[ St. Valerie Hospital, Southern Mid-Childa / September 22, 0078 11:28 ]

Alone in an empty ward, Teana was about to violate almost all of the Bureau regulations at once but she didn't care about them any longer. As she waited for Cross Mirage to establish a backdoor connection with Claudia mainframe, it started to rain outside.

"Connection established."

Claudia was approaching Vaizen. That meant signal interference but also safety from getting caught. Teana entered the cell number.

"Well, hello there, brave Major," Dr. Scaglietti smiled at her from the screen.

"I need your help. Off the record."

"Isn't that something," his smile became even wider.

"This bullet," she forwarded him the scans. "It's strange. What can you tell me about it?"

"Anti-materiel sniper rifle. Reusable Orussian make," Scaglietti said confidently. "Judging by the deformation, it has been extracted from a body."

"Yes. My partner's. She is in the ICU now," Teana clenched her teeth. It became harder breathe. "They say she won't make it."

The smile vanished off Scaglietti's face.

"That… would be a pity."

"You said it is reusable?" Teana changed the topic.

"A shape-memory mechanism activated by a minimal mana infusion."

"How did it come to the Mid?"

"Back in my day, only one Mid dealer smuggled Orussian weaponry."

"Name and address."

Scaglietti paused, then told her.

"Thank you, Doctor. If this goes right, your cooperation will help your case."

The smile crept back onto Scaglietti's face.

"Is there something else?"

"Oh, I just find it amusing, Major, how you have come to me instead of your precious Bureau for help."

Teana didn't know how to answer that.

"If I recall correctly, Major, your Device is of a firearm design. I could mod it to fire live ammo, including this bullet… Figured you would want to give it back."