It was a drizzly morning in Brierda. Carriages and pedestrians bustled past the doors of the Calchi Art Gallery at 84 Charing Cross Road.
Built in the sixteenth century of the Solar Calendar, this three-story building possessed an archaic elegance. Its ivory-white walls were adorned with intricate reliefs, while the brick-red roof, draped in thick ivy, drifted in and out of sight through the mist.
The gallery doors remained firmly shut. The "Open" sign hung before them, swaying beneath the faint amber glow of the streetlamp with a cold glint that made the surrounding streets seem all the quieter.
Founded nearly a century ago by Professor Harrison Calchi of the Creti Empire's Royal Academy of Arts, this private gallery had changed hands several times yet continued to operate as an art dealer.
Today, however, the Calchi Art Gallery was not hosting an art salon; it was waiting for a special guest.
Eleven o'clock sharp.
"This is the place."
Accompanied by the chatter of young women, the gallery's heavy oak door with its bronze handle was pushed open.
"Before we knew it, it's already November fourth."
"The end of this month is the anniversary of the Creti Empire's founding. Not only will there be a nationwide celebration, but the Twelve War Gods will also return to Brierda to receive the blessing of the God of War and Swords. Feels like something huge is bound to happen that day, no matter what."
Dressed in a navy double-breasted trench coat and carrying a Birkin bag, Hyperion stepped gracefully into the gallery. She removed her sunglasses, revealing aristocratic amber eyes. Antanas and the others followed behind, chatting casually as they stepped inside.
The first sight to greet them was a flowing fountain statue sculpted in the style of the Elthea Sanctuary.
Past the foyer lay a high-ceilinged exhibition hall of about five hundred square meters. Pale yellow wallpaper patterned with roses lined the walls, bordered by lavish paintings from renowned artists. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, bathing the entire hall in bright light. A spiral staircase carpeted in deep crimson led upward to the VIP lounge on the second floor and the office area on the third.
The air carried a faint scent of vetiver and cedarwood, fresh yet composed.
"Welcome to the Calchi Gallery. How may I assist you?"
A young clerk in a black uniform with a name tag pinned to his chest walked forward, respectfully addressing the five visitors.
"I heard you received two new pieces by Mr. Mallet. I'm quite interested."
Hyperion replied using translation magic and a standard Brierda accent, while casually tapping her left earlobe with her right thumb and forefinger.
"They are *Return of the Setting Sun* and *The Melting Sky*. I believe they will become among Master Mallet's defining masterpieces; their surrealist style is truly striking. Would you like a closer look?"
The clerk cleared his throat and replied in the same hushed, gentle tone.
"Of course," Hyperion answered, her lips curling into a subtle smile.
"Please follow me."
The clerk nodded in understanding.
With a polite gesture inviting them forward, he led the group across the exhibition hall toward the stairs to the second floor.
Antanas followed silently.
Though she did not know the exact meaning behind the cipher exchanged between Hyperion and the clerk, she could tell that the clerk used the paintings to signal whether they could make contact today and whether the handler was upstairs.
Had Hyperion declined, it would have meant returning another day; by accepting, she was to be led up to meet the Allied operative stationed in Brierda.
Stepping onto the crimson wool carpet of the staircase, the Great Snow Witch brought up the rear. Her slender fingers lightly brushed the carved banister as the faint scent of aged wood lingered around her nose.
After thirteen steps, they walked along the second-floor corridor.
Upon the brown walls, several brass sconces cast a dim, gentle aura, lending the hallway an increasingly secluded air.
The clerk guided them down the winding corridor, stopping before an unassuming wooden door at the far end.
He drew a mechanically crafted brass key from his pocket, slipped it into the keyhole, and turned it with a light twist.
With a click, the heavy wooden door slowly swung open to reveal the office behind it.
"Miss Unity has been expecting you for some time. Please, come in."
The clerk stepped aside and gestured them inside.
A ward was already in place here, allowing them to speak freely.
