She tapped her cane against the floor again. "Now, unless anyone else has something stupid to say, let the girl do her job. You all love calling her your holy maiden; let her act like one."


    One by one, the council members reluctantly nodded their agreement.


    "Of course, Madame Rose."


    "As you wish, holy maiden."


    "Forgive us for doubting."


    Li returned to her seat with herposure restored. "Thank you, Madame Rose," she said softly, before turning her attention back to the council. "Then it''s settled. I will meet with the Angel."


    Madame Rose smirked, her holographic image flickering slightly. "Good. And girl," she added, her voice softening slightly as she addressed Li directly. "Be careful."


    Li nodded, her expression serene but resolute. "I will, Madame Rose."


    The meeting ended soon after, with the council members filing out one by one, their footsteps echoing in the chamber. Li remained seated for a moment, gathering herposure as she watched the holographic form of Madame Rose remain behind.


    "Child,e here for a moment," Madame Rose called out, her voice sharp enough to cut through the remaining noise. "Let these balls of uselessness get out first."


    The council members didn''t dare linger, hurrying out as quickly as possible, some avoiding Madame Rose''s piercing gaze as they shuffled toward the exit.


    Once the room was empty, Li rose from her seat and walked over to Madame Rose, taking the chair closest to her hologram. She let out a small sigh of relief, her shoulders rxing now that the formalities were over.


    "Now that those sissies have finally left," Madame Rose began, her tone softening but still carrying her usual gruffness, "you can drop the act too, stinky girl." With a teasing motion, she swung her holographic cane at Li''s head.


    Of course, the cane passed harmlessly through her, but the motion alone made Li smile. If it weren''t a hologram, Li knew her grandmother wouldn''t have actually hit her hard, but Madame Rose''s gestures were always as dramatic as her words.


    "Hehe, but you''re the one who told me to keep up appearances in front of others," Li replied with a mischievous grin, leaning back slightly and letting her golden hair cascade behind her. "You said it would prevent future problems."


    "Hmph!" Madame Rose scoffed, crossing her arms and trying not to let Li''s yful attitude soften her demeanor. "So what? Now I''m telling you to stop when we''re alone, stinky girl! You''re too formal, even with me. It makes me sick."


    Li giggled softly and then leaned forward, resting her head on the round table as she gazed up at Madame Rose with wide, kitten-like eyes. "Okay, okay. I''ll rx. But where''s your favorite stinky brat? I thought you''d be scolding him by now."


    Madame Rose''s face twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. She quickly swung her cane again, this time pointing it usingly at Li. "Don''t you start calling your brother that! Hmph! Where is that stinky brat, anyway?"


    Li stretched her armszily and replied, "He''s busy right now, grandmother. He''smanding the troops and patrolling the new facilities. You know how much he loves bossing people around."


    "At least he''s doing something useful," Madame Rose muttered. She then shifted her posture slightly, as though preparing for something far more serious. Her holographic cane rested beside her, and her sharp gaze turned toward Li. "Now, the important question."


    Li sat up straight, noticing the shift in tone while her expression became curious. "What is it, grandmother?"


    Madame Rose leaned forward dramatically, her face as serious as a war general about to deliver orders.


    "When," she began, pausing for emphasis, "are you going to get MARRIED?!"


    Li nearly fell out of her chair, her golden hair flying as she straightened in shock. "W-what?! Marriage? Grandmother, I don''t have time to think about that right now! I''m way too busy!"


    "Oh, don''t give me that nonsense!" Madame Rose shouted, waving her cane dismissively. "You''re not too young. You''re not too busy. And don''t think I don''t see through that excuse! Finding a husband while you''re young is easier and better, stinky girl!"


    "Grandmother!" Li protested, her face turning bright red. She nced toward the door as if worried her guards or maids might overhear. "You can''t just drop this on me like that!"


    Madame Rose smirked, clearly enjoying her granddaughter''s reaction. "Don''t worry," she said with a casual wave of her hand. "I know you''re busy. So I came prepared."


    Li blinked, her confusion deepening. "What do you mean, ''prepared''?"


    With a dramatic flourish, Madame Rose summoned several holo screens into the air. Each one disyed a profile of a different human male,plete with names, ranks, aplishments, and even some personality details.


    "I''vepiled a list of potential husbands for you," Madame Rose announced proudly, gesturing toward the glowing screens. "All of them are outstanding gentlemen with bright futures ahead of them."


