“I’m sorry, hold on…!”
Honestly, it’s true that I intentionally sent someone on an errand to a vending machine that looked suspiciously broken.
It’s also a fact that I blatantly signaled for the seat to be cleared.
However, the decisive delay in this nerve-wracking situation was due to Rosaline’s request for a consultation.
If we were to strictly determine the fault ratio… I forgot to tell him to come back right after the conversation ended, so that’s half my fault, and Zero, who’s still lingering at the platform, takes the other half?
Anyway, what’s important now is that getting him back is more urgent than determining right from wrong.
– You can stop killing time now, so hurry back! Unless you didn’t pick the lost and found center as your new home! –
– However… even if I can’t bring the drink you requested, I believe I should get back the money that this old junk has eaten. This is nothing short of a scam against Ahsa. –
Goodness… I’ll have to adjust the fault ratio to about six to four.
A can of soda costs around 200 or 300 credits at most. However, money has been slipping away recently, so I had emphasized the importance of frugality to Zero, who seems to be wary of even small expenditures.
Or maybe… I’m just really dissatisfied with the fact that I’ve suffered financial damage.
– Forget it, it’s fine! If you don’t come back soon, know that I’ll flat out refuse to accept you! –
– …Understood. –
“Ugh?!”
With a thud, the employee who had been dangling and kicking in the air fell to the platform floor.
As the steel hand that was stuck pulled out, shattered glass pieces and broken vending machine fragments fell down. Along with it, the orange-flavored juice from Daily Breworks, which was clutched like a trophy, came out too.
…For a while, every time I drink juice, I’m going to be reminded of that mess.
What are you doing, you rascal!
– Astra Express A-185, connecting to Neo Haven, is about to depart. The train will leave as soon as train placement is complete. –
Kugung….
With the sound that thousands, tens of thousands of metal parts make, the train trembles.
Even though the engine hadn’t been started, it gradually began to change its form, as if the tiles including the track were moving and being reassembled all at once.
This grand spectacle, crossing the boundaries between efficiency and inefficiency, reality and platform games, was more than sufficient as a signal for a new departure, but… I’d refuse a dramatic plot where I lose my one and only partner at the train station.
– Don’t trip…? That would be a real major accident! –
– ……. –
There was no answer, but Zero’s movements racing along the platform became more intricate and faster.
By now, a gap that looked to be at least five meters had formed between the platform and the train, which couldn’t be filled by just walking or running, but that’s fine.
The minimum acceleration needed had been met, so all that was needed was to jump in before the train doors closed. …It should have gone that way if there were no interferences.
“Hey, Droid! Stop! We’re investigating for property damage… Damn, it doesn’t look like you’re planning to stop.”
Thud! Thud…!!
Before I knew it, the police that had closed in began to open fire.
Rubber bullets designed for riot suppression slammed into the ground near where Zero stepped and ricocheted. I should be grateful that they weren’t real bullets, but in this situation, it brought no comfort.
Even if what was being fired were soft tomatoes instead of rubber bullets, it would still reduce the impulse I gained and shake my posture.
The timing for the leap had already been missed.
Due to the shock from being hit from the sides and behind, the body of the carebot slid along the ground, precariously hanging at the edge of the platform.
Um, wait… did I really not make it on…?
“…Hey?!”
With a bang, I struck the table and shot up from my seat.
My palm throbbed, begging for mercy, sending a tingling sensation.
Asyef and Rosaline, who had noticed my antics, looked at the Drone left behind on the platform. They seemed to be wondering what the hell was going on, their pupils contracting.
Zero’s flustered expression reached here too.
Should I avoid conflict with the police as I was warned at the search desk earlier, or should I prioritize him coming back to my side and take on the risk of confrontation?
As I quickly made my judgment, I wanted to tell him the answer, but… I’m not a teacher, and there’s no way a plan for an outing gone wrong could come to my mind immediately.
“Uh? Wait a sec! If I hack the train control system, I can make it stop immediately….”
“I really appreciate your enthusiasm! But why is your solution so extreme?!”
While I was grateful that he thought actively of a solution as if it were his own problem, the path he chose would undoubtedly lead to an array of troubles… Rosaline, aren’t you just too fearless for someone on the wanted list?
But the idea itself wasn’t bad.
It definitely looked better for me to go directly and negotiate in some way than to leave it to Zero to find his way out.
However, I didn’t think they would easily permit getting off the train just because I missed the boarding time, especially not these guys who don’t give refunds for missed embarkations due to mere change of mind.
Moreover, with track adjustments that are perfect for an accident happening, jumping off carelessly could… oh no.
I’m sorry to the others, but please bear with a slight delay in departure.
– Zero, hurry up! What reasons fall under the category of emergency stop for the train? –
– According to the publicly available regulations on the network: instructions from the station control center, track downtime or external threats, and finally, the personal requests of corporate VIPs. –
While the theory was thorough, the necessary information was succinctly listed right away.
