“…What’s going on now?”
‘…What’s going on now?’
Hua Ye stood in bewilderment, her gaze chaotic and confused as she watched the two people locked in silent confrontation before her.
She instinctively processed the scene she had just witnessed.
The Student Council President had unexpectedly chosen to meet her and the Advisor directly—
That was fine.
After all, the Advisor had been specially summoned by her, and he had partially proven his abilities.
It made sense to prioritize him a bit.
——
But why did she appear as a projection from a pillar of data?
No, Kivotos’s technology had already advanced to data visualization, so adding a holographic projection seemed plausible.
……No, that still didn’t fit.
Holograms couldn’t interact with the physical world, but when the President landed just now, she had definitely heard footsteps.
However, if the developers had specially built interaction plugins, pre-recorded audio, and combined them with cameras, they could probably achieve a similar effect…
——But then why…
Hua Ye narrowed her eyes, staring incredulously at the President’s expression and posture, as well as the mysterious cross halo floating above her head.
The girl seemed to notice Hua Ye’s gaze from behind the Advisor and winked playfully at her, then instantly switched to a cold expression when facing the Advisor again.
——Why did her instincts tell her that the person standing before her was the real President?
As absurd as it was, somehow Hua Ye felt her instincts were right.
The person in front of her was truly the Student Council President of the Federal Student Council, the one she had once respected most, the superhuman who governed all of Kivotos…
The cross atop her head remained motionless, the halo steady and dazzling.
——But how was that possible?
If the President had this kind of ability, why didn’t her own memories react?
Yet the golden halo merely floated serenely above that goat-like head, silent.
Hua Ye secretly glanced at the massive data stream behind the President.
The data leaped like flowing water, constantly colliding and merging, then rushing up the pillar toward the unknown and invisible top of the Holy Tower.
Was it the tower’s power, or did the halo possess other abilities besides enhancing physical constitution?
If so, why hadn’t she seen the children from the police station use such abilities?
Hua Ye silently chewed over the vast information from these tens of seconds.
She caught a glimpse of the Advisor’s back, which radiated an inexplicable solemnity and calmness.
She let out a soft breath and chose silence.
‘Kivotos… there must still be things I don’t know about…’
From the earlier conversation, it seemed the relationship between the President and the Advisor was not the close trust she had assumed.
In fact, the President made no effort to hide her slight hostility and resentment toward the Advisor.
It was best not to interfere for now.
Staying quiet and observing was the optimal choice.
Beneath the magnificent pillar of light, three small figures stood there, each maintaining silence.
The world around continued to operate tirelessly according to the Holy Tower’s rules.
The pillar of light still connected heaven and earth, carrying data streams into the high sky.
The bee-like drone swarm busily moved up and down, constantly passing documents and items.
The students with halos on their heads still weaved through the spiral corridors, handling files and paperwork…
The world inside the Holy Tower remained busy and calm.
After a moment, the calm-faced Advisor spoke steadily, breaking the silence and the indescribable atmosphere that had lingered among the three.
“President, Head of the Defense Office, Buzhihuo Huaye, and I would like to report on the riot. If it’s inconvenient, I can step aside for now.”
A faint, friendly smile lingered on the President’s face, but her sky-blue right eye, not hidden by her bangs, revealed a cold and imposing air befitting a superior.
Her tone was playful yet inexplicably sharp.
“Oh my, don’t say that~ Since we’re going to be long-term colleagues, how could I separate you and Huaye-chan’s work reports, right? ‘Teacher.’”
The Advisor remained silent but nodded calmly.
He took a step back, allowing Huaye, who had just snapped back to her senses and adjusted her state, to take the lead in reporting the work situation.
In that moment of retreat, he inadvertently glanced at the President’s halo, which had exuded a massive presence since her appearance—
The azure halo floated steadily in the air, the ring surrounding the cross giving the impression of demarcating boundaries and rules.
The cross in the center was elegantly and rigidly fixed at the core, as if suppressing all instability.
Looking at the halo, one could almost feel that the ring itself was the embodiment of rules, and the cross was the anchor of all order and stability.
