On a deserted island hundreds of nautical miles from the festival island, Closia took Abner's letter from a Magic Wolf messenger. After reading it carefully several times, she said to Helen and Xenia, the Lady of Greed, who stood nearby:
"He wants us to act before dawn on April 1 and stop the Demigods of the Rose School and the Nois Family from entering the island's waters..."
She paused, then turned to Xenia. "Stay hidden and provide support. Don't act unless you have no other choice."
Xenia nodded without objection. After months of subtle Hypnosis, she now regarded Closia as the person closest to her, closer even than her sisters in the family.
Meanwhile, Telles, the Prophet posing as a senior member of the Secret Order, and Isabella, the former princess of Lenburg who was aboard the Golden Dream searching for something, both felt their Towers stir. Each received an Oracle.
Telles quickly left his base and flew to a small port dozens of miles away. There, he intercepted Yalubede Beria, head of the Beria Family—one of the three great Demon Families—and the Succubus known as the Blatherer, just as she was about to set sail.
"Beautiful lady, might you slow your steps and share a romantic encounter with me?" Telles asked with a smile.
According to the Prophecy granted by his god, the head of the Beria Family had submitted to the Nois Family, but her loyalty was far from firm.
Yalubede studied Telles with her dazzling golden eyes, then nodded, apparently pleased by his appearance. A faint, captivating smile touched her lips as she said in a voice full of allure, "That depends on whether you can make me happy."
She had never intended to risk her life for someone else. She was taking part in an