Operation Clear Rainbow... The name was a bit silly, but Shepherd seemed perfectly serious about it.
He spread a map across the table and gestured to the open-air bath and the surrounding terrain as he walked Yugo and the others through the plan.
"This culprit has the ability to disappear. Whether it's true transparency or a form of camouflage that allows them to blend into the background, I can't say for certain. However, the fact that their outline became visible when splashed with water proves they still physically interact with their environment. That's why we're going to use this."
Shepherd set a small canister on the table with a dull thud.
As Yugo and the others realized the contents were some kind of paint, Shepherd continued his explanation.
"This is a type of dye used in civilian security products. Once it touches the body, it’s not easily removed. Even if it appears gone to the naked eye, it emits a specific magical frequency that we can track."
"So, we douse the guy with this to negate his invisibility and make him easy to follow?" Yugo asked.
"Exactly. It's a rainbow-colored dye, so it stands out. Even if he tries to shift his skin color to hide, matching all seven colors simultaneously would be impossible."
Yugo nodded, seeing the logic. He’d never transformed himself, but while using a Magic Armor Beast's power, a person was essentially naked. Once doused, the culprit wouldn't be able to just shed their clothes and vanish.
The real problem was figuring out how to get the paint on him, but Shepherd had already given that part thorough consideration.
"First, I’ll have a few female investigators cycle through the large public bath periodically under the guise of security checks. This will pressure the culprit—who likely wants to avoid the Security Force—to move toward the open-air bath instead. That bath is protected by a barrier that prevents peeping from a distance, which means he'll have to get close or infiltrate the area to see anything."
"Which means if he tries to peek, he’ll definitely come within reach," Yugo noted.
"But after his failure at the indoor bath, he’ll be cautious. A coward like him will probably avoid entering the bath area itself. While the Security Force will be monitoring the site disguised as hotel staff, the culprit will almost certainly try to climb the fence. That's why we're going to provide him with a few 'holes' in our defense."
"Holes? You don't mean actual peep-holes, do you?"
"Yes. Realizing he can't see in from a distance, he'll use his invisibility to get close. If he spots a convenient opening while trying to scale the fence, his first instinct will be to take the path of least resistance."
Yugo and the others were impressed. It was a solid psychological profile of a small-time crook who had already been spooked once. Still, one concern weighed on Yugo's mind. He raised his hand.
"I follow the logic, but if we do that, won't the people in the bath actually be seen? That’s the part I can’t get past."
"Don't worry. Just because we're baiting him doesn't mean we're giving him what he wants," Shepherd replied. "We'll ward the fence to keep him from climbing it, and the peep-holes will be rigged so he can't actually see the interior. I've taken full precautions to protect everyone's privacy."
Yugo breathed a sigh of relief. If Shepherd had a plan for that, he could rest easy. Seeing his relief, Shepherd continued.
"That said, there's always a margin for error. I'd hate to involve female students who have no idea what's going on. I considered using female Security Force members as decoys, but we're currently too short-staffed to spare the personnel."
"If that's the only problem, then there isn't one!" Melt interrupted, raising her hand high. "We'll be the decoys!"
It wasn't just her—Anhel and the Yamato Trio seemed just as ready to volunteer. No one raised a single objection to Melt's suggestion.
"Look at us! We've got a whole lineup of beautiful girls with amazing bodies," Anhel joked. "That creep will be tripping over himself to get a look. We're Luminous Academy students, so we're the perfect choice, right?"
"Even if he manages to sneak in, we're more than capable of handling ourselves!" Setsuna added. "I'll personally douse him with scalding hot water!"
"I trust Ryuga-san and the others," Sakura said earnestly. "If it means catching this criminal, I'm happy to help."
"Though, just the five of us might look a bit sparse," Raiha noted. "Maybe we should ask some of the other girls if they'd be willing to help out to make it look more natural."
"Are you guys sure about this?" Yugo asked, still a bit hesitant. "Even with Shepherd-san's precautions, there's still a risk."
"It’s fine! I trust you, Yugo!" Melt gave him a confident grin and a thumbs-up. "You’ll catch him before he sees anything, won’t you? So don't worry about it!"
Seeing their resolve was set, Yugo felt his own tension rise, but he nodded firmly. Shepherd spoke again.
"I am truly grateful for your courage. Very well. The women will act as decoys inside the open-air bath, while the men wait in ambush nearby. We'll set up three separate peep-holes at a distance from one another, with one person assigned to monitor each. Does that work?"
"It works!" Yugo slammed his fist into his palm, his spirit burning. "For the sake of Melt and the girls, I'm going to make sure this creep doesn't get away!"
And so, Operation Clear Rainbow—the plan to apprehend the despicable peeper—began.