"Um... hello?" Ch'en offered, staring blankly at the white Cautus maiden before her. After an awkward pause, she decided it was best to open communication rather than let the suffocating silence linger.
The two were standing right outside the grand sanctuary of Wei Yenwu, the Chief of Lungmen, where Jeanne was currently engaged in closed-door discussions with the ruler. Having stood in silence for quite a while, eyeing each other with quiet wariness, Ch'en took it upon herself to break the ice.
"Greetings. I am FrostNova," the white Cautus replied, her cold tone softening slightly. Though they had never met, they shared a profound point of connection—Talulah.
"Right. I am Ch'en Hui-chieh, Senior Superintendent... and Talulah's..." Ch'en introduced herself once more, her voice trailing off near the end.
"I know. You are Talulah's sister," FrostNova noted with a small nod.
"Ah... Has she mentioned me before?" Ch'en asked, caught off guard. Yet, considering how long FrostNova had lived alongside the Draco leader, it made sense that her name had come up.
"In truth, no. She rarely speaks of her family," FrostNova answered bluntly.
Hearing this, the light in Ch'en's eyes dimmed slightly.
"However, she made a habit of writing letters to you—even if not a single one was ever sent out. Jeanne mentioned that the weight of the unsent letters Talulah wrote to you could be measured by the pound."
FrostNova's words brought a sudden swell of warmth to Ch'en's heart, and a genuine smile spontaneously touched her lips.
FrostNova blinked in slight astonishment at the sight of that simple, genuine smile. She suddenly realized that although this Lung warrior looked quite different from Talulah, the way she smiled was identical to her sister's.
"When you smile like that, you look remarkably like her," FrostNova remarked quietly.
Ch'en found herself at a total loss for words. She had never known that her smile mirrored Talulah's—partly because she had never seen her sister smile in recent years, and partly because she hadn't smiled so genuinely in a very long time.
"Would you mind sharing a few stories about Talulah when she was young? I am quite curious to know what that stubborn leader of ours was like in her earlier years," FrostNova asked, a gentle smile gracing her own features. She truly wished to discover if the formidably stern Draco had any embarrassing history from her youth.
At the mention of those early memories, Ch'en's spirits rose noticeably. The two stepped into a quiet alcove of the corridor, where Ch'en began to recount the days of their youth.
To an outsider passing by, the scene looked for all the world like two lifelong friends catching up on old times.
"Haha! To think we would meet again under such extraordinary circumstances, Jeanne! How swiftly time flies!"
Inside the lavish office, Wei Yenwu greeted Jeanne with overwhelming enthusiasm, seemingly having forgotten that during her previous visit, she had barely uttered a word to him.
"Indeed, it has been quite some time, Chief Wei," Jeanne replied, taking her seat with a composed, polite smile.
She remained entirely unphased by his imposing presence. Having traversed the realm and witnessed grand trials, why would she feel intimidation when conversing with a municipal ruler? Even if the man before her was Talulah's elder, it made no difference.
"Since we are familiar with one another, I shall skip the empty pleasantries. I wish to know Reunion's true stance toward Lungmen, as well as your precise objectives for this delegation's visit."
Wei Yenwu abandoned all diplomatic posturing. He knew full well that laying their cards openly upon the table was the most advantageous path for both factions.
The maiden sitting across from him was no ordinary figure within the Infected movement. She held the prestigious title of Saintess of Laterano, and rumors even suggested she had personally played a decisive role in quelling the civil strife of Kazdel. Just reviewing her unbelievable history gave the Chief of Lungmen a subtle headache.
"Our stance toward Lungmen? We view you simply as a neighbor—a neighbor with whom we can coexist in peace, and perhaps even collaborate with to a certain extent. As for our objectives here?"
Jeanne paused for a moment, her smile widening slightly as she spoke with smooth, measured grace.
"We are simply offering our assistance to Chief Wei, helping you clear out a bit of the dark, neglected corners of Lungmen."
Wei Yenwu's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. Clearing out the dark corners? She was simply framing a mass recruitment drive in charming language—specifically targeting those struggling to survive in his city's shadows.
