Bai Shaojun had surrendered.
Which meant the Sunrise Faction was crippled—at least halfway.
Half, because most of its members were radical young elites.
They wouldn't necessarily stop fighting just because their leader was captured.
But delay was inevitable.
And in a war of timing—
Delay was equivalent to paralysis.
It didn't matter much.
From the beginning, Eve had only wanted two things from cooperating with the Sunrise Faction:
First—use them to pin down part of the Elder Council's forces.
Second—use the chaos to launch a coup and assassinate the Capital Guard's Supreme Commander.
Letting Sunrise seize military authority had always been a smokescreen.
Now, however—
With Sunrise troops slowed…
The ones securing the city center would be neutral forces.
Which meant—
The Elders would escape.
Neutral troops would never execute Elder Council members without judicial authorization.
"Sis, Elder Council units are withdrawing," Feng Mi reported.
"Through the Capital Guard zone controlled by the young faction?" Eve asked.
"Yes."
That confirmed it.
The Elders were retreating through Sunrise-controlled territory.
Capturing Bai Shaojun wouldn't make Sunrise surrender—
But using him as a hostage to negotiate safe passage?
Very possible.
Eve could issue a direct override order right now.
Force the young faction to attack.
But that carried risk.
If too many of the officers sent to take over the army were loyal to Bai Shaojun…
They could defect at any moment.
And the fact they let the Elders pass without informing her—
Already hinted at that possibility.
"Let them go," Eve said finally.
"Do nothing."
Now wasn't the time for more variables.
If that army mutinied…
And clashed with neutral forces inside the city…
The Elders could return at any moment.
A deep rumble shook the exterior.
"Capital Guard has arrived," Feng Mi said.
She meant the neutral division.
The Sunrise-controlled troops were still circling en route.
The engine thunder belonged to heavy military transports.
The automatic doors slid open.
More than a dozen fully armed soldiers stormed in.
Weapons hot.
Safeties off.
Their captain stepped forward.
Tall. Weathered face.
He removed his helmet before Eve—
Then dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty. An honor to meet you."
Eve raised her hand slightly.
Signaling him to rise.
They had arrived.
Which meant—
The game was over.
She would now be placed under military protection.
And once protected—
She could no longer make moves.
As for the Elder Council…
Their private troops were light units.
Against regular forces with heavy weapons—
They were less than cannon fodder.
Their gear was only good for bullying city police.
"Your Majesty, please come with us," the captain said.
He gestured respectfully.
Under escort, Eve exited the Network Administration Complex.
She boarded a small military aircraft with the captain.
Until formal command transfer was completed—
She had no authority to issue orders to this army.
Meaning—
She could do nothing about the escaping Elders.
As long as the Elders lived—
The struggle wasn't over.
What was meant to be a purge…
Had become the opening shot of civil war within Eden.
Not the best outcome.
But she couldn't risk sending troops into Sunrise-controlled zones now.
There was a ninety-percent chance of armed conflict.
The commanders would never approve it.
The previous schism had already placed both armies in a semi-hostile state.
One spark—
Could ignite the powder keg.
And if that happened—
First City would be reduced to rubble.
These weren't Elder militias.
These were regular armies with heavy weapons.
One misfire—
Could erase half the city.
The farce was over.
Not perfect.
But Eve had achieved her core objective—
Chaos.
Now the Elders wouldn't have the bandwidth to deal with Adam.
Playing with fire had always been risky.
This result…
Was acceptable.
But the aftermath would be harder.
After this—
The Elder Council would be far more dangerous.
Future problems.
For later.
For now—
There were bigger fires burning.
City Perimeter
Inside a speeding military off-road vehicle—
An Elder asked nervously:
"Elder Chen… where are we heading?"
They hadn't dared use aircraft.
Even with Bai Shaojun as hostage—
If anything went wrong mid-air…
There'd be no escape.
They were still crossing hostile territory.
"Britain," Chen Xiangdong said coldly.
Hatred filled his eyes.
He wanted to tear Eve apart.
The British Isles were an Eden colonial stronghold.
Home to the world's most powerful navy.
Their defeat today—
Came down to underestimation.
And misplaced trust in Wang Chenxing.
The Elders were political veterans.
But they'd never torn the mask off this violently.
Compared to gunfire—
They were more used to courtroom arguments.
First City's political climate had always been… civilized.
Until today.
From now on—
Power would speak.
Research Facility
Scientists gathered in the lab, watching Eve's broadcast.
Suddenly—
The mechanical doors burst open.
Soldiers flooded in.
Weapons raised.
Safeties off.
They surrounded the researchers instantly.
"What are you doing?!" an elderly scientist shouted.
"By order of the Elder Council," the squad leader said.
"We are taking custody of this research subject."
He pointed—
At the angel inside the cultivation tank.
"The Elder Council is illegal now!" a young researcher yelled.
Gunshot.
"Bang—"
He dropped instantly.
Blood spread beneath him.
Silence crushed the lab.
"…Take it," the old scientist said weakly.
He pointed at the angel.
Aircraft Cabin
"Sis," Feng Mi whispered into her comm.
"Another Elder group seized airport aircraft."
"They're heading to Moscow."
Eve glanced sideways at the captain beside her.
"Understood," she said calmly.
"Your Majesty, we'll handle it," the captain replied expressionlessly.
Handle it?
How?
Missiles?
Shoot them down?
Eve stared out the cockpit window.
These rigid soldiers still didn't understand.
"Moscow…" she murmured.
Eden's heavy industrial base.
Shipyards. Foundries. War factories.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"So that's your move…"
Her eyes darkened.
"The civil war…"
"Will be brutal."