Chapter 1 An Hour Later

Night fell, and the lights sparkled. The heart of Herloom was filled with a restless energy. The Protoss Empire's landmark building, the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation studio, had just finished a grand interview program on its crystal screen, which then switched to other live interviews.

At this hour, the building looked even more magnificent, with beams of light from the marquee on top weaving through the Herloom night sky, attracting even more attention.

A large crowd had gathered below the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation building. Summoned by some emotion, they flocked from all directions, clogging the traffic around the building. Each person wore an expression of excitement and admiration, their eyes darting across the building's glass doorway, afraid of missing the long-awaited figure.

The Herloom Guard Hall had dispatched extra teams of officers to maintain order. Clearly, the response to today's interview and the residents' enthusiasm for Rocky McCarthy far exceeded their expectations.

Outside the crowd, numerous media reporters busied themselves, holding cameras and microphones, trying to find better positions in the crowd.

The Herloom Broadcasting Corporation's own reporters were sparing no effort, immediately selecting enthusiastic citizens nearby after the interview program, asking them about their views on the political celebrity. This young and promising politician, whose words and deeds always seemed to evoke a strong public reaction.

Being selected for an interview even allowed one to look up and see the interview process being broadcast live on the crystal screen of the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation building.

This kind of after-show program further heated up the atmosphere, until the moment that man walked out of the building, making people unable to imagine what a grand occasion it would be.

At the edge of the wide street below the building, Mishulla stood on tiptoe, looking at the dark crowd, feeling like she couldn't find a way forward.

"Sister, he won't see us later."

Mishulla said worriedly.

She knew that her sister wanted to see him today, even immediately.

Otherwise, she didn't know when she would have the chance to meet this important figure again.

Love, sometimes, is as urgent as military intelligence. A minute late can lead to total defeat. If possible, don't waste even a second!

Mishulla could hear conversations from the crowd from time to time. Everyone was guessing when this political celebrity would appear. Some had already aimed their souvenir crystal stones at the building exit, afraid of missing the chance to witness what might become a historic moment.

It wasn't just the two of them who wanted to see Rocky McCarthy; others also wanted to have even a brief interaction with him.

However, Mishulla knew that her sister had reasons different from anyone else.

This made Mishulla increasingly anxious.

The guards maintained order in the crowd, their Protoss uniforms looking particularly solemn under the lights, their expressions serious, but their eyes also hard to hide the curiosity about the figure who was about to appear.

As time passed, the crowd's expectations continued to rise. Everyone was waiting for the political celebrity who could lead the trend of the times to walk out of the building and into their sight.

In the outer circle of the crowd, there were more reporters with heavy equipment. Compared to trying their luck to interview Rocky McCarthy, even taking two photos as material for tomorrow's newspaper would be good.

Rocky McCarthy's interview would definitely become a hot topic tomorrow.

And the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation's reporters were still shuttling through the crowd, selecting conspicuous citizen friends, inquiring about feedback and opinions, and looking for voices that could represent public opinion.

At this moment, an alert Herloom Broadcasting Corporation reporter locked onto their target: two young girls whose eyes revealed an eagerness different from ordinary fans.

The reporter quickly took the cameraman and strode forward, politely saying excuse me and squeezing through the crowd to stand in front of the two girls.

"Good evening, ladies. Can you tell us your views on tonight's highly anticipated political celebrity?"

The reporter swiftly and skillfully opened the conversation, completing his question before Hyperion and Mishulla could react.

These two young ladies were particularly eye-catching just with their appearance and temperament, and they were also wearing the old-fashioned aristocratic school uniforms of the Protoss Royal Magic Academy, which happened to be the school of Mr. McCarthy.

"I have no opinion."

Mishulla replied briefly.

Many people noticed the live interview footage being broadcast on the outer wall crystal screen of the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation building. The interviewed girl's facial expression was too stiff, as if she was saying something against her will.

Such a cold interviewee was simply a reporter's nightmare.

But the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation reporter was obviously very capable and knew how to deal with the situation.

Any evaluation at this time would make him feel very embarrassed, so he simply nodded and turned to hand the microphone to Hyperion, who looked more gentle.

"So, as students of the Protoss Royal Magic Academy, what do you think of your headmaster, Mr. Rocky McCarthy, running for election?"

The reporter asked with a calm smile.

"...I think it would be better for him not to run for president."

Hyperion replied hesitantly.

Obviously, with mixed feelings at the moment, she was even more distraught to be suddenly selected to be interviewed about Lancia.

However.

Hyperion's rather soft response was unusually clear in the restless night.

In an instant, the surrounding atmosphere changed slightly.

This answer seemed to touch the sensitive nerves of the surrounding fans.

The original atmosphere of pure worship and expectation was replaced by a trace of dissatisfaction and hostility. The originally enthusiastic McCarthy fans also looked towards this side, until the interview footage was transmitted to the building's crystal screen, causing the crowd waiting for McCarthy to appear in the distance to notice the girl in the interview footage.

Some people began to boo, and some even started to discuss.

"Everyone has their own opinions; that's the meaning of our interview."

The Herloom Broadcasting Corporation reporter noticed the tension in the atmosphere and hurriedly tried to ease it.

Nevertheless, the Herloom Broadcasting Corporation reporter and the interview team had to be vigilant in case there were McCarthy fans in the crowd who were too emotionally excited.

"I..."

Hyperion's already confused brain finally came back to her senses. She realized that she seemed to have said the wrong thing in this atmosphere.

But before she could go further and organize her words, she felt countless eyes staring at her in the dark crowd.

"Their jewelry...seems to be from the Milford family in the north, right?"

This kind of jewelry is only abundant in the Milford Territory, and their attire clearly shows that they are aristocratic students of the Protoss Royal Magic Academy.

"That Milford family, it's not surprising that they oppose Mr. McCarthy; they are originally old nobles in the north."

"Are they Rocky McCarthy's enemies?"

"The two of them are wearing old-fashioned aristocratic student uniforms. As expected, they are opponents of Rocky McCarthy."

Voices rose and fell.

The lonely cold wind invaded her icy skin.

This terrible collective malice made Hyperion feel like she had returned to Iklethe when her father had just disappeared.

Nothing has changed.

And she is still the girl who would tremble in fear and burst into tears alone in the dark night.

(End of this chapter)