Chapter 192
In the early morning, the Violets who were having breakfast faced an unexpected situation.
A few large air battleships were flying in from the direction of the western district.
“Wow! An air battleship!”
“Uh? But why are they coming here? That way leads to the academy city’s administrative offices…”
“Could it be?”
I turned on my computer screen. Every news site was reporting live on the Federal Army’s assault.
The sight of aerial squadrons and aircraft units descending parachute troops.
A gigantic super medium tank was rolling down the road, while bipedal machines and Awakened Soldiers were occupying the remaining facilities of Magnavis.
“…I expected them to come, but this is strange…”
We tilted our heads. We anticipated the Federal Army would act, but we didn’t expect them to come so quickly.
Curious, I contacted Sister Adela, and she said things were quite chaotic there too.
“Sister! What’s the plan now?”
– The people from the small and medium clan alliance seem flustered too. Originally, they should have mobilized all means to attack Magnavis by now, but nobody expected the Federal Army to move this quickly.
I could feel the bewilderment about the unexpected situation in her voice.
The emotion my sister felt must have been like parents staring into the empty room of a reclusive child who suddenly passed an interview and went off to work.
“I never thought the Federal guys would move this fast.”
After the call, the Violets whispered. It was different from the Federal Army we knew.
The Federal Army in the main story was just a stupid, concentrated mass of rigid bureaucrats.
If the bureaucrats of 21st century Earth were overloaded old trucks, the Federal bureaucrats were like a donkey pulling a cart.
On the surface, they looked modern, but their essence was like the pompous, pot-bellied nobles of early industrial empires or kingdoms.
With no modernization laws in the Federal Parliament, duel and brawls run rampant in the bill passing process.
The military still maintains the system of purchase of offices.
In the main story, they were merely pigs that enjoyed picking on scholarship officers and students when bored.
Yet now, this Federal Army, which had been irresponsible when needed, was moving this quickly.
We pondered why it was happening.
The image of the diligent-looking soldier and the orange-haired girl floated in my mind.
“Captain Klein must have succeeded in persuading them!”
“It seems the upper brass had a lot of grievances too.”
We recalled Lera, who we wondered what could have happened to her by now.
Leaving a girl with no limbs, a floating aircraft carrier appeared! This could really be the true hero summoning, right?
“If what my sister said is true, then we continue the media offensive as planned?”
“Yes, it seems the small and medium clan alliance has had their work cut. They’re just scavenging their businesses or something?”
It was said that plans for direct military action had been halted.
Originally, we should have blown up most of the facilities they would have handled themselves.
Leftover facilities, organizations, laboratories, and factories from the clans had now come under the Federal jurisdiction in the academy city.
The news anchor who had been rambling suddenly had a spokesperson from the Federal military standing up to make a statement.
-…Moreover, the Magnavis Group has daringly committed terrorism against the Federal forces conducting special military operations at Vittorio Arcade. This was to seize a relic prohibited by international agreements for mental interference!
-The Federal Central Unified Command will never tolerate this heinous act and will strike back in justice…
The spokesperson raised his fist and shouted loudly in front of the reporters.
I thought of the announcers from the northern countries with that powerful, aggressive tone.
-The Federal Army is ready. We are prepared to rain atomic thunder upon those arrogant mages who believe they uphold the truth at any time…
“Isn’t it too much for a spokesperson to say something like that…?”
I was perplexed. What a strange world.
While gathering information like a tidal wave, we stumbled upon an unexpected report.
<Breaking News: Former Magnavis CEO Valefor voluntarily appears. 'I will cooperate fully with this investigation...'>
<What is the truth behind President Valefor mentioned by the unidentified terrorist organization, Ariel Group? >
“Whoa! Look at this!”
A captivating headline. I clicked the link as if bewitched, leading to another live report.
Surprisingly, outside a hospital’s main entrance, the former CEO was being helped out by people.
“Is something wrong with him?”
He seemed to be staggering, but I couldn’t see properly due to the crowd surrounding him.
Wearing a long, loose coat, I couldn’t tell what his true condition was.
-Is it true that Ariel Group’s claims are real? What is the purpose of the facility found beneath the academy?
– Is the testimony that monsters were unleashed during the entrance ceremony true?
The waiting reporters poured out their questions.
Federal soldiers in combat suits blocked the way.
“What? Is he really going to get captured like this?”
The CEO nonchalantly got into an armored vehicle with the soldiers.
Flashes erupted around as the escort team disappeared.
That was all that happened.
We were puzzled by the sudden turn of events. Why was he doing that?
“I thought he would run or hide? This is unexpected.”
According to the script written by the Violets and reinforced by Irene and Sister Adela, the Grand Mage would surely hide in a safe place.
For the sake of cleaning up the remaining forces, perhaps.
But he directly walked into the jaws of the Federal. Why could that be?
There was something else I was curious about. He didn’t seem to be in good condition.
We clearly hadn’t dealt him any significant blows!
“The hospital? He looks normal on the outside.”
“Must be like those company presidents who appear in court using wheelchairs.”
The Violets reached a conclusion. That must be a media play show.
Although the environment and culture are different, the tricks of the high-ups feel similar to those on Earth.
“I at least thought he would put up some resistance…”
“He might be giving up!”
Seeing him get captured so easily, we might not see him for a while, but it felt a little unsettling.
Even though the main facilities were concentrated in Rustroom, many branches of Magnavis remained in inhabited territories across the continent.
It was regrettable we didn’t manage to kill him, knowing he could be a future threat.