So, it means there has to be upper instructions, the train is being attacked, or there should be a VIP that needs something.
I understand the first two, but… what’s the last one? It seems like such a trivial reason that’s not even comparable to the precedents, it must be a misunderstanding, right?
– …Sometimes, that can be the most prioritized reason, I believe. –
“Ha….”
As soon as I figured out the action I needed to take, a sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.
If I had to choose between a major ruckus or a minor clash with the authorities, there was no need to weigh it deeply; it was best that a pitiful, broke hacker named Anastasia Valentine endured a bit of embarrassment and humiliation for the time being. That is the most correct and rational judgment.
…So, I held back. Otherwise, I would have just thrown everything away. Damn it.
Click, click, click!!
“Oh? You’re lodging a complaint with the staff. There’s no way those guys would understand our situation…? If it’s urgent, wouldn’t it be better to disable the security system with me now….”
“…There’s an easier way.”
Seeing me mindlessly mashing the crew call button, Rosaline tilted her head.
Asyef shot me a look, trying to affirm whether I was going to dubiousness on them.
Well, amidst all the calamities happening, thankfully the awkward wait wasn’t long.
The blocking door opened smoothly, and soon a staff member with a broad smile entered as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Even if that person turned out to be a strange figure who only existed in name.
If I believe the words of the reception staff, I should be registered as one of the VIPs, so I just need to boldly demand a stop. It shouldn’t be hard.
So where do I make the demand…? The request… no, how do I even bring this up?
“Um….”
As soon as I was faced with a messenger to convey my opinion, I suddenly froze, unable to find the appropriate words. Again, I must reiterate that I have no idea how to take advantage of that power, but the situation keeps pushing me towards this position, and it drives me crazy.
What should I say to an employee whose smile seems to reflect the sorrows of all service workers?
Here I am, a person like this, can you stop the train for just a moment? Just imagining it made my neck tense.
“So….”
As I fumbled and tried to come up with an appropriate word, before I could even finish that act, the quick-witted crew member beat me to the punch with a grand greeting.
“Ms. Valentine, it is an honor to have you aboard the Astra Express! If there were any inconveniences or factors that disturbed your mood, I have been instructed to actively take measures. How can I assist you?”
Service remarks flowed smoothly like a river.
They even swept through the interior of the cabin when mentioning “disturbing factors.”
Somehow, it seems… like they know? It must be that they know about the eccentric guest insisting on boarding the general cabin?
“Um, I’m sorry, but… well, my travel companion. They accidentally left their valuables on the platform, is there any way we can resolve that…?”
“…….”
The platform was getting farther away. To be precise, I cautiously pointed at Zero, who’s still busy glaring at the police at the far edge.
If laying out the specific situation would be advantageous, I would have done so at any length, but after all, it was said that ‘a private request’ would suffice. It seemed almost absurdly right that even with such a flimsy description it could work.
With a sound like the wind cutting through the air, a sharp 90-degree salute was performed.
The serious-faced crew member’s back suddenly bent at a right angle, and their head bowed to the ground.
Where had the tongue that was moving like it had a motor gone, I wondered, as the stuttering individual finally replied.
“…At once. I will relay this to all relevant departments and the station to ensure you have a pleasant journey. Please wait just a moment, just a little while.”
“Uh, yes. Thank you…?”
Despite the rushed answer that came out, I had a small doubt about what exactly “all relevant departments” meant, but it was swiftly resolved.
The moment they received the complaint and began to murmur about my situation, the atmosphere began to shift dramatically.
Kugung….
Like rewinding a mechanical clock, the overly grand train track adjustment process was played backwards with a loud sound.
The police, who had been surrounding the rampaging robot, began to murmur and returned to their respective work zones.
The announcement that had been making a fuss about the imminent departure now declared that a “minor defect” had been discovered just before departure and that the train would be returned to a position adjacent to the platform.
So all it took was some mild whining while seated for everything to get resolved…? Is this… power?
…When Aron contacts me next, I’ll have more questions to ask him.
I hope they didn’t blatantly register my personal information in the Paradise database.
“Phew… then, Ms. Valentine? Let me escort you back to the originally prepared first-class compartment.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine….”
As I tried to decline the staff member’s suggestion, I noticed the two individuals next to me looking like they wanted to say a lot.
I don’t want to admit it, but it seems there’s a decision I need to take responsibility for.
However, given that the choices were ‘staying here and facing questions again’ vs ‘escaping while pretending to be unaware’, there wasn’t really room for contemplation.
I slowly got up from my seat. I awkwardly attempted to grab my bag, but the staff member was already holding it at my side.
Behind me. Just before the cabin door closed.
I hesitantly scraped up a pathetic excuse.
“…I didn’t say I have no secrets to hide.”
