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"Yes, you're lying."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Politics is the art of deception. Why do you think those congressmen oppose your bill? It's not because they genuinely believe the Cursed Children is dangerous, but because their voters do. They're afraid of losing votes, so they oppose it. If you make them feel that opposing the bill is more dangerous than supporting it, they will support it."
The Seitenshi looked at him for a long time.
"You... you're right. But I can't do it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to become like that, I don't want to become someone who rules the people with fear, I don't want to become someone like Akuto's assistant, I don't want to become someone I hate."
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment.
"Then we won't use that. We'll use another method."
What method?
"Gather the Cursed Children together."
The Seitenshi's brow furrowed slightly.
"To be concentrated in one place? Like a prison?"
"It's not a prison, it's a protected area. You can use reasons like conducting experiments, protecting humanity, or preventing the Cursed Children from turning into Gastrea and causing harm to gather them from various cities into one place. Provide them with limited food, shelter, and medical care. No one will object, because it's about protecting humanity."
Although it could very likely provoke large-scale riots by some extremists.
No, if I weren't there, her strategy would have led to a very bad outcome!
After all, this is practically setting up a huge and conspicuous target.
Therefore, Higashino Makoto was actually somewhat hoping that the other party would refute him...
"But isn't this still imprisonment?"
Higashino Makoto stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating his profile.
"It's imprisonment, but only temporarily. So, are you willing to agree to this?"
"Maybe... we can give it a try..."
Higashino Makoto let out a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat disappointed.
However, she's ultimately just a decorative figurehead, so we can't expect too much from her.
At least, she was willing to work for the Cursed Children.
They are already better than 99% of the people in the world.
As for the weakness that it is easily exploited.
But if I were the one taking advantage of her, then this wouldn't be a flaw.
That's a virtue belonging to rulers... Listen to my advice.
"I'll handle what happens after that. I'll take them away, to a place without discrimination, without fear, without the threat of Gastrea. There, they can live normal lives—study, work, make friends, just like everyone else."
The Seitenshi stood up, walked to his side, and stood with him by the window.
"How... how are you going to take them away?"
"I have my methods. You don't need to know the specific details; you just need to know... I can do it."
The Seitenshi looked at him, at the calm, unyielding light in those golden eyes.
Why... why are you helping them?
"Because I like it."
What do you like?
"I love those children. Their eyes are beautiful, red, and so clear. Even when they're hit, scolded, or treated like monsters, their eyes remain pure."
He turned his head and looked at her.
"And you? Why are you helping them?"
The Seitenshi remained silent for a long time.
"Because... when I see them cry, I want to cry too. When I see them die, I feel pain too. When I see those adults beating them, I feel anger too."
Her voice was very soft.
"I don't know if this is a grand principle. But I know I don't want to see those children suffer anymore."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"Then do it this way."
The Seitenshi took a deep breath.
"Alright, I'll make the arrangements. Gather all the Cursed Children from across Japan in the outskirts of Tokyo, under the guise of preventing Gastrea and conducting medical research. Those lawmakers won't object, because it's about protecting humanity."
"What about the public? Will they object?"
"No. Because they inherently hate the Cursed Children. Concentrating what they hate in an unseen place will only please them."
Her lips curled up slightly, but the smile carried a hint of bitterness.
"You're right, kindness can't overcome fear. But using someone else's fear to protect those children... is that kindness?"
"I don't care."
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the door.
What they think or how they see me is none of my business. But at least it's better than doing nothing.
He took a few steps, then stopped without looking back.
"The Seitenshi."
"Um."
"You're more than just a pretty face. A pretty face won't stay there for those kids this long. A pretty face just sits there waiting to be cleaned. You, at least, are doing something."
He stepped out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
The Seitenshi stood there, gazing at the closed door, and remained silent for a long time.
Then she went back behind her desk, sat down, and picked up the proposal for the "Gastrea New Law."
My finger lightly traced across the document.
"Concentrated..."
She said in a low voice.
"Gather the children together... and then... take them away..."
"Can I trust you, Mr. Higashino?"
She wasn't sure, but she knew it was the closest path to protecting those children.
She put down the documents and picked up the phone.
"Assistant to the Heavenly Child."
Three days later, the Tokyo Area government issued a notice.
The announcement's title was long and meticulously worded, full of the convoluted and redundant language typical of official documents.
But the core message is only one thing --
"To prevent the Cursed Children becoming Gastrea and to protect national and public safety, effective immediately, all Cursed Children within Japan will be centrally managed, medically observed, and provided with basic living support in a unified manner outside Tokyo."
On the day the announcement was released, two completely different opinions emerged on the streets of Tokyo.
The first is cheering.
"Finally, someone's taking care of those monsters! It's been a long time coming! They're always wandering the streets, stealing, fighting—it's so annoying!"
"It's good that they're grouped together! Now that they're grouped together, we don't have to worry about them suddenly turning into Gastrea!"
"The government is finally doing something practical!"
The second type is questioning.
"Concentrate? Concentrate where? In the outer area? Isn't that a nuclear power plant and a landfill?"
"Health management? Medical observation? That sounds nice, but isn't it just imprisonment?"
"Those children are human beings too!"
But this voice was too small, too small to be drowned out by the wave of cheers.
No one heard it.
Or rather, nobody wants to listen.