Chapter 357
er 358 A Trap Woven in Shadows
Specter sent, “You look stuck, Guide. Want to hear a little piece of advice p>
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
He had clearly been waiting for her to ask.
“What are you planning p>
45 Pearls
Specter replied, “We’ve got a reliable candidate to suggest. Once Finnian is dead, you get him installed as Director of the Oversight Council. Then the Oversight Council will answer to you p>
Lyra llet out a cold mental scoff.
Did they take her for an idiot?
“You already have people planted inside the Oversight Council? Who is it p>
Instead of answering. Specter shot another question back.
“First–what do you think of that plan p>
Lyra was not ready to burn their bridge yet, so she avoided calling them out outright.
“Do I really hold that much sway over who becomes Oversight Council Director p>
Specter replied, “You will soon p>
Lyra immediately caught the hidden undertone behind those words.
“What else are you plotting p>
Specter offered no direct reply. “You’ll find out when the time comes. We’ll take on the hit on Finnian for
you p>
Lyra’s brows drew tight.
“Wait. Do not pull some huge–public–spectacle stunt like last time p>
Specter replied, “Got it p>
Once the conversation ended, Lyra stared at her Star Brain, frozen for a long while.
She replayed Specter’s words in her head.
What were these people really after?
Whom could she even warn?
Should she get mixed up in all this trouble on Core Prime?
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Chapter 358 Trap Woven in Shadows
Pushing distant worries aside, she thought about the soon–to–be–vacant director’s seat.
Whom should she back for the position?
+5 Pearls
Rebel operatives were completely out of the question. They thrived on stabbing others in the back.
The people she knew within the Oversight Council were Kael, Zev, and Elan.
Elan, whom she had personally purified, seemedNike the obvious best pick.
Unfortunately, Core Prime had sent him out on a field assignment. Given his Tier–3S rating, officials would almost certainly keep her from having easy access to him.
Kael was eager to align himself with her, yet he had only joined the Oversight Council recently.
Even setting aside his plan to resign and become her Sentinel, climbing all the way to director would not happen overnight.
That left only one realistic option–Zev.
But Zev was stubborn, rigid, and painfully single–minded.
Convincing him to work for her goals would be no simple task.
Despite all her misgivings, Lyra began reaching out to Zev afterward.
Their contact naturally had to stay hidden from public view.
At first, she messaged him over Star Brain, centering every chat around Elan.
He was their shared connection, after all.
Slowly, Lyra expanded the scope of their conversations.
She messaged him frequently, over trivial and serious matters alike, sending casual greetings, trying to wear down his walls little by little.
Against her constant initiative, Zev was a quiet, gruff wall.
To put it in Earth terms, you could barely drag two words out of him.
Lyra grew frustrated, scrambling to come up with new conversation topics every single day.
If there were some kind of progress meter for winning him over, it would sit locked at zero.
One day, Lyra guessed his work shift should have ended, and fired off a message right away.
“Got a minute, Captain Korth p>
His reply came slow and steady. “ Ms. Kaelin, I’m no longer a captain p>
2/4
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Chapter 358 Trap Woven in Shadows
He had reminded her of this many times recently.
Lyra knew perfectly well. She was just grasping for an excuse to talk
“Oh, sorry, I keep slipping back to the old title. Old habits are hard to break.
“My memory has always been terrible. I hope you don’t mind p>
Zev replied, “It’s fine p>
Lyra sent, “Has Elan gotten back yet p>
Bringing up their mutual acquaintance felt like the safest opening.
Zev replied, “Don’t you have his contact details yourself p>
Lyra seethed inwardly. What a blockhead!
→ +5 Pearls
She replied, “I messaged him. No reply. I figured he might be swamped with work, and you might know something p>
Zev replied, “I don’t p>
Lyra paused.
Since arriving here, only two moments had left her feeling this frustrated, and both involved Zev.
The first was when he, Yannis, and Lior had tried to force–escort her back to Core Prime.
This was the second.
She exhaled and typed on. “I’m worried about him. He just got out of Black Spire. I wonder how his contamination levels are holding up p>
Zev replied, “You can ask the Sentinel Corps chairperson p>
Lyra stared at the screen.
“Are you busy right now? Am I taking up your time p>
Zev replied, “No p>
No, what? Would it kill you to finish a sentence p>
Lyra screamed silently inside her head.
She took another deep breath and shifted her tone.
“I suppose that makes sense. Back on the Grade–two planet, I gave you a hard time. Embarrassed you out in front of everyone. You have every right to hold that against me p>
Zev sent only two words again. “I don’t p>
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Chapter 358 Trap Woven In Shadows
Lyra flopped backward onto her bed, nearly going crazy.
Would a few extra words kill you p>
+5 Pearls
On Zev’s end, seeing her messages stop coming in, he watched the shower foam wash off his skin, then squeezed more body wash onto his palm.
The next day, Lyra slipped away from Hadrien and Nael, seeking out Ayla in private.
“How do you get through to a guy who’s cold and barely talks p>
Ayla shot straight upright. “What did you just say p>
Lyra grabbed her quickly, signaling her to keep her voice down.
Ayla sat back, staring at her, utterly confused.
“What has gotten into you? Maren and I spent all that time advising you before, and now you’re worried about chasing a man?
“Girl, we are Guides. We don’t have to chase anyone. You p>
Lyra cut her off, helpless. “No, that is not what this is about p>
Ayla frowned. “Then what is it p>
Lyra typed out her explanation.
“It is completely different. Last time, I really needed your advice to get my head straight.
“But this time, I just noticed one Sentinel who intrigues me.
“He’s always so cold and distant, though. He doesn’t seem interested, and I don’t know what to do, so I came to ask you.
“… Keep your voice down. Spare me some dignity p>
Ayla looked at her, half–exasperated.
“Who is it? Tell me his name, and I’ll go talk to him for you p>
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.