Yang Ying and Katerina had docked the Giant Beast. During their time in the Flynn Kingdom, Lina had remained on the Floating Continent, and Yang Ying often made time to visit her there.

However, due to his frequent deployments to the battlefield, Yang Ying never allowed Katerina to appear in the outside world. After all, the environment of war was far too perilous for her. Upon exiting the port, a waiting convoy greeted them. Yang Ying and Katerina boarded the middle carriage, heading toward the Central Citadel.

On the way, Yang Ying asked inside the vehicle, "Have you been bored these days?"

Katerina smiled and shook her head. "Seeing you often keeps me from being bored." As she spoke, a shadow of wistfulness crossed her face. "It's just a pity that I possess no Awakener's power; I am too fragile in the cosmos. I can't help you, and only end up making you worry. Being confined to the Floating Continent... if only I could Awaken too."

"Awakening is something that happens by chance; don't dwell on it. With me here, why would you need to fight my battles?" Yang Ying’s voice rose slightly.

"Are you angry?" Katerina asked anxiously. "Then I won't speak of it again."

"You," Yang Ying shook his head. "Don't overthink things; I don't get angry that easily." He casually drew Katerina into his embrace.

Returning to the Central Citadel, as Yang Ying and Katerina alighted from the carriage, Bai Bai burst out of the Citadel like a gust of wind, running and shouting, "Brother Yang Ying, Sister Katerina, you’re back!" Her joy was evident.

Landon followed Bai Bai like a shadow, her gaze seemingly detached yet carrying an undercurrent of sternness, as her attention was mostly fixed on the child. She merely offered a brief greeting to Yang Ying and Katerina’s return.

Yet, Yang Ying sensed that Landon was filled with internal conflict, as if there were things she longed to say but held back, especially when her eyes met Katerina’s—there was something complex there.

After some thought, Yang Ying felt it necessary to get to the bottom of it. But not now; he would wait a couple of days. If Landon still hadn't sorted things out, he would ask her then. After all, the entire Manor City was under his and his avatars' control. Having only just returned, he didn't want to spoil the mood with such matters.

Having not seen her for over two months, Bai Bai's entire demeanor had undergone a massive transformation, inside and out. Every gesture carried a touch of elegance. Even her sudden rush just now, though swift, appeared measured, imbued with a sense of composure, indicating that Landon's imperial noble etiquette training had been quite successful.

Of course, over those two months, Yang Ying's avatar had been monitoring Bai Bai's situation closely. He knew well that from Landon's perspective, the child was still far from embodying the bearing of an Imperial Princess.

In the True Human Empire, all pure-blooded Imperial Nobility had awakened psychic abilities. Their adherence to etiquette surpassed Earth’s standards by a hundredfold; they scrutinized others as if through a magnifying glass, and no flaw could escape their notice.

After calming Bai Bai, Yang Ying instructed Katerina to return to her room to rest. He then proceeded to his study, summoning Kalia to receive a report regarding the Council.

Though Katerina wasn't tired, she offered no objection to Yang Ying’s request and retired to her chambers.

Moments later, Kalia arrived at the study.

"Tell me about the Council matters," Yang Ying stated directly.

"Yes," Kalia replied, recounting the sequence of events in detail.

Since the Upheaval, Jin Sailer and Li Yusse, among others, had not ceased their pursuit of the Council remnants. The Tran Mercenary Group acted similarly. All forces unified their efforts, conducting a carpet search across all of human society.

The Upheaval had shattered the existing human superstructure, creating numerous opportunities for opportunists. The Council had clearly seized this chance to wipe clean any clues connected to them, bringing the investigation to a temporary standstill.

Fortunately, an entity like the Council, no matter where its members fled, would always stand out like a spike in a bag—their presence invariably accompanied by friction. Moreover, although some threads of evidence had been severed, nimble investigators could still piece them back together.

The Intelligence Department, the New Earth Army, and the Tran Mercenary Group each dispatched a team of elite personnel to form a joint task force specifically responsible for verifying and tracing every lead related to the Council. Recently, faint clues had begun to point toward possible hiding places for the Council remnants.

Seeing the time was ripe, the joint operations force struck the Council remnants with full force, successfully smashing several of their hidden strongholds and apprehending the entire group.

"Currently, the Chairman of the Council is imprisoned in the most secure facility in the Solar System: Bruno Prison. That prison is located within a space station orbiting the Moon—neither in heaven nor on earth. Any vessel approaching without the special access signal is subject to attack by the defense forces. Furthermore, Bruno Prison is quite close to the New Earth Army's lunar base, allowing for easy military reinforcement. Since its construction, no one has ever managed to escape."

Yang Ying nodded after listening, then inquired, "How will the Chairman be dealt with? Is there a decision yet?"

Kalia produced a document and placed it before Yang Ying while replying, "This is Jin Sailer's proposed resolution."

Yang Ying took the file, skimmed it, and frowned. "Life imprisonment? For a figure like the Chairman, an incomplete Upheaval wouldn't have clipped all his wings. Keeping him alive means he might one day break out, change his identity, and rise again."

"That possibility certainly exists, but there is nothing that can be done," Kalia shook his head, sounding somewhat helpless.

"Why is there nothing that can be done?" Yang Ying pressed immediately.

Kalia answered, "When the Chairman was first captured, Jin Sailer asked the Masters of the Nian Neng Temple to interrogate him. However, the result was astonishing: the Seduction Spell of the Nian Neng Temple proved ineffective against the Chairman."

