Chapter 921: Alternate Timeline: At Celestra (9)

She took one step closer and said. "Tomorrow will become a memorable day for you. Perhaps it will even be one of the happiest days of your life. Who knows? You may even shed tears of joy."

Gideon’s brows rose.

For a moment, his sharp mind, which had just solved a forest fire puzzle, found itself standing before an entirely different mystery.

"What does that mean?"

His voice was no longer composed and analytical. It carried genuine curiosity.

Gideon was not a man easily tempted by wealth or luxury.

As a five-star Rank spirit warrior, he had access to resources that most people could only dream of, yet his true passions were books, ancient ruins, lost histories, and secrets buried beneath time itself.

A divine artifact might interest him for a moment.

A forgotten manuscript could keep him awake for nights.

So when Kiara spoke with such confidence, he immediately understood that whatever she intended was aimed not at his purse, but at his heart.

Whether it was knowledge, revelation, or the fulfillment of some long-cherished wish, he could not tell.

But he believed her.

After a moment, Gideon inclined his head. "Then I shall look forward to tomorrow."

Kiara chuckled softly. "Trust me. You will not be disappointed."

By then, they had reached the guest quarters.

The royal knight opened the door and stepped aside.

Kiara turned toward Gideon. "Good night, Your Highness."

"And a pleasant night to you as well, Miss Kiara."

Their eyes met for a brief second, each carrying a different thought.

Gideon was trying to guess what miracle tomorrow would bring.

Kiara was thinking about a captive king hidden in darkness and the storm she intended to unleash before dawn.

She stepped into her room and closed the door behind her.

The latch clicked softly.

Inside, the room was still.

Kiara removed her outer robe, lay down, and closed her eyes.

In the neighboring room, Zion stood motionless, waiting with the silent patience of a machine until his next command arrived.

Meanwhile, Gideon returned to his own chambers. The servants helped him change into comfortable night clothes before withdrawing quietly. Once alone, he sat at the edge of his bed and let out a long breath.

Kiara’s words echoed through his mind.

One of the happiest days of your life. You may even cry in happiness.

Gideon stared at the dark canopy above him.

What could it be?

He had little interest in jewels.

He did not care for expensive garments.

The only things capable of moving him so deeply were discoveries that shattered his understanding of the world.

Could Kiara have found an ancient ruin?

A lost portal?

A forgotten text from another civilization?

His imagination began galloping like a horse released onto an open plain.

After several minutes, another thought suddenly struck him.

"The gift."

His eyes widened slightly.

Kiara had presented him with a gift earlier, and in the flow of conversation, he had completely forgotten about it.

With renewed curiosity, Gideon reached into his storage ring and retrieved the package.

He removed the wrapping carefully.

Inside was a sleek metal box.

The word "Nexus" was engraved on the lid in elegant lettering, and an eye was engraved, the insignia of the store.

The box itself appeared simple, fashioned from polished stainless steel, cool to the touch and free of ornamentation, yet its smooth finish and perfect construction hinted at craftsmanship beyond ordinary smiths.

Gideon lifted the lid. Nestled inside lay a glossy black revolver with a long five-inch barrel.

Beside it was a note.

Gideon picked up the weapon first. It was heavier than it looked, dense and perfectly balanced, like an object designed with ruthless precision.

Then he read the instructions and the brief personal message.

As he finished reading, genuine surprise flickered across his face. "This is the ether firearm that has not yet been released?"

He turned the revolver over in his hand.

The idea that Kiara would gift him such a thing on their first meeting was unexpected. His gaze sharpened. "Who exactly is supplying her with these weapons?"

A more startling possibility rose in his mind.

What if Kiara were not merely the front for some hidden master?

What if she herself had played a role in creating them?

The thought was as shocking as lightning.

Yet he dismissed it after a moment.

The intelligence reports about Kiara’s whole 25 years of life contained nothing extraordinary.

Celestra’s spy network might not be compared to Phoenix Empire’s WEB, but they still considered one of the top five spy networks on the continent. If there were such a monumental secret, surely some trace would have surfaced. Unless, of course, the truth was buried deeper than anyone suspected.

Gideon exhaled slowly.

Tonight had raised more questions than it answered. Still holding the Ether Pistol, he lay down and eventually drifted into sleep, his final thoughts circling around Kiara’s promise and the mysteries surrounding her.

Hours passed.

The palace fell silent.

The grand halls that had echoed with voices and footsteps now rested beneath the watch of moonlight and armored sentries.

At precisely 2:35 a.m., Kiara’s eyes opened.

There was no groggy confusion, no reluctant stirring.

One moment, she slept.

The next, she was fully awake as if an invisible hand had touched her shoulder and whispered that the appointed hour had arrived.

She reached into her inventory and pulled out her pocket watch.

The hands and numbers glowed faintly in the darkness.

"2:35."

She sat up and ran a hand through her hair.

"So I slept for nearly five hours."

Kiara rose from the bed, crossed the room, and entered the washroom. Cool water splashed across her face, washing away the final traces of drowsiness. Droplets slid down her cheeks and fell into the basin with soft, rhythmic taps.

When she returned, she extinguished the light and stood in the darkness.

Then she spoke quietly.

"Open the pending notifications."

A translucent screen shimmered into existence before her.

The hidden quest notification floated at its center.

Kiara pressed Accept.

[Ding! You accepted the quest.]

[Ding! Would you like to be teleported to the quest location or wait?]

[Warning: If you choose to wait, then you will have to go to the location manually.]

Kiara smiled faintly.

"This is exactly why I left the notification unopened."

Without hesitation, she selected teleportation.

Another message appeared.

[Ding! Androids Zion and Noah can be teleported to the quest location along with you. Would you like to take them along?]

Kiara folded her arms and thought carefully.

"Noah would be the better choice. But I cannot leave Arceus without protection."

Her gaze shifted toward the wall that separated her from Zion’s room.

"Zion is not strong enough yet."

She paused.

Then determination settled over her features.

"But if I equip him with the divine sword now instead of waiting for his breakthrough, he should be able to hold his own."

Another thought surfaced, and she smiled.

"I may need disguises as well."

She remembered the plain masks and black robes she had purchased after getting the idea from Icarus Veyne.

The irony amused her.

"I should thank him someday."

Kiara looked at the glowing system screen and gave her final command.

"Let’s begin."

The room fell utterly still.

Then, without a sound, Kiara and Zion vanished from their chambers.