"Sorry, Vita. I just wanted to tease you a little and didn't realize how much it upset you..." As the warship neared the Time Administration Bureau, Lin Luo finally broke the awkward silence after being cold-shouldered by Vita for so long. He looked genuinely apologetic as he explained, "You know boys are those clueless creatures who can never express their feelings properly. When facing a girl they like after such a long time, even though we're dying to get close to her immediately, all we end up doing is things that make girls angry... So I'm really sorry for making you feel this way."

Vita's face flushed slightly but she huffed indignantly and stubbornly turned away.

Lin Luo gave an easy smile. "Actually, I should thank you very much for saving my life this time. Without you, I wouldn't know what to do next..."

"Ugh..." Hearing Lin Luo's extremely sincere words, Vita - with her sharp tongue yet tender heart - immediately softened and stopped frowning, blushing as she mumbled, "It wasn't that big of a deal... I'm not that petty. Rescuing you from there was just an accident..."

"No no no, you misunderstood me," Lin Luo shook his head to interrupt her. He smiled with obvious delight on his face, "What I meant is: my mood was really terrible before, but when I slightly teased you a bit, it suddenly improved by five percentage points! I felt such genuine happiness... So really, thank you."

Vita stood there stunned for two seconds, then clenched her fists and roared in frustration, "You should die once! Give me back my feelings of being moved!"

As she stormed away through the warship corridor, grumbling under her breath about how absurd things were getting with this reunion after ten years when everyone had been so eagerly anticipating it. She suddenly stopped mid-step, realizing something important.

Though Hayato, Nagi and Fate had worked hard all these years to live their lives positively - showing bravery in battles and laughter in daily life - as their sworn knights who knew them best, Vita was painfully aware of the ever-present shadows beneath those cheerful smiles. Those shadows were affecting not only her but everyone around them. Though others might not understand why, they knights knew exactly what their charges worried about all these years. To see their masters and dear friends smile with such unburdened joy as they did a decade ago, the knights had made continuous efforts to fight battles, gain high-ranking positions in the Time Administration Bureau... But at some point along this journey of growth, something precious was inevitably lost - that effortless camaraderie and radiant smiles among everyone.

It wasn't that they no longer cherished each other or smiled any less. It's just... Something crucial was missing.

The feeling she experienced now after Lin Luo's provocative conversation with her felt like returning to ten years ago. Though there was a bit less sentimentality, something within her had become lighter and freer as if unshackled from any constraints.

Ah! That feeling is... freedom!

Vita finally understood what they had unknowingly lost during these ten years - it's their freedom! With high-ranking positions where every word could affect many people's destinies, the knights had to be cautious in everything. As soldiers and leaders, emotions couldn't influence decisions at all times even when hearts were breaking because subordinates were watching. One must remain upright and give confidence so they can lead others into battle.

But no matter how strong one is, there are always vulnerable moments - crying alone under the blanket at midnight only to put on a smile again the next morning. How cruel this had been!

Jealousy and hatred might be negative emotions, but sadness and anger were as valid as happiness. Not being able to freely express these feelings made them feel too weighed down.

But right now, for the first time in ten years, she felt so angry, so out of control! It was like breaking through something that had been binding her heart all along...

"Is this his real intention?" Vita mused silently before shaking her head. Though Lin Luo's strange nature often led to unexpected results, he couldn't possibly know what happened over these ten years nor have such thoughts. Most likely it was just his annoying personality... And yet she did feel genuinely unchained.

"Sigh, I'm not cut out for thinking so much." Finally, Vita gave a carefree smile and decided against worrying further. After all, with him already appearing here, Hayato and the others would be happy once they knew, which was more than enough.

When the warship docked at the Time Administration Bureau's port, Lin Luo and Vita stepped out together. He suddenly asked, "By the way, did you report my situation to Nagi and them?"

"No."

"That's good," Lin Luo nodded.

"Why?" Vita asked in confusion.

"Of course it's a surprise for them!"

Surprise? More like a prank, Vita thought as she watched Lin Luo's retreating back...

While on the warship earlier, though Lin Luo hadn't specifically asked about Nagi and others, he had secretly accessed the Time Administration Bureau's information system through the ship's computer. What he discovered was shocking - their positions in the organization differed dramatically from what originally happened.

According to his knowledge of the Time Administration Bureau, its highest authority was the Unified Staff Council with decision-making power on all matters. Next came the Central Armed Forces, the most powerful and well-equipped military unit. Below that were regional defense forces alongside departments like Education, Technology, Investigation, and Special Operations.

These three levels formed the core of the organization. For significant events, staff meetings had to be held first before unified decisions could be relayed down through chain commands for further details - a complex process indeed.

Originally, if Lin Luo hadn't intervened ten years ago, Nagi and others would have been part of the third-level bureaucracy as civil servants with high but not top-tier ranks. Though remarkable considering their age under twenty achieving such levels...

But now things were even more extreme. First Vita and Signum - due to their formidable combat power and rich battlefield experience - had joined the Central Armed Forces as 1st Class Air Commanders, roughly equivalent to Colonel ranks in China with higher authority than third-level commanders.