    Li stared in disbelief, her face growing redder by the second. "H-how—?! When did you even—?!"


    "Don''t interrupt me!" Madame Rose scolded her, clicking her cane against the holographic floor. "I spent weekspiling this list. And before you ask, yes, I made sure to include all the important factors."


    "F-factors?" Li stammered, unsure if she wanted to know.


    Madame Rose gave her a sly grin. "Of course! You may not think about these things now, but as a woman, I know that nightly activities are crucial for a happy marriage. So I''ve taken that into consideration as well."


    Li''s jaw dropped. "W-what?! Grandmother, no—!"


    "Let me demonstrate," Madame Rose said cheerfully, ignoring Li''s protests. She clicked on one of the profiles. The image of a young man in a crisp military uniform filled the screen, his achievements listed beneath his stern but handsome face.


    "This one''s a captain in the fleet," Madame Rose exined. "He''s disciplined, well-mannered, andes from a respectable family. But let''s see what else he''s got, shall we?"


    With another click, the holo screen shifted. The man''s uniform disappeared, reced by a fully nude image,plete with his manhood proudly standing like a monument.


    "GRANDMOTHER, WHY?!" Li shouted while covering her eyes with her hands as her face burned bright red. "Why are you showing me this?!"


    "Why are you being so shy?" Madame Rose countered, grinning mischievously. "You should''ve already given me one or two great-grandsons by now! You''re wasting time!" She swung her cane at Li''s head again, this time apanied by a dramatic sigh.


    "Grandmother, stop this madness!" Li wailed, peeking through her fingers at the holo screens still glowing in the air.


    Madame Rose clicked her tongue and leaned back. "Hmph. You''re no fun, stinky girl. You''ll thank me one day when you''re old and lonely. Mark my words!"


    Despite her embarrassment, Li couldn''t help butugh softly at her grandmother''s antics. "You never change, do you, grandmother?"


    "AND I NEVER WILL!" Madame Rose replied with a wink.


    After her colorful conversation with Madame Rose, Li spent some extra time in the council room, sitting quietly as she willed her flushed face to return to its normal tone. Even though she loved her grandmother dearly, the older woman''s antics always left her both embarrassed and exhausted.


    Finally, after about an hour, she stood and exited the room, her usual sereneposure restored. Outside, her maids and guards were already waiting for her.


    The temrs stood stoically, their white-and-red armor gleaming under the artificial lights, while the maids busied themselves organizing Li''s schedule.


    "Prepare the transport ship; we''re leaving at once," Li ordered as she walked past them.


    One of her guards immediately stepped aside to make the call, her tone crisp and professional as she coordinated with the crew. The others fell into step behind Li, their formation as disciplined as ever.


    Meanwhile, aboard the Cleopatra, Rex was already awake and active, using the gym facilities to stretch his recovering body. He wore nothing but a pair of ck workout pants as he swamps in the enormous pool, his movements smooth and powerful. Continue your saga on empire


    Despite the luxury of the Cleopatra''s gym, Rex wasn''t there for rxation. Every stroke of his swim was calcted, testing the limits of his body as he adjusted to the changes caused by his long recovery and the enhancements he had undergone.


    His muscles rippled with each movement, his body a mix of organic strength and golden technological marks etched across his skin with scars of battles fought and experiments endured.


    As he finished anotherp, Rex felt his arm device vibrating softly against his wrist. He stopped, swimming to the edge of the pool to take the call.


    Pressing a button on the sleek device, he answered, his deep voice resonating through the room. "Rex here. What''s the situation?"


    "Sir, the human envoys have arrived," the familiar monotone voice of one of the bot maids replied.


    Rex tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes narrowing in thought. "Are they alright?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly, though still calm.


    "They''re unharmed and awaiting instructions," the bot maid confirmed.


    "Good. Bring them to the pool. I''ll meet them here. After all, we''re not strangers," Rex said with a faint smile apearing at the corner of his lips before he ended the call.@@novelbin@@


    Without wasting time, he pushed off the edge of the pool and resumed swimming, the sound of water breaking around him echoing softly in the vast gym.


    Back in the transport ship, Li and her entourage followed one of the bot maids who hade to escort them. The bot''s movements were smooth and precise, its elegant frame a testament to the advanced technology aboard the Cleopatra.


    As they walked, one of Li''s maids leaned in close, whispering nervously. "Saintess, did I hear correctly? They''re meeting us in... a pool?"