Tribbie gazed into the distance, as though she could already see the road paved with sacrifice.
"..." Cipher listened to Tribbie's plan, delivered so calmly yet carrying such weight with every word. After a long silence, she managed to warn her:
"Everyone knows Laigushi will make the Genesis Vortex Heart his final target. Setting your plan in motion there is no different from walking straight into a trap."
Tribbie nodded, her gaze unwavering.
"That's exactly why we must do it. Only in the most dangerous place can we hide our most vital hope."
Seeing that their minds were made up, Cipher took a deep breath. Genuine admiration entered her voice.
"You truly are Aedilia's Battle-command Saintess. You have more nerve than I imagined."
Tribbie seemed to remember something and added:
"And Xiao Feier, we hope you'll make another trip to Castrum Kremnos as soon as possible."
"This time, we must forge a firm alliance with Strife."
"The crown prince of the prophecy has been born. He will become Okhema's new defender and continue to protect the Holy City after we're gone..."
Cipher nodded, her tone easing a little.
"You don't need to worry too much about that."
"I've just come back from Castrum Kremnos. I'm only a step ahead of the official news."
"Come to think of it, we have the Savior's policy back then to thank. It led us to send Castrum Kremnos a great deal of food early on and saved countless people from starvation... They've never forgotten that kindness."
A complicated smile touched her lips, as though she marveled at how a good deed from long ago had borne fruit today.
The memory faded slowly, like a sand painting scattered by the wind.
Cyrene told Yan Huan what happened next:
"Under the hard-won protection of the two