Chapter 1090: Weight
"...I'm not entirely sure," Hesta said quietly, recounting her observations in the south. She spoke of Aji, Boheng, Man Na, and Jahadorei, of the various details of daily life she had observed. At last, she fell silent for a moment. "What we know so far is that he's a minor leader in the Pious Youth Front, and that he can plan and lead an operation deep into the heart of District 12—"
"Is that all you know?" Stella looked at her, a faintly incredulous smile in her eyes. "You spent three days there in person..."
Hesta nodded. She tried her best to recall whether she had missed any details, when she suddenly felt Stella poke her squarely in the forehead.
"Far too green, darling."
Hesta leaned back slightly. "Hm?"
"...Maybe because you have such a powerful presence, I keep forgetting you're only in your early twenties," Stella said, moving closer. "You really do need me. Otherwise, you'll waste an enormous amount of time and miss far too many opportunities—you have no idea how much you've already lost because I wasn't around."
Hesta frowned.
"But it's all right," Stella said with a smile, raising her glass. "Fate is on your side. After all, she still sent me here—cheers, to innocence."
Somewhat perplexed, Hesta picked up her water glass and clinked it against Stella's.
A familiar figure approached from the doorway. His gaze swept over the guests on the terrace before finally settling on Hesta and Stella.
"Ladies," he said, his expression somewhat grave, "I'm sorry, but the Governor may be unable to attend today's event. He has run into some trouble... and is resting upstairs now."
"I heard about it from Kovishik," Hesta said. "Is he ill?"
"It's more than an illness." The secretary's voice carried an even