The palace shutters closed.
Since the shutters were down, the place was impossible to breach with something as simple as a Molotov cocktail. However, there had to be an idiot firing a rifle out there somewhere.
The rioters threw Molotov cocktails at the police officers. I still had my doubts about whether they truly qualified as rioters, but for the sake of the situation, I’d keep defining them as such.
One officer who was struck by a Molotov cocktail was instantly engulfed in flames. Fortunately, he was wearing the new equipment: a wearable protector. It was a lightweight version designed for police use, based on the data from Rikochi’s full armor. The army's infantry had also recently adopted it as standard equipment.
In the Galactic Empire, heavy infantry had been treated like a bunch of eccentrics until quite recently. The general consensus had been along the lines of, "No one can actually master that stuff, you moron." Technology’s evolution was truly something else.
Naturally, the police version was also non-flammable and made of heat-insulating material. At most, an officer might get injured if their helmet wasn't fastened properly. There were a few guys who hadn't put on the chokers that protected the gap between the helmet and the upper body protector. Those things were a nuisance to wear, but they were mandatory. The area from the neck to the shoulder was a vital point; if you were slashed there, you were usually dead.
In the Galactic Empire Space Marines, a soldier would have been punched in the face for that level of negligence. But it couldn't be helped since the Chronos police weren't used to the gear yet. As the person with ultimate responsibility, that was my fault.
Still, the inner layer was made of a non-flammable, heat-insulating, scientific defense material that could even withstand Zork acid. They’d probably only suffer minor burns. The inner layer had to maintain a certain degree of breathability, or else it would get too stuffy and reduce the wearer's operating time. Because of that, heat could seep through the gaps and cause burns. It was enough that the inner layer didn't melt and fuse to the skin, which would have made the damage much worse. Even if the wounds were treated, they might still leave scars.
As I watched with my heart in my throat, several officers charged forward, holding Zork-processed physical shields in one hand. Their movements were clearly different from the rest; they had to be an elite unit. They fired shotgun-style rubber bullets for riot suppression. There was a time when these were called non-lethal, but at point-blank range, there was still a slight chance of death. At the very least, bones would break easily. It was quite dangerous for anyone who hadn't trained their body.
Still, it was much better than beating people to a pulp with batons. Tasers and other electric weapons often failed to stop determined attackers. In the first place, it was the rioters' own fault for throwing firebombs at fully equipped police.
After dropping the rioters with rubber bullets, the police followed up with batons.
"Ah! Hey, that's not allowed!"
They were grabbing suspects by the hair and kicking them in the face with the toes of their boots! Those boots had metal inserts for Zork processing and stability, so they caused way more damage than a baton.
"Ah! That's definitely bad!"
They were using their even harder heels to stomp on the suspects as they tried to scramble back up! Those were killing blows!
This was bad. The police had completely lost their cool. If they started punching with those blade-resistant gloves that had built-in knuckles, they wouldn't be able to interrogate anyone.
"Notify the police not to kill them!" I shouted.
The Chronos Army field commander—an Army Lieutenant roughly my age—responded. "The captain on the scene apparently gave them the green light! They can't be stopped, sir!"
"Can't the Army do something?"
"It’s out of our jurisdiction! We don't have the authority to arrest citizens!"
The Army’s only protocol for civilians entering palace grounds was to shoot them dead without mercy.
"Ah, jeez! You idiots! This is the downside of obsessive rule of law and vertical administration! What about the Military Police?"
The laws of Chronos back when it was a democratic nation had been such a mess that I might have tightened the reins too much. I’d made things way too rigid. Still, the Military Police should at least be able to arrest citizens once they entered the palace.
"They're rioting specifically because they know they're safe as long as they don't step inside!"
They were exploiting the loopholes! It was frustratingly clever.
"What about the rifle shooters?"
There were supposed to be a few of them. I didn't care if those guys were killed.
Suddenly, something shifted on the battlefield. The police units that had been beating the rioters suddenly collapsed. They had been shot. The protectors would prevent the wounds from being fatal, but the police were left helpless. They weren't the type to keep charging while being showered with pulse rifle fire like Rikochi. Rikochi was just freakishly strong.
"Make them retreat! Where are the Army snipers?"
"We haven't located the shooters yet!"
Ugh, this was no good. The Chronos police were still too inexperienced.
"And the Army?"
"They're currently searching, but they can't find them."
"Husband-sama, I will handle this."
A voice tinged with a sharp edge of anger spoke up. I turned to see Ren. She was shouldering a sniper rifle.
"I will do whatever it takes to protect my children."
Oh man, what was I supposed to do? I didn't exactly have the power to say no to that.
"Just... don't get hurt, for the children's sake too."
"It will be fine. Right, Helga-san? And everyone else."
The Beast Race Wan-Nyan Unit—Ren's Personal Guard—stood ready behind her, all wearing their protectors. Being professional soldiers, they had their chokers on properly, but they were visibly trembling.
"G-Great King, she's scary..."
Ah, so Ren was completely furious.
Helga also held an old-style rifle. Technically, Helga didn't have any authority here, but I’d fix the paperwork later. Kawagon was a master of paperwork magic. I had to protect my wife.
"I'll go and beat them all up one by—"
"Don't you dare!"
Everyone present shouted at me at once. How sad.
Ren headed out, with the Wan-Nyan Unit following in her wake. I switched to the video feed.
Ren was out on the palace terrace. It was a disadvantageous position, leaving her in plain sight of the rioters.
"Listen closely. When you feel their bloodlust..."
Ren, clad in her protector, canted her head to the side. Immediately, a beam from a sniper rifle flashed through the space where her head had been a second ago.
"You can evade it like this without any issue."
The Wan-Nyan Unit was utterly dumbfounded. Helga looked just as shocked.
"And now I know where they fired from. There!"
She took the shot. One shooter down.
"I wasn't aiming properly, so the precision wasn't high enough to hit the head, but that should suffice."
She hit them even though she wasn't aiming properly?
This time, an assault-type pulse rifle opened fire on her.
"This one is just them spraying randomly, so just avoid the ones that look like they'll actually hit."
"How are you even doing thaaaaaaat!" one of the guards finally screamed, unable to hold back a retort.
"If you survive a war against the Zork, you'll be able to do this before you know it. There."
She neutralized the guy with the assault rifle as well.
"I'm feeling a bit annoyed now, so I'll toss a flash grenade at the rioters below."
She threw it. Screams erupted from the crowd.
"Yes, that piece of trash was hesitating over whether or not to throw a Molotov cocktail at me. Personal Guard, fire the tear gas grenades."
"Uwaaaaaah..."
They launched tear gas grenades from their launchers. The rioters' screams intensified. She was showing absolutely no mercy. This was what happened when you made an enemy of a Beast Race woman whose children were in danger. Mothers were strong.
"I feel bloodlust from over there, and over there. Die."
She had finally started saying "die." Ren was picking them off one after another.
"Helga-san, the roof of that building over there. It's a blind spot from here, so I'll leave it to you."
"A-Ah, right."
Helga was no slouch either. She sniped the target cleanly.
All that remained were the rioters scattered by flash grenades and tear gas, and the snipers who were barely clinging to life after being haphazardly shot. And just like that, the riot was suppressed in an instant.
My wife is strong.