Chapter 167: Recruitment Task

Ephnel hadn’t actually spent much time with Futaba Eri.

But there was no doubt that Futaba Eri, with her excellent academic performance, was a very capable person.

The Futaba Eri she knew possessed the resolve to sacrifice her own safety to protect others.

She was undoubtedly a rare candidate.

Although she lacked crucial basic skills, with a month of training, she could quickly take on some fundamental tasks.

‘Should I contact her?’—the thought had only just crossed Ephnel’s mind before it was immediately rejected.

Futaba Eri was an “ordinary person.”

And “Group Three” was undoubtedly not “ordinary.”

It was an organization that, like the Order and the Special Disaster Division, belonged to “this side of the world.”

The candidates could only be selected from people who already belonged to “this side of the world”—just as Ephnel didn’t want Hanasou Kotone to be Nishizaki Yuki’s assistant, Ephnel also didn’t want to bring Futaba Eri into “Group Three.”

Ephnel didn’t want to drag ordinary people, who could otherwise live stable lives without facing those dangers and disasters, into “this side of the world” because of her own arbitrary choices.

“In any case, I understand.”

Ephnel said, but did not give a clear answer.

“I’ll keep an eye out for candidates. If I find any, I’ll tell Yonomori Nami.”

She said that, but Ephnel really couldn’t think of anyone else she could recommend.

“Mhm… I’ll leave this to you. Likewise, I’ll have Yonomori Nami and Nishizaki Yuki keep an eye out as well. If they have any other candidates, they can also recommend them. Of course, the final decision on whether to accept them into the group lies in your hands.”

“If this is part of my job, then I’ll do my best.”

“It’s also fine if you want to leave it all to Yonomori Nami. She’s your manager, isn’t she?”

Masaki Hinaki smiled, and Ephnel didn’t comment.

She wouldn’t go so far as to hand everything over to Yonomori Nami.

To be honest, Yonomori Nami was already acting as Ephnel’s combat operator while also being responsible for Ephnel’s affairs as an idol.

She had pretty much become Ephnel’s personal secretary.

Masaki Hinaki stood up, neatly stacked the documents on the table, and put them in her desk drawer.

She leaned over and typed on the keyboard in front of the computer.

“I’ve already arranged for Yonomori Nami to handle Yukina’s enlistment. Yonomori Nami will bring the relevant documents and equipment over later… Before that, do you have any other questions, Ephnel? At least for now, you can ask me anything.”

“There’s nothing I’m particularly concerned about…”

After thinking for a moment, Ephnel asked:

“More importantly, Hinaki, how many Erosion disasters have occurred while I was hospitalized?”

Because she had been seriously injured in the sneak attack by Seiran, she had been resting for over a week and hadn’t been in battle.

It wasn’t that no disasters had occurred during this time.

She was very concerned about whether anyone had been injured or suffered losses as a result.

“Three times. Five days ago, three days ago, and two days ago.”

Masaki Hinaki didn’t hide anything and told Ephnel the dates of the recent Erosion disasters.

“The frequency is higher than usual…”

Ephnel lowered her gaze, which fell on the investigation report in her hand.

Generally speaking, Erosion disasters weren’t something that happened every two or three days.

Clearly, after the battle on the “western front,” the frequency of disasters had increased, and this was probably not a coincidence.

The high frequency of Erosion disasters would obviously lead to very serious problems.

The first and foremost was the already strained combat power of the Agents—after losing the combat strength of Seiran and the others, Fuurin Shion and Shiina Rin were also temporarily unable to return to their posts.

Of the remaining people, Ephnel and Hien were seriously injured, Uzuki Saori was imprisoned, and there were less than ten Agents left.

This was even after including the Agents in the satellite cities and border garrisons.

In short, the current situation was clearly very grim.

“Because the ‘net’ on the western front was weakened, it can’t be helped. If we get a few more attacks like that day, there will only be more Erosion disasters. So the new plan is urgent. We must resolve the crisis brought by the ‘Angel’ and the ‘Apostles’ as soon as possible. The best way is to take the initiative and attack.”

Masaki Hinaki sighed lightly.

“The ‘reinforcements’ from the central province make our plan to attack proactively possible. Although I don’t want to admit it, to be honest, we are in dire need of new combat power right now.”

“Was anyone injured in the disasters?”

“Fortunately, the situation has been under control. This is all thanks to Aysha’s efforts.”

“Aysha?”

“Mhm.”

Ephnel raised her gaze.

“She handled all of them?”

Aysha’s combat ability was slightly weaker than Hien’s.

Her strength was in surprise attacks, not direct confrontation, which was why she could achieve good results in combined tactics with Hien.

But Hien had not yet returned to duty due to her injuries not having healed.

It should have been difficult for Aysha to fight so brilliantly on her own.

Masaki Hinaki saw the doubt in Ephnel’s eyes.

“You still remember the Apostle’s Beacon, right?”

“Don’t tell me… she’s been fighting in her Apostle state?”

“That’s right.”

Masaki Hinaki’s answer made Ephnel frown.

Along with a sense of understanding, a trace of unease rose in her heart.

The Apostle’s Beacon was different from the Beacon used by Agents.

An Agent’s Beacon was a piece of equipment that could only be used by Agents, providing offensive and support means through the materialization of a specific weapon.

And the Apostle’s Beacon, called a “Holy Relic,” was a kind of “modulator” like a chain that communicated with and controlled Order energy—Apostles could manifest Order energy in a near-substantial form.

Whether it was creating equipment like “shields” or “longswords” to assist in combat, or directly attacking in the form of energy, it was all possible.

They could also achieve short-term flight by using this energy.

In comparison, the combat style of Agents was relatively singular, and they mostly lacked preemptive attack methods.

Facing Apostles with their varied attack methods, they would naturally be at a disadvantage.

This was also true for Erosion Organisms.

If the Apostles’ “Holy Relics” could be used as equipment for Agents, then the overall strength of the Agents would definitely increase.

This was an indisputable fact.

But Ephnel still couldn’t feel completely at ease.

“This isn’t safe…”

Ephnel said.

“I know, and Aysha understands too. But this is the effort she is making for this city. We can only trust her, just as we have always trusted you.”

Masaki Hinaki said slowly.

“The data collection plan for the Apostle’s power was proposed and executed by Aysha herself.”

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