In another more private viewing hall on the top floor of the Angel International Building, a massive curved floor-to-ceiling window offered a panoramic view of Juxia City's prosperity and skyline. It was midday, with bright sunshine, weaving traffic, and pedestrians like ants. The pulse of this city throbbed outside the window with a rhythm entirely different from that of cosmic warfare, filled with the fragile yet tenacious vitality belonging to a pre-nuclear civilization.
The oppression following the breakdown of negotiations had not entirely dissipated; instead, it had settled into a deeper silence. Artoria stood alone before the window, her back to the door. Her figure appeared somewhat slender, yet she stood as straight as a pine. The 'star dome' at her waist shimmered with a restrained and gentle luster under the sunlight filtered through the glass, forming a peculiar harmony with her currently quiet silhouette.
She watched for a long time, her gaze seemingly unfocused on any single point, instead sweeping across the rows of tall buildings, weaving through the crisscrossing streets, and finally casting toward the faintly visible mountain outlines in the distance. In that gaze, the coldness and detachment from the reception room were gone, replaced by a complex contemplation and a trace of indescribable melancholy.
Minerva sat quietly on a nearby sofa without disturbing her, merely watching her back with those starry eyes, as if she could feel the surging waves within her through that thin shoulders and back. Captain Zhui Feng had already been ordered to retreat outside the hall for security, leaving this space entirely to them.
Light footsteps sounded from behind, accompanied by a faint, drifting fragrance. Angel Yan had arrived at the viewing hall at some point. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, also looking at Artoria by the window. Those eyes, which always held a hint of scrutiny and laziness, had now become quiet and profound. She didn't speak, just waited silently.
Time passed minute by minute. The light and shadows outside the window shifted slightly with the drifting clouds. The clamor of the city was isolated by the thick glass, leaving only a near-vacuum stillness.
Finally, Artoria slowly and almost imperceptibly exhaled. She didn't turn around, her voice coming calmly to break the silence in the room:
"Sister Yan."
"Hmm?" Yan responded, taking two steps forward and stopping not far behind Artoria.
"The negotiations just now—what do you think?" Artoria asked, her tone betraying no emotion.
Yan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that Artoria would ask for her opinion. After a moment's thought, she spoke in her characteristic tone—somewhat nonchalant yet piercing to the core: "Expected, yet beyond reason. Elder Huang represents the most fundamental will for survival and civilizational dignity of this land; his refusal was inevitable. Du Kao... heh, his thoughts are much more complex. The obsession of the Deno, the instinctive resistance to Angelic 'interference,' and that... well, perhaps even he hasn't fully realized his hidden certainty of 'using the Power of the Galaxy to achieve a certain goal.' As for Lena, she's just a little girl pushed out as a figurehead; the Sun's true attitude is likely still being weighed by the General."
She paused and looked at Artoria's back: "However, your final move... clean and decisive. It actually made me see you in a new light. I thought you would try to fight for it, or at least... express some dissatisfaction. After all, refusing the protection of Angels means they might suffer greater casualties in the future—those ordinary people..." Yan didn't continue, but the meaning was clear.
"What use is expressing dissatisfaction?" Artoria shook her head gently, her voice very soft as if talking to herself. "They made a choice. Behind this choice is an intersection of countless complex histories, cultures, interests, and beliefs. I respect the right to make that choice, even if I believe it... might not be wise, or even full of risks."
She finally turned around to face Yan. Sunlight filtered in from behind her, outlining her with a faint golden halo that made her features somewhat blurry, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright.
"But, Sister Yan, respecting a choice doesn't mean we must passively accept all consequences, and it certainly doesn't mean... we should become pawns in someone else's calculations, or... sacrifices."
She spoke the last word very softly, yet it carried a cold weight.
Yan's gaze narrowed slightly. She heard the unspoken meaning in Artoria's words and recalled the clean and total elimination of Suma Li in the previous battle records. This seemingly gentle girl had her own bottom lines and decisiveness; once touched, her counterattack would be sharper than anyone imagined.
"So?" Yan looked at her with interest, waiting for more.
Artoria's gaze turned toward the window again, but this time, her vision seemed to pierce through the city's surface toward something deeper and more hidden.
"Du Kao... Deno Remnants..." She repeated these two terms in a low voice, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the cold window glass. "They brought the legacy of the Star of No, brought the obsession with restoration to Earth, merging with the native civilization of this land, attempting to nurture new hope. This, in itself, is beyond reproach."
"But," her tone shifted, becoming sharp, "when their 'obsession' conflicts with Earth's own'survival,' when their 'plan' requires sacrificing innocents, or even... treating allies as expendable pawns, the nature of the matter changes."
She turned her head to look directly into Yan's eyes, a flash of insight and coldness unbefitting her age flickering in her clear pupils:
"I cannot be certain if Du Kao truly is as I suspect—certain that the existence of the 'Power of the Galaxy' will prevent the Angels from standing idly by, thus refusing protection while subtly binding the Angels to their war machine, using Angelic blood to pave their way and accelerate the growth of the Power of the Galaxy and the 'restoration' of Deno... but I cannot ignore this possibility."
"Angelic warriors can die for justice and for protection—that is glory. But they must never become pathetic pawns on someone else's chessboard due to being calculated and used, dying for nothing."
The laziness on Yan's face vanished completely, her gaze becoming incredibly serious, even carrying a hint of chill. She wasn't without similar concerns, but for Artoria to lay out this possibility so bluntly and calmly still shocked her. If this speculation were true... then Du Kao and the Deno Remnants behind him deserved to be punished!
