The first light of dawn spilled over the rocky expanse of the tortoise's massive back, bathing the city in a golden haze. The air was cool and carried a hint of salt from the sea far below. In the great hall perched atop the high ground, the leaders of Black Tortoise City gathered around a broad table carved from polished obsidian.

Luciel sat at the head, posture straight and calm, his eyes glinting faintly in the morning light. Behind him stood Sophia, the ever-silent maid, her presence composed yet attentive.

To Luciel's left sat Mirean Moon, graceful as ever, already thumbing through her worn leather-bound ledger. Beside her, Yue Weiyan listened quietly, her expression unreadable. On the right side sat Mino, Elara, and Yufel — each a vital piece in the fragile framework of the young city.

Behind them, standing apart with an uncertain stillness, was Alina. Her pink hair shimmered like rose quartz in the sunlight, but there was a shadow behind her eyes. She hadn't yet decided whether to stay in Black Tortoise or leave in search of Yanlu.

Last night, she had asked Ariel about the effects of Angel's Tears — the crystalline potion now coursing through her veins. The answer had not comforted her. The elixir could restrain the corruption of the virtual ghost infection, but it could not cure it. The knowledge left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Now she hovered near the back of the hall, feeling as though she stood at the edge of two worlds — one pulling her toward a new purpose, the other back into a past she couldn't abandon.

Luciel's gaze flicked briefly toward her. He caught the faint tremor in her stance, the indecision written in her eyes. When he noticed Elara shake her head ever so slightly — a subtle sign that Alina still hadn't made up her mind — he nodded in quiet understanding.

Then he gestured toward the young man standing by the doorway. "Alec," he said, his voice smooth but firm, "find yourself a seat. Don't just stand there."

A spark of surprise — and gratitude — crossed Alec's face. He bowed his head quickly, moving to take a place among the others. It was a small gesture from Luciel, but a significant one. To be seated among the upper circle meant recognition; Alec had earned his place in the city's growing hierarchy.

Luciel waited for the murmurs to settle. Then he rested both hands on the table and said, "The rear plateau of the small Black Tortoise has expanded again. Today, we decide the city's next path — its future development."

His words carried weight. Everyone straightened, aware that such meetings often shaped more than just policy — they shaped survival.

"Didn't you say we'd be getting more beast spars soon?" Mirean Moon asked, quill poised above her notes. "We've been working on that for weeks."

Luciel shook his head slowly. "The previous approach isn't ideal. Trading by knocking on other people's doors is… inefficient. Too many risks, too many variables. I want the opposite — I want them to come to us."

Mirean's quill paused midair. "You mean… invite outsiders to trade in Black Tortoise City?"

Before Luciel could reply, Mino blurted out, "Wait, what? You're going to let strangers walk right into our city? What if they cause trouble? What if they bring harm?" Her blue eyes were wide, her voice edged with worry.

Luciel reached out gently, placing a hand over hers on the table. "Calm down, Mino," he said softly. "It won't affect our lives."

His tone was calm, but beneath it was iron conviction. "I'm not talking about opening the gates wide. We'll designate a trading quarter — an external zone, completely separated from the life district. Merchants can trade there, under watch. No one will cross into the inner city without approval."

That seemed to soothe her, though not entirely.

Mirean frowned thoughtfully. "Even so, isn't it a bit premature? We barely have enough goods to sustain our own people, let alone trade with outsiders."

Luciel smiled faintly. "That's temporary. Once the farmlands are expanded and we begin cultivating properly, we'll have no shortage of vegetables and food. Star Tea and crystal fish will do the rest. Trade will follow."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "We can't grow stronger by hiding. We need to let the world come to us."

The table fell silent for a moment. Even the soft hum of the wind through the high windows seemed to hush.

It was Elara who broke the silence. Her silver eyes fixed on him, cold and sharp. "And what about security?"

Luciel's expression hardened. "That," he said, "is exactly the next point."

He straightened, his voice taking on the steady cadence of command. "The outer city will be patrolled by domesticated beasts. Alec, you'll oversee those patrols. The high ground's security falls under Elara's command."

