"Miyabi? Yanagi-nee?" Rin looked at the two at the door with some surprise. "What are you... doing?"
She pointed at Hoshimi Miyabi, who was standing there like a pillar, her eyes vacant.
When Tsukishiro Yanagi saw Rin return, a gentle smile appeared on her face. She gently patted Hoshimi Miyabi's shoulder: "Miyabi, Rin is back."
"Rin, is back." Hoshimi Miyabi's vacant eyes slowly focused, turning to Rin, her lips moving slightly, her tone lacking inflection.
Rin: "..." This state felt somewhat familiar, but also somehow not quite right?
Tsukishiro Yanagi smiled helplessly and explained. "Miyabi is 'training'."
"Training?" Rin was even more confused. "Standing as punishment at the video store entrance... is that also counted as Training?"
"Yes," Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded, her tone tinged with familiarity. "Miyabi calls this kind of training 'waiting for you, Rin, to return'... that kind of things,
she just entered this 'energy-saving standby' mode while practicing. Her reaction to the outside world will be a beat slow, and she likes to repeat the last two words of what she hears. She should be fine in a moment."
As soon as she finished speaking, Hoshimi Miyabi's robotic voice rang out again. "She should be fine in a moment."
Rin looked at Hoshimi Miyabi's adorable yet serious expression and couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Alright, Miyabi's method of training is truly unique. Don't just stand at the door anymore, come in quickly."
Rin opened the shop door, and Tsukishiro Yanagi gently nudged Hoshimi Miyabi, who was still in "standby" mode. The three of them walked into the video store.
"Yanagi-nee, is there something you came for today?" Rin asked, motioning for them to sit wherever they liked. She felt that Tsukishiro Yanagi's expression seemed more serious than usual.
Tsukishiro Yanagi didn't sit down immediately. Instead, she walked to the door, made sure no one was outside, then turned back to Rin and said. "Rin, lock the shop door."
Rin's heart stirred, realizing that the matter might not be simple. She walked over as instructed, locked the door with a click, and hung up the "Closed" sign as well.
"Alright, can you tell me now?" Rin walked back, her expression also becoming serious.
Only then did Tsukishiro Yanagi walk to the counter, took out a badge holder with a police emblem from an inside pocket of her clothes, and solemnly opened it, showing it to Rin.
Clearly printed on the badge were her photo, name, and affiliated department — Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Special Cases Investigation Division, Tsukishiro Yanagi.
"Special Cases Investigation Division?" Rin looked at the unfamiliar department name, a little confused. "Is this the new department you've joined? What type of cases do you specialize in handling?"
"Yes." Tsukishiro Yanagi put away the badge, her expression grave.
"This department specializes in handling major cases, important cases, and cases that go beyond normal understanding, or involve certain special existences. In short, it handles 'anomalies'."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Hoshimi Miyabi, who was repeating "handles anomalies" nearby, then returned to Rin.
"We've recently been sorting through and reviewing some dusty old files, previously categorized as 'cold cases,' 'false reports,' or 'triggered by mental illness.'"
Tsukishiro Yanagi's voice lowered, "And then, we discovered some... unsettling clues."
Rin's heart tightened. "What clues?"
"The name of an organization repeatedly appeared on the fringes of some extremely bizarre, deliberately obscured case reports." Tsukishiro Yanagi's eyes sharpened, "The Exaltists."
"The Exaltists?!" Rin's mouth fell open, showing extreme shock.
The Exaltists is the villainous cult organization in the game "Zenless Zone Zero," fanatically believing in "The Creator."
Its members have infiltrated the high echelons of New Eridu, with partisans in major corporations and official organizations.
Although Fairy had said that she could summon all the characters from "Zenless Zone Zero," from beginning to end, besides Ethereal, she had not summoned a single villain character, including NPCs, not one.
So how did this organization appear in this world? It couldn't be just a coincidence of names, could it?
"Yes, The Exaltists."
Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded affirmatively,
"According to the fragmented information we've pieced together so far, the earliest trace of this organization's appearance in this world can be traced back five years ago."
She took a deep breath and said word by word.
"In other words, The Exaltists was already active in this world long before we arrived."
"Five years ago?!" Rin gasped, contributing to global warming.
A chill ran down Rin's spine. She asked, "What have they been doing in this world?"
"The records are very vague and unspecific."
Tsukishiro Yanagi shook her head, her expression grave,
"The incidents involved all pointed to 'unnatural deaths' and 'mass mental abnormalities,' ultimately dismissed as mad ramblings, hastily closed, and left unresolved."
She looked at Rin and said seriously. "Rin, I suspect The Exaltists has already infiltrated the high levels of this world and already knows about our existence."
A silence fell over the video store, broken only by the hum of the air conditioner.
Rin's brows were tightly furrowed, her hands crossed on the counter.
"Yanagi-nee," Rin looked up, her gaze firmly fixed on Tsukishiro Yanagi, "What do you need me to do?"
Tsukishiro Yanagi showed a relieved smile.
"Rin, we don't need you to do anything dangerous proactively. We just hope you can stay vigilant and be safe.
If others have relevant intelligence, we hope to share information. Our Special Cases Investigation Division needs every possible clue."
She paused, then added. "Also, Miyabi and I might appear more frequently near you from now on, partly for your protection, and partly for easier communication. I hope it won't disturb your business at the shop."
"Of course not!" Rin immediately shook her head. "You're welcome anytime. If you need a quiet place to discuss things, the workshop behind my shop, disguised as a storage room, is quite quiet."
"That's good." Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded, her expression slightly relaxed.
She glanced at the time, "We should go, we still need to go back and continue sifting through files for clues. Miyabi?"
Tsukishiro Yanagi gently nudged Hoshimi Miyabi.
The robotic lady then seemed to power on, her eyes instantly clear.
She nodded slightly to Rin. "Rin, we're leaving now. I'm very happy to have met you this time. I look forward to our next meeting."
"Hmm, you two be careful too." Rin responded solemnly.
After seeing off Tsukishiro Yanagi and the normal Hoshimi Miyabi, Rin relocked the shop door.
She didn't immediately go to organize the videotapes. Instead, she walked to the window, watching the bustling street outside.
"The Exaltists..." She murmured the name, still somewhat confused as to why this organization existed five years ago.