Rem, Luxinna, and Cytortia left for Venistalis three days later.

As for Hikma and Melody, they remained glued to their research.

“Nothing again!” Melody yelled, sitting up from her meditation.

“Your WIS might be too low,” Hikma sat cross-legged, floating several centimeters of the ground. Currents of Mana encircled him like a whirlpool. The boy’s eyes closed in deep meditation into the current of the multiverse.

Melody looked at him accusingly.

“How did you do this all the time?” Melody said. “First Rem and now you. Why can’t I trace as you do?”

“Mel, you have the lowest WIS stat in the group.”

“Come on! Even the elf can do it?”

Hikma stared at her.

“Fine!” Melody corrected herself. “Lux can only see things start and end with lighting. But news flash! I can't even enter the field.

Hikma sighed. The demon-vs-elf-rivalry was still going strong.

Three days was quite a leap of progress, given how inaccessible Astral Consciousness could be. After drilling through many books, and driving Luxinna to boredom-induced insanity, Horizon Dawn finally derived a system for accessing the multiverse's subconscious.

Firstly, the user must meditate and dive into his/her Mana Core. From the Core, the practitioner must journey through their link to the Astral Consciousness. They must submerge and let the Multiverse guide to what they sought.

The naming was equally as painful as the inventing. It took lame names devised by the boys, a frantic Cytortia, a knockout Luxinna, and a flying paperweight for Melody and Scathach to name this new holy ritual as Astral Trace or tracing for short.

However, much to one demoness' distress, combat potential didn’t correlate to the art of Astral Trace. Melody's talent in tracing was--to be kind--hideous. Cytortia hit the wall every time she tried to find enlightenment. On the bright side, Luxinna did discover a colorful new way to play with high-velocity charge and nothing else. Everyone blamed her overspecialization in voltage after eating the elf's impression of Emperor Palpatine.

The boys, on the other hand, pretty much took tracing like fish to the water.

Hikma didn’t have any problem navigating the multiverse’s subconscious. The only problem he had was getting drag to dinner instead of discovering a new way to activate an active volcano. Rem didn’t have Hikma's connectivity. Instead, he could expand his new [Clarvoyance] to spy on people using Astral Consciousness. It seemed cheater finally graduated cheating and into a competitive field in Invasion of Privacy.

“Dammit!” Melody chewed on the bitter taste of failure for once in her life. “I can’t accept this. Where the hell is that bastard anyway!?”

…

That particular bastard was hanging outside a posh manner.

Luxinna gaped in awe. She came from an upper-class family, but Lightwell city was more like a glorified magical treehouse. Sure, Lucian’s treehouses were a marvel of natural spellwork in all its function and grandeur, but they paled in comparison to what stood before her.

Smooth marble Corinthian column, pale blue-tiles, a garden that was worthy of kings, an expertly crafted stain glass window--all of this was a must-have in Shyme Enma's property checklist. Rem would call it Victorian architecture extravaganza.

The chronic cheater looked unimpressed. His father’s colleagues in Dubai once tried to plate his house with gold. For him, Victorian-stain-glass manner was at the modest end of the scale.

“Luxinna, your drool is showing,” Rem said. “Cy, are you sure this is the right house?”

Right on cue, a crying man got thrown out of the front door. He crawled back to the manor in tears, but a kicked in the face from a manservant sent him back where he came. The man fearfully turned away and ran right past the group in horror.

“Yes,” Cytortia nodded. “This is the right house.”

Rem whistled as the man stumbled by.

“Cy, your friend is a monster.”

“I understand,” Cytortia said. “Shyme is a nice person deep down, but she can be…”

“Harsh,” Luxinna suggested.

“Exactly.”

…

The gang approached the door to be greeted by an old butler. He had grey close-cropped hairs and mushroom-cloud mustache. His black tuxedo was neatly trimmed, exuding more gentlemanly aura that made Rem inched toward his revolver. However, the butler's flapping dog-ears discouraged him. Despite all Rem's fault, he had a soft spot for dogs.

“Lady Cytortia, Lady Shyme is waiting for you,” Waiter let them inside the manner.

“Thank you, Waiter,” Cytortia smiled. “How is Shyme doing?”

Waiter looked at the sky balefully.

“The same as usual, I suppose,” Waiter gesture them to follow him. “The current political climate in Phantasia didn't help her mood. Moreover, Lord Xerset's relationship with the rest of the clan is straining. I suppose that is the sin of being a maverick.”

“What about the number of people getting fired?”

“Oh,” Waiter looked defeated. "You know how high is Lady Shyme's standard. She demands absolute perfection from her employees.”

Cytortia didn’t buy that.

“She is overworking them again, isn’t she?”

Waiter sighed.

“Yes, she is breaking them. It has gotten worse of late. With her ascension to the rank of 14th on the 33 Stars ranking, the number of employees getting removed doubled.”

