Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
I did not even know how I got through the day.
The Commanders of the Empire integrated into the community around me at a frightening speed. In every classroom and every hallway, I could see one or two unfamiliar faces. These included the teachers, the workers building the flower beds, the canteen helpers, the electricians overhauling the electrical line, and all other professions that could possibly appear in the school. I felt like we were shooting a Hollywood movie about alien invasions without anyone else knowing.
In the beginning, students would look surprised and discuss everything in hushed voices. ‘Many new people seem to have appeared in our school.’ However, very quickly, they ran out of things to talk about. I wondered whether it was that Commander named Keos’ work or the classmates becoming nonchalant about these unfamiliar faces.
On the way back home with Pandora after school, I would greet unfamiliar people who walked past me. More and more, I felt amazed at this group of Commanders from the Empire, who could easily blend into an unfamiliar, cultured community. Thankfully, they did not harbor the hopes of taking over the world.
I turned around and looked at Pandora who was walking silently beside me.
… With this tiny, battle-crazed monster here, I could only say that they were not harboring hopes of taking over the world for now.
“Big Brother,” Pandora suddenly said, “Are you very good with people?”
This question was strange. “It’s alright. Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
“There were a few carbon-based beings behind us just now, talking about you in hushed tones. They said that you are very good with people.”
… Any normal person who saw a high-school student talking warmly to everyone—from the cops on patrol to the street-side hawkers—would probably feel that way. If not for my young age, people would probably suspect that I was a plain-clothes officer sent from above to interview people in private.
My house was quite a distance from the school. By foot, I would have had to pass through a crowded street. This street was famous for having various hawkers and pirated shops whose owners had been engaging with the city management in guerrilla warfare for a long time. The market for pirated discs here, especially, had been named the last, standing pirated paradise under the storm that was the city management.
Big Sister had originally instructed me never to allow Pan Lili (Pandora’s name in front of strangers) to walk through this messy street. Qianqian had also advised me time and again to make a detour so that my sister, Lili, would be kept safe. However, for some reason, Pandora insisted on taking this messy and chaotic way home.
Very quickly, I realized why Pandora insisted this way.
As we approached the exit of the street, a man dressed in black clothes—looking like he was from the Matrix—stepped out towards us. Very mysteriously, he asked, “Guys, do you want discs?”
I looked up and immediately teared.
It was the knight-like uncle forging identity cards.
The people in ancient times were right to say that one should not judge a book by its cover. This uncle looked very righteous and strong, but everything he did seemed to be surprising to me. Did you have an easy time forging identity cards?
Pandora explained to me on the side, “Our original plan was to monopolize all the businesses in this city and then use it to build a perfect information network and a safe route for you to travel. However, we later realized that we just had to send Sicaro here to achieve the same outcome.”
The king-like uncle reported with a serious expression, “The humans in this district look like they have mastered some sort of primitive but very mysterious way of transmitting messages. Although I would not call it an information network, it is sufficient to collect information about everyone in the vicinity. What’s more, since the management of this city is quite messy, it is quite easy for us to stay hidden in a place like that.”
Once I heard this, beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead.
At that moment, I realized that a few of the hawkers and shop-owners around me were people that I vaguely recognized. It looked like I had belittled the battle-mindset of these people. How could they call this going out into society and finding a job? They were practically preparing themselves for war by spying.
“Big Brother, I discovered an abnormal target,” Pandora suddenly said.
“An abnormal target?” I asked, curious.
The knight-like uncle said, “I’m going to set up a sniper point.” Then, he left.
What was happening? Hey, hey. You’re not planning to act out the Matrix on this street, are you?
“There’s a—no, there are two carbon-based beings, with high-energy reactions, have locked in on our position. They’re not doing this on purpose, but they have the intention to attack.”
Not on purpose but with the intention to attack? Why don’t I understand her?
However, before I could get a clearer picture of what was happening, I heard Pandora groan, “The enemy has launched their attack!”
I felt a cool breeze blow past my body, and then everything went quiet.
Just when I thought nothing had happened, Pandora gestured behind me.
I turned around and saw a wall behind me, about a meter tall. There was a deep cut half a centimeter wide at the halfway point, and a trace of white smoke could be seen drifting out of that cut.
The beads of cold sweat on my forehead dripped downwards.
“A high-pressure air-blade,” Pandora said, her eyes taking on a faint, blue glow. This was what she looked like in data-analysis mode. “It has high speed and pretty good destructive power. However, the most important thing is that it can slip past the detection of carbon-based beings extremely easily. It would probably be fatal to ordinary carbon-based beings.”
