Many things in the world happen suddenly. Such events never give an opportunity to prepare.
People who are not omnipotent have no choice but to be flustered by suddenly occurring situations. Because it might still feel like there was room to spare from their perspective.
However, the world is multifaceted and flows in very complex forms. Within seemingly fine scenery, unknown dark struggles and calculations might be flowing like groundwater.
The same goes for cases like the one that suddenly erupted now.
'A blockade order couldn't have been issued impromptu. The fact that the city government gave permission means administrative procedures took place. This means preparations were already in place beforehand.'
However, being prepared and immediately executing it are different stories. Preparation is piling up gunpowder, and execution is lighting the fuse.
Osian's mind worked furiously. The given clues were few. The puzzle pieces were too small to rationally see the picture.
Therefore, Osian filled that empty space with his intuition.
Human intuition is vague and abstract. But the intuition of a knight who has crossed countless battlefields is different. It is sometimes superior to any logical judgment because it has no process and leads to accurate and correct conclusions.
Evidence that the Liberation Army was related to heretics. However, here's where a contradiction arises. The Liberation Army is not related to heretics. That's a fact Osian saw directly.
Of course, such things could have happened in places Osian didn't know about. An individual can't handle an entire district after all.
But the Liberation Army that manages all of District 44 is different. They at least maintained their pride as humans. Even if heretics secretly tempted them, they wouldn't have fallen for it immediately.
'But a variable got mixed into this situation.'
That would be the injured clown.
There's a smell. An amazingly disgusting stench that the guy gives off.
Even the slightest bit would be good. If he revealed just a tiny bit of his traces, the people from the Redevelopment Union would flip their eyes. And so, the trigger was pulled.
"You guys. There's no time to pack. We need to move right now."
"Huh, huh? But sister Greta!"
"Don't worry about that. I'll..."
Osian was about to say something but closed his mouth because a presence was rapidly approaching from the distance. It was not an ordinary vagrant. Judging by the movement, it wouldn't be strange to call them a superhuman.
'They're clearly targeting this way.'
Osian put his hand on the sword at his waist. A silhouette suddenly appeared from beyond the trains lined up left and right.
"You are..."
It was a man with a height that felt somewhat eerie. It was one of the executives of the Liberation Army. He didn't introduce himself, so his name was unknown.
"So you were here after all. Lukai is looking for you."
"You knew I would come here?"
"It's better not to underestimate the Liberation Army. At least regarding District 44, we know a lot. About those kids there too."
"That means Greta is also with you guys right now."
He had been wondering where to look for her, but at least one worry was lifted. They might do foolish things, but they weren't bad enough to take a child hostage.
"Let's go right away."
The Liberation Army's hideout he visited again was, literally, a complete mess.
"Everyone check the escape routes!"
"Why was the blockade order issued? What happened!"
"We got contact from the comrades at the entrance! Guards and soldiers are blocking the passages to other districts!"
The Liberation Army was in panic due to the serious news heard from everywhere. Even for them, what was happening now was quite bewildering.
Some recognized Osian. This time, he openly showed his face without any intention of hiding his identity. Still full of wariness. But other matters took priority now, so no one questioned it.
"Kids!"
Then Greta spotted her siblings from afar and approached.
"Sister!"
" Sister!"
The children who had been brought almost by force saw Greta and shed tears while embracing her. There were too many to all embrace Greta at once, but they still showed considerable relief.
"Brother came too?"
After checking on her siblings' safety, Greta looked at Osian with wide eyes. She probably didn't expect to meet again so soon. Actually, Osian thought the same.
"I should welcome the reunion, but unfortunately, the situation doesn't allow it."
Greta's expression hardened stiffly. She too sensed that something was happening by observing the flowing situation. The liberation army agent said to Osian.
"Follow me. Lukai is looking for you."
Osian followed the agent toward where Lukai was.
Greta and the siblings also carefully followed behind Osian.
Lukai was at the very center of the deepest part of the complex maze-like space with countless illegally extended houses.
"You came."
Lukai, who had been looking at a map and giving some instructions, saw Osian and dismissed his subordinates. He let out a sigh he had been holding back.
"Phew. What terrible luck for this to happen as soon as you arrive."
"You must have heard the story."
At Osian's question, Lukai nodded. He fiddled with the red scarf around his neck. His eyes turned fierce.
"The city government moved. No, more precisely, part of the city government and the military. They're already blockading the entrances. They probably anticipated this would happen and prepared thoroughly."
On the map was the rough terrain of District 44. Places connected to other districts were marked with red X's. This must be how they expressed the blockaded entrances.
"I was going to deliver some news anyway, but seeing how things are turning out, it seems I'm late."
"Nothing is completely too late. Even the smallest thing is good right now. If you have information, I want to hear it."
Lukai's gaze was serious. Even in this situation, he never let go of the thread of hope. Good eyes. What Osian saw that day wasn't wrong.
"The Redevelopment Union is behind this incident. They lobbied city government officials, and those who agreed with their intentions moved quickly."
"Redevelopment Union. I see, so that's what it was. I thought companies were targeting us, but it was them."
"Other companies are probably secretly supporting them from behind too. After all, they wouldn't be pleased with what you guys did either."
"In the end, they intend to go all the way."
