Yang Ying brought Katerina back to the Imperial Palace, arriving at the small dwelling where Baibai resided. The little girl had been constantly complaining about why Sister Katerina hadn't visited, and Katerina had missed her dearly too. This young girl was like a sister to her, and Katerina had invested a significant amount of emotion into Baibai.

Originally, the palace inhabited by the Imperial Eldest Princess was a crucial, heavily guarded section of the Imperial City; approaching it was nearly impossible for ordinary individuals. However, Baibai had repeatedly instructed the female officials and guards in the hall: if Brother Yang Ying came, they were to grant immediate passage.

And so, Yang Ying led Katerina inside with effortless ease.

"Brother Yang Ying, ah! Sister Katerina is here too!" Upon seeing the pair, Baibai instantly leaped up with joy, her figure flashing in front of them. Her face was beaming, her bright eyes curved into crescent moons.

Katerina reached out and lifted her up. "Mm, you've been doing well these past few days. You’ve put on some weight."

"No, I haven't!" Baibai playfully argued, "I'm very slender."

After a few moments of light banter, Katerina gently set her back down.

"Sister Katerina, you have to visit me often from now on. I missed you so much," Baibai clutched Katerina’s hand.

"Mm, good girl, Sister missed you too," Katerina stroked her head.

Baibai wore an expression of pure enjoyment. She pulled Katerina over to a table and began recounting all the interesting things that had happened to her recently. Once her mouth opened, it was like a floodgate—she talked nonstop from noon well into the night.

"Sophie Two, you have guests," Empress Elimeia entered, linking arms with her sister. Seeing Yang Ying and another woman in the hall, she called out.

"Sister!" Baibai shouted toward the entrance, then turned back to Katerina. "Sister Katerina, my real sister will be coming in shortly. I'll introduce you two."

Empress Elimeia's mood was decidedly sour. She had just returned from the Senate, where the appetites of several senators resembled bottomless pits, all greedily eyeing the massive prize that was the new Awakening Serum. Although she had secured considerable senatorial support, she still fell short by a slim margin of votes, failing to strip Sandvor of his military command.

The entire Senate was nothing more than a playground for power brokers, with every faction deploying every imaginable tactic for self-interest. If the ordinary citizens of the Empire witnessed this, they might question whether the people at the apex of the Imperial pyramid, those who had attained the Fourth Level Realm, were truly serving the Empire's greater good.

Empress Elimeia understood intellectually that achieving the Fourth Level Realm had no direct correlation with noble character, yet this knowledge did little to soothe her spirit. She sought out her sister, hoping to draw some positive energy from Baibai to lift her spirits.

The first sight of Katerina caused a sharp jolt in her heart. Katerina made no attempt to conceal the fluctuations of her power. Empress Elimeia recognized that this stunning beauty, whom she had never met, also possessed the strength of the Fourth Level Apex!

Within the confines of the Imperial Palace, unlike in the Solar System, she benefited from the full backing of the Primordial Force Sea, which empowered her to wield strength equivalent to the Fourth Level Zenith—far exceeding her actual potential of a Fourth Level Lower Tier.

The Primordial Force Sea was the Empire's most wondrous treasure. Over ten millennia ago, before it suffered severe damage, it could enable the Imperial Emperor to project power reaching the Fourth Level Apex anywhere in the galaxy. This was because the Sea contained the entirety of the First Emperor's spiritual energy. However, following the Great Calamity, this core component was gravely wounded and could no longer offer the Emperor the massive support it once did.

Nevertheless, possessing the strength of the Fourth Level Peak still marked her as a formidable entity. At least, apart from the Empress Dowager, Sandvor, and that cabal of ancient relics, she rarely encountered anyone stronger than herself. While Yasuwen and Miller of Sandvor's faction were also at the Fourth Level Peak, they were still slightly below her level.

To suddenly discover that Katerina also wielded the power of the Fourth Level Apex immediately stirred profound emotion within her. Yang Ying, Blade, and now Katerina—that made three beings at the Fourth Level Apex, not to mention the three Protoss Shadow Consuls. Did reaching the Fourth Level Apex become so simple for Yang Ying and his associates?

"Sister, Sister, let me introduce you. This is Sister Katerina; she took very good care of me back in the Solar System," Baibai said, holding Katerina’s hand while addressing her sister.

Her sister's words brought Empress Elimeia back to the present. "So you are Katerina. Sophie has mentioned you many times."

Katerina wore an expression of intrigued curiosity as she appraised the Empress, offering a slight smile. "Your Majesty, it is an honor."

While greeting Katerina, Empress Elimeia simultaneously sent a telepathic message to the Empress Dowager. Upon learning that Yang Ying's side had gained another individual at the Fourth Level Apex, the Empress Dowager was utterly astonished. She immediately set aside whatever she was doing and made her way to Baibai's palace.

