""What?""
Everyone was startled when they heard the news of Caenis's death.
It was only natural.
In Okhema, there was not a single Chrysos Heir who did not know Caenis, who had always stood at the very front lines when it came to opposing them.
Caenis had achieved great results in Okhema and possessed a large group of supporters.
Many believed she would use the resources she had gathered to change the current situation, where the Chrysos Heirs held real power, and reshape Okhema's political landscape.
To put it bluntly, Caenis was the greatest obstacle to the Flame-Chase Journey in Okhema.
And yet, she had suddenly died?
For a moment, Aglaea did not know whether to be surprised, happy, or confused.
"Why didn't my golden threads..."
Aglaea had only spoken half a sentence before she figured it out.
It was not that she could not sense the situation of the Council of Elders, but that she had grown weaker, so she could not even sense such a major event right away.
In the end, she pulled herself together and focused on sensing the Council of Elders.
Finally, she heard voices.
[Someone, come quickly! Elder Caenis has been murdered! Lock down District 29, seal off the entire area!]
[How could this happen? How could she just suddenly die like this?]
[Investigate immediately! Was it poison, a curse, or Aglaea's golden threads? Find out everything!]
[It's bad! It's bad! Another elder just died suddenly!]
[My teacher just died too! Someone, help!]
[What on earth is going on?! Why are they all dropping dead one after another?!]
[It must be those Chrysos Heirs! It has to be Aglaea's doing! If she isn't the one behind this, I'll eat my hat upside down!]
Aglaea could hear the utter chaos within the Council of Elders as reports of deaths kept coming, one after another.
Why was this happening?
"I've just heard from the Council of Elders..." Aglaea relayed the news to everyone. "Most of the members have died suddenly, and even some of the old hereditary members have died as well. However, the cause is still unclear since it was all very sudden..."
"Good! Serves them right!" Mydei clapped his hands in delight. "Now no one will get in the way of the Flame-Chase Journey anymore."
He had long found that old hag an eyesore, after all.
"But why?" Phainon frowned and stroked his chin in wonder. "What if the same thing happened to us?"
He was worried, afraid he would suddenly see his friends drop dead since his dream was, after all, to save everyone.
"We don't know, either..." Tribbie shook her head like a rattle-drum, and her other selves were just as clueless.
"Um..." Castorice timidly raised her hand. "I think it might be related to Lucian..."
Everyone instantly looked at her.
"Cas, tell us what you think." Aglaea asked seriously.
"In my dream, Lucian wiped out the Council of Elders for my sake..." Castorice admitted honestly. "But that was the Council of Elders from a thousand years ago, not the current one... I just have a feeling that the two are somehow connected."
Truthfully, she wasn't sure either—it was just her intuition telling her this.
Polyxia, who was listening from the side, also had the same thought.
Everyone immediately fell into deep thought.
Wiping out the Council of Elders was no doubt a ruthless move.
It should be noted that there were so many in the Council of Elders, and each of them had various influences.
Yet they were all killed just like that?
It sounded a lot like the Imperator Cerydra from Okhema's history—if someone were disobedient, they would simply be dealt with, making all power concentrated in one person.
"But that dream happened a thousand years ago, right?" Phainon found it hard to believe. "I mean, could it really cause people to suddenly die now? Honestly, that's seriously way too unbelievable."
If that were true, then what was the point of their Flame-Chase Journey?
Lucian alone could save Amphoreus, so there would be no need for the Chrysos Heirs.
"For now, we have no other explanations, so let's stick with Cas's guess." Aglaea said in a solemn tone. "As for the exact process, we don't need to worry about it yet. Right now, the most urgent thing is to seize power back from the Council of Elders and continue the Flame-Chase Journey."
Now that it had come to this, she decided to go and check on their political rivals, and while they were down, finish them off in one go.
"As for you two..." Aglaea glanced at Castorice and Polyxia. "I think you need some private time, so you don't need to join."
In the end, after making all the arrangements, Aglaea led Tribbie, Phainon, and Mydei away, leaving only Castorice and Polyxia, who looked at each other in silence.
As the four vanished, Polyxia suddenly grinned.
"Sister, if there's a chance in the future, I'll help push you again."
Upon hearing this, Castorice instantly remembered that embarrassing moment.
"Stop it!" Castorice exclaimed, her face flushing red. "What's gotten into you? You used to be so quiet and reserved!"
"Fufu, then you should ask Lucian what he did to me." Polyxia giggled and clung to Castorice's arm.
Just like that, the two sisters joked and bickered as they returned to Castorice's living quarters.
Of course, they would keep their promise, waiting for Lucian to return to their side.
===
Beyond Amphoreus, in a certain observation room.
"Hahh, here we go again… As expected of the Abundance, it never ends..."
As Lygus saw the word 'Abundance' appear again in the logs of the Scepter System, he sighed and couldn't help but complain.
He couldn't help it.
Even though the current recurrence wasn't even over, there were already two—no, three signs of Abundance.
If there wasn't someone manipulating things behind the scenes, he wouldn't believe it for a second. Yet no matter how he checked, he couldn't figure out who was interfering with the simulation.
On top of that, some unknown force was also affecting the progress of the simulation, causing considerable data drift.
"Just wait till I find you... When I do, I'll call for backup and make sure you regret messing around..."
Unable to resolve the data drift, Lygus ultimately decided to wait and see.
Maybe 'Irontomb' would merge with the Abundance?
===
Back at Herta Space Station, after Lucian finished checking the System, he noticed that the number beside Polyxia's name had changed from 0 to 1, which meant she had successfully revived.
As for the events surrounding Amphoreus, he was completely unaware.
"It's you!"
Sensing someone's presence behind her, Herta quickly turned around and saw Lucian, instantly pointing her finger at him.
"Fourth Mirror, end the call! Go block the door!"
Herta hurriedly urged the Fourth Mirror.
In the next instant, the Fourth Mirror immediately ended the IPC call and then flew over to block the exit.
"Hehe, sorry, handsome, but today you're not escaping the beautiful claws of Madam Herta! Watch closely and learn from the brilliant and peerless Madam Herta—let her show you how to deal with a troublemaker like you!"
Blocking the exit door, the Fourth Mirror rambling in a gloating tone, but then...
*Whoosh!*
A magic staff suddenly flew over and pierced the Fourth Mirror.
"Shut up, stupid mirror! Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll send you back for a rebuild!"
Herta's forehead was covered in black lines as she berated the Fourth Mirror.
"Waaah, I'm sorry, Beautiful Madam Herta! I won't act out again!"
Being scolded so harshly, the Fourth Mirror immediately whimpered and sobbed, sounding utterly pitiful.
Lucian, on the other hand, stayed silent, completely baffled by their interaction.
"Lucian, didn't you want to be friends with me? Here's your chance." Herta straightened her hat, flicked her hair, puffed out her chest, and struck a lively pose.
Needless to say, she was full of confidence—or rather, full of narcissism.
From her perspective, nobody in this universe didn't want to be friends with Madam Herta because she was a peerless gem, a beauty beyond compare, and unbelievably smart.
'Who could refuse the invitation of a beautiful lady like me?'
Herta thought proudly to herself as she gazed at Lucian with a charming smile gracing her face.
'He showed off in front of me by attracting Droidhead just to get my attention, right? He should hurry up and say, "Madam Herta, please be friends with me!" or something like that.'
As Herta was lost in her fantasy, Lucian curled his lips into a playful smile.
"Well, well, if I remember correctly, someone just said she'd rather die than be friends with me, though?"
"Huh? Who said that?"
Herta asked with a clueless expression, sounding genuinely confused.