Chapter 511 – Decision
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We returned to the hotel in Selby, but could not return to Zephia.
This was because the Zephyria army blocked Selby.
To put it bluntly, it can be said that something similar to martial law has been imposed.
Naturally, the people in Selby were upset.
It was natural that I got stranded in Selby out of nowhere.
In Selby’s news, it was said that it was done to catch terrorists with dangerous weapons… But does that matter to people?
It’s important that you feel uncomfortable right now.
Perhaps conscious of such public opinion, a demon with a grave face appeared on Selby’s TV broadcast and was holding a press conference.
Judging by the fact that he was wearing a military uniform, he appeared to be an officer of the Zephyria Army.
『Zephyria Army, belonging to the Intelligence Department. This is Major Belger.』
『How long will the blockade last?』
『There are no promises.』
The room was agitated by his firm words.
『Not only the citizens of Selby, but there are also many people who came for tourism and were stranded… What measures are being taken against them…』
『There is no plan yet. If we need to discuss it in the future, I am willing to do so.』
『Isn’t that too irresponsible?』
『Irresponsibility?』
As Belgere’s sharp eyes turn, the reporter is pricked.
『I’m doing this because I have a sense of responsibility. I know that the citizens in Selby are somewhat uncomfortable. Still, this is to catch dangerous terrorists. I hope you can wait patiently.』
『… I know that there are many people who are dissatisfied with the blockade of Selby. If there is someone who crosses the line, we will consider them to be a group of terrorists and take appropriate action. And it won’t be a gentle method like the Public Safety Office.』
Selby’s reporters swallow their saliva dry at Belgere’s bloody warning.
‘… Are we terrorists?’
They broke into the seemingly abandoned research lab and destroyed the security robot, and not only that, they also destroyed the military force that came to catch us.
‘If you think about it that way, it seems right…’
Looking at the little guys holding the press conference right now, it looks like the Zephyria army has no intention of lifting the blockade of Selby for a while.
There hasn’t been any Zephyria troops coming and inspecting or anything like that yet.
There seemed to be no intention to do so in the future.
Selby is also a fairly large city.
It is impossible to interrogate every single person in such a city.
I think they are probably quietly conducting search operations.
I don’t know what search method the Zephyria Army is using, but I wasn’t too worried.
It will be difficult to find out our identity.
They were all wrapped in chaos armor of the same size.
Wouldn’t you have thought that the students and club instructors at Zephya Academy would have such a weapon?
And our crime? It is now a first crime.
That’s why it’s even more difficult to identify.
The Zephyria army will not blockade Selby forever. If you take your time and wait, it will work out someday.
There was no problem even if I didn’t return to Zephia right away.
Panthera’s avatar could be accessed by using the hotel’s virtual reality capsule.
Rebellion’s mission was… If I explained the situation to Kaura or Claire, there didn’t seem to be any major problems.
It looks like the Mongoose team will be taking a short break. Now it’s time to get back on track little by little, but it’s a shame. I think Joanna will be more disappointed.
Zepia Academy didn’t say anything about us being stranded in Selby, perhaps because it was a military matter.
Rather, it should be said that they provided support for the cost of stay.
Although it was less than one day’s worth of accommodation in a luxurious suite.
Still, she was urged by Gabia to attend class. This is because Chaos and Veronica’s academy classes were also available through video or virtual reality.
Our group decided to enjoy a leisurely stay until Selby’s blockade was lifted, but Veronica’s face was in shadow.
It was like that ever since I came back from the lab.
“Is there something wrong? President Veronica?”
Chaos, who was watching Zephyria’s press conference together, asked Veronica.
“What’s the problem… Are you saying that? Of course, it is! Our enemy is the Zephyria army? Don’t you know what that means?! They have a power in Zephyria that no one can resist…”
It didn’t really matter to me and Chaos who was in the dark.
Helena’s whereabouts are important.
However, it must have been a huge shock to Veronica, a demon.
“It seems a hundred times better to be an evil organization hiding in the dark. The Zephiria army… The enemy is too big. Now I understand. Why was the Zephia Security Office so passive about my mother’s matter? Why did the hospital say it was normal?”
“So… Are you saying you’re going to give up?”
Chaos asked Veronica, who looked very downcast.
“Ha… I don’t know.”
