The weather was clear and mild.
Due to the wind that had blown in from the coast since yesterday, the entire mountain range and the deserted villages wore a bleak appearance.
But this bleakness was only said for humans—for the trees swaying on the hillsides of the White Crag Mountains behind the coast amidst the steady murmur of the ocean waves, it had instead become a state that felt like a return to their original silence.
It was just that the sounds of birds and beasts were a bit sparse.
Behind Bao Yu Village, in a sparsely populated mountain hollow, in front of an earthen mound, the back of a woman wearing a pale purple pilled coat could be seen as she slowly approached, holding a light yellow flower in her hand.
She paused there for a while.
In the wind, the woman extended her hand—with a small mole on the tiger’s mouth gap between her thumb and forefinger—and placed the pale yellow flower in front of the earthen mound.
……
In the western region of the Grand Duchy, Marshal’s office was filled with the clamor of voices both inside and out.
Beside a large table cluttered with maps, folios, and wired equipment provisions, a group of young men and women, each holding a roster in hand, were loudly discussing the work tasks and personnel assignments concerning the dance dramas and commemorative events they were responsible for respectively.
In a room next to this office, where the atmosphere was somewhat quieter.
The Marshal, whose complexion had noticeably worsened and yellowed over the past two months, stepped in through the threshold holding a water glass. This standard Helzen-faced, stern man, who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, fixed his gaze on a man seated behind a small, horizontal table against the wall. The man was draped in an old, worn-out ethnic coat and whose ears weren’t overly pointed.
“Not wearing the uniform. What, are you planning to attend our neighbor’s capital’s party?” the Marshal asked with a faint smile.
The man at the table rubbed his face with both hands, the motion reaching his hairline as he let out a helpless sigh.
The Marshal sat down behind the adjacent desk, smiling as he looked at him and shook his head.
“This is a task that can’t be fully explained no matter how much you try. Well, since you don’t want to go, don’t force yourself. Help me think about how we should settle the people who barely survived. “
The man at the diagonally opposite table looked up, then leaned back in his chair and said:
“I think what we need to carry forward is President Buchen’s intention of giving everyone the true gift of safely getting through the end times. “
President Buchen’s brows slightly furrowed as he looked over, deep in thought.
“The Ring of Radiance might only last four to five hundred years at most. Judging by the condition of the two infants born today, those born hereafter likely won’t have it at all. “
Hearing this, the Marshal’s eyes dimly glowed as he stared at the surface of the tea in his cup.
“Do you have a way to extend everyone’s lives, like the Fogfolk? ” the Marshal asked, looking up.
The man on the diagonally opposite table, who had been staring at the ceiling, softly let out a low laugh and covered his face with his hand.
Then, he let out a sigh, sat up straight, and revealed the softly glowing silver halo in his eyes.
And west of this cramped, crowded patch of land…
The celebration ritual in Tarko had already begun prematurely in the early morning, sparked by the colorful cloth, vibrant fabric, and woven flower garlands around the necks of people pouring in from the surrounding cities.
The lively atmosphere gathered over the city and spread through its surroundings.
Amidst this lively atmosphere, inside an old brick-and-stone building gently caressed by the breeze, the mood remained eerily quiet and somber.
In the luxuriously decorated main seat, old Governor Haili Lanni, wearing a tailcoat with his hair combed back and his mustache meticulously groomed, gazed from behind the long table with no trace of emotion in his eyes at the figure of the maiden sitting opposite, her head bowed in silence.
Seated in another chair beside her was Xie Lin, dressed in a finely crafted silk dress with a draped white collar and sleeves adorned with delicate pleated folds.
“Is this how you treat the fruits of our family’s efforts? ” Governor Lanni’s authoritative voice demanded.
“Mm, ” Haili Fenny muttered softly, still hanging her head.
Xie Lin’s face bore a hint of melancholy. “Child, you shouldn’t have done this. Mr. Buchen was such a good match. You had already succeeded… in getting to know him through your interactions, you both understood each other—why not take it a step further? “
The girl shook her head, her hair swaying slightly with the motion.
Xie Lin glanced helplessly at the old governor. Lanni felt as though he was about to faint from sheer frustration.
“I never imagined that the first news I would hear today would be something so heartbreaking. “
He slowly rose to his feet. “And now, at this late hour, you tell me you don’t want to go on. Do you have any idea how much we’ve sacrificed behind the scenes just to get you this far? “
Haili Fenny shook her head again, a sobbing tremor in her voice as she spoke:
“Even if you keep forcing me to pretend, I will tell him that I am the younger sister, not Koni. “
“You—! “
Haili Lanni angrily pointed at the girl across the table; his voice was furious but restrained!
