Rhein was the last to hear the news.
The order in which District 25 learned the news fell roughly into four categories. The first was firsthand information Jonas deliberately shared, with the Nathen Conglomerate as the prime example: Chelsea received her intelligence directly from Jonas. The second was information the Alt Conglomerate deliberately released, to parties such as the fence-sitting "allies" in the District 25 alliance.
The third category consisted of organizations like the Arbitration Bureau, which used their own intelligence networks to gather information across District 25. They generally learned things only slightly later than those in the second category. The last method was to hear the news only after it had spread through practically the entire circle. Miss Rhein of Senna Life was a textbook example.
Senna Life actually had a fairly good intelligence network in District 25. Unfortunately, Jonas had deliberately obstructed its channels, making Senna Life one of the last organizations to learn the news.
Or rather, making Miss Rhein one of the last people to learn it.
It had to be said that Miss Rhein's ability to turn an advantage into a disadvantage was truly embarrassing to behold, and her personality had no small part in it. In short, unless she changed her ways, she would probably be stuck with this passive ability forever.
Of course, in a certain sense, it was an ability that defied heaven itself. That description referred not merely to its power, but to how contrary it was to all reason.
Senna Life.
Rhein stared at the intelligence her secretary had brought her, beginning to doubt herself. She could practically feel her blood pressure rising and her head swimming.
"Mass-production technology for fourth-generation Tactical Mecha... Are you sure this news is true?"
At Rhein's question, the young secretary replied awkwardly:
"This