When the train was almost at Giol, Charlene looked for Tatsumi. He was a bit confused because there was a bit of nervousness plastered on Charlene’s face. Even though she tried to conceal it, Tatsumi could identify it at once.
“I am worrying about the new place you guys are going to occupy,” Charlene said softly.
Currently, she was sitting right next to Tatsumi’s seat.
“Didn’t you already think about this issue? Why are you so concerned?” Tatsumi asked.
“That is the problem. I don’t know if you all are going to like it.”
Tatsumi went silent. But then he opened his mouth, and this ti his tone carried a confidence.
“We all moved from Nine Suns City of Heavensend Kingdom to Giol City of the Hinon Federation with you, Sister Charlene. That already speaks of our trust in you. We believe that as long as you have influence in the Federation, our condition will only improve.
This is not just my opinion. Chen Fei, Nene, Sister Hua Fei, and Granma would surely like your arrangent.” Tatsumi looked Charlene directly in the eye while saying this.
Charlene gasped. She did not expect that the group had such deep trust in her.
It was because she used her authority as a Second-Class citizen to accommodate the group by herself. Of course, the Federation had to fulfill its part but Charlene did not know whether the group would like it or not.
“So don’t worry about it too much. Since we saw the city and the people of the Federation, we believe that their treatnt of you and by extension us will be great and accommodating.”
Charlene looked back at Tatsumi. This ti, her eyes were determined to let the group be pleased with the treatnt.
Of course, Tatsumi did not know the exact details regarding their new ho but he was sure that Charlene would take care of the important stuff.
“Thank you.” Charlene smiled while extending her hand to grasp Tatsumi’s. Tatsumi nodded his head in response.
“No need. We are the ones who should thank you for giving us a new ho. I heard…that the situation at Nine Suns City at that ti is complicated.” Tatsumi said with a slight smile on his lips.
Charlene was surprised to hear Tatsumi say such a thing. It indicated that he knew sothing from when they were still there.
Tatsumi kept the sa expression on his face and Charlene knew that she had to keep this from other especially from the group excluding Feng Mo and Hua Fei.
“Well, just keep this matter between those in the know okay,” Charlene said with a defeated tone.
“Alright.” Tatsumi gave her a thumbs-up.
-
Giol City was one of the cities that the Hinon Federation spent effort to develop. It was because Giol was one of the places where it was at a strategic advantage. It was also the ho where Charlene was born.
All her life, she almost never went out of the city and her journey to the Heavensend Kingdom was a special occurrence.
Now that she had returned along with the group from the Nine Suns Orphanage, she planned to take them to their new places. And that was exactly what she did.
After arriving at the train station at Giol, the group was greeted by the already prepare bus. Charlene had prepared it beforehand by contacting several of her connections. Of course, Tatsumi knew about this but did not say anything about it.
And the one who ca along was…
“So how is she faring there, little guy?” Annie the dwarf was the one who beca the guide for the group. Charlene kept staring at her as if she did not like what Annie might say.
Tatsumi, on the other hand, knew a bit more about Annie. This friend of Charlene's was one she had been ntioning so often. So he thought their relationship was truly good.
“She is treating us like a family. That is why we are willing to follow her arrangents.” Tatsumi smiled and replied cheerfully.
“Is that so?” Annie winked at Tatsumi before she faced Charlene.
Charlene stared back right at her without hesitation.
“Don’t blabber things that are considered Federal Secret, you hear !” Charlene gnashed her teeth and said with seriousness.
Annie saw that Charlene was serious, so she nodded slowly. Then she continued to guide the group to a large building with a large clearing in front of it. The building was made with the aesthetics of the people of the Comberth Continent, and Tatsumi could see it clearly.
“And this place is the one assigned to be the new ho for the group.” Annie then raised a docunt that she held and showed it to the group, especially to Feng Mo and Hua Fei.
Feng Mo could see that the docunt was about the buildings and probably the legal procedure for owning the buildings. Hua Fei was confused before Tatsumi whispered to her about the docunt’s letter, which was actually about the transfer of ownership.
“I see. But Tatsumi how did you know about such things?” Hua Fei had seen Tatsumi understood sothing beyond his age and sotis the knowledge that was beyond the people from the Heavensend Continent.
“Well, I have a certain information source which I will not say due to confidentiality.” Tatsumi could only say that.
The building was located in the famous places in Giol City, strategically near the transportation hub and also the comrcial district. It also ant that the place was actually quite expensive.
Hua Fei realized that Tatsumi did not want to say anymore due to so reasons so she nodded in response.