After escorting Hyperion and her companions inside, the clerk tapped three times softly on the bookshelf against the wall, followed by two sharp raps.
"Come in."
A cool female voice came from behind the bookshelf.
The bookshelf's hidden mechanism activated, swinging open to reveal another office adjoining this one.
The clerk bowed and withdrew.
Hyperion nodded goodbye to him and stepped through the opening, with Pranay, Antanas, Sinora, and Almis close behind.
They found themselves in a room of about thirty square meters. Its ceiling was decorated with archaic marble carvings, and the curtains were tightly drawn. Only the steady ticking of an antique grandfather clock broke the quiet.
Upon a sofa facing the coffee table in the center of the room sat a woman in a long black dress.
She possessed a shapely figure and a cold, resolute bearing.
With a single glance, Hyperion recognized the strength of someone seasoned by a hundred battles.
Even though both were at the peak of Tier 6, the woman's combat experience far surpassed her own. If they were to cross blades, Hyperion suspected she would be completely suppressed from start to finish.
This woman had to be Miss Unity—their liaison in the Creti Empire.
A senior operative in the Allied intelligence service, Miss Unity used her position as gallery manager as cover, while in reality coordinating and directing undercover operations in Brierda.
"Welcome to Brierda, Hyperion." Unity looked up, her gaze meeting Hyperion's directly. "Did you run into any trouble along the way?"
The word Unity had received from Florence was that their new undercover operative, Hyperion, would enter a Shadow World in early October to achieve her final breakthrough. As such, Unity took no issue with Hyperion disappearing after arriving last month.
Strictly speaking, Unity was not Hyperion's superior, but rather her facilitator in Brierda. Hyperion answered solely to Florence.
"Everything went smoothly, thanks to your thorough arrangements." Hyperion nodded in gratitude.
"As your liaison in Brierda, I will provide full support on every front. This will serve as your temporary contact point. If you encounter any problems or need intelligence, you can come to me anytime." Unity rose and gestured for Hyperion and her companions to take a seat.
"Miss Unity, I heard you had an assignment intended for me last month?" Hyperion stepped over naturally and sat on the sofa opposite Unity before asking.
Even before coming here, she had been keeping in mind what Unity's subordinate had briefly mentioned prior to entering the Shadow World.
The matter seemed to carry a very high classification; Unity had been unable to disclose it to any subordinate, permitted to bring it up only after meeting Hyperion in person.
Three weeks ago, it might not have been urgent, merely important.
Yet after so much time, it might well have turned into an emergency, and Hyperion felt a pang of guilt over her tardiness.
"Yes. You might find this a bit absurd once you hear it..." Unity admitted, her gaze drifting from Hyperion to her four companions.
Apart from the woman pure as snow who sat beside Hyperion like a guardian, the other three stood behind the sofa like attendants.
The male steward stood on the far right. Tall and upright at roughly one point eight five meters, he had a well-proportioned build and calm, steady eyes. He wore a refined black steward's formal suit. Although his every gesture carried an air of scholarly elegance, an understated yet intoxicatingly chaotic aura emanated from him, as if he could kill at a moment's notice.
The serene, closed-eyed young lady standing behind Hyperion seemed closest to her, ready at any second to lean forward, rest a hand on Hyperion's shoulder, and whisper in her ear. A tailored dress accentuated her snow-white skin, and her well-bred demeanor as an aristocratic lady was unmistakable without a single word.
On the left stood a beauty with chin-length hair. Her features struck a perfect balance between feminine softness and masculine gallantry, her slender, proportioned figure wrapped in a well-tailored black women's suit. She was undeniably a striking, unforgettable presence, and the fiery confidence gleaming in her eyes convinced Unity that she was far more than an ornamental face.
Unity observed them internally. She could not gauge the true depth of any of these aides sent by the eastern allied nations.
Their mana signatures were faint, making them appear almost ordinary.
Yet that unflinching poise and composure could belong only to absolute powerhouses—perhaps even far stronger than Hyperion, the ostensible strongest of the party.
