"Then let's not dally. Let's head back early to call for backup... Hmm?"
Before her words could land, Ellen's red eyes suddenly sharpened. She abruptly looked up toward the shadows of the cavern ceiling. The Shark Pruning Shears she had been carrying on her shoulder were gripped tight with a "shua" sound and held horizontally in front of her.
"You've been watching the show for long enough. Isn't it time to come out?" Ellen's voice still carried a hint of laziness, but the aura radiating from her body instantly became dangerous. "Friend up there."
Luna Belle and Tineva were both startled, instinctively following Ellen's gaze. In the shadow of a protruding rock on the ceiling, a slender figure flipped down as if weightless. Her movements were as graceful as a falling leaf, and she landed silently not far in front of them.
The newcomer pulled down the hood that covered most of her face, revealing neat silver short hair and a pair of clear, calm violet eyes. She was none other than Sayu, who had been tailing the two of them all along.
Sayu's gaze calmly swept across the wary Tineva and the surprised Luna Belle, finally landing on Ellen, who was in a defensive stance, and she gave a slight nod. "Sharp perception." Her voice was cold and clear, devoid of any discernible emotion. "I mean no harm."
Ellen tilted her head, the lollipop rolling in her mouth as she mumbled. "Whether you mean harm or not isn't for you to decide. You've been sneakily following us all this way; what are you after?"
Luna Belle also recognized the figure she had seemingly glimpsed earlier in the guild hall. Feeling wary, she instinctively pulled Tineva closer behind her. "Who are you? Why are you following us?"
Sayu didn't mind their obvious wariness; she simply spoke plainly. "Sayu, of the Adventurers Guild. Commissioned by President Katerina to evaluate you." She stated her identity and purpose concisely, then looked at Luna Belle. "I heard your conversation just now. Regarding the Slimes posing no threat and the information about the black-robed cultists in the depths of the Gloomy Forest."
Hearing she was from the guild, Luna Belle and Ellen's wariness lessened slightly, but they didn't relax completely. Ellen's shears remained horizontal in front of her, her tail lightly tapping the ground. "So? The President sent you just to eavesdrop?"
Sayu shook her head, her violet eyes looking at Luna Belle. "No. The President's initial commission was only for evaluation. But now, circumstances have changed." She paused, continuing in her flat tone. "Aren't you going back to the guild to report and seek help? There's no need for that trouble."
Under their confused gazes, Sayu took out a palm-sized metal disk embedded with a pale purple crystal from her waist pouch. She lightly brushed her finger across the crystal, and the disk immediately emitted a faint glow, projecting a small light screen.
"I can contact the President directly," Sayu shook the disk in her hand and explained. "This is a short-range magitech communication device used within the guild. It's much faster than you making a round trip."
Luna Belle and Ellen exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and a hint of realization in each other's eyes. So the guild had noticed them long ago and even sent someone to follow them secretly. However, if this Sayu could contact the President directly, it would indeed save a lot of time.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Sayu," Luna Belle stepped forward and said politely. "Please be sure to explain the real situation here to President Katerina. These Slimes are innocent; the real threat is those black-robed figures occupying Clear Water Lake."
Sayu nodded, her fingers tapping quickly on the light screen. A moment later, a figure with fiery red hair appeared on the screen, and a vibrant female voice came clearly from the disk.
"Hello? Sayu? News already? So, are those two ladies fierce dragons crossing the river or harmless little kittens?"
It was indeed President Katerina's voice. Sayu listened expressionlessly to her President's voice coming through the communicator, which carried an undisguised sense of gossip and curiosity. She clearly saw Miss Ellen standing opposite her, her red eyes narrowing slightly, and the lollipop in her mouth seemed to stop rolling. As for Miss Belle, a look of awkwardness, caught between laughter and tears, appeared on her face.
Sayu's fingers gripping the communicator tightened for an imperceptible moment. Deep within those violet eyes, a trace of "helplessness" rippled like a stone thrown into a quiet lake. She really wanted to ask the President if, before making such... well, highly personal comments, she could first confirm if anyone else besides her, the lookout labor, was present.
"President." Sayu's voice remained cold and steady, showing no ripples, as she interrupted Katerina's "analysis" that seemed about to continue. "I have urgent intelligence to report to you now."
"Oh? Urgent intelligence?" Katerina's voice immediately became much more serious, carrying a hint of inquiry as she nodded. "Go ahead."
Sayu was concise, using the most refined language to clearly state everything that had happened in the cave, including the harmlessness of the Slimes, the existence of the Water Spirit Tineva, their encounter being driven out by the black-robed cultists, and the situation where the cultists might be occupying Clear Water Lake for some kind of ritual.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator; evidently, Katerina was processing the information. After a while, her voice rang out again, now carrying the steadiness and decisiveness of a guild President.
"I see. If the situation is true, then the commission to clear the Slimes must indeed be canceled immediately. Furthermore, the guild cannot ignore the matter of those black-robed figures. Clear Water Lake isn't too far from White Thorn City; if they really manage to pull something off there, it will eventually threaten the city's safety."
She paused and continued. "Sayu, confirm that the Slime colony currently has no active aggression, and comfort that Water Spirit lady. Miss Belle, Miss Ellen... Thank you for providing this important intelligence and for restraining from armed conflict. The guild will immediately handle the cancellation of the commission and organize personnel as soon as possible to scout the situation at Clear Water Lake. If possible, I hope you can temporarily stay where you are or return to the guild with Sayu; we need more detailed information."
Luna Belle and Ellen exchanged a look and nodded. Luna Belle stepped forward and spoke into the communicator. "President Katerina, we are willing to cooperate. These Slimes and Tineva really do need help."