While Zeke and Kiana, having temporarily set aside their responsibilities, enjoyed their date away from work, various events unfolded elsewhere.
At Schicksal Headquarters, within the City in the Sky—or perhaps it's more accurate to say: this predominantly white room adorned with countless golden chains actually has its sole entrance deep within the floating city. However, the chamber itself resides in Virtual Space, a location even Otto can no longer precisely pinpoint.
Vera was diligently doing her homework.
At fifteen or sixteen years old, she exuded gracefulness yet still retained a hint of youthful innocence. Her radiant, golden hair cascaded down to her slender waist, complemented by snow-white skin and a charming oval face framed by delicate features. A faint smile habitually graced her cherry-red lips.
She possessed striking beauty, appeared vibrant, and radiated an energetic demeanor from within.
This growth could be attributed to the saintly girl with silver hair and golden eyes, gracefully seated at the edge of Vera's bed.
Suddenly, while reviewing her studies, Vera's emerald-green eyes welled up with tears. An unexpected droplet shimmered and unexpectedly fell onto the pristine exam paper.
"Hmm?"
Vera paused, taken aback.
An inexplicable wave of profound sorrow began spreading through her heart.
But Vera knew that these emotions were not hers; they originated from the young lady sharing the same room.
The Young Lady's power was immensely potent. Even without intentionally interfering with reality, any fluctuation in her emotions could effortlessly manifest within the hearts of those around her.
Much like the sun in the sky, even slight disturbances on its surface can cause profound changes on nearby planets through the continuous transmission of light and heat.
"Big Sister, you... are you okay?" Vera wiped away her tears and turned to look at the Young Lady, who sat motionless, resembling a statue, with her delicate features composed and devoid of any emotion.
Recently, the Young Lady's mood had been consistently off-kilter. Over the past half-month, she experienced a complex mix of anger, dejection, disappointment, and defiance. At times, Vera would catch glimpses of the Young Lady clutching a small gray-haired doll with twin spiral curls—almost as if intending to prick it with needles.
Now, Vera felt an unprecedented wave of sorrow, so intense that even her usually optimistic spirit succumbed to a sense of utter despair, making her want to collapse and weep uncontrollably.
"I'm... fine."
Without moving her delicate lips, the Young Lady's clear and icy voice resonated within Vera's heart.
Vera continued wiping away tears as she reached out from in front of the Young Lady, holding her hands anxiously. "How can you say it's nothing? Look, I can't even keep up with drying your tears!"
"...It's fine. Just focus on your homework."
"Big Sis, I know there must be so much weighing on your mind, but no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. It's okay; everything will get better. Please don't be sad, alright?"
Ignoring the Young Lady's dismissal, Vera wrapped her arms around her gently, navigating through the chains that already encircled the Young Lady's limbs and body, offering comfort to the best of her ability.
Finally, a flicker appeared in the Young Lady's eyes as she looked at Vera, though without any further reaction or movement.
"Thank you."
After a long silence, this boss lady—who could have been cast from the same mold as Kiana, indeed sharing the name "Kiana Kaslana"—uttered these two words.
Yet another sentiment remained unspoken, echoing only in her heart:
"Yes, things will improve. You both must find happiness, Zeke, and...me."
In Lamei's Dawn City...
The head of the Pelos Clan convened a gathering, inviting influential members and leaders from allied families to assemble together.
At first glance, the conference room appeared modest and unassuming, but upon closer inspection, even the wooden chair cushions and potted plants in the corners exuded luxury and prestige. Gentlemen and ladies took their seats one by one, as professional servers presented them with exquisite delicacies and fine wines worth fortunes.
However, these powerful attendees, accustomed to wealth beyond the imagination of common folk, paid little attention to the precious food before them. Instead, they all turned their gazes towards the head seat at the long conference table.
There sat an elderly man, his neatly combed white hair gleaming, eyes closed. Though silent, he radiated the aura of an authoritative leader, assertive yet subtle.