Then Fate became a 1st Class Air Marshal while serving as both Chief Magister and Executive Officer of the Bureau. Though Lin Luo couldn't decipher some of her other titles, the most prestigious was definitely that air marshal rank allowing participation in Unified Staff Council meetings - placing her at the core leadership level.

The most absurd case was Hayato who ranked as a Marshal of the Central Armed Forces, the highest position under the Bureau's hierarchy and second only to the Council itself. Her position would remain intact unless all members of the Unified Staff Council rejected her simultaneously (though her own vote wouldn't count) - but as long as Fate supported her, it was unshakable.

Lastly came Nagi who held the lowest military rank among them - just a 1st Class Air while teaching at the Combat Tactics Department. Compared to Fate and Hayato or even other knights, this seemed insignificant...

But low military rank didn't mean low authority. In fact, she had the greatest power of all through her unique privilege: Free Action!

This special permission functioned like an ancient emperor's personal decree - wherever Nagi went with it, no one could defy her orders regardless of their own status or titles.

Within the Time Administration Bureau, this made Nagi the only person in history who could openly challenge high-ranking officials. How far did this confrontation go? For instance, if Central Armed Forces launched an operation ordered by the Unified Staff Council to attack a certain area - theoretically unstoppable for anyone else - but Nagi could resist it even through military force unless there was concrete proof of rebellion.

Of course, such confrontations needed valid reasons rather than mere whimsy. From this perspective, Nagi essentially operated as her own independent administration within the Bureau. Though no organization would normally grant someone such power...

Lin Luo found this extremely strange until he investigated further. Three years ago, Nagi alone had saved the entire Time Administration Bureau from annihilation. To give her sufficient freedom for action in that critical situation, the high-ups granted her this privilege as a temporary measure.

But when Nagi successfully rescued everyone and became an all-time hero of the Bureau, they couldn't revoke it anymore. After all, without her intervention, everyone would have died - such monumental contributions deserved only one fitting reward: Free Action!

Later investigations showed widespread support for keeping this privilege among both grassroots members and even some senior officials. Eventually, Free Action became Nagi's defining mark.

But did the privileged Nagi really enjoy freedom?

Though each of their ranks was significantly higher than originally expected, the Sixth Mobile Group created by Hayato still existed in a different form. If his guesses were right, this late afternoon would find Nagi at the training ground instructing her students...

Yet after walking for some time, Lin Luo realized he'd made a major mistake - where exactly was the Sixth Mobile Group now?

Though he had visited the Bureau headquarters before, ten years and three-year reconstruction period plus forgetting to check maps from the warship meant he couldn't locate it at all.

"Hey girl over there!" Spotting someone passing by with documents, Lin Luo ran up to ask directions.

The girl kept reading her file, barely acknowledging his question as she mumbled out an answer.

"Oh thanks!" Getting clear directions, Lin Luo dashed toward the Sixth Mobile Group's training ground immediately.

Back at the original spot, the girl continued reading while walking. After a moment, she suddenly lifted her head in bewilderment - "Wait, did someone just talk to me?"

Though equipped with Vita's access pass, Lin Luo didn't want his sudden appearance to be discovered too quickly (though it was more of an elaborate prank). Utilizing his existence that could defy world laws, he completely nullified his presence and moved as fast as the wind - effectively becoming a non-existent "Akarin".

With this invisibility and speed, he smoothly reached the Sixth Mobile Group's training ground. As expected, young magicians were practicing while at some distance away stood Nagi in her white jacket with blue skirt and knee-high socks on both legs. The orange-haired girl observed them while operating a holographic screen.

That was none other than Takamachi Nanoha - now completely transformed from the eternal child Vita into an elegant adult woman with matured charm. Her single ponytail hung beside her, fitted uniform highlighting her excellent figure, exuding feminine grace and confidence.

Lin Luo stood in the corner silently watching without disturbing them. Though beautiful women no longer surprised him, quietly observing his beloved girl like this - as if returning to ancient times - felt strangely comforting.

After some time passed, training ended. Students bid farewell before Nagi tidied up and started walking toward where he was hiding. The "Akarin" effect made sure she couldn't sense Lin Luo even when they brushed past each other.

Following her like an obsessive stalker, Lin Luo noticed a sigh escaping Nagi's lips followed by a faint look of fatigue and worry - something uncharacteristic for the girl considered a hero in many people's eyes. This warrior who was seen as an invincible god to outsiders also had hidden fragility. Did those she protected ever think about how she herself needed protection sometimes?

As he observed this expression, Lin Luo found himself thinking.

At the turning point of stairs, perhaps due to exhaustion or preoccupation, Nagi suddenly misstepped and began tumbling downward.

"Ahh!" She gasped instinctively reaching for a spell but before she could cast it, strong yet gentle hands caught her body in an embrace.

The warm hold made her daze while glancing up at the familiar face that triggered a soft whisper - "I'm back... Nanoha."