Chapter 58 Negotiation

That afternoon, Lizzie wheeled Hesta back to her hospital room. Just before leaving, she seemed to recall something. "Oh right, didn't Turan come by this afternoon?"

"No," Hesta shook her head. "Did you see her here?"

"Yes... I ran into her near the basement elevators when I was coming over this afternoon. She said she was coming to see you."

Hesta thought for a moment. "Maybe she couldn't find the right room?"

Lizzie wore a surprised expression—surely not.

"But she really hasn't been to my room today," Hesta said. "Why don't you go ask Rico?"

"I was just planning to head over there now," Lizzie smiled. "Rico's condition has improved lately. Maybe the two of you can be discharged together."

...

Beneath the gloomy sky, Chiba drove alone to the Tanya City Hall, and the moment she looked up, she spotted someone waiting for her in the distance—the deputy secretary-general of the municipal secretariat.

"Mr. Aaron!" Chiba rolled down her car window and gave a warm greeting. "Are you really out here to welcome me personally? I am deeply honored."

The middle-aged man across from her appeared somewhat stiff, having been nervously fidgeting with his cufflinks just a moment prior.

After Chiba spoke, he gave a light cough and responded politely, "We didn't expect Ms. Chiba to personally deliver the documents, otherwise we certainly would have sent a car to pick you up."

"It's just a quick run, no need to make such a fuss."

The car engine died with a couple of quiet chirps. Chiba stepped out holding a package of documents and walked briskly over to Aaron.

Aaron's gaze inevitably drifted toward the document bag in Chiba's hand. He turned slightly to gesture toward her. "Please, this way."

The two of them walked through the tall, wide corridors of City Hall, passing row after row of grayish-white stone pillars before entering the interior of the building.

The council hall's floor was old and dim, and the heels of Chiba and Aaron struck hard, echoing sharply against the surface.

"I heard you went to the Fifth District not long ago?" Aaron asked.

"Mm."

"How is the situation over there? Word is it was another chelate tide..."

"Indeed," Chiba answered indifferently, "but it hasn't had much impact on the habitable zones of the Fifth District, and all existing chelates have already been cleared to zero. You don't need to worry."

Both of their voices were very soft, yet they still sent echoes reverberating through the gloomy, enclosed corridor.

Aaron sighed. "How could one not worry? But perhaps I simply pay too much attention to news of this sort... Over the past few months, chelate disease seems to have resurged across the wastelands in various districts."

Chiba smiled. "That is certainly true."

The two stopped before a heavy, solid wooden door. Aaron pushed it open, revealing four people already seated inside the conference room. A massive oval table stood in the very center of the room, with a crystal chandelier suspended from the middle of the ceiling. The four individuals sat in a row along the window-side of the oval table.

Upon seeing Chiba, three of the four immediately stood up.

Some of the four faces before her Chiba recognized; others she did not.

"Hello, everyone," she greeted them, walking straight to the seats opposite the four and sitting down.

Once seated, the air seemed like frozen ice; no one spoke first.

"Let's get straight to the point," Chiba broke the silence first, tossing the document bag in her hand directly onto the table opposite her. "Here is Hesta's personal file. When the transfer process begins depends entirely on when City Hall issues the transfer notice to the base. At that time, we will cooperate fully. In other words... Congratulations, you've won."

The people opposite exchanged glances, appearing somewhat restrained instead. The person sitting in the middle gave a cough. "We are also regretful that the situation has developed to this point. After all, allowing Hesta to leave the Quicksilver Needle organization and return to a peaceful life in the habitable zone is the wish of the citizens."

Chiba clasped her hands together, wearing a smile. "Of course, everything depends on the will of the people. We made concessions for the exact same reason, choosing to let Hesta return among the citizens."

Hearing this, the people opposite quickly began unsealing the document bag. The documents inside were thick, containing Hesta's personal information, medical examination results, and the various procedures completed when she first entered the base.

The stern expressions of the several officials relaxed slightly. They quickly put the documents back into the paper bag and handed it up to Aaron, who sat at the very end. "Delays breed trouble. Be sure to issue the transfer notice to the base this very afternoon—"

"I wouldn't be in such a hurry if I were you," Chiba said with a smile.

The man holding the documents paused his movements and looked at Chiba. "Does the base still have some conditions?"

"No conditions. It's just that Hesta is still recuperating at the base hospital. Even if you submit the documents today, we won't be able to begin preparations for the transfer immediately. Everything depends on Hesta's recovery progress."

"Injured?" Several officials looked extremely surprised. "How could she be injured? Is it serious?"

"Not serious. She had a conflict with another reserve at the base, and when things didn't go their way, she beat the other person until they suffered a fracture, while picking up a few minor injuries herself," Chiba said with a smile. "Still, it's no big deal. Kids this age are bound to have a rebellious streak."

"...How long for recovery?"

"Two or three days, I suppose," Chiba replied offhandedly.

"Then there's no problem with us sending the files over today," another official told Chiba. "That way, it will also leave you with more preparation time."

Chiba shrugged. Hearing their watertight explanations, the smile in her eyes deepened. "As you wish. At least I've given you fair warning."

With that, Aaron took the documents and left the room.

The entire room fell silent once more. Chiba leaned back slightly. "Let's talk about something more important now. How do you intend to clean up the current mess?"

"Tomorrow, we will hold a press conference," answered the official on the far left. "The news of Hesta's return to the habitable zone will be announced across the entire Third District through multiple channels. As Ms. Chiba surely knows, things have escalated far beyond our imagination. Over the past two weeks, more than half of the 47 habitable zones in the Third District have erupted in protests..."

At this point, the official deliberately paused, shifting his tone to a rather optimistic one as he looked at Chiba. "However, we believe that your side's concession this time will surely quell this unprovoked disaster."

"What about more practical measures? The subsequent fallout from these protests has seriously disrupted the normal operations of the base. Since you've already scheduled a press conference without even giving us a heads-up, isn't that a bit unreasonable?" Chiba tapped her fingers lightly against the table. "What about the procedures?"

The elderly person sitting opposite who had remained silent the entire time suddenly raised his head. "Naturally, even if you hadn't asked, we would have contacted you as soon as possible."

Chiba looked at him. "Pardon me, and you are?"

The official beside the elderly man quickly spoke, "This is Mr. Robert, the Secretary-General of City Hall, and the chief officer in charge of this incident—"

"Pleased to meet you," Chiba leaned forward and extended her hand toward the old man. "Chiba Masaki."

Yet at that moment, Robert removed his glasses. With his gaze lowered, he began wiping the lenses with a handkerchief he carried with him, thus skillfully avoiding Chiba's outstretched hand.