180 – Aircraft Production Plans
Looking at Viktor, Scarlett hesitated, “Viktor…”
“I know, but the students at the College of Engineering are actually quite weak.”
“What kind of weakness?”
Pallin answered in place of Scarlett, “Physical weakness. They couldn’t even open a jam jar.”
Scarlett nodded in agreement and asked, “Was I too harsh?”
“It was outrageous.”
Pallin responded, breathing a sigh as if he had just encountered such frail humans for the first time.
Scarlett continued, “Anyway, it would be great if we had someone with strength.”
“Send someone from the Air Force.”
“Last time among the pirates… There was a sibling duo, Aisha and Johnny. I saved Johnny’s life. They were reliable.”
Evan said, “Ah, those two are trustworthy.”
Scarlett, worried that Viktor might reject the idea out of hand, brightened up as Evan intervened first.
“If we could hire those two…”
Surprisingly, Viktor readily agreed, “Sounds like a plan.”
As even Viktor agreed, Scarlett expressed her surprise, “You’re okay with that?”
Viktor’s response made her smile, “Are those two doing well?”
With a brief pause, the room fell silent. Then, Pallin lowered his voice and said, “Aisha killed her own father.”
“…What?”
“Piracy… it was a means of survival on that island. The islanders considered piracy a way to make a living. But as the piracy continued, it became more ruthless and started to involve the slaughter of Salantier citizens. After pillaging, they even conducted pirate-style funerals, kidnapping women from ships and setting the rest on fire as they sailed away. It gradually became the norm.”
“…”
“Aisha’s father was the Captain of a pirate ship. After he set fire to a ship and kidnapped women, he brought them home. That day, she killed her father and handed his body over to the naval forces. Then she requested that the women and Aisha herself be taken to Salantier.”
Scarlett’s lips trembled.
Viktor spoke, “Moreover, I heard that when you helped Johnny and were kidnapped, Aisha prevented them from hurting you.”
“Oh, yes. That did happen.”
As Scarlett nodded, Viktor continued, “Evan, send someone.”
“Yes, Captain. These days, the pirates aren’t raiding, so they’d be willing to do anything for work.”
With the decision made, Scarlett took a deep breath. Making such a resolute decision filled her with fear. She couldn’t predict how this decision would change her life in the future.
♔♔♔
The change came quicker than expected. When Scarlett returned to the clock shop from the government office, not even half a day had passed. Startled by a stone flying through the window, she stood up abruptly. She heard the voices of zealots from outside the window.
“Witch!”
“Technology is evil, poison. It’s a betrayal of the gods!”
Scarlett stared blankly at the shattered window and hastily grabbed a large suitcase. She crammed everything visible into the suitcase.
While she was rushing, Andrei came upstairs.
“I’ve arranged the carriage. You should leave quickly…”
At that moment, a stone flew and hit Scarlett’s left temple. More surprised than hurt, she sat down hesitantly. Andrei quickly picked up her belongings and asked, “Why are you packing this?”
“It’s important…”
Andrei descended first, and Scarlett followed suit. In front of the clock shop, angry zealots who had heard the news of her aircraft creation had gathered. Although her escorts were trying to hold them back, their numbers were overwhelming, and they could not prevent the stones from being thrown.
“Witch!”
“Seize her immediately and prepare the pyre! That Witch will bring misfortune to Salantier!”
Scarlett climbed onto the carriage while getting hit by stones thrown by enraged people.
The carriage departed immediately, and after taking a deep breath, Scarlett urgently examined Andrei’s face.
“Are you okay? What should we do? It’s because of me…”
“It’s fine. I knew something like this might happen from the beginning, ever since we hired a trouble magnet as our Boss.”
“I’m sorry.”
Scarlett’s face, while apologising, was covered in wounds.
Andrei said, “No, Boss, how can one wound heal before another appears?”
“I’m okay. Really.”
Scarlett’s expression turned embarrassed.
“I shouldn’t have been surprised… Can we save our watch shop?”
“Amidst all this, you’re thinking about saving the watch shop?”
Andrei paused, then continued, “Viktor doesn’t have an eye for choosing escorts.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Because he’s so strong himself, he thinks others below him are more or less the same. Does it make sense? Humans are all different.”
“I see… Well, for now let’s go to the Crimson family. Our house is at risk for the time being, and it seems like the neighbouring house might also be in danger, so I should ask if they can accommodate us.”
Meanwhile, the carriage was heading towards the Crimson family estate.
Scarlett said nervously, “Isaac might be in danger too.”
“That’s why we need to go there now. Those zealots might show up.”
“Oh, what should we do…”
Scarlett covered her face with her hands.
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