The Path to Liberation

"What kind of article are you talking about?"

"Miss Fletcher, I understand how you must be feeling right now—"

"Please answer my question directly and stop making excuses," Liz's eyes were practically spitting fire. "What exactly are you worried about?"

Molly's expression showed a hint of fatigue. She sighed softly, took off her thin-rimmed glasses, and leaned back slightly. "Perhaps you know, there have been some protests in the downtown area of Tanyi City these past few days."

Liz blinked. "…What protests?"

"The citizens are demanding that the Third District United Government negotiate with us, hand over Jane Hesta, and let her return to living among civilians."

As she spoke, Molly pushed a newspaper in front of Liz.

The moment Liz unfolded it, she frowned at the portrait on the front page. She looked up at Molly. "Is this… Jane?"

Molly nodded.

The newspaper's headline was printed in heavy ink: "Let Her Be Free – Save Her, The Girl Surrounded by Misfortune."

Liz silently read the report on the entire page, then quietly placed the newspaper back on the table.

"Never underestimate the public's sympathy for a little girl," Molly said in a low voice. "Especially since she was so brave, confronting the Chelated Being at a critical moment and saving all the children in the abbey at the cost of her own serious injuries. Who could bear to let her live the rest of her life in danger? After today, the entire Third District will likely be paying attention to her whereabouts."

Liz's brow relaxed slightly. "…So you're worried about that."

"This matter cannot escalate further," Molly pinched the bridge of her nose. "If word gets out, it will surely be seen as the base being unable to provide protection for Hesta… This will only make public opinion more fervent."

Liz looked at the girl with flaxen hair in the newspaper. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "But if you're going to suspend the investigation into Shawn for this, doesn't that just prove that we really can't protect Jane?"

"Suspending the investigation is not stopping it," Molly corrected. "Although there are no official documents, we can still restrict Shawn's actions."

"…Then it would be better to just follow everyone's suggestion and let her leave," Liz looked at Molly. "Since she doesn't know anything now, it might be good for her to leave the base and live a normal life."

Molly smiled, seemingly not angered by Liz's words. "…When we discussed countermeasures in the meeting before, someone suggested that too, but Chiba rejected it."

"Chiba?" Liz laughed in disbelief. "I thought she would just wash her hands of it."

"She's more than just someone who lets things go," Molly's gaze shifted back to the newspaper, and she said in a low voice, "The fact that Hesta can stay at the base now is thanks to Chiba Masaki's quick response. If she hadn't gone through the adoption procedures to get the child's identity before the Military Police finished verifying the list of children at the abbey, it's unlikely we could have legally brought her into the base.

"After all, from a legal standpoint, since Hesta is already registered at Saint Anne Abbey, she is one of the legal citizens of Tanyi City in the Third District, and the city hall has priority for her accommodation."

"Then what does Teacher Chiba think about this protest?"

Molly continued, "In the past, for civilian organizations to protest, from application submission to officially taking to the streets, it would take at least two weeks of review and preparation. But this time, from submitting the application to the actual protest, it happened in less than three days. If there wasn't someone specifically giving them the green light, they couldn't have managed it. Furthermore, even if Hesta were to leave the base, what awaits her wouldn't be a so-called 'normal life,' but merely serving the United Government.

"Chiba's opinion is that to keep Jane Hesta, we can 'spare no expense,' those were her exact words," Molly said.

Liz took a deep breath.

"Liz," Molly's tone softened slightly, "although it might sound a bit cold, perhaps you're investing too much energy and emotion into this matter."

Liz opened her mouth first, but didn't refute. After a moment, she simply said softly, "…I am Jane's aide."

Molly clasped her hands. "The base's initial intention in punishing Shawn was to warn him that what he did was wrong, but now we also need to understand the reason – why he's showing such unusual attention to the newly arrived Hesta."

Molly looked at Liz. "Being overly focused on the punishment itself doesn't always mean justice is served, don't you think?"

Liz was silent for a moment, then stood up and picked up her hat to put it on.

"…I'll think about it carefully."

Molly smiled slightly. "I remember Valenti mentioned this morning that she plans to schedule a short interview with Calvin. Perhaps you could find an opportunity to chat with her; she might have some information valuable to both you and Hesta."

In the evening, Chiba drove Hesta back to the base. Although it had rained briefly today, the clouds had now cleared.

The setting sun in the distance cast a dim golden hue over the entire world. Chiba stopped the car.

"Don't forget to send me your class schedule when you get back, so I know when you're usually free and can book your visiting times in advance – be prepared, I might come to pick you up at any time."

"Okay."

"We need to resolve this as soon as possible," Chiba gently rubbed the textured leather of the steering wheel. "The longer it drags on, the more complicated it gets. It all depends on your shooting progress."

Hesta, who had been unbuckling her seatbelt, suddenly paused. Chiba immediately noticed the change in her movement. "What's wrong?"

"I was thinking, maybe there's a better way to solve this," Hesta looked ahead, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I want to keep this method as a trump card. If the base can't solve my problem, and Shawn makes further moves, then—"

Hesta's voice cut off as she heard a sigh with a hint of amusement from Chiba's side. She turned her head to look. "What are you smiling about, Miss Chiba?"

Chiba looked at her. "When did you start having such fantasies?"

"I asked Ms. Moly's secretary. Tanyi City prohibits firearms, and carrying a gun without approval within the base is also forbidden. If I really took the risk, I might face punishment like Shawn."

"Did the base's punishment restrict Shawn's actions?"

"…No."

"Then why should you be restricted by something like that?"

Hesta was momentarily speechless. The words Liz had spoken the night before – "A world where the weak must endure bullying is wrong," and "When someone paves the way for justice with sweat and blood" – flashed through Hesta's mind. But at this moment, she couldn't articulate them smoothly.

She frowned slightly. "But using violence to counter violence will only… uh, push everyone in a more extreme direction."

"Don't think about such things; that's for Molly and the others to consider."

"…Why?"

"Because this isn't something you can control," Chiba said softly. "Shawn chose you first."

"Molly and the others always want to solve problems from the root. There's bullying targeting newcomers in our base, which must have a reason: problems with the perpetrators themselves, loopholes in the system, contributing factors from popular culture or subcultures... the list goes on.

"Thinking from the perpetrator's perspective to understand why they do evil, and then considering how to make them stop, that's something others need to consider. You don't.

"Remember what I told you last time? Violence has no boundaries; its limits depend solely on the reactions of both parties."

Chiba lowered her head to get a cigarette, and the light flared up before her eyes.

"For the weak, revenge is the only path to liberation."

Happy Qixi Festival to everyone! Future updates will all be at 7:00 AM!