And the People of Septimont

In some unknown corner.

Galbrena opened the letter in her hand, and before the smile on her lips could fully bloom, the Chimera floated over, its furry head hovering near the letter.

"Tsk tsk, that little brat has written again."

The Chimera circled the letter once.

"Hey, I'm asking you out."

"How can you be so sure he's just a kid?" Galbrena folded the letter.

"That childish handwriting and those disgusting words, what else could it be but a little kid?"

Galbrena did not refute, but simply looked down at the letter in her hand, her gaze drifting into the distance.

"I've grown up, and he... has grown up too."

Chimera flapped her ears twice, tilted her head to look at her. "So you're going? To see this cowardly person?"

No, thank you.

Galbrena tucked the letter into her bosom and stood up.

A gust of wind blew by, ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead.

She reached up and tucked them behind her ears, the movement swift and decisive.

"We're running out of time, let's go back another time."

Chimera her eyes. "So, where's the next stop?"

"Rinascita."

"Heh, in the end, you just want to go." Chimera's tone was full of sarcasm.

Galbrena glanced at it, a sharp smile curving her lips slightly upward.

"No, we're going hunting."

"Oh? Hunting whom?"

"Rover"

Galbrena turned around, and the wind made her clothes flutter.

Chimera floated behind her, muttering, "Easy for you to say. I bet you'll be the first one to run off to Ragunna after you're done."

A stunning transition.

Septimont. Averardo Vault.

Juno crouched low, pressed himself against the wall, and slowly made his way towards the side door.

He was carrying a small, bulging bag on his back; it was unclear what was inside.

She would look back every three steps, just like a cat stealing dried fish.

With the side entrance just ahead, she took a deep breath and quickened her pace.

Then he bumped into someone.

"Ouch."

Juno covered his forehead and took a step back, then looked up to meet Augusta's smiling face.

"Hey, all those bags and packages, where are you going?"

Augusta crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping from Juno's flustered expression to the bulging bag on her back, his smile deepening. "Seeing your lover?"

Juno's face flushed bright red instantly, and she jumped back half a step, the charms on her bag jingling loudly.

"No, that's not true!"

Hands on her hips, chin held high, her voice twice as loud as usual. "Who... who would meet any lover! I don't know anyone like that! I just... I just wanted to go to Ragunna for a few days!"

Augusta raised an eyebrow, drawing out the last syllable: "Oh--"

"What do you mean 'oh'? It's true!" Juno stamped his foot anxiously. "But the higher-ups don't agree. They say they won't let me go without a valid reason."

Augusta's eyes lit up.

She stepped forward, lowered her voice, as if sharing a huge secret. "What a coincidence, I also want to go to Ragunna for a few days."

Juno paused for a moment, then said, "Then go ahead."

"I am the governor; how could the Senate allow me to leave so easily?"

Augusta shrugged, looking helpless. "Besides, as you know, the checks on us Septimont people in Ragunna are incredibly strict. I couldn't even get a tourist visa."

She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Juno, and said, "That's why I came to you for help. You're the most resourceful, you must have a solution, right?"

Juno paused for two seconds.

Then she curled up the corners of her mouth, put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and looked as proud as a young general who had just won a battle.

"Then you've come to the right person."

She looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then beckoned Augusta closer. "I've made contact with someone named Lupa, a rising star in the dueling world. She's really popular in Ragunna lately."

"Then what?"

"She's going to Ragunna to do a soft drink endorsement." Juno's eyes sparkled, and she practically jumped up as she spoke. "She can take us there sneaking off as her assistant. All the approvals and stuff will be taken care of with a business visa."

Augusta's eyes lit up too.

"Juno, you're a true genius."

Juno snorted, her little tail practically wagging in the air. "Of course."

"Okay, I'll go back and pack my things now." Augusta patted Juno on the shoulder and walked briskly out. "Wait here for me, don't run off first."

She had only taken a few steps when, with the flick of her clothes, an envelope slipped out of her pocket and fell to the ground.

Augusta had already turned the corner at the end of the corridor without noticing.

Juno bent down and picked up the letter.

She hadn't planned to look at it, but the material of the envelope, the color of the sealing wax, and the familiar creases made her stop in her tracks.

She glanced down at the signature.

Then her face immediately turned black.

The handwriting, the strokes, that damnably familiar signature—it's exactly the same as the guy who wrote her that letter.

Juno's lips twitched down slightly.

"This guy... wrote to Augusta too?" She gritted her teeth, her fingers gripping the edge of the letter tightly. "Not only did he ask me out, but he also asked her out?"

Her face darkened further.

"You're pretty impressive."

Juno took a deep breath, folded the letter back into the envelope, and his smile became somewhat dangerous.

She squinted and gave a sweet smile to the empty space at the end of the corridor.

"Hmph, just wait until I catch you, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."

She stuffed Augusta's letter into her bag, patted the bag, and still wore that chilling smile that sent shivers down the spines of everyone who knew her.

Two days ago.

Lupa stared at the message her agent sent her, reading it three times over, unable to suppress the smile on her face.

"A soft drink endorsement deal, Ragunna, all travel expenses included. Is this for real?"

She paced back and forth in the room twice, clutching the terminal in her hand, looking like she had just won the lottery.

She was worried about how to get to Ragunna to keep that mysterious appointment.

The vetting process for the Septimont people in Ragunna was ridiculously strict; the section on religious beliefs was practically designed to block them.

She tried twice, and both times her application was rejected, with the same reason. "Religious background check failed."

Now it's all right.

A business visa, all-inclusive, and a soft drink endorsement—this coincidence seems like it was arranged by God himself.

She picked up her terminal and sent a message to the other party.

"Received. When are we leaving?"

Messages are replied to instantly.

"In a few days."

"No problem."

She put down the terminal, walked to the window, and gazed at the Septimont in the distance.

She looked at her reflection in the windowpane and gave a hopeful smile.