Diplomacy and Delayed Vengeance

[Location: Nova Academy – Inner Garden | 08:12 AM]

The skies above Nova Academy were dull and gray.Artificial fog clung low to the towers, casting an unusually somber hue across campus.It was as if the weather system itself sensed that today wouldn't be peaceful.

I sat alone on a garden bench, eating instant noodles and sipping hot tea—my only companions in this cruel, overly active world.

All I wanted was silence.

Then, of course, the world disagreed.

[Notification Received: Attend strategic diplomatic meeting at 09:00. Mandatory for Rank C cadets and observer candidates.]

I squinted at the screen.

"A strategic meeting? Didn't we just have one yesterday?"

Kael emerged from a holographic bush with a stupidly wide grin.

"Guess who's trending again after your accidental diplomacy yesterday?"

I groaned.

"Don't tell me this is about the whole... pillow and tea incident."

Ryn arrived, holding a printed data file.

"Astrelis and Thalros didn't finish negotiations. Apparently, Nova now sees you as the face of 'non-confrontational political engagement.'"

I blinked.

"I literally just got lost."

"Which makes it worse," Ryn said flatly."Now they think you're some kind of effortless political genius."

[Location: Strategic Conference Hall – East Wing | 09:03 AM]

This time, I didn't get lost.I just didn't want to come.Unfortunately, Nayra sent the summons herself—and when she moves, it's never a casual request.

The room was the same as before—circular walls, spinning faction holograms, delegates sitting in sharp silence.But the tension?It had doubled.

Thalros looked defensive.Astrelis didn't blink.And me? I was in the corner, again—with my mini pillow and thermos in hand.

A representative from Eterna stood.

"We've invited Cadet Deren Arkwright again. His 'minimal interference' yesterday effectively deescalated the prior session."

I side-eyed the camera in the corner.I knew who was watching.

Nayra. Tessan.Probably with popcorn.

Then Astrelis spoke.

"We suspect sabotage. One of our Core distribution units went missing during field deployment."

Thalros fired back.

"And our tracking systems went down right before the shipment. Quite the coincidence."

I raised my hand.

"Hey… if you both lost something, and are busy blaming each other… has anyone considered there might be a third party involved?"

Silence.

"Just a thought. Helps you all sleep better. Which is honestly my only goal."

[Cutaway – Location: Surveillance Deck | Same Time]

Nayra sipped her coffee without blinking.

"He just suggested third-party interference."

Tessan nodded slowly.

"More importantly, neither faction denied it. Their expressions changed instantly."

"You think he knows something?"

"He knows too much for someone who claims to want naps."

Nayra typed quickly into her terminal:

[Subject: Deren Arkwright]Fractal Affinity – Astrelis: High Alert | Thalros: SuspiciousDiplomatic Influence: RisingConflict Potential: Widening

[Location: Academy Hallway – Post-Meeting | 09:56 AM]

I walked out of the room still sipping tea.

Kael waited near the stairwell, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Did you feel that in there? You almost united two hostile factions! That's insane!"

"I just said things so I could go home faster," I replied.

Ryn caught up, face more serious.

"But it worked. And now people are paying closer attention to you.Including those inside those factions."

I paused on the steps and sat down.Opened my thermos. Took another sip.

"You know what's funny, Ryn?This all started because I brought a pillow to a meeting.Now people think I'm running some kind of chill-strategy diplomacy tactic.Turns out… it's easier to unite two rival factions than to find a quiet nap spot in this academy."

Kael laughed.

"That's your superpower, man. Lazy diplomacy."

I stared up at the artificial sky.

Somewhere above, the surveillance drones still followed us.But I could feel it—there were other eyes watching.Not just factions.

And I still hadn't figured out who was messing with my designs.

"If they're playing with Eidolon tech," I muttered,"…then the cost of my peace just got a lot more expensive."

[Closing Scene – Location: Eidolon HQ, Underground Network]

Clarice stood before a glowing map of intel clusters.Pings flickered red across various regions.

"Faction tension is rising.But our tech is leaking into paths we don't control."

She opened a file labeled:

[Delta-Prototype Trace – Unofficial Reproduction]

At the bottom:

Status: Owner Awareness – FALSE

She tapped the screen, eyes sharp.

"...But if he does find out…then the world will finally learn who Deren Arkwright really is."