Chapter 31: Woo~ That’s exactly what they call opportunity~

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“Huh? Internal strife?”

Huaye asked again, feeling a bit dazed.

The urgent and tense voice of the Helmet Gang on the other end of the phone paused for a moment, as if they couldn’t quite understand what Huaye was saying.

But soon, they quickly repeated what they had just said—a Helmet Gang group suspected to be hired by the Kaiser Corporation and robots of unknown origin were launching a large-scale attack on Abydos’s campus, forcibly sealing the borders and prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

The teacher lying in bed struggled to swallow the nutritional paste in his mouth, watching Huaye sitting by his bedside.

She held the spoon that had just scooped another portion of nutritional paste perfectly still, tilting her head as she pressed the paper-thin phone to her ear.

Her expression gradually shifted from confusion to seriousness.

Because everything had happened so suddenly, he hadn’t been able to understand what Huaye had said, but seeing that gentle smile on her face instantly turn cold and severe, he immediately realized—some kind of emergency had occurred.

So he immediately put on a calm and serious expression and spoke up.

“What’s wrong, Huaye?”

But Huaye’s expression remained uncertain.

Although the news coming through the phone was clearly important and urgent, she still maintained that exquisite smile on the surface.

She shook her head at the teacher, then shoved the spoon directly at his mouth, forcing him to open it again, stuffing another mouthful of nutritional paste so he couldn’t speak.

“Please stay quiet, Advisor.”

“Kindly remain in bed and rest.”

“I need to handle some matters.”

“I’ll be back shortly.”

Then, she quickly pulled a tissue from the convenience box on the nightstand, wiped the nutritional paste off the teacher’s face in a few quick motions, and immediately rose from the bed.

With swift movements, she tidied up the lunchbox and utensils she’d used to feed him, then gave a slight nod to the somewhat bewildered teacher—who was still staring at her with surprise, his mouth full—and without hesitation, strode quickly toward the door.

“—Gulp… gulp… Wait! Huaye!”

Click.

Having just stepped out of the hospital room, Huaye casually closed the door behind her.

“Just when I was getting sleepy, someone hands me a pillow…”

She muttered to herself, unconsciously shifting from Huaye back into the state of the Defense Office Chief.

She gestured to the emergency squad members waiting as usual outside the door to indicate her visit was complete, then immediately headed toward the other end of the corridor.

—There happened to be a dedicated Defense Office phone in the lounge.

Though she should ideally use the landline in her own office, time was critical and the opportunity was precious.

She had to move fast.

After only a few days of calm under the teacher’s soothing presence, that resplendent and dazzling halo began to spin once more.

The goat hid her eyes behind nearly closed lids, gazing from afar through the Defense Office’s corridor window in the direction of Abydos—

Kaiser.

No, delinquent girls allied with unknown robots had suddenly attacked Abydos’s campus.

During this sensitive period, attackers could all be viewed as accomplices of the rioters—that is, people who didn’t understand the President’s policies.

Against such people, the Defense Office had a responsibility to educate these bumpkins who dared to offend the authority of the Federation and the Federal Student Council, using their own methods.

Beneath the glow of her halo, the goat’s gaze flickered continuously as she muttered to herself.

“Having just completed the riot suppression and now investigating the rioters’ accomplices, how could the Defense Office possibly stand by and do nothing?”

The moment she thought of the “unknown robots” she’d just heard about, Buzhihuo Huaye revealed that cold smile—children’s innocence she could forgive, but as a sort of adult, the robots who clearly knew what they were doing were inexcusable.

She lowered her head, watching her pristine white high heels tap rhythmically against the equally flawless marble floor, producing crisp, ringing sounds.

She raised her head.

Though she was still somewhat puzzled why Kaiser would act so quickly, almost as if they couldn’t wait…

But unless Kaiser was confident they could use fragile mechanical structures and consciousness uploads that could be physically severed at any moment to contend with students’ indestructible, halo-protected bodies, any action based on force was nothing more than futile resistance.

