CH 01 – Almiah Dissident (Part 06)

The rental room was similar to a karaoke place. It was enclosed, measuring three by four meters, with a long sofa for seating, soundproofing, snacks, and dimly lit colorful lights. It was slightly damp, filled with the scent of mangrove from the room fragrance.

"Irwin Walton, right?" Korwa began the conversation nervously. She sat with her left leg propped up on the table, reviewing the printed documents provided by Shamar and Irina. "Resides in the heart of Walton District, Rhea Prefecture. After both of his parents died in an accident, the entire management of the area was delegated to several close relatives," she added, tossing the documents onto the table.

"It's very suspicious, isn't it? To be honest, I also doubted the data! It sounds like the boy is just being manipulated by his relatives!" Irina sighed deeply. Sitting with Shamar across the table, she sighed anxiously and continued, "Apart from his very talented younger sister, the student named Irwin is normal. Even—!"

"He's truly the scum of the Walton family," Korwa added. She closed her eyelids for a moment, then processed the information she had just received. Maximizing cognitive abilities, improving calculation accuracy to reach appropriate conclusions. "However, strangely, that child suddenly changed. Becoming a genius like his sister, even more brilliant. Developing rapidly until he gained political influence like now …."

"Do you think he's just a political puppet? Controlled by relatives who took over the Walton district's authority…." Shamar spoke up. He moved Korwa's foot off the table so her skirt wouldn't open, then took a glass jar filled with dried squid snacks. "They must have deliberately caused that accident, right?" he asked to confirm.

"The accident occurred at the Heavenly Tower. Could they really damage a crucial facility belonging to the Solus Empire?" Irina doubted it. While picking up the printed documents on the table and reviewing them again, she said hesitantly, "That's impossible. Even if they could, the crime would be exposed immediately. It's too risky for their family…"

"But…" Korwa understood their opinion. Slowly opening her eyes, the purple-haired woman said anxiously, "It's impossible for the accident to have happened by chance, right? There must be a connection…"

"You're right, there must be a connection!" Shamar nodded in agreement. He placed the Data Cube on the table and activated it, then opened several files related to the visit of the student from Jann. "This is the study proposal submitted by that child. Most of it discusses research and community development."

"Wait! He came here for a study?" Irina was surprised, quickly looking at the projection screen her husband was showing. "Like a summer vacation project?" she asked to confirm.

"Exactly! The students at Jann call it a summer vacation project!" Shamar corrected slightly, then furrowed his brows and continued, "Due to the time difference, he might stay for a few months."

"That's just a formality…" Korwa clarified. Leaning back on the sofa, she raised his head and stared at the ceiling. "There's no way that spoiled kid from Jann would care about the people of Almiah," she muttered sarcastically.

"Well, then why did he come here? For vacation?" Shamar stared blankly. He placed the snack jar on the table, then sighed anxiously and complained, "We're here to discuss this, right? Why aren't you enthusiastic?"

"I don't know, it's too complicated…" Korwa stopped leaning back. She quickly pointed at the man from the Marinus Rapax race, then slammed the table and demanded, "Enough, Sham! Just hand over the data on the plane and port he used! I'll intercept that student tomorrow!"

"No! Don't do it, dear!" Irina stopped him. The woman with bright blue hair quickly turned off Shamar's Data Cube, then took it from the table and secured it in her handbag. "We're talking nicely like this so you don't act recklessly! Don't just decide on your own!" she snapped angrily.

"You guys are too anxious…" Korwa gave a thin smile and stopped pointing. Leaning back on the sofa, she said casually, "I just want to meet that student—!"

"That's the problem!" Irina immediately stood up and slammed the table, sending papers flying everywhere. A blue aura briefly enveloped her body, turning into particles of light floating in the air. "Why are you always like this?!" she snapped angrily.

"I-Irina, you're overreacting…" Shamar tried to calm his wife, taking her hand and asking her to sit back down. "Honey, quickly control your Unfar…! It'll cause a commotion if other visitors find out," he said anxiously.

"Tch!" Irina clicked her tongue in annoyance. She waved her right hand vertically, then gathered all the scattered light particles. They condensed into a ball the size of an adult's fist, then floated into her body. "Whatever! I don't care anymore! If you want to die, go ahead!" she snapped as she sat back down.

"Why are you so angry?" Korwa quickly sat up straight. She furrowed her brow briefly, then gave them a sharp look and asked, "What are you hiding?"

