Time flew by, and half a month passed quickly. Nothing particularly noteworthy occurred during this period, except perhaps Elysia's soaring popularity.
Elysia had previously delivered a public speech, but it was more of a campaign rally. Her sudden defeat of Wrath and Pride during the Eldritch Concord's surprise attack proved far more effective in boosting her reputation.
Now, half a month later, the voting process had finally concluded. Unsurprisingly, Elysia secured an overwhelming victory, officially becoming a member of the White Eagle Eight.
Yes, until now she had only been a reserve member. However, her reputation was so immense that her defeat was virtually impossible, leading everyone to preemptively consider her a member of the White Eagle Eight.
Nevertheless, upon assuming her official position, the established procedures still had to be followed. This included another speech, but this time it wouldn't be confined to Florida. Instead, it would be broadcast live across the entire White Eagle nation and even worldwide.
Of course, whether people in other countries chose to watch it was their own business. But most White Eagle citizens would undoubtedly tune in to the live stream.
White Eagle extended invitations to all other nations to attend the speech in person.
In essence, it was a grand celebration: "Look, another extraordinary talent has emerged in our nation! Such a momentous occasion calls for a grand gathering, wouldn't you agree?"
On a deeper level, the event itself served as a display of power and diplomatic prowess.
Meanwhile, in the backstage dressing room, Elysia applied her own makeup. Needing no professional assistance, she lightly enhanced her already flawless features, making her radiance even more dazzling.
As she worked, she couldn't help but marvel at her sudden transformation. Who could have imagined that she, a commoner just recently, would now be one of the eight supreme leaders of an entire nation?
In her previous life, she had been utterly ordinary. Even the other three versions of herself in this world—Robin, Firefly, and Sparkle—though renowned and powerful, had remained firmly within the realm of "ordinary people." Yet now, as Elysia, she had truly ascended to the pinnacle of global power.
Elysia didn't truly feel the weight of her power. After all, Baldy Burke handled most of the White Tower's affairs. Yet she knew her authority was staggering. If she wished, a single command could wipe a small nation off the map.
Of course, she would never commit such a heinous act. Power should never be abused.
"Hoo..." Elysia took a deep breath. Seeing it was nearly time, she set down her makeup, rose from her seat, and stepped out from behind the curtains onto the stage.
Ordinary national leaders would require a retinue of bodyguards during public speeches, always wary of assassins lurking in the shadows.
But the White Eagle Eight clearly needed no such protection. They themselves were the most powerful individuals in the nation, and arguably the world.
Meanwhile, back in the Dragon Nation at the Longcheng Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, Lü Heng sat on the sofa watching Elysia's inauguration speech live on the lobby television.
"So she actually took office," Lü Heng remarked. "But when I looked into the voting process, I realized she had no real competitors. What was the point of the election? Why not just appoint her directly instead of dragging it out for over half a month?"
Lü Heng's unusually detailed knowledge stemmed from the fact that his own vote had been among Elysia's ballots. When he cast his vote, he discovered there were no other candidates listed.
Still, he'd gone ahead and voted. As Lü Heng put it, "Having a beautiful girl take office is definitely better than some decrepit eighty-year-old geezer who can't leave the house without wearing diapers!"
At that moment, Robin, who also worked at the Bureau, chimed in, "The vote wasn't about competition; it was about verifying public support. To secure her position, the final vote tally had to exceed fifty percent of the local population."
Lü Heng blinked in surprise. "Huh?! Robin, how do you know so much about this?"
Robin smiled faintly and nodded. "I looked into it briefly a while ago."
In reality, most people rarely pay attention to foreign affairs that don't directly concern them. Lü Heng, for instance, only knew that Elysia had recently joined the White Eagle Eight. He was completely unaware of the scholars stranded in the Dimensional Rift or the Eldritch Concord's schemes.
Lü Heng's interest stemmed solely from stumbling upon Elysia's videos online and becoming a fan. Most people in the Dragon Nation probably weren't even aware that a new member had joined the White Eagle Eight.
However, Robin was none other than Elysia herself. Naturally, she knew every detail of her own appointment. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly declared, "I'm planning a concert in White Eagle."
"Hmm... Huh?" Lü Heng blinked, then stared at Robin in stunned disbelief. "Why?"
Robin continued, "Not just White Eagle. I intend to tour the world."
A global tour to share her songs with more people—a flawless reason. Of course, Robin had another motive: to use this opportunity to meet Elysia and establish a connection.
Imagine the synergy: the wildly popular pop star Robin and the renowned White Eagle Eight member Elysia, interacting intimately. It would be a dream come true for fans of both!
Lü Heng's immediate reaction was, "Can I come too?!"
It wasn't for any particular reason; he was simply Robin's biggest fan and didn't want to miss a single one of her concerts!
However, Robin immediately poured cold water on his enthusiasm, saying, "Only if Captain Zhong gives you leave."
Instantly, Lü Heng felt an intense gaze burning into him. He froze, then mechanically turned his head in slow, jerky movements to find Zhong Wanhong silently staring at him.
"Have you completed your patrol duties for today?" Zhong Wanhong asked.
"I'm sorry, Captain! I'll leave right now!"
Lü Heng leaped to his feet and bolted out of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, leaving Zhong Wanhong and Robin alone.
Zhong Wanhong sighed and turned to Robin. "I've heard things have been a bit unstable in White Eagle lately. Are you sure you want to hold your concert there?"
Robin nodded without hesitation. White Eagle might not be as safe as the Dragon Nation, but with Elysia by her side, what did she have to fear?
Unaware of this, Zhong Wanhong rubbed his temples. "Maybe I should send Yu Lin with you as security."