Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: Interlude (1)
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The incident that had taken place in the very heart of Nighthaven was gradually winding down.
This was because none of the electoral candidates, including Sirocco, had come to any significant harm.
The gist of the incident was as follows.
A public debate was held just days before the mayoral election.
It was a live broadcast where several candidates gathered to discuss their respective platforms.
However, during the event, one of the candidates suddenly lost control and went berserk.
The live debate immediately descended into chaos.
To make matters worse, an unidentified assailant even tried to take Sirocco’s life, escalating the pandemonium to a whole new level.
No wonder the police never showed up at the Black Anchor's hideout, no matter how long I waited. It was completely understandable.
‘Sirocco may not look it, but she’s a dragonkin—half-human, half-dragon. She has a ton of experience from her time on the police force, so it seems she actually protected the other candidates and prevented the situation from spiraling into the worst-case scenario.’
Sirocco, Tempest’s daughter. Though they weren't actually related by blood.
Still, with half her blood being that of a dragon, her raw physical abilities were far beyond ordinary.
Honestly, it made me wonder if someone that strong even needed bodyguards.
But even a dragonkin could be in danger if hit by the wrong kind of magic, so I suppose the Fixers were quite helpful.
In any case, perhaps because the sight of her fending off the attacker while protecting a fellow candidate was broadcast live, her already high approval ratings quantum leaped into the stratosphere.
The atmosphere was such that it felt like she had already won the election without a single vote being cast.
Especially in these uncertain times, people would naturally want a strong, unshakable leader.
And she was an elite who had become a high-ranking police officer at a young age, not to mention the daughter of the dependable former mayor, Tempest.
Honestly, you couldn't blame anyone for being a die-hard supporter. If I were a citizen here, I would have voted for Sirocco too. Probably.
“Lady Yuria, would you like some milk?”
“Yes!”
“Do you prefer it warm?”
“Yep, yep!”
“Understood.”
As I was busy internally idolizing my bread buddy Sirocco, Zelin silently approached my side and offered me a drink.
I wouldn't have minded coffee, but rich, creamy milk sounded delicious too.
I nodded to accept her offer and continued scrolling through the online news on the terminal Zelin had lent me.
Oh, by the way, Echo was currently resting quietly in my lap.
It would be a problem if a second attack suddenly hit the city, so I was trying to conserve as much energy as possible.
Both Echo and the Tesseract were incredibly powerful…
It was just a shame they could only be recharged within a rift.
‘So, officially, this incident is being treated as an accident caused by a specific candidate and their supporters losing control…’
Sipping the warm, sweet milk I was handed, I scrolled down.
Just reading the online news, I could feel the scorching-hot sentiment of the public.
A look at the languages in the article comments revealed a truly global audience.
With interest pouring in from all over the world, the view counts were about to explode.
After all, Nighthaven was already a world-famous city of metahumans.
A public debate featuring the candidates for the new mayor was bound to draw attention.
For an incident to break out while the world was watching live—that was enough to send shockwaves across the globe.
It seemed the attackers had intended to leverage that influence in a negative way.
‘The assassination of a leading candidate by another candidate during a live debate… Hmm, I can already picture the disastrous outcome.’
Considering the radical nature of their actions, it was highly likely that the Metahuman Liberation Army was behind this incident.
The metahuman who went berserk seemed to have hazy memories of the events before and after. They were probably brainwashed.
Furthermore, the unidentified attackers had self-immolated the moment the tide turned against them.
It was exactly the kind of thing you’d expect from the Metahuman Liberation Army, a cult fanatically devoted to their Supreme Commander.
Well, in the end, their plan was a spectacular failure.
If anything, Sirocco, having overcome the crisis, would now ascend to the mayorship with overwhelming support.
It was a completely wasted effort—no, it was as if they had diligently helped our side. Ha, serves them right.
“Lady Yuria, a cookie.”
“Huh? Ah, ahh~”
“Hehe, here you are.”
*Kehehe.* I cackled like a wicked villain at the Metahuman Liberation Army's massive failure.
Just then, Zelin, who had once again approached without a sound, offered me a cookie.