“Your elder sister left so that you could succeed; are you going to betray her sacrifice? “
Haili Fenny looked up in shock, her tear-soaked eyes filled with disbelief.
“Sister, she—… “
Xie Lin pulled up the girl’s hand beside her, speaking softly:
“Yes. Your sister ran away from home to prevent Mr. Bucheng from growing suspicious. From now on, in this world, only one girl remains—her name is Haili Koni. “
Haili Fenny glanced at her mother, but without moving her hands, she turned back to stare at the tabletop in front of her.
“So? Do you agree? “
“Then I’ll go find sister. “
“You scoundrel! ” Xie Lin clenched her fists, planted her hands on her hips, and snapped furiously to her feet. Her chest heaved violently, and she glared at the girl through clenched teeth. “For your sake, your sister didn’t even take the precious secret box with her when she left. Besides— ” she adjusted her skirt as she sat down, lowering her voice, “if you reveal the imposter business at a time like this, are you trying to ruin our entire family forever?! “
Across the table, Viceroy Lanni knit his brows, sighed, and made his way along the long table that could seat several people. At the corner, he pressed his hand upon the tabletop and spoke gently to Fenny:
“You don’t want to deceive our hero, is that it? “
“I’m not trying to deceive him, and I’m not laying anything out…. He doesn’t love me at all, and he never will! You should bring my sister back. “
“Ouch! ” Haili Lanni felt a surge of old blood boiling in his chest. He made an effort to suppress the thought that rushed to his head, swallowing down the indignation rising in his heart. After pondering for a moment, he spoke as calmly as possible:
“Don’t talk nonsense. The people outside who invited us to the ‘World Banquet’ at the Black Wisdom Palace are still waiting. Yang Buchen should be going too. “
“I’m not going. “
Haili Fenny twisted her body. “If I go, I’ll go as Fenny. I don’t care what you want to do. “
Viceroy Lanni felt that the clan’s already diminished future, which was hanging by a thread on the brink of a cliff, was about to be pulled down by the hand of this person before him.
“Alright. Okay, fine. Miss Haili Fenny. “
Viceroy Lanni said:
“For the sake of the clan’s future, I now have a piece of top-secret intelligence to tell you. You must make a decision right here. “
Haili Fenny glared at him, her eyes burning with anger.
Viceroy Lanni’s gaze dropped calmly, showing no ripple of emotion.
“Between five and six in the morning, Mr. Kim·Firman, the old principal of the Thirty-seventh Engineering Academy of the Golden Shell Federation, dispatched his sole disciple to travel to our Hei Wen Zi Kete Arch, accompanied by a team of Fogfolk guards from a certain refuge area in the scorched city of the north. “
He pulled the chair beside him closer and sat down.
“According to the information I received, that young man named Liam Adley has gained great favor from President Feldman. And as one deeply involved in the Kimbei Heritage Project, he must have received the full depth of the old president’s teachings. “
His gaze settled on the girl who looked his way.
“Right now, it’s not just the family factions eyeing this opportunity. I will fight for it on your behalf, so don’t you tell me again that you’re unwilling. This isn’t because you are who you are, but because of Chairman Yang… and the bond he shared working with your sister in Kruen. “
A trace of pain flickered in the girl’s eyes, yet her expression remained unchanged.
After a few seconds of silence.
“Then it’s decided. ” Viceroy Lanni rose. “Originally, you had done a great service this time. Even Hazel Palace paid more attention to our family because of it—this is clear from the arrangements made with the guest list. “
He shook his head with a sigh and walked toward the door.
“I’ll go find the official in charge of the evening banquet at Hazel Palace right now and have Haili Fenny’s name added to it. “
Pulling open the door, the old viceroy stepped out and was somewhat startled to see, beside the Demon-Blood Warrior of the family guard, a tall, well-proportioned young man standing there with an expressionless face.
The old viceroy frowned slightly and continued toward the long, narrow corridor.
Inside the room, Xie Lin sat gently beside the girl.
“You know, old Viceroy Lanni was right. Actually, because of you, our family already receives a great deal of favor. “
Haili Fenny wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and turned her head away. “It has nothing to do with me. That was all my sister’s doing. “
…
On a path shaded by green trees, couples from the family strolled side by side, while children ran past laughing, holding hands.