"Is that so? I do not believe Lungmen requires external intervention to manage its internal affairs. Our city stands strong," Wei Yenwu countered with firm confidence. He certainly possessed the authority to make such a bold claim.
Though the slums remained a thorn in the side of the administration, it was merely an issue that could be addressed when necessary, far from a threat capable of dismantling Lungmen's future.
"That may not hold true forever," Jeanne noted gently. "Just as the government's patience toward the slums wanes, the endurance of the people living within those dark alleyways is steadily reaching its limit. Surely Chief Wei would prefer to avoid a day where violent, bloody chaos erupts within your borders?"
Her words struck straight at the core of reality. As days passed, the friction between the wealthy metropolis and its impoverished underbelly was growing increasingly impossible to soothe.
"Rather than allowing tension to boil over, a mutually beneficial arrangement serves us both better. We shall invite those who are willing to journey with us to depart, which in turn reduces the burden on your city's lower levels, buying your administration ample time to implement long-term solutions."
It was indeed a compelling choice, a reality Wei Yenwu could not deny. Removing a portion of the city's volatile elements would make future governance vastly smoother.
Furthermore, such a move would spark little public backlash. The citizenry of the upper levels would likely celebrate, rejoicing that those they viewed as troublesome had finally departed.
Wei Yenwu considered pushing the matter further, but recognizing the immense sincerity of Jeanne's proposal, he realized demanding more would be unreasonable. With a slow nod, he granted his approval.
"Very well. Now, allow me to raise a more personal inquiry. Can you guarantee that the Talulah leading Chernobog today is truly herself—and not a puppet inheriting the legacy of Kashchey, the Black Snake?"
Wei Yenwu could not cast his anxieties aside. Even after his brief direct dialogue with Talulah, the shadow of Kashchey haunted his thoughts. After all, the Draco girl had been raised and shaped by that insidious creature.
Jeanne looked at the powerful ruler, unsure whether to admire his extreme caution or pity his deep-seated trauma regarding Kashchey. The man's wariness toward anything linked to the Black Snake was carved into his very bones.
Perhaps the ancient serpent had inflicted such profound scars in the past that the mere mention of his name triggered an inescapable defensive response.
"She is not. Talulah is by no means the heir to Kashchey's madness. Of that, I am entirely certain," Jeanne stated flatly.
Yet, she could tell from his expression that Wei Yenwu was not fully convinced.
"Is that so..." Wei Yenwu murmured, his gaze drifting out the expansive window to look over the bustling skyline of Lungmen. The profound vigilance in his heart toward the Black Snake remained unyielding—a permanent ghost haunting his mind, even with the creature dead and gone.
"In that case, let us dwell on it no longer. You undoubtedly have pressing tasks awaiting your attention during this visit. I shall instruct my officers to grant your delegation proper clearance. It is my sincere hope that our two cities can maintain a peaceful coexistence."
Wei Yenwu offered a polite smile, though his eyes remained entirely unreadable. Seeing that formal business had concluded, Jeanne prepared to take her leave.
She still needed to assist Skullshatterer and his group in locating their displaced family members among the vast, sprawling labyrinths of the Lungmen slums—and then persuade those weary citizens to place their trust in her and join the journey to Chernobog. It was going to be an immensely challenging task.
"Ah, before you depart," Wei Yenwu called out as Jeanne reached the threshold. "Judging by your faction's recent movements, you appear to be experiencing a severe shortage of capable administrative minds. Would you be interested if I introduced an exceptionally talented individual to your ranks?"
Jeanne paused in surprise. A ruler of Lungmen offering to recommend local talent to an outside faction? She turned back to study his expression, trying to decipher his underlying motives.
"If such an individual is truly available, I would certainly welcome the introduction!" Jeanne agreed after a quick moment of reflection.
She was already planning to recruit from the city's populace anyway; there was no reason to turn down a direct offer. If the Chief intended to plant a spy within her ranks, he wouldn't need to make such an overt proposal—he could simply slip an operative into the crowd without her knowledge.
"Very well. I shall reach out to her," Wei Yenwu nodded. "She used to serve under my command, though we have not spoken in quite some time."
With that agreement reached, Jeanne bowed politely and exited the grand office, leaving the Chief of Lungmen to formulate his plans to contact his former subordinate.