“… Chairman Veronica. If you’re scared, you can take your hand off at this point.”
I also have similar thoughts to Chaos.
It may be harsh to ask her, who is only a student at her academy, to deal with her army.
It might be better for her to forget everything and go back to the academy and live her normal life.
“Then… You…”
“I am Chaos Black… No, as the leader of the Chaos Doombringer along with his father, I will uncover the conspiracy of this vast organization.”
There was no such thing as a conspiracy.
Is there some kind of conspiracy behind Zephyria’s military controlling Helena’s information?
Of course, I don’t know the true intentions of those who act like that.
“I understand Chairman Veronica’s fear. I have no intention of calling the Chairman a coward. Instead, please hand us Helena’s materials that you have researched. Also… I would like you to hand over the position of Chairman of the Mystery Research Club.”
“…”
I don’t know if he was trying to get me to give up or not… It was chaos that subtly inserted his own ambitions.
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Veronica decided to have some quiet time alone in her room.
She thought about it for a while, but she couldn’t come to any conclusion.
Veronica thought that if she traced Helena’s whereabouts, she would naturally reach the organization that had touched the spirit of her mother, Ronia.
But I didn’t know it was Zephyria Army.
Moreover, she is now being accused of being a terrorist by Zephyria’s allies.
They even blockaded Selby and were desperate to find the Mystery Research Club.
At the lab, I was swept up in the atmosphere and ended up engaging in a battle with Zephyria’s army… But no matter how much I thought about it, it was right to get out of the way before it was too late.
Veronica’s most fundamental reason for investigating Helena was her desire to restore her mother, Ronia, to her original state.
Ronia was subjected to mental manipulation by the organization… No, Zephyria’s army.
After that, Ronia changed.
Her childlike excitement disappeared as she talked about Helena.
Unlike before, I felt like I was just living with the flow.
The manipulated mind could be cured.
It is impossible in a short period of time, but it is said that treatment can be cured with continuous treatment.
But she couldn’t be cured.
In order for her to receive treatment, she must be diagnosed as mentally tampered with in a hospital. Instead, she was diagnosed as normal.
Only when a diagnosis of mental manipulation has been made can the Public Prosecution Service proceed with the investigation and provide treatment for Ronia… But it was blocked from the start.
Veronica finally understood why this happened.
This was being prevented by Zephyria’s army.
Veronica thought that if only she would reveal her truth, she would be able to receive help from the Magistrate.
However, if Zephyria Army is involved, it is meaningless.
There was absolutely no breakthrough in sight.
However, even though Chaos and Bark knew that fact, they seemed completely unaffected.
‘Don’t they know how scary Zephyria’s army is? Where does such recklessness come from? Chaos’s amazing ability?’
I know that Chaos has amazing power. It is amazing that the power of a single academy student can defeat the Zephyria army.
However, the lab’s troops are only a small part of Zephyria’s army.
Even if Chaos is strong, it cannot deal with the entire Zephyria army. And making them enemies is the same as opposing Hellion.
No matter how much I thought about it, this was a fight with no chance of winning.
“Whoa…”
Veronica sighed naturally.
She felt extremely helpless.
‘Mom is living well now… Does she really need to dig into this? What does Helena say? Is she obsessed with this? Am I doing something for nothing?’
My mind was confused.
‘Isn’t it okay to just live like this?’
… It might be so.
‘Did Ronia, the old mother… Want the life she has now? My current life where my mind has been manipulated?’
Veronica felt uncomfortable in her chest for some reason.
And something in her boiled over.
Her head knows.
It’s right to let go of her now.
If something goes wrong, even Ronia could be in danger.
But if she leaves like this… Veronica felt like she would regret it for the rest of her life.
‘What is my true purpose?’
The goal is to find out the dark side that manipulated Ronia’s mind and return her mind to its original state.
‘What should I do to do that?’
What if Zephyr’s allies uncover her past atrocities… And make her admit that she has been mentally manipulated?
If that happens, Ronia will also receive normal treatment and return to her original spirit.
But the process is not smooth.
No, it was almost impossible.
Veronica wondered if such a thing would be possible even if she had to dedicate her whole life to it.
Fortunately, I now have a reliable colleague by my side. One part of my heart felt a little at ease.
Veronica’s eyes began to come to life again.
There was a firm determination in her eyes.
