Spy Classroom (スパイ教室)

The world is awash in pain.

The Great War was the biggest war in human history,

and it left the world's nations with deep scars.

There's Corpse,

just like Teach predicted.

That's impossible...

There was over two hundred meters between us!

It's conclusion brought about a radical change in world affairs.

Eat this, yo!

I've got more where that came from!

Urgh...

He moves with such poise.

But we've got a surprise for him up ahead!

That's the spot!

The politicians all realized how poor the cost-performance of war was.

Due to how advanced modern science was,

weapons were too effective at killing.

Yeesh, that's one ugly mug you've got.

Well, well, looks like you have some chops.

Compliments from the enemy? That's a new one.

For all your talent, though...

you're green as hell.

Bonfire! My rival!

We finally meet!

With that, the era of nations pointing their guns at each other out in the open came to an end.

Now, battles are fought between spies over information -

in shadow wars.

We managed to avoid having any civvies get hurt.

Magnificent.

You're not going to kill him?

This is something you need to remember.

When a spy gets captured,

the only fate that awaits them is a darkness deeper than death.

So, we still don't have a lead on their whereabouts?

I hope they just forgot what day they were supposed to come back.

Given who we're talking about, I don't think that's likely.

We should assume that something, or someone, must be stopping them.

Forgetter I

We ran a background check on Uwe's new maids,

and it came back clean.

Got it.

Thanks for taking care of that.

That was some fine work, rooting out and capturing Corpse's co-conspirator Olivia.

Uwe is a good man, so it means a lot that they were able to keep him alive.

It would seem that Flower Garden, Pandemonium, Meadow, and Daughter Dearest

are capable of operating just fine, even without you.

I don't know if I'd go that far.

Your chosen squad of Glint, Dreamspeaker, Forgetter, and Fool

did an excellent job capturing Corpse, as well.

That's true.

They all showed striking levels of growth on this last mission.

However, what's this I hear about the chosen squad failing to return?

You're still keeping us under observation?

Draw whatever conclusions you like.

Here at HQ, we're considering the possibility that they've turned traitor

and are planning on organizing a manhunt.

Don't.

Let me handle this one in-house.

There's no need for you to get involved.

Seriously, out with it already.

What have you all been spending this past month doing?

That's right! I've been really curious.

And why'd my bedroom get blown up?

There was a mishap.

I'm sorry, what?

It was the day we set out on the Corpse mission.

Before Setting Out For the Corpse Mission

Good hunting out, you all.

Promise me you'll come back in one piece.

Of course, and thank you for seeing us off.

What's wrong, Lily?

There isn't much pep in your step.

It's nothing, I was just a bit worried.

I was afraid this whole selection process would make things awkward between us.

Oh, I'm not mad in the slightest.

If anything, I'm happy that your hard work is getting recognized.

Well, all right then!

Chosen Wunderkind Lily is on the job!

They're gone, right?

I'M SO MAAAAAAAD!

I was so sure I was going to get chosen!

What's wrong with me, huh?!

Why won't Teach respect my talents?!

Oh, be quiet.

Teach!

How much of that did you hear?

Pull yourself together.

I have an important job for you.

I sent Grete and the other three off to root out one of Corpse's allies.

You four are the ones I'm taking with me to actually fight Corpse.

That makes perfect sense.

I never doubted you for a moment, Teach.

Corpse won't hesitate to kill a dozen bystanders if it will let him assassinate his target.

The objective is to capture him without suffering a single civilian casualty.

Doing that will require manpower,

but I'm not interested in bringing you along just to have you die.

That's why I've prepared a test for you.

What kind of test?

Touch my hand by the time evening falls.

That's the test.

If you fail, I'll have to fight Corpse on my own.

I'm confident that you're up to the challenge.

This is what I selected the team's strongest members for.

Leave it to us.

We won't betray your trust!

Magnificent.

Come on, everyone, let's have a strategy meeting!

Wait, what?

There's one thing you should know.

Monika, Erna, and Annette all ran into setbacks at their academies

due to their inability to cooperate with others.

However, completing this mission is going to require rock-solid teamwork.

I get that, but you're not saying...

Bring the team together.

This is the important job you had for me?!

I thought I'd start with the most reasonable of the three and work my way up, but I guess that's off the table.

All those times I actually led us were when we had the whole team here.

Lily's antics always lightened the mood,

and that combined with Sybilla's retorts and Sara's reactions were what really brought us together.

And Grete's the one person who can hold a decent conversation, but now she's gone, too.

Still, I need to find a way for us to work together!

Did that come from Lily's room?

What, did you need something?

For starters, what are you doing in Lily's room?

There's something I wanted to look into while we had the place nice and empty.

About Heat Haze Palace, you mean?

What do you want?

Isn't it obvious?

I want to talk.

How are we going to pass the test?

That hardly seems worth discussing.

It's not like teaming up with you lot is going to be enough for me to complete it.

Well, don't just go deciding that on your own!

Can you leave now?

I'm going to fly this one solo.

Let's chat, Erna.

Wh- Erna!

We need to talk!

Erna, open up!

You keep your room really neat, don't you?

So, Erna, about that test-

Wow.

I fought through my shyness to let someone into my room

and have a conversation with them.

I'm all tired out now, so I'm going to take a nap.

But we haven't even talked about anything yet!

Forget rock-solid, we aren't rock-anything.

Plus, this last girl is the one that worries me most of all.

Amnesia?

That's right, Annette doesn't remember anything from before she joined her academy.

Her papers list her as being fourteen, but it's unclear if even that's true.

She got taken in by the state with no memories or birth certificate.

So, that's why her code name is Forgetter...

Annette, I know you're in here.

Come on, Annette.

Up and at 'em.

I'm awake, yo!

What's up, Sis?

I'm at kind of a loss about this test Teach gave us.

Would you mind helping me out?

Oh, I already gave it a go.

Huh?

I was all like, "Bro, let me touch your hand,"

but he said no!

That's why I went to bed in a huff!

It can't be done! There's no way I can corral those three!

I have to get these mice to the handler by this afternoon.

I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this right now.

Between this and that tantrum earlier,

you really need to work on your mental fortitude.

You think I don't know that?

Now that I think about it, you're oddly well-informed about Inferno.

Why is that?

I guess I am.

Seven years ago, a crimson-haired woman from Inferno saved my life.

She's my savior, and the person I aspire to be like.

I see.

A crimson-haired woman?

That would be code name Hearth.

She was Inferno's previous boss.

We were as close as a family in Inferno,

but we fought constantly.

Our boss was a kind person,

but when we were arguing, she could be as stubborn as the best of them.

We all had our own opinions, and those opinions often came into conflict.

I have to say, I'm a bit surprised.

"Enjoy that discord."

"Differences between allies are the key to a strong team."

That's a quote I cribbed off the boss.

Ms. Hearth said that?

That's right.

The best approach is to butt heads with your teammates directly.

What has she been up to?

"Faucets: garden, kitchen, main bath, all done. Bathroom..."

Is this information about Heat Haze Palace?

"Lily: slightly larger than other bedrooms."

"Old boss's room?"

Lily's room used to belong to Ms. Hearth?

If you hone that ability of yours, you'll be the strongest spy around.

But the thing is,