The Belief in Supernatural Evil is Unnecessary, As Men Alone Are Capable of Every Wickedness

[totallyhonest]

Grace is sitting on the cafetaria, reading some news on her pda. She looks pretty dejected.

"We're in a pretty dark days, aren't we?" She says. "First, Eria is destroyed, with its people dead, getting crazy, or worse. There might be cosmic monster rising from there too, and the worst part is, it's men and women of earth who woke it up purposefully. Then, we found out that Unity Group is built on illusion, if not of lies, and Loni Gavin now hold power of unknown destructive capability. Will people ever going to trust us anymore? Even I'm not sure what to trust now.

And now this..." She lifts her head from the news story. It's the daily news site of the Batavian Fleet.

"Rash of mysterious robberies. That focus on orphanages and homes of poor families... I can't believe human can be this evil. Is there no good anymore in the world? We're in the end times aren't we?

I just contacted that orphanage in the fleet. And they confirmed it. Most if not all the christmas presents donated to them are gone now. Those kids don't have many toys. The polystation I gave them, those might be the only new toy those kids will have this year. And now they're gone.

How can people be this wicked? Do nobody have heart anymore in the world?"

Comments

[a_monetized_mind]

Eh, assholes are as timeless as the ocean waves.

[Jen sips on some soda.]

Do you want to try vigilante justice? 'Cause we can try doing that. Like, I really don't know about the other stuff, but robbers I think we can deal with.

[totallyhonest]

Yes, I'll be all over that!

[totallyhonest]

Though, first we have to find who's stealing all those stuffs first. Which is the most annoying part of being a vigilante.

~detecting time~

[a_monetized_mind]

Well, it might not be that hard. Petty criminals tend to be pretty dumb, if they were smart they'd do something less risky.

Are these thefts just happening inside the Batavian fleet?

Re: ~detecting time~

[totallyhonest]

Yes, and only at orphanages and poor family's houses.

Re: ~detecting time~

[a_monetized_mind]

So then they're either smuggling them away and fencing them, or selling them at a shop in-fleet.

Does anyone keep manifests of the ships entering and leaving the fleet?

Re: ~detecting time~

[totallyhonest]

I assume so. But are you really thinking of pouring though the manifest? There must be like hundreds of ships leaving and entering the fleet in any given day.

[stupidhonor]

To think there are those capable of such vile deeds. Mass destruction and murder, theft of property, acts against those who have no strength to fight back.

Detestable!

We need to strike back. This dishonor cannot be unanswered.

[totallyhonest]

I agree! We must strike back, and strike back hard.

[totallyhonest]

Though, I'm not sure who should we strike right now.

[stupidhonor]

Hrm. That is a problem. You cannot just lash out at random...

[Even though some Ankaians definitely would.]

The enemy is in hiding, are they not?

[totallyhonest]

If you're talking about thieves, most thieves are in hiding, yes.

[stupidhonor]

That is true. A sharp observation.

But even thieves need to live somewhere, do they not?

[totallyhonest]

Astute deduction, Sielje. Now we only have to find where do they live. Should be easy enough.

[stupidhonor]

What wilderness could they run off to? This fleet of yours is surrounded by water.
[Not quite wine-colored seas, but good enough.]

Humans cannot cross it.

[totallyhonest]

True, except if they have ships or flying vehicles or something.

But I assume even then, there won't be a problem.

Ankaian have magic power right?

[stupidhonor]

No.

[totallyhonest]

No? I thought... I thought you can easily track the thieves with magic or something, that's why I said it'd be easy!

[stupidhonor]

There is no such thing as magic... is there?

[Sielje's not sure. Earth can be a strange place sometimes...]

I am not the one to track down wanted fugities or beasts, but I am sure someone may be able to help you. For certain!

[totallyhonest]

Then it won't be easy though. It sounds like hard work. I thought Ankaian have power to... dunno, track down people or beasts with their internal energy or whatever.

[stupidhonor]

Might, you mean? For it to be so vital and strong that it pounds deeply, even for others to be able to see or feel it...

[Sielje considers the idea, and its implications.]

But, the thieves are not mighty, are they? Otherwise they would be more than just ordinary thieves.

[totallyhonest]

Oh, only strong people can be tracked that way? I thought everyone have those.

[stupidhonor]

No, I speak only hypothetically!

[So we're back to square one, then.]

Why would one steal a child's toy anyway? For what purpose?

[totallyhonest]

Other than sheer spite of it?

I... don't actually know actually.

[stupidhonor]

But... that does not make sense.

A thief may be vile but he does not steal for no reason, or for evil's sake alone. Why risk getting caught with no glory at stake? The toys were important for the children but they are not worth that much, are they?

[totallyhonest]

Maybe they're worth much for collectors? Are there people who collect worthless stuffs in Ankaia?

[stupidhonor]

This kind of thing? I... really doubt it.

[Sielje sounds unsure though.]

[totallyhonest]

Not exactly these kind of things, but are there people who collect like, cheap jars or whatever in Ankaia?

[stupidhonor]

There must be, but to resort to theft for such petty reasons?

[spearpunch]

[Yeah, things are looking pretty glum. But...]

Grace-san...

[Hibiki comes in, her own Polystation in hand.]

I know there's not enough for all of them, but... the orphans on the fleet could at least share mine!

[totallyhonest]

You're too nice.

[spearpunch]

You can never be too nice! That'd mean there's a way to help too many people, and that's never true!

[totallyhonest]

But... this isn't because you hate the polystation you got and want to get rid of it, is it?

[spearpunch]

I'm sorry Grace-san...

[Hibiki slumps her head. She's been caught in a lie."

... I can't even figure out how to turn it on. Maybe the kids will have a better chance at it...

[totallyhonest]

Well, sometimes santa can make mistakes. Maybe next year he'll give you a bouncy ball or something.

[lostamigo]

...How many kids were robbed? More or less?

[totallyhonest]

Roughly every kids? But only poor kids and kids in orphanages.

[lostamigo]

...Probably too many, then. Dang. I'm not made of money.