Miss Wang Weina, even your cousin won't do!

Although the undeployed mon3tr was operating at minimum power, it was still a mon3tr after all, yet it was suppressed!

who is it?

"Don't be nervous, it's me. Ms. Hamer is in the kitchen right now and can't hear me."

Hearing the commotion, Saria also came over and witnessed the scene before her along with Kal'tsit. The alloy wall made of metal slowly opened, and the Vyvan girl's head popped out from it. It should have been a cute scene, but the constantly writhing metal, as if it had a life of its own, sent chills down their spines.

"Ms. Kal'tsit, that's how I should address you, isn't it?"

“I am the real client, and I am now telling you my choice—expose them! Expose Loken Water Tank! Expose the entire Colombia.”

Fiona's face was pale, but her tone was extremely forceful. Suppressed rage made it almost impossible for her to control the murderous intent in her voice.

She gritted her teeth and said with grief and indignation:

"Ms. Himer betrayed our desire for revenge. We are heartbroken that the person we trusted most has become a traitor in the end."

Chapter Sixty-Six: Justice as You Wish

Columbia, New York, airport.

The weather was clear, and no abnormal weather was detected within sight. The natural disaster messenger did not submit a natural disaster warning report.

In summary, it's a good day for takeoff.

There were very few people at the airport to see him off. The chief referee was unable to attend in person due to "health reasons," and a Washington state legislator, acting as a temporary replacement, had to come. Of course, the farewell was hardly a sentimental one; Columbia was eager to get rid of this plague of a man as soon as possible and then turn back to deal with the troubles that had occurred during this period.

The military is in turmoil, businesses are suffering heavy losses, the financial sector has essentially returned to pre-independence levels overnight, unemployment is soaring, and demonstrations have begun across the country. The National Guard, exhausted from fighting the military, has lost its basic ability to distinguish right from wrong and has begun indiscriminately firing on demonstrators and soldiers alike, causing significant casualties in various states.

Even without dealing with the military, the National Guard would still open fire indiscriminately.

At this critical juncture when public discontent is boiling and urgent action is needed, the political establishment has united in an unprecedented way, reminiscent of the War of Independence. Everyone has tightened their belts, tucking their bloated bellies in by more than a centimeter. Illegal businesses have also largely ceased operations, and preparations are underway to lower the profile and safely weather this extraordinary period.

Fortunately, the political sphere is currently under strict control, and the officials are aware of the seriousness of the situation and are behaving themselves. So much so that when the military is eager to dig up new scandals to give the political sphere a few more blows, they can't find a hammer for the time being.

The interim chief judge couldn't even imagine whether, if another scandal broke out in the political arena, this dilapidated house would actually be overthrown by the enraged public and the long-planned army.

However, they never imagined that the scandal they had tried so hard to avoid was now firmly in the hands of the Prince of Wales, whom they had just managed to get rid of.

From this perspective, Wayne is indeed a "plague" for Colombia.

The specially designed aircraft powered by Originium Energy allowed Wayne to use his mobile phone. After boarding the plane, Wayne contacted Kelsey, who had already returned to Silicon Valley to discuss the press release with Himer.

However, the reliable green cat did not bring him the good news he wanted this time.

“Your Highness Wayne, Ms. Hamer has refused to release this information.”

Ignoring the intermediate communication, Kal'tsit directly informed Wayne of the outcome of the negotiations. Wayne frowned in confusion; in his view, Himer shouldn't have any reason to refuse this offer.

After all, it was she who summoned him to Columbia, commissioned him to investigate the Loken tank incident, and provided him with living evidence like Fiona. They'd come this far, yet she backed down? Why?

"What happened? Did she give a reason for refusing?"

Wayne asked, and Kal'tsit answered truthfully that, for some reason, it sounded noisy around her, and she seemed to faintly hear the voice of a little girl.

But Kal'tsit was always a cautious person, and her counter-surveillance experience was something even Wayne couldn't match. Since she didn't say anything about it, Wayne didn't ask any further questions.

Kal'tsit replied:

"She doesn't want to destroy her current life with Fiona."

"What kind of reason is that?" Wayne replied, both amused and exasperated.

