Chapter 31: The Path to Liberation

"What kind of narrative are you trying to craft?"

"Miss Fletcher, I can understand how you feel right now—"

"Please answer my question directly and stop making excuses." Liz’s eyes were practically ablaze. "What is it that you are so worried about?"

Molly’s expression betrayed a hint of fatigue. She sighed softly, removed her thin-rimmed glasses, and leaned back slightly. "Perhaps you are aware that there have been demonstrations in the urban area of Tanyi City over the past few days."

Liz was taken aback. "...What demonstrations?"

"The citizens are demanding that the Third District Joint Government negotiate with us to hand over Jane Hesta, so she can return to living among the common people."

As she spoke, Molly pushed a newspaper toward Liz.

The moment Liz unfolded it, she frowned at the portrait on the front page. She looked up at Molly. "Is this... Jane?"

Molly nodded.

The headline was printed in heavy ink: "Set Her Free—Save the Girl Besieged by Misfortune."

Liz read the entire report in silence, then placed the newspaper back on the table without a word.

"Never underestimate the public’s sympathy for a little girl," Molly said in a low voice. "Especially one who so heroically confronted the chelates at a critical moment, suffering severe injuries to save all the children in the monastery. Who could bear to let her spend the rest of her life in danger? After today, the entire Third District will likely be fixated on her whereabouts."

Liz’s brow relaxed slightly. "...So, this is what you were worried about."

"This matter cannot be allowed to escalate any further," Molly said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "If word gets out, it will inevitably be perceived as the base failing to provide protection for Hesta... that will only make the public sentiment more volatile."

Liz gazed at the flaxen-haired girl in the newspaper. After a moment of silence, she said quietly, "But if you suspend the investigation into Sean because of this, doesn't that prove that we truly are unable to protect Jane?"

"Suspending the investigation is not the same as stopping it," Molly corrected. "Even without formal documentation, we can still restrict Sean's actions."

"...Then it would be better to just follow everyone's suggestion and let her go." Liz looked at Molly. "She doesn't know anything anyway; leaving the base to live the life of an ordinary person wouldn't be so bad."

Molly smiled; she did not seem offended by Liz's words. "...When we held the meeting to discuss how to respond, others suggested the same thing, but Chiba rejected it."

"Chiba?" Liz laughed in disbelief. "I thought she would just let things be."

"She is far from letting things be," Molly said, shifting her gaze back to the newspaper. "The only reason Hesta is able to stay at the base now is thanks to Chiba Masaki’s quick reaction. If she hadn't bypassed the standard procedure and secured the child's identity before the Military Police could verify the monastery's registry, it would have been nearly impossible for us to legally bring her into the base."

"After all, legally speaking, since Hesta had already registered her identity at St. Anne’s Monastery, she is a lawful citizen of Tanyi City in the Third District. The City Hall has the right of priority for her custody."

"Then how does Instructor Chiba view these demonstrations?"

Molly continued, "In the past, when civilian organizations held demonstrations, the application and approval process took at least two weeks of review and preparation. This time, from the submission of the application to the start of the demonstration, it took less than three days. They could never have managed this without someone behind the scenes giving them the green light. Furthermore, even if we let Hesta leave the base, what awaits her is not some 'ordinary life'—it would simply be a life of slaving away for the Joint Government.

"Chiba’s opinion is that in order to keep Jane Hesta, we can 'spare no cost.' Those were her exact words," Molly said.

Liz took a deep breath.

"Liz," Molly’s tone softened slightly, "though it may sound cold, perhaps you have invested too much energy and emotion into this matter."

Liz started to speak, but she did not refute the point. After a while, she simply said softly, "...I am Jane’s aide."

Molly clasped her hands together. "The original intention behind the base punishing Sean was to warn him that his actions were wrong, but now we also need to understand the reason—why he would show such unusual concern for the newcomer, Hesta."

Molly looked at Liz. "Being overly obsessed with punishment itself does not always mean that justice has been served. Don't you think?"

Liz was silent for a moment, then stood up and picked up her hat.

"...I will think about it."

Molly smiled slightly. "I remember that Valentine mentioned this morning that she intends to ask Galvin for a short visit. Perhaps you can find an opportunity to talk to her; she should have some information that is valuable to both you and Hesta."

...

In the evening, Chiba drove Hesta back to the base. Although there had been a brief rain shower earlier, the clouds had cleared.

The sunset in the distance gilded the world in a dim, golden light as Chiba parked the car.

"Don't forget to send me a copy of your schedule when you get back, so I know when you're free. Let’s get your visitation times set up—be prepared, I might come to pick you up at any time."

"Understood."

"We need to get this resolved as soon as possible," Chiba said, rubbing the leather texture of the steering wheel. "The longer it drags on, the more trouble it brings. It’s best not to delay—it all depends on your shooting progress."

Hesta, who had been unbuckling her seatbelt, suddenly slowed down. Chiba caught the change in her movement almost immediately. "What's wrong?"

"I was thinking, perhaps there is a better solution than this." Hesta stared ahead, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I want to keep this method as a trump card, a last resort. If the base cannot resolve my problem and Sean takes further action, then—"

Hesta’s voice cut off abruptly as she heard a sigh of amusement from Chiba. She glanced at her. "What is Miss Chiba laughing at?"

Chiba looked at her. "Since when did you start harboring such fantasies?"

"I asked Ms. Molly’s secretary; guns are banned in Tanyi City, and unauthorized possession of firearms within the base is also forbidden. If I were to take such a risk, I might face the same punishment as Sean."

"Has the base’s punishment restricted Sean’s actions?"

"...No."

"Then why should you be restricted by such things?"

Hesta was momentarily speechless. The words Liz had said the night before—about how "a world where the weak should endure bullying is wrong" and "when someone paves the road to justice with sweat and blood"—surfaced in her mind, but she couldn't articulate them fluently.

She frowned slightly. "But using violence to fight violence will only... well, push everyone in a more extreme direction."

"Don't worry about such questions; that’s for Molly and the others to consider."

"...Why?"

"Because that is not a part you can control," Chiba said softly. "It was Sean who chose you first."

"Molly and the others always hope to solve all problems at the root—bullying against newcomers has appeared in our base, and there must be a reason for it: the problems of the perpetrators themselves, loopholes in the system, the influence of popular factors in culture or subculture... and so on."

"Looking at it from the perpetrator’s perspective to understand why they act maliciously, and then thinking of ways to make them stop, that is something for others to consider. You don’t need to."

"Remember what I told you last time? Violence has no boundaries; its limits are determined solely by the reactions of both parties."

Chiba lowered her head to light a cigarette, the flame flickering before her eyes.

"For the weak, revenge is the only path to liberation."