I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Those who wish to repel external aggression must first secure internal stability."

Resisting external threats and pacifying internal strife...

Upon hearing this, Rin understood.

Now... the "end" that threatens Kivotos is imminent.

Before the "end" arrives... first, eliminate all destabilizing factors, which is to say, "stabilize the internal situation."

Following Amamiya's gaze, Rin also noticed 'Shiranui Hanaya's' profile picture.

In fact... Rin knew about a small part of what Hanaya did in the Federation Student Council.

However, as the acting president, Rin lacked real power, and due to many other reasons, she was powerless to manage the situation.

Amamiya didn't say anything more.

Some 'reminders' are best left unsaid.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the acting chairman's office, Amamiya looked out at the faint sunlight.

"that……"

"Sensei."

Turning her gaze away, Amamiya looked at Rin, who had hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing today...?"

Amamiya knew what Rin was asking, but deliberately pretended not to hear: "Nothing?"

"..."

Rin remained silent.

Amamiya found it slightly amusing and leaned closer to the awkward and embarrassed Rin: "Rin-chan... what are you talking about? Explain yourself clearly."

【~???~】(Rin)

[I sensed Rin's trust...]

[COOP Improvement!]

【Nanagashi Rin (Advisor) ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆】

[★5 Bond Skill "Entrusting Trust" is now unlocked!]

...feels comfortable.

The pent-up frustration and discomfort in her heart vanished with that address. Rin put one hand on her hip, mustered her confidence, and replied curtly:

"...Who is Rin-chan?"

Chapter Eighty-Nine: Executing Ma Su with Tears in His Eyes

The Tower of Sanctuary is a bit more lively than usual today.

Because... early in the morning, the department heads, who had just finished their weekly meeting and hadn't even had time to get back into the workflow, received another "order" for an emergency meeting.

This order wasn't even issued by the 'acting president' who couldn't fully convince the public... but rather by Sensei directly using the authority of the president of the Federation Student Council as a mandatory requirement.

The sense of urgency of facing pressure?

The unspoken deterrent power?

The room leaders, who were filled with trepidation and solemnity, seemed to have lost the relaxed atmosphere they usually displayed during routine meetings. It remains to be seen how they felt.

—Only one room leader was an exception.

Head of the Defense Office, Hikaru Shiranui.

For the other room leaders, it was just a serious and tense meeting... but for Hanaya, it was torture.

What she felt wasn't tension, but a suffocating feeling of being "still in shock," as if a blade were already pressed against her neck, making a shallow cut without her even realizing it.

Something's not quite right...

With her eyes slightly lowered, Hua Ye carefully observed the reactions of the room leaders as she followed them to the conference room, secretly clenching her fists.

At this moment, Huaye was not only very nervous... but also filled with countless questions that she couldn't understand.

What exactly is Sensei trying to do...?

Just a short time ago, he said he "would not attack his own allies," indicating that they were allies on the same side...

Could it be... that they've discovered my recent movements?

No... Fox's loyalty to him has been tested.

Furthermore, some of his goals were achieved using supernatural methods, such as a 'persona,' which are difficult to detect without careful observation and detailed understanding...

Why did Sensei raise "questions about the operation of Valkyrie" at this time?

Sensei, with intelligence equal to her own, should be able to realize how serious the security situation in the entire "DU" district would be if Valkyrie were to collapse, right?

Was Sensei's questioning ultimately aimed at himself?

If it were me... what reason or tone would I use to respond?

On the way to the "execution ground," Huaye thought about many things.

After pushing open the "Federal Student Union Emergency Meeting Room," which features numerous floor-to-ceiling windows and excellent natural light, the room leaders silently took their seats in their designated spots, and immediately looked toward the seat marked "President of the Federal Student Union."

It was still Rin sitting there.

However, unlike before, there was a temporary 'observer seat' next to this seat.

The young man with black curly hair and a white suit waved to the room leaders as they looked at him.

"So……"

Rin, who was in charge of chairing the meeting, tapped the stack of documents in her hands: "Let's begin this meeting. The main topic of the meeting is... questioning the operation of Valkyrie."

After briefly explaining the 'main points of the meeting,' Rin put down the documents in her hand and remained silent.

All the department heads simultaneously turned their attention to Ye Zhu, the chief of the Valkyrie Police Station, who had been specially allowed to attend the meeting as a 'witness' and 'the main target of the meeting'.

Amamiya was also observing Ye Zhu... It can only be said that the current Ye Zhu was different from the lazy yet diligent Ye Zhu who handled paperwork at the Public Security Bureau headquarters, and also from the sharpness she possessed when responding to calls, which was often referred to as 'rabid dog'...

Its animal ears drooped, its pupils trembled, and its knuckles were clenched until they turned white. Although its face was gloomy, one could still see the kind of grievance that came from "swallowing one's pride and keeping quiet," and it remained silent and speechless.

It's like the demeanor of a criminal who knows their 'future' and has no intention of putting up any resistance.