Baibai then introduced her mother to Katerina, and the group settled down inside the hall. Baibai acted like a little master of the house, issuing instructions before asking, "Sister, I heard you went to the Senate today. How did it go? Did you manage to strip that big bad Sandvor of his military power?" Baibai asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

This matter was hardly a secret. With so many nobles in the Senate, news traveled fast, so Empress Elimeia made no concealment, recounting the situation exactly as it occurred.

"Those people are so greedy," Baibai pouted. "Things that don't belong to them, and they still insist on reaching out—isn't that just declaring themselves bandits? And they say if they aren't allowed to be bandits, they’ll oppose Sister. That’s simply hateful!" Empress Elimeia shifted her weight, sitting close beside Baibai. Hearing Baibai champion her cause, she couldn't help but smile. "Sophie’s description is truly apt. What they are doing is no different from banditry, yet by cloaking it under the banner of 'the interests of the noble consortium,' they dare to propose it openly and righteously in the Senate. It's utterly shameless."

The Empress Dowager, however, maintained a stern expression. "Elie, you wish to hold tightly to the new Awakening Serum. That is fine, but this path will be far more arduous. Are you resolved?"

"I understand, Mother," Empress Elimeia replied with a smile. "If the Royal Family monopolizes the manufacturing and distribution of the serum, those who benefit first will be the citizens of the Citadel loyal to the Crown, followed by the citizens outside the Citadel who have not yet been eroded by the various feudal lords and who remain loyal to the Crown. Next would be areas where the Crown’s control is weaker, and lastly, the fiefdoms of the various lords. This way, the Crown's strength will grow rapidly. Over time, this will inevitably incite dissatisfaction among the various lords. In severe cases, they will threaten rebellion or even take action."

Yang Ying interjected. "Based on the current situation, a noble rebellion could engulf the entire nation. Leaving aside others, Sandvor alone has numerous allies willing to mobilize with him."

"This is an inevitable consequence stemming from the Crown's long-standing systemic issues and the excessive power of the external ministers," Empress Elimeia stated very seriously. "This is a malignancy upon the Empire, one I thought had reached an incurable terminal stage. But now, the appearance of the new Awakening Serum offers me an opportunity."

Yang Ying nodded. "It seems forcing the lords into rebellion was part of your intention all along."

"It is not that I wish to force them into rebellion, but that there is no other choice," Empress Elimeia sighed. "If they do not take the path of rebellion, how can I compel them? The current issue is that I cannot compromise with them. Handing over the new Awakening Serum will only widen their greed, inflate their ambitions, and ultimately, the malignancy will grow larger, reversing the hard-won stability. The Empire is gravely ill; it cannot be cured without drastic medicine. If the condition is allowed to worsen, even the strongest medicine will be ineffective."

The Empress Dowager nodded from the side. It was clear that the Empress's plan had been discussed with her mother. She turned to Yang Ying and asked, "Lord Yang Ying, do you have any counsel on this matter?"

Yang Ying recognized that the two of them discussing a matter of such high secrecy in front of him was both a sign of profound trust and an urgent plea for his support.

Baibai, standing nearby, tilted her head. She was already a minor master at the Third Level. Despite her limited experience, she was intelligent enough to grasp the essence of what her sister was saying. She gently squeezed Katerina’s hand and looked at her with hopeful eyes. She knew Katerina was soft-hearted, and whenever she displayed that particular look, she usually got what she desired.

However, this time, it was ineffective. Katerina extended a finger as white as jade and gently tapped Baibai’s nose. She communicated telepathically, "Little girl, stop playing these tricks. This is not a trivial matter. If you wanted a toy, or wanted to go somewhere for fun, I could agree. But this decision must be left to your Brother Yang Ying."

"Oh," Baibai pouted again and lowered her head.

Yang Ying thought for a moment, gaining certainty, and then stated, "I have two requests."

"Please speak," Empress Elimeia immediately brightened.

"The first is still the same word: Stall. Stall for as long as possible. I hope that if a civil war in the Empire is inevitable, it will be at least a year away."

The reason Yang Ying proposed this was obvious: to accumulate strength. By then, the Human, Divine, and Insect races would all be on the correct trajectory, and their development would be immeasurable. His own strength would also rise proportionally. At that time, having dozens of Fourth Level Apex entities appearing simultaneously would be enough to terrify the enemy into submission.

"I will do my utmost," Empress Elimeia affirmed with a nod.

Yang Ying nodded again and continued, "Second, I will provide a list detailing the various raw materials I require."

Empress Elimeia smiled. "I understand. As long as it exists within the galaxy, I will certainly arrange for you to obtain it."

"Then, it is settled."