Hyperion and Her Friends Settle In for the Show

Night had fallen— The full moon hung high in the sky, brilliant constellations sparkling across the vast expanse of the celestial canopy. In Thuringia Province, in the northeastern region of the Creti Empire, as twilight gave way to night, the mana rail train carrying the group glided slowly into the territory of a city-state. "This ancient imperial city-state is called Nistro. We'll be staying here for the night; the next southbound train won't depart until 10:13 tomorrow morning." The train came to a stop at the Nistro Municipal Station. As the guild's young mistress and her companions stepped onto the platform, the male manager leading them glanced at his watch and spoke. "Thank you for your hard work," Hyperion replied with a smile. Pranay truly lived up to his past as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Old Demon Realm; everything was arranged with impeccable order. More importantly, these great demons each possessed anti-reconnaissance abilities across various dimensions. Under the protection of several great demon civil ministers, even the most potent divination or detection magic could not uncover their tracks. "Just routine matters, no need to be polite," Pranay said. He had previously served as the headmaster's secretary at the Protos Royal Magic Academy, after all. Such logistics were second nature to him. The group made their way along the platform toward the city outside. Nistro at night was bathed in a hazy blue hue. Spires loomed in the distance, standing like tributes to the starry sky. An old-fashioned black imperial vehicle was already waiting on the street outside the station, accompanied by staff sent to receive them. Because the Creti Empire's territory was immense—formed years ago through the unification of three Southern Continent powerhouses, where a single province alone could rival entire nations within the United Council of Kingdoms—there were no direct transit routes between certain provinces. Alternatively, a rail line simply terminated, forcing passengers to transfer at the end of the line. Having traveled throughout the day, they had journeyed south from North Glen Province on the empire's northeastern border into Thuringia Province, bringing them significantly closer to their destination: the imperial capital of Brierda, located in Botswana Province. For security reasons, they were staying in a manor belonging to a merchant association provided by their local contacts, ensuring they could rest with peace of mind. Hyperion settled into the back seat of the vehicle as the engine hummed with a low growl, carrying them deeper into the city. "Now that we're here, the atmosphere of war isn't nearly as pronounced as it was in Glen Waverley earlier today." "Well, this is the Creti Empire's interior, after all." "I hear the capital, Brierda, is just as bustling as ever—you can't tell it's wartime at all." They chatted inside the car as the night scenery of Nistro unrolled outside the windows. Pure white masonry buildings stood quietly along both sides of the cobblestone streets, their facades gleaming with a soft, warm sheen beneath the moonlight. Streetlamps cast an amber glow, draping the alleys in a dreamy haze. The vehicle navigated the winding streets and arrived at a secluded residential district. Before an estate surrounded by tall walnut trees, the car slowly came to a halt. "To think we actually get a villa to stay in." "Of course. Though once we reach the capital, that might not be the case. We'll probably have to settle for something simpler. We can't stay anywhere too conspicuous there—or rather, under our current identities, we couldn't afford it anyway." "I miss Herrom..." Hyperion stepped out of the vehicle. Behind her, the great demons exchanged a few words as they set foot onto the cobblestone path leading to the manor. Colorful roses and myrtles lined both sides of the path, rustling softly as the night breeze caressed their petals. The front doors of the estate swung open. Passing through a red-carpeted foyer, they stepped into a lavishly decorated hall. Handwoven rugs were laid over the marble floors, softening their footsteps into gentle thuds. Heavy velvet drapes hung before the French windows. Hyperion drew them open and inhaled a deep breath of the crisp night air. In this tranquil night, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace and serenity. "This time, I don't want to just rely on your protection anymore," Hyperion murmured to herself, resting her palm against the glass pane. Even in storybooks, what kind of heroine gets carried through the entire tale by the male lead without ever needing to grow? "Hyperion, come check out the empire's media channels!" Before Hyperion could indulge in her musings any further, Antanas dragged her back from the window. "Antanas, how can you be so relaxed?" Hyperion couldn't understand why Antanas had such a carefree attitude. This was a mission of unprecedented gravity. Real war had erupted. Infiltrating an enemy empire was countless times more dangerous