With a hint of embarrassment, Amber finally spoke up. “Umm… Captain, Vice-Captain… the friend I mentioned is the youngest duke from one of the major families within the Azure Imperium. We came to know each other through the Galactic Ring, and we’ve remained in contact since then.”

“Ohhh…”

With knowing looks and raised eyebrows, both Celeste and Vivian turned toward Amber. It was the kind of look that clearly said, Oh, we know exactly what you mean by ‘friend’ and ‘remained in contact.’ Amber, to say the least, was not embarrassed by the look—at least, not entirely. After all, she herself held status within her own country and… well, that was a story for another time.

Celeste paid no further attention to their flustered companion. She laughed it off, but her expression soon turned serious as she looked toward Vivian. Vivian, meanwhile, had a mischievous smile planted firmly on her face as she continued to look at Amber—almost as if she were ready to grab a communicator and report this development back home to all their friends.

Something Celeste, Vivian, and the others all knew was impossible.

At least for now. They were far too sought after by the Imperial family—well, not the entire family, but a particular member whose influence stood just below that of the Empress herself.

Shaking her head, Celeste pushed those thoughts aside. They were neither important nor relevant—at least not at this moment. Right now, they did not matter at all.

“Vivian!!” she spoke, clicking her tongue inward as she watched the foolish behavior of her best friend.

Despite the dark clouds hanging over their heads, thunder rolling within them and ready to fall at any moment—and not forgetting that they were now in someone else’s hands, with no chance of escape at all—Vivian was still acting carefree one moment and playful the next. Whether it was good fate or bad, they would soon find out. And yet, there she was.

Really… what situations do to a person. She sighed.

“Looks like we can believe Amber,” she continued. “If it’s true—and knowing her, she wouldn’t lie about something like this—then we can assume that most of what she said is basically correct.”

Vivian’s smile, which had been plastered across her face, slowly faded as she heard this and began to contemplate the words Amber and Halbert had spoken moments ago. The more she thought about it, the more logical it seemed—especially considering that this information had come from the mouth of a duke’s son from the Asura Imperium, a force that made many powers treat them with respect despite being only a Tier Two power.

She nodded her head and spoke her thoughts aloud, loud enough for Celeste and the others to hear.

“Looks like, if all of this is fair and true, the Minotaurs have found themselves a great enemy. And from what we’re seeing around us…” She gestured toward the view outside. “That almost-destroyed space station—just minutes ago it was bustling with people, and even we were there not long ago. Now it’s been turned into a pit of destruction, with explosions continuing nonstop under the relentless and unstoppable might of this human faction.”

She paused briefly before continuing. “They are strong. Very strong. And adding to that, there’s the information about the likely fall of another planetary star station in this system—with no sign at all of this system’s defense force.”

“We could say that they have already fallen at the hands of this human faction that calls itself the Void Fleet,” Vivian continued. “What’s happening now is likely them being captured, while any remaining possibility of resistance the Minotaurs might possess is being completely eliminated. That seems to be the most likely conclusion.”

Celeste nodded as she listened. This was the same conclusion she had reached as well, even if the others had not voiced it yet. Still, they agreed with Vivian’s words. While her reasoning was based on limited information and much of it was speculation, it carried a measure of logic. On one point, at least, they were all certain—the incredible strength this human faction had displayed. And they believed this was only a part of that strength, not its full extent.

As these thoughts settled, Celeste looked at her friend with a sense of relief.

“It looks like you’ve calmed down a bit, Vivian,” she said softly. “Now that the sense of urgency has washed away—for now—you’ve returned to your original self.” She let out a quiet sigh.

Vivian continued laying out her thoughts and speculations, drawing upon the divine authority she had been born with. Through it, she was able to perceive fragments of information—threads connected to fate itself—which granted her certain advantages. Information was one of them.

However, that power had its limitations.

She could not simply wish to know anything and everything. That level of control was not hers—at least, not yet. For now, whatever fate chose to reveal to her, she could only accept and interpret what was shown.

“Though I have no idea what they intend to do after that,” Vivian continued, “enslaving the Minotaurs after breaking their pride and strength thoroughly, right in front of them, would certainly be an effective method. But could that really be the only goal?”

She shook her head.

“No… not likely. Many have already escaped before the attack even began, and fate tells me that people from other planets have also managed to flee. Because of that, the human faction will soon face reinforcements that the Minotaurs will inevitably deploy here.”

Her expression darkened. “Looks like this place will soon turn into a full battle zone—and we, by some shitty twist of fate, are stuck right in the middle of it. Damn it.”

And just like that, the familiar Vivian returned—the sharp, analytical Vivian of now was gone just as she has appeared.

Celeste, who had just begun to feel a bit of relief, nearly choked at those words and almost collapsed to the floor. Damn you… she cursed inwardly. For a second, I thought you’d finally regained your wits. Looks like I was wrong—it was nothing more than a brief moment of calm.

“Damn it,” she thought again.

“Stop it already, Vivian…!” Celeste snapped. “We’re stuck, so we’re stuck. It’s as simple as that. Accept it already and hope that fate helps us—like it has so many times before—especially when we crossed paths with that person.”

She paused, hesitating, as if unsure whether she should continue. “And just think… fate has never led us somewhere where we would truly die, or where there was absolutely no way out. Not like this place…”

“Maybe—” Celeste stopped herself again.

“What maybe?” Vivian shot back irritably. Inside her mind, her thoughts churned. It’s not like I don’t want to accept it… but after seeing what they did to the Minotaurs and everyone else inside that collapsing space station… and I fear that one wrong move from our side, and they could do the same to us.

Celeste met her gaze and finally spoke.

“Maybe fate led us to them for a reason,” she said quietly. “Or to someone who stands behind them. That’s the only answer I can think of.”

She let out a small breath. “Just think about it. After all, it’s your ability—you should understand it better than anyone. But knowing you…” she added with a faint sigh, “…you probably never even considered this possibility.”

Celeste finished her words, leaving the thought hanging in the air.

This… Vivian froze.

She was stunned, finding it hard to believe at first. More than that, she realized she had never truly thought about things this way before. While she often questioned her divine ability—one that was reliable but never fully under her control—it had never once led her somewhere where she was truly at a disadvantage.

Yes, it had never allowed her to remain at the top in every situation either—and she didn’t want that. But she knew one thing for certain: her ability had always ensured that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Whether in small ways or significant ones, it had always benefited her in the end.

After their last encounter with the Hounds of that man, deep within the inner regions of the galaxy near the Giad Federation—where she and her team had barely escaped by a hair’s breadth—everything that followed had been guided by fate.

All the way to this place.

It was fate that told her to come here, and so she did. It was also fate that urged her to escape the space station before panic fully consumed it—ensuring that they fled just one step behind those with true foresight, yet still survived.

And now, even though she and her crew were, in all but words, being held at gunpoint as hostages, she felt that perhaps her best friend was right.

Maybe it truly was as Celeste said. She wasn’t completely sure—not yet. But there was one thing she knew without doubt. Fate had never harmed her. It had always been kind—to her, and to those around her.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep