The next morning, Kael arrived at Senba Academy earlier than usual.
He changed into his work clothes and was about to start inspecting the fire safety facilities throughout the teaching building when his personal terminal emitted a special encrypted message alert.
It was Bishop Otto.
Kael walked to a secluded corner and answered the call.
On the light screen, Otto seemed to be in a good mood, elegantly twirling an electronic pen with his fingertips.
"Good morning, Kael. I hope I haven't disturbed your ordinary school staff life."
Otto's tone carried his usual teasing, "Let me share an interesting piece of news with you—Raiden Ryoma, the CEO of ME Corp, was officially arrested by the police several days ago on suspicion of massive economic fraud. The news should have spread by now."
Kael was slightly startled.
Raiden Ryoma?
Isn't that Raiden Mei's father?
The CEO of ME Corp, one of the representatives of Anti-Entropy's conservative faction.
"Economic fraud?"
Kael found it somewhat absurd; with Raiden Ryoma's status and position, would he need to engage in such a crime?
"Exactly~"
Otto chuckled, as if enjoying an interesting play, "And the mastermind behind it, according to our reliable intelligence, is none other than our dear 'ally'—the radical faction under Lady Cocolia. What a splendid internal struggle, wouldn't you agree?"
He casually transmitted an encrypted list to Kael's terminal.
Kael quickly browsed it; it clearly indicated that Raiden Ryoma and Cocolia both belonged to the Anti-Entropy organization but were from different factions.
Kael looked at the list, his brows tightly furrowed, his heart filled with confusion and a sense of absurdity.
He knew about the internal conflicts within Anti-Entropy, but this… sending an important figure within their own organization to prison on such charges?
What kind of person was this Cocolia?
The first to strike a teammate?
"Your Eminence,"
Kael couldn't help but speak, "This… for us, seems like a golden opportunity to weaken Anti-Entropy? Should we perhaps…"
"No, Kael." Otto interrupted him, his tone carrying the calm assurance of someone with a well-laid plan, "Quite the opposite. I believe we should 'help' Lady Cocolia, allowing her to smoothly… continue her performance."
"Why?" Kael asked, puzzled.
"It's simple."
Otto's lips curved into a smile, "A united Anti-Entropy is the troublesome one. But now, with an 'ally' like Cocolia, who is enthusiastic about internal purges, employs drastic methods, and achieves 'remarkable' efficiency, she depletes Anti-Entropy's own strength much faster and more thoroughly than if we were to intervene directly. With her around, we can almost sit back and relax, watching her gradually push Anti-Entropy towards division and decay. Why wouldn't we enjoy that?"
Kael opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but found Otto's logic… unassailable.
From a strategic perspective, Cocolia's existence was indeed a huge blow to Anti-Entropy's conservative faction, essentially planting a highly destructive "mole" within the enemy.
With her there, Schicksal could indeed save a lot of effort.
"…I understand."
Kael could only nod in the end. Although he felt this approach was somewhat… not very straightforward, he had to admit Otto's sharp insight.
"Good that you understand. Now, continue your 'observation,' Kael. The 'excitement' in Changkong City seems to have just begun."
Otto smiled meaningfully and cut off the communication.
Kael put down his terminal and rubbed his temples. Anti-Entropy's internal strife, ME Corp's turmoil, Cocolia stirring up trouble… The waters of Changkong City were indeed getting muddier.
He sighed, temporarily suppressing these chaotic thoughts, picked up his toolkit, and began his fire safety facility inspection for the day.
He needed to check the fire water tank and alarm system on the rooftop of the teaching building.
Taking the elevator to the top floor, he pushed open the heavy fire door, and a dusty breeze greeted him.
The rooftop offered an expansive view, overlooking most of Senba Academy and the distant city skyline.
Kael walked towards the fire water tank located in the corner of the rooftop, preparing for his routine inspection.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a familiar figure standing by the railing on the other side of the rooftop.
Long purple hair gently fluttered in the wind, and her slender figure belonged to none other than Raiden Mei.
She stood with her back to Kael, facing the vast sky beyond the rooftop, motionless.
That position… was too dangerous! The railing only reached her waist; a slight misstep could lead to a fatal fall!
Kael's heart tightened abruptly. Connecting this to the news he had just received about her father, an ominous premonition instantly surged through him.
This girl… she couldn't be thinking of ending her life, could she?!
He absolutely couldn't let anything happen to her here! An alarm blared in Kael's mind.
It wasn't entirely out of sympathy; more importantly, if Raiden Mei—the daughter of ME Corp's CEO and an important member of Anti-Entropy—were to fall to her death from Senba Academy's rooftop, it would inevitably attract an investigation from Anti-Entropy's conservative faction!
