Suspicious Butler and cookie search

Returning to the Dae Turris of Lklandkeeling, the trio found themselves seated once more in Lumi's office. The atmosphere in Lumi's dimly lit office grew heavy with uncertainty. Plutonia and Lumi exchanged thoughtful glances, their usually confident demeanors giving way to concern. The mere mention of Polanoire and the age-old curse had cast a shadow over their minds, like an ominous cloud on the horizon.

Lumi's voice broke the silence, its hushed tone reflecting the gravity of their situation. "We have to be careful. Contacting Polanoire is an option of last resort, and I hope it never comes to that."

Plutonia nodded solemnly, her brows furrowing in deep contemplation. "Our first step should be gathering information. We need to uncover who might have stolen those crates and, more importantly, why. And we must determine whether there's any unsettling connection to Polanoire."

Saturn, who had been amusing herself with an impromptu chair-spinning performance, abruptly ceased her antics and joined the conversation. "Hey, what's up with all this Polanoire fear? Us cute heroines can't sit around and fear things.”

Lumi reclined in her chair, her expression pensive as she considered their next moves. "Here in Lklandkeeling, we have our own discreet sources. We should start contacting them first. But caution is priority.”

Lumi’s hand graciously lifted into the air as she reached out to a red button on the corner of her desk. The room fell into complete silence as the elevator doors opened, revealing the butler from before. He appeared so quick after the button it was as if it spawned him in the exact second. His demeanor was composed, as he confidently walked over to the desk awaiting orders from his master.

Without uttering a word, Lumi placed the ring they had stumbled upon delicately onto the desk's polished surface. The room held its breath as the butler's gaze locked onto the curious object. His reaction was subtle but telling. He inhaled sharply, fingers twitching imperceptibly as he scrutinized the ring's intricate design.

Lumi lifted her gaze, her eyes like twin orbs of ice, unwavering as they pierced through the butler's composure. She leaned back leisurely in her chair, extending both legs to rest upon the desk's surface. she slammed her right boot on causing a cascade of snow to tumble from her soles and accumulate in a small, shimmering mound.

"That's a ring from the nation of Polanoire, if I'm not mistaken, madam," he finally spoke, his voice trembling ever so slightly.

With a commanding motion, Lumi pointed toward the elevator. The butler without a second thought turned on his heel and swiftly made his exit in silence. Saturn and Plutonia exchanged puzzled glances.

“Sooo what was all that about?”

Lumi leaned forward, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "I've never placed complete trust in him. He materialized seemingly out of thin air, volunteering himself as my personal butler, all approved by our Motherboard of course. His peculiar behavior and foreign mannerisms set him apart from the locals, and his lack of resistance to certain illnesses. I've once caught him concealing his cold, something almost unheard of in this land where immunity to such petty things is the norm."

“ Do you suspect him of being a spy?” asked Plutonia.

“Not sure but he definitely isn’t someone to be relaxed around.”

Saturn shot up from her chair, her voice piercing the air with a dramatic crescendo, tears glistening in her eyes.

"aaaaaaaaa, Plut plut, wumi I lost it!"

Plutonia, taken aback by Saturn's sudden outburst, asked, "Lost what?"

"I lost my cookie charm sob!" Saturn wailed, her voice a symphony of despair.

"Do you know where you lost it?" Plutonia asked, her concern evident.

Saturn sniffled, trying to regain composure between sobs. "Well, I still had it on me at the warehouse."

"Then you probably dropped it somewhere on the way back," Plutonia reasoned calmly.

"I must go back," Saturn declared, her eyes wide with determination and tears.

Lumi, angered by the unexpected turn of events, heaved a deep sigh of annoyance. There seemed to be no other choice but to assist Saturn in her quest to retrieve her beloved cookie charm. She couldn't help but think that with Saturn’s intelligence, she mistook it for a real cookie and ate it.

With slight reluctance, the trio left the office, beginning their search through the frozen streets of Lklandkeeling. They retraced their steps, journeying back to the warehouse where Saturn believed she had last seen her precious charm. Hours passed in the fruitless hunt, their thorough search of each crevice and deep questioning of locals gave them nothing of value. Even though this was Saturn's own property she was in fact the least helpful in the search, constantly sobbing in different street corners and plazas. They continued for hours more searching even the most obscure places for any sign.

Their search eventually drove them far from the warehouse, arriving at Lklandkeeling's central monument. A beautiful park lay before them, scattered with spruce trees, vibrant plants, and lively fountains, all preserved from the cruel grasp of winter by the Processors' powers. In the park's heart stood a towering monument, dwarfing every nearby structure. A statue of Plansanturia's 2nd Processor shaking the hand of the 2nd of Lklandkeeling. The monument marked the first era of deep cooperation between the two nations after the close support from the 1st galactic war.

After a quick inspection, Plutonia couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, Lumi. Could I ask why Lady Venusia in the monument is wearing the attire of the first Processor when in our monument back home, she wears her own?"

