You're Amazing

Shawn's smile completely vanished from his face. The shift from a smile to disdain was so swift, so natural, it was as if the very air around him had turned frigid in an instant.

"Then let me put it another way, Hesta. You might think this is a habitable place, a place where justice prevails for everyone, but every place has its own laws, and some laws transcend regions. It's the same on Hekla, in Duanming Alley, and in the base."

Hearing him mention "Duanming Alley," Hesta slightly focused. "…Have you been to Duanming Alley?"

"No," Shawn replied frankly. "But it can't be too different from Hekla. I believe you understand what I'm saying."

"I don't," Hesta lowered her head slightly. "Please explain more clearly."

"I have leverage over you, Hesta." Shawn's voice was very soft. "Think about it, if Ms. Moly knew about your private scheming, do you think she would still protect you as she did before? And Liz, she would be greatly disappointed in you—she's a fanatic for procedural justice, her mind as dead as a centuries-old zombie. They both care more about order than they do about you, but I'm different. In some matters, you'll find I'm much more reliable than Liz."

Hesta chuckled. "…In what way?"

"I understand you, I understand you perfectly. You've simply brought your habits from Duanming Alley into the base. We're all familiar with this approach; it's the people here who don't understand, they've been coddled for too long."

Hesta exhaled with an expression of disgust, which Shawn watched with a grin.

"Haha, I know you won't like hearing this—no one would—but this is the truth. Unlike others, I won't lie to you with high-sounding words—"

Hesta reached up to her forehead, whispering, "Miss Tulan, please come out. I really… can't listen anymore."

In an instant, Shawn's expression froze. Strange noises came from the corner of the stairwell below him; he hadn't noticed someone was hiding there.

After a burst of electronic static, he heard a familiar string of dialogue:

"Has anyone ever complimented your hair? …What? …No wonder people used to pay a fortune to buy Hesta people's hair. But why don't you wear it long? Girls should all have long hair…"

The voice cut off abruptly. At the same time, Tulan, wearing the same short-sleeved shirt, appeared at the top of the stairs, catching both their eyes.

"Not bad. It wasn't a complete recording… but the crucial parts are all there." Tulan pocketed her phone, squinting as she gave Shawn a thumbs-up. "You're really something, Shawn. You're really something."

"You… you conspired to set a trap for me?"

"How can you call this a trap? Hesta and I went downstairs to shower. She came out first, and I followed behind," Tulan said coldly. "This is called coincidence, serendipity, just happening to run into you."

"Heh, audio recordings made without the consent of the parties involved have no legal validity—"

"What legal validity?" Tulan laughed. "Wait until Liz hears this recording when she gets back, and you'll see if she's a fanatic for order. I suggest you make an appointment at the base hospital now. By then, she'll have beaten you so badly even your brother wouldn't recognize you."

Shawn frowned. After a moment of panic, he regained some composure.

"Do you think the people at the base will really punish me severely for such an insignificant matter?" he asked mockingly, looking at Hesta. "Fundamentally, we are both very rare tools, belonging to AHgAs before we belong to ourselves. The balance in this habitable zone is too stable—as long as I haven't committed a major crime, no one will really do anything to me. Your Liz can't, and neither can Ms. Moly."

"If they can't, they can't. But I advise you not to act rashly right now," Hesta said softly. "You and Tulan are both Quicksilver Needles after your Secondary Awakening. If you really make a move here, it won't do you any good."

Shawn's throat bobbed. "…What do you want?"

"The recording might not be released, as long as you stop now and don't bother me again." Hesta looked at him. "Of course, if you do come looking for me again, I have a backup plan… I keep my word, Shawn."

"Oh, go ahead, it's best to make a move now," Tulan laughed. "On the night the main contingent leaves the base, two reserve Quicksilver Needles start a Bullet Time brawl in the dormitory area—just the thought is exciting. I'm really curious, with my limited Bullet Time, if I can beat you to a pulp?"

Shawn's gaze swept over the two of them. He said nothing, turning and running towards the other end of the corridor.

Tulan, standing in place, couldn't help but burst into laughter. She shouted at Shawn's retreating back, "I know you won't like hearing this, no one would, but—this is the truth. After all, unlike others, I won't lie to you with high-sounding words: Go back to your room and play with your balls, Shawn—"

Hesta watched Shawn's figure disappear into the darkness of the corridor. She finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

Tulan waved her hand, her tone light. "It was nothing. But how did you know he was definitely going to bother you today?"

Hesta tilted her head slightly. "…A feeling?"

Tulan gave Hesta a thumbs-up, and they smiled at each other before going upstairs together to their room. Soon, Tulan copied the recording and then knocked on Hesta's door.

"Come in, the door isn't locked."

Tulan pushed the door open but didn't enter. She looked at Hesta, who was at her desk. "Writing in your diary?"

"Mm."

"I brought tonight's recording. I saved a copy for myself, and this one's for you."

Tulan extended her left hand, tossing a new recording pen towards Hesta. Hesta was caught off guard but still caught it quickly.

"Just keep it in your pocket. The next time you encounter a situation like this, even if I'm not there, you can collect evidence yourself."

It was a silver recording pen, only as large as a normal fountain pen. It had a small electronic screen on the side, with a button next to it.

"Thanks… Is there a manual?"

"No, I threw that stuff out long ago," Tulan replied. "Figure it out yourself. It's not difficult."

"…Okay."

"By the way," Tulan said, crossing her arms. "Are you really not going to tell Liz or Moly about what happened tonight?"

"No need. Some evidence is more useful kept in hand than released."

"…You don't trust Liz to get justice for you?"

Hesta put away the recording pen and stood up.

"It's not that I don't trust her," Hesta looked at Tulan. "But I think Shawn is right. The base won't really make things difficult for him. Fines, rating downgrades—that kind of action is probably the limit. Ultimately, this isn't something Liz can control."

Tulan seemed surprised. "Why do you say that?"

"Before I came here, Miss Chiba told me there were only a little over four thousand active Quicksilver Needles in the world," Hesta replied softly. "And the number of Quicksilver Needles in District 3 is particularly scarce—just over two hundred, making up about 5% of the total. That means every reserve here is very precious. I don't think the base would easily give up on anyone. Let alone minor skirmishes like Shawn's, even if he had committed a serious crime, he would likely still have his value."

Tulan frowned slightly—it seemed to make sense.

She was silent for a moment. "…Anyway, don't listen to Shawn. Liz isn't someone who cares more about order than about her companions. I think because this is her first time as an adjutant, she's restricted in many things. She's always been a very reliable partner."

Thanks to Chi Huo Shi Lu Zhi Jiu for the tip and monthly votes~