What does Sophia want?

The three of them entered the dining hall, there were all sorts of food prepared, and her eyes brightened as she happily sat down and started to eat.

"Not even a thank you, my dear?"

"Oh this is your doing? Thanks, I guess."

Soichiro's eyes twitched, annoyed. "You're truly trying to make me angry today."

"It's not my fault you can't control your emotions."

Kouta coughed. "It's nice that your both lively. But Sophia has made a move."

"She has?"

"There is strange activity around the tower lately. It seems like she is trying to destroy the place. Thankfully, Austin Akari is in better now, so she has put up a strong barrier. But, it's not good for her to put up a barrier for so long."

Lila sighed. "She must have found out that we intend to use the tower. She probably doesn't know the exact use of the tower, but she is smart enough to know that she has to destroy it."

"There are rumors too that she is searching for Karashima-senpai."

Lila raised her eyebrow at that comment. "Why does she have to search openly? With her ability, she could find him secretly? Isn't she just announcing to the world that Haruka isn't on her side?"

Soichiro flicked her forehead. "Use your brain a bit."

She paused for a moment and exclaimed. "Ah, is she trying to make Haruka responsible for the recent cases?"

"Right, she is making it appear that he is acting out of line." Soichiro took out his phone and passed it to her. "She has made fliers like this and posted it all over town."

The flier Soichiro showed her showed Zane's picture and the words Karashima Haruka out of control.

"The subordinates realized Zane was missing, and Sophia put on a sob story that Haruka beat up their master and kidnapped him."

Her eyes twitched, annoyed at this revelation. That woman is certainly pushing her luck. Does Sophia truly think she will continue to sit back and do nothing?

If she truly thinks that way, perhaps Sophia isn't as smart as she thought.

Lila tapped her fingers against the desk, deep in thought.

"What do you think, Kouta-kun?"

"To be honest with you, I'm starting to think that Sophia is doing all this just to take Haruka-san down with her."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't be a fool, my dear, isn't it obvious? That woman wants Haruka to die alongside her."

Kouta nodded. "She wants the world to collapse so Haruka-san cannot escape. It's truly frightening."

At those words, she recalled a conversation she had with Haruka before regarding Sophia. Haruka mentioned making a promise with her to die with her. Could this entire thing really be all about the promise they made back then?

Promises are important to keep. However, as time goes by, some promises cannot be kept as time moves forward. People's circumstances change. A promise they made from their childhood may not be applicable in the future.

It is not like she does not understand what Sophia is trying to do; other people may find her actions frightening. But she understood.

'If I was in that position, I would have probably ended up the same way.' Actually, she was once in a similar situation. Her mother and Ren-san promised to protect her forever. But they left her alone. If all those people did not extend their hand out to help her, and she remained alone. Then she may have ended up like the present Sophia, consumed by revenge.

But she is no saint either.

"I understand," Lila mumbled. "But there is a line she should know better than to cross. What she is doing now is simply inhumane. She no longer has a shred of humanity left."

Lila examined those anonymous videos she received not too long ago. Although she did not like the idea of seeing Haruka in that condition, she still watched it properly. From the video, she could see how bad the living condition was. Those dirty walls, the shackles, and the doors shaped like cells. The howls that sounded like pained cries. The blood plastered on the walls, and the dim light.

Haruka had to live under such conditions for a long time. Those shackles and other torture devices. Lila clenched her fist.

"I can't forgive her."

Kouta squeezed her hand under the table, and her eyes widened. "Kouta-kun."

"I know how you feel. I won't tell you everything is going to be okay because realistically, even if we went head to head with her now, we could lose. No matter how strong our side is, we are no match for somebody using such dirty tricks. It is frustrating, but we have to be patient. We have to wait until an opportunity presents itself and take advantage of it."

Despite Kouta-kun speaking rational words, Lila sensed the pained tone behind his voice. It must not be easy for him to say this. After all, she knew Kouta-kun wanted nothing more than to rush the procedure to save his sister.

"That's true."

Soichiro rolled his eyes. "What's with you two? Since when did you get so close?" Soichiro said suspiciously.

Lila rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about? We have always been good friends."

But she has to admit that they probably did get closer the last two months. Perhaps it was because they both missed Yumeko. However, she has been communicating with Kouta-kun more frequently.

She has heard him talk about how much he misses Yumeko doing silly things.

'I would rather have her act like an idiot; at least she would be within sight and safe.'

The two often quarreled before. Kouta-kun was unusually harsh with Yumeko. But, a part of her always knew that Kouta truly treasured his sister.

"Good friends with another man? My dear, your cheating is certainly going overboard."

"We aren't even in a relationship."

"Can you really say that? What should I do about these marks?"

Lila felt her anger increase. Soichiro truly knows how to mess with her. The only reason she drank his blood was because she had no choice. If she had a choice, she would not want anything to do with him!

She frantically shook her head. No, she ought to stop being so harsh on him; at the end of the day, Soichiro has done a lot for her sake.