Shamar and Irina jumped. They exchanged anxious glances, then sighed and fell silent for a moment as if considering something.

"My dear, it's better if we just tell her. This is pointless…" Shamar made a decision. After thinking it through carefully, the burly man anxiously persuaded, "Korwa is stubborn. If we stay silent, she'll definitely do something even more reckless."

"You're right…" Irina fell silent, then lowered her head and leaned back. "She's always been like that, unable to distinguish between determination and recklessness," she muttered anxiously.

"What are you two talking about?" Korwa frowned immediately, growing tired of their lies and wanting to snap at them. "What are you planning?" she asked angrily.

"Korwa!" Shamar raised her voice. She no longer showed any signs of doubt or anxiety, then began to sharpen her gaze and furrow her brow. "You know I came home early because I was called to the office, right? For a meeting…"

"I-I know, you said earlier this afternoon that you were going to the Security Department…" Korwa was slightly surprised, quickly stood up to keep her distance, and continued asking, "What does that have to do with it?"

"We were called to revise the security protocol…" Shamar answered honestly, no longer intending to hide it and revealing it openly. While lowering his gaze and covering his face with both hands, he tried to suppress his anxiety and continued, "Specifically for the arrival of that student, we made revisions."

"We? Do you mean the platoon you lead?" Korwa widened her fearful smile. Her face began to pale, and cold sweat slowly trickled down her cheeks. "Your platoon was chosen to handle security for the welcome, right—?"

"All the executives and chairmen also attended the meeting!" Shamar interrupted rudely. He lowered his hands from his face, then showed a worried expression and continued, "They were summoned directly by the Branch Chief! Just to discuss that kid!"

"Wait! Seriously?!" Korwa couldn't believe it. She sat back down, furrowed her brows, and said, "There's no way you'd revise the security protocol just for a kid! Besides, revising the protocol takes months! It requires many experts to draft it! There's no way it could be done in just a few hours!"

"You're right, it takes a very long time. However…" Shamar swallowed hard, then looked pale and continued, "Yesterday, our side received a transmission from the Orbital Station. A direct call from that student."

"What did he say?" Korwa grew more anxious, a mix of fear and curiosity.

"He sent a file containing a project proposal for public safety enhancement. It discussed the effectiveness of handling Mist threats, and there were also several chapters covering general surveillance measures."

Shamar answered honestly, without any manipulation. His body couldn't stop trembling, his face grew paler, and his voice clearly reflected his fear.

"Seriously?" Korwa swallowed hard, held her breath, and tried not to interrupt. "It sounds crazy…"

"He also provided some suggestions regarding the Mist population threat, particularly in military aspects such as strategy and target locations…" Shamar continued. He tried to remain objective, neither exaggerating nor downplaying the information. "And the results were accurate," he concluded with a trembling voice.

"Accurate?!" Korwa still couldn't believe it, remained skeptical, and asked again, "What do you mean by accurate?"

"We managed to eliminate that Mist group in just a few hours!" Shamar leaned back briefly, staring at the ceiling and sighing. Closing his eyes, he spoke with a troubled expression, "Two nests were located near settlements, and another at the border. Due to this, the executives and chairman agreed to implement the student's proposal. Revising their protocols."

"I-It's not a coincidence—?"

"No! It's not a coincidence!" Shamar emphasized. He stopped looking up, then sat upright and said, "From the number of personnel to the weaponry, everything is spot-on! He truly knows our military strength, as well as its weaknesses!"

"Isn't that great?" Korwa tried to remain calm. She put on a relaxed expression, then flashed a warm smile and said, "That means he really cares about us!"

"Yes, you're right! The Branch Manager is very pleased with the results! In just one day, we managed to make a year's worth of progress!" Shamar grew gloomy again, then showed signs of anxiety as he muttered, "But there's something odd about that transmission. It's too smooth for us…"

"Odd, huh?" Korwa raised an eyebrow, then glanced away briefly and thought. "Does that student want something from you? Asking for payment or something like that?" she asked to confirm.

"No, he didn't make any requests at all. It's just…" Shamar paused for a moment, then looked straight ahead and continued, "After the suggestion was proven and succeeded, he mentioned your name."

"Huh?" Korwa trembled violently, as if an electric current was running from the tips of her toes to brain. "What did he say?"

"Send regards to Korwa…" Shamar conveyed the message accurately. Nothing added or omitted, exactly as the student had said in the transmission.

