Nerona had always been suspicious of Kalifa ever since she first met Chiga. Back then, Kalifa was already by his side.

She pouted at Chiga with a falsely wronged expression, her tone laced with jealousy.

Chiga saw right through her.

He pinched her nose gently, his tone direct.

"What's with that look? Kalifa's my secretary. Do you have a problem with her?"

"Hmph, just a secretary?" Nerona replied, raising an eyebrow.

Chiga gave a short chuckle. "Heh... I see someone's getting bold again."

Without another word, he scooped Nerona up and slung her over his shoulder. Kalifa blinked in surprise as he strode off toward one of the rooms.

Nerona initially gave a few half-hearted struggles, but quickly settled down. Her cheeks flushed pink as she rested quietly on Chiga's shoulder, letting herself be carried off.

Kalifa, convinced he was about to indulge in something indecent in broad daylight, hurriedly shut the door. But her curiosity got the better of her—she leaned in close to the door, trying to listen.

However, despite the time passing, not a single sound came from inside.

---

Inside the room, Chiga gently placed Nerona onto a large pink bed.

Nerona, like Kalifa, had assumed his intentions were... intimate. But instead of anything wild, Chiga simply grabbed a chair, sat across from her, rested his chin on his hand, and stared at her in silence.

His gaze was intense but calm.

Nerona grew flustered under the weight of it. She shifted awkwardly and tried to act casual, pretending to admire the room.

When her eyes landed on the pink bedsheets, she scoffed.

"Hmph. Who's this room for? Don't tell me Chiga-sama has a soft side?"

Chiga chuckled and stood up. He walked over to a wardrobe, rummaged briefly, then tossed her something.

Nerona caught it—her eyes widened.

It was a cartoonish plush doll... of Chiga himself. It was much cuter than the strange abstract version she had made herself.

She couldn't resist rubbing her face against it. But after a moment, she put it down and leaned into Chiga's arms.

"You planned this, didn't you?" she asked softly. "Bringing me here."

Chiga gave a light nod. "It was only a matter of time."

He had always known that war with the powers in Mary Geoise was inevitable. Keeping Nerona nearby, where she could be used as leverage, would only hold him back. If the Five Elders or even Im used her against him, it would be a critical weakness.

Bringing her away was his way of severing that last thread of hesitation.

Now, he could face Im without looking back.

---

Meanwhile, in the Room of Flowers...

Twenty Celestial Dragons were led into the hall by the Elder in a Kimino. They looked like pampered pigs being herded for slaughter—clueless and bloated with arrogance.

The Elders knelt before the grand throne without hesitation. Seeing this, the other Celestial Dragons followed suit.

A shadow emerged atop the throne. The figure of Im slowly revealed itself. He looked down on the kneeling nobles with chilling detachment.

One of the Five Elders spoke reverently:

"Im-sama, all have been gathered."

"You've done well. Leave us."

"Yes, Im-sama."

They rose and exited without so much as a glance back, leaving the Celestial Dragons behind.

Rizwell's father, Saint Mosgrid, crawled forward on his knees and raised his voice.

"Im-sama! That Uchiha Chiga is beyond control. He has defied the Celestial Dragon authority more than once—and now he's even abducted my daughter!"

Beside him, Saint Roswald knelt stiffly. He had already learned of what happened from Charlos and was furious—not just at Chiga, but at Nerona herself for siding with him. If word of it spread, it would disgrace their bloodline.

He immediately chimed in.

"Yes! Uchiha Chiga took my daughter Nerona as well. We beg Im-sama to deliver justice!"

He clearly wanted to pin the blame squarely on Chiga, but Mosgrid wasn't buying it. He gave Roswald a cold glance.

"As far as I've heard, your daughter willingly sided with Chiga. She even helped him capture mine. That's a shame to all Celestial Dragons."

Roswald flushed in embarrassment and snapped,

"She was deceived by Chiga! She didn't know what she was doing!"

Mosgrid snorted.

"Oh really? Rizwell told me your daughter's been obsessed with Chiga for a long time. She even sleeps hugging a doll shaped like him."

"Lies! I—!"

Suddenly, the voice of Im-sama broke the argument.

"Enough."

The simple word brought a hush over the entire hall. The tone was calm, but it carried the weight of a thousand deaths.

Roswald and Mosgrid immediately pressed their faces to the floor.

Im-sama's gaze moved slowly across the room.

"I am well aware of Uchiha Chiga's actions. He will face his punishment soon. But before that... I require something from you."

The Celestial Dragons, still on their knees, responded eagerly,

"Im-sama, please command us! We live to serve!"

Im smiled, faint and humorless.

The air in the room turned cold. A black vortex suddenly appeared in the center of the hall, swirling violently.

A chilling roar echoed from within.

The vortex expanded, revealing a monstrous black creature. A single blood-red eye locked onto the nobles, full of hunger and madness.

The Celestial Dragons were paralyzed with fear.

"W-What is that?" one of them stammered.

Im's voice was serene.

"For nearly 800 years, your families have lived in indulgence and wealth. I have granted you peace, power, and prosperity. Now, you must repay that debt."

The nobles looked at one another in confusion—then horror—as Im raised a hand.

With a flick of his sleeve, a gust of dark wind hurled all twenty Celestial Dragons toward the black vortex.

"Im-sama! NO! Please! Have mercy—!"

Their screams were abruptly cut off.

Crunch... crunch...

The monster feasted in silence.

---