"Madam, I believe there's been a misunderstanding. The one he's looking for is Pirate Queen Diana, not you."
Astra raised an eyebrow, watching the woman before him with amusement.
Same name as Diana? What were the chances?
"Queen Diana? My apologies, I seem to have misunderstood."
Upon learning that Lothar and his group were searching for the queen who shared her name, the alien woman immediately abandoned any ideas she had entertained.
Whatever business they had, if it involved that woman, it was beyond her to meddle.
She was merely a parasite surviving on N52, drifting through life. Getting entangled in a storm of power plays among figures like these was unnecessary. Though her guilty expression flickered only for a moment, it did not escape Astra's keen eyes.
"Apologies, but the Queen is always elusive. I have no idea where she is."
The woman wisely chose to retreat, only to find that the man before her had firmly gripped her shoulder, rendering her immobile.
"You're lying."
"Now, tell me where Diana is. Or die."
Lothar's fingers tightened, and pain contorted the woman's face.
"You have deviated from the route. Woz is recalculating your path…"
"Woz, disable navigation."
The electronic voice from his wristband was immediately silenced as Lothar shut it down. He had grown accustomed to relying on Woz, but he nearly forgot—there was another way to find the Pirate Queen Diana.
Make her come to him.
"Please! Let me go! I really don't know where Queen Diana is!" The alien woman, her face twisted in agony, still refused to yield.
She still had a life to live here.
"Queen Diana has explicitly forbidden us from revealing her location to outsiders. The consequences would be severe."
"I will not repeat myself three times."
"I'll talk! I'll talk! I'll take you there! Just let me go!"
None of the onlookers dared to intervene, and finally, the woman surrendered. Lothar released her.
"You can call me Lilith. That's my name now."
Rubbing her shoulder, Lilith's fluffy tail swayed from side to side.
"Take me there."
Lothar never bothered remembering names. He gazed coldly at the trembling Lilith, his tone brooking no argument. Glancing around, she noticed the mix of curious and resentful stares—but no one stepped forward to help her.
"…Follow me."
After a moment of silence, Lilith weighed her options and spoke.
"Prince Lothar, something doesn't feel right about this place. I have a bad feeling… maybe we should—"
The Other, gripping his azure staff, tilted his head, unable to suppress his unease.
Everything about this—the bustling street, the woman conveniently appearing before Astra—felt too coincidental. Too deliberate.
The Other had always trusted his instincts.
But Lothar ignored him and instead followed Lilith toward Diana's location.
"Come on, what are you hesitating for?"
Astra, sipping his drink—Blue Dream—glanced at The Other, chuckled, and leisurely trailed behind.
Crossing the street, turning corners, after seventy-two minutes of silence, they arrived. A luxurious manor stood in stark contrast to N52's dilapidated surroundings.
Scarlet petals drifted in the air as Lothar stepped forward, yet none could stain him with their color.
Seated upon a throne, a woman opened her eyes as the doors swung wide.
One of N52's Seven Overlords—Pirate Queen Diana.
"Your Majesty, I have brought them."
Lilith knelt before Diana, no longer a trace of her former fear.
"You don't seem surprised at all." Diana twirled a golden whip between her fingers, her gaze playfully locking onto Lothar.
"Your tricks bore me."
Lothar smirked in disdain. He raised a hand toward Lilith. A beam of energy shot from his fingertips, piercing straight through her chest.
Now that he had achieved his goal, the woman who dared deceive him no longer had a reason to exist.
If even The Other had sensed this setup, how could he not?
Whatever game Diana was playing, Lothar didn't care. He only wanted her warship.
"Oh?" Diana narrowed her eyes at Lilith's corpse, her expression unreadable.
"Prince Lothar."
Sensing an overwhelming danger from Diana, The Other immediately unslung the Casket of Ancient Winters from his back, his eyes filled with alarm.
—Whoosh!—
In the blink of an eye, the golden whip coiled around the Casket.
This is bad!
"May I take a look?"
The Other barely had time to react before his body momentarily short-circuited. The Casket flew from his grasp toward Diana.
"Of course, you don't need to answer."
The golden whip pulled the Casket into Diana's hands. She examined it, only for disappointment to flicker across her face.
"How disappointing. All looks, no substance. A useless toy."
She casually tossed it back. The moment it touched The Other's chest, an immense force erupted, sending him crashing across the hall!
Mechanical parts scattered. Blood seeped from organic tissue. The Other struggled on the ground, barely able to move.
"Prince Lothar…"
He raised a trembling hand toward Lothar, his broken form enough to make Astra wince.
"Now then, stranger, it's time for your introduction."
"And you'd best make it interesting, or your fate will be the same as your subordinate's."
Having effortlessly dealt with The Other, Diana finally rose from her throne. Her long legs carried her forward in a hypnotic rhythm. When she stood before Lothar, her smile sent chills down Astra's spine.
Lothar ignored her and turned to glance at The Other. With a flick of his wrist, a vial of green healing fluid flew from his wristband, landing beside him.
The liquid rapidly restored The Other's injuries, while the scattered mechanical parts vanished within seconds.
"I like that trick."
Diana arched a brow. She snapped her whip again—but this time, a hand caught it midair.
"Can I kill you?" Diana asked, her expression devoid of emotion.
"Of course. You don't need to answer."
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