"Ah..." The man seated next to the elder exhaled a puff of white smoke, then stubbed out his cigar. "Father, everyone who was expected has arrived; those absent... I doubt they will show up now. Let's begin."
The old man lifted his head, his sharp gaze, reminiscent of a hawk, scanning the room before nodding.
With a deep sigh, carrying traces of weariness and worldliness, the man claiming to be the son—though only distantly related to the elder in blood—spoke: "Firstly, on behalf of the Pelos Clan, welcome to all our esteemed family and friends. Let us get straight to the point. Anti-Entropy's purge is imminent, and the Sword of Damocles hangs over us at any moment—that's why we've gathered here today. Feel free to share your thoughts, gentlemen."
"Rustling..."
"Chattering..."
For a brief moment, the scene turned noisy as people exchanged glances and whispered among themselves. An obese man tugged at his tie, hesitating before speaking up:
"Anti-Entropy... isn't it only targeting lawless criminal forces without any moral boundaries? We've always been highly ethical..."
"Spare us the excuses; you can't fool anyone. Anti-Entropy and Schicksal have been locked in constant rivalry for years, with fierce competition across various fronts. There were also numerous conflicts, including the Great East Asian Collapse... I know, and all of you know too, that immense wealth was amassed due to these events. Mr. Romanov, do I need to remind you about the financial turmoil in Asia following the Major Honkai Eruption? You made quite a fortune, didn't you?"
The room fell silent.
Having effectively silenced the retreating financial titan, the man surveyed the crowd and continued:
"We all know that Welt is an incorruptible madman; sooner or later, he would come after us, and now it's just happening slightly earlier than anticipated. Prior to today, the Pelos Clan attempted to befriend Anti-Entropy, but unfortunately, only Executive Cocolia accepted our gifts—and ultimately, she did nothing. We also tried engaging with Schicksal, but their autocratic archbishop clearly held our friendship in contempt... In short, we can now rely only on ourselves. The purpose of this meeting is to hope that by pooling our collective strength, there might still be some chance."
His words carried deep resignation and concern.
However, everyone found this sentiment perfectly understandable, given they were facing Anti-Entropy—specifically, Welt, who had already dispatched countless influential figures beyond count. With merely secular power at their disposal, self-defense alone seemed an insurmountable challenge.
You might ask why, despite knowing such risks, these individuals persist in scheming for personal gain?
Greed and wishful thinking provide the answer.
There were naturally wise individuals who knew when to let go, but that option belonged only to those who hadn't gone too far from the start. As for the ones present—none had the chance to reform themselves, and simultaneously, none were willing to voluntarily relinquish everything, falling from their lofty positions to live like impoverished ants.
"I think..."
"I believe this meeting should conclude here. Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Pelos."
From the seat next to the silent patriarch, a tall, thin man familiar to everyone suddenly spoke up, interrupting the discussion just as it was getting to the main topic.
However, the voice they heard was not the one they recognized.
This unfamiliar tone caused Petros Jr., presiding over the meeting, to narrow his eyes.
Then, amidst flickering shadows, the man whose voice startled them—their well-known ally—underwent a complete transformation right before their eyes.
"W-W-Welt?!"
"You old Pelos, did you do this on purpose?! You dare betray us?!"
"Damn! It's a trap!"
The person nearest to the door hastily pulled it open, attempting to escape. However, under the menacing threat of a gun barrel pressed against their forehead, they were forced to retreat step by step back into the room.
"Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!"
In unison, a squad armed with firearms and clad in full metal armor entered the room, positioning themselves behind the attendees' seats. Their presence signaled an inevitable outcome.
"You should go with them; perhaps the worst won't befall you. I am quite reasonable, and Anti-Entropy has its own laws ensuring the fairest judgment." Welt tapped on the table, his voice calm amidst the solemn atmosphere.
With grim expressions, these well-dressed individuals reluctantly rose from their seats and exited the room one by one, guarded by the fighters.