‘The President’s halo is finally clear to see. Last time I debated with her, I could only see a little, but now I can see it fully… If the prerequisite for seeing a halo is establishing an emotional or some other concrete connection… then my argument with her must have left an impression on her, right?…’
The Advisor silently assessed the President’s attitude, ready to adjust his own mindset and tone—
If she questioned him.
After all, in their last debate, though he had convinced her to allow his entry into Kivotos, he had left a rather poor first impression on this girl.
He stared silently at that azure halo, which still appeared dignified and noble even under the giant pillar of light.
“Oh my~ It’s rude to peek at someone’s halo, ‘Teacher.’ That’s very impolite. Especially since you and I haven’t established a ‘teacher-student’ relationship yet.”
The President spoke with a half-complaining, half-cold tone as she smiled at the retreating Advisor.
She casually made a hand gesture to Hua Ye, telling her to stay put.
The Advisor averted his gaze uncomfortably upon hearing that.
‘Still a bit immature… I shouldn’t have shown so much interest.’
He muttered inwardly.
The President glanced briefly at the Advisor, confirmed he had stopped staring at her halo, then resumed her enigmatic smile and spoke gently to Hua Ye.
“I already know about Huaye-chan’s report and the Defense Office’s requests. So, Huaye-chan can just hand the report directly to me~ No need to run up and down the stairs! Hehe, you’ve worked hard, Huaye-chan~ Once you’re done with the follow-up, I’ll treat you and Rin-chan and the others to strawberry milk!”
Hua Ye stiffened for a moment, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes.
‘What does she mean she already knows? I never reported anything about this… Could the President have deduced our actions herself? That seems reasonable… She is the supreme leader…’
‘But the President’s words seem to show clear disdain for the Advisor… Is she so unwilling to give him face, even in front of me? Even if it risks damaging her own image as a leader?’
‘Then which side should I take?’
‘…Cruel, realistic, and as uncomfortable as ever—her power is granted by the President, and the Advisor is still new. Looking at the situation and tone, maybe I’m not being distrusted and stripped of authority… but rather appointed as a monitor and restrainer for the Advisor? …No, there’s also a chance she’s putting on a show for me. I can’t let my guard down.’
‘Regardless, what I should do now is…’
“Sorry…”
She murmured inwardly, then decisively displayed her trademark elegant smile.
She stepped forward half a step, bent slightly to show understanding and respect for the President’s decision, and then handed the documents she was holding with both hands to the President.
She said nothing during the process.
The President giggled, took the documents lightly, and flipped through them casually.
She scanned a few lines, then smiled as if seeing something amusing.
Lifting her head, she looked at Buzhihuo Huaye, whose expression was perfectly composed, with those sky-blue eyes, speaking warmly and casually.
“Alright. Regarding the intervention in Abydos Academy, Huaye-chan may take the Advisor to investigate the issue. I’ve already talked to Rin-chan and the others. During this time, Huaye-chan and the Defense Office will be temporarily granted intervention rights and armed authority over the various academies. This will be announced by Rin-chan at today’s press conference.”
‘At least our request has been fulfilled… Though from the Advisor’s perspective, this “report” must have been unpleasant. It was supposed to be a joint task, but in the end, he was left aside and subjected to the leader’s cold remarks… Sigh… I guess I was too naive.’
‘I was so busy last night that I actually thought the President might have brought in the Advisor to share my workload because I was too tired… But from this, it seems the President only let the Advisor enter Kivotos because she had no choice, and so she sent me to monitor him…’
‘I’m just a surveillance tool… That’s annoying, but somehow it feels logical.’
‘No matter what, once you become a leader, you have to pick a side… Tsk… Kivotos isn’t exempt from that.’
While muttering internally, she maintained a smile on the surface, using clichéd responses like “Understood, I won’t let you down,” “Of course,” “Yes”… She acknowledged the boss’s words and accepted the arrangement without complaint…
Hua Ye, who had grown tired of adult trivialities in her past life, once again felt the spiritual exhaustion of a corporate slave dealing with superiors.
But the sad part was that this body was so enamored with the person before her that even though Hua Ye’s words were nothing but nauseating clichés, they sounded like enthusiastic, resolute declarations and promises.
