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Nightfall—
The full moon had already risen high in the sky, a time when the dazzling stars twinkled and filled the entire canopy of heaven.
In the northeastern part of the Cerryti Empire, Thuringian Province.
As night fell, a group of people aboard the Magic Power Rail Train slowly entered the city-state’s territory.
"This ancient imperial city-state is called Nesterol. We’ll be staying here tonight, and the next train heading south isn’t until 10:13 AM tomorrow."
The train stopped at Nesterol Municipal Station, the young lady from the merchant’s guild and her companions disembarked, with the male manager at the lead looking at his watch as he spoke.
"You’ve worked hard."
Hyperion thanked him with a smile.
Pranay was truly a foreign minister from the Old Demon World era, arranging everything neatly and without fail.
More importantly, these members of the Great Demon Clan each possessed spy-proof abilities of different dimensions. With several Demon Race civil officials providing protection, not even the strongest divination and scouting magics could penetrate to their whereabouts.
"It’s all straightforward matters, no need for thanks."
Pranay had once served as the secretary to the headmaster at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy.
Such tasks were a well-trodden path for him.
A few steps onto the platform, they headed outside toward the city-state.
The night’s Nesterol was enveloped in a hazy blue tune, with distant spires standing tall as if saluting the starry sky.
An old-fashioned black imperial vehicle was already waiting on the road outside the station, with staff responsible for receiving them.
The vastness of Cerryti Empire’s territory, being a merger of three giants from the South Continent long ago, meant that one Province alone could be as large as some of the countries in the Kingdom Joint Council alliance. Some Provinces lacked direct transportation routes between them, or to be precise, an entire route ended there, necessitating a transfer at the end of the line.
After today’s daytime journey, they had traveled south from the border of Northern Gran Province in the northeast of the Empire to Thuringian Province, significantly closer to their target destination in the Imperial Capital of Brilda, Botswana Province.
For security, they checked into a mansion provided by their supporting alliance, ensuring they could rest more peacefully.
After Hyperion entered the back seat of the car, the engine roared softly as they drove deeper into the city-state.
"Here, the atmosphere of war isn’t as evident as in Granville City during the day."
"It is the inland of the Cerryti Empire, after all."
"It’s said that the Capital, Brilda, remains as bustling as ever, showing little sign of wartime."
As they chatted in the car, the night view of Nesterol slowly unfolded outside the window.
The cobblestone streets were flanked by pure white stone buildings standing silently, their walls glowing with a gentle luster under the moonlight.
The streetlights emitted an orange hue, casting a dreamlike tint over the alleys.
The vehicle wound through the meandering streets, arriving at a quiet residential area.
In front of the manor surrounded by tall walnut trees, the car came to a gentle stop.
"To think we have a villa to stay in."
"Of course, though it might be more modest in the Capital, we can’t afford to draw too much attention to where we stay, given our identities."
"I miss Herram..."
Hyperion stepped out of the car, and the Great Demon Clan members occasionally exchanged a few words as they walked up the manor’s cobblestone path.
The path was lined with colorful roses and Sweet Osmanthus, their blossoms whispering softly in the night breeze.
The doors of the residence opened, they passed through the hall with the red carpet, and entered a luxuriously decorated salon, with soft sounds emanating from the handmade carpet on the marble floor.
Heavy velvet curtains hung in front of the bay windows, and Hyperion drew them back, taking a deep breath of the night’s fresh air.
On this quiet night, she felt a sense of calm and tranquility like never before.
"This time, I don’t want to rely on your protection anymore."
Hyperion touched the glass window with her palm, murmuring to herself.
Even in tales, there wasn’t a heroine who was whisked through everything by the male lead from beginning to end, without needing to grow.
"Hyperion, come look at the Empire’s media channels."
Before Hyperion could dwell much longer, Antanas pulled her back from the window.
"Antanas, how can you be so relaxed?"
Hyperion couldn’t grasp why Antanas was so carefree.
This was an unprecedentedly stern mission.
The real war had already begun, and their infiltration into enemy territory was exponentially more dangerous than what they faced in the Protoss Empire.
"Have you not noticed, the more you fail... ah no, the more helpless and pitiable you are, the Goddess of Destiny will arrange for a stronger Lanci to carry you, you should just make your wishes to the Goddess of Destiny day by day."
Antanas consoled her.
In her mind, Hyperion was already like the Demon Race Saintess, whose prayers brought them luck every day.
"How can you say that!"
Hyperion felt that her devotion to the Goddess of Destiny shouldn’t be used like this, and she didn’t want to win laying down until the end!
"You are only Sixth-order, how can you possibly shoulder the burden of ending the Cerryti upheaval alone."
Antanas patted Hyperion’s head, assuring her not to feel pressured,
"Just do your best, it can’t be helped if that’s all you can do."
After all, whether Hyperion made an effort or not, it was Antanas’s job just to do her part.
Like what was coming next in the Shadow World. Even if Lanci might become a victim of the system, Antanas believed that when the time came, Lanci would be capable of carrying them, even under a heavy burden.
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