Pillar of Yita

He turned back—there was a scene of bustling activity in the control hall. It seemed that work at Stargate Port had increased several times over in the past few months, with staff coming and going to relay changing data and documents. Occasionally, the channel was filled with conversations in Chinese, English, French, and occasionally a word or two in Russian.

Clamor and chaos.

He saw the automatic door slide open to the sides, and his assistant walked in from behind the door, briskly heading in his direction.

”Ambassador, there’s progress on that staff issue.”

Ambassador Liao took the materials from the other’s hands, asking: ”The ’Snakehead’?”

’Snakehead’ was the nickname they had given to that incident over a year ago, an incident too bizarre to believe. A Stargate Port staff member, in order to make some extra money, managed to smuggle a minor into Eteliria. Although the matter was eventually resolved satisfactorily, the internal audit at Stargate Port had not yet concluded. This ’stowaway’ incident exposed some issues, indicating significant management loopholes in Stargate Port that needed further improvement.

In response to his question, the assistant nodded.

Ambassador Liao glanced at the materials, his eyebrows involuntarily raised as a hint of surprise appeared in his solemn gaze. Suddenly, he looked up and fixed his eyes on the other person, asking, ”Is this real?”

”This was investigated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; there shouldn’t be any mistake.”

Ambassador Liao tapped his finger on the materials, making a ’rustling’ sound, and after pondering for a while, he said, ”’Morning Dawn Star’, if I’m not mistaken, they’re still stranded at Stargate Port, right?”

The assistant nodded again.

”Can you arrange to meet with them?”

”At present, Russia has announced offering ’Morning Dawn Star’—primarily that former American citizen lady—asylum,” the assistant replied. ”Currently, they’re very at odds with the Americans. If we want to intervene, we must first get in touch with both sides.”

”Then give it a try,” Ambassador Liao replied. ”Tell them, it’s not just our matter alone.”

”Alright, I understand.”

...

Watching his assistant leave, Ambassador Liao turned his gaze back.

He looked at the stack of materials, lost in thought for a while.

”Morning Dawn Star.”

”Could it be a coincidence?”

He slowly unbuttoned his collar, fiddled with the button communicator below, and spoke softly:

”File A-144-5, documents numbered 03 to 07, I want to take a look.”

...

The room was somewhat dark.

Sicape was opening the storage cabinet, retrieving the box from beneath a pile of clothes, and carefully placing it on the table. As her hand touched the cold metallic surface of the box, she couldn’t help but recall the moment when she received the box from ’Owl’ at the Airport when she saw those two little girls.

”Tang Xin.”

”Ai Xiaoxiao.”

”Truly alike.”

She thought.

At the same time, she placed her hand on the surface of the box, her long fingers cautiously feeling along the edge of the box in the darkness until she touched two slight protrusions. She lightly pressed them down, and with a ’click’, the lid slid open to the side.

She pulled out the lid, and even in the darkness, it seemed she could see clearly the contents inside the box. It was a stack of paper, not some ancient relic, just standard industrially manufactured A4 paper, the surface smooth and white, resting quietly at the bottom of the box.

But just as Sicape reached out, she heard the sound of the automatic door opening behind her.

”Why so dark?”

A deep voice rang out by the door as Kroid, puzzled, glanced around: ”Didn’t turn on the light?”

Sicape was startled and covered her hand, but upon hearing the voice, she paused her actions and turned her head back.

Kroid, having adjusted to the dim environment, finally saw her clearly, and couldn’t help but ask, ”Sicape, what are you doing?”

”Looking at some things.”

”Some things?” The other person walked over, stopping behind her, his gaze flickering: ”This is...?”

Kroid’s eyes showed a hint of astonishment.

He looked at Sicape and asked again: ”...I thought you left these things in Lublin.”

Sicape glanced at him before answering, ”They were indeed in Lublin,” she paused, ”but ’Owl’ visited recently.”

”’Owl’?” Kroid’s tone showed some surprise, ”He’s at Stargate Port.”

”No,” Sicape shook her head, ”he just sneaked up, and I’m not sure if anyone was watching him... After giving ’this thing’ to me, he returned to Lublin.”

”Why didn’t you tell me?” Kroid asked, ”What do you plan to do with these ’things’? I thought they would stay there, becoming an unknown secret... Sicape, you know, I think that’s the best outcome for them.”

”I understand,” Sicape replied, ”but I’ve been feeling uneasy lately, especially after hearing about what’s happening in Europe... You know, hiding won’t keep it hidden... Right now, Stargate Port is a safer place. Besides, I’m worried about something else...”

Kroid leaned gently against her, sitting down, and asked in a low voice, ”What are you worried about? No matter what, I’ll face it with you.”

”I meant to tell you, but I haven’t had the chance.” Sicape shook her head, ”Kroid, I’m a little undecided.”

Kroid looked at her with gentle eyes, placing a hand on her abdomen.

Sicape seemed to sense something and quieted down a bit.

”It’s a secret,” Kroid replied, ”’Owl’ is trustworthy, and as long as it’s unknown, it’s temporarily safe. Don’t overthink it.”