Abydos and Kaiser had handed her such a perfect opportunity to intervene, and she couldn’t refuse…

An opportunity to strike at both Abydos and Kaiser simultaneously—as if Kaiser’s external-facing executives had drunk too much machine oil today, showing openings everywhere.

But the memories of her previous life wouldn’t lie.

When your competitor suddenly acts like they’re having a stroke, if they’re not genuinely ill, then they’re setting a trap—though in the small company she’d worked at before, the former was far more common than the latter.

Someone like Kaiser, comparable to a giant crocodile, probably wouldn’t do that.

So, it’s a trap.

Or a scheme.

She walked over to the landline installed beside the sign reading “Game Room,” and based on the memories she’d recovered after her great cry, deftly dialed Weiren Yezhu’s private number.

The same beeping waiting tone as before, but unlike the endless wait when she’d called the police station last time, the person on the other end picked up within about ten seconds, as if already accustomed to this style of sudden phone calls.

“Ah… this is the Defense Office’s dedicated opening… and you know my private number… sigh… so it’s the Chief.”

“Federal Police Bureau Chief Weiren Yezhu here.”

“Chief Huaye, what are your orders?”

That voice was as tired and slightly irritable as ever, though Huaye could tell the person on the other end was desperately suppressing the helplessness of being called to her desk by a superior.

Though she felt some sympathy and pity, there was no time to comfort this poor corporate slave right now.

Without any delay, smiling, her tone calm yet carrying a slight edge,

“Weiren Yezhu, we must assemble our forces immediately.”

“A second battle, suspected to be caused by rioters, is taking place in Abydos.”

“It’s time for the Defense Bureau and the Police Bureau to take the stage again.”

The person on the other end was silent for a few seconds, but a sigh came through the receiver, along with the rustling sound of picking up pen and paper.

“Understood.”

“Please go on.”

“The police are currently conducting reviews and drills for the previous riot, so personnel are mostly all present.”

“We just need your orders to mobilize with our armed units directly.”

Weiren Yezhu paused briefly, then a scratching sound came through the receiver, as if someone was irritably tearing at their own hair.

Then, that calm voice emerged once more.

“Please give the order, Chief Huaye.”

Would it be too rash to give the order directly?

While thinking on the hospital bed, what exactly were the President’s three suggestions referring to…

—The opportunity before her was too rare.

So rare that even knowing this was a trap Kaiser had set, Huaye was willing to walk straight into it.

Moreover… if she delayed any longer, the Advisor might get dragged into it too…

As the commander and negotiator, his… his part in this wasn’t due yet.

So he couldn’t step onto the stage.

“Alright.”

“As the Defense Office Chief, I formally order the Federal Police Bureau to immediately dispatch one-third of your officers, equipped with your current first-tier gear, mobilizing ground combat units and aerial combat units, and heading to Abydos Academy.”

She spoke deliberately, carefully weighing every order she could give—nothing more than straightforward confrontation arrangements and troop deployments.

“To place under control those Abydos rioters who violate the Kivotos Public Order Management Act, offend student rights, and incite conflict among students.”

On the other end of the line, the furious and rapid clattering of a keyboard rang out continuously.

“Understood… Chief.”

“The Federal Police Bureau system is confirming and uploading the operation order to the Holy Tower.”

“After submitting a request to the Abydos Academy Student Council, we will formally exercise the right of forced intervention and take full control of Abydos’s defense affairs.”

In other words, until the control operation was complete and the wrongdoers suppressed, the Defense Office would exercise certain defense authorities on behalf of the Abydos Academy Student Council, conducting necessary public order management over the Abydos campus.

Letting out a breath, listening to Weiren Yezhu’s words, she gradually felt more confident about what she needed to do.

The so-called intervention rights described in the newspapers were more complex and powerful than she’d imagined—so much so that she almost wondered if the newspaper author had been dreaming.

—Reasonable investigation requests, the academy had no right to refuse.

Activities based on the investigation, the academy had no right to oppose.

Most importantly, once the military discovered relevant leads and submitted reports to the Holy Tower, they could take over partial authority of the academy.

But none of that was her concern.

