Chapter 187: An Order That Brings Doubts to Ayane.

Ayane stared at her phone screen for several seconds.

The message she had received was short, far too short, and it included no explanations, no context, and no concrete reason behind the order.

Just a name: Stella Lumina.

Beneath it was a photograph of the actress and some general information about her.

The data covered everything from her age and approximate place of residence to her representing agency, upcoming public appearances, known schedules, and, at the end, an instruction.

[Monitor the target.]

Ayane frowned.

She read the message again, then a third time, but nothing changed.

’Just monitor?’

Reina was sitting across from her, eating something she had bought on the way to the meeting.

"I’m bored."

Misaki, leaning against a nearby wall, crossed her arms.

"That’s our job, and complaining doesn’t fix anything."

Reina looked at her.

"You always manage to turn everything into something boring."

"Because you always manage to turn everything into a problem."

"Thanks for recognizing my talent."

"I wasn’t saying it as a compliment."

Ayane ignored the argument.

They were in a small room rented temporarily after their unit’s resources had been reduced as punishment.

Before, they had access to better facilities, but now they had to manage every expense.

Ayane still hadn’t fully accepted the situation, not because she considered the punishment unfair, since they had disobeyed direct orders and it was only logical to expect consequences.

The problem was that the resource reduction complicated even the simplest missions.

Ayane looked back at the information and the name Stella Lumina.

She knew the name; it was hard not to.

She was an actress, occasional model, with a constant presence in popular productions, and she was also known for frequently playing male roles.

None of that, however, explained why the Great Mother was interested in her, except for one additional line included in the file.

[Elevated probability of selection as a magical girl.]

Ayane fixed her gaze on that sentence.

’How does she know?’

That was what truly bothered her.

Magical girls couldn’t be identified before receiving their powers in such a straightforward way.

At least not according to the information Ayane knew.

There was no public test, no visible mark, and no known genetic pattern that would allow someone to point at a person and declare they would be chosen.

Yet the Great Mother seemed to know.

Ayane checked the sentence again. It didn’t say Stella was already a magical girl, only that there was an elevated possibility she would be selected.

’Who provides this information?’

It wasn’t the first time the Great Mother knew too much.

It had happened with Noah, with certain anomalies, and also with magical girl movements before many agents could confirm them.

Ayane had obeyed for years without asking too many questions.

It was part of her responsibility, but it was becoming harder and harder to ignore certain things.

Reina leaned over the table.

"What are you staring at so hard?"

Ayane locked the screen.

"Nothing."

"That was suspicious."

"It wasn’t."

"You just made it sound even more suspicious."

Misaki stepped in.

"Stop bothering her."

Reina smiled.

"Why? Do you want to know too?"

"I don’t want to look at other people’s private stuff."

"That’s a lie."

"I’m not interested."

"Then look me in the eyes and say it."

Misaki looked at her directly.

"I’m not interested."

"...fine."

Ayane sighed.

"Both of you, focus."

Reina went back to eating.

"I am focused."

"You’ve got food on the report."

Reina looked down and saw a small stain left on one of the papers.

"...ah."

Ayane closed her eyes for a few seconds.

’I have to be patient.’

She needed patience. A lot of it.

"Our target is Stella Lumina."

Misaki nodded.

"That’s the actress, right?"

"Yes, it is."

"Do we have to capture her?"

"Negative."

"Interrogate?"

"Negative."

"Then eliminate?"

Ayane shook her head.

"Surveillance only."

Reina raised a hand.

"I’ve got a question."

"What?"

"What exactly are we watching for?"

Ayane stayed silent. Reina waited, and Misaki looked at her too, so Ayane answered.

"It wasn’t specified."

Reina stopped eating.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"So we have to follow a famous actress without knowing what we’re looking for?"

"Correct."

"That sounds like a waste of time."

Misaki looked at her.

"We received an order."

"That doesn’t stop it from being a waste of time."

Ayane opened the file again.

"According to the information sent by the Great Mother, Stella may be selected as a magical girl in the near future."

Misaki’s expression shifted slightly, and Reina also stopped joking for a few seconds.

"In the near future?"

"That’s what it says."

"How does she know that?"

Ayane lifted her gaze. That was exactly the same question she had asked herself.

"I don’t know."

Reina smiled slowly.

"Now that is interesting."

"We’re not investigating the Great Mother."

"I didn’t say that."

"But you thought it."

"Maybe. Who knows."

"You don’t have authorization for that."

Reina shrugged, and Ayane looked at the file again.

’It doesn’t matter.’

It wasn’t her responsibility to question the source of that information, at least not yet. Her responsibility was to carry out the order.

She had to observe Stella and report any unusual movement. Nothing more.

"We’ll split up."

Misaki straightened.

"Positions?"

Ayane pointed at the map open on the table.

"Stella has a public appearance this afternoon."

Reina raised an eyebrow.

"The promotional event?"

Ayane looked at her.

"How do you know?"

Reina showed her phone.

"I searched her name while you were talking."

Ayane stayed silent. Reina smiled.

"I’m efficient, right?"

"For once."

"That was rude."

"I don’t think you’ll die from it."

Ayane pointed at the map again.

"I’ll cover the main entrance. Misaki, you’ll find an elevated position from where you can watch the perimeter."

Misaki nodded.

"Understood."

"And you, Reina..."

Ayane paused. Reina waited for her order with enthusiasm.

"...just try to behave and don’t make a mess."

"That’s not a position!"

"I know."

"Then give me one."

"Stay on the side of the building."

Reina smiled.

"Perfect."

The group led by Ayane began their surveillance operation with more doubts than certainties.