Lumi turned to Plutonia, her expression warm and knowledgeable. "I believe it's considered forbidden to wear the uniform of a previous Processor within your nation, correct?" she asked.

Plutonia nodded to confirm.

Lumi continued with a smile, "Well, the story behind this monument is quite fascinating. It was originally commissioned during Lady Uran's rule as a symbol of the first treaty between our nations. However, the construction was halted due to the outbreak of war. When the conflict eventually concluded, both our first Processors had passed away. To save resources, they simply added Lady Venusia's head to the already half-finished pedestal meant for Lady Uran. Of course, in your nation, such a compromise would be unthinkable, but our second Processor, shall we say, was not known for extravagance."

Plutonia chuckled softly, standing beside Lumi as they gazed up at the monument in contemplative silence. In moments like these, they felt more like siblings than Saturn and Plutonia together.

Suddenly, they were jolted by a deafening electric explosion that reverberated through the air. The shockwave knocked Plutonia off balance, and she tumbled into Lumi's arms. Both of them turned around, scanning their surroundings in utter shock, trying to comprehend the unexpected chaos.

They drew their eyes to the distance, where a remarkable sight unfolded before them. Saturn had transformed into her battle DED form. She wielded a massive sword, nearly double her own height, with unparalleled grace and strength. With a resounding impact, she drove the sword into the ground and stood tall, her gaze fixed upon a hooded figure who cowered beneath his cloak, shielding his face with his hand.

Plutonia glared with amazement seeing her sister in battle form for the first time. Saturn had become a true warrior goddess, a living embodiment of Plansanturia's most advanced technology.

Her attire was a mixture of futuristic design and functionality, perfectly melding form and purpose. A snug-fitting short jumpsuit, primarily obsidian black, clung to her lithe figure like a second skin, accentuating every contour. Intricate patterns of heavy blue accents adorned the jumpsuit, weaving a mesmerizing tapestry reminiscent of circuitry.

Her lower limbs were encased in, robotic gear that enveloped her legs from the knee downward. A thick, industrial piece of metal descended along the outside of her thighs, connecting her leg gear to a mechanical belt cinched at her waist, enhancing her mobility and control.

Saturn's arms had undergone complete transformation too, now powerful robotic limbs extending from her elbows to her nimble fingertips.

Around her neck, she wore a mechanical collar, its design both functional and striking. It embraced her with the grace of a high-tech choker, extending just behind her ears to form pointed, cat-like metal ears that served no purpose but for Saturn’s own sake of cuteness.

But the most astonishing feature was her back, graced with four large and intricately designed mechanical wings that hovered just inches behind her.

“Saturn, what the hell are you doing in my nation you damn brat!”

The cloaked man reacted swiftly, flinging out his left arm and shooting out a fiery projectile aimed directly at Saturn. With unparalleled ease, she boosted herself to the side, evading the deadly fireball. In a heartbeat, she propelled herself straight at the cloaked figure, her massive sword swung back for a devastating strike. But to her surprise, the hooded individual anticipated her actions and darted toward her, attempting to slide beneath her legs to trip her.

Saturn, however, outwitted her opponent with a graceful hop backward, dodging the tripping maneuver effortlessly. Her laughter now carried a tone of maturity and an underlying touch of madness. Although the being was masked, it felt as if Saturn were peering directly into the cloaked man's eyes and soul. Her gaze intensified, her eyes constricting as she flourished her sword and seemingly vanished from sight. The cloaked figure, now nervously shifting side to side, was caught off guard when Saturn reappeared from thin air, descending from above with her sword poised for a forceful strike.

A deafening clash ensued as Saturn's sword met an unexpected obstacle—Lumi's blade. Saturn's eyes dilated back to their normal size, and she regarded Lumi, who had also undergone a transformation, her own sword locked in a deadlock with Saturn's.

Saturn continued to exert pressure, gradually forcing Lumi down to her knees. After a moment, she released her hold on the sword and leaped backward. Her voice resonated with power as she confronted Lumi.

"What the hell are you doing, you idiot?" Saturn's voice carried an air of dominance and authority.

Lumi, now on her knees, looked up at Saturn, her confusion apparent. She searched her thoughts, trying to make sense of the situation. Saturn's piercing purple eyes dominated the exchange as she continued to address Lumi.

“That man is one of my spies you brat,” explained Lumi

"That peasant had the mark of the Tomb. Not only that, he's been tailing me since we left for the warehouse the first time, and while I was away, the damn peasant attempted to cast some spell on me. So, if that's one of your 'special' spies, it speaks volumes about the respect you show us."

Lumi furrowed her brow, still processing the events. She glanced behind her to find the hooded person had gone.

"Wait, hold on," Lumi began, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "but he fought just like Aren."

Saturn's dominance momentarily wavered as she responded with a puzzled expression, "Who the hell is Aren?"