“Immediately assemble one-third of your officers, carrying relatively concealed and simple equipment, and head to Kaiser Corporation’s headquarters.”

“Surround Kaiser.”

“Be ready to send me rescue requests at any moment.”

“Tell the children that once they encounter situations they can’t handle, report immediately.”

“I will promptly conscript forces from the nearest academy through the Defense Office system…”

She had to stay vigilant against Kaiser.

Who knew what ill intentions those robots harbored?

“Finally, keep the remaining officers on high alert at all times, ensuring the safety of the Police Bureau and Defense Office headquarters.”

“Don’t rule out the possibility that they’re trying to lure us away and then decapitate our command center.”

After giving this order, she hesitated.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted behind her, toward the other end of the corridor, where a man was still bound to his bed…

If there were an external attack, would he… be in danger?

He absolutely could not go to the front lines, absolutely could not walk into Kaiser’s trap with her.

Moreover, he had to remain under her side’s protection.

If, if his Shittim Chest auto-shut down from draining too much battery, then any single bullet would be fatal.

In Kivotos, where halos reigned supreme, he was the fragile one, the one who needed protection…

Besides, hadn’t the President hinted that she didn’t want him getting too close to her?

So leaving him at the Defense Office was understandable, right…

It was just that she didn’t want anyone competing with her for credit, that’s all…

She paused for a long while, so long that even Weiren Yezhu on the other end unconsciously stopped her pen, quietly waiting for the suddenly silent Chief’s arrangements.

—But she had to protect him.

At the very least, she had to prove she was a good boss who could protect her subordinates and keep him from getting hurt.

“…Lastly, listen carefully.”

“While I’m away, ensure the personal safety of the Advisor stationed in the Defense Office building.”

“Remember, if the Advisor gets injured, immediately abandon the Defense Office building, destroy any still-functional Defense Office terminals, and retreat with the Advisor.”

The person on the other end froze for a moment, her tone sounding somewhat uncertain.

“Why surround Kaiser Corporation?”

“No, never mind.”

“But you said… while you’re away?…”

Huaye held the phone receiver to her ear, facing the Holy Tower outside the window.

Her gaze slowly shifted away from the Holy Tower, then turned once more toward the direction of Abydos—

Whether the bait they’d set was meant to lure her out, to divert the tiger from the mountain, or to relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao, it was hard to tell.

But what she could do now was to bite down first and let them know the Defense Office Chief was no pushover, no one to be easily outmaneuvered…

Land one punch to avoid a hundred punches.

This time it was the Kaiser Corporation.

Next time, it would be all sorts of other groups coming.

She still remembered how, at the end of the last suppression, they’d detonated the command center right in front of her as a show of force, destroying the evidence.

“Right, I’ll head to the front lines again, same as before, directly facing the enemy.”

“Don’t worry—if I get hit, immediately use my injury as justification to intensify firepower output while broadcasting coverage, making sure every academy hears about it.”

She let out an inexplicable laugh, looking at the spot on her body that had long since recovered—no bruises, no wounds.

She’d been stewing ever since the Helmet Gang gave her a thorough beating last time, feeling that it was her own weakness and retreat that had caused the defeat.

This time, it was the perfect chance to wipe away that humiliation…

Finally, Weiren Yezhu, as if she couldn’t take it anymore, let out a series of low sighs, as if complaining about her own tasks.

Then, in a tone of utter helplessness, she replied.

“I can’t dissuade you, Chief.”

“Then I wish you and me both fortune in battle…”

“Also, the Holy Tower just sent back feedback.”

“The Abydos Student Council terminal has remained silent for unknown reasons, with no reply at all.”

“The Holy Tower considers this a tacit approval and has already granted us authority.”

No reply, huh…

Buzhihuo Huaye smiled faintly.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Deploy the troops.”

With a click, the receiver was set back onto its cradle.

Then, the rapid clatter of high heels echoed through the Defense Office stairwell—before leaving, she should probably communicate with the Advisor in advance, tell him her decision, tell him her requirements and thoughts…

—The second riot suppression officially begins.