He looked around the table. "The tortoise itself is strong, nearly impregnable, but we can't ignore those with… subtler talents. Thieves, spies, saboteurs. We prepare for all of it."

Alec nodded crisply. "Understood, my lord."

Elara inclined her head in acknowledgment, though her eyes remained guarded — always assessing, always ready.

Luciel sighed softly. "As for other areas, I'll find suitable candidates in time. We're still short on people. I'll have to rely on our beasts for now — and perhaps some… unconventional recruits."

At that, Alina finally spoke. Her voice was quiet, uncertain. "I can help," she said. "I can still fight, even if… not as before."

Luciel turned to her, his expression softening. "Then you'll be responsible for the high ground's defense as well," he said. "Elara will lead, but you'll support her. That area holds the Star Tea trees and the crystal fish pools — our most valuable resources. Protecting them is crucial."

A faint smile flickered across Alina's face. It wasn't joy, exactly — more like the relief of having a purpose again.

"And what about me?" Mirean asked, crossing one elegant leg over the other.

Luciel looked to her and said, "You and Agni will oversee the trading quarter. The new district will need order — and people who understand trade."

Mirean blinked, tapping the quill against her lips. "Just the two of us? That sounds… optimistic."

"Not entirely," Luciel replied, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You'll have help."

Her brows arched. "Help? From whom?"

"The thieves," he said simply.

The room stirred with murmurs. Even Elara glanced up at him in mild surprise.

"The ones we captured earlier?" Mirean asked, incredulous. "You expect them to help us manage the trading area?"

Luciel's eyes narrowed, a glint of steel in them. "They'll help," he said quietly. "Because I'll make them."

Mino shivered at the tone. It wasn't a threat — just a promise.

"They'll assist for now," he continued, "until we have enough trained people to replace them. And if any of them forget their place…" He let the rest hang unspoken. The look in his eyes was enough.

Agni, who had been silent until then, spoke up. "Wait. What about the trades in the outer city? You said I'd be managing those."

Luciel nodded. "The outer city trades and the new trading district will merge into one system. It makes no sense to have two separate economies. I won't allow a price difference between them — it would only invite corruption and speculation."

"So… we're not managing two areas?" Agni asked, brows furrowed.

Luciel smiled faintly. "You're managing both — because they'll become one."

He leaned back, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. "The city lord's mansion will control all trade rights. Anyone from the outer city who wants to sell in the trading district must prove their worth. If they try to profit from reselling our goods…" His expression turned cold. "They'll find themselves doing hard labor before the week is out."

Mirean let out a long breath, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "So many complications," she murmured. "Since I came to Black Tortoise, I don't think I've had a single free day. I thought I was busy in the Moon Lake Tribe — but this is another level."

Her words carried no bitterness, only mild exasperation mixed with amusement. "Though," she added softly, "it's not unpleasant. At least here, the work feels meaningful."

Luciel's expression gentled. "You'll have your rest soon enough. Once the second phase of the renovation is complete, things will calm down." He paused, glancing out the tall windows toward the shimmering plains beyond. "For now, we build. That's the cost of growth."

The meeting slowly dissolved into quiet conversations. Mirean began sketching rough outlines of the trading district. Alec was already discussing patrol schedules with Elara. Alina stood by the window, her gaze drawn to the glimmering star tea groves below — fragile and luminous as starlight on glass.

Luciel remained seated for a long while, fingers drumming lightly on the table. His mind wandered through a thousand possibilities — the balance between prosperity and danger, the weight of command, the fragile trust that bound these people together.

He looked at them — his companions, his family of circumstance — and a faint smile touched his lips.

The Black Tortoise City was no longer just a wandering fortress. It was becoming something greater — a beacon on the back of a beast that carried the hopes of them all.

And though Luciel knew that every expansion brought new perils, he also knew this truth: the city's heart was strong, and as long as that endured, they would rise together — no matter how the winds of fate shifted above the endless sea.

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