"What do you want to do?" Yan asked in a deep voice. She knew that since Artoria had pointed this out, she wouldn't just be talking.
Artoria was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing her thoughts and weighing options. Then, she spoke clearly, word by word:
"Sister Yan, I need you to use your authority within the Angelic intelligence network, as well as the information channels established during your time on Earth, to help me do one thing."
"What is it?"
"Investigate." Artoria's gaze became distant again, as if piercing through time and space. "Find out exactly how many Deno Remnants have integrated into Earth's civilization since the destruction of Deno, and how many currently hold key positions in Huaxia or even across the broader Earth."
She paused and added in an unquestionable tone:
"I want a list as detailed as possible. All Deno people. No matter what names they use now or what their identities are—soldiers, politicians, scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs... whether they are in the spotlight or hidden behind the scenes. As long as Deno blood flows in them, or the mark of Deno is branded in their souls, inheriting the legacy and will of Deno... I want to know."
"How much power do they hold? Which key departments have they penetrated? How much influence can they exert on the decisions of the Super Seminary, the Black Armor Company, Huaxia, and even Earth? What kind of overt or covert connections exist between them and Du Kao? Does their ultimate goal, besides dealing with the current alien threat, hide a deeper agenda regarding the 'restoration of Deno'?"
Artoria's voice was steady, but every question was like a precise scalpel, attempting to cut through the facade of 'allies' and 'Guardians' to reveal the possible alternative picture beneath.
"This must be done in secret; we cannot alert the enemy." Artoria looked at Yan. "I will use the authority of the 'star dome' to report to Queen Keisha and Teacher Hexi and apply for the necessary resource support. But for the actual execution of the investigation, Sister Yan, you are the most suitable person. You are on Earth, familiar with the environment, and have sufficient capability and means."
Yan listened quietly, her face expressionless, but a sharp light flickered in her eyes. She knew the sensitivity and importance of this task. This was not just investigating an 'ally,' but scrutinizing a hidden variable that could be closely related to the Angels' future actions. Once clarified, this list could become a crucial card, or even... a sword hanging over the heads of the Deno Remnants.
"Understood." Yan nodded curtly, without asking why or questioning Artoria's motives. Having experienced the negotiations and the decisiveness Artoria displayed, she no longer viewed Artoria as a junior needing protection, but as a 'colleague' and 'Sword Bearer' worthy of respect and even great responsibility.
"However," a slightly cold arc curled at the corner of Yan's mouth, "investigation takes time and opportunities. The Deno Remnants have been lurking for so long; they must have sophisticated concealment and whitewashing mechanisms. Investigating openly will likely trigger their vigilance or even a backlash."
"I know." Artoria nodded. "So, the investigation must be covert. We can start from the periphery—for example, the technology and cultural relic clues scattered when Deno was destroyed, certain abnormal energy or genetic characteristic fluctuations related to the Deno civilization, and... Du Kao's trajectory on Earth over the years, the people he has contacted, promoted, or unusually trusted. By following the vine, we can always find clues."
"Additionally," a glimmer flashed in Artoria's eyes, "perhaps we can also wait. If my guess is correct, having refused the Angels' 'protection,' they will inevitably have to speed up their pace to deal with the upcoming Demons and Taotie. In this process, those hidden Deno forces might be forced to surface more to better control the situation and push their 'plan.' That will be the best time for observation and confirmation."
A look of admiration appeared in Yan's eyes. This girl not only had sharp intuition and a firm stance but was also quite methodical in strategy and patience.
"Understood." Yan stood up straight, resuming her slightly lazy yet capable posture. "Leave this to me. I'll give you an initial summary as soon as possible. As for the deeper penetration and goals... that might require longer observation and the trigger of key events."
"Mm, no rush." Artoria walked to the sofa and sat down beside Minerva, who naturally took her hand. Artoria's expression softened again, but the deep contemplation in her eyes did not vanish.
"Oh, right," Yan said as if suddenly remembering something, "before I came, Queen Keisha sent a message through a special channel. She seemed to anticipate that the negotiations wouldn't go smoothly and asked me to tell you: regarding Earth's affairs, since they have made their choice, the Angels will wait and see. But your safety and will are always the first priority. The Queen also said...'Since the star dome is in your hands, you should take responsibility for certain decisions. Merlot Heavenly Court is your backing, but it doesn't have to be your shackles.'"
Artoria was slightly stunned, then a warm current surged in her heart. Her teacher and the Great Queen understood her after all, and they supported her. This unreserved trust was more powerful than any promise.
"Thank the Queen and Teacher for me," Artoria said softly.
Yan nodded and said no more, turning to leave the viewing hall, clearly ready to start the investigation into the 'list.'
Tranquility returned to the hall. Artoria leaned on Minerva's shoulder, her gaze once again cast toward the bustling yet ordinary human scene outside the window.
A potential list, a group of 'allies' who might harbor different intentions, an approaching storm...
She gently squeezed Minerva's hand, feeling that real and warm touch.
Since she had chosen this path, since she had taken up the 'star dome,' since she had been endowed with trust and power... then she would no longer avoid the responsibilities to be borne, the mists to be cleared, and the precious things to be protected.
The storm was coming, and the Sword Bearer had already begun to scrutinize every piece on the chessboard, whether in the light or the dark.
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