At that point, his identity as an "observer" lurking in the academy would likely be exposed, and Bishop Otto's mission would completely fail!
He had to stop her!
Kael immediately put down his tools, trying to lighten his footsteps, and moved swiftly and silently towards Raiden Mei.
He dared not call out, fearing that startling her might lead to an accident.
However, just as he was still more than ten meters away from Mei, her body suddenly tilted slightly forward, her arms spread wide, as if to embrace the sky, or perhaps to break free from all constraints.
"Oh no!"
Kael's pupils constricted. He could no longer hide, and the power of his Fusion Warrior surged instantly. He lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Just as Raiden Mei's center of gravity completely shifted forward, and her feet were about to leave the edge of the rooftop at that critical moment, Kael's hand, like an iron clamp, precisely and swiftly grabbed her slender wrist!
A tremendous downward pull came, but Kael's arm was as solid as a rock; the power of his Fusion Warrior allowed him to easily bear the weight.
He let out a low growl, engaging his core, and forcefully pulled Raiden Mei, who was already half-suspended in the air, to a halt!
"Let go of me! Let me die!"
Raiden Mei struggled, her voice choked with desperate sobs, tears blurring her delicate face.
Her father's imprisonment, her family's disgrace, her fall from a favored daughter of heaven to the dust overnight, the pointing fingers and mocking gazes of those around her were almost driving her mad.
"Calm down! Classmate Raiden!"
Kael held her wrist tightly, not daring to relax even slightly, his voice steady and strong, trying to pierce through her despair, "Look down! Look at this world! Is it worth giving up your life for those slanders and setbacks?!"
"It's not worth it… nothing is worth it anymore…"
Mei sobbed uncontrollably, "I have nothing left…"
"Who said that?!"
Kael interrupted her, his tone filled with an unquestionable firmness, "Your life is your own! It's not determined by your father's identity! So what if ME Corp falls? So what if the Raiden family is disgraced? You are still you! Raiden Mei! A living person! Are you just going to let these things defeat you, and let those who are laughing at you succeed?!"
As he spoke, he felt the weakening of Mei's struggles.
Her eyes were still hollow, but there seemed to be a subtle ripple of emotion.
"Living… only by living is there hope! Only by living is there a chance to change everything! If you die, then truly nothing will be left! Not even the chance to prove your innocence and make those who framed your father pay the price!"
Kael continued to increase his "verbal assault," throwing out all the most inflammatory words he could think of. He had to stabilize her emotions!
"Prove… innocence?"
Mei murmured, repeating the words, tears still flowing, but her struggles had almost ceased.
"Yes! Prove your innocence!"
Kael struck while the iron was hot, "Live! Find out the truth! Let your father, let yourself, stand proudly in the sunlight! That is what you should do! Not give up your life here, causing pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies!"
Mei stared blankly at Kael, at this usually quiet school staff who simply did his repair work in silence.
His black eyes were now filled with urgency and a convincing power.
His words were like a heavy hammer, shattering the shell of her heart, which had been frozen by despair.
The urge to die finally wavered under this barrage of questions and encouragement.
Feeling the grip on her wrist completely loosen, Kael secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew the most dangerous moment had passed.
Now, it was time to pull her up.
He no longer hesitated, his arm suddenly exerted force, and his core tightened.
With hardly any effort, he steadily and swiftly pulled Raiden Mei, who had been suspended in mid-air, back onto the rooftop!
Both of them collapsed onto the cold concrete ground at the same time.
Mei lay limp on the ground, as if all her strength had been drained, only softly sobbing.
Kael also sighed in relief, releasing her wrist and stretching his somewhat sore shoulders mainly from the mental tension.
"It's alright… it's alright…"
Kael looked at her trembling form, his tone softening, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue, "Living is more important than anything."
He stood up and extended his hand to Mei, who was still slumped on the ground: "Can you stand up? It's windy up here; I'll take you downstairs."
Mei looked up, her tear-filled eyes gazing at Kael's outstretched hand, then at his calm and gentle face. She hesitated for a moment, but finally placed her hand gently in his palm.
Kael gently pulled her up.
He knew that today's crisis was temporarily averted.
But Raiden Mei's mental state was still unstable, and the troubles of ME Corp and Anti-Entropy were far from over.
And the instigator of all this, Cocolia, who was far away in Anti-Entropy's radical faction, was probably still gloating over her "masterpiece," wasn't she?
Kael shook his head, supporting the unsteady Raiden Mei, and slowly walked towards the rooftop exit.
He had to first ensure that this young lady safely returned to her classroom before he could consider what to do next.