Cytortia facepalmed.

Suddenly, a disheveled maid stumbled down the hallway. The woman's hair was a mess, and she sported a dark ring beneath her eyes. She walked toward the group like shivering, dying scarecrow on the blink of tears. Her body quivered like a person with hypothermia. Luxinna gaped. The maid in front of her looked half dead. How could it be possible for someone to work another human being this close to death?

“Mr. Waiter,” the maid said. “Lady Enma just…”

Waiter mournfully hugged the girl.

“It is okay,” Waiter comforted the girl. “Think on the bright side. You can take a rest now. This isn’t the end, Sandra. I am sure someone as capable as you can find good work elsewhere. Please look after yourself. Did Shyme give you a gift package yet?”

Sandra nodded.

“Good, that would last you long enough until you find another job.”

Cytortia looked at the maid apologetically and handed her a bottle.

“Lady Cytortia,” Sandra received the bottle with a puzzled expression. “What is this?”

“A recovery incense,” Cytortia said. “I prepare some because I expect something like this to happen. How do you know my name anyway?”

Sandra fiddled nervously.

“I saw you when you visit last time, milady.”

Cytortia couldn’t help but be impressed.

“That is seven months ago!” Cytortia said in awe. “You make it that long with Shyme as your taskmaster! Did you happen to take any immortallity serum?”

“No, milady.”

“Gosh, Sandra, listen to me. You don’t need to worry about anything. Anyone that can last more than five months with Shyme is the cream of the crop. The only one who survives Shyme’s employment for longer than that is Waiter, and he is inhumane.”

“I am very pleased you compared me to a monster, Lady Cytortia,” said the grumpy beastman.

“Thank you, Lady Cy,” Sandra sank on to the goddess’ shoulder and cried. “I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

Sandra let out a deluge of tears.

Luxinna wasn’t feeling great about this.

“I have been here for five minutes, and I already have a feeling I won’t like Shyme Enma.”

Rem fully agreed.

…

“Lady Shyme,” Waiter knocked on the gold glided door. “Lady Cytortia has arrived.”

A stern but pretty voice followed.

“Let her in,” Shyme said from the other side of the door.

Waiter opened the door. It was the first time Luxinna and Rem met Shyme Enma. Her black fox ears twitched at the sound of visitors, but she was too absorb into her paperwork to care. History would say this was the terrible beginning of a deep and insightful friendship.

Saying Shyme was pretty was like saying Rem hated communism. No, Shyme was beautiful beyond comparison to any mere mortal, and Rem spent his past time inventing barbaric tortures for communists that would horrify even Adolf Hitler.

The only person they knew who could fight her in a beauty contest was Melody. However, while Melody got the sensual body, intellectual aura, and an exotic look like crimson fires that combined into a passionate combo, Shyme went another route.

The beastgirl was flat, but she had the grace of diamond. The girl simply looked unobtainable. An hour-glass waist to kill for, arms shaped like the divine sculpture, face--and lip--that teased like honey to the soul; all of these made Enma Shyme looked like a glass carving laced with gold—expensive and divine.

If Melody shone like the star of passion spirit, then Shyme was the silver ocean of elegance and nobility.

Rem wasn’t affected at all by this. Melody couldn’t make him bat an eye. Out of all the girls, Rem preferred Cytortia the most. Luxinna's growing lightning-obsession was unhealthy for his survival. Melody struck the wrong cord with him. Cytortia hit everything he likes in a woman, but she was too much girl-next-door.

As for Shyme, she lacked one necessary quality: warmth.

“Lady Shyme,” Waiter spoke. “The cargo you ordered have arrived. Today profit margin averaged at 23%. All our shops throughout the Grand Continent are running optimally. Your transportation investment has returned 154% of the capital you spent. The Aurorin ambassador's letter of apology has arrived this morning. The current conflict in Tengen Continent is still disrupting our business.”

“Thank you, Lancaster,” Shyme replied without a look back, and threw her butler a map. “Sent this map to our associate in Tengen. I already identify five routes for our goods to pass Tai Hua’s checkpoint. I want you to raise the price of our goods by 34% in Tengen. Tell the ambassador to stop it with his letters. I will still be gutting his business. Tell our men to start transporting the cargo to Demonic Continent. Our Aztellic associate wants them in five days.”

“Lady Shyme, our men won’t make it in that window.”

“Lancaster, those demons are getting too restless,” Shyme said. “Paid extra; I am sure our courier will find away. What is the Madam doing?”

“No word from your father’s rival.”

“She is planning something,” Shyme said. “Start diverting my fund to the Water-quarter. That would get her attention. Sent our people to snoop her new start-up project. I don’t like the competition.”

“Lady Shyme, our spies are already dead on their feet. You already pushed them into using drugs. If you drive them anymore, they will die.”

Guilt emerged on Shyme’s face for a split second, but she crushed with an indoctrinated ease.

