All of them; Ayai, Zhen, Hojun, Izdaha, Suruj, and Jorge stopped in front of the Gate of Everlasting Diligence, the entrance to the Inner Palace. Several Laoyuang Menwei, or gatekeepers, hustled to open the ornate jade doors that housed several homes within. The Inner Palace contained maintained vegetation compared to the Courtyard of Longevity, where plants that lived through aphelion and perihelion were cultivated to make the Inner Palace beautiful, even through cold winters and harsh summers. Three stone pathways forked off, with the Palace of Heavenly Verity, the Palace of Wise Brilliance—The Laoyuang’s residence, and the Hall of Eternal Knowledge. Each was decorated with expensive brickwork and carpentry, so they were unable to tell the difference between which was which. Even Ayai, who had stayed in the Jade Palace for little more than a year, had never frequented the Inner Palace.

“This way.” Zhen ushered them along, taking the correct route to the Hall of Eternal Knowledge. The steps ascended upwards, leading them to a set of towering double doors intricately carved with dragons and the Yyvubia no Oomikami. Under it all, a sweeping curved roof extended outward shading the entrance. They approached the sandwood entrance painted in deep reds and golds, with accents of black and green. Zhen pulled it open, and the colors shimmered and danced in the sunlight, making the gate appear even more regal and grand.

The group passed under the complex. When Ayai looked above, green glazed tiles covered and decorated the roof with detailed carvings and painted scenes of ancient battles from long ago. Inside was a wide corridor filled with many intricate objects and patterns Ayai couldn’t imagine comprehending. Zhen led them down a hall, into a separate room on the left. A long rectangular table was fixed to the ground, with pingfeng folding screens blocking the sunlight from entering the window. Immediately the room become bright as the lights turned on, and each of them took a seat except for Ayai, Zhen, and ‘Mister’ Xiong.

“Now if one excuses me, I shall bring in the hologram projector among other articles of interest.” Zhen bowed, before stepping outside the room. “Mister Xiong, please look after them.”

“Yessir!” The guard’s back straightened into a salute. Slightly, Ayai felt ‘Mister’ Xiong’s glare from across the room. Then the door slid shut.

“So, Toya, I have a question for you,” Hojun closed her eyes and smiled brightly. Ayai noticed Hojun’s other hand. “Is this your child perhaps?”

The Crown Princess returned her chair to reveal the tiny human holding her hand.

Ayai’s eyes widened just as quickly. She wondered where Zhen was keeping the child, but now the dots became connected.

She looked away. “It is not my child.”

“Oh? But Zhen handed me this little one and said that you, Toya were taking care of her.”

The tiny human found Ayai’s gaze and pointed at her. “Niam!”

Ayai wanted to cover her face in embarrassment. Luckily only she knew what ‘niam’ meant, since it was a Máak word.

Hojun pointed her index finger. “If I had to guess she’s calling you her mama?”

“Well…” Ayai’s eyes darted to the corner of the room, knowing she was spot on. “Kwa, come here!”

She went over to Hojun, who handed the tiny human over. Ayai grabbed scooped the child up and stepped back. Her inner mind freaked out, as she never held a human so close in her arms.

“Kwa? Is that the child’s name?”

“... Yes, I suppose it is.” Ayai felt the child playing with her ponytail. She accidentally revealed the name she gave the tiny human. It wasn’t that creative, but it was from the tiny human’s features that reminded her of that person.

“Kwa. How cute! Kwa Kwa!” Hojun placed her hands together and gleamed.

“Kwacchan.” Tvuj smugly announced as she grinned. ‘Mister’ Xiong was fuming in the corner of the room.

Zhen slid the door open, pushing a cart. “Pardon me, I have returned with the hologram projector among other things.”

They all went silent as he rolled the cart to the front of the room. A projector stood proudly on the top, while mania folders and maps stacked neatly on the bottom row. Ayai could figure out exactly what the girls were thinking about as they glanced at him.

“Shall we begin?” Zhen's hand hovered above the projector. The device glowed with a beep, creating a hologram in front of them. Paragraphs of text beamed onto the table. A new logo, one with a fresh coat of arms came present onto the hologram.

Ayai set the tiny human down. “As you, all know, we are a part of the Izato LK Company. An organization dedicated to protecting and defending people from any event or disaster that threatens human life.”

“It appears so. What else do you want us to know? You haven't mentioned our main goal.” Hojun folded her arms.

"Of course, we are calling a meeting to address that goal, along with other problems. However, first, we shall cut to the good news. We've finally located where Thiệu is." Zhen played with the projector, switching between slides of information and eventually a map.

Ayai and Zhen both brainstormed the possibilities of Thiệu's location for nearly two months. They had been debating since the incident with Tayang a few months back in Arav. It was now Arvan Khoyor, and the timing was impeccable. Something needed to happen now, or Al-Wa would be preparing another scheme again.

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The hologram map spread out across the table, showing the world of Yahmajô̗ Alą̧̄utl. Ayai then focused on a certain region, as the hologram zoomed in closer and closer. She put her hands on the table.

"The Twintail Peninsula. By now all governments would have been cracking down on any remnants of Kazaàd companies, but this region is unregulated since it has no affiliation to any nation."

Zhen pinched the screen, bringing up the coordinates on it. Three dots lit up among the peninsula. "The settlements of Shikot, Shakkotan and Port Đại La. Situated in the Bay of Tig, Huranu-i Plains, and Tsaghkuk Fjord respectively.”

