"Miss Navia, I'm truly sorry. This order came from higher up, and there's nothing I can do."
Thierry spoke helplessly, looking at Navia's anxious face.
"When the order was first issued, I immediately used my connections to question it. But the person who issued it holds a very high position, and I have no power to stop them."
"Moreover, due to the recent serial suicide case, the people of Fontaine are uneasy. There's considerable public support for the Fleuve Cendre Purification Plan."
"But in this situation, Fleuve Cendre is the true victim!"
Hearing Thierry's words, Navia flew into a rage.
"Since when does the victim have to take responsibility for the tragedy that befell them?!"
"What do those high-and-mighty bastards think we Fleuve Cendre residents are? Just trash to be tossed around at their whim?!"
"My father has barely passed away, and they're already eager to suppress the Spina di Rosula?!"
Navia's voice rose with emotion, drawing the attention of other Maison Gardiennage officers. When they saw her, they cast sympathetic glances, but none stepped forward to support her. In a way, Navia was being made a scapegoat for the Maison Gardiennage's incompetence.
Now that public attention had shifted from the Maison Gardiennage to Fleuve Cendre, many officers felt a surge of relief, followed by a wave of guilt.
But then, many suddenly recalled the name "Callas the unfaithful," and their guilt vanished.
The widespread public support for this decree was partly due to the crimes Navia's father had been accused of.
At this moment, Navia was too distraught to notice the strange looks people were giving her. Her eyes remained fixed on Thierry.
"I'm sorry, Miss Navia. I truly did my best," Thierry said, bowing his head in shame. He still felt guilty for not being able to help with Callas's situation, and now he had failed again.
Finally, Navia seemed to deflate, as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
"Miss Navia, are you alright?" Melus and Silver asked anxiously, rushing to her side.
"I'm fine..." Navia replied, pressing her hand to her forehead in pain, though she looked anything but fine.
"I'm sorry, Thierry. I let my emotions get the better of me."
"This matter is truly beyond your control now."
"For your own safety, please don't try to stop this decree again, and don't try to contact me anymore."
"Miss Navia..."
"Remember my words!"
Navia interrupted Thierry before he could continue, then left with Melus and Silver.
Thierry watched Navia's somewhat frail figure retreating, his face etched with deep conflict.
"In just a few days, things have spiraled into this mess."
"Those bastards must have planned this from the start!"
"Fleuve Cendre is the victim, yet its residents are being questioned and driven out by the public and those corrupt nobles. What a sick joke!"
Navia had never imagined that one moment she was pondering overlooked clues, determined to uncover the culprit behind the persecution of Fleuve Cendre, and the next, the entire district would face expulsion and a prolonged blockade.
"They make it sound so simple! How are all the residents of Fleuve Cendre supposed to relocate?"
"They have the audacity to claim it's for our own good! Those heartless bastards!"
"Miss Navia, I know you're furious and heartbroken, but the Spina di Rosula needs to make a decision quickly. They aren't giving us much time."
Melus's face was also contorted with anger, but he managed to keep his tone relatively calm.
"Those bastards are clearly trying to wipe us out completely. We should fight back!"
Silver gritted his teeth, his fury at the nobles' inhuman actions barely contained.
"Fight? With what? Your hot-blooded courage? Or the tens of thousands of Fleuve Cendre residents who can barely keep from starving?"
Worried about Navia's reaction, Melus ruthlessly snapped Silver back to reality.
His harsh words weighed heavily on all three of them. Spina di Rosula was a civilian aid organization with minimal combat strength, and the Fleuve Cendre residents were even less reliable.
Though the Fleuve Cendre District housed many criminals, some with considerable power, the best Spina di Rosula could hope for was that they wouldn't cause trouble. Expecting them to risk their lives for the organization was absurd.
These criminals, living in the lawless Fleuve Cendre area, had always been a festering problem Spina di Rosula sought to eradicate. Now, the organization had to guard against them kicking Spina di Rosula while it was down.
"Do the residents... already know about this?"
Finally, Navia spoke with difficulty, asking Melus about the situation.
"Miss Navia, rumors are already circulating, but I don't think everyone fully believes them yet..."
Melus's face was twisted with anguish as he spoke. The primary reason for their disbelief was fear of the future.
"It seems we have no choice but to temporarily relocate these people to Poisson and figure things out from there," Navia said, closing her eyes wearily.
Poisson was a small town, utterly incapable of accommodating all the Fleuve Cendre residents. But there was no other option.
Even with this decision, Navia couldn't help but wonder how many residents would perish during the arduous journey. More realistically, the path from Fleuve Cendre to the Upper District was simply impassable for most people!
Even healthy individuals would be exhausted by the climb, and Fleuve Cendre was home to many elderly and children.
The more Navia considered the situation, the harder it became to suppress her grief and anger. It had taken considerable courage to speak the words she had.
With that single sentence, she had decided the fate of countless lives. The weight of such responsibility filled her with overwhelming dread, and tears welled up in her eyes before she even realized it.
"Let me handle this, Miss Navia!"
"I'll deliver the order!"
Melus watched Navia's fragile state, his heart aching so intensely he could barely breathe.
He had watched her grow up, and in his heart, she was like his own daughter. How could he bear to let her endure such torment of conscience?
"It's alright, Melus."
Navia sniffled, wiping the tears from her face. Her expression hardened once more.
"I am the President of the Spina di Rosula. All sins and consequences must be borne by me."
As she spoke these words, her thoughts drifted to her father.
If he were still alive, would he have found a better way...?