"Why didn't you take the initiative to report that you were already a guardian?" Hesta asked.
"You haven't mentioned it to anyone—"
"Who do I need to talk to, you?"
Helen looked away, "...I don't mean to offend you, but please don't interfere with my business, okay?"
"This idea of yours is dangerous."
"Whether it's dangerous or not...who knows, can I take Gustav away now?"
Hestad looked at Gustav: "Is there anything else they want you to bring?"
Gustav shook his head, "I should have said everything that needs to be said... The guardianship system is a method they have verified. They said that this way they can survive until the day they disembark..."
"Is it going to be fine until the day we get off the ship?" Adams asked, "What happened to the ship? Do they know?"
There was silence everywhere. No one could answer this question. Someone threw the napkin in his hand on the table and lay down on the table with his head in his arms.
Si Lei coughed lightly, "...Who received the invitation to the night banquet today?"
Tasia slowly raised her hand, "Me."
Si Lei looked at Helen, "Before you leave, give the brooch to Tasia."
"What brooch?" Helen asked.
Si Lei frowned slightly: "The scepter brooch you took from me yesterday, the one with sapphire?"
"Ah, that..." Helen opened her eyes slightly, "I accidentally lost it."
"lost?"
"Yes." Helen raised her hand and brushed the hair on the back of her head: "It should have been lost during the dance last night. After all, the movements were a bit big during the dance... Anyway, I didn't see it when I woke up this morning, no. Sorry."
Tasia's face turned pale, "Then...then I..."
"You can go and get another one." Helen held her arms in her arms, "It was originally a brooch issued on the ship. They must have prepared a lot of them, right?"
"But, if that's the case...do I have to go down to the second floor..."
"Really?" Helen also looked towards Si Lei: "Hey, where did Officer Si Lei's brooch come from?"
Just as Si Lei was about to answer, Gustav spoke first, "Aren't they all in the bar on the second floor below? That's what it says on the invitation—"
"Shut your mouth Gustave," Helen scolded in a low voice.
Gustave trembled slightly and lowered his head.
Looking at Helen's nonchalant gaze, Si Lei suddenly realized the problem - Gustav had not read the "Details" when he went down to the second floor. This also meant that entering the second floor at that time did not mean that It violates the iron law.
But she was different. She picked up the brooch after reading the "Details", and everyone knew this.
"Why are you silent, Officer Si Lei," Helen said softly, "I remember Gustav asked you the same question yesterday. What did you say then?"
"I--"
Helen raised her head and pretended to remember: "I remember you said that the staff on the second floor gave you the brooch directly without doing anything?"
"Si Lei didn't say that." Hesta whispered.
"Did I remember it wrong?" Helen looked around, "Many people must have heard it at that time."
"Yes, many people should have heard it. Si Lei's original words were, 'I didn't do anything, the brooch was given to me directly.'" Hesta looked at Helen, "She never said, 'minus two' floor staff'."
Si Lei held his breath.
Yeah?
The sides of her cheeks began to tingle and itch, making her want to reach out and scratch them, but Si Lei resisted - any unnecessary movement at the moment might make her behavior look more suspicious.
"I also have the impression," Tasia agreed. "What Officer Si Lei said at that time was indeed somewhat ambiguous, but he definitely did not mention the second floor."
"Really, are you sure?"
"Definitely," Tasia nodded, "because I was thinking at the time that if she went to the negative second floor, it would be against the iron law - if she clearly said that she went to the negative second floor, how could I still think about it? I have such doubts.”
Helen pursed her lips, feeling a little unhappy, "So one of the crew members gave the brooch directly to Si Lei, huh?"
"There are indeed some ways to safely receive the brooch..." Hesta whispered, "Helen, this is my last warning to you, don't do this kind of unnecessary temptation again. You should remember that there is an article in the "Details", It’s specially used to warn people like you.”
"I just mentioned Officer Si Lei's past—"
"Only the consequences of violating the iron law cannot be undone," Hesta's voice rose slightly, overpowering Helen's defense. When the entire restaurant was silent, she said the second half of the sentence at a normal volume: " …Control your curiosity.”
"Okay, okay." Helen nodded, "I understand what you mean."
"I feel like you still don't understand, but it doesn't matter," Hesta said softly, "I will let you understand."
"You're not threatening me, are you?" Helen took a few steps forward, "It's true that you are the arbiter... but you have already announced all the details, how else can you threaten me?"
"Helen..." Tasia had long noticed the sparks in their words. She tried to persuade them to make peace, but looking around, she really didn't know what to say.
Hesta was silent for a moment, but she kept looking into Helen's eyes.
"You are very arrogant."
"It's not a bad thing. In some ways, this is also, um... a compliment to you?" Helen stretched out two fingers, pointing at Hesta and Rico respectively, "You, and Rico , both of you are very typical mercury needles... you won’t attack a civilian like me, because you can’t do such a thing, right?”
Li Ge was called upon again, and he couldn't help but feel a little confused: "You--"
"It's very accurate. Yes, we are such mercury needles."
Hesta pressed down the hand that Rico had just raised.
"Especially, when we find that some people are curious about the consequences of violating the iron law, but don't want to risk it themselves, so they start to think about how to push others down to see the consequences... we will not stand idly by."
"There is no such thing." Helen turned back and moved her fingers at Gustav, "I guess today's meeting is over, right? As the arbiter, don't be late next time, everyone is here Waiting for you for two hours is a bit excessive."
In full view of everyone, Helen left the restaurant with Gustav. People were shocked by her rudeness to the two mercury needles. On the current ship, probably no one had such confidence - either Helen was dying, or she must have known something that would definitely save her life.
"The meeting is dismissed." Hesta said softly, "Tasia will stay here for a moment."
People filed out, and Hestad heard some shouts coming from the corridor. Several people were calling Helen's name. The voices gradually faded away and disappeared along with the footsteps.
(End of chapter)