Anyone capable of concealing their strength before Unity had to be at least Tier 7 or above.
Unity could not quite be sure.
It couldn't be so ridiculous that high command had sent four Tier 7 reinforcements, could it?
She had almost never fought a battle with such an embarrassment of riches.
"Would you prefer to speak with Lady Hyperion in private?" Pranay seemed to read Unity's hesitation and inquired.
Before discussing the matter at hand, this Allied operative, Miss Unity, might want the four of them to step outside.
"No, that won't be necessary. I was only wondering how to make a long story short. You are reliable aides vouched for by Lord Florence; I trust you." Unity showed no trace of suspicion or wariness. "And if I'm not mistaken, Miss Hyperion is merely the public face, while Your Excellency is the true decision-maker, correct?"
Unity looked toward the Great Snow Witch beside Hyperion as she spoke.
Since these four attendants of classified origin were Hyperion's people and vouched for by Lord Florence, eldest scion of the family of the Vice Speaker of the United Council of Kingdoms, Unity trusted them completely.
"Indeed." The Great Snow Witch seated beside Hyperion did not deny it.
Though the Great Snow Witch was technically a priest, in the context of this Southern Continent conflict, she was an external unaffiliated operative from the Northern Continent, making her standing awkward to explain.
The Allied intelligence elite in Brierda had sharp eyes; she had seen through who was truly in charge at a single glance.
The Great Snow Witch knew that Paladin Commander Florence of their Church of the Goddess of Fate usually had to present as male in her home Kingdom of Canbera, so in Unity's understanding, Florence was likely regarded as a young lord.
This was all because Florence had been born into the House of Athelred, a martial noble lineage on the western side of the Southern Continent in the Kingdom of Canbera. When Duke Athelred discovered his infant son possessed no talent for combat, he groomed Florence, his eldest daughter, to be the family's next head.
The only thing the Great Snow Witch could not understand was why Loren and Florence interacted like brothers without the slightest reserve.
They had braved life and death together for so long.
Regrettably, if this misunderstanding between Loren and Florence was never cleared up, there might never be another chance.
By now, the Great Snow Witch was more inclined to believe Loren was simply an honest, earnest good fellow rather than some grand mastermind calculating every detail to perfection.
"In truth, this assignment must still rely on Hyperion. Her cover identity is that of a merchant guild lady from the Northwestern Nicosaxen Territory—the only high-society woman from that territory deployed for operations recently. In the interim, I have already added all the necessary embellishments to substantiate her background," Unity explained in detail to the woman before her.
"Is there something special about a high-society lady from the Northwestern Nicosaxen Territory?" The Great Snow Witch asked, puzzled.
She could not see the reasoning behind it.
"Have you heard of Professor Landry, who has been rising to prominence in Brierda recently?" Unity posed another question.
If they already knew of Professor Landry, it would be simple to explain; if not, she would have to brief them on the target first.
"Of course. On our way here, we saw the reports about that imperial hound," Hyperion said, clenching her fists, her tone fierce and biting.
She was thoroughly disgusted by this lapdog of the empire.
"..."
Seeing Hyperion's reaction, Unity fell silent for a brief moment.
"Professor Landry happens to be an impoverished noble from the Northwestern Nicosaxen Territory. At present, he needs a well-trained woman capable of playing the role of his fiancée to help him gain the empire's trust more easily. Your cover is ideal for posing as a fiancée from his hometown, and I have a way to arrange for you to approach him," Unity picked up the black tea from the table, took a sip, and spoke in a solemn tone.
Perilous as the mission was, it was also an exceptional opportunity.
"Miss Unity, do you want me to get close to him, find an opening, and kill him?" Hyperion asked, gesturing with a slit-throat motion.
She was practically itching to assassinate Landry.
"...No. You are to act as his faux fiancée. This is a cooperation. We need to monitor him; he cannot die just yet." Unity's distaste for Landry was genuine. "You don't have to force yourself. Whether to accept this mission is entirely up to you,"
Unity added, yet she seemed to be holding something back.
