Uranus interrupted Zeus, who had been speaking, then raised her sleeve to let out another yawn.
“That database was always meant for the ‘Correct Person.’ Of course you’re not them, and neither am I. I just made certain promises to guard it on someone else’s behalf.”
She rubbed her eyes, pulled a bag of potato chips from the pocket of her white lab coat, tore it open, and started munching. She added a vague, “That person has already appeared, so none of you are allowed to touch it.”
The entire Round Table fell into a dead silence. She was one of the mighty Upper Three Seats—no one dared to defy her words openly.
But openly was one thing; behind the scenes was another story.
After a long silence, Zeus spoke up first.
“Your Excellency, may I ask who that ‘Correct Person’ is? If possible, could we try to win them over?”
Uranus paused in her chip-eating. The drowsy expression on her face turned slightly more serious.
After a moment of thought, she shook her head. “I can’t tell you. If I did, you’d go scare her.”
She yawned again, a few sleepy tears forming at the corners of her eyes, then added, “Oh, and Zeus, you’d better give up on the Ye Family. If I find out anything happened to that database…”
“I will be very upset.”
“Also, good night, everyone.”
With that, her holographic projection blinked out, and the Second Seat’s spot returned to darkness.
As Uranus left, the golden-haired leopard man burst into laughter.
“Everyone, since Lady Uranus says we can’t touch it, I don’t see any point in continuing this meeting. I’ll take my leave first.”
With that, Smoke and Mirror’s projection went dark.
Zeus stared at the now-empty Sixth Seat.
Then he turned to face the others, speaking with a slightly awkward tone. “Then tonight’s agenda will be postponed until Lady Uranus gives further instructions before we discuss any course of action.”
Tiamat’s five dragon heads all let out a simultaneous sneer.
“Zeus, it’s rare to see you get shut down like this. Since Lady Uranus has personally intervened, I have no reason to stay. Everyone, see you next time.”
Ullr’s projection flickered for a moment after Tiamat’s departure.
The white-haired huntress, bow on her back, had never offered any opinion on the farce that had unfolded tonight. She merely nodded in Zeus’s direction, as if to say, “There’s no point in staying here any longer.” Then her projection vanished.
Shiva pressed his four palms together, and the lotus of fire on which he sat slowly closed. Before leaving, he said to Zeus in a calm tone, “Since the time is not yet ripe, then we wait.”
“But time waits for no one.”
The moment the words fell, the lotus sealed shut, and his projection disappeared from the virtual space.
Surtr had not spoken a single word throughout the entire meeting, but from the expression on her volcanic, fiery avatar, frustration was evident.
She shot a glance at Zeus, then, before departing, slammed her flame sword heavily into the ground, as if venting some discontent.
Soon, only Zeus and Siren remained in the virtual space.
Hua Jianxi’s avatar tilted her head toward Zeus, a mocking smile curling her lips.
“Oh my, Senior Zeus, about that person Lady Uranus mentioned—do you have any idea who it is? I sure can’t guess.”
“But since that lady said we can’t touch them, you definitely won’t go after them anymore, right? After all, Senior is the one who respects organizational discipline the most, aren’t you?”
“Naturally. I always strictly follow the organization’s rules.”
He stood up, unhurriedly adjusting the robes on his avatar.
“But, Eighth Seat, this is the first time I’ve seen you attend a meeting in a while. You didn’t just come to laugh at me, did you?”
“Who knows?”
With that, Hua Jianxi cut the connection. Her avatar dissolved into a cluster of pink light particles and scattered away.
In her apartment’s workshop, Hua Jianxi, fresh from the Round Table meeting, leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling.
She was silent for a long time, replaying Uranus’s words in her mind.
“That person has already appeared.”
How many “Correct People” could the Second Seat of the Knights of the Round Table personally protect?
How many could there be in all of Akasha City? Immediately, the image of a certain white-haired, red-eyed expressionless girl floated into her mind.
At that thought, she reopened her messaging software, intending to compile tonight’s meeting notes into a detailed report and send it to Zero.
But when she opened the chat window for “Cutest Zero-chan,” her hand paused over the mouse.
“Right… something this important is better to tell her in person tomorrow…”
Hua Jianxi murmured softly.
I wonder what kind of expression Zero-chan will make when she hears news like this?
At the same time.
Fifth District, Aode Consortium Headquarters.
Inside a skyscraper that pierced the clouds, the president’s office still had its lights on.
Zeus—or rather, the man with the code name Zeus—stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a glass of red wine.
He had just logged out of the virtual meeting room, shedding the avatar of the king of the Olympian gods from myth.
In its place was a blond man in a well-tailored gray suit, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding a wine glass.
“Uranus, huh…”
He repeated the name several times in a low voice, as if savoring an aged red wine.
That woman, who usually wouldn’t even glance at a meeting requiring all Three Seats, had personally shown up tonight for a database.
And the tone she used when saying “Correct Person” was almost expectant.
Who could possibly be someone the Second Seat looked forward to so much?
Zeus lifted the glass and took a gentle sip. The cool liquid slid down his throat.
His mind was racing in another direction.
Then, as if struck by a realization, he burst into loud laughter.
“Then let’s see who this so-called Correct Person really is!”
He pressed the communicator on his desk.
A low female voice came from the other end. “Sir.”
“Tell Ye Qinghai the plan remains unchanged. Also inform him that Phantom Night Company will be sending additional troops.”
With that, he ended the call.
He turned back to gaze at the nightscape outside the window.
“The Correct Person, huh…”
He drained the glass in one gulp.