Chapter 588: Chapter 588 – Taming the Swarm – 3

Purple banners began rising from each tower of the city, visible from kilometers away like beacons of desperation cutting through the smoky air. They were followed by flashes of light.

The visual display was a formal acknowledgment.

Almost immediately, Selphira could feel changes in the political dynamics of the city. She knew that in mansions and castles throughout the territory, noble families were rapidly evaluating what resources they could mobilize and what achievements they could claim.

The general crisis declaration had opened doors that would be impossible to close once the immediate threat passed.

♢♢♢♢

A new messenger arrived from the castle’s direction, his mount breathing heavily from the urgent flight across the city’s chaotic landscape.

“Matriarch! Report from the main castle! Several minor families have begun mobilizing forces! There are also reports that some groups are requesting permission for direct actions outside the wall and in Yino!”

Selphira felt a mixture of hope and concern while observing the tactical movements beginning to deploy, though she noticed something that disturbed her deeply.

The Starweaver zone wasn’t being defended by the Starweavers themselves.

Selphira had assumed they would do something like this, but seeing it happen affected her mood more than she had anticipated. The political maneuvering was beginning even as civilians on the Yino side died, and the cynicism of it left a bitter taste that had nothing to do with the smoke-filled air.

Instead of protecting their own territory, they were directing themselves to Yino that was closer to the Goldcrest side making the march longer just to “cross-support” with other families. Meanwhile, forces from Goldcrest territory were heading far too, to the abandoned Starweaver territory.

Selphira realised fast why this was the case. It was a calculated movement that exploited legal loopholes in antiquated rules…

The regulations allowed families to claim achievements for defending territories that had been “abandoned” in crisis, regardless of whether the abandonment had been strategic.

In this case, they sought to further damage Sirius’s low standing as their leader, since he, who had left to seek a solution and whose territory could be considered “abandoned” in a certain bureaucratic sense, couldn’t react to it.

Selphira immediately realized what they were doing in collusion with the ex-Goldcrest territory families to gain more weight in their future recognition claims…

By not defending a territory that bore their “same surname”, even though it was part of another faction’s territory within their family, it wouldn’t be easy to argue it had been their “obligation” from the beginning.

These types of loopholes she could see now during a crisis showed her these were rules that should definitely be corrected, but now that she saw how they would be used, it was too late to do anything about it.

It was always like this in her experience… humans tended to react after accidents happened, not before.

But there was nothing to do now, since Dragarion wasn’t present to enforce fairer protocols, so she would have to let these political maneuvers pass.

The important thing was the military support they would provide and that it arrives quickly, regardless of the political motivations behind it.

Even within her own family, some parts more distant from her direct control and family branches that had disagreed with her policies, with various stubborn elders leading factions, were going to want to make similar moves to maximize their own benefits.

So this time Selphira didn’t blame the individual players, but the “game”, the complete system. Rules designed to be manipulated by those with sufficient legal knowledge and resources to exploit their weaknesses.

It was a bitter reflection to have in the middle of a genuine crisis, but the crisis itself was revealing just how old and broken their political structure had become.

♢♢♢♢

In the castle, Luna, Liora, and Larissa had finally managed to gather all the necessary documents. An hour of meticulous work with legal codes and historical precedents had produced a complete set of paperwork that would, technically, legitimize Luna’s actions during the crisis.

The documents were spread across Larissa’s desk like a battle plan drawn in ink and legal terminology, each piece carefully crafted to exploit the same kind of bureaucratic loopholes the noble families were using outside.

“We only need one more thing,” Larissa murmured, studying the documents with the focused attention of someone who had spent years learning to navigate legal complexities.

“What?” Luna asked, hoping it wouldn’t be something impossible to obtain.

“A seal issued by the royal family. Specifically, we need to activate this official seal.”

Larissa drew out an ornate medallion. It was clearly an artifact of authority, designed to authenticate documents of importance.

“But it can only be activated by a Royal with strong earth control from a Gold Rank Qilin.”

Liora frowned, her mind immediately working through potential solutions. “Can’t it be any earth control? Doesn’t your fairy…”

“I’m a Royal and have earth control, but my Silver Rank fairy is dual-element and doesn’t have control at that level,” Larissa explained. “Her specialization is more directed toward pure minerals and light manipulation. It’s very different from the raw earth control that’s needed.”

She sat heavily, clearly frustrated but strangely smiling…

“Women in royalty generally don’t have Qilins. At least it’s extremely rare in the kingdom’s history.”

“Why?” Matilda asked, who had been listening from near the door with growing concern about their plan.

“Power gatekeeping I guess,” Larissa responded with bitter resignation. “It’s something quite sexist that I don’t like at all. It’s part of all these old rules that should be corrected but are too entrenched in the system.”

It was a frustration similar to what Selphira was feeling at the walls, though Larissa had no way of knowing that.

“But,” Larissa continued, her small smile growing on her face, “thanks to Ren, I now have a trick.”

She approached the window and summoned both her beasts in complete form.

Her Wind Lynx, which had evolved during recent months, had now become a Horned Snow Spirit, its form more ethereal and powerful than before. Her mineral fairy had undergone an even more dramatic transformation, now converted into a Greater Spiritual Fairy that radiated luminous power. The two creatures were magnificent, their combined presence filling the room.

“When they fuse completely,” Larissa explained, “my control of wind, water, light, and earth increases to an enormous level. High Gold level, temporarily.”

Luna understood immediately. “You can activate the seal if you use your dull fusion?”

“For a moment, yes. But we would have to get the seal from Arturo’s office first.”

The implications were clear. They needed to infiltrate and steal an official artifact during a military crisis.

“Where exactly is Arturo’s office?” Luna asked.

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