"Hmph, so what?" Cipher placed her hands proudly on her hips and turned her head away with a huff. "Maybe my hometown, Dolos, showed up too. I'm gonna head back and check!"
As her words fell, Zagreus finally managed to come back to their senses from the overwhelming shock. Only then did they realize that they were truly alive once again, with their body and strength fully restored to their peak state, sustained not by her lies of Trickery, but by the silver Coreflame now burning steadily within them.
What Lucian?
What copying?
What kind of unbelievable encounter had their lady boss gone through this time?
Countless questions continuously filled Zagreus's mind one after another, leaving their thoughts in complete confusion.
However, just as they were still trying to process everything, Zagreus suddenly froze after remembering the true reason they had rushed over in the first place.
"Oh, right—Dolos! Lady Boss, that's what I came to tell you! Dolos has reappeared! And there are so many people there!"
"I saw it clearly! Right there on that scorched land from before!"
"City walls! Streets! Houses! People! So many people everywhere!"
"It was so lively—just... just like in the past! No! Even newer! Even prettier than before!"
As Zagreus spoke relentlessly in excitement, their voice grew louder and louder with every sentence, while the silver Coreflame on their chest flickered faintly, as though resonating with those memories and confirming the reality of those words.
"R-Really?! Great!"
Cipher practically bounced in place from excitement, her fluffy tail swinging wildly behind her like a spinning propeller, and there was no trace left of the frustration she had felt while arguing with Hysilens just moments ago.
Now, her mind was filled entirely with shock, joy, and disbelief at the thought of her hometown being restored.
'Lucian! It had to be Lucian!'
Cipher's thoughts raced frantically, one after another.
'Not only did he give me a happy life, but he even gave me back my ruined hometown!'
'Lucian is just way too damn good! You're my eternal god!'
Eventually, the more she thought about it, the brighter the smile on her face became.
Right after thinking that, Cipher quickly turned toward Aglaea and Hysilens, unable to suppress the excitement in her heart at all.
"You two! Did you hear that?!" Cipher exclaimed excitedly, a bright, dazzling smile spreading across her face. "My hometown, Dolos, is back!"
"Congratulations, Cifera," Aglaea said with a soft nod before revealing a sincere and gentle smile of her own. "Dolos, huh... this is truly a miracle..."
Even she could not hide the faint surprise within her beautiful golden eyes.
After all, restoring a destroyed city overnight truly sounded unbelievable, no matter how one looked at it.
Hysilens, on the other hand, still seemed a little awkward, but she nodded nonetheless after a brief moment of silence.
"Yeah... congratulations..."
Even though Hysilens's voice sounded slightly stiff, there was still genuine happiness hidden within it for Cipher.
Clearly, Lucian truly treated Cipher exceptionally well.
It was almost as though he had been secretly listening nearby—Dolos had just been mentioned, and in the very next moment, he directly restored it for her.
Judging from Zagreus's description and Cipher's reaction, this recreated Dolos seemed to be the very same Dolos Lucian had once stayed in—the Dolos where Cipher had lived together with him in her dream.
Both Aglaea and Hysilens were naturally curious about what was so special about this recreated Dolos, so after a brief discussion, the three of them went together to find Tribios and tell her about Cipher's situation.
As for Tribios's position as one of Lucian's women and one of the earliest women to stay by his side, neither Cipher nor Hysilens had any complaints or objections toward it.
"Big sis! Open a Century Gate for me—I'll take you to see the place where Lucian and I used to live together!"
Cipher was so overjoyed that her beautiful face was practically glowing with excitement, her entire being immersed in unconcealed happiness as she eagerly spoke to Tribios.
Seeing Cipher acting like that, Tribios could not help but reveal a gentle and affectionate smile.
"Alright, we also want to see what kind of happy life Little Ciphy and big brother lived together."
After learning about Cipher's relationship with Lucian, Tribios did not feel jealous at all and instead felt genuinely happy for her from the bottom of her heart.
Having personally experienced world-ending crises and painful life-and-death separations, her mindset had already changed long ago. Because of that, she was now willing to share her beloved big brother with other women. As long as her big brother still reserved a place for her in his heart, that alone was already enough for her.
In the first place, it was her brother who had brought all of them together and given them not only a happy life but also a reason and purpose to continue living. If not for him, they probably would not even exist now, peacefully talking and smiling together like this.
For that reason, as long as the women were personally acknowledged and chosen by him, she was willing to accept them as part of the family, especially Cipher, Hysilens, and Castorice, who had already been very close to her from the very beginning.
With that thought in mind, Tribios soon raised her hand and opened a Century Gate before them. A brilliant radiance quietly spread through the surrounding space as a triangle-shaped portal of light slowly unfolded before their eyes.
Without hesitating in the slightest, the group stepped into it together.