“Our abilities are still lacking…”
“Ugh! Are we still weak?”
It was a sad reality. We still felt we needed to get much stronger.
In the distant future, to buy and develop a vast land and establish a city solely for the Violets, we would need even more military power than now.
“That’s the only way we can prevent invasions!”
“What if we could invade… No, conquer instead?”
Magic, swordsmanship, more skilled powers, and more Violets.
And if we had even more powerful weapons, we could possess the right to sovereignty for the Violets alone.
We might build an independent force that wouldn’t fall behind the Federal or mega clans.
“Let’s name the city Violet City!”
“No! Let’s call it Rugilinn Village!”
A city of Violets, filled solely with Violets. Everything would be free!
Lost in that imagination, I was caught off guard when the door opened carefully, and Sophie El came in.
“Oh my, sorry. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“It’s fine!” the Violets said.
“…May I ask what interesting thoughts you were having? I got curious since you were suddenly laughing.”
As Room 781’s big, bright eyes filled with curiosity looked at me, I replied.
“It’s a secret!”
**
Late in the afternoon, while looking for materials, the Violet dreamed.
It was blurry, like a flickering analog TV screen.
A never-before-seen landscape appeared first.
Smoke was rising. Screams, darkness, and wails.
A girl wandering through a ruined village.
“…Mom! Dad! Where are you? I hid well!”
The young girl wandered in an empty place, searching for her parents.
Her vision changed to a dark alley while she wandered through the unfamiliar scenery.
“…Is it okay? I heard the crackdowns are severe these days.”
“It’s fine. Just look at her, she’s clearly a gate refugee, right? These kids are everywhere in every continent now. Anyway, the Federal scums are too busy to treat these little ones who have nowhere to go like they’re not even human.”
The girl wandering the streets was pulled into the dark alley by rough hands.
“I don’t want to! Let go of me! Mom!”
The dark alley transformed into a familiar landscape.
White walls and ceilings, a place she had been confined until just months before.
‘Isn’t this Laplacian’s research lab? Why am I here…’
The Violet struggled to move her body.
But oddly, her body wouldn’t respond.
Her mouth moved on its own.
“It hurts! Help me!”
“Initiating phase two. Abnormality-”
Grotesque robotic arms approached from above, accompanied by the dreadful sound of whirling drills.
“Ahhh-!”
The scenery changed again.
Cold, merciless metallic spikes penetrated beneath her eyelids.
“Huff….”
Her head turned involuntarily.
A female researcher with her hair tied back approached, grinning ominously.
“Heh heh… our adorable Violet…”
Her body instinctively took a step back.
That researcher was someone who merely pretended to be nice with words but had never truly cared for or looked after the girl’s pain.
The scene changed again.
A complicated laboratory, researchers were giving instructions to the girl.
“I don’t want to… I can’t do it…”
“Not doing it? Big sister’s getting angry?”
The ponytailed researcher pressed a button. Electricity coursing through her entire body.
Violet cried.
“Waaah…”
In the next moment, the girl found herself in a wide room.
A bald researcher was smiling at her.
‘Isn’t that the lab director?’
Violet then recognized the identity of the person in question.
The lab director chuckled and began to speak.
“This child is our lab’s masterpiece! All we need to do is send her off! If the performance verification goes well, the higher-ups will look at us favorably again!”
The surrounding researchers congratulated the girl. Congratulations. You have been chosen.
“You will be going to school now.”
After a long time, the girl smiled.
Although her thoughts were not coherent, she would understand that going to school meant leaving here.
Her joy was short-lived as the researchers grabbed her arms and bound her to the operating table.
Flipping upside down, before Violet appeared a silver, jellyfish-like machine.
The lab director held something that wriggled like a bug in his hand.
“You have to implant this to go out. It’s nothing special. Just a tracking device. Understand?”
“I’m scared… please don’t… I’ll study hard…”
The researchers didn’t care about the girl’s will.
She felt a cold, sharp sensation around her neck. While Violet let out a short scream, the machine dove into her neck.
“Ugh… ugh…”
For a moment she was terrified, but in an instant, she found herself outside the lab.
The bright sun and blue sky welcomed her.
Violet managed to smile through her struggle.
“Out, outside…”
The girl’s eyes followed the white clouds. Various thoughts raced through her mind.
If she went to school, she might make friends.
She wouldn’t have to do the painful things the researchers ordered her to do anymore.
Maybe she could eat delicious food? She wouldn’t be hurt…
A small hope blossomed in the young girl’s heart.
She felt happy. At least until someone called her from behind.
“Okay, Violet! Now you’re living with your big sister~”
The ponytailed researcher grabbed Violet’s wrist and loaded her into a vehicle.
The girl’s face turned pale.
“Ah, you’re not a big sister anymore, right? From now on, call me Mom~!”
“…!”
Violet screamed.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Hyiii!”
Violet gasped and woke up from her seat.
“That was a terrifying nightmare!”
Confirming it was just a dream, Violet felt both irritated and relieved at the same time.
“Ugh! We definitely killed him with our own hands… what a pain!”
While she cursed, Violet suddenly felt puzzlement.
“By the way, why was that dream so realistic?”
“Right! It’s a bit different from my old nightmares. This feels bad!”
Violet was disturbed. It was too vivid to dismiss as just a bad dream.
It didn’t feel like a figment of imagination at all. As if someone had truly experienced it.
“Ugh! I need to go to Daphne! I need a petting!”
Violet decided to shake off the nightmare and got up from her seat.
