Chapter 31: Celestial Deception: Aftermath and Strategy

"Hexi, did your Heavenly Foundation computing system... find nothing at all during the tracking process?" Keisha’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Hexi slowly raised her head, her silver eyes meeting Keisha’s gaze, clear and calm like a windless lake.

"Nothing," her voice was cool and melodic, yet carried a formulaic sense of detachment.

"After the target fleet left the Celestial City region, its signal characteristics, energy radiation, spatial disturbances... every traceable physical footprint was completely erased or shielded within an extremely short time by a method I currently cannot analyze."

"Its efficiency and the thoroughness of its concealment far exceed the scope of our current technological understanding."

She paused slightly, as if organizing her thoughts.

"My computing system attempted every known spatial tracking algorithm and backtracked through the spatial residual data along all possible paths."

"I even utilized the deep space gravitational wave listening array... the results were the same: a void, or filled with indecipherable noise akin to the chaotic interference at the edge of the Boundary Sea."

"It is as if... they never existed, or... have already merged into the cosmic background itself."

Hexi’s tone held a trace of the confusion and helplessness a researcher feels when facing the unknown.

"I speculate that Hefeng possesses some form of... extremely advanced spatial shielding or path concealment technology."

"This technology exists entirely outside our current wormhole theory framework and may even be related to certain unknown rules of the Boundary Sea itself."

"In the absence of key samples and path information... I cannot locate them, nor can I predict their movements."

"This is my... failure of duty."

Her words were concise and logically clear. She admitted her failure, but subtly attributed the cause to "unknown technology" and "Boundary Sea rules"—a level that could not be blamed on any individual. There was no superfluous explanation, no emotional fluctuation; it was as if she were merely stating a cold, frustrating, objective fact.

Keisha looked at Hexi deeply, a gaze that seemed capable of piercing through any disguise.

Hexi met her gaze calmly, without a flicker of evasion. The silence that followed lasted only a few seconds, yet felt as long as a century.

Finally, Keisha nodded slightly and looked away, seemingly accepting the explanation.

Liangbing curled her lip to the side, clearly unimpressed by Hexi’s "profound" yet practically useless explanation, though she was too weary to say anything more.

A brief silence descended once again.

The shadow of defeat weighed heavily on the shoulders of the three. Hefeng’s disappearance into the depths of the Boundary Sea with the Spark was like a poisonous thorn stuck in the heart of the new order—a massive, volatile hidden danger.

Keisha’s gaze became firm and pragmatic once more. She surveyed the two queens, her voice regaining its habitual composure and decisiveness.

"Past mistakes are already set in stone. Regret is futile."

"With Hefeng fled into the Boundary Sea, he poses no direct threat in the short term."

"The immediate priority now is to stabilize the foundations beneath our feet and rebuild the new order that belongs to us—and to all angels."

She tapped her slender finger against the table, projecting a pale golden light screen filled with scrolling complex data flows and star charts.

"First, stability overrides everything. The framework of the new order must immediately shift from a wartime state to a construction state."

"The primary task is to restore order to the star sectors severely damaged by the war and to repair critical infrastructure, especially the large wormhole bridges and star gates destroyed by Hefeng!"

"Without smooth transportation, resources cannot be deployed, and administrative orders cannot be conveyed; stability would be mere empty talk. Hexi, have the Heavenly Foundation system cooperate fully. I need repair schemes and resource allocation plans as quickly as possible."

Hexi nodded slightly. "Understood. The Heavenly Foundation system has already begun a comprehensive assessment of damaged nodes and reconstruction simulations. The priority sequence and resource list will be submitted within twelve hours."

Keisha turned her gaze toward Liangbing, carrying a hint of unquestionable reassurance and task assignment.

"Liangbing, you are responsible for military stabilization. Though Hua Ye is captured and Su Mali is apprehended, remnants of the Heavenly Palace Order still exist in the peripheral star sectors."

"Some die-hard loyalists and scattered legions may seize this opportunity to cause chaos, perhaps even under the banner of seeking revenge for Hua Ye or Hefeng."

"I need you to use the Heavenly Revelation Legion as the core, integrate existing forces, and rapidly clear out these remaining resistance groups to liberate the peripheral sectors they control or influence."

"Remember, use thunderous means to intimidate, but try to avoid excessive slaughter; prioritize division and disintegration. We need stability, not new hatred."

Although Liangbing still looked displeased, she knew this was one of the most important tasks at hand and an opportunity to regain her reputation.

She snorted coldly, taking it as an agreement. "Understood. A bunch of stray dogs won't be able to stir up any major waves. Leave it to me."