She didn't want to destroy her current life, but it already was. She, Wayne, like a butterfly, had already flapped her wings; from the moment she arrived in Columbia, the original Columbia ceased to exist. Loken's conspiracy was exposed prematurely, Kal'tsit realized the true nature of her "good student" ahead of time, and Rhine Lab broke free from the shackles of the military and politics, preparing to go to Victoria to begin a new life. At this point, isn't it a bit naive to talk about not wanting to destroy her current life? Wayne is a butterfly, but isn't Himer also a butterfly among butterflies?

But upon further reflection, Wayne understood Hamer's concerns to some extent. Kelsey had already explained the consequences of releasing this information to Wayne before their departure. Given Colombia's current predicament, Wayne had no doubt that once this information was published, the last vestiges of precarious political authority would crumble, and the hard-won suppression of the military would be reversed.

What lies ahead for Colombia? Wayne didn't know, but he knew that civil war would break out. Either the remaining capital would choose a new representative to rebuild the political arena, or the capital would be wiped out, or at least partially wiped out, unable to stir up any more trouble, and replaced by a reactionary military government. Of course, the most likely scenario was that the evenly matched military and political establishment would continue fighting until this severely weakened country was gradually manipulated, made a puppet, or even annexed by other countries in the increasingly tense geopolitical landscape.

From this perspective, not disclosing the information is indeed the right choice for a patriotic "Colombian citizen".

Wayne recalled Himer's character in the game. She was serious, earnest, and courageous in the face of danger, but she did seem to lack a certain "desire for revenge."

Even after Rhine Lab committed the same crime as Loken's Water Tank in the original timeline, she only took Ifrit and left Rhine Lab for Rhodes Island. She was even running away; she refused to let Saria, who had worked with her at Rhine Lab, see Ifrit, even though Saria had saved Charmander during the Balrog incident. She also refused to disclose Ifrit's Oripathy test results to the outside world.

She never expressed hatred for Rhine Life, seemingly only lamenting her own powerlessness. She didn't question why bad people could do evil with impunity, but rather grieved why good people were unable to stop the tragedy and suffered harm.

She seems to have always been this way. Perhaps the future Himer, after witnessing the Loken tank incident and Fiona's ordeal, will possess the resolve and perseverance to abandon everything and escape with Ifrit. But the current Himer, still just an ordinary intern graduate student, is too inexperienced.

Just as Senator Chianti had commented when they discussed Rhine Lab with him—

"This company, composed of a large number of idealists, is far too fragile in the bloody business battlefield of Colombia. They are like flowers in a greenhouse. Although their superb scientific research capabilities and young talent reserves make them exude a refreshing fragrance for a time, they are simply not adapted to the difficult battle of fighting for water in the wilderness."

Did you invite her to New Rhein Life Sciences?

If Hamer's determination and motivation stemmed from a desire to protect the child, then if Fiona were to be safe, she would be able to make a more informed decision. With this in mind, Wayne asked.

But Kal'tsit paused for a moment before replying:

"No, Your Highness, there was an unexpected incident."

"Although Miss Himer wanted to terminate the commission, the client did not agree."

"party?"

"It is [us]."

Suddenly, the person on the other end of the microphone changed. A woman's voice, clearly that of a child, but also excessively deep, answered.

"He's the 'older brother' you're talking about."

"We urge you, Pulitzer journalist, if you truly uphold justice and hold fast to your ideals, then do not hesitate to release all the information you possess related to that demon."

【elder brother】.....

Wayne had imagined one day he would be able to communicate with his "brother," but he never expected it to come so soon, so suddenly. After a moment of contemplation, he asked Kal'tsit the same questions she had asked him:

“You are the person involved, and I need to ask for your opinion. [Fiona’s brother], do you know what kind of impact this information will have on Colombia? The government will completely lose its credibility as a result, large corporations that support the government will suffer a backlash and heavy losses, and countless people will be displaced and homeless.”

"But we are able to take revenge, for ourselves."

“I can promise you that you can go to Victoria and live a normal life with Himer.”

A snicker came from the other end of the microphone, followed by a deep, childlike voice asking:

"In your opinion, is there any place in [our] community that can be described as normal?"

"Hermer declined the commission because she still held onto hope for Columbia..."

"So she is a traitor. We have no illusions about this country or any inch of her skin. The night we were thrown from the testing platform into the wasteland of the undeveloped area, we abandoned all illusions. All that remains is revenge, and endless revenge!"

