Also,
After listening to the words of Erza I let out a sigh of relief that he has not changed
"The ship is extremely damaged and now incapable of travel, extensive repairs required. Also I have now discovered our location. My maps tell me we are in the far eastern region of the lowest lower plains, but this quadrant is un-mapped. It shouldn't exist. This is entirely uncharted territory."
"We know you are preparing for war, what do you plan to do with an army of old gods?" he asked
"Careful," System informed, "even if your presence was erased as of the moment, any movement done may compromise your position. Imperial vanguards are not to be taken lightly."
"Oh, they are safe enough, if that is what you are worried about. The worse that could happen is if one of the younger girls tried to take advantage of them. And that is unlikely, considering how much all of the lot had to drink last night. Come! I trust you are eager to find out if you have the aptitude for magic as soon as possible?"
Okay so can we talk about Hong Yuan for a second? Because on the surface she's all ice and sharp tongue, right? She tells Yuan Li she's basically a burden, she threatens to kick her out if she can't pull her weight, she yells at her for even TRYING to use mental power on her without permission like it's some kind of crime... and yet. And YET. She agrees to let Yuan Li tag along on patrols. She teaches her how to use guns in a single morning like she's not even tired of it. She kicks open Yuan Li's door because she SENSED something was off and was genuinely worried about that weird tentacle thing. And then she brings Yuan Li food the next morning and pats her back when she's curled up starving under the blankets. That's not cold. That's just... Hong Yuan being Hong Yuan. She shows care through action, not words, and it's honestly kind of beautiful? The scene where Yuan Li is hiding ShuangTang and Hong Yuan barges in looking furious, and Yuan Li is ready to throw the cat out the window rather than give it up — and Hong Yuan just wanted to CHECK on it? That's the kind of dynamic that makes me want to scream. They're so bad at communicating but so good at caring for each other in their own weird ways. And then Ji Huan shows up with Young Master Zhuang and I'm just... watching from the sidelines like a paranoid gremlin. Ji Huan clearly knows something about Yuan Li's past that Young Master Zhuang recognizes, and he's playing a game. He 'accepts' the explanation that Zhuang just mistook Yuan Li for an old classmate, but the narration literally says 'This was getting even more interesting.' He's NOT letting this go. And Hong Yuan? She immediately notices Yuan Li dislikes Zhuang and calls her out on it. She's protective in her own blunt way.
'10% HP' before the rabbit can cry he make his move, he can't afford to let the rabbit calling for back up.
I love the story..
Quickly there was a considerable commotion with all the powerhouses making a move and rushing to the director's office.
"Thank you boys."
'Who else besides that idiot?' I wanted to say.