The Typhon envoys had left, and the reception room in Oak Hall had grown quiet. Silver Empress Bercetia came to the broad floor-to-ceiling window and looked toward the town through the clear crystal glass—the lush roadside plants were tinted gold beneath the afterglow of the setting sun, pedestrians and vehicles on the main road were gradually dwindling, brightly armored Ranger Guards marched past the sentry post before the main gate, and two Giant Eagle Knights swept over the northern wall, their shadows falling upon the distant Clock Tower.
"The Typhonians seem eager to push through the port-opening and trade projects along the Reflux Coast and Grey Eye Coast. They have been discussing these matters for the past half year, but they did not seem nearly so urgent before," said Valendian Goldvalley, tall, lean, and stern in his red robe trimmed with gold. Standing respectfully behind the empress with his hands lowered, he added, "Though this benefits us, could there be something suspicious behind it?"
"The greatest mystery may lie in the two private talks between Gawain Cecil and Rosetta Augustus," Bercetia said lightly without turning around. "I really am rather curious about what they discussed..."
Valendian immediately replied, "Understood. I will make arrangements at once."
"There is no need. Elaine will be back soon," Bercetia said. Almost as soon as her words fell, an imperceptible gust stirred in one corner of the room, and a slender figure emerged near the vine-wreathed corner of the ceiling.
The High Elf maid Elaine Vanna stepped out of thin air and hurried to the Silver Empress's side. "I have returned, Your Majesty."
"How did it go? Did you learn anything?"
Elaine lowered her head. "Just as you expected, Cecil deliberately released a small piece of news—Typhon and Cecil will jointly restart the Circumcontinental Route,