'Laurentina, your outfit looks lovely today,' Blandus's voice comes through the glass of the partition. Laurentina turns with a smile and offers a quick 'thank you' as she gracefully leaves the lab. On the other side, Secunda suddenly stands up from behind the file shelf, staring intently at Ulpianus's back. After a moment's hesitation, she speaks resolutely. 'Professor, I have a personal question.' 'Ask.' Ulpianus doesn't turn around. 'Why do you always wear the same clothes? You've been dressed like that since the day I met you.' 'Frankly, he's been dressing like that since he was a student. He's hardly changed his outfits at all over the years as I remember, and they always follow the same style, each more buttoned-up than the last. But I'd rather discourage such idle curiosity,' Blandus chimes in. 'Wrong question.' Ulpianus still doesn't turn around, his voice cold and firm. 'Understood!' Secunda answers brightly as she quickly leaves the lab. Twenty minutes later, she reappears at the door. 'Professor, let me rephrase my question. Why do you rotate between dozens of outfits that look identical but differ slightly in material, craftsmanship, weight, and texture?' 'Still imprecise,' Ulpianus says, casting a quick glance at her before returning to his work sorting the mountain of Seaborn specimens. Another twenty minutes pass, and Secunda appears again at the lab entrance, pen in hand. 'Professor, I've compared the differences in your outfits and analyzed the changes in your physical metrics, and I've found a preliminary correlation. Considering that combat gear aids Hunters in coordinating bodily movements, I hypothesize that you adjust details in your attire to match changes in your physical state, ensuring optimal control over your body in all conditions.' After a brief silence, Ulpianus's ear moves slightly, as if signaling her to continue. 'However, this hypothesis leaves some gaps. Is there another variable influencing your choice of attire?' 'Indeed, Secunda.' Ulpianus finally turns around. 'You haven't noticed the correlation between the songs I compose pre-battle and my chosen outfit, but as those compositions have never been recorded, it's understandable you didn't realize this.' 'You mean, the other variable is...' 'My thoughts at the time.' 'Hold on!' At some point, Blandus had emerged from the partition. 'Ulpianus, that's not what you said when you explained it to me! You said it was because you didn't want to attract—' 'There are always more than one reason, Blandus.' Ulpianus cuts him off. 'What I told you was what you needed to know, and what I told her was what she needed to know. Nothing more.'