Zen had promised himself eleven minutes of peace.
He only got four.
He was still in the cultivation pool with his eyes closed when the System flagged the alert.
"System. What is it?"
[Valeria's golden signature has appeared on the north access tunnel feed. Already past the third checkpoint. Moving at a steady pace.]
"Intercept probability before she reaches this floor?"
[Calculating...]
[Nyx has seventeen active security checkpoints between the border entrance and your current location. She has deactivated all seventeen. Valeria will arrive in approximately seven minutes.]
"Nyx deactivated them herself?"
[Correct. She has been watching the signature since the border crossing and has made no attempt to redirect it.]
Zen opened one eye and looked at the ceiling.
"Why?"
[Three probable explanations.]
[Option A: She wants to observe how Valeria behaves in her domain before revealing her hand. Probability: 41%.]
