Read Blood, Status, Ethnicity, and Nationality :: Chapter 12

"All of my friends are even going crazy right now." Daphne hands the propaganda paper to Stairmount. "We even haven't graduated yet, but they are eager to take part in this kind of activity."

A nice breeze blows gently. Daphne and Stairmount are now sitting on a bench beside the big lake they ever visit. Now they often have meetings near that lake. But what happened just now was, Stairmount had been sitting on that bench for a long time, while Daphne just passes by coincidentally, then called him. Even Stairmount hadn't noticed that call. Daphne had to call Stairmount three times before he noticed that call and replied to her.

And it is still the same right now. Stairmount only curved a friendly smile as he replied to Daphne's greeting, but after that, he returned to his deep contemplative activities. "Sir? Do you hear me?" Daphne has to call him again before Stairmount comes to his senses. "Y... yes! Daphne... what's wrong?"

"Sir, what's wrong with you?" Daphne finally realizes that there is something wrong with Stairmount's attitude.

"Oh... I just feel unhealthy." Stairmount tightens his coat, forcing a smile to give a more cheerful impression. "Maybe I don't get used to the winter in Pluto... but it's okay, I'll get used to it soon..." He stares at the paper Daphne hands him, and after that, he can't even force a smile of any kind of fake happiness anymore as he is so shocked by the contents of the paper.

"Y... you... join this movement?!?..."

"Errr... but most of my friends join in..."

"I've told you not to join in this movement, right?!..."

"Please have no worry, Sir. I follow your instruction. I just tell you about the information I've got."

Stairmount exerts his best efforts to control his turbulent emotions. He takes a very long breath, hoping this activity will allow him to calm himself and prevent him from falling down due to the pressure of the overwhelming anxiety.

"Daphne... eerrr... haven't you... thought to go to another country?..."

"Sir?..."

"Well..." Stairmount sighs again. "Pluto is not safe anymore. Neptune indeed just attacks Amethyst, but is it really their only target? After all, they are capable of attacking the capital, then the small town like Sapphire is a piece of cake for their attack... they can even destroy it much easier..."

"But Damien says, if we help Neptune by doing this, Neptune will protect us? So, we can live in peace, then?..."

"What if the one who aims for you is not Neptune?"

"What? What do you mean?..."

Realizing that he has made mistake with his words, Stairmount hastily closes his mouth. But... No... no! I shouldn't do such a coward thing! For her safety, I should tell her the truth whatever it takes!...

"Sir, you really look unwell. It's indeed very cold here. You'd better go home and warm up..."

"Daphne." Stairmount stares closely into Daphne's eyes, his voice turns more serious. "I want you to do what I suggest, the sooner, the better. And if you can, do it now."

"Yes, Sir?..."

"Go out of Pluto. Evacuate to another country. You can go anywhere, except keep staying in here."

"Sir!" Daphne jumps in surprise. "How come! We just have a house, that is, in here. Where should we evacuate to?"

"Aren't you a Neptunian? Neptune will welcome you graciously."

"It's not that easy, Sir. People won't give us free food and free shelters forever, will they? Well, if we have no shelter, how can we live like the locals? Besides, I heard that it's not easy for us to evacuate. They even said that it's safer for us to hide in a bunker. Most of my relatives have prepared the bunker... but we live in a cyber mansion, we don't have any bunker..."

"Then Daphne, you should evacuate!"

Daphne responds to Stairmount's urging in silence. Anxiety wells up in her heart. She has also heard that many people from his country have fled to other countries, but they all have families or relatives in the country where they seek asylum at. Whereas they have no relatives anywhere. If they go to another country, who will accept them? Then, how will they live if they have no shelter? Do they have to be bummed out in a refugee country for the rest of their lives?