"It seems it's time to leave." Angel removed the screen, pressed a few buttons, and everything began to retract.
"Oh, look here," she said, scanning Angela from head to toe. "Now you're in the system—you won't need my help to return."
"Angel…"
"Yes?" Angel stopped when she heard her name.
"What would have happened if Abby had listened to those people and stopped her idea of copying and summarizing the diaries?" Angela asked, gazing at the empty space where the hologram had been.
"…." Angel considered, then answered carefully.
"It's similar to what would have happened if Nina hadn't left for the lesser-known tribes."
Angel began toward the exit, noticing her sister lagging behind.
She called out, "Angela, we need to go."
Angela snapped back to reality and spoke, "Couldn't Nina have just paid for her son not to go to war? Why go through all that trouble? I know it worked out, but I still don't understand her motivation."
"She didn't leave because of the war," Angel explained, pulling up a holographic map from her watch to give Angela a visual of the resources.
"The country had ample resources, just like we do now," she continued, letting Angela glance at the projection to understand the scale.
"But because of the people's demands, it was very difficult to transfer energy and resources without depending on others," Angel added, her eyes tracing the holographic map.
"It put them in a tough situation," she added, emphasizing her point.
As Angel led her sister down the hallway, their movements were observed by the first-born daughter, Grace Piao, through a hologram screen.
"Heh…" Grace's quiet, angry chuckle echoed through the meeting room, making everyone sweat in fear.
The assistant who had witnessed the exchange glanced up, realizing that Deputy Head Angel Piao was in deep trouble yet again—but at least it meant an easy month ahead for her.
Grace's quiet, angry chuckle lingered longer than anyone dared, a storm no one knew how to stop… yet.
Theater Play — Baby Angel and the Tree of Knowledge
Some time ago, in the area surrounding the Tree of Knowledge, the leaves shimmered in the sunlight, whispering secrets that only the brave or foolish might dare to seek.
Angel froze, her eyes locking on something just out of reach.
It was the Tree of Knowledge.
Little Angel, a teenager then, bolted toward it, her heart pounding, as if pulled by some invisible thread.
"Angel! Stop!"
Her mother's voice rang out, cutting through the rustling leaves. But Angel didn't listen. Not yet.
Before anyone else could react, her mother tackled her to the ground, pinning her small, determined body.
Angel laughed nervously, trying to wiggle free, but her mother's grip was firm.
The scariest part? Her mother's glare—sharp, unyielding, impossible to ignore.
Finally, her mother humored her, pulling her to her feet while keeping a careful hold to prevent her from running back toward the Tree of Knowledge.
"You will not go near the Tree of Knowledge without my supervision," her mother warned, voice low and strict. "Not until you can resist its pull."
Angel stumbled, still giggling nervously, glancing back once at the tree. Its leaves shimmered like a promise, whispering secrets she wasn't allowed to know… yet.
Her mind already turned, a goal forming: to one day find a way to access the knowledge it carried without facing any backlash.