When Lin Xianyu stepped into the Grand Hall of Darel, the atmosphere shifted.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
But undeniably.
The chamber was full — every elder seated, every sigil lit, every throne occupied. The air carried the weight of ancient decisions.
And yet—
When he walked in, it felt like something older than the council itself had returned.
The twin pillars at the entrance glowed faintly behind him before dimming once more.
Whispers spread immediately.
"That face…"
"He looks—"
"A teenager?"
Indeed.
Behind the plain black mask, his frame was lean, youthful. No visible wrinkles. No silver in his hair. No marks of age.
But his presence?
It was steady.
Grounded.
Dangerously calm.
The Supreme Lordess observed him from her elevated throne.
"Lin Xianyu," she said.
He bowed — not deeply, but respectfully.
"You have been summoned to accompany the retrieval unit."
Her gaze was sharp.
"You will travel alongside the Third Elder, Lucifer, and Emilie."
Lin did not hesitate.
"I accept."
Some elders shifted in their seats.
No negotiation?
No contract?
No demands?
The Supreme Lordess continued.
"You will be suitably rewarded for your service to Darel."
And then—
Luna burst into laughter.
Clear.
Unrestrained.
Every head turned toward her.
Even Emilie blinked in surprise.
Luna covered her mouth slightly, still smiling.
"My apologies," she said, though her tone suggested none.
"But there is no need to speak as if he were an outsider."
The hall fell still.
Luna's eyes sharpened.
"He has already served the council."
A ripple passed across the chamber.
Several elders stiffened.
She stepped forward slightly.
"Do not frame him as a third party to be purchased with assets or gold."
The air grew heavy.
"Lin Xianyu is not a contractor."
Silence.
Then she said it plainly—
"He served Darel."
Shock.
Genuine.
Many of the current elders had never seen him before.
To them, he was merely the branch leader of the Fengxiao Merchants.
A powerful one, yes—
But not council blood.
The Supreme Lordess remained composed.
Lucifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
Luna continued calmly.
"Some of you were not seated here when he did."
The words carried weight.
A past generation.
An older council.
A different era.
The First Elder slowly inhaled.
"So it is true," she murmured.
Lin remained silent.
Unbothered.
Not proud.
Not defensive.
Just standing there like a shadow that had chosen to return.
The Supreme Lordess spoke again.
"History need not be reopened."
Her gaze rested on Lin.
"But loyalty is acknowledged."
A pause.
"You will accompany them not as a hired merchant."
She straightened.
"But as a former pillar of Darel."
The room absorbed it.
The boy-faced merchant.
A former pillar.
Now it made sense why the gates reacted.
Why the sigils flared.
Why the air bent slightly when he entered.
He was recognized.
By Darel itself.
The council session concluded shortly after.
Plans were discussed.
Coordinates mentioned.
Ancient map fragments displayed briefly in floating projection.
And then—
Dismissal.
The elders dispersed.
Emilie left quietly, her thoughts racing.
Luna followed shortly after.
Lin did not linger.
But Lucifer remained.
He stood at the center of the hall after everyone else had exited.
The Supreme Lordess did not descend from her throne.
"You have something to say," she stated calmly.
Lucifer did not deny it.
"I request reconsideration."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Regarding?"
"Lin."
Silence.
Lucifer's voice was steady — but beneath it lay something rare.
Concern.
"This mission is not a trade expedition," he continued. "Azazel has acquired two Core fragments. If conflict arises across unstable realms, his merchant associations will suffer."
He paused.
"And more than that…"
His gaze lifted.
"It may endanger him."
The Supreme Lordess studied him carefully.
"Is that your assessment as Darel's Lieutenant?"
Lucifer stiffened slightly.
He had not announced that title publicly in centuries.
Before he could answer—
A familiar blue flame flickered at the edge of the chamber.
Luna stepped forward.
"Oh?"
Her tone carried amusement.
"Are you worried about trade routes, Lieutenant?"
Lucifer's jaw tightened.
"Or are you worried about your brother?"
The word struck.
Brother.
Even the Supreme Lordess's expression shifted faintly.
Lucifer turned sharply.
"Luna."
She crossed her arms.
"Don't pretend."
She stepped closer.
"You think we don't remember?"
The air trembled faintly.
"You grew up under him."
Silence.
Heavy.
Luna's voice softened slightly — but only slightly.
"He trained you when your flames were unstable."
"He negotiated peace when you nearly burned three realms."
"He stood between you and execution."
Lucifer said nothing.
But his silence confirmed everything.
Luna's gaze sharpened again.
"You are not protecting a merchant's associations."
She stepped closer.
"You are protecting the one who made you the man you are."
The hall felt smaller now.
Denser.
The Supreme Lordess watched without interruption.
Lucifer exhaled slowly.
When he spoke again, his voice was no longer defensive.
It was resolute.
"He served Darel with me."
A pause.
"And with the Lord of Death."
Even Luna blinked at that.
Few spoke that title aloud.
Lucifer's eyes burned faintly crimson.
"He stood in wars you never saw."
"He brokered peace between entities older than this council chamber."
"He survived betrayals that erased entire bloodlines."
His gaze hardened.
"You think I doubt his capability?"
He shook his head once.
"I fear nothing for him."
A faint, dangerous smile appeared.
"But if Azazel believes he is merely a merchant…"
The flames around Lucifer's shoulders flickered briefly.
"They are gravely mistaken."
Silence fell.
The Supreme Lordess finally spoke.
"You forget something, Lucifer."
He looked up.
"Lin Xianyu volunteered long before this summons."
That froze him.
Luna's eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
The Supreme Lordess's voice remained calm.
"He has been tracking the Nine Documents for years."
A pause.
"He knew this day would come."
Lucifer's brows furrowed.
"He planned this?"
"Yes."
A long silence followed.
Then—
The Supreme Lordess added quietly:
"He does not walk into danger unaware."
Lucifer exhaled slowly.
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
But not entirely.
Luna smirked faintly.
"See?"
She nudged him lightly.
"Your big brother doesn't need protection."
Lucifer's voice lowered.
"He may not need it."
His eyes flickered with restrained fire.
"But he will have it."
He turned to leave.
Just before exiting the chamber, he stopped.
Without looking back, he said—
"We served Darel together."
A pause.
"And if the Saga awakens…"
The air grew colder.
"Then the worlds will learn why we were feared."
The doors closed behind him.
The Supreme Lordess remained seated.
Her gaze distant.
Softly, almost to herself, she whispered—
"The board is finally complete."
And somewhere deep within Darel—
The Nine Books pulsed.