Miss Witch Doesn't Want to Become a Songstress-Chapter 214

In the pitch-black underground, the white mechs sped like the wind, leaving perfectly aligned tracks on the ground. The lasers on their chests flashed intermittently, clearing obstacles that blocked their path ahead.

Soon, the group at the underground entrance saw these military-grade mechs rush past without stopping, heading straight into the core area of the underground.

“Entering target zone, commencing dispersed search.”

“Detected residual Chaos Phantom traces. Air J3M6 index at 23.6. Diffusion factor below expected levels.”

“Confirming Chaos Phantom coverage area. Initiating lockdown.”

The mechs moved in a crescent-shaped formation, quickly surrounding the area where the monster had been. Then, cylindrical micro-autonomous units were launched from the mechs’ backs, hovering in the air.

These micro-units emitted blue beams toward each other, forming transparent light membranes that divided the underground into numerous sealed compartments.

The mechs stopped at their designated positions, their shoulder-mounted particle guns aimed at the surviving individuals on-site. Through their interconnected network, they quickly assigned targets, locking onto everyone present.

"All federal citizens present, please drop your weapons, stand still, cease operation of your transcendent cores, and restrain your magical energy. Any violation will result in immediate execution under Article 3 of the Federation Security Convention, the Chaos Phantom Containment and Eradication Protocol. Warning: This protocol holds the highest authority of interpretation and applies regardless of civilian status. Please act cautiously and avoid any behavior that may be deemed non-compliant, suspicious, or provocative."

The scanning devices on the mechs’ heads activated, emitting faint blue ripples that spread out, assessing the underground environment and situation. Then, they repeated the warning protocol.

Faced with this, Thilan, N, and the others had no choice but to stand still and wait for the subsequent inspection.

The follow-up handling team arrived several hours later, consisting of fully armed technical specialists, federal tribunal investigators, and military representatives.

After gathering and temporarily detaining all individuals on-site, the underground area was completely sealed off. The investigators then began questioning everyone, investigating the cause and sequence of events. This was also the first time Hestia Thilan found herself in the position of being interrogated.

"Hestia Thilan, can you explain your complete involvement in the incident and how you managed to defeat the monster that mutated after consuming a special substance?"

Five tribunal officers sat across from her, carefully observing the young girl with her striking appearance and unique talents.

"This is what happened..."

Though nervous, she recounted the events as accurately as possible.

"Didn’t you consider fleeing at the time? This kind of situation is clearly not something a student should face," a stern female investigator pushed her glasses up, scrutinizing the girl.

"At the time, I thought that if I left, the situation might escalate, and the consequences could be disastrous," the girl explained her reasoning.

"Do you really have such noble intentions? You must know that even the slightest mistake could have cost you your life."

"I can resist a certain level of corruption due to my innate talents."

"Innate talents?"

One of the investigators flipped through the records, trying to find more information, but the screen suddenly displayed a message.

“Your clearance level is insufficient to access this citizen’s detailed records. Please consult your superior or contact the Central Archives.”

"Uh..."

Faced with this rare situation, the officers frowned slightly. It seemed the girl before them had a significant background.

They paused for a moment, and then a notification sound echoed in the interrogation room. One of them picked up the communicator on the table, and a conversation ensued.

"...Yes, understood."

As he responded, he glanced at the black-haired girl sitting calmly across from him. Despite the soundproof glass barrier, the girl seemed to have overheard the conversation and nodded slightly in apology.

"Alright, it seems your situation is rather special," the lead officer stood up, whispered something to his colleagues, and then left the room.

Shortly after, a man in a deep blue, high-collared uniform entered the interrogation room. He turned on the warm overhead light, softening the atmosphere, and lowered the metal-glass partition in the middle.

"Good evening, Hestia. I hope the earlier events didn’t frighten you too much," he tried to ease the tension, though his square jaw, crisp attire, and burly frame made it hard to feel relaxed.

Fortunately, Hestia wasn’t one to judge by appearances. Thanks to her Songstress talent, she could easily discern others’ emotions and lies. The man genuinely meant her no harm.

"Good evening. May I know your name?" the girl nodded.

"I’m Kmaera, a senior investigator with the Federal Central Tribunal," he showed his ID and anti-counterfeiting key.

"The Federal Central Tribunal... That’s quite impressive," Hestia noticed the cobalt blue teardrop emblem on his collar, signifying his allegiance to the ideals of Amuraline, vowing to uphold the Federation’s justice and unity.

While members of the Cobalt Blue Tear faction were known for their fairness and strictness, their demeanor often made others wary and difficult to approach.

"Mr. Kmaera, do you have access to all my records now?" the girl was curious about how the Federal Tribunal viewed her.

"We know more than Edess Academy does, but I can’t disclose the rest," he shook his head.

"You don’t need to be too nervous. In fact, the Federation has always prioritized the protection and leniency toward Songstresses. If you had already debuted, a situation like this wouldn’t have occurred."

"We will handle and conclude this incident as quickly as possible, without disrupting your school life. The investigation into the Chaos Phantom will be handled by us."

"Mm, I understand. Thank you, Uncle Kmaera," she understood the underlying advice in his words, hoping she wouldn’t get too involved in matters related to the Chaos Phantom.

"That’s good," Kmaera rarely engaged in such gentle persuasion, usually being the one to interrogate and investigate others. Fortunately, the black-haired girl was understanding and didn’t make things difficult for him.

"Regarding the incident, we’ve already gathered enough information from other testimonies and on-site surveillance. In about ten minutes, you’ll be free to go."