"That shouldn't be surprising. The Seduction Spell has no effect on Awakened individuals or those with exceptionally strong wills," Yang Ying responded, fully familiar with the spell's limitations as one of the Nian Neng Temple's most frequently used techniques.

Kalia spoke with a serious tone. "If it were due to the Chairman's strong will, then it would indeed be unsurprising. However, upon further inspection, the prison doctor discovered a foreign object in the Chairman's brain. Our people examined it and found it to be a Mind Protection Chip manufactured by the Galan race."

Hearing this, a ripple of concern crossed Yang Ying's face. He asked, "Is that chip related to the Singers?"

Kalia shook his head. "Ambassador Jia Youna denied it when Jin Sailer questioned her. She stated that the Singers have never brought a single Mind Protection Chip into the Solar System, nor have their allies."

"Then this matter becomes troublesome." Yang Ying sighed. "You must pay close attention to this, Yang Ying. Mind Protection Chips are not ordinary contraband; they are inaccessible through conventional channels, especially in remote locations like the Solar System. Who would bring a chip like that for the Chairman?"

"In addition to the Chairman, the other seven high-ranking members of the Council were also found to have these chips implanted," Kalia added. "In the past, Earth was merely a lower-tier civilization. Only Singers and their allies traded here, and their goods were all controlled by the Singer-Earth Joint Industrial Group. These suddenly appearing Mind Protection Chips clearly did not enter through legitimate routes."

Yang Ying pondered. "There must be a black market operating in the Solar System. As long as there is enough profit, people driven by gain will appear, even if they are at the ends of the earth."

Kalia nodded. "There is indeed a black market. However, it is currently controlled by the Tran Corporation, a situation tacitly approved by the Singers. Based on the black market's past records, we found no trace of these Mind Protection Chips. Through deep investigations by the Ghost Agents, we have largely ruled out the black market channel."

"Then there is only one possibility left," Yang Ying concluded with a sigh. "The Kustar race."

"Jin Sailer and the others reached the same conclusion," Kalia stated. "And they suspect that perhaps the Council was colluding with those ape-like beings even when the Ancient Legion was still active. That is why Jin Sailer sentenced them to life imprisonment—he wants to extract how long and how deep their connection with the Kustar race runs."

"I presume the Chairman and his group are uncooperative," Yang Ying rose and moved to the study window, opening it to gaze outside. He saw an artificial breeze sweeping across the distant lawn, causing the vibrant green grass to ripple in waves, appearing peaceful and orderly.

"If they cooperated, wouldn't they lose their final bargaining chip? They certainly aren't that foolish," Kalia said with a slight smile. "As expected of arms dealers who sell war and death. They are the people who hold morality in the lowest regard," Yang Ying murmured, almost to himself.

A moment later, he turned back. "Increase surveillance on Zhuodu. If the Chairman reveals any useful information, notify me immediately. If you have nothing else, you may leave."

"Yes, Officer."

Kalia saluted sharply and exited the room.

Shortly after Kalia departed, Yang Ying was savoring the cool breeze drifting in through the window, feeling a sense of ease, when two soft knocks sounded at the door. Landon entered.

"Master Landon, may I ask what troubles you?" Although Yang Ying had already heard her approaching footsteps, he felt a positive affirmation toward her gesture of knocking first.

"Master Yang Ying, I have a matter I wish to request," Landon said with profound earnestness.

"Please, go on. I sensed earlier that you were hesitant to speak; is this about that matter?" Yang Ying invited her to sit before asking.

"Yes, Master Yang Ying," Landon nodded gravely. "I believe Katerina has been worrying incessantly about her lack of power."

Yang Ying's gaze sharpened instantly, fixing on Landon with penetrating clarity. Landon did not flinch and continued, "In truth, every human possesses the potential for Awakening. It is simply that the conditions required to trigger it vary in difficulty. True Humans find it easiest—they are born Awakened. While Sub-Humans are not innately Awakened, there remains a possibility for them to Awaken through subsequent effort and opportunity."

"Continue," Yang Ying's full attention was now captured. Landon would not bring up the topic of innate Awakening potential without reason.

"The Empire conducted exhaustive research into human Awakening potential, culminating in the creation of Genetic Induction Serums, tiered into three grades, each with differing effects and side effects. Among these, the highest grade can cause almost any unawakened individual to Awaken instantly, with absolutely no residual side effects," Landon articulated each word precisely.

"Do you possess such a Genetic Induction Serum?" Yang Ying inquired.

Landon slowly shook her head. "I do not possess it, but I know how to configure it. I presume Master Yang Ying's goal is only the highest-grade serum?"

"Naturally," Yang Ying nodded. Upon hearing the serum's effects, he immediately resolved to acquire a dose for Katerina. Since the serum was intended for Katerina, he could not settle for anything less than the best; only the highest-grade serum, with its high success rate and lack of side effects, was what Yang Ying required.

"Next is the problem I have been hesitating over," Landon's expression grew intricate. "The process for configuring the serum is not difficult. The challenge lies in the fact that the top-tier serum demands top-tier materials, and the majority of these premier materials can only be found within the Empire."

Yang Ying mused, "In other words, to obtain this serum, one must make a trip to the Empire?"

"Correct," Landon affirmed seriously. "The favor I wish to ask of you is to travel to the Empire, inquire about the whereabouts of His Highness's parents, and report back to me. In return, I will offer the formula for the top-tier serum as payment."