Pillar of Yita

Zhang Tianmiu shook his head. ”Reporting and tasks can always be carried out, but given Princess Briana’s recent movements, the target may already be on alert. It’s unlikely he would choose this time to report.”

”Damn,” the deputy grumbled, somewhat annoyed, ”So this won’t work, and that won’t work, then what do you suggest we do, Captain?”

Zhang Tianmiu was just about to answer when suddenly the Communication Crystal on his wrist lit up. He looked surprised, lifted his right hand, and pressed the crystal with his left.

Stargate Port ’Ring of Uroboros’—

Ambassador Liao stood beside the broad glass window, gazing at the new day’s sunrise over the near-Earth orbit, the distant boundary of the massive and dark surface of the planet Earth, where a golden arc of light was slowly ascending.

Under his watch, the oceans of the Western Hemisphere transformed bit by bit from deep black to light blue, and the white cumulus clouds over the Atlantic Ocean resembled a layer of sheer fabric casting faint shadows on the ocean’s organic-glass-like azure surface.

The time on the ruthenium atomic clock was 17:15, counting the seconds for the seventeenth time when the sound of communication being cut off came from behind. Everyone had been up for twenty-seven hours straight, and the ambassador yawned, but there was no time for them to rest even for a moment.

The sliding door opened once more, and a military officer came in with the latest briefing:

”The newest updates, everyone.”

Everyone paused to look over.

Ambassador Liao had already taken the briefing and glanced at it, expressing some surprise: ”It says here that Princess Briana might have been forewarned and deliberately took away that young man?” He couldn’t help but lift his head to look at the person. ”Is this reliable?”

The officer replied, ”According to the information fed back from the Colin Commerce Alliance and the Silverwind Knights, as well as the analysis from our intelligence department, the consensus is largely in agreement.”

Ambassador Liao raised his eyebrows: ”I didn’t expect this Zhang Tianmiu to have some skills. Then, among the three groups he mentioned, is there any further news?”

”The Elpaxin Artisan Association has already been ruled out; there should be no problem there. As for Briana Karanshir Miaoxing and Coleman Fox, both figures are beyond our reach, making it difficult to investigate directly. We can only start with their peripheral networks since if the latter is the informer, he must have had the opportunity to approach the target. We can start by scrutinizing the people around him; however, for now, we haven’t found any meaningful clues.”

”As for the last two mysterious individuals—”

”How about them?” the ambassador pressed.

”Absolutely no leads.”

Ambassador Liao frowned upon hearing this, but there was nothing he could do. Colin Ishurian had indeed aligned strategically with them and established certain diplomatic relations, but this kind of state, heavy with monarchical and feudal elements, remained closed and conservative, always harboring distrust and vigilance towards them as outsiders.

The nation practiced the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences and non-interference in internal affairs concerning foreign matters. There were many issues they couldn’t tackle freely, often having to resort to indirect methods, which naturally resulted in reduced efficiency.

He was silent for a moment before asking quietly, ”Is it possible it was ’those people’?”

The visitor shook his head: ”We cannot rule out that possibility, but it’s unlikely. After all, Briana Karanshir Miaoxing is also a hero of the Battle of Bain. The chances of her colluding with ’those people’ are slim.”

”Then did that starport worker confess anything?”

”He took a total of Seventeen thousand from that young man, mostly delivered in the last transaction. He hasn’t been completely truthful; I sense there’s more he’s hiding. But it doesn’t matter much. In interrogation, most people subconsciously avoid certain details, and we can’t possibly reenact every aspect. As long as we have key evidence for critical moments, it’s enough to make our deductions.”

”Seventeen thousand, how is the target’s family situation?”

”We’re still verifying that on the ground; it will take some time. Also, there likely aren’t any ’shadows’ of those people behind that worker.” The officer paused, continuing, ”However, the current issue is that we still have no clues explaining the ’Spirit Derivation—Multiple Control’ issue. Where exactly did the target learn this skill from?”

Ambassador Liao, however, relaxed.

”No worries,” he said. ”We must eliminate the possibility of ’Immortals’ first. The Abyssal Sea Scroll is the Abyssal Sea Scroll, and Multiple Control is Multiple Control. Although connected, they are not exactly the same.”

After resolving this matter, he turned serious. ”Everyone, now that the target has made contact with Briana Karanshir Miaoxing, I suggest that we upgrade the operation level to the next tier according to the ’Notable Natives Special Response Guideline’—do any of you object?”

He looked around at the others, saw no objections, and nodded, then continued, ”In that case, we’ll submit a new proposal within twelve hours. Until then, all actions will be paused until the Stargate Administration Department issues new authorization—”

Then he patted the table and said:

”Now, let’s discuss another matter that occurred five hours ago.”

Inside the Elpaxin Artisan Association, Zhang Tianmiu silently lowered his right hand, the Communication Crystal on his wrist gradually dimming and losing its luster. The deputy looked at him and couldn’t help but ask, ”What’s up, Captain? Any directives from the Stargate?”

”We’ve been ordered to suspend our current mission for the time being.”

”What?”

”Nothing. Gather everyone, we have a new job to do immediately.”