than their previous venture into the Protos Empire. "Haven't you noticed? The more you slack off... ah, no, the more weak, pitiful, and helpless you are, the more powerful a Lanqi the Goddess of Fate arranges to carry you. All you have to do every day is pray to the Goddess of Fate!" Antanas offered consolingly. In her mind, Hyperion was practically a Saintess of the Demon Race—as long as she kept praying every day, good fortune would naturally follow. "How can you say that?!" Hyperion felt her devotion to the Goddess of Fate was never meant to be used like this. Besides, she had no desire to coast effortlessly all the way to the grand finale! "You're only Tier 6. How could the heavy burden of ending the Creti crisis possibly rest on your shoulders?" Antanas patted Hyperion's head, telling her not to stress. "We do our best, and if it doesn't work, well, that's that!" In any case, whether Hyperion slacked off or not, Antanas was only going to do her own part. Take the upcoming Shadow World, for instance. Even though Boss Lan might end up as a victim of its mechanics, Antanas firmly believed that even if Lanqi had to carry them like dead weight, he could still pull them through. "...Let's just hope Lanqi doesn't get worn out," Hyperion sighed. She figured Lanqi probably still didn't know that four Tier 8 great demons would be entering this Shadow World along with them. If they ended up split into different locations at the start again, Lanqi would probably scratch his head in bewilderment, wondering why the difficulty had spiked so drastically. In the distance, the city lights twinkled like stars that had fallen to earth. After chatting for a while, Hyperion caught Antanas's infectious optimism and began to relax, her taut nerves easing at last. "So Hyperion, the most important thing is to get plenty of rest and not put pressure on yourself. You're always carrying so many worries. What you need is someone like Lanqi who can give you complete peace of mind. Even if you end up lazy and unmotivated, that's perfectly fine—only then can you heal from the psychological trauma you've borne for so long," Antanas patted Hyperion's shoulder sagely. Having once served as a physician in the Demon Realm, she was experienced in psychological counseling. Back in the Herrom Underground Prison, she had watched Lanqi talk down every single great demon and warden, yet he had hardly said much to her—precisely because her mental health was completely sound and she didn't need his counseling. "Can I really relax a bit...?" Hyperion asked hesitantly, glancing at her teacher, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa reading a magazine for quite a while. "Hyperion, just treat this as a vacation trip. Leave the Allied Forces' mission to us adults; all you need to do is provide good cover for us," the Great Ice Witch said without looking up, turning a page with slow, elegant composure. "Antanas is right. What you should be doing right now is treating this place like your own home back in Ikerite and learning how to blend into the Creti Empire naturally. For example, leisurely entertainment can sometimes be an excellent way to gather intelligence," she instructed. The Great Ice Witch knew Hyperion's capabilities well. The previous assignment to infiltrate Herrom had already pushed Hyperion to her absolute limit. This journey into the Creti Empire was fundamentally Almis's own mission; Hyperion was merely there to assist. Burdening the child with heavy responsibilities would be asking far too much of her. Besides... Out of a quiet, personal motive, the Great Ice Witch also wanted to investigate the Creti capital of Brierda to see if there were any traces of *that man*. There was a mysterious Cardinal whose movements had consistently coincided with Loren's. Some time ago, several unscrupulous media outlets had begun suspecting that Loren was a Cardinal, even concocting wild rumors that the Resurrection Church's final Cardinal was a man enveloped in tempestuous winds. Only when Loren fell in battle not long ago was that speculation conclusively dispelled. Perhaps clinging to a final sliver of wishful thinking, Almis couldn't tell whether she was hoping or afraid. Surely... Loren couldn't be in Brierda right now, could he? "I see," Hyperion nodded thoughtfully. "Quick, let's see if there are any good shows on!" Antanas leaned back and flopped onto the sofa, sinking almost completely into its soft cushions the moment she made contact. Hyperion followed her lead and sat down beside her. Pranay and Sinora were preparing dinner—one cooking, the other chopping vegetables. The picture on the crystal screen in the living room shifted continually under Hyperion's remote control. After a while, it finally settled. Evidently, something on this channel had caught her eye. A program preview was playing across the crystal screen: [Coming to you at 8:00 p.m. sharp: a live broadcast of the Brierda Opera House's "Holy War Romance."] [The premiere public broadcast of special performance content. Please stay tuned to the Brierda Arts Channel.] [17 