Other than Annie, there was also another person who accompanied the group. To be exact, he accompanied Charlene as a bodyguard.
Tatsumi knew that the na of the man was Butz but he felt like being stared in return when Charlene explained so things to Butz.
Since then, Tatsumi knew that he was being stared at by the man and it felt annoying. But he could not do anything for fear of being disrespectful. Especially since the man itself was a formidable foe in terms of fighting prowess.
So he endured.
Other than that, they finally had a place to call ho. It was even better than their previous ho which was old and a bit dilapidated.
This was confird even further when they all explored the interior of the building. Dozens of rooms as well as a large living room, which could accommodate all of them there. There was a television in the living room so that the people could watch it.
The water circulation system of the building was excellent and the room was comfortable to be inhabited with, increasing the satisfaction of the children.
“The furniture is new because we hastened the process by relaying this need to several people. But since this is a rare request that Charlene had, they took it upon themselves to give a helping hand.” Annie explained the situation to the group so that they knew that Charlene was the one who took care of their accommodation by relying on her connections.
“Ah…whatever.” Charlene took a sigh of resignation. She did not want the group to know about this but Annie just said it out loud for everyone to hear.
“Is Miss Charlene an influential person?” Tatsumi wanted to know more about Charlene other than what she had said about herself so far and this was a rare chance to do so.
Annie’s eyes lit up as she looked at Tatsumi. She said, “Well, she is the one with many relations to discoveries for the Federation so she is really an influential person. Even the Hinon Science Institute President is taking care of her well.”
“Discoveries? What kind?” Tatsumi pressed further.
“From the insignificant rocket, jet engine, design of a certain weapon, even to the point of being the one who invents the process of a world-destroying weapon.” Annie wanted to explain further, but it touched the Federal Secret, so she refrained from speaking.
Tatsumi, however knew the keyword of the world-destroying weapon. According to what he knew so far, that word could be attributed to the new weapon the Hinon Federation had used. So he did not believe that even a weapon of that caliber was invented by Charlene.
He did not know how to face Charlene when he realized it but now it was just a confirmation for a fact. Tatsumi could not resent soone whose purpose in life was to develop humanity in a better direction.
He knew that Charlene was the kind of person who would not even yield her aspiration despite the challenges she had to face.
“Isn’t that the famous developnt the Federation has been promoting even in the newspaper?” Tatsumi tried to confirm one thing. He wanted to know how exactly Charlene was affecting the developnt of human civilization on her own.
“Ah, yes. The Federation has been spreading it because soon, there will be a major shift in the power of the entire planet. And Charlene is one important factor in the developnt.” Annie replied with her hand forming a V.
“I see. Then, Sister Charlene, can you tell what we are going to do in this place?” Tatsumi understood the matter and shifted to another.
Charlene, who heard that, then said, “You will be staying here for a week to acclimate yourselves here. After that, the children will have to attend an educational institute. As far as I know, you have to attend nine years of compulsory education.”
“Oh, right. There is also that.” Tatsumi put his hand on his head in exasperation. He had to learn new things through the nine years of compulsory education.
Then he explained it to Nene, Chen Fei and the other children.
“We can learn more things!” that was what they thought. They did not even have an opportunity to learn before so the fact that they could in this place ant a lot.
“Alright, don’t be so nosy. We still have to settle here and arrange for our room. By the way, the room at the corner of the corridor is mine!” Tatsumi said before he went directly to the room he ntioned.
Seeing this, the other children also quickly chose their room. Soon, it was established that they had chosen their room in the building.
Hua Fei who had been watching the children chuckled a little before she too chose her own room. There were so many rooms in the building that it could accommodate all of them.
After that, they gathered in the living room which was the largest in the entire building.
Charlene spoke to them about the compulsory education that had to be done as a citizen of the Hinon Federation.
Feng Mo asked, “What is going to be taught?”
Charlene replied in a simple sentence, “Everything necessary for the people to get a profession as well as basic education such as mathematic, social study and history.”
Hua Fei asked, “Will they also teach morals there?”
“Yes, that will also be taught to the students so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Charlene paused for a second and then changed the topic to the arrangent about them in the Hinon Federation. Especially to Hua Fei since she was one of the able-bodied people responsible for the orphanage.
“There is one issue I want everyone to understand.” Charlene said her mind before she continued, “That is about your presence here. The Federation wanted its people to be able to live comfortably with a ho and a stable job. This is why you must work hard here.”
All of them listened attentively. They realized that this was a favor that they needed to repay. They all were civilized as was taught by Feng Mo so they understood to repay kindness and enmity.
