—The undisputed facts had long since lost their significance.
The assassin was found, but not alive. A lifeless body, still warm, lay there, having turned the gun on itself. Since dead men tell no tales, this was likely the best possible outcome for the moment.
The suicide weapon was a pistol, while the assassination weapon was a ‘Teresa’ anti-materiel rifle. The serial number remained unscratched, identifying it as a Vega police weapon—however, the bullet was not. It was not a round issued by Vega, and its origin was still under investigation.
Upon learning this, the people of Xuanji Star breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn’t Xuanji Star’s weapons and ammunition that had been used.
From the assassin’s clothing, it was evident they were a professional police officer, and the identification found in their pockets confirmed this. While the Armaments Division had repeatedly stressed that live rounds were not to be chambered, it was clear that someone had disregarded these crucial directives.
Since the face was intact, information regarding the perpetrator was quickly verified. Their personal record on Vega was that of a model citizen; they had not only participated in the World War but had also been awarded the ‘Rust’ Medal and the ‘Blood Congeal’ Medal. After the war, they obtained a professional police license and joined the Armaments Division of the Vega Timber City Police Department. As the city closest to Worldly Affairs City, and operating on the principle of proximate support, a significant portion of Timber City’s police officers had participated in this takeover operation.
Their occupation of the building’s high ground was indeed part of the police takeover plan; at the very least, the task of securing this vantage point had unequivocally fallen to them, and they had completed it on time. However, the unauthorized loading of a magazine and subsequent firing was entirely outside the police force’s pre-assigned duties and constituted a personal act. It was worth noting that their role during the World War had been that of a sniper, and from a technical standpoint, eliminating Fifth Column from a distance of eleven hundred meters was no insurmountable feat.
This was merely the personal history recorded by Vega. Their experiences prior to joining Vega were relatively sparse, only indicating that they were a war refugee from Luoyan Star. After Southern Dipper Star deployed troops to the southern part of Luoyan Star, a considerable number of Luoyan Star citizens fled overseas. Their political leanings often exhibited anti-Southern Dipper Star characteristics, believing that if Southern Dipper Star had not stabbed Luoyan Star in the back, Luoyan Star would never have fallen, and would have been fully capable of defeating Xuanji Star and winning the Eastern Continent battlefield.
In other words, in this assassination attempt, a Vega police officer leveraged their assignment to illegally load a magazine and attempted to shoot Fifth Column, the Director of Southern Dipper Star’s Strategic Intelligence Bureau. At the time of the incident, the assassin stood on Vega territory, while the target was located in a ‘buffer zone.’ Since the end of the World War, concepts like ‘buffer zones’ and ‘neutral zones’ had become popular among the academies, seemingly allowing any territories to establish buffer zones, even during territorial exchanges.
To prevent conflict, aside from avoiding direct contact during handover, a buffer strip was designated between each handover area. Within the urban area of Worldly Affairs City, this buffer strip was typically defined as a street. Thus, observation teams always stood on the streets during both sides’ withdrawals and takeovers. Fifth Column was no exception, which is why he encountered this assassination attempt.
As for the girl… she was merely an insignificant casualty in this assassination targeting a major figure.
Had she not suddenly started running, the bullet might not have struck her, which is why it was called an accident.
Yet, no one would pay any price for her death. The person who killed her had already taken their own life. She was like a Feng Zhong Bai Ye, a leaf drifting from a tree, ultimately trampled underfoot, without uttering a single sound from beginning to end.
Given that the nature of the incident had been determined to be a Vega citizen on Vega territory attempting to shoot a Southern Dipper Star citizen located in a buffer zone, with no relation to Xuanji Star, the Xuanji Star side could breathe a sigh of relief. At least it had not escalated into a diplomatic dispute.
If Fifth Column had truly been assassinated on Xuanji Star territory, it would have been no small matter, and certainly not something that could be easily appeased like the death of that girl.
Though some in Southern Dipper Star might have been pleased with this outcome, Southern Dipper Star would undoubtedly implement retaliatory measures—perhaps a prominent Xuanji Star official would subsequently die in an ‘accident.’
As for the motive for the killing, it remained unclear. It could have been a purely personal act, or perhaps orchestrated by certain academies to eliminate the troublesome Fifth Column or to frame Vega.
However, Vega could largely be ruled out as a suspect. Southern Dipper Star was an ally of Vega, and Fifth Column, alongside Yan Ling, had become a figure akin to ‘Vega’s benefactor’ for orchestrating aid to Vega during the World War. Vega would gain nothing by killing him; it would only invite intractable trouble.
From the police force’s perspective, this incident would likely lead the Three Grand Councils to challenge the police force, subsequently curtailing its authority. The Armaments Division, without a doubt, would bear the brunt of the fallout.
Fifth Column, for his part, expressed no reaction to having nearly been killed by a Vega citizen—indeed, he was indifferent.
He had endured so many assassination attempts in his life that he had grown numb to them, whether others were trying to kill him or he was killing others.