"Huh?" Hyperion frowned slightly, her eyes darting back and forth as she processed this overwhelming influx of information.
Cooperation?
Professor Landry was an imperial loyalist in need of a fiancée—could it be that he had reached out to Allied agent Unity for help...?
Hyperion pondered for a moment, and countless pieces clicked into place.
Professor Landry's research findings in the Creti Empire were constantly being intercepted by the Allies, and no matter how thoroughly the empire investigated, they could never trace the leak.
So in reality... Landry had been selling the intelligence himself?
"Landry's reputation in the academic circles of the Creti Empire is growing by the day, and a massive opportunity awaits him soon. His standing may very well skyrocket to lead the soon-to-be-established New Magic Energy Agency Committee. When that happens, our negotiating position will be completely different. Right now is our best chance to tie his interests to ours," Unity continued.
If Landry became the head of the New Magic Energy Agency Committee, he would possess immense authority over the empire's future military industry.
Furthermore, Landry maintained good relations with Director Dakes of the Imperial Special Operations Department. Since arriving in Brierda, he had rendered one distinguished service after another and made monumental contributions to magic energy fission, making him an invaluable asset to Dakes's career. Moreover, Landry had access to the Imperial Special Operations Department, giving him a chance, however slight, to come into contact with highly sensitive intelligence.
In Unity's eyes, Professor Landry was a slick veteran of profound cunning who could effortlessly win the trust of the imperials around him. He had likely thrived in the Imperial Special Operations Department, earning Director Dakes's deep regard.
Out of personal judgment, Unity had not wanted to send a prized undercover operative to Landry's side. Yet if the operative was willing, doing Landry such a major favor might yield even greater returns.
Landry was constantly sharing intelligence with her, leaving Unity somewhat baffled as to what balance he was truly seeking to strike.
"What is Landry actually planning?" The Great Snow Witch tapped her slender fingers lightly on her knee, lost in thought.
She clearly understood the broad strokes of the situation.
"There are deep internal fissures within the Creti Empire as well. Ever since the 'Day of Bloodshed,' both the Aristocratic Faction and the Populist Faction have been stirring up trouble. Landry is undoubtedly an imperial through and through, yet he appears to lean closer to the nobility. It is quite possible that he is an extremist looking to spark some kind of revolution within the empire," Unity laid out her deductions.
The mysterious man she had encountered on the train that day had replaced the real Landry, and since then, Unity had kept a close watch on his movements.
She was certain of his imperial soul and his fervent devotion to the empire's cause; that was definitely not an act.
Yet he clearly had his own agenda as well.
For now, his interests coincided briefly with those of the Allies.
"I wonder what force is backing Landry..." The Great Snow Witch understood the gist of Unity's briefing.
Years ago, the aristocracy of the Creti Empire held too much power, enough to blot out the sky with a single hand. Most of the authority, wealth, and even media outlets were concentrated in noble hands.
Beyond oppressing and exploiting the populace, some nobles ceased treating commoners as human beings entirely, killing and looting at their whim.
Back then, when the most extreme nobles treated human life like grass and escaped punishment time and again, public outrage finally erupted.
Today, the friction between the Creti nobility and the common folk remained remarkably fierce. It was said that just as there were commoners who loathed the aristocracy, there were nobles who harbored equal venom toward commoners.
All of this stemmed from a massive riot that had erupted years ago in the Creti Empire's Botswana Province, where scores of nobles were slaughtered—an event known as the "Day of Bloodshed."
Enraged commoners driven to desperation formed armed, organized mobs, storming noble manors to burn, kill, and pillage. In the estates that fell, men were slaughtered outright, and women suffered fates worse than death.
As for the surviving noble heirs who managed to flee, some vanished while others inherited their houses. Traumatized by their memories, they projected their hatred onto all commoners.
It was not until the Emperor issued a charter to restrain the nobility, placate the populace, investigate the implicated nobles, and punish the rioters that the erupting conflict was finally contained.
