Mizuno stepped up, her holographic displays flickering to life as she scanned the sign. "It stands for United Smart Asses International Decay Spreaders," she explained.
One of her screens made a dinging noise, and she took a look. "Apparently, in this realm, AIDS is also a disease that makes its host self-destruct within a decade."
I blinked, processing her words. "WHY WOULD THEY CALL IT THAT?" I exclaimed, my voice echoing through the quiet street.
Mizuno shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Likely to intimidate other countries and assert their dominance," she speculated. "It's a show of power, a way to say, 'Look what we can do to you if you don't comply.'"
I crossed my arms. "Well, that's just dumb. Let's go in there and give these smart asses a taste of their own medicine."
With that, we pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside. The interior was cool and dim, filled with the rustling of paper and the clicking of keyboards. Workers scurried about, their faces etched with determination.
Misty took the lead, her powerful form parting the sea of workers as she carried us towards the head of the office. Her hooves clip-clopped against the tile floor, announcing our arrival like a drumroll at a circus.
As we rounded a corner, I spotted an older woman barking orders like a drill sergeant. She was dressed in a sharp suit, her hair pulled back into a severe bun. This lady was all business, no nonsense—and no wedding ring, I noted with a raised eyebrow.
"That's her," Mizuno murmured, highlighting the woman with a red box on her display. "She's the mastermind behind this operation."
Status Screen:
I grinned, slipping off Misty's back as we approached. "All right, let's see what this lady has to say for herself."
I looked at the lady's nametag, prominently displaying We are some girls! "Why does your nametag say you're a girl? You're kind of an old woman, not a girl, aren't you?"
Edith's her eyes narrowed as she took in our eclectic group. "I am still a girl at heart, not an old woman, for I am unmarried with no children. And who might you be?" she asked, her voice as cold as a winter's day and about as inviting as a cactus.
I stepped forward, my dumb grin spreading across my face like butter on toast. "I'm Amy, and these are my friends Mizuno, Misty, and Sassy. We're here to talk about your little project."
Edith's lips curled into a sneer. "My project? You mean our charitable work, educating young girls about the importance of family prevention?"
I tilted my head, studying her like a curious cat. "Yeah, about that. Why are you forcing 8-year-old girls to learn about chemicals and family prevention? Seems a bit extreme, don't you think?"
Edith's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms over her chest, a gesture that made her look like an angry penguin. "It is not extreme. It is necessary. We are preparing them for the future, ensuring that they understand the importance of population control."
I nodded slowly, processing her words like a cheese through a grinder. But I had more questions for this lady. "Edith, are you happy? I mean, really happy? You're old, you're single, and you have no kids or grandkids. Is that the life you want for these girls?"
Edith's cheeks flushed, and she spluttered. "W-what does my personal life have to do with our charitable work?" she stammered.
I shrugged, spreading my arms wide. "Just seems like you're pushing your own lifestyle, which you don't like, on these poor girls. Why not let them make their own choices? Why force them to live lives like yours?"
As my Dumb Aura prevented Edith's brainwashing from activating and shielding her mind from our logic with clever rationalizations, Mizuno stepped forward, her holographic displays projecting arguments that would resonate a woman like her. "Think about it," she said, her voice calm and reasonable. "You're teaching these girls to avoid having families, to use chemicals and technology to prevent family formation. Isn't that just a bit... extreme?"
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Edith's breath came in ragged gasps as the weight of our words crushed her like a dumbbell dropped on a toe. She sank to her knees, her eyes wide with confusion and distress, looking like a deflated balloon.
Mizuno pressed on, her voice firm but kind. "You're doing this to reduce the population of Pashtunistan, aren't you? To weaken them as a nation. That's why the USA supports your charity—it's all about power and dominance."
Edith nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Y-yes," she sobbed. "That's the truth of it. We're trying to impose our system on Pashtunistan to control their population and weaken them as a nation."
She broke down and sobbed on the floor, gasping out "What have I done?" in between wails.
Sassy bounded in, wagging her tail and using her Playful Tackle and Friendly Aura to initiate happy play and cheer up Edith. After many dog-wrestles and face licks, Edith's eyes opened wide, clear and focused, the confusion and brainwashing lifted. "I see it now," she said, her voice filled with determination. "I will go back to the USA and tell them the truth. I will expose the charity's true intentions and convince others that our mission is evil."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in our minds. "Congratulations, Sassy! You converted Edith and gained experience! You have gained a level and a new skill."
Stat Screen:
Skills:
Mizuno generated some simple, easy-to-understand arguments that would resonate with those lacking either the high dumbness and high intelligence needed to resist the United Smart Asses's brainwashing. "Here are some points to help you convince them," she said, projecting the arguments onto a nearby wall.
- It's Evil: Forcing girls to learn about family prevention is just plain evil.
- Population Control: They're trying to control Pashtunistan's population to weaken them as a nation.
- Chemicals Are Bad: Using chemicals and technology to prevent family creation is unnatural and wrong.
- Brainwashing: The charity is brainwashing these girls and imposing its beliefs on them.
- Power and Dominance: The USA supports this charity because it's all about power and dominance.
Edith nodded, taking in the arguments with a newfound understanding. "You're right," she said, her voice filled with resolve. "I will go back and make things right. I will do penance for my actions and expose the truth about our charity's true intentions. Be warned, however: as long as the USA's military controls Pashtunistan, more charities like mine will be sent."
And with that, she turned and walked away, her steps filled with a new sense of purpose. As we watched her go, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. We had made a difference, exposing the absurdities of their education system and spreading the power of dumbness one brainwashed lackey at a time.
Party Status:
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As we made our way back through the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in what we had accomplished. The streets were quieter now, the sun dipping below the horizon as twilight settled over the land like a cozy blanket.
Misty's hooves clip-clopped against the cobblestones, her powerful form cutting through the cool evening air as she carried us swiftly towards our next goal. Sassy bounded alongside us, her boundless energy a constant source of joy and entertainment, like a puppy chasing its tail.
Finally, we reached the outskirts of the city, where the Pashtun warriors were gathered, their eyes filled with determination as they prepared to face the USA military. Edith approached them, her voice clear and strong as she explained the true intentions behind the charity's mission.
The Pashtun warriors listened intently, their expressions growing darker with each word she spoke. When she finished, they let out a battle cry that echoed through the valley, a chorus of anger and resolve that sent shivers down my spine.
And so, the next stage of our quest began: to expel the USA military from Pashtunistan and put an end to their evil system once and for all. With the power of dumbness on our side and the Pashtun warriors by our side, I knew that we could achieve anything.