“… Don’t tell me this now…” I pursed my lips and said, “I was almost killed by that thing. You should be able to stop attacks like that, right?”
Although I did not really understand the skills of people from the Xyrin Empire, I could tell from the current situation how easily Pandora could successfully stop attacks of such a degree. However, I did almost get killed by that attack by the enemy, and yet Pandora was still casually analyzing the characteristics of the attack next to me.
Pandora looked up into the sky and said, “Attacks like that are worthy of praise, but to me, they do not pose a threat. The other party seemed to have no intention to kill. They looked more like they were trying to test things out. They missed on purpose this time.”
“In other words, you knew that this attack would not have hit me so you did not try to stop it?” I asked, shocked. Suddenly, I viewed Pandora’s quick-reaction and analysis with a new-found appreciation.
“That’s it,” Pandora replied, still looking at a certain spot in the sky. “Now, I can be certain that they did not do it on purpose. They are just testing things out for a purpose yet unknown. Requesting connection to the satellite gun…”
“Testing,” I repeated, nodding. At the same time, I felt slightly confused. “What were they testing? What’s there to test? I’ve already kept everything about you guys a secret. In such a short time, there is no way the information could have leaked. What’s more, they used a high-pressure attack against me. Could people from Earth fire weapons like that?”
“I’m not too sure if this attack constitutes technology that this world has a hold on, but I can be sure that those who fired this attack were carbon-based beings. Satellite gun, in position…”
“Oh… what? Pandora, what did you say? Satellite gun?” At that moment, I finally noticed that Pandora had mentioned this satellite gun twice. Just from its name alone, I could tell that it was something illegal. What was the matter? What exactly was this tiny war-crazed monster planning?
“Although they did not do it on purpose and they did not do any harm to you, it’s a grave crime to launch an attack against the Xyrin Emperor. Anyone who dares to harm you must pay the price. Lock in on target, fire at will!”
“Hey!” I did not care about attracting the attention of the people around me and shouted at once. “Stop immediately! This is a residential district!”
Pandora’s eyes were already blinking red at that moment. Without turning back, she said, “The satellite gun we’re using this time was summoned by the void projector out of space. Its attack is almost completely hidden. Ordinary people would not be able to sense it. What’s more, we’ve already limited the energy-grade of the attacks. Satellite guns with minimum output power would not launch a devastating blow.”
“That’s not what I mean!” I said anxiously. I could already faintly feel the air not far away twisting and turning. The satellite gun was about to be activated!
How powerful were these satellite guns? According to the data in my brain, the most powerful Xyrin Satellite Gun could destroy an entire planet! Although Pandora said that this attack had been limited in terms of power, attacks like that would definitely kill humans.
Although being attacked for no reason frustrated me, if I caused the death of tens of millions of other people, I would be worse than a beast.
“Pandora, I do not want to use orders to force you,” I said as I stared at Pandora’s fuchsia eyes. “Take it as you’re doing a favor for Big Brother. Don’t hurt the innocent.”
“Even if those two fools tried to attack you?” Pandora quietly asked.
“You said it before. They did not do it on purpose. What’s more, we’re not sure of the situation now. We should not be hurting the innocent. Stop the satellite gun first!”
At last, the little girl in front of me chose to compromise. “Alright, if that’s your order.”
Once Pandora spoke, the satellite gun stopped its attack.
Although it had not dealt any attacks yet, I realized that the space where the air was being twisted had already been severely disturbed. It was almost as if a little fire had broken out there.
The energy that had gathered before the satellite gun even launched an attack already contained so much power. I could not imagine what the consequences would have been like if I had not stopped Pandora.
“Although we can pardon them from the death penalty, we must still deal a suitable punishment. Big Brother, this is the limit of my tolerance; or the Empire’s reputation would be dragged through the dirt.”
“It’s not that serious, is it…?” My head began to hurt. This Lolita in front of me was good in every other area, but once the Empire was dragged into the picture, she would become incredibly stubborn. What’s more, she knew nothing about ‘peaceful resolutions’. I never knew when she would make a mess out of everything.
“Don’t do anything too serious.” I stared at Pandora’s determined gaze and gave up trying to turn her into an envoy of peace. Of course, if there was a chance of finding those two people who launched that attack, it would not be a bad idea to teach them a lesson. “The most important thing is not to harm the innocent.”
Now, I could only pray for those two mysterious attackers in my heart. I hoped that they would be able to run for their lives from the attacks of the Xyrin Weapons.