In the very next moment, they appeared directly in the center of Dolos, and as their vision gradually stabilized, they found themselves standing within a clean and empty alley that looked unusually quiet and tidy, with not a single person anywhere in sight, making the entire area feel strangely deserted and silent.
"Is this... Dolos...?"
"It should be..."
Cipher asked softly, looking around at her surroundings in a daze, while Tribios replied with a small nod.
"Well, let's go take a look!"
Cipher exclaimed excitedly, but despite the excitement in her voice, she still couldn't suppress the faint nervousness rising within her heart.
Soon enough, as the group walked toward the alley's exit, they immediately heard a growing chorus of voices coming from outside—laughter, lively chatter, the rhythmic clatter of footsteps, and the occasional shouting of merchants echoing through the streets.
Hearing those familiar sounds of civilization, the group subconsciously quickened their pace.
Before long, as they finally stepped out from the narrow alleyway, what greeted their eyes was a scene of unmistakable prosperity and vitality.
They saw broad streets that had been swept spotlessly clean, with barely any dust visible upon the ground, while the surrounding environment appeared orderly and well-maintained, and the towering city walls standing in the distance looked imposing, ancient, and incredibly sturdy, radiating an overwhelming sense of security.
Meanwhile, countless people moved busily through the streets, their voices intertwining together into a lively, unbroken hum that filled the entire city with vitality.
At the city gate, people continuously came and went without pause.
Vendors loudly shouted their wares from both sides of the street.
Children laughed and chased one another through the crowd, their carefree voices occasionally rising above the noise of the bustling city.
Even the nearby shops were filled with customers coming and going, making the entire city feel exceptionally lively and prosperous.
As the group observed the surroundings with surprised expressions, they soon overheard the discussions of several nearby pedestrians.
"I think I had a dream where Dolos got destroyed... Not gonna lie, it scared the hell outta me."
"Same here. It's weird as hell... Like, how the hell did all of us end up having the exact same dream?"
"Good thing it was just a dream. No way Dolos could ever get destroyed with Lord Lucian protecting us."
Listening to the conversations around them, the group gradually pieced together a clearer understanding of the current situation.
It seemed that the people here were the very same individuals from Cipher's dream, their memories and perceptions completely synchronized with that constructed reality, all firmly believing that Lucian was still within the city, silently watching over Dolos and ensuring its continued peace and safety.
In reality, however, Lucian had never truly appeared in reality from beginning to end.
"Well, with this, the population of Amphoreus has increased a bit more. It's a good sign..."
Aglaea, who cared more about Amphoreus's dwindling population than almost anything else, spoke with visible relief written across her face, the tension in her shoulders finally easing a little as she looked at the scene before her.
It couldn't really be helped.
With so few survivors left in Amphoreus, every additional life carried immense meaning. Even a new presence born from such unusual circumstances was enough to stir both concern and a faint sense of reassurance within everyone present.
"Well, it's kinda a small issue. I've got a lotta say in Dolos," Cipher said proudly, lifting her chin a little. "I'm the city lord's beloved cat, y'know? Whatever I say is basically a royal decree."
"Hm, it seems Little Ciphy and big brother have been living quite happily together, huh... I'm so envious..."
Seeing the smug and proud expression on Cipher's face, Tribios could not help but tease her with a smile, causing Aglaea to immediately join in as well.
"Teacher, why don't you make a wish too and have Lucian restore Janusopolis as well?"
Hearing those words, Tribios merely let out a soft, helpless sigh while smiling faintly, then gently shook her head.
"No need. Whatever he does has its own reasons behind it. I only need to trust him."
"Big sis, you're seriously so sweet!" Cipher exclaimed as she suddenly threw herself into Tribios's arms, hugging her affectionately while acting all spoiled. "I'm seriously lucky to have you as my sis!"
Tribios could only laugh softly as she helplessly patted Cipher's head.
Seeing that scene unfold before her, Hysilens, who had remained silent the entire time, could not help but curl her lips slightly before quietly turning her head away.
'You kitten fish, one day you'll be hugging me like that too while calling me big sis.'
Just as that thought surfaced in Hysilens's mind, Cipher suddenly froze for a brief second before abruptly straightening up.
"By the way, I just noticed something seriously messed up..." Cipher said with a weirdly serious look as her gaze slowly shifted toward Aglaea. "Excluding Zagreus, there are four of us—three are already with Lucian, but one somehow ended up as an outsider. Wonder who that could be...?"
"..."
Aglaea silently gazed at Cipher for a long moment before slowly rolling her eyes in exasperation.
'You might as well just say my name...'
It should be noted that Tribios, Cipher, and Hysilens were all Lucian's women, while only she was not, so after Cipher said that, Aglaea instantly felt somewhat excluded.
"Hey, golden-trout-who-loved-watching-the-show, feeling awkward now?"
Hysilens crossed her arms beneath her chest and looked at Aglaea with a teasing smile. Remembering how Aglaea had mocked her earlier when she quarrelled with Cipher, she naturally would not let such a good chance for revenge slip away.
