The IBC building is located in the northeast of the entire city of Crossbell, with an abrupt upward ramp of steel bars, a dazzling silver metal handrail, and a bold glass façade that makes up the exterior of the building, which is neither wood nor stone, but transparent glass, which is made up of triangular glass and triangular steel skeletons through precise calculations of mechanics.

Moreover, there is also a considerable degree of greenery here, in a word, the blue sky and green green clear water is simply the most ideal place for office workers.

It is a huge building with 16 floors above ground and 5 floors underground, and it is a place where the elite of the entire Crossbell and, no, the western continent of Semuria gathers.

Although it wasn't his first time here, Theo was secretly surprised by its luxury and sophistication.

Holding the 13-page report in his hand titled "Practical Experience and Improvement of the Guide Staff", Theo walked to the IBC building.

Her guardian, the director of the consortium named Roberts, is temporarily living in the IBC.

"Well, are you here alone?"

Theo was about to enter the door when the green-uniformed guard exchanged glances, and a younger guard walked over to Theo.

Theo snorted and nodded.

But the guard showed a subtle expression: whose child is this? Looks like it's lost...... You can't let children wander around, because it's not good if something goes wrong.

However, this cannot be said. The guards were very sure. Because children at this age are always very precocious, they hate to be treated as children. However, if you don't help, you can't leave her alone...... And I also have security work to do......

Tiou's brows furrowed slightly, she has an extraordinary perception, although it can't reach the level of mind reading, but if you just read emotions, it's very easy. She immediately understood what the guard was worried about, and her heart was unhappy.

She said in a flat tone, "Then, please help me contact Director Roberts, I'm here to find him." ”

"Well, okay. Please wait a moment here. The guards exchanged glances, and the young guard turned and disappeared through the door.

Teo stood in displeasure and kicked the turf under his feet as if he were angry. I was angry because I was treated as a child, and because of this childish way of venting, I was even more regarded as a child by the guards.

After a short while, with a click, the guide gate quickly separated.

It looks like the director is coming. Theo took a breath and stepped forward.

"Tio-chan~"

"Huh?!"

Theo, a girl who is usually a little cold, clearly showed a look of surprise.

Before she could recover, a girl about the same size as Theo fluttered and hugged Theo.

"It's been a long time since I've seen Dio-chan~"

"Hexu? Why are you ......?" Tio called out his friend's name in some shock.

"Hehe, I heard that you came to Crossbell, but Xiaohe even cried and made trouble, and soaked hard for a long time before the above agreed to her coming." At first glance, it was a researcher, and a middle-aged man with short light brown hair and a mustache in a slightly wrinkled white coat explained to Theo with a nervous smile.

"Uh, is that so? When did it come? Theo hesitated, but accepted the status quo for the time being.

"I just got off the airship an hour ago." The girl named Lotus let go of Theo's body and stood face to face with her.

The girl looked to be the same age as Theo, with short pale blonde hair and a blue headband, a clean white shirt and a white pleated skirt, white stockings and the same white flat heels, a thin blue waistcoat over the plain white, a pink satchel cross-body, light purple eyes under the bottom-framed glasses, a delicate nose and thin lips to form a smile.

Seeing that Theo didn't blame himself too much, the middle-aged researcher breathed a long sigh of relief. He was also worried that Theo would get angry and accuse him of being nosy.

This middle-aged researcher is Roberts, the director of the Epstein Foundation's Magic Wand Development Group, an expert in the Channeling Network, and the head of the Epstein Foundation's Crossbell Branch.

It's just that, in the eyes of others, it's more like Theo is the person in charge of Roberts.

Because of Theo's background, Roberts cares very much about this somewhat withdrawn genius girl, but in Theo's opinion, this man's broken thoughts are really annoying, and he began to avoid him intentionally or unintentionally, but this made Roberts care more about her when he met her...... This vicious cycle has caused Theo to avoid the man as much as possible.

Roberts is a good guy, and this Theo knows it very well. It's just that there is a kind of behavior in this world called doing good intentions and doing bad things. Roberts's meticulousness made Theo feel a little annoyed. And Roberts has gradually become very concerned about Theo's feelings because of Theo's unappreciation, and has begun to be a little nervous about everything to the extent of "Ah, if Theo-kun knew, would it be ............

