Chapter 33

After that, time flowed slowly but steadily. As time went on, those in the situation room received reports from the investigation team that mixed fact and fiction together. It was hard to tell how many hours had passed, but right around when the night sky was starting to lighten, decisive evidence was finally displayed. The panel in front of them held pictures that had been taken by an unmanned surveillance aircraft. The pictures were zoomed-in images of the Monolith near where the Stage Four Gastrea had been. The first picture focused on a white stain about thirty centimeters in diameter that was shaped like mold. In the second picture, the white object had spread to about a meter in diameter. In the third, fourth, and fifth pictures, the white object slowly spread across the whole Monolith. The characteristic bleaching. It completely matched up with the content of reports on Aldebaran when it appeared in the past. There was no reason to doubt it any longer. “Lady Seitenshi.” Kikunojo looked at her solemnly. “Yes, it is the Varanium corrosion fluid, isn’t it?” she replied. Just then, an analyst flew into the room carrying a bundle of documents, his face turning pale. “The results of the supercomputer calculations are here! It is impossible to separate the corrosion fluid from the Monolith. At this rate, the bleaching will take over the whole thing in a week, and then Monolith 32 will completely lose its ability to give off a magnetic field and collapse!” “What will happen once it collapses?” “From the Pandemic induced by Gastrea rushing in through the break in the line, seventy percent of the citizens of Tokyo Area will die within two days, and the rest will follow within four days. It will be the end of Tokyo Area.” “Th-that’s impossible! Redo your calculations!” the Chief Cabinet Secretary howled. “We redid them over and over! We can’t believe it either!” The angry analyst forgot his manners and threw the bundle of documents in his hands at the Chief Cabinet Secretary. The documents made a paper blizzard that danced around the basement situation room. The room suddenly became quiet, and no one moved a muscle. The analyst took a deep breath with his shoulders and returned to his senses, looking down in embarrassment. The Seitenshi pulled the rosary around her neck toward her and held it close, both hands shaking. If this couldn’t be called hopeless, then what could? Even the Cabinet members, who had been making a fuss at the beginning, entreatingly waited for the Seitenshi to speak. She took a slow breath. Especially at times like this, she had to be strong. She stuck out her chest and raised her face with dignity. “Everyone, let us think of a countermeasure while we are still in control of the situation. We must stop the spread of fear and maintain order as much as possible. If we abandon our reason now, it will turn into chaos that we will have no chance of controlling. Capital functions will be paralyzed, and it will become a state of anarchy. After that will be the demise of Tokyo Area. At the very least, we must avoid losing without putting up a fight.” The Seitenshi turned to her aide. “Kikunojo, I believe Tokyo Area has an extradeep underground shelter for times like this. How many citizens can the shelter accommodate?” “Approximately thirty percent, I believe,” he answered. “But even if we stuff as many provisions in as we can and hole up, if help doesn’t come within two months, it’s all over.” “It’s better than not doing anything at all. Please create a system to select thirty percent of the citizens immediately.” The Chief Cabinet Secretary hurriedly interrupted. “Your excellency, we should immediately start sending citizens to other Areas using aircraft guarded by civil officers.” Kikunojo shook his head. “That’s pointless. It is akin to trying to scoop all the water from a giant urn with a ladle. We would not be able to save even one thousandth of the citizens.” “Then what about taking a sea route?” “There are Gastrea that live in the ocean. Aegis-class cruisers and aircraft carriers might be better, but high-class ferries would just end up feeding the Gastrea.” “Then what are you saying we should do?!” The Seitenshi looked sidelong at the Chief Cabinet Secretary and quietly cut him off. “Kikunojo, how long will it take to make a replacement Monolith?” “It will take at least ten days,” said Kikunojo. “It will definitely not make it. It would be better to think of another way—” The Seitenshi cut him off. “Then begin production of a replacement Monolith immediately.” Kikunojo looked surprised, but then looked down and said, “As you wish,” bowing low. “What should we tell the media?” “Summon the reporters’ club and tell them everything. Let’s ask for their cooperation after that. Even they should not want Tokyo Area to fall into a panic.” “Even if the reporters’ club is on our side, it would be impossible to restrict the information online.” “Even so, we should be able to buy some time. Either way, as the bleaching advances, the bleached Monolith will be visible even from far away. If we can just last until then, that will be enough.” “Then…” Understanding Kikunojo’s hesitation, the Seitenshi nodded. “Yes, in the three days between the Monolith’s collapse and the completion of the replacement, Tokyo Area must be defended to the bitter end. Kikunojo, it will be an all-out war. Mobilize the self-defense force at Monolith 32.” “We will also need to ask for help from the civil officers…,” Kikunojo added. “I will gather as many as I can. I shall not let personal feelings get in the way during a time like this.” Now that he mentioned it, the Seitenshi recalled that Kikunojo did not like the Cursed Children. Kikunojo continued. “Lady Seitenshi, with all due respect, I would ask that you also call in civil officers that you trust.” Kikunojo stopped talking for a moment and stared into her eyes, then continued. “Call in the civil officer you trust the most.” “The civil officer that I trust most…?” The Seitenshi closed her eyes. After a while, she opened them, slowly. She had decided.