[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/eiM3u0q.png[/img][/center]
[hr]

'The Wild West, huh?' Hikari thought while looking around as she followed Seiji and climbed up, before returning to the train's interior.

She was not that familiar with the Wild West aside from the old Hollywood westerns that she occasionally caught playing on local television channels.

But she doubted it truly was a land without rule.

Even in those old shows, a sheriff typically played an important part, maybe even the protagonist. And a sheriff was, essentially, a law enforcer. Thus, while there might be less formalised laws, there were still laws, at the very least, that of the unwritten social contract.

And given the presence of those old-timey western cops, the ruler of this Kingdom was cognizant of that fact, too. So really, the true meaning of their kingdom being the wild west was...

'I want fewer rules and regulations that protect other people from my selfish wishes.'

It was, as she thought, not a more benign wish, such as 'the freedom to pursue and explore one's interests', but the more nefarious one of 'freedom from rules that prevent one from doing whatever they wish at the expense of other people.'

If there was any doubt that this kingdom cannot be allowed to remain, there surely was none now.

As Seiji and Osamu started to discuss their plan, Hikari leaned back against the wall of the train.

Hikari was content to listen quietly and went along with what they decided. After all—

...

Old habits die hard indeed, she thought with a sigh.

Comporting herself in such a manner was exactly what she wanted to change. Thus, at the very least, she should contribute to the conversation to decide their course of action.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/UVYzRLt.png[/img]

"Given Noblesse's plan is to take over the settlement, I doubt stealth was something that plan considered," she said, before turning to Seiji, "Is it because you said earlier the Sovereign is always waiting? And thus, rendering stealth effectively useless? But if that is the case, why not look for a way to go directly to that building with the Chimeratic symbol and confront the Sovereign? Or is there a specific purpose of taking control of the settlement?"