The rain in City Hall Square had stopped.
The mayor of Tingen City stood atop the platform, clutching a brass megaphone.
Static crackled from the megaphone, amplifying his voice across the entire square.
It was nothing more than the usual official assurances about conducting a thorough investigation and showing no leniency.
Klein leaned against the rusted door of a police carriage and took off his soaked top hat to wring out the water.
Back home, this kind of spiel couldn't fool even the old ladies from the neighborhood committee.
Klein shook his head. Of course, that was under normal circumstances. This world had absurd things like Beyonder Abilities.
And just like that, with the cooperation of the official Beyonders, the crowd actually dispersed.
The workers trudged through puddles, carrying extinguished torches as they headed back in twos and threes.
In the end, only the rain-soaked protest slogans hanging from the iron fence before City Hall still proved that this rebellion had truly happened.
Just then, Dunn approached carrying the silver suitcase.
"The Demoness Sect's Assassins talked."
"They wanted to ignite the class conflict in Tingen City.
"This is a heavy industrial base, the Workers' Party has deep roots here, it's far from Backlund, and there aren't many Beyonders stationed here.
"As long as the first shot is fired, it can further trigger a civil war—"
Dunn pulled a crushed cigarette pack from his pocket, slipped a cheap cigarette between his lips, and struck a match to light it. Hearing that, Klein rubbed his aching temples.
They really knew how to pick a place—
"For the next few days, everyone's leave is canceled."
Dunn exhaled a smoke ring. The smoke could not disperse in the damp air. "Machinery Hivemind will handle the politicians. We'll be responsible for tracking and protecting the