Everyone made their final preparations, each tidying up their clothes and appearance. After all, they were about to face the fanatical citizens of an entire nation. It was only natural to feel a little self-conscious about their image.
"Young hero, is my attire... presentable enough?" Kongming walked up to Chen Li, lowered her head to inspect the flowing sleeves of her Orchid Night Song outfit, and asked nervously.
Though she was usually calm and calculating, she cared more about her appearance before the people of her own nation than she did when facing phantoms from the Sea of Quantum.
"It looks good. No problem," Chen Li said with a casual nod.
"That's good..." Kongming sighed in relief and looked up at Chen Li. Then, with a slight frown, she rose onto her tiptoes and reached out to straighten his collar.
When Chen Li had held her by the observation window earlier, his collar had been accidentally rubbed slightly out of place. Kongming had not noticed until now.
Only after she had finished adjusting his clothes, and caught the somewhat suggestive looks from everyone around them, did Kongming realize that the gesture might have been a little too intimate.
"His collar was wrinkled because he carried me earlier. I merely... helped him straighten it," Kongming explained to everyone without changing her expression, withdrawing her hands.
Everyone tactfully looked away.
Once everything was ready, the enormous Hyperion slowly descended into the plaza directly before the imperial palace.
The hatch opened, and the gangway settled firmly onto the plaza floor with a dull metallic clang.
The plaza was packed wall to wall with people. Countless citizens had come from every direction, surrounding the entire space before the palace so tightly that not even water could pass through.
The moment the gangway lowered, cheers