[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 84

“Declaration.”

“…Hehe.”

Oh, I’m genuinely happy.

My comrade is starting to achieve her goal.

Eavesdropping on her was pure coincidence. Catching a brief call in the vast desert?

No, considering the Helmet Gang forces monitored by the Defense Office were dismantled by them… isn’t it the will of God?

Right after I set up a surveillance network across the region, a familiar voice was reported to me immediately. What a loyal police chief, right? If I hadn’t bribed her with Kaiser’s money, who knows?

It’s exactly as she said. It’s a declaration ceremony.

An expansion of influence, an ascent to Trinity’s upper echelons—nay, a grand declaration of hegemony!

Oh, what to do? I want to send a congratulatory message right now. But I can’t let our connection be exposed.

“—Yes, it’s me. Kaiser Corporation still keeping busy? How’s the task I requested going?”

“No issues. By the way, a few days ago, Trinity’s border checkpoint approached us.”

“I heard they bought the desert land. I know about the experiment. They say it was incredibly powerful.”

“…More powerful than any weapon we possess. According to our analysis lab, it’s comparable to what the Defense Office recovered.”

“She’s cautious, isn’t she? If it were me, I’d announce it publicly.”

You might think it’s pointless, but no matter how powerful a weapon is, if the world doesn’t know, it’s useless. If Valkyrie Police Academy had such a weapon, how great would that be? Even the incompetent gain value when given power.

A serene world looks beautiful, but its shadows grow just as large.

We need the power to illuminate every corner. A shadowless lamp for the world.

Especially now, with the general student council president—the one shadowless lamp—gone. We need a superhuman.

In D.U., there’s me; in Trinity, there’s her. Isn’t it fortunate to have two pillars to establish authority?

“Yamatsu Hikari… an unpredictable person. I looked into her records, but she’s been holed up in the mountains for years.”

“If she was building her strength, it makes sense. Those kinds of people always exist, don’t they?”

“…I heard you’re trying to build a relationship with her. Isn’t that dangerous? Trinity can’t be trusted.”

“They can be trusted. I know her.”

I know her very well. Her advice still lingers in my heart.

Heh, I can’t help but smile. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced often, thanks to her.

“The world will change around the line connecting D.U. and Trinity.”

Because I’ll make it happen.

***

Eeeek—achoo!

“Oh my, did you catch a cold?”

“No.”

Sniff.

“…Maybe.”

What’s going on this morning? Someone must be badmouthing me. Usually, it’s Sayuri-san.

The brunch at the Tea Party, swept by the morning breeze, was truly delicious. It’s only natural since it’s the same menu served to Nagisa-sama, but even with the debuff of dining with a superior, it’s rare for food to taste this good.

The chef says: Eat some of my warm soufflé pancakes. A one-on-one with the host? You’d better eat and recharge. It might seem trivial, but it’ll help.

Thank you, it does help. Much better than a pile of paperwork.

“So… a lot has happened, hasn’t it, Hikari-san? I’m glad the contract with Kaiser Corporation was finalized.”

“Yes. I heard you dismissed Pater faction’s request for a hearing. I’m sincerely grateful.”

“I had some personal questions, but I didn’t think it warranted a hearing.”

Absolutely right! Those damn Pater folks fiercely oppose contracts with predatory corporations—even if they’re legal—but they don’t realize their protests terrify ordinary people.

Sayuri-san knew that well. When our junior went through all-nighters, you’d often hear her say she should’ve risen to a faction leadership role, gaining student support through populist promises.

A full-scale war with Gehenna should come after seizing power—meaning, cleverly crafting justification to crush anti-war sentiment and secure unlimited authority.

Now, hold on… isn’t it a good thing Sayuri-san retired from politics?

“Hikari-san, I do have many questions about the recent experiment. Kaiser Corporation and Gehenna Academy are fully aware of it. Depending on their response, you’ll have a lot to handle.”

“I understand. It’s fortunate Kaiser hasn’t reacted yet.”

I’m puzzled why Gehenna hasn’t even held a press conference.