The Advisor silently stood behind Hua Ye, looking at the trembling halo above the girl’s head with a pitying gaze.
The so-called face-to-face report was cut short by the President’s premature appearance.
Only the report they had written together last night was taken by the President—
Containing analyses of various company networks, their possible connections to Kaiser, and the Advisor’s speculation about Abydos Academy selling its main battle tanks, among other things.
But the Advisor didn’t feel discouraged.
In fact, when the President took the documents, he felt a sense of relief and joy.
Because in his worst-case scenario, there was a slight chance that this document, which he had helped write, would be deliberately ignored due to his debate with the President.
But now, it seemed the President was still responsible and diligent in handling student affairs.
Moreover, from her words, he could tell that the person before him, though not friendly, was always attentive to all events in Kivotos.
She had even perfectly predicted his and Hua Ye’s next moves.
Nothing earns respect more than someone who genuinely cares about matters.
His goal was simply to ensure that Hua Ye could submit the report, that this document concerning many children would reach someone capable of handling the issue.
‘—There’s a press conference today, probably related to the riot… So at most, after two more days to prepare supplies and other matters, Huaye and I will head to Abydos for inspection…’
He calculated silently.
Meanwhile, the President before Hua Ye slowly spoke, tilting her head and smiling at Hua Ye, adding her final request in a subtle tone.
“…However! Huaye-chan, if you’re going to Abydos, I have a few things to ask of you, okay?”
Hua Ye subconsciously nodded to show she was listening, then awkwardly scratched the back of her hand.
Seeing this, the President put on a teasing expression, her eyes curved, and spoke in a murmuring tone.
“One: Huaye-chan, a beautiful girl must protect herself when going out. If you encounter something strange or someone strange inviting you somewhere, even if you’re curious, you must never agree. If the Teacher is invited, he may do as he pleases.”
“Two: Huaye-chan, some children have been a bit too excited lately, and their halos have been affected in strange ways that might hurt you and the Teacher. So, if you meet a student with a weird halo—you know, one that feels off—you must run quickly and contact me.”
“If you really can’t escape, then shout toward the Holy Tower: ‘President, I’m here!’ …You have to shout loudly, okay? If I hear you, I’ll come pick you up! That’s it!”
“Three: Huaye-chan, a beautiful girl shouldn’t get tanned black, so I don’t want you to stay in the desert too long. And don’t mobilize the Valkyrie Police Department or other children to go into the desert—I can’t have the children get sunburned by the desert sun! If you run into something weird… no, just don’t stay in the desert too long!”
After saying this, the President smiled and patted the rigid Hua Ye on the shoulder, then walked back into the pillar of light as if nothing had happened.
She dissolved into streams of data before Hua Ye’s eyes, surging into the sky—along with the documents.
Hua Ye stood frozen, feeling cold sweat all over her body.
‘Weird… an inexplicable weirdness. The President was smiling and talking to me, but I somehow started sweating for no reason. Each piece of advice is stranger than the last…’
‘What does she mean by “something strange inviting me to a strange place” and “shout ‘I’m here’ toward the Holy Tower when meeting a weird student”?’
‘Are there supernatural incidents in Kivotos? No, the children here are already supernatural. So does Abydos Academy have something very dangerous and strange? Then why didn’t I know before, and why hasn’t the President dealt with it?…’
‘No… the President must have her reasons for saying this…’
The halo above her head remained motionless, as if also puzzled by these strange suggestions.
‘I… I still know too little about Kivotos… I was too arrogant. In just two days, I thought I had already understood Kivotos…’
‘How arrogant. I must avoid that. This experience shall be put to use next time…’
Finally, Hua Ye exhaled, opened her eyes, and turned calmly to face the Advisor.
To maintain an appearance of loyalty under the President’s possible observation, she deliberately spoke with a slightly distant tone.
“Let’s go, Advisor. Prepare for one day, then bring a few guards and head to Abydos Academy to investigate.”
The Advisor said nothing, only nodded in acknowledgment, then naturally followed behind Hua Ye as she walked toward the door.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes showing concern.
““Abydos Academy…””
Both thought simultaneously in their hearts.