Thilan-sis… Hestia felt a sense of novelty and uniqueness as she read the words on the screen.
Since she was young, it had always been her calling others “sister” while following behind them. After entering middle school, her social interactions dwindled, and the term faded away. In Crystal Dream, she was the youngest, no one had ever called her by such a title. Typically, they addressed her as “Dantalion” or “Lil’ Dantalion.”
“You don’t actually need to call me Thilan-sis. We’re probably about the same age,” she replied.
The other party paused briefly before responding cautiously.
“Alright, Thilan.” Annelie began to wonder if the information she had read was misleading—wasn’t this supposed to be the polite way to address her?
Thilan: Which district are you in now, Annelie?
Annelie: I’m in Southern 1st District. I grew up here. When you come to study here, I can show you around.
Thilan: Thanks. I only visited Southern 1st District when I was a kid, so I’m not very familiar with it. I’ll probably need your help.
Annelie: No problem.
Annelie: What type of house do you like, Thilan?
Thilan: I haven’t thought about it in detail. Probably something quiet and vibrant.
Annelie: Do you mean one with plants and a garden?
Thilan: Yes, though that kind of yard must be expensive. As long as there’s a park in the neighborhood, I’m fine with that.
Annelie: Got it. But there are plenty of houses like that in Southern 1st District. My family even has a few properties. If you don’t mind, you could stay with me for a while.
Thilan: Uh, thanks.
The two continued chatting about their preferences in life, like food and clothing, before gradually ending the conversation.
As the dialogue on the screen came to an end, Annelie finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed onto her large, soft bed. The day’s conversation was over.
After a short break, she quickly sat up, created a table and plan on the screen in front of her, and listed all the preferences Hestia had revealed. Then, she picked up her personal terminal.
“…Yes, contact a renowned designer from the Central Star Region for me. I need them to design a house for a 17-18-year-old girl, fairy-tale style, with gardens and greenery. It shouldn’t be too extravagant; keep it simple, comfortable, and practical.”
“I want the proposal by the end of the month. After that, I’ll have it built so it’s ready before Thilan starts school. I’ll likely move in as well. And make sure the materials are top-notch.”
“Also, coordinate with Edess Academy to find a suitable location on campus. Once the house is built, integrate it into the designated area. It should be quiet but not too isolated, with a pleasant surrounding environment.”
“When Edess Academy sends over location options, I’ll inspect them myself. Don’t mess this up.”
…
“I’ve already met with several of the academy’s board members. They’ve explained the permissions and arrangements for Thilan after her admission.”
“Unless there are surprises, she’ll deliver a speech at the freshman ceremony. President Amors will gradually transfer the student council to her, helping her adapt to a leadership role. The plan is for her to consolidate Edess Academy’s factions by the second year, then focus entirely on preparations during the third and fourth years.”
…
“As for Thilan’s identity arrangements, the consensus is to keep her songstress talent a secret. It will serve as a trump card to avoid Saint Ingo Academy’s vigilance and interference.”
“The songstress talent won’t be cultivated at Edess Academy but rather at the nearby Swallow Garden Academy in Northern 1st District. Swallow Garden Academy is located in a natural mountainous area with minimal outside scrutiny, unlike Southern 1st District, where various organizations are densely packed, making secrecy difficult.”
…
“The Fiery Sugar Princoco knows about Thilan’s songstress talent, but she won’t speak of it. The upper echelons of Queen Bee Academy might or might not be aware, but they certainly won’t mind us challenging Saint Ingo, as it would significantly diminish Saint Ingo’s authority.”
…
“Since the internal war years ago, the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region has been loosely divided into four factions: the Natives, the Crystal Miners Alliance, the Starship Faction, and the Royalists representing financial capital from the Central Star Region.”
“After the war, many Starship Faction enterprises relocated. The Natives declined sharply due to the harsh environment. For instance, the predecessor of Swallow Garden Academy, Wind’s Garden, was a major northern power. Though smaller groups like Tower City remain active, the Crystal Miners and Royalists dominate today.”
“Unlike the fragmented and competitive Crystal Miners, the Royalists are unified, hailing from the Central Star Region. They’ve invested here for centuries, and many send heirs to reside in this star region to manage local assets.”
“Most of them attend Saint Ingo Academy, which serves as a hub that consolidates their power and easily influences star region policies.”
“This is the general layout of the region. Silverleaf Workshop rose by acquiring advanced facilities left behind by the Starship Faction and converting them for civilian use, such as producing affordable hover vehicles.”
“Edess Academy was founded by a new power that split from the Royalists. They’ve allied with parts of the Crystal Miners. If they succeed, we at Silverleaf Workshop stand to gain multiple T2-grade advanced patents, enabling us to expand beyond the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region.”
“Swallow Garden Academy, in Northern 1st District, remains a bastion for the Natives, housing many of their aging but prestigious forces. Lady Isabelle likely arranged for Thilan to study there to garner Native support, significantly boosting our chances of success.”
“Now that you understand why Thilan is so crucial to us and Edess Academy, let’s get to work.”
With that, Annelie ended the call. The holographic figures on the numerous screens before her bowed respectfully. They were senior members of the Schellenworth family, key figures within Silverleaf Workshop.
As the projection lights dimmed, Annelie picked up a glass of T3-grade beverage and took a big sip, easing her strained throat.
Leaning one arm on the table, she twirled her silver-gray hair with the other, staring at the conversation log on her personal terminal.
“Hestia Thilan, I’ll leave it to you from here…” she murmured softly. After a long pause, she stood up and walked to the window, pulling aside the curtains.
The transparent, crystalline wall revealed the view from a thousand meters above ground. Under the towering circular megastructure, vehicles moved incessantly, and rows of silver-white, glass-like buildings were neatly arranged. The deep blue sky was dotted with spacecraft landing and taking off.
This was Southern 1st District, the exclusive zone of Silverleaf Workshop, home to nearly a million residents. Numerous advanced industrial products were produced here and distributed across the Verdant Veil’s cities and regions.
Yet even as a mighty enterprise, Silverleaf Workshop was insignificant within the Federation. Even if everything proceeded smoothly and expansion continued, it might take centuries before they could reach the threshold of becoming a “giant corporation” and a true pillar of the Rose Federation.