As Lukai clenched his hand, the edge of the map crumpled. Blockading the district was intended to prevent the people inside from escaping.
With just one word about joining hands with heretics, all the people gathered in District 44 became suspects. What choice would they make after that? Would they try to capture them alive after going through confirmation procedures one by one nicely? Or if not that.
'Would they try to sweep everything away at once?'
If ordinary guards had stepped forward, the former would have been possible. But this time, even the military moved quickly. They too received lobbying from the Redevelopment Union.
Yes. The Redevelopment Union. What do they want? To remake the area anew. Since construction companies are involved, they would naturally need to build new structures.
'This place has so many houses built densely packed. There's no spare empty space. There's no way to build new houses in such a place. Unless they tear down what was already there.'
What the Redevelopment Union is good at isn't building something new. Building is the construction company's role. What the Redevelopment Union is good at is: Thoroughly turning what already exists into powder.
"The fact that they suddenly moved means they found a high-quality justification. Even if I don't want to know what it is, I'll find out."
Based on Lukai's words, he seemed to have some idea. When Osian looked at him, he opened his mouth with difficulty.
"One hour before the blockade order was issued. A strange phenomenon was observed."
"Strange phenomenon?"
"A person inflated like a balloon and floated high into the sky."
The explanation that a person became a balloon was sufficient. The clown had moved one step ahead first. He probably didn't have as much influence as before since he lost quite a bit of power immediately. But 'eroding' one or two people would be no trouble at all.
And one spark was enough to detonate the piled-up gunpowder.
"I don't know what this is all about, but no one can deny it's related to heretics. Quite a few people saw that sight. And the Union's dogs who secretly infiltrated inside must have witnessed it too."
The blockade order was issued because their report went straight up to the higher-ups. Lukai derived results very close to the correct answer with just small clues.
Lukai's gaze wandered over the map. His face clearly showed traces of long anguish.
"They'll use citizens' fear as an excuse to completely seal off District 44 and try to purify it. The Redevelopment Union's real purpose is to bulldoze this place and build new money-making buildings on that site."
Crumple. Lukai sighed and folded the map.
"No matter how much we shout that it's not true, the outside world won't listen to our voices. Especially at a time like now when they're gripped by fear."
Osian nodded. The Red Liberation Army and District 44 would become perfect sacrificial offerings. They would pin the stigma of heretics on the Liberation Army that had nothing to do with heretics, and they would deliciously share the fruits themselves.
"Do you have an escape route in mind? This situation isn't something that can be resolved by simply dragging out time and enduring."
The Liberation Army was cornered. If they hold out, they'll fall. Even if they fight, they'll be defeated. The only thing they could do was flee. They weren't in the right weight class to fight from the start.
"You guys could safely escape using that mutant's ability you saw that day."
Spatial movement is an excellent ability. The fact that it can move multiple people simultaneously was something all organizations in Tirna City would covet.
It was understandable why the Liberation Army hadn't been caught until now, their mysterious movements made complete sense.
"If we leave, what about the people left behind here?"
"..."
"You know too. What it means to have blockaded the district. They intend to do a complete cleanup with this opportunity. Including all the people gathered inside."
The talk of clearing out people might sound like a leap at first glance. But Osian knows too. This city has a history of completely erasing entire districts where people lived.
'It was the same even then. Because of a guy from outside, an entire district ended up in that state.'
Osian recalled the giant airship he saw in District 17 that day. He didn't know why that majestic form suddenly came to mind, but it was certainly not a good omen.
'If they're trying to completely erase all of District 44.'
Osian's gaze turned toward Greta and her siblings. Perhaps sensing that the flowing atmosphere was ominous, the children's expressions were also full of anxiety. Greta was trying hard to calm them down, but her hands were also trembling.
'It's not just these children. There are more people in District 44.'
The people gathered here don't discriminate by age or gender. There are children even younger than Greta.
"There is at least one possibility."
Osian recalled the map he had seen a little while ago. Every passage was marked with an X, but there were parts that weren't.
"District 45."
District 45, which was adjacent to District 44. This place was essentially controlled by criminal organizations that manufactured drugs, another district the city government had given up on.
"We need to send them there."
"I understand that place is a dangerous district."
"I've been there once. It's dangerous, but it's not as serious as the rumors. Rather, if you explain your situation well, it should be fine. Even if not, we need to get as far away as possible through the underground waterways."
Of course, this was an optimistic observation. If the people here fled to District 45, the influence of the blockade could spread there too.
"Are you saying to...make the situation bigger?"
Lukai thought for a moment and then nodded.
"There's no other way. We have to say something right now. But there are too many people gathered in District 44 right now. It won't be easy to move."
"Are you going to just sit still then?"
At Osian's question, Lukai's pupils trembled greatly.
"...I understand. Even if it's just one person, we have no choice but to do our best."
Osian nodded and immediately sent a radio message to Plimene. After several communication sounds, Plimene answered.
"Plimene. How's the situation?"
[We're doing our best to stop it on our end right now, but it's not easy....What? Wait. What do you mean?]
As if an aide conveyed something to Plimene, her voice shot up sharply. Osian frowned.
[Sir Osian! This is terrible! You need to get out of there right now!]
Before he could even ask what was wrong, Plimene shouted urgently.
[The baptism of fire is about to begin!]