Iroha-chan was goofing off at the checkpoint’s secret base last night and didn’t say a word. She’s occupying an office room without paying rent, so I’ve got plenty to say, but she seems clueless. Does Pandemonium Society even know?

I don’t know what the Prefect Team is preparing. Despite efforts to rebuild Trinity’s counterintelligence network, how could their intelligence unit miss a large-scale experiment at our outermost border?

That’s pathetic. Those salary-stealing bastards need to be sacked.

The Prefect Team leader has the capacity to figure it out herself, so there’s no way they don’t know. They’re definitely preparing something… Nagato-senpai is great at counterintelligence but passive about external networks… What’s she thinking?

“The general student council seems to have detected something too. Some Defense Office departments were seen rushing into all-nighters. How they found out isn’t confirmed.”

“…How did the intelligence chief notice their movements?”

“They tapped the nearest pizza franchise to the Defense Office. Orders spiked several times compared to last night, mostly from their headquarters.”

—Hm, I must’ve misjudged.

Your friends are pretty proactive about external intelligence networks too!

How do they deduce the Defense Office’s response level from pizza order volumes? The first and second directors may hate me to an uncomfortable degree, but their intelligence skills are second to none.

But why no word on Gehenna? Nagato-senpai didn’t say anything. She complained about getting chewed out when the intelligence network collapsed under the previous student council president.

…Wait. Let’s think differently. Approach it rationally with a socially honed logical framework.

• Gehenna’s intelligence network is still broken and unrecovered! (X)
• My senior is hiding something again! (O)

Truly rational.

“Um, Nagisa-sama. If you don’t have more questions, may I visit the intelligence chief? I have something to ask.”

“That’s fine. But we have a meeting about the Eden Treaty, so come back after your business.”

“Thank you.”

I, Yamatsu Hikari, touched by Nagisa-sama’s warm heart, set off to interrogate—no, thoroughly grill my senior.

It’s 9 a.m., time for the rising sun to hit the clock tower. Even as a third-year, Nagato-senpai can’t escape tardiness penalties and should be just starting work. Now’s the time to catch her off guard and dig through her mind.

I descended the grand staircase to the central corridor. The intelligence office, reached shortly after, was bustling with students copying documents. I casually returned salutes from those who recognized me and headed to the chief’s office.

Clank!

“Senpai!”

“Waaah!! You scared me!”

“No, Senpai, I… What the heck.”

And I say again, I, Yamatsu Hikari, saw Nagato-san sprawled on the sofa with a bottle of liquor.

Shoo, shoo. The story’s over.

***

“So, the Prefect Team seems to be preparing something… No, don’t lower your hand! Getting caught drinking in broad daylight, oh my, dear heavens…”

“You’re right… but, Hikari-chan, your grip…”

“If it weren’t for me, you’d be writing your resignation today, and you’re still talking.”

“Hikari-chaaan…”

Our dear senior got caught drinking Red Winter vodka and is now being punished by me.

Of course, I took a sip too.

With trembling arms, Senpai quietly spilled everything she knew. Normally, she only hides her snacks, so I wondered why she was hiding classified info this time. Turns out, the report came right after I contacted her.

The Prefect Team is moving. Apparently, they were quite rattled by the Ordnance Bureau’s experiment. Hundreds of students conducting large-scale drills is rare—maybe once or twice a quarter—but this is the fourth time.

What does that mean? It means the Prefect Team leader is coming for a showdown, whether with tanks or alone.

The civilized chief prefers dialogue. She always has. To me… unless a war breaks out, she’ll keep trying to resolve things through talks and negotiations. She seems tired of constantly firing guns and making threats.

The issue is when the meeting will be. I could contact them now and demand a meeting at the checkpoint headquarters.

…That feels right.

“Senpai, do you know the Prefect Team leader well?”

“Nope. I’d have to meet her to know. Why?”

“I know her well; I’ve met her often.”

“…Are you bragging, Hikari-chan?”

“No, I just have a feeling a call’s coming.”

Rrrring!

Damn it.

“This is Yamatsu from the border checkpoint.”

“It’s me.”

“…Oh, it’s you, Chairwoman. What’s up?”

“You know.”

Yeah.

I know, and that’s the problem.