Yandere Levelling in Her World-Chapter 166 - 167: New Government of Norbata

General Kazami paced back and forth inside her office.

Her boots tapped sharply against the polished floor, the sound echoing louder than usual in the quiet building. Every few seconds, she glanced at the communication panel on the wall, as if staring at it long enough would make it come back to life.

"Still nothing…" Kazami muttered.

Team Zero's signal had cut off hours ago. Right after the report about a giant monster waking up and them trying to engage with the monster.

That timing alone made her chest feel tight. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She stopped pacing and clenched her fist.

"Damn it," she whispered. "Don't tell me we lost them too."

The city outside was restless. Sirens echoed in the distance. Refugees kept pouring in from the outer districts. Fear was spreading faster than any official announcement could stop.

Kazami ran a hand through her hair and exhaled slowly.

"Olivia should be here soon," she told herself. "She always is."

As if summoned by those words, a knock echoed at the door.

Kazami straightened her posture immediately. "Come in."

The door opened just a little.

A familiar face peeked through the gap.

"…General?"

Kazami turned and let out a breath she did not realize she was holding. "Commissioner Olivia. Finally you're here."

Olivia smiled weakly and pushed the door open fully, stepping inside and closing it behind her. She looked tired. Her uniform was neat, but the dark circles under her eyes told a different story.

Kazami walked toward her. "You look like hell."

Olivia chuckled softly. "You should see my office."

Kazami gestured toward the chair. "Sit. So, how are things going on your end?"

Olivia dropped into the chair with a heavy sigh. "It's not easy."

Kazami leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "I figured as much."

Olivia rubbed her temples. "We have a lot more influx of people than we expected. Way more. Entire families, injured civilians, people who lost their homes overnight."

Kazami frowned. "And?"

Olivia hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It looks like we may have to gate the borders for a while."

The words hit the room like a sudden chill.

Kazami's eyes sharpened. "That's not going to help."

Olivia looked up. "General—"

"It will only cause dissatisfaction to rise," Kazami continued. "If we block the borders, people will panic even more. Families will be separated. Relatives will be left outside, begging to get in."

Olivia nodded slowly. "I know. I understand that."

"Then why suggest it?" Kazami asked.

Olivia leaned back in the chair. "Because if we keep letting people in at this rate, we are going to face a food shortage. Housing is already a nightmare. Temporary shelters are overflowing."

Kazami opened her mouth, then stopped.

The room went silent.

She turned away and walked back to her desk, resting both hands on its surface.

"…How bad?" Kazami asked quietly.

Olivia answered just as softly. "If nothing changes, we have supplies for maybe three weeks. Less if panic buying continues."

Kazami closed her eyes.

Three weeks.

That was nothing.

After a long pause, she spoke again. "What do the presidential candidates think about this?"

Olivia blinked. "The candidates?"

"Yes," Kazami said. "Do they have any solution? Any plan at all?"

For a moment, Olivia just stared at her.

Then she laughed.

It was not a joyful laugh. It was dry, almost bitter.

"You really think they care?" Olivia muttered.

Kazami frowned. "What do you mean?"

"They don't even know what's going on here," Olivia replied. "Most of them are still arguing in safe buildings far away. They talk about speeches and public image while this place is burning. The gap is visible when we actually don't have enough resources. It was always like this...people didn't see it because we had enough resources back then."

Kazami clenched her jaw.

"The military is basically controlling the people right now," Olivia continued. "Curfews, patrols, emergency distribution. Meanwhile, businesswomen and women in power think they control the military."

She shook her head. "It's a mess. No one knows who really has authority anymore."

Kazami turned to face her. "So what are you saying? That the military should take control?"

Olivia's eyes widened slightly.

She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "I said no such thing."

Kazami raised an eyebrow.

"That kind of talk is treason," Olivia added, but her tone was strangely light. Almost dismissive.

Kazami studied her face carefully.

"…But," Kazami said slowly, "you don't trust the former leaders to control the new government of Norbata."

Olivia did not answer immediately.

Then she sighed. "You're sharp as ever, General."

"That's not a denial," Kazami said.

"No," Olivia admitted. "It's not."

Kazami walked back to her chair and finally sat down. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her shoulders.

"Our army and your police are doing everything we can," Kazami said. "We're controlling the panic. Protecting civilians. Holding the line."

Olivia nodded. "Everyone is exhausted, but no one is backing down."

Kazami rested her chin on her hand. "That's all we can do for now."

She looked at the ceiling and muttered, "Let's just keep doing that. And hope things won't get any worse than they already are. I don't have interest in what happen in the inside. I just want to protect the city."

