Location: MID Building: ARA Office
Time: Tokino-48 year (2108), Feb. 8 (Wed) 3:49
I pulled my chair over to Alec’s desk and sat down across from him. Over the past month that had become part of our routine. We often had things to discuss, but Alec would never approach me on his own. He’d just sneak glances, pretending not to be interested.
While that aspect of him wasn’t overly professional, under normal circumstances it wouldn’t be my problem. I shouldn’t have had any reason to force interaction with him. It’s not like the two of us had anything to talk about. Honestly, talking to him was just a waste of my time.
But these weren’t normal circumstances. I needed to find Hassan, and despite the fact that the ARA was supposed to be on the case as well, Alec was the only one who seemed interested in actually helping.
Deputy Chief Kaldsen was still serving her suspension for disregarding her orders during the previous month’s incidents.
I wasn’t sure what the artificial human, Vier, was up to, but it’s not like he was someone I could count on.
Oliver seemed to be busy with some kind of special work, coming directly from someone higher up.
Nora was, well, Nora would have probably helped me, but I still wasn’t sure how to actually communicate with her. Besides, it seemed like Deputy Chief Kaldsen was using her for all of the administrative work involving the school.
That left Alec as my only source of assistance. He seemed to realize that as well, as he never voiced any serious complaints about me treating him as my partner in my investigation.
Besides, I couldn’t forget what the information broker told me. Alec and Hassan shared some kind of connection. I’m sure she knew more than she told me, but I was grateful for the lead she gave me.
And yes, to no avail I did try and acquire aid from other departments in the Ministry of Defense. It would seem that Ministry Director Kaldsen had no interest in actually helping me track down and capture Hassan.
I was accepted into this city as a guest investigator because refusing me would be politically difficult, but they’d purposefully left me in an environment where they didn’t need to support me.
That didn’t matter. I would find Hassan no matter what.
“Don’t you think the atmosphere around here has gotten a little strange lately?”
I asked the question that was on my mind. It didn’t have anything to do with my search for Hassan, but I decided to talk to Alec about it anyway. It’s not like I had anyone else to talk to.
“In the entire month you’ve been here, has it ever been normal?”
Alec took a quick glance around the office as he spoke.
“No, I didn’t mean here, in the ARA. I meant in Velstand.”
“Oh. Strange in what way?”
“Just the general sense of things. I can’t be more specific than that. It’s just a feeling.”
“A feeling?”
“Haven’t you noticed it? The way the Ministry Director is acting, how everyone else outside of our department seems overly busy, even how frequently the Prime Minister and other politicians keep visiting the MID building. It just seems. . . Odd.”
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I already had a fairly good idea of what was going on, but I wanted to hear Alec’s thoughts on the subject. I was using him to confirm my suspicions.
“Yeah, if you’re asking, I’ve noticed some things along those lines, but for someone like me it’s best to just pretend nothing is out of the ordinary.”
So he said, but I was certain he’d have more to add if I pushed him.
“What do you think is causing it?”
“If I had to say, probably that pink haired girl hanging around with the Prime Minister.”
He was a little more direct than I would have been. Still, he was almost certainly right. My intuition, and the reports I was receiving from Kazuko, both said as such.
“The Princess from the Pacific Empire.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
“What do you think she’s doing here?”
“The conventional answer is that she’s facilitating the negotiations that other prince messed up last month.”
“And the unconventional answer?”
I already knew what he was going to say, but I needed to hear it.
“She’s working with the Prime Minister to establish terms for Velstand’s annexation.”
“That can’t be possible. It would never happen.”
Despite coming to the same conclusion, I was disagreeing with him. I just didn’t want to accept it.
“If you say so.”
Alec didn’t seem interested in debating with me.
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned?”
“Why? The Free Cities are anomalies born out of war. It’s not like anyone believed our existence was permanent. One day we’d be reabsorbed into either the United States or the Pacific Empire. I mean, it’s probably only a matter of time before the United States and Pacific Empire start the war back up anyway.”
He wasn’t wrong. Back in Japan you wouldn’t find anyone who took the Free Cities seriously. I used to think they were nothing more than a buffer located in what used to be the midwestern United States.
“But even if that’s true, shouldn’t you be hoping to join back with the United States?”
“Oh, I see.” Alec gave me a knowing glance.
I didn’t like it.
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“It’s clearly something. Just say it.”
“Well, it’s just, I think I’ve figured out why you suddenly care about this.”
“And why is that?”
“The Pacific Empire and Japan aren’t on the best of terms, are they?”
An understatement. As the name implies, the Pacific Empire wasn’t only interested in claiming the Western edge of the North American continent. They’ve continued to expand their influence through the islands in the Pacific.
“Yeah, so?”
“You’re worried. You’re thinking that if any kind of deal between Velstand and the Pacific Empire goes through you’re going to get deported.”
He was right. They would deport me, or they’d at least stop supporting my investigation. Not that anyone has been much help from the beginning, but at least I was allowed to operate freely.
It’s obvious, but if I got deported I’d have to leave. I’m not capable enough to stay in Velstand if the government was trying to get rid of me.
Would Alec keep looking for Hassan in my absence? Even if he would, I needed to find Hassan myself. I had to be the one to bring him back to Japan.
I wasn’t ready to leave Velstand.
“Hardly. I’ll find Hassan on my own if I have to. I’ve got no reason to recognize the decisions of the Pacific Empire.”
“That so? Sorry, I guess I was off the mark.”
Alec humored me by saying that, but we both knew he was right. I just didn’t want to admit it. For some reason being honest with him about not wanting to be forced out of Velstand was impossible.
I wouldn’t be forced out. I wasn’t going anywhere. Velstand, Pacific Empire, United States; none of that mattered. I would bring Hasan back to Japan.
Alec might not keep looking for Hassan if I left, but I bet he’d help me hide within the city if they tried to deport me. He’d probably even let me stay at his apartment.
Wait, what was I talking about? Not only would I be committing a serious political grievance, I’d be dragging Alec down with me. I didn’t even hesitate to consider pulling him under the bus with me. I never even considered just letting him get back to his own life. Not to mention how shameless I’ve become. What kind of unmarried woman would consider living with a single man? Even during the callback, I’m an augmented that can’t escape the taboo.