Chapter 30: A Flower Vase, But Still Worth Kidnapping

Takumi exerted his authority and seized control of a robot. Staring at the political core of Tokyo, he issued the attack command without hesitation. The robot army had assembled. There was nothing left to deliberate. "Take her. Bring her here." Whether she wanted to or not didn't matter. What Takumi decided was law. Under his orders, the robots began their assault. The entire facility was surrounded. Inside, the security forces were in a state of total panic. Some even wet themselves and dropped their weapons. After all, what could mere flesh and blood do against such overwhelming mechanical force? "Drop your weapons. Surrender and you won't be harmed." Takumi's voice came calmly through the robot's speakers. Many guards, sensing their doom, immediately obeyed and threw down their arms. Still, there were those who resisted—like their overconfident captain. "What kind of joke is this?! Don't drop your weapons—open fire!" Boom. A laser beam ended his rant, and his head. "Last warning. Drop your weapons or die." The robot's cold words echoed like a death sentence. No one else dared resist. The guards who had witnessed their captain's swift execution were paralyzed by fear. What was a paycheck worth compared to their lives? Seeing their surrender, Takumi ordered the robots to destroy all the confiscated weapons. Then he personally piloted the robot deeper into the facility. The Holy Empress had been moved into a secure bunker. Though considered just a figurehead, the officials couldn't risk anything happening to her. But Takumi had already hacked every electronic system in the region. He knew exactly where she was. He marched the robot directly to the bunker. Without hesitation, he raised the robot's arm and fired a laser, carving open the steel-reinforced door. Guards behind it pointed their guns at the breach. The Empress and the other officials stood huddled in the back, pale with fear. "Open fire!" barked the head of security. Bullets rained toward Takumi's robot. But moments later, a magnetic field shield activated, freezing every bullet mid-air. "Lay down your weapons. I won't warn you again." The robot's voice resounded. Now clearly aware of the situation, the guards stared at their useless weapons. Their bullets couldn't even scratch the robot. It was like bringing knives to a missile fight. Seeing no other choice, they backed off. Takumi guided the robot into the room, immediately spotting the Empress. He had to admit—she looked good. White hair, white stockings—right up his alley. "Come with me, Your Majesty." "You don't have a choice." The room fell silent. When lives were at stake, dignity was meaningless. Even the Empress's personal guards stepped aside. "I'll go with you," she said after a deep breath. "But please, don't harm anyone here." She didn't know what they wanted from her. But as the robot had said, she had no choice. If she resisted, everyone else would die. And clearly, these robots were far beyond what she could handle. To be honest, she still thought this was a dream. Who would've guessed? Star-destroyers showing up out of nowhere? What a surreal morning. Takumi, seeing her cooperation, ordered the other robots to protect her and escort her out. He released control of the robot he had been piloting. Under heavy guard, the Holy Empress was brought outside. The once heavily-defended complex was now eerily empty. All resistance had been crushed. Even the body of the squad captain had already been cleaned up by the robots. Only a pool of blood remained. The Empress stared at the blood and felt a pang of sorrow. But the robots didn't care about her feelings. Soon, a small ship descended from the sky. It had been tasked with gathering cursed children, and now also served to retrieve the Empress. The ship's interior was already crowded with ragged children. As she boarded, she was met with wide-eyed stares. The children recognized her. They had seen her on street TVs. Now she was with them—on this strange ship bound for who knows where. Curious children began asking her questions. The Holy Empress, still overwhelmed, tried to explain. "I don't really know either," she admitted. "I didn't come here willingly." The children were even more confused. Still, as she spoke with them, her tension began to ease. The children's pure and inquisitive eyes helped her relax. They weren't afraid—so neither should she be. As they chatted, the ship approached the main Star-Destroyer. Only now did the passengers realize just how massive it was. The difference between a skyscraper and a toy car.