without making a sound.
She recalled the comprehensive intelligence files compiled on Flandre Scarlet, as well as the high academic and tactical evaluations provided by senior Operators like Logos. An imperceptible nod touched the ancient doctor's chin.
At the very least, based on all current observations, the entity known as Flandre Scarlet was not an agent of Theresis, nor could she ever be aligned with his brutal agenda. For Kal'tsit's strategic peace of mind, that confirmation was more than enough.
Although Rhodes Island had failed to determine the exact geographical origins of the Scarlet Sisters—who claimed allegiance to a "Scarlet Devil Mansion"—or the precise background of Eirin Yagokoro from Eientei, their day-to-day conduct demonstrated that they were by no means volatile or radical agitators. Despite possessing terrifying, world-altering combat capabilities, they surprisingly adhered to ordinary, reasonable societal norms. They refrained from exerting raw strength over the weak and were even willing to step forward in defense of others; such extraordinary individuals were a exceptionally rare find on Terra.
Watching Flandre happily bounce back into her chair beside her elder sister and dig into a dessert with a look of pure bliss, Kal'tsit offered a subtle nod of greeting toward Remilia across the hall before stepping into the cafeteria queue.
"The culinary preparation aboard Rhodes Island is actually quite commendable," Remilia remarked, holding a small silver fork. She cut a delicate piece of souffle, sampled it, and offered an approving nod. "While it naturally falls short of Sakuya's refined culinary artistry, the fact that their kitchen staff can craft something this flavorful using relatively basic, standardized rations proves they possess top-tier skills."
"Eldest Miss, you praise me far too much. In truth, the fundamental culinary expertise of these head chefs exceeds my own," Sakuya Izayoi replied humbly, pouring fresh tea into Remilia's cup. "After all, my duties only require me to cater to the specific, established palates of the Scarlet Devil Mansion every day. These chefs, however, must daily satisfy a vast, diverse crowd originating from dozens of different nations and cultures, all while managing mass production under tight nutritional guidelines."
"There is zero need to be so modest, Sakuya," Remilia noted, turning her gaze toward her chief maid. "Cooking has never been your primary duty anyway. Simply having your presence by my side is more than enough to make me happy."
Sakuya immediately stood at rigid attention, placing a hand over her heart with unwavering devotion. "Eldest Miss, I shall remain your dedicated maid forever, through this life and beyond."
"Do not be so tense! Sit down and enjoy your meal," Remilia instructed with a gentle downward gesture of her hand.
Sakuya curtsied gracefully before returning to her seat.
By the time the party concluded their evening meal, twilight had fully descended outside the landship's hull. Rather than wandering through the operational corridors, they returned directly to their private VIP suite, picking up their books to resume their evening reading.
"Zzzzz..."
After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, Remilia looked down at her lap, discovering that Flandre had collapsed fast asleep against her arm. She glanced down at the heavy, complex text still clutched in the girl's small hands—Complete Encyclopedia of Utica Magic Equations—and shook her head with a fond smile.
"That is enough reading for tonight. Everyone should retire to rest."
Hearing her mistress's command, Hong Meiling, who had been standing vigil near the doorway, vanished back to her designated quarters in a flash. Sakuya gently stepped forward, carefully gathering the sleeping Flandre into her arms and tucking her into bed. After confirming that Remilia had comfortably settled under her covers as well, Sakuya extinguished the suite's main lighting.
By the time Flandre opened her eyes again, bright morning light was filtering through the suite's reinforced viewing port.
"Does Flandre have any grand ambitions planned for today?" Remilia inquired gently after they finished their morning routine.
Flandre eagerly raised her hand. "Yes, yes! Amiya promised she would take me out onto the main upper deck to play!"
Remilia nodded in understanding. "In that case, mind your steps and stay safe out there."
"What about you, Sister?" Flandre asked, turning to look at Remilia.
"Me? I shall likely take a leisurely stroll around the vessel today," Remilia replied calmly. "Since our other friends have not yet arrived aboard the landship, we shall remain here to rest and unwind for a few days before making our departure."
Remilia reached out, tenderly patting Flandre's golden hair. "Alright, off you go to play!"
Flandre skipped out into the wide central corridor, only to freeze a few paces down the hall as a sudden realization struck her: she had zero idea where Amiya's actual office was located!
Fortunately, the young vampire was never shy about seeking directions. After stopping several passing Operators along the primary deck, she successfully navigated her way through the administrative wing, arriving directly outside the door to the Executive Leader's office.
She curiously pushed open the heavy door, peaking inside to see Amiya sitting behind a large wooden desk, deeply absorbed in reading a stack of heavy reports.
Hearing the door click open, Amiya initially assumed it was Dr. Kal'tsit bringing in the morning's operational updates. When she raised her head, however, she met the bright, blinking eyes of a golden-haired girl smiling back at her.
"Flandre! What brings you here so early?" Amiya gasped in pleasant surprise, quickly setting down her pen.
"Because Amiya promised she would take me to the deck to play today!" Flandre declared cheerfully.
Amiya glanced down at the dense pile of educational modules and administrative documents resting on her desk, looking distinctly hesitant and apologetic. "Um... would later this afternoon be okay? I haven't quite finished today's mandatory study assignments yet..."
Flandre did not show the slightest hint of disappointment or impatience. Instead, she nodded enthusiastically, skipping further into the room. "Of course! I don't have anything urgent to do anyway. Amiya, can you lend me a book? I'll just sit right here and keep you company!"
Amiya blinked in surprise before her face bloomed into a warm, touched smile. She pointed toward a tall wooden bookcase situated against the far wall. "That entire shelf holds my personal reference books. If you wish to read, Flandre, please help yourself to anything you like!"
Flandre skipped over to the shelf, scanned the titles briefly, and pulled down a volume labeled Analysis of Common Originium Arts. Carrying the text over to the plush sofa nearby, she curled up comfortable and opened the first page.
The office settled back into a peaceful, cozy silence, broken only by the soft rustle of turning pages.
Near noon, a crisp knock echoed against the doorframe, and Senior Operator Pith stepped into the room carrying a clipboard.
Spotted Flandre sitting comfortably on the sofa, a look of genuine astonishment crossed Pith's features. "Flandre? What are you doing inside the Executive Leader's office?"
Flandre brightly explained her morning agreement with Amiya, mentioning how she had chosen to stay behind to read alongside her so Amiya wouldn't feel lonely while completing her mandatory studies. Amiya nodded in eager agreement from behind her desk.
Pith glanced down at the exact title Flandre was holding, a sudden memory surfacing in her mind as she looked at the young girl. "Do you truly still derive value from reading a basic volume like that?"
"Of course I do! Every single time I revisit these foundational texts, they offer countless fresh insights," Flandre answered naturally, looking up from the page.
Pith nodded slowly in deep agreement. "So many young casters abandon the study of basic, foundational principles the moment they master higher-tier Arts formulas—never realizing that without an absolute, unshakeable foundation, advanced Arts research is nothing more than a fragile castle built on sand. For someone as young as you to possess such profound wisdom is truly remarkable, Flandre."
Flandre blinked her wide crimson eyes in complete innocence. "Is that not just completely normal?"
In Flandre's worldview, whether a text detailed elementary concepts or high-tier arcana, there were always valuable truths to extract. To her, the concept of having 'completely mastered' a book to the point of never needing to touch it again simply did not exist.