"There is one thing you're absolutely right about. The balance between the two poles isn't stable. Over the thousands of years since the age of interstellar exploration began, more than half the wars have started because either the Alliance or the Empire thought it had found a chance to crush the other once and for all. Most of the rest happened when the two poles joined forces to crush a promising third contender." Yu Lian glanced at her and sneered. "Perhaps we do need a power to restrain the two great hegemons, but I've never heard of mysticism being able to restrain secular powers. Cults, gangs, terrorist organizations—all those shadowy specters that lurk out of sight—are even less likely to do it. I can't even imagine a world like that."
The Prophetess showed no sign of taking offense. She simply nodded, candidly. "You're right, but that really is how this world works. We can only reconcile the opposing forces and keep our civilization balanced, so it doesn't descend into chaos. That's the Ringed Serpent's duty. We've always had to hide in the shadows and remain mystics. That's one of the reasons the Ringed Serpent has survived to this day."
"You're a pretty straightforward person." Yu Lian couldn't help smiling. "But isn't a world like that already gray? Cold, gray stars—how boring!"
"Boring?" The Prophetess paused, then burst out laughing. "No. I can promise you that if you're willing to join us, boredom is the one thing you'll never experience. Plenty of my colleagues wear respectable masks as they rise to prominence in public, while stirring up trouble under their shadow identities. What could be more fun than being both the player and the referee?"
"...A lowbrow villainous organization," Yu Lian judged.
"I'll admit it. Not just me, but my companions,