"You two, don't bully Agy," Tribios scolded gently before turning toward Aglaea with her usual soft smile. "Maybe… Maybe after some time, Agy will be chosen too?"
When those words reached her ears, Aglaea instantly felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.
Discussing when she would join the family of one man and the group of women around him when there was not even the slightest sign of that happening yet made it sound as though she were already impatient to become involved with Lucian herself, which truly felt ridiculous in her eyes.
Even Aglaea herself could not help but feel slightly uncomfortable after hearing it.
"Ahem, Teacher, there's no need to continue this topic..." Aglaea lightly coughed before forcing herself to maintain a calm expression. "Let's just let things take their course. More importantly, let's go take a look at where Cifera hides her treasures."
Embarrassed and unwilling to stay on the topic any longer, she directly pulled Tribios away with her, leaving Cipher and Hysilens standing behind.
At first, the two women exchanged a silent glance, then faint smiles slowly bloomed across their faces.
Evidently, the two of them seemed to have reached a tacit understanding without needing to say a single word aloud.
If Aglaea really did end up with Lucian and joined the family in the future, then she would absolutely have to become the little sister and obediently call them big sister!
===
At the same time, while Cipher and the others were touring Dolos, Lygus remained completely occupied with repairing the malfunctioning Scepter.
Streams of data continuously flickered across the virtual screen before him, while his fingers moved rapidly over the virtual keyboard without pause, never stopping for even a moment.
"If it weren't for Irontomb, how could I possibly have fallen into someone else's scheme? Just you wait..."
Lygus muttered his complaints, his voice filled with resentment and frustration.
However, entirely focused on repairing the Scepter before him, he failed to notice the new report the system had quietly sent over at some point.
[Under interference from an unknown force, the electrical signals have become active once again. The administrator has been notified. No response from the administrator.]
===
Meanwhile, in the distant star system where Jarilo-VI, Izumo, and Koolur orbited, the Astral Express steadily approached Jarilo-VI, as the pale blue-and-white planet had already come into clear view beyond the vast sea of stars.
Inside the Parlor Car, warm golden light illuminated the surroundings.
Himeko held a steaming cup of coffee in one hand as she stood elegantly before the window, her calm gaze fixed on the planet known as Jarilo-VI. Beside her, March, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Welt had also gathered near the window, silently watching the slowly enlarging planet in the distance.
"Uhh, that Stellaron Hunter said it was a frozen planet, a planet basically on the verge of destruction, right?"
March questioned everyone while scratching the back of her head, her delicate face filled with visible confusion.
"Yeah, that's what I heard, too."
"Should we check the Astral Express's data bank to confirm?"
"Mm, that's how I remember it being described, too."
At March's question, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Welt responded one after another, each of them visibly puzzled by the unexpected sight before them.
"Weird... why would a planet on the verge of destruction still have proper planetary defense systems and even a fully operational spaceport?"
Himeko asked in confusion, her gaze fixed intently on the scene outside the window.
Indeed, surrounding the outer orbital ring of Jarilo-VI was an extremely busy and highly advanced spaceport that showed no signs whatsoever of decline or collapse.
Where was the frozen desolation they had been told about?
Massive spaceport platforms orbited around the planet like enormous artificial satellites, their colossal metallic structures reflecting faint glimmers of light beneath the cold and silent backdrop of space.
Countless spaceships of all sizes—freighters, passenger vessels, luxury starliners, and engineering ships bearing the insignias of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Koolur, Penacony, Izumo, Herta Space Station, and even Planet Screwllum—moved tirelessly throughout the port like industrious worker bees.
Some enormous cargo freighters slowly approached their docking ports under the guidance of navigation signals, while sleek passenger vessels departed one after another toward distant star systems.
Engineering ships carrying heavy industrial equipment continuously traveled between the orbital platforms, maintaining the vast spaceport facilities in an orderly and efficient manner.
All of them traveled along preset navigation routes in remarkably orderly fashion as they continuously docked, departed, transported cargo, or shuttled back and forth between the various orbital platforms without the slightest sign of confusion or panic.
Bright navigation lights crisscrossed through space one after another, forming an intricate and dazzling web of traffic routes around the planet, making the entire orbital zone appear exceptionally lively, prosperous, and full of life.
It was, without a doubt, a scene overflowing with intense activity and vigorous development. No matter how one looked at it, this absolutely did not resemble a planet supposedly facing an 'extinction crisis.'
Compared to the phrase 'extinction crisis' that had come from Kafka's mouth, the scene unfolding before their eyes was undoubtedly the complete opposite.
It was a scene of unmistakable prosperity and thriving vitality.
"Mom, we've all been tricked by Kafka!"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Stelle frowned deeply and exclaimed in an extremely pissed-off tone.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 300 Power Stones.]
[Support me and read next chapters early at: patreon.com/VALRRR]