"Then, what will be the conclusion?"
Joachim looked around at everyone. He didn't expect anyone here to continue his words, so he simply asked and answered himself.
"Almost everyone, especially those capital predators who have been blinded by profits and suddenly encountered a head-on blow, as well as the officials who must respond to this matter, their thinking will immediately be led to a most logical inference—
"That is, the one standing behind Arahato... is the City of the Future.
"Because only the City of the Future possesses the technological foundation to drive a battle armor of Arahato's level.
"And only the City of the Future would show such naked, reckless desire for cutting-edge research like 'curing ALS' that contains huge value and prestige.
"In their eyes, we are not snatching a patient, but snatching a 'ticket' to the future! At least, in the past few decades, everyone in this world has seen us this way."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a coldness that calculated human hearts to the extreme, yet also a helplessness.
"This is the most lethal and boiling ladle of cold water poured into that pot of soon-to-be boiling capital hot oil."
Cold water?
No, what Joachim added was ignited strong liquor!
A powerful, mysterious, unruly 'common enemy' showing strong competitive aggression appeared in this chaotic situation, so the chaos disappeared, replaced by a strange...
Unity.
"With the 'City of the Future' as a target, the chaotic capital melee I envisioned before, which might get out of control, will not erupt—at least not in the form of disorderly infighting.
"On the contrary, various capital parties whose interests have been infringed upon, or who think their interests have been infringed upon, driven by both fear and greed, will quickly try to band together and instinctively try to coerce official forces to pressure this 'common robber,' demand an explanation, or even plan a counterattack.
"They will cry, lobby, and use all resources to demand that the officials step in to sanction the City of the Future, take back Rin, and ensure a 'fair competitive environment.'"
Joachim was silent for a moment here, then revealed a hint of coldness.
"As for the officials... they might be able to see through part of it, but they can't completely stay out of it.
"First, the incident occurred in their jurisdiction, involving major scientific research assets and potential huge economic benefits. They must respond to maintain credibility and the appearance of order.
"Second, and a deeper reason—according to our known intelligence, there has always been a complex attitude within the high-level Shenzhou officials towards the social model and technological system of the 'City of the Future,' and there is no lack of factions wanting to 'replicate' or 'learn from' it."
"Arahato acting so arrogantly as a 'vanguard of the City of the Future' is tantamount to personally handing an excellent 'handle' and 'excuse' for intervening and deeply investigating matters related to the City of the Future to those factions within the officials who have such intentions.
"They can go with the flow, using high-sounding reasons like 'investigating kidnapping cases,' 'protecting important medical research individuals,' and 'maintaining economic security in response to local capital demands' to be half-pushed and half-compliant into being 'coerced' into this dispute, or even actively deepening intervention."
"Thus, the situation will evolve into—"
Joachim took a deep breath and made the final summary.
"With Arahato as the imaginary enemy, with retrieving and controlling Yae Rin and related research rights as the core appeal, actively promoted by local capital and deeply participated in by official forces, a 'hunt' and 'game' with surface chaos but relatively concentrated goals.
"As long as Arahato can continue to play this arrogant, powerful, and silent role of 'City of the Future thug,' as long as this false banner of 'City of the Future threat theory' does not fall...
"Then, all stabilizing, investigating, and scrutinizing gazes will be firmly attracted to this banner and the conflict focus we deliberately created.
"In the eyes of officials and capital giants, the real 'threat' and 'variable' are the City of the Future and its agent Arahato, an international technological dispute triggered for Rin."
"And us," he exhaled lightly, "Fu Hua, Himeko, Natasha... even Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical secretly cooperating with the action, will retreat from the center of the stage into the background.
"Our other actions in Sapphire City, as long as they are not directly and publicly related to the 'City of the Future' or the 'kidnapping incident,' their sensitivity and attention will be greatly reduced. We gain space to act in the shadows."
"At the same time, this also avoids the worst-case scenario: Yae Rin does not need to be truly and continuously exposed to countless greedy gazes and laboratory tables, bearing huge physical and mental pressure and unknown risks.
"She just changed from a 'potential hope being watched' to a 'core asset being fought over,' and the two sides fighting—the 'kidnapper' Arahato and the joint forces 'trying to rescue/control her'—
"Essentially, both have our people influencing or participating. Her safety can instead receive another level of guarantee in this mutually checking balance."
"Pressure, risks, hatred, all will be concentrated on the identity of 'Arahato.'
"Senior Kallen."
Joachim looked at the warrior of the Kaslana family again.
"We need you."
In the end, the conclusion of this long speech was just this simple request.
The full picture of the plan was revealed, cruel and precise, like a cold machine fueled by human hearts and interests.
And Kallen, as the best pilot for Arahato, was about to become the target of public criticism, the target that everyone stared at and even hated.
Even if the pressure she had to bear was likely only for a few short hours.
And what was Kallen's answer?
"Leave it to me!" Without any hesitation, just like when she made promises countless times before, she revealed a confident smile to everyone and thumped her chest hard.
No pressure of anything could be heavier than the banner named "Liberation" she once raised in the City of Sighs.
Joachim was stunned by Kallen's cloudless, decisive response.
He had expected Kallen to accept, but he didn't expect it to be so... straightforward.
At this moment, only the familiar, pure determination belonging to a warrior flashed in Kallen's eyes, even with a hint of eagerness like "I should have done this long ago."
Joachim thought Kallen would at least have some resistance to "playing the bad guy," but he completely hadn't thought that all Kaslanas ran away from home wanting to be heroes and do good deeds.
Only Kallen, she abducted Otto to become a [Phantom Thief].
Oh, and Kiana who ran out with the excuse of wanting to fall in love.
Uh oh, now I'm measuring a gentleman's heart with a mean person's mind.