This ti, they were determined to work hard so that the favor that was given to them was not wasted.
‘We will prove it through our actions!’ Tatsumi thought so. All of them nodded in agreent to the statent.
“Other than that, you are free to explore on your own. Just rember to listen to the local police for your own safety. That is all for this ti.” Charlene ended the discussion.
Charlene went directly to Tatsumi.
“Can I…borrow another book?” Charlene asked softly. Tatsumi understood that she wanted to continue reading the story so he nodded and went to his room to get it. It was actually the latest edition book that he got because of a lucky occurance.
Only this book was the one that Charlene did not read, even during the long journey at sea.
Tatsumi thought that Charlene probably not only followed the story in the drawn book but also its picture and aesthetic. That was the reason he could think of as to why she would borrow it so slowly.
He returned and gave the book to Charlene. She grabbed the book and started to delve into the drawn picture as well as its story. She found a comfortable place to sit on the large sofa.
Seeing that Charlene was absorbed into the book, Tatsumi could go on his own. This ti, he went to Feng Mo to ask her about sothing that stuck in his heart.
“Granma!” Tatsumi waved his hand to attract attention.
“Hmm.” Feng Mo smiled warmly seeing that Tatsumi ca to her. She had already aged and had her hair turned white but she knew that the child wanted to tell him sothing important.
“What is it that you want to know?”
Tatsumi got closer to Feng Mo before he said, “I want to know…did you already know about the reason all of this happened to us?”
Feng Mo took a deep breath before answering.
“I already know about the matter that the orphanage had to face. Furthermore, our previous place could not sustain your proper growth. That was why I thought it would be better for us all to move to a better place.
“So when Miss Charlene ca to us and said that she was willing to let us move together with you, I agreed without hesitation.” Feng Mo explained in a soft voice.
Tatsumi nodded but his eyes were a bit wet. Even after all of that, she cared about the children first and foremost. Unexpectedly, Feng Mo extended her frail hand and patted Tatsumi on the head.
“I am sorry that I have to implicate everyone. I should have been the only one to move out but I could only think about helping the family who don’t have blood relation to ! I…” before Tatsumi continued on what he wanted to say, Feng Mo interjected.
“I know you have your own unique experience so I won’t pry but I have seen what you are doing for and the others. Having you with us is a blessing that we cannot imagine how impactful it is until recently.”
“But what does Granma think about Miss Charlene?” Tatsumi wanted to ask this for a long ti but he did not dare to hear the answer. At least until they settled themselves in the territory of the Hinon Federation.
“Oh? So that was the reason why you are so distressed, child.” Feng Mo could not help but chuckle for a bit before she continued, “She is soone who has conviction. Do you understand what that ans?”
Tatsumi understood since he had the experience of soone’s lifeti. Conviction was one of the pillars of the drive in humans. More often than not, they ford it due to certain circumstances in their life.
“Her conviction is such an idealist, but also the one capable of making it into reality. That is one of my reasons for believing her.”
‘Idealist but can turn it into reality. What does that even an?’ Tatsumi thought to himself.
He had no idea about it but thinking about it, he thought that he had a clue about that.
‘They have a strong sense of reality as well as support behind them…’
Tatsumi put that thought aside and continued listening to another reason Feng Mo listened and believed in her.
“She is also young. Youth has the passion to change things but I saw sothing more with her. I can sense that she is going to be the center of the changes that occur in this world. Do you believe when I say that?”
Tatsumi went silent. He did not know to be honest and that caused him not to utter a single word.
‘I know that already. After all, who doesn’t know Charlene the prodigy? The newspaper talked about it even now. Her part in the scientific field is large enough that it almost covers all aspects.’
“Well, I think you have an idea about how great a person she is.” Feng Mo said before she looked at Charlene, who was engrossed in reading.
“But…” Tatsumi wanted to say sothing. If she was so great, why was she looking for him specifically? Why did she want him so much that she even accommodated his every need in this place?
Tatsumi furrowed his brow as he tried to think about the answer but he could not co up with an idea. Charlene did not speak about this matter so Tatsumi thought it was a sensitive information equivalent of the Top Secret information not for the public’s eye.
‘Whatever it is, I would like to know soday. Even that Uncle is not responding when it cos to this matter.’
The second thing Tatsumi noticed was that Kudungga did not even comnt about this which was a bit unusual. Because he was the kind of individual who gave so much comntary and information to him yet remained silent now.
Tatsumi could only conclude that there was sothing they all tried to hide from him, including Charlene.
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