“Very well, you can send in the new squad, but tell them to expect to shoulder the responsibility if they screw this up.”

“Yes, milady.”

Finally, after several more orders, Shyme turned her attention toward the gang. Her expression did a complete U-turn the moment she registered Cytortia. The beastgirl gave a warm, caring smile.

“Sorry about this, Cy,” Shyme said sunnily. “My father just shove more work my way.”

“He always does that,” Cytortia said. “How things are doing in your family. Did your baby cousin give you any trouble?”

“Cy, you know how good I am with dealing with a brat who doesn't know their place,” Shyme suddenly noticed two other people sitting beside her BFF.

“Who are those two?”

“Oh, they are my friend,” Cytortia smiled happily. “We are on the same team.”

Shyme's face twitched but still maintained her sunny smile.

“Cy,” Shyme Enma smiled sweetly. “I happened to find the Vegetation Almanac you always wanted a week ago. It is the fifth edition. Lancaster, please show Cy the Almanac.”

“Yes, milady.” Lancaster opened the door. “May you come with me, lady Cytortia.”

“What about my friends?”

“Don’t worry about that, Cy,” The beastgirl’s smile didn’t falter a percent. “I am sure they will be fine with that.”

“Yes, Cy,” Rem agreed, much to Luxinna’s confusion. “Don’t worry about us. I believe your friend and I will have quality time together.”

Cytortia would believe that a month ago, but she knew Rem better these days. Putting Rem Breaker in the same room with Shyme Enma would be a disaster in the making. However, such a massacre was also a great incentive for her to flee the battlefield. Cy quickly followed Lancaster Waiter.

Everyone watched as the door swung closed.

Shyme unauthentic smiled drop, and Rem stood up to look at the book on her shelf. Luxinna leaned as far from them as possible to avoid the carnage.

“Let be honest here, who sent you?” Shyme said.

“I give you three guesses,” Rem said. “The first two don’t count.”

Shyme decided to nibble the bait.

“It can’t be Chuang. That butthead couldn’t get tact even when someone tries to sell it to her. Kar’Dia isn’t a subtle type, neither is Tai Hua. It is that backstabbing bitch, isn’t it?”

“Try higher.”

“Fuck this,” Shyme cursed. All her elegance evaporated like ice cream before a super laser. “Do you fucking bastard know how much that bitch's betrayal hurt her? You tell me right now who the hell sent you to spy on my friend, or I will drag it out of you myself.”

“Ms. Enma, we are not a spy,” Luxinna decided to diffuse the World War before it started.

“Ace…”

“Shut up, Dream,” Luxinna said. “She is not faking. I can read her body language. She is too pissed to put on an act.”

“I see,” Shyme looked at Rem murderously. “You know, for a second, I almost believe Nu Wa sent you here.”

“You sound like you hate her.”

Shyme bristled.

“Hate her? Oh, don’t let me get started. Do you know what that dolt did? She fucking set Cy against those bitches. Do you know that her command automatically put Cy on one of the most dangerous 33 spots in Phantasia? I nearly had a fucking heart attack when I got the news. Do you know how many assassins I deployed to take out her attackers?”

“You did what?”

“No need to get surprised, Ace. Criminal fawn over fame and taking out a 33 Stars is the fast track to the big league. Cy is an incredibly easy target because she is the weakest one on the list with enemies near the top of the pack.”

Shyme rubbed her forehead.

“I have to send an entire guild of professional assassins to protect her without her knowledge--Queen of Heaven, my ass.”

“But let focus on the big one,” Rem said. “Are you the one sabotaging trades in Starland?”

“What?” Luxinna said.

“Wow,” Shyme glanced at Luxinna with mild fascination. “She didn’t work it out yet?"

“She doesn’t know about my information source. But I have to say it finally makes sense why Enma clan is building a trade blockade around Tengen. Seriously, I don’t know whether I should be scared or impressed. You are dismantling one of my greatest worries and starving half a continent in one absurd length to avenge a friend.”

Shyme finally realized she was giving away information to a stranger. The girl composed herself and replied.

“Yes, it is no secret that Cy is my best friend,” Shyme stated. “But it is also beneficial for Enma clan to gain territory on Tengen Continent. I simply kill two birds with a stone."

Rem decided to ask one question in his mind.

“Why do you left LinLey Tianshang untouch? Considering how she stabbed Cy in the back, she should be your first target."

The mere mention of the name sent Shyme into a seething rage.

“That attention whore is only breathing because she is politically smarter than Tai Hua. She has an ally in Emma clan that I couldn’t remove."

“You mean Grustav Enma.”

That name sent an uncomfortable shiver down Shyme’s spine.

“Forget about that," Shyme changed the subject. "Tell me, why are you here?

“I need a favor.”

Luxinna sank when Shyme burst out laughing.

This negotiation is going to hell.