Let's start over, Your Majesty.

Chapter 101 Chips (Fifth Update, Please Subscribe)
At this moment, everyone was staring at Xia, at the thugs' cold eyes, and at the students' shock.

"What is this guy talking about?" Tess said blankly.

"Xia, this is too dangerous," someone quickly advised her.

"Yeah, they'll kill you."

After a burst of bullets, the entire arena fell silent.

The thug leader stared at Sia and said calmly:
"Sia Reintantin, a prominent figure frequently reported in the news."

He sneered:
"When you were six years old, at the Kapur assembly, you used your so-called status as an imperial princess to sign the decree for Fane's colonial plan in the Pave region. You even claimed that your father told you in the Divine Realm that that land has always been Fane's territory, and that any invasion of them is legal and compliant."

"But because of you, many people have died in the Pave region, Princess."

These words were like a knife plunged into Xia's chest. She closed her eyes, remaining silent, but her right hand gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

“Then you should also know that I am very important to the kingdom,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Why should we believe you?” the thug said.

"There are no conditions; you only have one choice."

As she spoke, Xia suddenly pulled a palm-sized dagger from her lace sleeve and pointed it at her fair neck.

Amidst gasps from the students, she closed her eyes and said with remarkable calm:
“If you are unwilling, I will commit suicide, and then you will get nothing from these people.”

"You're a hostage, threatening us?" the thug scoffed.

"Then give it a try."

She wasn't joking; the tip of the bayonet was already embedded in her neck, and a trickle of blood flowed down her fair skin onto her deep red evening gown.

"Shia!"

A student shouted.

"Stop!" the thug leader shouted.
Sia stopped, and Caesar was almost certain that if the thug hadn't shouted, she really would have put that bayonet to her own neck.

When she let go, she stumbled and almost lost her balance. One hand fell to her side, but the other hand still gripped the bayonet tightly.

She stared at the thugs, her lips twitching slightly.
She knew she had made the right bet. These people had come for her from the beginning, but they were very cautious and did not reveal their intentions directly. Now she had figured them all out.

Their own lives are now their biggest bargaining chip.

“Release everyone,” she repeated.

The thug was silent for a moment: "I need to contact the kingdom's negotiation experts before I can meet your demands."

Xia didn't speak, but took a step back, looking at the group of terrified students around her. Her lips trembled as she squeezed out a few words:
"No, don't be afraid. I... I will protect you."

But the second half of her sentence was barely audible, only she could hear it.

Outside the building.

"The group of thugs who were lying in ambush have been cleared out, the venue has been emptied, the attacking airships have been shot down, and the barrier has been set up."

"However, we discovered that the building was equipped with interference magic, making it impossible to lock onto the interior. The Eye of Obora is currently unusable."

While listening to his subordinates' reports, Secretary General Rhys of the Kingdom's Security Bureau quickly walked up to the rooftop, the tallest building besides the Century Tower, which offered a better view of the interior.

This is now the temporary command post.

"Have you figured out the origin of the two missiles that attacked first?" he asked. "Yes, they were two hurricane anti-detection magic missiles. Judging from the serial numbers of the fragments, they were from the batch of lost weapons that were sold to the Kingdom of Danse a month ago," the subordinate said. "The launch site was a construction site, disguised as a tanker truck. We are now searching the entire city for other launch sites, and the city's air defense network has been activated."

“I remember, there were five Hurricane missiles in that batch of lost weapons, right?” Rhys’s voice was tinged with coldness.

In other words, if they are not found soon, missile attacks will occur again, and even if the air defense network is activated, there is no guarantee that civilian casualties will not occur.

He picked up his binoculars and looked up at the upper floors of the Century Tower, at the shattered floor-to-ceiling window, where the curtains were now drawn.
We've received word that a group of thugs entered that floor of rooms, and inside those rooms are the first-year students from St. Yaro Academy who are preparing to attend the opening ceremony.

Among them are the daughter of the Minister of Energy, the granddaughter of the president of Giant Stone Industries, the young prince of the Kingdom's royal family, and the Imperial Princess, Shia Reentandine, who is of utmost importance to the Kingdom.

It's fair to say their objective was quite clear.
Now that the most powerful means, the Eye of Obora, is unavailable, we can only place our hopes on the Royal Knights.

Despite this name, the Royal Knights are actually the code name for the Kingdom's Emergency Rapid Response Force, which can be considered the Kingdom's most elite special forces.

"Chief, the negotiation experts have arrived."

Rhys turned his head and looked at the negotiation expert with a receding hairline and a calm and composed expression on his face.

“Try to delay as much as possible,” he told them.

inside the building.

The students huddled in a corner, hugging each other. The bodyguard's body was dragged out. The thugs were scattered throughout the room, some watching the doorway, others using binoculars to observe the outside.

Shea sat alone on the sofa, which was riddled with bullet holes, her lips pursed and her hands clenched tightly in front of her.

The room was quiet, with only occasional low sobs.

"Hey, Caesar, do you think if we make it out alive this time, the school will give us a guaranteed admission to graduate school?" Leon asked in a low voice.

“Maybe, but who knows,” Caesar said.

"Sigh, if I had known it would turn out like this, I would have splurged a little this morning and spent an extra six decas on a beef sandwich!" Leon sobbed.

Do you think they would grant my wish if I asked to be a dead man who has eaten his fill?

"What time is it, and you're still thinking about food?" Tess said.

Leon's lips twitched, and he said, "Um...Tess, I'm really sorry for always arguing with you before. Actually, I just wanted to appear less weak."

"Huh? What are you suddenly saying?" Tess looked at him with a twitch in her eye.

"Maybe when I'm about to die, I'll want to tell you everything that's on my mind," Leon sobbed. "Actually, I've been saving up the money I owe you, just so that one day I can pay it all back."

“You idiot,” Tess sighed. “If we could get out of here, we wouldn’t have to pay back the money.”

"Hmm," Leon twitched his nose and covered his face, but it was obvious that the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Just then, one of the thugs who was observing from the window said, "The negotiating expert has arrived."

A corner of the curtain was drawn back, and a small microphone with fluttering wings flew into the room.

"I am Laudis. I am the only one here who can speak to you. You can tell me your conditions," the voice came from the microphone.

“Our demands are very simple,” the thug leader said to those inside.

"Let Otto VI and Chancellor Enride come and speak with us in person."

(End of this chapter)