章 34: The Echo of Despair
The hum of a private jet echoed through the city where the Harrington family resided. This city was directly connected to Millennium City, renowned as the largest metropolis in the nation, yet also the most chaotic. Despite this, the technology in the city far surpassed any other place in the world. It was fittingly called the City of Science.
Not unlike Millennium City, the only other city directly connected to it was also quite similar. This city was called Zero City, or more commonly, the City of Balance. It earned this nickname because it was the only city that managed to survive being directly linked to Millennium City for nearly two decades.
The reason why the Harrington family lived in Zero City remained a mystery to everyone. Even William, once called as "prodigy child" was unaware of the true reason. He suspected it was due to his own existence, which explained why his family moved away from the main family and chose to live in Zero City.
His parents wanted to distance the walking disaster from ordinary humans and relocate the walking disaster to Zero City, where many talented esper lived, including William himself. Perhaps they didn't want their child to grow up with the dilemma of being so different from other humans. However, this was just William's assumption, no one knew the real reason except William's parents. He had never directly asked about it, though he was aware that his parents were hiding something from him.
On a special private jet authorized to fly directly towards the academy, the passenger was none other than Mika, a member of the Harrington family often called "mother" by a child named William and Maria.
Mika sat accompanied by a girl who seemed to be enjoying the scenery around the secret base, heavily guarded by the government.
"Rei, calm down a bit. If you lose control, no one can reduce the damage caused on this private jet," Mika said, fiddling with her phone.
"Let it be. Even If it happens, you'll know from the start, right?" said someone who had just arrived from the front deck, wearing a white suit and an ID card hanging around her neck.
"Woah! Birds! We're flying at the same level as birds!" shouted the girl named Rei, jumping up and down on the seat closest to the window.
The newcomer also sat down in front of Mika, smiling constantly.
With a look of displeasure, Mika said to that person, "Can you stop spoiling Rei, Professor Irma?"
"Anju..."
"Heh? Ohh... I forgot."
"I told you to call me by my name when we're not on duty."
"S-sorry, anju... I forgot."
"What's wrong? It's unusual for you not to look relaxed."
"Ah, actually, it's about my son."
Anju sighed and replied, "It must be about William again, right?"
"Ah, how do you know?"
"Ever since William was born, you've been like that, looking gloomy whenever you're alone. What if you learn to relax like Rei? Your mental burden would surely lessen."
"If I could, I would have done it a long time ago. But instead of decreasing, it just makes me feel guilty as a mother. One of a mother's duties is to worry about her children, you know?"
"'Her children' huh, but you've always worried just about William at all."
"That's because I don't need to worry about Maria at all. I'm sure William will protect her. But... that's precisely why I worry about him. He never thinks of himself. You know what happened when he was still in elementary school?"
"Ah, sorry, I forgot."
"The esper attack on innocent people. Don't you remember? Or are you pretending not to remember, Professor Irma? I didn't forget what you planned when William's ability information leaked that day."
Anju smiled, watching Mika's serious expression as she stared at her. Then she replied, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to him. Honestly... I'm also traumatized by your husband."
"Eh, why?"
"I was threatened to be treated like a research subject in Project 08."
"Uwah, that's the same as a death sentence."
"That's all? That's your reaction about your friend's problem? Don't you feel sorry for me?" Anju's expression looked disappointed.
"Why should I feel sorry for someone who wants to make my son to be a research subject?"
Anju smiled and replied, "Good attitude. I now understand why the central authorities chose you to be part of us."
"Ehehe, you knew from the beginning, right? You're just trying to find a flaw in my mental health, aren't you?"
"Ihihi, just as I expected from my friend."
"I won't give you my son."
"Yes, I know, but you know, right? No, you must know more than anyone else, you're his parent after all. William has potential... No... even more than potential. He can surpass Unit 00."
"I know."
Anju stood up with a frustrated expression filled with curiosity. She slammed the table that separated her and Mika, shouting, "Then why!?"
Desperation was clearly visible on her face.
The girl named Rei, sitting next to Mika, was even startled and slowly moved back, jumping behind the chair and running towards the front deck where dozens of other children were gathered.
"Professor Irma, please sit down calmly," said Mika, who looked calm and unfazed from the start.
"You're telling me to calm down? Even now, there might be dozens of people dying on the battlefield!"
"Battlefield? Isn't our world peaceful?"
"Peaceful? You call this peaceful? Stop pretending like you know nothing! Your husband knows this more than anyone in the world. As his wife, there's no way you don't know too!"
"Isn't there only news about the disappearance of gifted students lately? I've never heard any shocking news, you know."
"Gifted students? Don't make me laugh! They are soldiers dying on the battlefield! Kidnapping? Where did kidnapping come from? It's murder! The real truth is being hidden! You were there when it happened, weren't you!? Why are you acting like you don't know anything!? "
Mika stood up with an angry expression and shouted, "Because I want to show you how the public responds to that nonsense! Do you think I'm happy with what's happening? People are dying in front of my own eyes, especially they are still children! Do you think-"
"Anu...," one of the staff on the plane interrupted their conversation.
Mika took a deep breath to regain her composure and replied, "What is it?"
"The children are scared by your shouting, so-"
"Alright, let's stop this useless argument. After all, there's nothing we can do here. Nothing will change just because you vent your anger on me, right, Professor Irma?" After saying that, Mika sat back down calmly.
"Yes, you're right, i know that...," Anju replied, biting her lip to hold back her emotions from spilling out again.
"Thank you for your understanding, Professor Irma... and Captain Mika," said the staff member who had reprimanded them before walking away back to the front
deck to take care of the crying children.
After that, Anju was about to go to where the children were. But before she passed the barrier between the decks, she stopped because Mika spoke to her in a mocking tone, smiling as she said, "It seems I'm good at staying calm, more than you."
Anju left without saying anything after that, and their peaceful journey to the academy continued.
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