When Siren returned to her quarters, her mood was somber. The cold metallic walls and the enclosed room, which had never bothered her before, now felt suffocating. Still, her thoughts were elsewhere.
"So… let's say we succeed. What do we do after that?" she asked as she removed her mask and placed it on the table. They had ensured several times that no cameras or bees were watching. Yes, even the bees could be spies.
James exhaled slightly and unfolded in his mini-form, throwing himself right in front of the mask.
"There's nothing to do but wait. We need to head for Gamma City at the first opportunity when the time is right and we won't arouse suspicion. That's where the professor's experiments are usually conducted. Your mother will likely be there as well."
James and Siren shared a common goal: reaching Esther's mother and establishing contact with Spectra. Though the plan filled Siren with excitement, it also stirred countless fears and uncertainties. Yet, her desire to confront her mother outweighed those doubts.
For now, all they could do was wait.
***
Meanwhile, in Heaven, nestled within the Humility galaxy, it was yet another sunny day. Even when the sky darkened, this place never plunged into complete darkness—a paradise that knew no shadows.
In one of the restaurants, Fox sat sipping a smoothie, dressed in her work uniform. She had removed her short golden tie and placed it on the table, leaving her long navy one neatly in place. Her grand, phoenix-like golden wings were folded inward, giving her an air of subdued elegance. Quietly, she sipped her drink while observing the other angels around her.
Many of them, when off duty, chose to revert to their original physical colors rather than sticking with the color palettes engraved into their phenotypes during Ascension. Seeing this, Fox couldn't help but feel a little out of place. Her eyes and hair had always been golden tones, even before Ascension.
As a member of the Divine Fox lineage, these colors were something she had been born with. The only new addition was her pair of wings.
"Maybe I shouldn't have invited her…" she thought to herself. It had been a few weeks, and she still hadn't managed to find a lawyer.
To be honest, she didn't have many connections or friends to begin with. Of the ones she did know, none seemed capable of handling a case of this magnitude. The only person she was truly close to was an angel who had supported her during her early Ascension days and whom she still maintained a relationship with.
Even so, she felt embarrassed to ask for help. But what choice did she have? She glanced at the amount of points she had accumulated. Most angels, after reaching a certain level, gave up the ambition to climb higher and instead focused on living in the moment.
After all, once someone Ascended, they became acutely aware of how insignificant the universe and everything within it truly was. For Ascended beings, the gods of some universes were as insignificant as ants.
This awareness made aiming higher seem meaningless to many. Why did power exist? Many reasons could be given: to use it, to protect it. But climbing further, for many angels, was seen as an unnecessary burden in exchange for that power.
Fox couldn't help but agree with this perspective to some extent. Each level of Ascension came with greater responsibilities, from managing a simple company to governing an entire universe.
Without a clear purpose, an insatiable hunger for power, or unwavering loyalty to Heaven, Fox felt such an endeavor was utterly pointless.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle voice.
"Hello, Foxianna-chan. You look troubled."
The sound of her full name made her ears twitch and her cheeks flush. Turning to the speaker, she saw a beautiful angel with emerald-green eyes. Her suit was a paler shade of green than Fox's own eyes. As an Archangel, she enjoyed such small but satisfying privileges.
She had two elegant white wings on her back, but also two smaller wings sprouting from above her ears. These tiny wings, nestled among her golden hair, gave her a charming and exotic appearance. Fox stood up and embraced her.
"Palka, how many times do I have to tell you to just call me Fox? Using my full name… it's embarrassing."
Palka laughed, patting her back. In a teasing tone, she replied, "I just love your reaction. I can't help it."
Fox smiled despite herself as she released the hug. Then she noticed something different about Palka and raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with surprise.
"Did you rank up again?"
Like Fox, Palka worked in the Reincarnation Department, though they were in different sections. Palka was in logistics for the Kindness Division. Their jobs didn't differ much, but Fox was well aware of how difficult it was to achieve two consecutive promotions.
Palka smiled enigmatically and offered a vague explanation: "The huge investment I made in the last reincarnated has paid off handsomely."
Fox looked like she was about to say something but then hesitated. She could ask about it later. Judging by Palka's expression, she didn't seem eager to discuss it further. However, the happiness on her face made it clear that the reincarnated she had helped must have reached an extraordinary level of power.
Every time a reincarnated succeeded, those in the Reincarnation Department received bonuses. Naturally, the size of the bonus depended on the reincarnated's strength and how high they climbed in their respective universe.
Even so, Fox had never heard of a reincarnated yielding such a massive payout. Her only conclusion was that Palka's reincarnated must have been a monster!
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she sincerely said, "Congrats on your promotion." Her wagging tail betrayed her genuine excitement for her friend.
Fox knew that Palka aspired to become a city administrator. Even though her domain was "Kindness," she often felt that not enough of it was being practiced. Each step she took toward her goal filled Fox with happiness.
Palka's smile softened, and even her tone grew gentler.
"Thank you."
They began to chat about mundane things, and when Fox finally explained why she had called her, Palka listened with a kind but increasingly concerned expression. Her brows furrowed, and the small wings above her ears twitched.
When Fox finished, Palka conjured a system window before her, reached into it, and retrieved a steaming cup of tea. Instead of speaking immediately, she took a sip and exhaled lightly.
When she finally spoke, her voice betrayed both worry and astonishment.
"I didn't expect the situation to escalate to this extent."
Palka knew Fox was relatively new to the job—an "amateur" by most standards. But for her to make such a rookie mistake, compounded by an even bigger error… it surprised her. With a serious tone, she asked:
"Could it be… are you in love with this James?"
The bluntness of the question stunned Fox. Her ears shot straight up, her tail stiffened nervously, and her cheeks turned crimson as a wave of heat rushed through her body.
"Not at all!" she blurted out, her voice louder than intended. When she noticed the disapproving stares of those around her, she quickly apologized. Fidgeting with her fingers, the redness in her face faded to a soft pink.
"I just… didn't want anyone to suffer because of what I did."
Her words, spoken with a trace of guilt, now sounded like an excuse. There was clearly a deeper connection, and she knew it. After a brief pause, she added:
"Besides, he's one of the few people I talk to besides you."
Still, her words felt incomplete. She decided not to dwell on it too much. Palka, meanwhile, gazed at her with an amused glint in her eyes and chuckled.
"I knew it, but your reactions really are adorable, Foxianna-chan."
Fox tried to pout, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "You're the worst."
Even as she teased, Palka's focus shifted to finding a solution. A series of system windows opened before her, and her demeanor grew serious.
"Well… let's see what we can do."
Palka's words made Fox's tail pause momentarily before wagging excitedly again. This meant she was going to help!