"You… aren't trying to scare me, are you?" Korwa immediately stood up. Her face was completely pale, her voice filled with fear. "You must be lying so I won't meet that student! How clever of you to conspire…"

"Why? You're not the type to be intimidated by something like that, are you?" Irina spoke up. She sighed irritably, then gave a sharp glance and said, "This isn't a joke or a lie; he really mentioned your name!"

"But! Korwa is a pretty common name!" The woman with bright purple hair tried to deflect, showing clear signs of anxiety and fear. "Maybe he meant someone else! Not me!"

"You're right, maybe it was someone else." Shamar didn't argue, instead nodding in agreement and falling into deep thought. Lowering his head, he murmured anxiously, "I hope it's someone else. If not…"

"Once you're targeted, you might not be able to escape him!" Irina stated the risk without hesitation. She sharpened her gaze, then quickly stood up and emphasized, "He's extremely dangerous! More than you can imagine!"

"You're all in cahoots, aren't you?!" Korwa evaded again, even accusing them and quickly averting her gaze. "Don't be like that! Be honest…"

"Ah! Damn it! That's right!! At first, I wanted to use you to meet that child! To get information directly from him, to later hand over to Father!" Irina quickly climbed onto the table, then showed an angry expression and clicked her tongue. "However, after hearing the information from Shamar! I…! I changed my mind!" she concluded angrily.

"Is that true?" Korwa fell silent, doubting her words and unwilling to look back.

"Yes! We've already discussed this issue before you arrived!" Irina reiterated. She sighed anxiously, then stepped down from the table and sat back down with a annoyed expression. "Why can't you trust us? Besides, why would we lie to you about something like this?" she muttered, lowering her head.

"The information is accurate. If you still don't believe it, you can verify it tomorrow. I'll bring you the transmission recording…" Shamar tried to convince him. He wasn't as angry as his wife, remaining calm with a slightly pale face. "That's why Irina is so angry. We're worried about you. In fact, I hope you'll move to another tribe's territory first. Take a leave of absence—!"

"Are you kidding me!" Korwa slammed the table, then pointed at the burly man and shouted, "If I take leave, that spoiled brat from the Hua tribe will definitely propose again!"

"You're right…" Shamar froze, turned his face away, and considered other options.

"Tch! This is getting more troublesome!" Korwa crossed her legs, leaned back on the sofa, and fell into deep thought. "Should we just kill him? It'd be less trouble!" she muttered angrily.

"Eh?" Shamar was startled, staring anxiously with his mouth agape.

"You're still sane, right?" Irina sighed irritably, then shook her head and reminded him, "He's a Jann resident! If they find out, this planet could be flattened by them!"

"Let's make him have an accident! Just like his parents—!"

"We're not joining in!" Shamar interrupted, giving his answer without a moment's hesitation.

"Hmm…" Irina nodded in agreement, then looked straight ahead and replied, "We won't join that crazy plan. Do you want us to die?"

"Tch! Cowards!" Korwa stopped leaning back. She took a moment to breathe, then turned her face away and muttered, "I was half joking earlier…"

The conversation stopped, and they fell silent, thinking about their next move. They exchanged sharp glances, opening their mouths as if they wanted to say something. They continued to search for the right words to form the perfect sentence.

Irina and Shamar did not want Korwa to act rashly, as that could endanger their position and that of the entire tribe.

However, on the other hand, Korwa couldn't suppress his curiosity. She wanted to meet the student immediately to use them as a subject for her thesis research.

"So, what do you plan to do next?" Irina broke the silence. She took a deep breath to clear her mind, then widened her cynical smile and asked again, "Don't tell me you're serious about killing them, right?"

"After thinking it over, I should probably not meet the child yet. It's too suspicious…" Korwa made a decision, choosing a safer and more certain alternative. "He'll be a transfer student for now, right? That means he'll enter the Academy! I still have plenty of time," she said with a disappointed tone.

"Ah, using your teaching privileges?" Irina confirmed.

"Hmm!" Korwa nodded. Pointing her finger forward with a worried smile, she said, "You don't mind, do you? As far as I can tell, this is the safest way. If possible, I'd like to be the class guardian—!"

"Please don't…" Shamar objected.

"Alright! It's up to you!"

Korwa relented, granting tolerance and stepping back. Though curiosity kept her from stopping her thoughts, she tried to follow their wishes.

However, that didn't mean she gave up so easily. Korwa had already thought of another plan, something she didn't share with Shamar and Irina.

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