minutes, 34 seconds until broadcast...] "Isn't that the book I gave you last time?" Sitting on the single armchair to the side, the Great Ice Witch glanced up at the screen, then turned to Hyperion. She remembered that she had originally pulled the book from her shelf and given it to Hyperion to pass the time on their journey from the Kingdom of Estherland to the Protos Empire. Who would have thought that more than six months later, an adapted stage play would already be showing in the Southern Continent? "Hyperion passed that book to Talia, and it almost caused an accident—" Antanas turned her head, babbling excitedly without filter, but before she could finish, Hyperion clamped a hand over her mouth from behind. "What?" The Great Ice Witch looked between Antanas and Hyperion in confusion. "Nothing! What kind of accident could a book possibly cause?" Hyperion laughed nervously, pressing her hand even tighter over Antanas's mouth. She cared about Talia's dignity more than anyone. The incident where Tata held a blade to Lanqi's neck to force him to read those mortifying lines could never, ever be leaked to any more demons! "..." The Great Ice Witch didn't pay it much mind. In her impression, Talia had always been dignified and proper, unlikely to have much interest in such reading material. Antanas tended to exaggerate whenever she gossiped anyway, so it was probably nothing to fuss over. "Well then, let's see what caliber the Creti Empire's live stage production has to offer," she murmured, lifting her teacup to take a gentle sip. During the era of the Cyros Empire, a group of wealthy Cyrosian patrons founded the Brierda Opera House, originally located in a bustling district of the Brierda city-state. In 1662, the opera house was relocated to the downtown center of what was now Brierda, the capital of the Creti Empire, into a new building designed by the renowned architect Urti Stezini. Over more than a century of development, the Brierda Opera House had become one of the most prestigious landmarks in the southern reaches of the Southern Continent. Similarly, the Brierda First Station at Duke Oseta Square in the city outskirts was also designed by the half-demon imperial artificer Urti Stezini; due to municipal zoning and renovation issues at the time, it had taken years to complete and enter service. From an architectural perspective alone, Almis had quite a favorable impression of the Brierda Opera House. Though she had lived on the Northern Continent for many years, she resided in a country on its southern coast near the sea, making travel to the Southern Continent relatively convenient. She occasionally crossed the sea south on official business and was well versed in the region's geography, astronomy, and history. "Now I'm getting a little excited too," Hyperion said to Antanas, watching the countdown on the screen. After all, she was a bona fide reader who had finished the original novel! For the book to achieve what it had today, every paying reader like her deserved some credit—they were practically founding patrons! A stage play would inevitably make certain adaptations, but adapting didn't mean making a mess of things, and dramatizing didn't mean fabricating nonsense. If there were any flaws in the performance, she would be sure to catch them! "Supposedly, it's supervised by Abigail, the empire's top director. The entire Brierda Opera House boasts a professional production team, and the actors went through over a hundred hours of rehearsal. The earlier performances were all massive hits, so there generally won't be any stage mishaps for this public broadcast. The quality is guaranteed to be top-notch!" Antanas pulled a magazine from under the coffee table, flipped through it, found the relevant coverage, and began explaining to them. "Won't the actors be completely exhausted, though?" Looking at when the project had started, Hyperion felt that this director named Abigail might be far too demanding on the leads. "They're professional actors, so it shouldn't be that bad. And if worst comes to worst, the director can always call in friends as understudies. There's bound to be a contingency plan—this is a public premiere, after all," Antanas said dismissively. "What are you talking about?" Sinora walked over carrying a platter of sliced fruit, set it on the coffee table in front of their sofa, and noticed they were chatting with great enthusiasm. "It's that 'So Cute I Could Eat You Up.' Once you and Pranay finish dinner, hurry over and watch it with us!" Antanas summarized concisely. If someone said *Holy War Romance*, Sinora might have had to pause and think about which book it was, given how many books she read. But mention *So Cute I Could Eat You Up*, and Sinora instantly knew what it was. From behind the kitchen island, Pranay cast a glance over at them. "Oh, got it! I'll be right there!" Sinora nodded and jogged back toward the kitchen behind the living room. Gathering in front of the screen with friends over dinner to enjoy such entertaining theater together—it was bound to be a wonderful evening!