At the Alt Conglomerate, in his office, Jonas held a cup of coffee and leisurely checked his Communicator. Celine and Afanisi were in front of him, playing little games.
With someone else present, Celine refrained from playing those games full of taboo and unsettling elements. Instead, she held a retro game console and played by hand.
Afanisi clasped her hands. Rather than sitting beside Jonas, she sat near Celine, occasionally glancing at Jonas and silently beginning to pray.
"The Federation hasn't made a move these past few days. They're probably plotting something big again."
An incoming call interrupted Jonas's thoughts about the Federation's silence. He glanced at the name flashing on the screen-Noel-set his coffee aside, and answered immediately.
"Noel?" Jonas sounded calm and gentle, just as refined and easygoing as he was on the inside.
"It's me." Noel sounded a little nervous, but not nearly as nervous as when she had told Jonas that Dorothy intended to use the Space-Based Weapon to attack District 25.
Celine and Afanisi noticed the change in Jonas's expression. They stopped what they were doing and watched him attentively.
"The Federation is making a move," Noel said. Her voice relaxed, gradually losing its earlier tension.
Jonas's tone remained easygoing. "Tell me. What's going on?"
"Dorothy is secretly mobilizing resources and personnel. I suspect she's planning a large-scale operation, but I don't know what exactly she intends to do." Noel gave a detailed account of her observations and analysis.
She had thoroughly become a traitor to the Federation. There was no going back now.
Jonas fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject. "Have you completely given up on Dorothy now?"
"...I'm not sure. But I'm afraid Dorothy will do something like attack civilians with the Space-Based Weapon again. It feels like she's become