When Chiba and the rescue team rushed into the Safe Room one after another, everything was already over.
The medics quickly carried Shawn away. After giving Tulan's abdominal wound some basic treatment, they immediately sent her to the Resuscitation Room on the same floor.
Only Hesta remained sitting there in a daze, covered in blood, both hands still tightly clutching the Chelated Being's head.
Chiba crouched in front of her and softly called her name.
Hesta looked up at Chiba—like Tulan's, Chiba's eyes were ringed with a silvery-white edge.
Hesta's throat moved slightly. After a long while, she spoke as if talking to herself.
"I... killed a Chelated Being, Miss Chiba."
Hesta lowered her head and slowly pulled the pistol from the Chelated Being's eye socket, gently wiping away the remaining blood and bits of flesh.
"With... the gun you gave me."
That night, six people gathered in a conference room somewhere in the base to attend an online AHgAs meeting. Chiba's seat remained empty. She had neither requested leave nor attended.
This was an internal hearing concerning the District 3 Reserve Base. Such a major incident had occurred at the District 3 Reserve Base during Molly's tenure, and AHgAs headquarters could not ignore it.
The hearing consisted of five Order Officers from Reserve Bases in other districts. Molly had to explain the cause of the incident, the progress of its handling, and future preventive measures, while also submitting to questioning.
Only half a day had passed, yet the investigation had already begun to take shape—ever since this year's routine Secondary Awakening training had begun, Tulan had repeatedly applied for live combat exercises with Chelated Beings. Nearly all the instructors at the base knew of Tulan's desire to fight. Though no one said it aloud, many privately regretted how brief