Olivia gave a tired smile. "Hope is in short supply these days."

Kazami let out a quiet laugh. "Politics was never my concern."

She shook her head. "Give me enemies I can see. Battles I can fight."

Olivia leaned back. "Unfortunately, politics has a way of dragging everyone into it."

There was a brief pause.

Then Olivia spoke again. "Actually… there's something else."

Kazami looked up. "What is it?"

"It seems the general consensus is leaning toward a new candidate," Olivia said.

Kazami blinked. "A new one?"

"Yes."

Kazami straightened. "Who?"

Olivia hesitated, then muttered the name.

"You know Judith Harrington."

Kazami's eyes widened slightly. "Judith? As in that Judith?"

"The same," Olivia replied. "It seems she has taken an interest in politics."

Kazami leaned back slowly, processing the words.

"…That's unexpected," she said.

Olivia nodded. "Very."

Kazami stared at the wall, deep in thought.

"If Judith is stepping in," Kazami muttered, "then might be the big families controlling her."

Whether for better or worse, neither of them could say.

Outside, the sirens continued to wail.

***

The border gate of the New Government of Norbata stood tall and cold.

A massive metal structure was embedded into a towering protection wall that surrounded the city. Beyond the wall, water stretched endlessly where entire districts had drowned weeks ago. Because of that, only two main entrances remained usable, and both were sealed tight with checkpoints and armed guards.

"Back! Step back!"

A sharp voice rang out as several army guards raised their rifles.

Outside the gate, hundreds of people pressed forward. Women of all ages shouted, cried, and begged. Some clutched documents. Others held injured relatives. A few carried nothing but hope.

"I have family inside!"

"Please, my daughter is sick!"

"We have nowhere else to go!"

The guards did not lower their weapons.

"Form a line!" one soldier shouted. "Anyone who rushes the gate will be detained!"

A woman near the front collapsed to her knees. "You can't do this to us!"

Another guard snapped, "This is a controlled entry. Only approved individuals will be allowed inside."

Behind them, the gate slowly opened just enough for a small group to pass through.

"Next," an officer called out.

A few women stepped forward, hands shaking as they handed over their identification. A screen flashed green for some.

"You may enter," the officer said flatly.

Those women cried in relief as they were escorted inside the city.

Then the screen flashed red for others.

"Entry denied."

"What?" one woman screamed. "Why?"

"Insufficient resources," the officer replied. "Step aside."

"No! Please!"

Two guards grabbed her arms and dragged her away as she struggled.

Nearby, a young man stood nervously, clutching a single worn document.

A guard glanced at it and barely scanned it.

"Male confirmed," the guard said. "Admitted."

The man blinked. "That's it?"

"Yes," the guard replied. "Go."

The women around him stared with mixed emotions. Envy. Resentment. Desperation.

Men were rare.

And rare things were always valuable.

At the edge of the crowd, a hooded woman waited silently.

She did not shout.

She did not beg.

She watched everything with one visible eye, calm and sharp beneath the shadow of her hood.

When her turn came, she stepped forward.

"Documents," the officer said.

She placed a small data card on the scanner.

The screen flickered.

The officer frowned. "Hold on."

Guards around them tensed slightly.

The hooded woman did not move.

After a moment, the screen flashed green.

"Approved," the officer said, sounding surprised. "You may enter."

The hooded woman nodded and walked forward.

Behind her, someone screamed as another refusal was issued.

The gate opened just enough for her to slip through.

Inside the wall, the city of Norbata revealed itself.

She slowed her steps and looked around.

"What a shithole," she muttered.

The streets were packed with people. Women lay against broken buildings, coughing. Children cried beside makeshift tents made from torn fabric. Some roads were blocked by abandoned vehicles. Others were soaked with stagnant water that smelled foul.

A woman passed by, dragging an unconscious friend. "Doctor! Please!"

No one answered.

Soldiers marched past, eyes tired, ignoring the pleas.

The hooded woman clicked her tongue.

"So this is what it's come to," she said quietly.

She walked further in, boots splashing lightly through dirty water.

"Refugees everywhere," she muttered. "No food distribution in sight. No order."

A loud argument broke out nearby.

"You said there would be shelter!"

"I never promised that!"

The hooded woman shook her head.

"It really does seem like the government is barely holding things together."

She stopped in the middle of the street and slowly pulled back her hood.

Short dark hair fell free.

An eyepatch covered her right eye.

Her visible eye gleamed with interest.

She scanned the city skyline, her gaze sharp and calculating.

"Now then," she muttered. "Where are you, Judith Harrington?"

The chaos of Norbata continued around her, unaware that something far more dangerous had just stepped inside its walls.