The older brother concluded by saying:

“Pulitzer journalists, you, including Ms. Himer, always sympathize with those who haven’t been hurt yet, showing them endless concern and worry for their future, but when it comes to those who have already suffered, you simply clasp your hands together and offer a word of condolence. It’s utterly ridiculous. We’ve observed this behavior for too long and can only conclude that the living can still create value for you in the future, while the dead are insignificant.”

“I can proudly say here that none of you are true Colombians. In this country, a real Colombian wouldn’t think so much in this situation; they would just wave their hand and say: ‘Go to hell, as long as I’m alright!’”

"You all failed, only we succeeded. We destroyed Loken Williams, destroyed Loken's tank, destroyed Columbia with the selfishness that Columbians are most proud of. We will not regret it, we are proud of it."

“You’re right, this is indeed very Columbia.” Wayne gave a helpless smile, shook his head, sighed, and finally asked, “So, tell me your final decision, client.”

"Public information," [the older brother] said.

“Then, my client, journalist Joseph Pulitzer, will release this document in three days and put Colombia on trial. I will uphold your justice, in your most Colombian way,”

Wayne turned his head to look out the window, admiring the last bright rays of the Colombian sun, and replied,

"As you wish."

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Colombia Has No Death Penalty

"Lady Kal'tsit, what are you talking about? Why can't I understand?"

After Fiona hung up the phone and turned to walk back to her room at the Elizabeth Hotel, Seria finally couldn't help but ask.

What exactly happened? Why did everyone else seem to know everything, while she was the only one kept in the dark?

What Pulitzer journalist? What public information? What do these things have to do with that legendary Pulitzer journalist? And how did Kelsey and Fiona meet Joseph Pulitzer?

Saria had too many questions she wanted to answer, but Kal'tsit glanced at her quietly and asked:

Do you know about Loken water tanks?

Loken's water tank? Saria nodded:

"Hemer told me that the company is shady, full of shady dealings, and that Fiona was rescued from there, but that has nothing to do with..."

Saria suddenly opened her eyes wide.

"The information you're talking about is from the Loken water tank?"

"To be precise, it is information about the collusion between Loken Water Tank and high-ranking Colombian government officials, business owners, and powerful families."

Kal'tsit said she didn't mind telling Saria what happened, since Saria was already a party to it. After witnessing Fiona's Originium Arts, seeing her brother's appearance, and learning the Pulitzer Prize reporter's secrets, she couldn't escape now, no matter how hard she tried.

She was already on Wayne's pirate ship, just like she had been dragged onto it by Theresa.

“Ms. Seria, your curiosity will keep you up at night. You can look at the document on the table, but please control your emotions and don’t think too deeply about its contents. Of course, you can also wait until three days later, when the Pulitzer journalist publishes this document throughout the streets and alleys of Terra, and then witness this historic moment with the people of Terra.”

Colombia is a giant corporation disguised as a nation. When one of its organs, called Loken Tank, malfunctions, the entire body eventually becomes diseased as money and blood flow through its veins of profit.

When Saria finished reading the information, only one thought remained in her mind.

—Columbia is finished.

Colombia is currently a powder keg, and the Loken Water Tank is the fuse. Once the Loken Water Tank explodes, it will trigger a chain reaction of explosions involving all businesses and individuals in Colombia who have had dealings with the Loken Water Tank, until Colombia is reduced to rubble.

"Is this all you're going to announce?"

Seria asked, somewhat incredulously.

She never imagined that a piece of information at a particular point in time could have the effect of destroying a country!

Kal'tsit nodded silently.

This was the client's own choice, and she had no right to interfere. No matter what happened afterward—whether the Loken tank was destroyed, the Colombian government collapsed, a civil war broke out, or a military junta came to power—none of that was Kal'tsit's concern.

Kal'tsit firmly believed that justice should not be withheld simply because it might have serious consequences. The biggest difference between true justice and false hypocrisy is that hypocrites want a happy ending without any sacrifice, while those who uphold justice understand that saving some people inevitably means sacrificing others; salvation is destruction.

Even Theresa never imagined that she could bring peace to the Sarkaz without paying any price. On the contrary, she understood this deeply and even risked her life for it.

Seria understands this too.