Late at night, Simoya hurried to the work station. Hesta had ordered her to reach the southern district of Grenoble within four hours—given the potential danger there, she also had to bring two soldiers with some combat experience.
At eleven o'clock, King's Avenue was deserted. Simoya's footsteps struck the pavement, sending echoes surging through the street. Though her anger was nearly boiling over, she immediately complied with Hesta's orders and submitted a requisition to deploy personnel from the work station—ten minutes later, she and the two soldiers, along with a pilot, would board a helicopter bound for Grenoble.
Hesta was still sending her a steady stream of messages, reminding her not to forget this and not to forget that—Simoya did not look at any of them.
Then the phone rang, and almost at that exact moment, Simoya's anger reached its peak.
"Don't push it too far! I'm already carrying out the orders you gave—"
"Simoya," Kendall's voice came from the other end of the line. "It's me."
Simoya stopped at once.
She closed her eyes and gripped the phone tightly. After doing her utmost to compose herself, she dug her fingers deep into her hair.
"...Sorry. I thought it was someone else."
"Jane Hesta?"
"Yes..."
"I noticed that you seem to have requisitioned the work station's helicopter again tonight?"
"Yes, Kendall. Hesta needs me to head to southern Grenoble immediately and provide protection for two civilians who are incapable of protecting themselves—"
"We have an important meeting tomorrow morning. Do you remember? It concerns..." Kendall deliberately paused for a moment. "You haven't forgotten your responsibilities, have you?"
"Sorry, Kendall... I-I really have no way to deal with Hesta..." Simoya's fingertips clawed hard at her scalp. It took every ounce of her strength to force out her next words. "I... I