Ye Zhu's expression... anyone with eyes could see the problem.

The room leaders present were not blind, and they immediately saw through the situation... and almost unanimously chose to be the first to ask inappropriate questions.

However, Hana managed to ask, amidst the heavy atmosphere, "Sensei, why did you suddenly question Valkyrie...?"

"Although the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau is willing but unable to do everything they can, they are still responsible for the security of the main areas surrounding the Federal Student Union..."

Amamiya remained silent for a few seconds, then tilted her head back slightly, looking heartbroken.

"It was for the sake of the Federal Student Union... no, for the social stability of Kiwatos that I had to make this painful decision, sacrificing the small for the greater good."

“Chief Hanaya…you should know very well that basic security law enforcement agencies…absolutely cannot afford to fail.”

Changing the subject, Amamiya asked in an almost indignant tone, "But what is the truth...?"

"Regarding the operation of Valkyrie... I imagine the heads of the other departments besides the Defense Office are also somewhat familiar with it, right?"

"Unsustainable, straying from the right path, utterly alone, unable to stand on its own..."

"It was precisely to improve this situation that I initiated the inquiry aimed at restoring the normal operation of the Valkyrie Academy."

"Especially Police Chief Valkyrie!"

Seemingly so excited that he was about to "slam his fist on the table," Amamiya took a deep breath.

"...Recently, I received some evidence of the Valkyrie Police Department colluding with the Kaiser Group to take kickbacks in exchange for weapons."

As Amamiya spoke, Rin got up and left her seat, distributing copies of the documents to the various room leaders.

"Take a look, everyone."

The once silent conference room was suddenly filled with the rustling sound of papers being turned over.

Amamiya continued to unleash her attacks, suppressing her "full of anger," and passionately directed her ire at Ye Zhu.

"Ye Zhu... tell me, what have you been doing as the head of the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau?!"

"They've actually followed the same old path of cooperating with Caesar..."

"Don't you know the consequences of doing this?"

"Is the police station now completely infiltrated?"

"The next step will be to be chewed up by the Caesar Group, and even the bone fragments will be swallowed... I think that this kind of gradual erosion and swallowing by Caesar has already happened more than once in front of you."

Ye Zhu trembled slightly as he was repeatedly accused, but he remained silent.

She picked up a document that was handed to her, glanced at it briefly, then looked ashen-faced and let out a heavy sigh.

“Sensei… has the investigation progressed to this extent?”

“I admit that we Valkyrie did accept bribes and cooperation from the Kaiser Group... but that was only out of necessity.”

Holding the copy of the evidence that had been distributed to her, Hua Ye opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

She knew what the evidence was without even looking at it.

It's nothing more than concrete evidence of the weapons supply and logistical exchanges established between Valkyrie and Caesar.

'No, Valkyrie can't be...'

Hua Ye wanted to say something to distract him, but it was too late.

After her impassioned speech, Amamiya angrily uttered a soul-searching question: "Yanagi, how could you do this?!"

"because……"

Ye Zhu's response was weak and helpless.

"...Kaiser Group offered a very high price."

Amamiya closed his eyes in 'pain': 'How much did you pay to make you betray your principles?!'

"..."徾尊六】鸠? (1)-彡V@I:

Huaye: "Um..."

As she tried to say something, she immediately drew strange looks from the other room leaders.

Hua Ye, who was good at reading the atmosphere, realized that now was not the time to step forward, so she shrank back and stopped trying to interrupt.

"...The Valkyrie Police Department no longer has the capacity to maintain basic operations."

Ye Zhu slumped in his chair, his eyes vacant, looking more exhausted than ever before.

"What...what should I do? What can I do..."

The usually capable "strong woman" was now forced to fill her eyes with tears by the aggressive questioning.

"What can I do? I've already done it!"

She seemed to have lost her composure, and almost shouted those words.

"Sensei... and those of you who have had contact with or know about the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau, you should be somewhat aware of those days of scrimping and saving, where even the most basic bullets had to be counted and carefully calculated, right?"

"Valkyrie was in this dire situation for most of the time before receiving Caesar's supplies."

"Those students who joined the Valkyrie Police Department because they had a sense of justice or a noble ideal and desire to maintain peace... they were all good kids."

"'Does upholding justice necessarily mean using the worst equipment and the worst conditions to help the weak?' 'Why is it that those who uphold justice live worse than petty thugs?' 'Is everyone in Valkyrie like this?'..."

"I have no words to face such questions... and I don't want these beliefs to be tainted."

"so……"

After venting his frustrations, Ye Zhu repeated his initial question once more: "What... can I do..."

"I can't... let them starve to death..."

"We cannot... let their ideals wither and die because they are deprived of nourishment..."

The room leaders who sat close to Ye Zhu could vaguely sense the sorrow lingering around her after she vented her emotions and began to sob softly, as well as... a pitiful sight that evoked sympathy.