For a long time afterward, relations between the Creti Empire's nobility and commoners improved.
Yet it was only temporary.
As the bitter legacy of the Day of Bloodshed slowly festered and the seeds of hatred took root, the internal contradictions of the Creti Empire had escalated rapidly in recent years.
This was the crux of the current struggle between the empire's Aristocratic Faction and Populist Faction—strife so acute that the empire had no choice but to redirect the tension outward, indirectly triggering the outbreak of war.
One could say the Day of Bloodshed twenty years ago shared countless threads of cause and effect with the empire's current unrest. However, delving into the deeper truths was virtually impossible, and foreigners faced an even harder time investigating the intricate history of that day.
"Regardless of whether Landry belongs to the extremists of the Aristocratic Faction or the Populist Faction, the Allies remain his best partner. He seeks internal strife in the empire, and we would like nothing more than to see them tear each other apart." A resolute light flashed in Unity's eyes.
For victory and the protection of her compatriots back home, she would stop at nothing.
"Hyperion, I believe this is too dangerous. If you are to get close to Landry, there is no way he would permit the four of us to move into his home with you. We wouldn't be able to protect you then. Absolutely not." The Great Snow Witch shook her head.
She understood the strategic benefits of this mission.
Yet both officially and personally, she would never allow Hyperion to shoulder the slightest risk.
"I'm sorry, Miss Unity. I cannot accept this mission." Hyperion spoke as if she had made up her mind long ago.
First of all, there was no way she would enter into an engagement with another man, even as a farce.
Second, she was acutely aware that her priority was to assist the Allies to the best of her ability while ensuring her own absolute safety.
Even so, seeing the Great Snow Witch's protective stance touched Hyperion deeply.
Having a mother's love truly made all the difference.
She could clearly feel the Great Snow Witch's personal concern for her.
Even without her true mother, Iphatia, by her side, Hyperion no longer felt a chill in her heart.
Stealthily, she reached out and took the Great Snow Witch's hand.
The Great Snow Witch reflexively started to pull her hand back, but realizing Hyperion's intent, she gently squeezed Hyperion's warm palm in return.
"It's fine. I will simply turn Landry down. When a new assignment comes up, I'll contact you." Unity let out a relieved breath.
This way, she wouldn't have to put an exceptional operative at risk.
She had a very favorable impression of Hyperion. The girl reminded her of her younger sister back home, and deep down, she hated the idea of sending such a young woman into the tiger's den.
"Of course, if you ever change your mind, I can send you to Landry at any time. For instance, should circumstances change... and we need him dead," Unity added in a low murmur, a sharp glint entering her eyes.
She had already completed all preparations; this merchant guild lady identity could become 'Landry's betrothed' at a moment's notice.
Should Landry's threat ever outweigh his utility, surpassing Allied expectations and slipping beyond control, Unity would consider tasking Hyperion and these four powerhouses to infiltrate Landry's residence and take him out.
"Certainly. If it's to kill him, we won't give him any chance to resist. We will make sure his life ends right here." Hyperion nodded in understanding.
She understood the purpose behind Unity's contingency.
If it was to strike Professor Landry inside his own home, Unity had prepared an operational plan that could be enacted at any time.
As for assassination, with four great demons at her back, Hyperion was bound to succeed.
"For now, get some good rest in Brierda and familiarize yourselves with the city. If I need you to take action, I'll send a painting to your residence to notify you to come to the gallery for a meeting." Seeing how confident Hyperion was, Unity was all the more certain that the four companions were indeed powerhouses of the caliber she had suspected.
So long as she created an opportunity for them to visit Landry's home under the guise of escorting their young mistress, Landry's doom would be sealed.
She rose and expressed her thanks to the reinforcements.
"No problem, Miss Unity. I was an assassin from the very start, after all." Hyperion extended her hand to clasp Unity's, once more displaying the innate ruthlessness born of her bloodline.
In her mind's eye, she could already picture Landry's gruesome demise.
Chapter 806