“Ahead lies the land of the Haili Family. “
A gentleman said to Yang Zicang, who was dressed more formally than ever before. Seeing the young man looking somewhat nervous, he smiled and said, “No need to be tense. In fact, it’d be the same if you waited until after the banquet and went specifically on your own time. “
“I… I feel that, as a matter of courtesy, I should pay a visit before tonight. “
The guide, a Third Mr. who claimed to be a friend of the Crown Prince, recalling something, lightly shook his head and sighed softly.It really is a tough task,he thought.Let’s see how the Haili family handles it before making a decision.
The two chatted as they walked, following the shade of the trees along the path towards the mansion ahead.
…
Old Lanni found the person in charge of delivering the dinner party invitation. He was a gentleman chatting with someone beside a vase. Thank goodness, this gentleman seemed quite at leisure and did not leave in a hurry after delivering the invitation.
After explaining the situation to him clearly, this middle-aged gentleman furrowed his brows with great hesitation.
He fixed his eyes on the old man who looked very confident. “Sorry, but… in fact, although I know you probably made this decision because the doomsday crisis has mostly been averted… Mr. Buchen is still not aware of this matter. “
“What? “
“I’m sorry. Actually, we already went to see Miss Konyi once before coming here. “
This person, amidst the Viceroy Old Lanni’s deafening yet calm tone, said, “But the Chamber of Commerce, no matter what, refuses to disclose the child’s itinerary.“
“Itinerary? What itinerary?“
Viceroy Lanni looked over with an expression of disbelief.
“I cannot disclose it either.“
This person spoke with a hint of respect.
“Our family is entirely devoted to the country, especially the esteemed elder. He has raised two outstanding children. King Tingli, knowing the true purpose of your actions, was deeply moved,” the royal official spread his arms and said, “If all Talkans thought for the nation like this, our Heaven’s Council would surely have long become the world’s jewel.“
Old Viceroy Lanni, his head buried in thought, was completely at a loss as to the meaning of these words.
“So now we must think of a way to handle this imminent challenge.“
Old Lanni looked over as this person said, “He is about to come visit you at home, accompanied by the Third Prince.“
Old Lanni took a deep breath, staring at him as he retreated and sprinted toward the distant corridor, “Get Fenny to me immediately, get… me…” With a thud, frustrated and furious, he fell to the ground. The silver ring in his eye suddenly lit up, and with two cries of “Ouch!” he rolled into the courtyard.
“Are you alright?” A crowd of people rushed over, trying to help Old Viceroy up.
“Oh my… I think… my bones are broken.“
Under the shade of a tree.
Yang Zicang, who was talking with Third Noble, suddenly saw several people running over from near the mansion.
“Apologies, Third Master, and also Mr. Buchen. “
“What happened? ” asked the Third Prince.
Yang Zicang also looked in their direction.
The man gave an apologetic and embarrassed smirk, then said:
“Just now, the former Viceroy of the Haili family’s Maritime Trade Bureau, the old gentleman… Hmm, well, because he was busy preparing for the banquet, he fell and broke a rib. He’s been urgently sent for medical treatment now. “
“How could this happen! ” Yang Zicang exclaimed in surprise.
The man smiled to Yang Zicang and said:
“It’s fortunate indeed that you, sir, forged the Ring of the Pupil, otherwise the old Viceroy’s situation could have been extremely grim. “
“Hiss. ” Yang Zicang glanced at the Third Master.
The Third Prince looked at his wristwatch, “It’s almost afternoon, Buchen. We’ll just have to do this another time. Since he won’t be attending the banquet tonight anyway, you won’t have to worry about being rude. “
“But now… “
“How about we prepare some gifts and then visit the hospital. “
Yang Zicang thought it over, glanced towards the direction of the mansion, and said reluctantly, “I guess that’s all we can do. “
……
The sun set and rose again; night gave way to yet another day.
After Hailikoni arrived at the archipelago by ship, she didn’t linger but refreshed her makeup. Amidst the crowd, now filled with more joy than despair, she sought out that island close to the Mist Sea where she had weathered a perilous incident months prior upon her first arrival, with the help of a Fogfolk.
Her vessel reached this bustling new port a day later.
Again, she didn’t stop for long. After purchasing some daily necessities and a change of clothes, she arrived at the pier where a ship that had journeyed from the depths of the Mist Sea was docked.
After presenting her credentials, Hailikoni boarded this steamer that would cross the storm belt and venture deep into the Misty Sea towards the western lands.
The waves rose and fell gently, and after passing through another storm belt, amidst the # starlight-studded night, she craned her neck to look upward.
A meteor slowly streaked across the night sky.
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