Chapter 155: Play Along

?Naturally, Louis kept that terrifying realization to himself. Some secrets were far safer buried.

?Turning his focus back to the councilor, he raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you suggest? Should we actively antagonize the very individual who just saved billions of our citizens, simply because they possess the capacity to threaten us?"

?The woman shook her head instantly. "Of course not. I am not suicidal, Overseer. If this Lord is indeed Tier VII, I wouldn’t stand a chance. Frankly, I doubt I could survive a direct engagement with a Tier V Lord."

?A few councilors exchanged subtle, amused glances, but she ignored them entirely.

?"However, acknowledging an existential hazard is not the same as provoking it," she asserted. "We must exercise extreme caution. We cannot afford to treat an unknown entity of such magnitude as a confirmed ally simply because their actions happened to align with our survival today."

?Louis nodded faintly. "Then what is your practical proposal?"

?The woman’s demeanor shifted. The doubt vanished from her eyes, replaced by an absolute, resolute conviction that captured the attention of the entire chamber.

?"We secure their favor."

?Louis blinked.

?She continued as though laying out the most obvious tactical blueprint in the cosmos. "Whatever this Lord’s long-term motives may be, they chose to intervene on our behalf. That establishes a baseline for diplomacy. We must not waste that opening."

?She raised a finger for emphasis. "If they require rare resources, we allocate them. If they demand access to restricted sectors, we grant clearance. If they seek classified intelligence, we supply whatever we can reasonably yield. Whatever they require, we must accommodate them."

?Her voice resonated across the hall. "And if there is any other metric that might secure their goodwill, we must be prepared to offer it. Our absolute priority must be cementing a favorable bond before another civilization recruits them, or worse, turns them against us."

?Pausing for dramatic weight, she delivered her conclusion with total authority.

?"By any means necessary, we must bind this Lord’s favor to the Dominion. If it takes planetary resources, we furnish them. If they desire women, we supply women. Whatever it takes to ensure this individual remains permanently devoted to the Astral Dominion must become a top state directive."

?A stunned silence descended upon the House of Council.

?Louis stared at her.

?"..."

?For several long seconds, the Overseer sat completely frozen.

?’Women?’

?He felt a throbbing migraine bloom directly behind his eyes.

’?What exactly do you people take me for? A supreme galactic matchmaker?’

?The councilwoman appeared entirely earnest. In her mind, she had just articulated a masterclass strategy for tethering an apex entity to the dominion.

She had calculated the threat, bypassed the risk of confrontation, and outlined a comprehensive political courtship.

?From a purely pragmatic standpoint, her logic was airtight.

?Unfortunately, she had no idea who she was talking about.

?Louis slowly pinched the bridge of his nose.

’?If Cassian heard this... I wonder if he’d laugh his head off or immediately skip the match-making and demand the resources instead.’

?He could picture the young Lord’s deadpan expression with terrifying clarity.

?And somehow, that only made his migraine worse.

Louis released a long, weary sigh.

?"I’ll see what I can do about it. However, I cannot make any promises regarding the Lord’s personal preferences. Until we establish their identity and intentions, I suggest we refrain from making any extravagant offers."

?The female councilor nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response.

?Louis was about to continue when a sharp chime echoed through the silent council chamber.

?Ding!

?Every head turned instantly toward the sound.

?Louis froze.

?His communicator was ringing.

?He stared at the device in his hand, momentarily bewildered. He distinctly remembered intending to silence it before the suession began, but in his haste, he must have forgotten.

’?How embarrassing.’

?However, the moment his eyes registered the caller ID on the screen, his expression shifted entirely.

?[Cassian Voss: New Message]

?Louis blinked.

?He had barely finished discussing how the Astral Dominion should secure the favor of the mysterious Lord who had saved Planet Roca, and now Cassian was messaging him out of the blue.

?What an extraordinary coincidence.

?Or perhaps not.

?Louis glanced around the chamber. Several council members were watching him with undisguised curiosity, while the female councilor who had proposed securing the mysterious Lord’s favor seemed particularly intrigued.

?Louis cleared his throat smoothly. "Excuse me for a moment."

?He opened the text string.

?Cassian:Answer the call and play along.

?Louis stared at the glowing words.

?"..."

’?Play along?’

?He re-read the message, then slowly raised his head.

?A terrible, horrifying suspicion began forming in his mind.

’?Don’t tell me...’

?He glanced at the female councilor.

?Then down at the message.

?Then back at the female councilor.

Louis genuinely considered pretending that his communicator had suffered a catastrophic technical malfunction.

?Unfortunately, he was the Overseer of the Astral Dominion. He couldn’t exactly ignore a direct message from the young man who had just saved an entire world.

?With a heavy, resigned sigh, he accepted the incoming call.

?A Few Minutes Earlier

?Cassian had finally changed out of his combat gear and into comfortable lounge clothes for dinner.

?After an exhausting day, he had decided that spending time with his family was far more appealing than dealing with any additional galactic responsibilities.

?Nyxara, however, presented a minor logistical problem.

?Her violet armor dress was perfectly crafted for high-tier combat, but it was hardly suitable for a cozy family dinner.

The plating was rigid, and the design was geared entirely toward lethal efficiency rather than relaxing around a dining table.

?Fortunately, Seraphina had provided a solution.

?She had given Nyxara one of her own sets of pajamas.

?The outfit consisted of a red satin sleeveless top and matching shorts. The smooth fabric shimmered softly beneath the dining room chandelier, draping comfortably over Nyxara’s figure.

The sleeveless cut revealed her slender shoulders and toned arms, while the fitted top accentuated her narrow waist. The matching shorts gave her a relaxed, casual look that somehow made her appear even more striking than usual.

?Cassian stared.

?He had always known Nyxara was exceptionally beautiful, her pale skin, long elf ears, deep violet eyes, and flowing purple hair made her stand out anywhere.

However, seeing her dressed so casually, stripped of her dark armor and intimidating battle aura, brought out an entirely different facet of her presence.

?She looked less like a formidable Undead Champion and more like an extraordinarily attractive woman enjoying a quiet evening at home.

?Unfortunately for Cassian, the sight also involuntarily triggered the memory of their earlier moment in his bedroom.

’?That kiss...’