Keisha nodded, her gaze returning to the light screen, where data flows scrolled rapidly, displaying vast lists of supplies, population statistics, and a list of planets in urgent need of repair.

"Second, conduct a comprehensive inventory of resources to assess losses and potential. What Hefeng took from the Celestial City is the core essence of our tens of thousands of years of accumulation."

"The loss is heavy and irreparable."

"But we must know exactly what we have left and what we can do. Hexi, have the Heavenly Foundation system lead all surviving administrative and statistical departments in the most thorough and rapid resource census of the angel civilization’s existing territory."

"This includes, but is not limited to: remaining population (especially those with technical capabilities), habitable planets, energy mineral deposits, industrial base, research facilities... everything!"

Her tone carried a sense of urgency. "We need to know our foundation before we can know what kind of future we can support."

Hexi nodded again, data streaming rapidly through her silver eyes. "Full-domain scanning and data integration programs have been initiated. The preliminary summary report will be completed within forty-eight hours."

"Third," Keisha’s gaze became profound and cold, "judgment and liquidation. The sins of the old era must be settled."

"This is not only a need for justice but also the cornerstone of the new order's legitimacy."

Her eyes seemed to penetrate the walls of the palace, seeing the prisoners held in tight custody.

"Hua Ye, Su Mali, and all the core high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Palace Order who have been captured, along with war criminals guilty of countless blood debts... they must face a public and fair trial."

"The trial is not for venting anger, but to declare to the entire angel civilization: the era of oppression and tyranny has ended! The new rules are built upon justice and order!"

Keisha’s voice was resolute. "This trial must be swift, public, and able to withstand the scrutiny of history!"

"The outcome of the trial will determine their final fate—whether it be eternal imprisonment or total annihilation!"

"I will take personal charge of this matter. Hexi will provide all necessary evidentiary support, and Liangbing will ensure security and order during the trial."

A trace of cruel satisfaction flashed in Liangbing’s eyes as she licked her lips. "A trial? Good! I want to see the expressions on these bastards’ faces in the end!"

Hexi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but she quickly returned to a calm state. "The Heavenly Foundation system has stored sufficient detailed data records regarding the atrocities of the late Heavenly Palace Order. They can be retrieved at any time."

Keisha surveyed the two queens, her final gaze resting on the Celestial City outside, bathed in the light of rebirth.

"Everyone, the road ahead remains difficult. The Spark that Hefeng took is a sword hanging over our heads. Internal wounds need time to heal. But regardless..."

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable strength, as if setting the tone for this heavy meeting.

"The sun of the new order has risen. What we must do is let its light illuminate every corner once shrouded in darkness. Proceed."

Keisha concluded her speech. In the side hall, the heavy atmosphere did not fully dissipate; the haze of failure and the hidden worries brought by Hefeng still remained.

But a new, pragmatic strength, fueled by the determination to rebuild, began to coalesce in the silence.

Liangbing was the first to stand, carrying the pain of her unhealed wounds and undiminished hostility. With a flick of her purple royal robes, she strode out without looking back to deploy her task of "clearing the dregs."

She needed a hearty battle to vent the frustration in her chest, even if the opponents were just a pack of stray dogs.

Hexi appeared more composed. She rose elegantly and nodded slightly to Keisha, her silver-blue royal robes shimmering with the luster of data.

She did not speak further, turning to walk toward the passage connecting to the massive Heavenly Foundation computing hub on the side of the hall.

Countless data points awaiting processing, reconstruction plans, and resource lists were waiting for her analysis and decisions.

That cool, slender back seemed to isolate itself from all emotion, leaving only pure reason and efficiency.

Keisha remained alone in the side hall. She walked to the giant floor-to-ceiling window and stood with her hands behind her back.

Outside the window lay the Celestial City, having weathered a catastrophe and waiting to be rebuilt. In the distance, the wreckage of the star gates destroyed by Hefeng floated silently like scars upon the universe.

Further out was the deep, boundless starry sky, and the direction of the bizarre, kaleidoscopic Boundary Sea that had swallowed the last of the Spark.

In her golden eyes, the scene of the Celestial City was reflected, as was the more distant unknown.

Hefeng... what exactly are you planning on the other side of the Boundary Sea? Is the Spark you took embers destined to extinguish, or... a prairie fire?

She closed her eyes slowly, temporarily suppressing all worry, self-reproach, and heavy thoughts about the future. When she opened them again, only the unbreakable will of the Heavenly Blade King remained.

The road is still long.

But the first step must be taken firmly. The trial is about to begin.

Reconstruction is urgent. And the pursuit... has never truly ceased.