After a brief interlude, Liu Yunshuang gave up on trying to persuade her. After all, if persuasion had worked, this niece of hers would not have ended up like this.
"Xiyue, you must have noticed the Ability Users gathered by the Ability Bureau."
"Yes, Auntie. Is something major happening? And it's one thing for them to doubt my identity, but why is there such intense resentment?"
Mentioning this, Flame Heart was genuinely puzzled. Under normal circumstances, even if there were suspicions, it should not have escalated into such strong emotions.
"It's a long story." Liu Yunshuang cleared her throat, letting out a small laugh as if to ease the awkwardness. However, her fingertips tapping lightly against the edge of the table betrayed her unease.
After listening, Flame Heart's expression first showed shock, then gradually shifted into deep thought.
This reaction surprised Liu Yunshuang.
Flame Heart was astonished that a single person could single-handedly disrupt the entire supernatural order of Canglan Capital and even draw such widespread hatred. What intrigued her further was that this so-called Fox Masked Girl reminded her of the intelligence she had previously gathered about the Muyun City Ability Bureau.
Since being severely injured by Yunli, she had not spent her recovery idly. Even while resting, she had continued to gather information about the local Ability Bureau.
Aside from two newly joined Ability Users, about a month ago, a girl wearing a fox mask had quietly appeared. With ease, she manipulated the entire Ability Bureau from behind the scenes.
However, due to her injuries and limited contact with the Bureau, Flame Heart had been unable to investigate further and could only grasp a rough outline of the situation.
Noticing her aunt's questioning look, Flame Heart shared everything she knew.
After hearing this, Liu Yunshuang also came to the conclusion that this mysterious girl was most likely the same individual from Muyun City. What remained unclear was why she had appeared in Canglan Capital.
As for her current whereabouts or further details, they knew nothing. They could not even confirm whether she was a citizen of Dragon Country.
After all, no one had yet been able to see through her transformation abilities.
Thinking of this, Liu Yunshuang gently rubbed her brow.
"An existence like this, impossible to track, is truly troublesome. The only fortunate thing is that she does not appear to be affiliated with the Church for now."
"After all, to put it mildly, her actions are merely mischievous pranks. Though she's widely disliked, she hasn't caused real harm to society."
Flame Heart nodded slightly, agreeing inwardly.
However, both of them understood that this was only the current situation. What might happen in the future was impossible to predict.
Thud.
"Alright, worrying about the future is meaningless. Right now, I'm more concerned about something else."
Liu Yunshuang clapped her hands sharply, cutting off the topic entirely.
Her gaze shifted toward Flame Heart.
Those eyes were cold and stern, like ice, locking onto her with piercing intensity. Beneath that sharp focus was unmistakable dissatisfaction.
"Why did you run off to a place like Muyun City without saying a word?"
Flame Heart: ⊙▽⊙!
Under that sharp, blade-like gaze, Flame Heart's body trembled slightly, her heartbeat quickening. She lowered her eyes guiltily and turned her head aside, unwilling to meet Liu Yunshuang's stare.
"Well… you know… I've been very busy…"
Before she could finish, Liu Yunshuang cut her off without hesitation.
"Girl, don't try to fool me. That old geezer arranged for you to go, didn't he?"
"… "
"Did he receive another 'future' prophecy and secretly send you there?"
"… "
Liu Yunshuang: 눈_눈
Flame Heart: (._.)
Silence fell.
The office became so quiet it felt as though even their heartbeats could be heard.
Liu Yunshuang had asked twice, yet received no answer.
She took a deep breath, her voice lowering.
"I understand."
Lowering her gaze, one hand gripped the armrest tightly while the other covered her face. She slowly leaned back in her chair.
That silence was as good as an admission.
Flame Heart also lowered her head deeply. Her delicate hands fidgeted unconsciously, fingertips turning pale from tension. Her heart churned with unease and guilt.
At this moment, the imposing "queen" from earlier had completely vanished. What remained was a child, anxious and afraid, as if awaiting punishment.
Liu Yunshuang noticed this from the corner of her eye and let out a quiet sigh.
In truth, she did not want to pressure her niece.
No matter how powerful Flame Heart had become, no matter that she was already the strongest Ability User in Dragon Country, in Liu Yunshuang's eyes, she was still that Little Girl who once hid in a corner and needed to be held.
There were things that should not be forced.
But this time, she could no longer pretend not to see.
Because the two of them had kept it from her.
They had not told her anything about the prophecy.
Liu Chengfeng, Liu Xiyue's grandfather and Liu Yunshuang's father, was one of Dragon Country's four Special Grade Espers—the Sage.
His ability was not merely strategy or wisdom, but something closer to foresight.
As his daughter and granddaughter, they were among the few who knew this secret.
And yet, this time, both of them had deliberately kept it from her.
That realization left Liu Yunshuang silent for a long time.
Flame Heart, too, remained silent.
She did not attempt to make excuses. She knew very well that her aunt, as the Bureau Director, was not someone who could be deceived with a few careless lies.
Any attempt to fabricate an explanation would be meaningless.
Liu Yunshuang took another deep breath, her sharp gaze returning to Flame Heart.
Suddenly, she stood up, grabbed her niece by the shoulders, and spoke in a heavy voice.
"Is this prophecy… serious?"
Her father's ability to foresee the future was far from convenient.
Under normal circumstances, he rarely used it actively, as doing so placed a heavy burden on him. At most, he could only use it two or three times over several months.
Even then, the timing was unpredictable. It might reveal events a few days ahead, or things that would occur ten years in the future.
Because of this, he usually relied on its passive effect.
Only when certain major events were about to occur in the near future would the ability activate on its own, offering fragments of what was to come.
And once triggered, it would not activate again for at least a year, sometimes even several years.
Now, Liu Yunshuang stared at Flame Heart.
Behind her sharp questioning gaze was something else, something faint and almost imperceptible—a trace of unease, even a quiet plea.
Even someone as composed and intelligent as her, who had already formed a rough conclusion in her mind, found that possibility so heavy it felt like a stone pressing on her chest.
She did not want to believe it so easily.
Flame Heart, however, avoided her gaze. She turned her head slightly aside, as if unwilling to face that burning look.
Her voice was low, restrained.
"This wasn't Grandpa's mission. It was my own decision. I… I wanted to try."