Chapter I - 9: The Mayor

At least, NGCO's rations are as tasty and filling as ever.

Alice was still despondent about the situation. She knew not how to proceed. Hence, for the moment, she just focused on quelling her hunger.

Halfway through her tablet, she heard a rustle from the town's entrance by which she sat. A freighted group was gathered. They all froze as they noticed her looking at them.

Leading the group was a woman of centrist descent, with greying hair loosely tied in a bun as well as a monocle to her left eye. She wore a tattered light red long dress and a loose jacket of similar colour. Her boots were as worn out as everyone else.

Her limbs were visibly quivering as she attempted to keep up her bravado.

That's… Kinda cute.

The tiny looked like a woman of authority swallowing her pride.

"Oh great Gigan!"

Alice raised an eyebrow at her opening sentence. While this did subconsciously tickle her heart a bit, curiosity currently stood at the forefront of her mind.

Then, they all lifted up their hands.

"We offer ourselves to you! Show the rest mercy! At least, spare the children!"

Her eyes widen at the statement, "Wait, I-. "

However, she was interrupted by a shout from behind the crowd. It was a youngster, furiously screaming at the top of his lungs, "Fuck you! I'd rather continue to survive on potatoes for the rest of my life! Than submit to a man-eater!"

With that, he fired a plasma handgun at Alice's face. The blast barely left any mark on her cheek. She simply blinked, surprised by this development.

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The latter merely felt a light tickle upon impact. This was akin to firing a BB gun at an armoured vehicle.

Yet, the fire in the young man's eyes still burned as he was tackled by his kin.

"Yuri! The heck is wrong with you?! You're trying to get everyone killed?! This is a matter of survival."

"It'll kill us all eventually! They all do, Mack, they-"

The leader of the group raised her voice, interrupting him, "Silence!" With that, the older man covered his comrade's mouth, restraining him.

"Mmm-mm-mmmm..." His curses were muffled as he tried to free himself.

The crowd eyed the ruckus, apprehensive of whatever was supposed to come. Then, the woman, a little less fearful compared to everyone else , pleaded, "P-p-please forgive this transgression and defiance of your authority."

After that, they began to kowtow. This 'Yuri' boy was begrudgingly doing so too after having been compelled to by his partner.

As at the same time, Alice was internalising the gravity of the situation.

Submission just by my presence... Talk about a massive ego boost… But… I shouldn't let that go to my head; certainly not now. Currently, their condition doesn't look good. Clothing in poor conditions… Surviving on potatoes?

Alice, not wanting to deepen any misunderstanding, gently said, "Wait, wait, wait. Stop that. I seriously mean no harm. Truly."

At this point, she was holding her hands up in a surrendering manner, half-eaten bar still in hand.

The tinies were now looking at her like she had two heads. Alice continued, "I-I-I... Ugh... Here, take two bars, they're tasty. Nutritional too."

With that, she took out and slowly opened one of the two MRE tablets and placed it near them. The people were still frozen, doubtful of her behaviour.

They eyed the packets as if this was all a cruel trick. As the woman was about to speak, someone else slipped through the crowd and rushed to the foodstuff.

It was a small child in shaggy clothing. He ignored everyone's gaze as he took a bite out of the bar. Hungrily eating, the little boy was blissful, completely ignoring his surroundings. At that, Alice genuinely smiled.

The people were whispering among themselves.

"Silence!"

The woman snapped and subsequently cleared her throat. She composed herself as she adjusted her monocle and patted the dust off herself. Nervousness was still visible, but only to a far lesser degree.

"Do you really bear no ill-will against us?"

The giantess frantically nodded.

"Hmm..."Alice felt her soul being gazed upon by the look she was given.

Detecting no underlying motives, she then took a deep breath and straightened her back even more.

She looked at her again her straight in the eyes; her voice was austere, "I am the Mayor, Eliza Lennox. You look like you're of the Division but you don't sound like it. You don't act like it. Still, I don't fully trust you yet. But... It's not like we have much choice anyways."

Alice was gloomy at the statement, but Lennox continued, softer this time, "Nevertheless, as the head of this abode, you have my gratitude for this... Act of kindness."

Before the friendly Gigan could properly react, the Human shifted back to her previous cadence,"How do you go by, Gigan?"

The tone had Alice's academy training kick in, "Ma'am. Lt. Alice Armiger. Assault Recon, infiltration specialist. Ma'am."

The Mayor quirked a brow at her introduction. Nevertheless, she took the sudden formality in stride.

"Welcome to Wynd Ville, Lieutenant."