Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 658 - 283: Undercurrents of the Four-leaf Crystal_2

Closing her eyes, Hexia's perception spread out, and she could sense that there were many surveillance points hidden within this residential area and the passageways. The density of surveillance here was actually quite sparse, probably because she often came to this place. In other parts of Payin City, the surveillance wouldn't be arranged so rigorously.

Although she had not requested anything, the local government still protected this rare gem of a songstress very well. As long as she made a suggestion, as long as it wasn't too outlandish, she would receive feedback rather quickly.

Because she lived here, Payin City had also warded off a lot of outside interference during this tumultuous time, even Saint Yingo wouldn't deliberately come over to offend or disturb her. In fact, they would prefer that the young girl just stay quietly at home and not stand on Edith's platform.

The fan at the top of the passageway whirred, circulating fresh air, as Hexia carried her handbag through the streets of the residential area. She occasionally hopped lightly over obstacles and puddles and then arrived at her own residence.

Upon entering the house, soon after, a fluffy giant spider crawled out of her shadow by her feet and made a beeline for its small den, which Hexia had arranged for it, adorned with chunks of black crystal that the spider liked.

Shedding her leather shoes, Hexia slipped into lightweight slippers, then placed the homemade pastries gifted to her by Grandma He in the refrigerator before sitting back on the sofa and tucking her feet beneath her, lightly pressing them against the couch.

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After loosening up for a while, Hexia turned on her personal terminal, where several unread messages awaited her, including greetings from the Academy, a new song tinkered by the composer Audrey had introduced her to, travel photos sent by Yilin from Yuan Ge Star Domain, and so on.

After reading and replying to each message, Hexia put down her personal terminal. After a moment's thought, she opened up some forums and websites within the Star Domain to see how the residents were currently perceiving the unexpected incident.

Although she had yet to ask about the ins and outs of the incident from Edith Academy, her intuition told her that there was nothing simple about this matter.

As expected, there were discussions and speculations on the forums.

'Although the incident involved few people and a limited area, the attack exposed very serious issues. We should realize that what disappeared were three intact, active-duty Military Mech Armors in the hands of Sequence 5 skilled pilots. Each of these armors could unleash nearly the fighting power of a Middle Rank Sequence 6. Moreover, without resistance from a Same Rank power, three fully armed armors could destroy a small city.'

'Not all Transcendents are suited for combat, and many aren't aware of the terrifying power held by certain violent institutions. I guess the most that most people have seen would be the live broadcasts of the winter festival competitions each year.'

'You might think that the combat power unleashed by geniuses like Levito and Seraphiel is very strong and far away, but in fact, the current Sequence 6 Military Mech Armors of the Federal Army can easily achieve the same level of destructive power. The reason I don't take Sevia La and Tilan as examples is that they are very special. Their frightening speed, even for Sequence 6 mechas, is not something many can catch up to.'

"So how many Sequence 6 mechas are there? The current figures released are as follows: there are about 7,000 active-duty Sequence 6 'Turtledove' class mechas on Emerald Skirt Planet. These war machines with black, sharp-angled profiles are all expensive to build, and their pilots are all Sequence 6 or higher soldiers from the Federal Military."

"The ones that disappeared this time are the retired Sequence 5 'Turtledove' class mechas, which were converted for Military Police use. The quantity of these mechas is roughly between 40,000 and 60,000, and they are the powerhouses employed by various local governments to maintain stability and deal with violent terrorists. Though their combat abilities are much weaker compared to the 'Turtledove,' they are not bound by many Federal Army rules and are more flexibly used. They are the backbone of many local government agencies, and sometimes they even coordinate with fighter jets and tanks in combat."

"Such war machines in the hands of a Sequence 5 pilot are almost unbeatable during peacetime. The mech's sturdy armor and agile weapons allow the pilot to challenge Transcendents of Sequence 6, hold their own for a long time, and even kill most Sequence 6 Transcendents who are not adept at combat."