Ugh, getting my hands dirty is a bother. Just put it in my mouth.
With that thought, I looked up at Zelin and opened my mouth, letting out an "Ahh~" sound.
She briefly covered her mouth and chuckled before placing the cookie in my mouth.
Perhaps it was because I was in my usual, stable, pale form rather than my sturdy, Athletic Yuria form.
Her movements were as careful as if she were handling a delicate, easily shattered glass ornament.
*Munch, munch.* As I was happily nibbling on the cookie she’d fed me, the door to my room slid open, and familiar faces stepped inside.
“Oh, it’s Yuria!”
“Hmm? What brings you to the Association, Miss Yuria…?”
“What, so this is where you were? Milk and cookies… living the high life, huh? Give me one.”
“Mmph.”
It was none other than the Fixers.
Like me, they all looked like they’d had a proper wash, looking fresh and clean.
They had their own share of trouble today fighting the attackers, after all.
It seemed the Association had extended them this courtesy. Being able to get properly cleaned up is a good thing.
Alice, who was at the front, spotted me, and her eyes lit up as she came running over.
She hugged me with more force than usual, as if I were some kind of doll that brought her peace.
But why is this person suddenly snatching the food I’m eating?
Completely immobilized by Alice, I could only shoot a resentful glare at Raven.
“Wait, this is weird. Why are you here at this hour, Yuria?”
Alice, who had reflexively run over and hugged me, seemed to finally notice the oddity of the situation.
She rubbed her face against the top of my head for a moment before turning to look at Raven and the quietly standing Zelin in the corner.
Her puzzled reaction wasn't surprising.
Very few people in Nighthaven knew I was a psychic.
Alice and David certainly had no idea; they probably didn't even know I had any fighting ability at all.
“Could it be, Miss Yuria…”
“Pardon me, I will explain.”
David, at least, was sharp enough to have realized something was up…
But had Alice really not sensed anything until now?
Or maybe she just hadn't paid it much mind. She wasn't the type to pry into secrets.
She might have just assumed there was a good reason for keeping things hidden.
In any case, Zelin must have decided the time for explanations had come.
Receiving their gazes, she cleared her throat softly and stepped forward.
“Miss Alice, Mr. David. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Zelin, an agent of the Association’s secret department, the Special Psychic Division.”
“Ah, yes. Hello…”
“The Special Psychic Division…?”
“That is correct.”
Alice tilted her head at the stranger, Zelin, and returned the greeting.
David, on the other hand, looked genuinely flustered by the unexpected name.
A Special Psychic Division—the name alone would make anyone wonder what it was.
Especially since it was a secret department of the Association, his reaction was nothing but bewildered.
However, as if she had anticipated this response, Zelin, still clad in her business suit, calmly continued.
“You may find it strange that the Association has a Special Psychic Division, but there are proper reasons for it. It is because we received news that a group of psychics has joined the Metahuman Liberation Army, the enemy we must face. The Special Psychic Division was established primarily to prepare countermeasures against such psychics.”
“That’s…”
“Th-This is the first I’m hearing of this.”
“Yes. That is to be expected, as we are keeping this information under wraps to prevent any premature leaks.”
At Zelin’s words, Alice must have felt a sense of unease.
I could feel the arms holding me tighten ever so slightly.
It seemed she had naturally pieced together that this whole affair was deeply connected to me.
Zelin paused for a moment, her gaze shifting between Alice and David before she spoke again.
“And one more thing. The most important duty of the Special Psychic Division is to protect and cooperate with the only psychic who is favorable to humanity. And that person is…”
“Meow!”
“…Lady Yuria.”
“Wh-What did you say!”
“Hmm, as I thought…”
I energetically raised my hand from within Alice’s embrace, making my presence known.
Instantly, Alice and David’s gazes snapped from Zelin to me.
Alice’s eyes were filled with the shock of someone who had never heard such a thing before.
David’s expression, however, seemed to say, *I had a feeling that was the case*.
Hmm, so this is what it feels like to have a secret revealed.
It felt like I’d been caught doing something wrong, sending a shiver down my spine.