Surrounded by enthusiastic models, "Aya" wore a gentle, poised smile.
Ever since being invited to be a substitute model for tonight's charity gala, Cifera had already finalized her plan to steal the Starry Light.
For her, whether she could steal the Starry Light was never a question, but an absolute certainty.
The only real uncertainty lay in how to pull off the theft—what kind of entertaining "performance" with maximum showmanship would secure the Starry Light?
Initially, disguising herself as "Aglaea" had been merely a nod to her Honkai: Star Rail gamer tendencies.
But with Little Grandchild's unexpected intrusion and the discovery that the Mysterious Expert of the Pursuit Team bore an uncanny resemblance to "Aglaea," she decided to formally step onto the "grand stage" of theft, basking in the spotlight under the "Aglaea" persona.
You're Little Ya, the Mysterious Seventh Person? Then I'll put on your face, steal your spotlight, and make it the talk of the town.
When the real Little Ya finally makes her debut on the show, the audience will be stunned by how much she resembles the "Aya" they already know! The spectacle will be absolutely explosive!
To achieve her goal, the first step was to replace Little Grandchild as the wearer of the Starry Light jewelry during tonight's grand debut.
At least for now, everything was proceeding according to plan, progressing smoothly.
To accomplish this first step, Cifera had deliberately guided everyone to use the Authority of Trickery to acquire a crucial ability:
[Lies Become Reality]
[Seamstress of Romance (Trust Level: 10,000,000+)(Additional bonus obtained)]
[A weaver of romance, surpassing even the most skilled tailor, you craft ethereal forms as exquisite as divine sculptures.]
[Empowered by the Authority of Trickery, you gain unparalleled tailoring skills and an inexhaustible wellspring of design inspiration. No beauty lies beyond your grasp to weave into existence.]
Note:
1. The Ability's strength is determined by your Trust Level. You cannot create designs or techniques exceeding this level.
2. This Ability can only be used while disguised as "Aglaea."
Perhaps because Cifera had acquired this Ability under the guise of "Aya," it could only be used while in that persona.
However, this posed no problem for Cifera. After all, she had deliberately orchestrated the acquisition of this Ability precisely so that "Aya" could create a suitable gown.
Upon gaining this ability, Cifera's mind instantly flooded with garment-making techniques and inspiration.
Since she was now in Aglaea's form, creating Aglaea's "classic skin"—a magnificent gown in its own right—was the obvious choice.
However, Aglaea's original design in the source material drew heavily from Greek mythology, incorporating elements like laurel wreaths and olive branches. These felt somewhat incongruous when paired with the Starry Light.
Leveraging her seemingly endless wellspring of design inspiration, Cifera skillfully transformed these dissonant elements into golden geometric patterns and star trail motifs, evoking cosmic grandeur and starry imagery.
Though the original design had been altered, it still perfectly complemented Aglaea's inherent grace and beauty, resulting in a seamless integration.
Ultimately, Cifera flawlessly transformed the game's "Demigod of Romance" into a "Starry Goddess" descended to Earth.
This effect would utterly crush Little Grandchild.
Cifera knew the right to wield the Starry Light would ultimately fall to her.
Even amidst the clamorous chatter of the models surrounding her, she overheard the conversation between Show Director Glasses and the Plump Costume Designer.
This idea perfectly aligned with Cifera's plans, allowing "Aya" to continue gaining popularity and spotlight while also enhancing the dramatic impact of the upcoming theft of the Starry Light.
Just then, Show Director Glasses clapped her hands, shouting to the crowd:
"Alright, everyone! Give Miss Aya some space. I need to speak with her."
Hearing the director's command, the models quickly parted, creating an opening through which "Aya" gracefully emerged, her magnificent figure gliding forward.
"Miss Aya!"
Show Director Glasses' voice trembled with excitement and a hint of barely concealed nervousness.
"Your creation... it's absolutely breathtaking! We unanimously agree that it deserves to bear the Starry Light!"
She paused, glanced at Lu Yue, who wore a faint smile, and continued:
"To ensure fairness and allow for a direct comparison, and to perfect the final effect, we've decided to immediately request the Starry Light from the Security Department and bring it here!
"You and Miss Lu Yue will each wear it, and we'll make the final judgment on tonight's wearer right here on the spot. What do you think?"
In truth, not only the Starry Light—the most valuable piece—but also all the other jewels to be auctioned tonight would only be worn by the models during the official performance. Rehearsals used replicas.
The fact that Show Director Glasses and her team decided to unveil the Starry Light at this juncture clearly demonstrated the immense importance they placed on its wearer.
Yet everyone present understood that the staff's extraordinary efforts were entirely aimed at legitimizing Aya's replacement of Lu Yue as the true bearer of the Starry Light.
Lu Yue inwardly groaned, So it's finally come to this.
Despite his annoyance, he forced himself to maintain an air of elegance, nodding in agreement:
"That's perfectly fair. I eagerly anticipate the final showdown with Sister Aya."
Though his tone sounded casual, everyone could sense the forced composure he was desperately trying to conceal.
"Aya" gave a slight nod, her eyes gleaming with undisguised anticipation:
"Of course. I'm eager to see the true splendor of the Starry Light and hope for a fair competition with Sister Lu Yue."
Her tone shifted as her gaze swept warmly over the surrounding models, their eyes burning with longing. Her voice, clear and melodious, rang through the room:
"Actually, sisters, I've witnessed firsthand your passion and dedication to tonight's performance. I have a rather unconventional request..."
"Since we're already retrieving the Starry Light, why not bring all the jewelry the sisters will showcase tonight? Let everyone rehearse wearing their actual pieces.
"While we have replicas for rehearsals, the real thing will undoubtedly create a different effect.
"Only by rehearsing with the genuine jewelry can we truly visualize the show's overall impact and identify any areas where the jewelry-gown pairings need refinement."
She paused, her face softening into a sincere and humble smile.
"If no one objects and time permits, I'd be honored to contribute my skills as a seamstress to the opening show, 'Brilliant Galaxy.'
"Truthfully, I find more fulfillment behind the scenes, using my hands to transform fabric and inspiration into beauty, than walking the runway.
"Helping my sisters present their most radiant selves tonight, ensuring each piece of jewelry finds its perfect pairing—that's my greatest wish at this moment.
"If I can fulfill this wish, I'd waive any compensation, including the modeling fees."
As her words faded, the backstage area fell silent again, followed by an even more fervent outburst of exclamations than before!