And the girl who pounced on Theo was named Hose Heather. Like Theo Prato, she belongs to the Epstein Foundation, but her department is the [Tactical Force Conductor Experimental Group].

As the name suggests, it is a group that experiments with the possibility of tactical power guides, and after the appearance of tactical power guides, there are all kinds of strange "new functions" appeals within the consortium: such as hoping that the tactical power guides can add a "heating" function to facilitate boiling water; The ability to turn wheat flour into cocoa powder or something...... Some of the features are useful - for example, to add a communication function - and some are nonsensical - for example, to boil water with a tactical power guide.

And the [Tactical Conductor Experimental Group] to which He Xu is located is to develop and test the constructive functional proposals of these suggestions.

More importantly, the main location of the [Tactical Force Conductor Experimental Group] is the branch of the Erebonian Empire and the Republic of Calvard. If he wants to come to Crossbell, it must have taken a lot of effort, right?

"Why are you here?" Theo had clearly thought of this as well.

"Well, of course I'm worried that Tio won't be able to adapt to it alone." He Xu's nose made a small, cute, terrific sound. "If one person can't do it, there is nothing wrong with the two of us!"

"Is there a problem with the consortium?" Theo asked the question that was of most concern. Just as a country must have strict laws to be followed, an organization must have strict rules to survive. Theo's situation is more special, because Roberts, the director of the wand development team, is in Crossbell, and the wand does need to be fought - of course, the main reason is that Theo and Director Roberts' petition makes Roberts unable to refuse. And Hexu should stay in the Erebonian Empire or the Leman Autonomous Prefecture.

"It's so cold, Tio-chan." He Xu said in a girl's unique soft voice, a little coquettish. "Of course, the reason is to test the interoperability between [Anigema II Beta] and the old version of [Anigema]. After all, most of the ones used by the empire are ARCUS [Note: It is the same fifth-generation tactical power guide as Enigma, but ARCUS was developed by a consortium and Lane Ford Society, while Anigema was developed independently by a consortium, and it is different in performance] There is no way to test it. ”

He Xu said and laughed, turned his head and thanked Director Roberts: "But I still have to thank Director Roberts for helping He Xu speak!" ”

"Where, where." Director Roberts touched his head a little embarrassed, but what he thought to himself was: If only Theo-kun could thank me like this.

Although Theo wanted to come to Crossbell, Roberts himself was against it, but Hosu wanted to come to Crossbell, and he was in favor of it with both hands. Roberts is also well aware that he is "hated" by Theo (in fact, it is just a disgust caused by simple over-concern), and he is nominally Tio's guardian, but in reality he still has a job to do, and has little time to care about Theo.

But what if it's not Roberts himself?

If it was a Lotus of the same age, would it be easier for Theo to be accepted?

The topic of chatting, the attitude, the mood when acting together, and being with peers and with a middle-aged uncle are definitely different.

So, when Hexu contacted Director Roberts, he agreed without saying a word. I hope that Hoo can better open Theo's heart.

"Director......" Ti Ouming's yellow gaze fixed on Roberts' face, and the middle-aged man subconsciously stood up straight.

"It's rare to do a good thing." Theo said in a flat tone, as if it were a matter of course. However, her face was a little red from excitement.

But...... Roberts didn't notice this...... Because......

"Tio-kun...... Thank me......" Director Roberts' mind was full of this thought, and happiness came so suddenly that the middle-aged man immediately lost his reason and judgment. On weekdays, the most common thing I hear is "Director, you're so annoying." I didn't expect to hear Theo thank himself today, and this man with a strong sense of responsibility almost fainted.

"Director?" Tio felt his mood change drastically, and asked casually, seeing that he didn't answer, he didn't ask any further, and turned his head to ask Hexu, "You just said [Aanigema II Beta]?" ”

"Eun: Yes, yes. Borrowing some of the technology from ARCUS, yes or no - something very powerful! ”

To add to his convincing power, Hoseo draws a huge circle with his arms wide open, a cute gesture that causes Theo to smile slightly.

Seeing that Tio smiled, Hexu also laughed for a while, and asked, "By the way, why did Theo-chan come to IBC to pick me up?" I remember I didn't inform you? ”

"This ......" Tio smiled bitterly, thought about it, and told the truth: "Actually, I'm here to submit a report and support missions. ”