Upon hearing from her staff that Kaito and his companions had arrived, Elis immediately set aside her paperwork and left her office. She could not possibly keep Kaito-sama waiting. In any case, it was no problem; she had purposefully limited herself to tasks that could be interrupted at a moment's notice specifically in case he showed up.
(...It's all right. I have prepared for every conceivable scenario. I will not make a fool of myself by panicking this time.)
She had managed to handle things well enough so far, but playing things by ear was never to her liking. Thanks to her thorough information gathering and mental preparation, she radiated an air of unshakable confidence as she walked.
Had Lilia been there to see her, she likely would have offered a bit of painfully accurate advice born from experience: "No, Kaito-san always manages to catch you off-guard regardless of your preparations. Any attempt to plan for him is utterly futile." Unfortunately, that warning never reached Elis.
"Ah, Elis-san! Hello... I see you're in today."
"Greetings, Kaito-sama. Thank you for your patronage. Yes, I happened to be at the shop today to clear some paperwork, but I set it aside the moment I heard you were here."
While exchanging greetings with Kaito, Elis shifted her gaze to his companions, starting with Kaori.
(...A face I don't recognize. Judging by that distinct magic power, she is undoubtedly an Otherworlder. However, her demeanor doesn't suggest she's the top of a major trading company. If anything, she seems a bit overwhelmed—shaken by the atmosphere of a high-end boutique. If that's the case... she must be Mizuhara Kaori-sama.)
Elis was a truly brilliant woman, able to carry on a polite conversation with Kaito while simultaneously processing thoughts at high speed. As the daughter of a high-ranking noble, her insight and social graces were impeccable.
She quickly deduced that the Otherworlder with Kaito was indeed Kaori, and in the same breath, she perceived the woman’s nervousness toward the luxury shop. While considering how she might put her guest at ease, Elis shifted her gaze to the final companion.
(Now, for the other companion... the other...)
The moment Olivia came into view, however, Elis’s mind went blank.
(...Wait, what? The Pope? N-no, that's impossible. It must just be someone who looks like her... but even if her clothes are different, that divine aura is unmistakable... W-wait, wait, wait! This is too much! The mere fact that the Pope is outside the Friendly City is practically a state of emergency! Yes, I heard she officiated at Viscount Neverlight's Wedding, but I thought that was the exception of exceptions because it involved an Otherworlder close to Kaito-sama... What? How am I supposed to handle this? There is less information on Pope Olivia than there is on the Six Kings or even the Supreme God!)
In truth, while Olivia performed her duties as the City Representative and Pope of the Friendly City Hikari, she almost never left the Great Cathedral, and her interactions with the public were kept to the absolute minimum.
Pushed far beyond her limits by this unforeseen development, Elis desperately fought to keep her consciousness from fading while her mind raced for a solution.
The "Lady's Smile" she wore as an impenetrable shield began to twitch ever so slightly.
Serious-senpai: "A sharp Body (Stomach) Blow is already piercing through"