Why it never ends

Chapter 31 The Way to Liberation
"What article?"

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

"Please answer my question directly, and don't make any other excuses." Liz's eyes almost burst into flames, "What are you worrying about?"

Molly's expression showed a little tiredness. She sighed softly, took off her thin-rimmed glasses, and leaned back a little. "Perhaps you know that there are some parades in the urban area of ​​Tanyi City these days."

Liz was startled, "...What parade?"

"The citizens demand that the coalition government of the Third District make representations to us, hand over Jane Hestad, and let her return to civilian life."

With that said, Molly pushed a newspaper in front of Liz.

As soon as Liz opened it, she frowned at the portrait on the front page. She looked up at Molly, "This is...Jane?"

Molly nodded.

"Set Her Free—Rescue Her, Maiden of Doom," was printed in heavy ink on the newspaper's headline.

Liz read the entire report without saying a word, and then silently put the newspaper back on the table.

"Never underestimate the public's sympathy for a little girl." Molly said in a low voice, "especially when she bravely confronted the chelate at a critical moment and saved the children in the entire convent at the cost of her own serious injury. Who would have the heart to let her continue to live in danger for the rest of her life—after today, probably the entire Third District will pay attention to her whereabouts."

Liz frowned slightly, "...so you are worried about this."

"This matter can't get worse." Molly pinched the bridge of his nose. "If it spreads out, it will definitely be thought that the base cannot provide protection for Hesta... This will only make public opinion more turbulent."

Liz looked at the flaxen-haired girl in the newspaper, and after a moment of silence, she whispered: "But if you want to suspend the investigation of Sean because of this matter, it means that we really can't provide Jane Protection?"

"Suspending the investigation is not stopping the investigation." Morley corrected, "Although there is no official document, we can still restrict Sean's behavior."

"...Then it's better to follow everyone's suggestion and let her go." Liz looked at Molly. "Anyway, she doesn't know anything now. It's good to leave the base and live the life of ordinary people."

Molly smiled. She didn't seem to be angry with Liz's words, "...someone mentioned this in the previous meeting to discuss the countermeasures, but Qianye denied it."

"Chiba?" Liz laughed incredulously, "I thought she would just let it go."

"She won't let go," Molly turned his gaze back to the newspaper, and said in a low voice, "It's all thanks to Chiba Masaki's quick response in the early stage that Hesta can stay at the base. Before checking the monastery's children's roster, we went straight to the adoption process to get the child's identity. It is unlikely that we will legally bring her into the base.

"After all, from a legal point of view, since Hesta has registered her identity information in St. Anne's Abbey, she is one of the legal citizens of Tanyi City in the third district, and the city hall has the priority to accommodate her."

"Then what does Teacher Chiba think about this parade?"

Molly continued: "In the past, non-governmental organization parades had to go through at least two weeks of review and preparation period from application for approval to official street demonstration, but this time, from submitting application to formal parade, it took less than three days to start. It would be impossible for them to do it if no one specifically gave the green light behind them. Moreover, even if Hesta was allowed to leave the base, what awaited her would not be the so-called 'ordinary life', it would be nothing more than working for the coalition government. .

"Chiba's opinion is that in order to keep Jane Hestad, we can 'do whatever it takes', the exact words." Morley said.

Liz took a deep breath.

"Liz," Molly's tone softened a little, "although it may seem a bit indifferent to say so, maybe you put too much energy and emotion into this matter."

Liz spoke first, but did not refute. After a while, she just said softly: "...I am Jane's assistant officer."

Molly clasped his hands, "The original intention of the base to punish Sean was to warn him that what he did was wrong, but now we also need to understand the reason-why he showed such unusual attention to the newcomer Hesta reason."

Molly looked at Liz: "Too obsessed with punishment itself sometimes doesn't mean that justice is done, what do you think?"

Liz was silent for a moment, then got up and picked up her hat and put it on.

"...I will think about it carefully."

Molly smiled slightly: "I remember, Valenti said this morning that she planned to have a short interview with Calvin, maybe you can find a chance to talk to her, she should have some kindness for you and Hesta valuable information."

……

In the evening, Chiba drove Hesta back to the base in a car. Although it rained briefly today, the rain was gone at the moment.

The setting sun in the distant sky coated the whole world with a dull golden layer, Chiba stopped the car steadily.

"Don't forget to send me a copy of your class schedule when you go back, so that I can know when you are usually free, and make an appointment for the visit first—be prepared, I may come to pick you up at any time."

"Ok."

"We have to solve this matter as soon as possible." Qianye gently rubbed the hard grain on the steering wheel, "The night is long and dreamy, it's best not to delay it for too long - it all depends on your shooting progress."

Hesta's hand that was unbuttoning the seat belt suddenly slowed down, and Qianye almost immediately caught this movement change, "What's wrong?"

"I'm thinking, there may be a better solution than this." Hesta looked forward, with some uncertainty in his voice, "I want to use this solution as a trump card in the bottom of the box. If the base still can't solve my problem, and there was further action on Sean’s side, when—”

Hesta's voice stopped abruptly, because she heard a sigh with a smile from Qianye's side, and she looked sideways: "What is Miss Qianye laughing at?"

Qianye looked at her, "Since when did you start having this fantasy?"

"I asked Ms. Morley's secretary that guns are banned in Tanyi City, and guns are not allowed in the base without approval. If I really take the risk, I may face the same punishment as Sean."

"Did the penalty imposed by the base limit Sean's actions?"

"……No."

"Then why are you restricted by this kind of thing?"

Hesta was at a loss for words. The night before yesterday, Liz's words about "a world where the weak should endure bullying is wrong" and "when someone paves the way for justice with sweat and blood" came to Hesta's mind, but at this moment She couldn't repeat these words smoothly and flexibly.

She frowned slightly: "But using violence to control violence in this way will only...uh, push everyone to a more extreme direction."

"Don't think about this kind of problem, this is what Molly and the others should consider."

"……why?"

"Because this is not something you can control." Qianye said softly, "Sean chose you first,"

"Molly and the others always hope to solve all problems at the root - bullying against newcomers in our base must have a reason: problems with the perpetrators themselves, loopholes in the system, cultural or subcultural The popularity of the factors ... and so on and so on.

"From the perspective of the perpetrator, to understand why he did evil, and then think about ways to stop him from doing evil, this is something other people have to consider, you don't need it.

"Remember what I said last time, violence has no boundaries, its boundaries are only determined by the reactions of both parties."

Chiba lowered her head to take the cigarette, and the flames lit up in front of her eyes.

"For the weak, revenge is the only way out."

　Happy Tanabata everyone!The update time in the future will be changed to 7:00 in the morning!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)