"In theory, gangs and underground organizations would never dare to confront and challenge such war machines head-on, but this time the unusual happened. Not only did the adversaries dare to engage, but they also managed to take down and carry away three mecha units within a mere half-hour. During this time, they jammed the signals, preventing the support troops from catching up and evading satellite scans and searches."

"The incident wasn't significant, but the issues it exposed were downright terrifying. Someone was capable of pulling off such a dangerous act inside the Capital Star of the Star Domain, and the government apparently couldn't locate them quickly. This either indicates that officials of Emerald Skirt Planet have lost control over remote areas of the planet, or it implies that someone inside the official ranks acted as an insider, leaking information and aiding in the deed."

Beneath the post, many people echoed these sentiments, with various conspiracy theories and speculations being put forward—some suggested the emergence of a mysterious rebellion, descendants of those abandoned years ago seeking revenge. Others speculated it was a gang making a lucky strike, and there were also rumors that officials in North Fourth District had become utterly corrupt, betraying the squads carrying out their duties for personal gain, and so on.

The rise of such remarks, although mostly baseless, did highlight a deteriorating public opinion environment, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with the current government officials of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain. This distrust and discord had been accumulating for some time, likely beginning 200 years ago when the government failed to prevent the spread of toxic rain across the planet.

The experiences of many people's parents and elders meant that the subsequent generations were taught these grievances and resentments. Had any government truly solved these problems, there might have been a chance to eliminate these sentiments. However, a rigid government and entrenched upper-class interest groups complicated the already difficult environmental issues, leading to repeated disappointments and eroding public trust. Poverty and unemployment worsened public safety, breeding various underground forces, which is also why many remote areas of Emerald Skirt Planet are hard to govern.

If it had been like the past, with local officials not wanting trouble during their terms and underground organizations not wishing to draw official crackdowns with high-profile actions, a certain balance could be maintained. But the struggle between the two major groups this time caused disturbances that spread across the Star Domain, breaking many of the local equilibriums.

As project collaborations fell apart, factories were left with massive overstock. If they couldn't quickly clear inventory, they wouldn't survive. Rapid market expansion was impossible, but putting competitors out of business seemed easier under current conditions. As a result, individuals from gray areas were hired.

The already tense conflicts consumed significant government police resources, leaving little energy to address minor thefts and robberies. Unpunished crimes led to a worsening environment and more lawbreakers, further increasing police pressure, lowering the probability of crime detection, and reducing the cost of illegal activity. This vicious cycle drove more desperate individuals to unlawful paths.

Things were relatively calm in April and May, but by June, the impact started reaching the lower levels, and the situation intensified. By the end of July, numerous problems erupted. To address the protests and social security issues within their jurisdictions, local officials were at their wit's end. Many worried about the next elections, and some cities even imposed martial law, restricting movement.

While the Star Domain government still maintained control, the situation teetered on a dangerous edge. If not handled within a set time, the Federal Central Council might issue an inquiry, often signaling the end of a Star Domain Governor's political career—an outcome the high-ranking officials of the Stellar Domain Official couldn't afford.

Soon after, the controversy surrounding the disappearance of the mecha squadron continued to ferment, with blame-shifting becoming rampant within government institutions. As a result of this, a High Rank police superintendent from North Fourth District resigned, and several responsible officials were dismissed. Influenced by this, some council members alleged widespread corporate bribery and corruption within the government and suggested stringent inspections be implemented.

Although these were just suggestions, they quickly gained the support of the entire network of residents. Under pressure, the Star Domain government initiated some limited self-investigations.

In the wake of Saint Ingo Academy's influence, the scrutiny and obstruction of goods from enterprises under Edith Academy by customs and inspection personnel were exposed. Originally cooperative because of personal connections and bribes, official personnel, in order to avoid investigations, began to decline Saint Ingo's demands and assistance, treating the cargo from Edith Academy's subsidiaries without discrimination.

The situation changed tensely yet quietly.