As a consistent ally of Vega, he did not wish to publicly criticize them over this, yet he also could not openly declare his indifference to the assassination, as that would cause Southern Dipper Star to lose face. At most, Southern Dipper Star would issue a perfunctory condemnation of Vega, bringing the matter to a swift, unremarkable conclusion.
To prevent such incidents from recurring, Vega authorities strictly ordered all Vega takeover personnel to surrender their ammunition, which would be centrally managed by the Ordnance Department.
As a group of enforcers of violence paraded around ostentatiously with unloaded weapons, Xuanji Star, even if unspoken, would harbor a quiet sneer towards Vega. Nothing brought more joy than seeing a rival stumble.
In truth, this was a superficial solution, not a fundamental cure. Even without bullets, one could still attempt an assassination using melee weapons. While the difficulty of such an attempt would be significantly higher, if the assassin were a player and seized a particular opportunity, striking a fatal blow remained a possibility.
As long as a person harbors murderous intent, even if they are unarmed, they can still become an assassin. No one is an exception.
Shi Yiguang strolled along, savoring a lollipop and observing the surrounding buildings, hardly befitting a director.
Ma Yun walked a short distance behind her. They had discussed many things, a significant portion of which could not be openly talked about. Thus, Matsuno Miru and Hua Qianshu kept their distance from them, avoiding any involvement in these sensitive topics.
Ma Yun tilted her head, gazing at the opera house building. The view from there was excellent; they had witnessed the entire assassination attempt on Fifth Column from its upper floors. While the killing of the girl was accidental, Ma Yun didn’t believe their presence at that optimal observation point was also accidental.
Regarding the assassination of Fifth Column, Neutron Star might know something, but Ma Yun did not ask Shi Yiguang. Intelligence personnel must possess curiosity, yet they must feign disinterest.
Questions destined to remain unanswered should never be voiced in the first place.
From her high vantage point, Ma Yun had clearly witnessed the bullet’s trajectory. Its momentum undiminished after piercing the girl’s body, it would undoubtedly have struck Fifth Column had no one intervened. From this, it could be deduced that it was a ‘Gesadulangji’ armor-piercing round. Based on the unique design of this ammunition, during the sniper’s attempt, the girl was merely regarded as a ‘human armor’ to be pierced through with a single shot.
The human body could not withstand such kinetic energy; being severed in two, or even having her upper body torn asunder, was inevitable.
Ma Yun had no desire to condemn the killer’s inhumanity, nor to speak any words of justice for the girl who died unjustly.
No one condemns the dead, and the dead require no justice.
Gouchen Star was a remote inland academy, and merely navigating among the three major powers of the Eastern Continent was already quite challenging. It had no superfluous energy to champion ‘justice in the world.’
A person dies, and that is that. Everything ends abruptly.
Fifth Column was unharmed, the assassin was dead. Although an innocent life was lost, this was currently the best outcome—a result acceptable to all.
“Why did you seek me out?”
Ma Yun cast aside her distracting thoughts, returning to the question Shi Yiguang had raised earlier—regarding Gouchen Star’s access to the sea.
“What do you mean, ‘why did I seek you out’?”
Shi Yiguang turned her head, looking at Ma Yun with curiosity. Ma Yun, knowing she was feigning ignorance, added,
“You’d be better off seeking Gu Junpan. The ‘Sugar Bureau’ would be quite interested.”
“Do you think I haven’t tried to find Gu Junpan?”
“What did she tell you?”
“She told me to find you.”
Ma Yun paused slightly, surprised. She and Gu Junpan had always been at odds; that Gu Junpan would actually recommend her, was it to divert trouble, or did she have ulterior motives? She watched Shi Yiguang slow her pace, gradually walking alongside her, waiting for her to continue.
“Are you truly clueless, or are you just pretending? My ‘Red Horse Subduer,’ after Qiming Star’s collapse, Gouchen Star began shifting to the right. Its right-wing tendencies intensified after the World War, which you should know better than anyone, as you are considered a leading figure of the right wing. Gu Junpan has always had a ‘left-leaning’ tendency, you know that. Those who try to dance with three eggs in the United Commune don’t hold much sway, and those on the left have waned day by day. Gu Junpan can hardly say anything. Those few influential right-leaning figures have a profound connection with you; you are their instrument, and they are your backing. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. These words can only come from you. If Gu Junpan said them, wouldn’t she simply be inviting trouble for herself?”
Shi Yiguang watched the contemplative Ma Yun, then shook her head, her braid swinging like a pendulum.
“You! Don’t always go against Gu Junpan. Although there are the machinations of the United Commune’s factions at play in the background, you two actually don’t have many disagreements on many issues. Didn’t you also find common ground in ‘Universal Fortification’ and contribute significantly? Why sour your relationship?”
Ma Yun remained silent, walking forward on her own accord.
As the Director of the United Commune’s Forest Police Bureau, she could not comment on the affairs of the United Commune. As for the issue of right-wing shift, after the World War, the entire celestial sphere was moving to the right, and Gouchen Star was merely riding the surging tide. She had no authority to decide Gouchen Star’s future; she was simply carried along by the powerful current of right-wing transformation.