Chiba raised an eyebrow slightly, calmly withdrew her hand, and sat back down.
Robert immediately put on his glasses.
Using the press conference as a starting point, Robert began talking at length. As Chiba listened, she flipped through the draft statement handed over from across the table.
Chiba understood the significance of this press conference very well—if the base refused to hand anyone over, it would be used to fan the flames; if the base complied, it would be used to glorify the United Government's humanitarian conduct.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted.
"Wait." Chiba held the statement out before the officials. "Please explain what this means—'We believe the same good fortune can befall more children'?"
Someone across from her lightly rubbed his nose.
"How should I put it? This is also what the public wants." Robert's tone remained calm. "I mean no offense, but most of AHgAs's operating principles are far too cruel."
"Such as?"
"Such as forcing Quicksilver Needles to leave the Habitable Zone and fight Chelated Beings in the wasteland."
Chiba tucked in her neck and forced out a double chin. "Do you know where new Quicksilver Needles are usually found?"
"That isn't important," Robert replied flatly. "What matters is that Quicksilver Needles are human too, and they should be protected and cherished. The dangers of the wasteland far surpass those of the Habitable Zone. Protection is extraordinarily difficult, and the price paid is immense. Yet every salvage operation brings back fewer than fifty reservists—the vast District 3 currently has barely more than two hundred active Quicksilver Needles. Is that reasonable?"
"It is perfectly reasonable," Chiba answered. "The number of Quicksilver Needles stationed in each district is closely linked to Chelation Disease outbreaks in that area. The more frequent the outbreaks, the more Quicksilver Needles there are. Aside from