Chapter 246
Chapter 247 Secrets Laid Bare
looked over at Yannis, waiting for him to go on.
Learning Yoren was buying her time, Lyra slowly formed a clear idea of what she needed to say once they arrived.
The hovercar pulled away from White Citadel, heading toward Core Prime’s political district.
As soon as they entered the zone, the craft was halted for thorough security screening.
When they neared the towering castle-like complex, they were ordered to step out.
Flynn and his squad were not permitted to advance any further.
Escorted by a detachment of Core Prime soldiers, Lyra and Yannis walked toward the massive, gilded main gates.
Deep crimson carpet stretched out beneath them, rich as spilled blood, heavy and suffocating to the heart. Rows of guards lined every corridor, each holding cold black firearms.
Lyra’s nerves tightened.
Yannis stepped forward.
“I’ve brought Ms. Kaelin p>
Guards at the door sent word inside at once.
Moments later, the great doors swung open.
Only Lyra was allowed to pass through.
A man in glasses, dressed in a collared shirt and waistcoat, led her across the vast assembly hall toward a smaller side doorway.
“Ms. Kaelin, please p>
The side door opened for her.
Lyra’s gaze locked immediately onto the elderly man seated in the central high-back chair.
His garments were lavish, yet illness lingered plainly over him.
Clouded eyes fixed sharply on her, glinting with quiet delight.
Several other imposing figures sat beside him. Yoren was among them.
Off to one side hung a large electronic display.
On-screen sat a stern, grim-faced man in unilitary uniform behind a desk.
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Chapter 247 Secrets Laid Bare
The door clicked shut behind her.
stepped forward under the weight of multiple probing, unyielding stares.
“Ms. Kaelin, take a seat.
The prime minister sounded like a kind old tnan as he hoarsely invited her to sit.
Lyra glanced along the long conference table and picked a spot as far from the others as she could.
She wore a stiff, uneasy smile, shoulders hunched, appearing timid and unassuming.
She typed, “Thank you, Mr. Thorne p>
The prime minister smiled gently.
“I should be thanking you. Thank you for becoming an important member of the Federation.
“With you among us, the Federation holds real hope for its future p>
While he spoke, the other men said nothing. They studied her in silence, like beasts lurking in shadow watching prey walk straight into their territory.
Lyra had only ever seen high-ranking national leaders on broadcast feeds before.
Never had she shared a room with people whose every decision could shake the entire world-and there were so many of them.
The pressure weighed heavily.
Still, her mind stayed sharp.
The more intimidated she felt, the calmer she mute girl from humble origins.
eded to act. She had to play the part of a quiet, unworldly
She typed, “You give me too much credit, Mr. Thorne p>
If she had a choice, she would never want to belong to this cold, selfish, rigid system.
Lyra stole quick glances at the rest of the assembly.
Aside from Yoren, she recognized no one.
Keeping her demeanor humble beneath the prime minister’s genial smile, she typed, “May I ask why you have summoned me today p>
The prime minister did not answer. A man seated on his right spoke instead.
“Whenever a Tier-3S Guide emerges, the prime minister grants a personal audience.
“Tier-3S is only one rank above other Guides, yet the raw psychic power is far more than a simple numerical difference.
“With you on the battlefield, Sentinels fight without fear hanging over their heads. They push forward
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unburdened, expanding territory for Hophrin and building unbreakable safety for countless civilians.
Or are the Sentinels most powerful source of reassurance. You stabilize the entire Federation’s Sentinel population.
Do you understand what I am saying p>
Lyra nodded quickly, looking surprised.
“I understand p>
It sounded like empty rhetoric.
Now that they had laid out her strengths, the downsides would follow.
Sure enough, he went on.
“But you must already know. While a Guide’s gifts are one-of-a-kind, your physical forms are fragile. In fact, because of the abilities you possess, you may face more frequent and more serious harm than ordinary people.
“Beyond exhaustion and injury from using your abilities, psychic monsters are drawn silently to you. Then there are the rebels-ruthless agitators who sow chaos and fight against everything the Federation stands for.
“That is why the Federation military must provide round-the-clock protection to keep you alive.
“Guides and Sentinels are meant to complement and sustain one another. Only together can you safeguard the Federation p>
Lyra nodded from time to time, signaling she followed every word.
At this point, the man glanced toward Yoren.
“Yet we have heard there is something uniquely special about you p>
Lyra turned her gaze that way too.
Yoren watched her steadily.
She typed, “Yes. It may be because I often spent time with animals in the wild. When I purify spirit animals, I feel no fatigue at all p>
In plain terms, she possessed no energy limit. She could keep purifying Sentinels non-stop, like a machine that never ran down.
Her plain confirmation drew subtle shifts across the faces in the room.
On the electronic screen, Rainer’s jaw tightened. His eyes darted quickly toward the men seated at the main table.
Why had this little girl revealed her trump card the moment she arrived?
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.