"Won’t there be an examination?" the girl was curious.

Typically, those potentially exposed to the Chaos Phantom would be checked for corruption.

"There will be an examination, but your situation is special, so we’ll proceed with caution," Kmaera chose his words carefully.

Though the girl was only sixteen or seventeen, considering her talents and future potential, every action had to be handled with care.

"Wait a little longer. Someone will take you for the examination, and then you’ll be released."

Afterward, the two chatted about lighter topics, such as what books the girl had been reading recently and her taste in music, until a mature-looking woman entered the room.

"Good evening, Hestia, and Senior Investigator Kmaera," she greeted them and sat beside Kmaera.

"This is Amelanda, a colleague from the Central Tribunal. She’ll take you for the examination," Kmaera introduced the woman with the dark green spiral hair, dressed in the same deep blue uniform with the cobalt blue teardrop emblem on her collar.

"Hello."

She nodded, her curious gaze lingering on the black-haired girl. Under her scrutiny, Thilan felt as if her physical measurements were being meticulously assessed.

After the introductions, Kmaera had Amelanda take Thilan for the examination, and the two left the room.

Along the way, they passed through various scanning devices, followed by identity verification. Finally, they sat in a more comfortable conversation room adorned with white and pink plants and a fish tank with swimming fish.

"Take a seat. The results will be out soon," Amelanda handed the girl a can of cola and sat across from her.

"Thank you," the girl opened the cola, and a cool fizz escaped.

Sipping the cola delicately, Thilan’s movements exuded a touch of cuteness.

"You’re such a likable child," Amelanda remarked, leaning back on the sofa, shedding her earlier efficient demeanor.

"If I hadn’t seen the records, it would be hard to believe you’ve done so many astonishing things at such a young age."

"Like what?" Thilan was curious about how adults perceived her.

"Many things. For instance, you’ve narrowly escaped death twice, fought your uncle in Thousand Towers City, caused a stir in Lebion not long ago, and now this incident. When I was in high school, I was still dating the handsome guy in my class, hehe," she laughed while sipping her cola.

"Are you always curious about what the Federal Tribunal is like? Most people are a bit afraid of us, but we’re not emotionless machines. We do have moments of relaxation, though our work demeanor is what most people see. Due to confidentiality issues, we can’t freely enter certain places, which creates a gap between us and ordinary people," Amelanda shared some insights into their lives.

"When do you plan to debut, Thilan? I’m quite curious about what songs you’ll sing. Even within the Tribunal, we only have three recordings of your singing."

"Ah, there are three?" the girl was surprised, unaware she had sung that many times.

"Yes, the first was a hum in the Crystal Dream, the second was during casual band practice at Swallow Garden Academy, and the most recent was the night you started your training. That one was more formal."

"You’ve investigated so thoroughly," the girl felt as if she had no secrets left.

"Don’t worry, we’ll keep these things confidential for you, like the time you cried as a child~" Amelanda laughed again.

"Childhood matters don’t need to be brought up," the girl gently shook her head, holding the cola in her hands, reminiscing about the past.

"But in the future, there might be many things that will require your assistance," she had many secrets and sometimes worried they might be exposed.

"Speaking of which, Thilan, have you heard of the Exemption Act?" Amelanda mentioned an unfamiliar term.

"No," she honestly shook her head.

"It’s a provision that allows individuals with special status or professions to apply for shielding from certain investigations and surveillance, and they don’t have to answer certain questions."

"The best way to keep a secret isn’t to lock it away in a top-secret archive but to ensure as few people as possible know about it."

"Since you’re not yet famous and haven’t debuted, you can’t apply for it now. But if you become a Full Moon-Grade Songstress in the future, you can apply for this act, avoiding many disturbances. It’s a way to protect your safety and privacy."

"Regarding your actions, as long as they’re not blatantly illegal, the Tribunal and other authorities will no longer question your motives, nor will they subject you to comprehensive surveillance. You’ll also have the right to bypass certain unnecessary checks, and no records will be kept in the database."

"Won’t such privileges invite skepticism and resentment from others?" the girl asked curiously.

"There will be some, but it’s necessary. For example, the information of the Federation’s highest leaders isn’t recorded in the database, as it could pose a risk, allowing potential terrorists to find opportunities."

"Similarly, key positions and special professions requiring privacy also have certain exemptions, with no records kept in the database."

"Because the potential dangers of monitoring this information outweigh the benefits, we simply stop monitoring and grant some privacy and freedom."

"However, this exemption also requires a good track record. Otherwise, you won’t be able to apply for it."

Amelanda then explained how they usually worked, how to avoid information leaks in daily life, and how to protect oneself during criminal interrogations. It felt like a big wolf teaching a little rabbit how to survive among other predators.

After listening carefully, the girl nodded in gratitude but also with curiosity and confusion.

"Why are you telling me all this? It clearly makes me harder to deal with."

"It’s good to grow stronger, especially for a kind child like you. While we are fair, not all law enforcement officers in the federation are. You need to learn to protect yourself, which will also make things easier for us," Amelanda explained.

"Alright, it’s getting late, and the results are out. I won’t keep you any longer. Let’s meet in Southern 1st District next time. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I’ve been taking care of a girl recently, about your age. You might become good friends in the future."

With that, Amelanda stood up and led Thilan out of the conversation room. They gradually made their way outside, still in Northern 2nd District. On the wilderness, shuttles continuously took off and landed, and the usually desolate desert had never been so lively before.