In the end, Figaro stormed off. He understood that there was absolutely no way he could obtain those units from Xiao Ran through legitimate means, and Xiao Ran's repeated mockery had left him humiliated and enraged. He had completely abandoned any intention of acquiring the two units currently parked at the artificial harbor inside the module through normal means.
But that was precisely what Xiao Ran wanted. After Figaro slammed the door and left, Xiao Ran turned to Nanami Rion and said, "Ms. Nanami Rion, please gather all the students in the gymnasium immediately. Right now."
Nanami Rion hurriedly rose to her feet, nodded, and ran out of the principal's office. Xiao Ran then looked at the only person remaining in the office. "Haruto, do you understand now? ARUS's intentions, and who we can truly rely on at present. Especially what ARUS will do once they learn that those machines can only be piloted by students from this academy."
Haruto nodded hesitantly, a trace of sorrow flashing through his eyes. "I understand. The only people we can rely on are ourselves. And the only ones who can save our families are ourselves."
"It's good that you understand." Xiao Ran stood, walked around the desk, and gently patted Haruto's shoulder. "It may be too heavy to tell you some things right now, but you need to know that whether we surrender to the Dolcia Military State or side with ARUS, we will lose our only safeguard. We will also lose any guarantee of the students' families' safety. So those machines must never be handed over to anyone other than ourselves."
"I'm sorry for what I said to you before. Our current circumstances cannot allow even the slightest weakness to exist, especially when that weakness appears in someone who can determine whether