"That's the long and short of it..."
Cipher's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room as she recounted everything regarding the spirit tide rift, the isekai, Phainon, as well as Luo Lin and the others.
As the last syllable fell, only the faint light from outside the window and the occasional soft click of colliding chess pieces remained in the room.
Cerydra sat upright across the chess table. After listening to Cipher's narration, her fingertips unconsciously traced a black Queen, her face remaining as calm and rippleless as ever.
She lifted her gaze, letting it rest steadily on Cipher, her voice so stable it betrayed no emotion.
"Mhm, I understand. So, Dux Celeripes." She paused, seemingly organizing her words. "What you mean is, you want me to help you take care of a group of children?"
"Oh, you can't put it like that!" Cipher immediately waved her hands, leaning forward slightly as her cat tail gave a gentle flick behind her. She wore an expression that was just the right amount of 'you're exaggerating' to try and soften the other's stance.
"They aren't exactly little flowers that need pampering. Think about it—living alone at the pit bottom for so long, how could they manage without real skill? Every one of them probably has a hidden specialty; you can't really look at them as children. Just incorporate them directly into one of the squads under your command and let them break in together!"
Cerydra did not respond immediately. She crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze lowering slightly as if weighing Cipher's proposal.
After a moment, she finally gave a slow nod, making her decision.
"Fine. I will notify Damian and the others to make arrangements."
"Great!" Cipher nearly jumped up, her hands raised excitedly above her head. A wide smile broke across her face, and her cat ears twitched triumphantly. "I knew it! Imperator, you are the most reasonable of all!"
"Don't celebrate too early, Dux Celeripes." Cerydra's voice remained cold, like a splash of cool spring water on Cipher's excitement.
She picked up a chess piece again, her eyes looking straight at the other with a calm gaze. "You know full well that my team is putting everything into opposing the AMA. As a top-tier expert in intelligence gathering, shouldn't you also make a contribution?"
The smile on Cipher's face froze instantly. The upward curve of her mouth collapsed bit by bit, and a flash of reluctance crossed her bright eyes.
She curled her lip and muttered softly, "Fine, fine, I get it... just some AMA intel, right? I'll go dig it up for you in a bit, okay?"
Having said that, she stood up abruptly as if in a huff.
"I'm leaving first then! I'll bring those little ones over later!" She gave a casual wave toward Cerydra and Hysilens, her movements as fast as a gust of wind.
Before her voice had even faded, she had nimbly leaped onto the windowsill. Without the slightest hesitation, her figure flashed and blended into the deepening twilight outside, leaving only the slight sway of the curtains caught by the breeze.
Silence enveloped the room once more. Cerydra lowered her eyes, continuing to methodically pick up the scattered pieces one by one and place them back on the board. The pieces made crisp, light sounds as they met the wooden surface.
However, this tranquility did not last long. Hysilens, who had been listening quietly, finally could not hold back. She leaned in slightly, her tone carrying inquiry and a hint of worry.
"Imperator, about that isekai... and... other Chrysos Heirs that might exist..."
"Cipher is in contact regarding the isekai; there is no need for us to intervene too much for the time being." Cerydra didn't even look up, her voice steady and carrying an unquestionable sense of propriety as she placed the last black piece on the board. "Our core task at present is to stabilize control over the situation in this country."
At this point, she looked up, her gaze deep as she watched Hysilens.
"Only by doing so can we provide a solid foothold when other Chrysos Heirs stranded in this world appear." She paused, her fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the chess box.
"At the same time, this place must become a reliable path of retreat. In case Cipher's actions in the other world suffer a setback, this will be the harbor they can withdraw to."
Hearing this, Hysilens's expression turned solemn, and she immediately bowed her head slightly in respect. "It was my lack of consideration. I was out of line, Imperator."
"No matter." Cerydra's expression softened slightly as she shook her head. She turned the part of the board holding the white pieces toward Hysilens. "This game, you shall start first."
"Yes." Hysilens responded respectfully, then reached toward the board, her fingertips pinching a piece.
Accompanyed by the crisp sound of a piece being placed, a new round of silent gambits slowly unfolded in the quiet room.
...
Meanwhile, atop the pointed roof of the cathedral.
The night wind brushed past Cipher's cheeks, stirring the stray hairs on her forehead. She knelt on one knee, crouching on the cold tiles, her gaze cast down toward the window emitting a warm yellow light, as if she could see through the walls to the two people playing chess inside.
"Sigh..." She let out a soft sigh, her voice so low it was nearly scattered by the wind. "Even though it's mainly a performance for Hysilens, after acting for so long, even I feel a bit like I have a split personality."
She shook her head as if to shake off those complex thoughts, then stood up. Her gaze turned toward the dark silhouette of the pit area. In the night, although the city still flashed with multicolored neon lights, there were no lights accompanying Cipher, making her look exceptionally lonely.
"Alright, job's done!" She clapped her hands as if to cheer herself up, her face once again wearing that habitual easy smile. "Now, it's time to move our Ember Squad and find a new map to play on!"
Before her words faded, her toes tapped lightly on the roof ridge, and her body shot down toward the dark streets below like an arrow from a bow!
Just as she was about to hit the ground, a deep purple oval portal appeared out of thin air beneath her landing point.
Immediately after, Cipher's figure vanished into it with precision. The portal contracted instantly after she entered, annihilating silently as if it had never existed.
Step!
In Lu Zhaoran's slightly cluttered living room, with a light sound, Cipher stepped out from a purple crack that had just closed, landing on the floor.
"Perfect landing!" She straightened her back triumphantly, hands on her hips, the cat tail behind her swaying happily from side to side.
She gave a massive, comfortable stretch, loosening her muscles, then walked toward Luo Lin's room with light steps.