The Luofu — Divination Commission
Three days had passed since the riot in the Shackling Prison.
Fu Xuan now sat upright in the main hall of the Divination Commission. Three jade terminals hovered before her. Two had already gone dark, leaving only the last one still emitting a faint blue glow.
She stared at it, brow furrowed. "Still no word?"
The diviner at her side shook her head.
"The General said this morning that he'd come by at noon, but the Commission is practically closing now, and there's still no sign of him."
"Lady Fu Xuan… do you think the General might be doing this on purpose?"
Fu Xuan lifted her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
The diviner lowered her voice again. "I mean… the timing of the General's disappearance is just a little too convenient."
"Right after the prison riot, right after the Stellaron Hunters escaped, he suddenly says he's going into seclusion to contemplate… Don't you think that sounds suspiciously like he's hiding from someone?"
Fu Xuan fell silent for a moment.
Of course she had noticed.
That old fox Jing Yuan was obviously hiding from Lady Cecilia.
Yesterday, after the riot in the Shackling Prison had been quelled, Cecilia had calmly sat down and tallied up the debt in front of everyone.
She had cured Blade. One favor.
She had stabilized Jingliu. Another favor.
Three favors in total.
Fu Xuan hadn't seen the look on Jing Yuan's face herself, but just from hearing it described, she could imagine how spectacular it must have been. The mighty General of the Luofu, an Emanator of the Hunt, being forced to acknowledge three thoroughly dubious debts—and unable to argue his way out of a single one.
If it had been her, she would have hidden too.
"Forget it." Fu Xuan sighed.
"He can hide for a day, but not forever. As long as Lady Cecilia is still on the Luofu, sooner or later—"
Before she could finish, the doors of the Divination Commission's main hall were pushed open from outside.
A figure in white drifted inside.
"Lady Fu Xuan. Long time no see."
Cecilia walked in with a smile. Behind her followed a tall hooded figure.
Oh. And behind that was an even more suspicious-looking figure sneaking about.
Fu Xuan's eyelid twitched.
"Lady Cecilia." She rose and gave a polite nod. "May I ask what brings you to the Divination Commission today?"
Cecilia waved a hand. "Don't be nervous. I'm not the one looking for you. Your General is."
She stepped aside, revealing Jing Yuan behind her.
"…Ahem. Fu Qing, long time no see."
Fu Xuan shot him a vicious glare. "So the General has finally decided to come to the Divination Commission. Is there some urgent matter?"
Jing Yuan coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem, Fu Qing, I really do have something important to discuss."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the diviners in the hall.
"You've all worked hard. Why don't we call it a day here?"
The moment the Commission staff heard the General speak, none of them cared anymore about the Divination Commission's overtime culture. They vanished in a rush.
Only then did Fu Xuan continue. "Speak. What is it you want me to do?"
Jing Yuan's expression turned serious. "Fu Qing, I need you to activate the Matrix of Prescience."
Fu Xuan's fingers froze.
"The Matrix of Prescience? General, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Jing Yuan glanced at Cecilia. "Ahem… this is about repaying a favor."
Fu Xuan could feel a vein in her temple throbbing.
"General, do you know how many resources it takes to activate the Matrix even once? Do you know how far the Divination Commission has already gone over budget this year? Do you know—"
"Fu Qing." Jing Yuan cut her off gently. "I know all of that."
"Then why would you—"
"But this time, it's for a favor." Jing Yuan looked toward Cecilia.
Fu Xuan took a deep breath and turned to Cecilia. "Lady Cecilia, what do you intend to use the Matrix of Prescience for?"
Cecilia shrugged. "To find someone."
"Find someone?"
Fu Xuan's expression eased immediately.
The Matrix of Prescience could be used for many purposes. The more difficult the question, the greater the resource cost.
If it was only for finding a person, then perhaps it would not be too bad.
Fine. Since it was her own General who had promised this, as the Master Diviner she could hardly allow the Luofu to lose face over something like this.
"Very well. Since this is a promise the General has made, I will not allow the Luofu to break its word."
"Lady Cecilia, shall we leave at once?"
Cecilia, however, did not seem in any hurry. "Not yet. We're still waiting for a few friends."
"There are more people?" Fu Xuan blinked.
And just as she said that, the great doors of the Divination Commission opened once again.
This time, it was the crew of the Astral Express, whom Fu Xuan had previously arranged accommodations for.
At the front, Welt stepped forward at once. "Lady Cecilia, I've already heard what you said."
"But I'm curious—why does the Astral Express crew specifically have to be present for something like this?"
Cecilia smiled faintly. "Actually, the one I really wanted here… was you, Mr. Welt."
Welt paused. "Me?"
"That's right. I think the connection between you and me is already quite clear to both of us. And the person I'm trying to find has the same kind of connection as well."
"The Matrix of Prescience on the Luofu places great emphasis on causality. Perhaps having you there as well will make things easier."
"Of course, I won't ask for your help for free."
"Afterward, I'll prepare compensation for the Astral Express too. What do you say?"
Welt adjusted his glasses.
As far as Cecilia's requests went, if it was not something especially unreasonable, he would not refuse.
Of course, it was not because he coveted her compensation. It was simply out of respect for an old friend.
And more than that, from the way Cecilia described it, the person she wanted to find seemed to be one of their kind as well.
That, naturally, stirred his curiosity.
"I understand." He looked at Cecilia, expression grave. "I'll help."
"As decisive as ever, Mr. Welt." Cecilia nodded in satisfaction.
At the side, March 7th had already run out of patience.
"Miss Cecilia, Mr. Welt—who exactly is this person you're trying to find?"
"And wait, you two knew each other before this?"
Seeing the clear curiosity in March's eyes, Cecilia could not help laughing.
"You really want to know?"
March nodded frantically. "Yes yes yes!"
Seeing how insistently she leaned in, Cecilia suddenly felt like teasing her a little. She put on a thoughtful expression.
"That person… is a girl who's just as clever and just as adorable as you are."
March 7th: (00)
"Just as adorable as me?! Then wouldn't that make her super adorable?!"
Welt: Wait. Just as adorable as March… and just as clever as March too… could it be—
Who are you talking about?
Who exactly are you trying to find?!
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 95
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 89
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 61
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 65
Uma Musume: From Beginner 61
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 37
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin