The smile on Shawn's face vanished completely. The shift from amusement to contempt happened so fast, so naturally, that it felt as though the air around him had turned cold in an instant.
"Then let me put it another way, Hesta. You might think this place is a safe haven, a land full of justice and order. But every place has its own laws—and some laws transcend borders. In Hekla, in Shortbell Alley, in this base—it's all the same."
Hesta's eyes flickered slightly at the mention of "Shortbell Alley."
"…You've been to Shortbell Alley?"
"No," Shawn said calmly. "But I'm sure it's not that different from Hekla. You understand what I mean."
"I don't," Hesta lowered her head slightly. "You'll have to explain."
"I've got something on you, Hesta." Shawn's tone softened. "Think about it. If Officer Morley found out about your secret scheming, do you think she'd still protect you the same way? And Liz—she'd be so disappointed. You know what she's like: a justice-obsessed machine with the moral flexibility of a fossil. They care more about order than about you. But me? I'm different. In some ways, you'll find I'm far more reliable than Liz."
Hesta smiled faintly. "Oh? In what ways?"
"I understand you. I really do. You've just brought your street habits from Shortbell Alley into the base, that's all. We're both familiar with that kind of thing—it's everyone else who doesn't get it. They've been soaking in sugar water too long."
Hesta sighed in disgust. Shawn grinned, amused.
"Haha, I know you don't like hearing that—no one would. But that's the truth. I'm not like the others; I won't feed you pretty lies—"
Hesta raised a hand to her forehead, then quietly said, "Miss Turan, you can come out now. I really… can't listen to any more of this."
In that instant, Shawn's expression froze. From the corner of the stairwell below came a strange electronic crackle—and a voice.
"Has anyone ever told you your hair looks beautiful? …What? …No wonder people used to pay big money for Hesta girls' hair. But why don't you grow it out? Girls with red hair should always—"
The voice stopped abruptly. A moment later, Turan appeared on the stairs, wearing the same short-sleeved uniform.
"Not bad," she said, slipping her phone into her pocket. "Didn't get the whole thing, but the important parts are all there." She squinted and gave Shawn a thumbs-up. "You're really something, Shawn. You're really something."
"You two… you set me up?" Shawn stammered.
"How is that a setup?" Turan's voice was icy. "Hesta and I went to take a shower together—she came out first, I followed after. That's called coincidence. Perfect timing. Just our luck."
"Heh," Shawn scoffed. "Secretly recording someone without their consent? That has no legal effect."
"Who needs legal effect?" Turan sneered. "Once Liz hears this, you'll see just how much of a 'law-and-order freak' she really is. I'd recommend you book yourself a hospital bed now—she's gonna beat you so hard your brother won't recognize you."
Shawn frowned. After a brief moment of panic, he regained some composure.
"You really think anyone here will punish me harshly for something this trivial?" he said mockingly, looking at Hesta. "At the end of the day, we're all rare tools. Before we belong to ourselves, we belong to AHgAs. The balance here is too stable—unless I commit a serious crime, no one can really touch me. Not Liz, not Officer Morley."
"Maybe not," Hesta said softly. "But I suggest you don't make any rash moves. You and Turan are both double-awakened Mercury Needles. If you start a fight here, it won't end well for you."
Shawn's throat tightened. "…What are you two planning to do?"
"The recording doesn't have to be made public," Hesta said evenly. "As long as you stop bothering me, it stays quiet. But if you come after me again… I have other options. I mean what I say, Shawn."
"Oh, come on," Turan laughed. "Why not settle this right now? Imagine it—two Mercury Needle trainees throwing down in the dorm wing, bullets suspended mid-air—now that's entertainment. Honestly, I'm curious. With my short burst of Bullet Time, could I knock your teeth out before you even blink?"
Shawn's gaze flicked between them. He said nothing, then turned and sprinted down the hall.
Turan burst out laughing, calling after him, "I know you don't like hearing that—no one would—but hey, that's the truth! Because I'm not like the others! I don't feed you pretty lies—now go back to your room and cry yourself to sleep, Shawn!"
Hesta watched his retreating figure disappear into the darkness of the corridor, finally exhaling in relief.
"Thank you," she said.
Turan waved a hand lightly. "No big deal. But how did you know he'd come after you tonight?"
Hesta tilted her head. "…Just a feeling?"
Turan gave her a thumbs-up, and the two exchanged smiles before heading back upstairs. Soon after, Turan made a copy of the recording and knocked on Hesta's door.
"Come in—it's not locked," Hesta said.
Turan opened the door but didn't step inside. She glanced at Hesta, who was sitting at her desk. "Writing in your journal?"
"Mhm."
"I brought you a copy of tonight's recording. I kept one for myself—this one's yours."
She tossed a small silver recorder to Hesta, who, though caught off guard, managed to catch it midair.
"Keep it on you. Next time something like this happens, even if I'm not there, you'll have your own evidence."
It was a sleek silver recorder, about the size of a regular pen. A tiny electronic display glowed on its side, next to a single button.
"Thank you… Is there a manual?"
"Nope, I threw that away ages ago," Turan replied. "You'll figure it out. It's easy."
"…Alright."
"By the way," Turan said, folding her arms, "you really don't plan to tell Liz or Officer Morley about what happened tonight?"
"No need. Sometimes it's better to keep the evidence in your hands than to use it."
"…You don't trust Liz to stand up for you?"
Hesta tucked the recorder away and stood up.
"It's not that," she said. "I just think Shawn was right about one thing—the base won't really punish him. A fine, a rank demotion—that's probably the limit. In the end, it's not something Liz can control."
Turan frowned slightly. "Why do you say that?"
"Before I came here, Miss Chiba told me there are only about four thousand active Mercury Needles in the entire world," Hesta said softly. "And in Zone Three, the number is especially low—just over two hundred, barely five percent of the total. That means every trainee here is extremely valuable. The base won't throw anyone away easily. Even if Shawn really committed a serious crime, they'd still find a use for him."
Turan's brow furrowed—she had to admit, it made sense.
After a pause, she sighed. "…Still, don't listen to Shawn. Liz isn't someone who values order over people. I think she's just cautious—it's her first time as an auxiliary officer. She's always been a solid partner."
---
( End of Chapter )
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