“So it’s like the one L mentioned…” Suruj commented, his voice breaking the rising tension of the room. “Searching a wide area may require long logistics, let alone splitting Izato.”

“Leave that to our logistician, Karam al-Murata.” Ayai replied and paced around. “She assisted in coordinating the breakout of Izdaha Saya from the 1978 Dineh Kazaàd. Although she is not present, we will certainly meet her in the future.”

Izato had gained new members at a high rate shortly after the defeat of Tayang in Buhanggilog. Before, it had only just been Ayai, Izdaha, Zhen, and Tvuj. Now, with the additional retinue from Buhanggilog and Silla, their membership increased exponentially. Izato’s liaison, Seung-Hyeok, networked to connect the Kamaong Batikan to Izato, and people that assisted Izdaha Saya’s escape in 1978 including Karam al-Murata joined the subjugation group.

Hojun nodded her head. “I understand. Since not many ships venture into the Twintail Peninsula, there is no nation that claims it as territory.”

“Now that we have briefed you on our destination, there are some implications on if we want to travel there.” Zhen finally got straight to the point. “The waters are plagued with Bangkaño ships. We must first garner the support of the Shikot Tourism Sector to obtain a nameplate. Lest our journey faces malevolence from the Khoitan tribe of the sea.”

Ayai stopped the tiny human, Kwa from going elsewhere. “Yes, in this region Bangkaño ships roam free. Without the nameplate we would have to go through them. That is why we will go to Shikot.”

In this meeting, they explained the entire situation. Even the world events unfolding this year of 1980. Izato was new, and therefore it meant complications to other organizations becoming aware of its existence. The briefing was nothing short of an introduction to the main goal of finding Thieu and the first issue Izato would soon face.

By the time the meeting finished, the sun reached the top of the sky. The congregation filed out one by one out of the Hall of Eternal Knowledge, with the information looming inside their heads. Ayai stood at the entrance to the Gate of Everlasting Diligence, arms crossed. Izdaha Saya passed through the gate.

“How are you feeling about this all, Izdaha?” Ayai closed her eyes and faced her.

Izdaha stopped, and slowly turned around. A blank expression was painted across her face, yet Ayai could read those complex emotions churning within the girl’s mind.

“I- I’m…” Izdaha struggled to make her mouth form words, “But…”

“It’s alright. Take your time.” Ayai placed her hand on Izdaha’s shoulder, before walking off. She looked up into the sky to see the azure sky waver.

Ayai walked down the side of the Inner Palace, with the Flower Pavilion to her left. She heard footsteps behind her. She turned around, to see Miss Xiong flinch. Ayai lowered her shoulders. The bodyguard took off her cap and revealed her hair bun.

Ayai glanced around them. “Why are you letting down your hair?”

“Since you already know, it’s easier if I just relax with the get-up?” Miss Xiong shrugged her shoulders, dusting off the hat. “So, where did the child go?”

“Zhen took it back to the Guesthouse. None of my business.”

“Oh, but it is your business!” Miss Xiong turned her back to Ayai. “A secret child… I cannot accept this!”

Ayai facepalmed, as the two stopped walking together. “Anyways, I do have a question for you. What was the need for you to pretend to be a boy?”

“I don’t know how they do it in the Al-Qarakh House, but one of the sole requirements for the Laoyuangs’ bodyguards is to be male. That’s why I’m dressed up like one.” She flaunted her garbs, clad in black and gold seams.

“Your attire looks unique. Different from the late Yeow Khouw that Tvuj described in the past.”

Miss Xiong gazed and fixed her robe, her expression turning mellow. “Ah, this is actually my dad’s jacket. I stole the look from him.”

Ayai’s response stayed with the wind, as she was thrust into another memory. There was never a moment in time when Ayai ever thought about her parents. There was simply no need to. Those memories she never liked, she felt no need to think about them.

“I get you. I’m also wearing my late father’s coat.” Ayai closed her eyes, remembering that aching moment her father placed it over her. “It’s a little big for me since he was taller than me, so it does cover half of my torso."

Miss Xiong tilted her head, before looking away. "Oh... I'm sorry if I brought up something you didn't like."

"No, no, it's fine. He's been dead for a very long time. I'm sure your father has been too."

"He died only this year."

Ayai found herself with a shocked face. Miss Xiong stared down at the floor, her hair covering her eyes. Ayai didn't say anything. Instead, she placed her hand gently upon Miss Xiong's shoulder. The woman lifted her head, with grief painted in her expression.

"Miss Xiong, I..."

"Never mind that! I'm sure he's seen you before since I already met you a couple of months ago." She snapped back quickly, with a smile plastered onto her lips.

Ayai couldn't help but stare at the change in demeanor. "He was? I never noticed him."

"Wait, you're telling me you never noticed who Zhen's bodyguard was this entire time? Did you even get near enough to speak to him?"

"Well... I don't pay attention to their faces."

"But Zhen's bodyguard should always be with him! You do admit that your eyes are only on Zhen!" Miss Xiong pointed out. "You can tell his appearance by his clothing, right? And there are other people around, so you can pick them out easily. How could you not notice someone who would always stand beside Zhen?"

"Tch." Ayai turned her head away, unable to send a logical reply. "I can't say the same for you though. What happened to being by his side the entire time?"

"Wǒ wàng le! How about this." 'Mister' Xiong put back his cap and fixed it tight. "I'll race you to the Yueliang Guesthouse. If you win, you get to punch him. If I win, I'll tell him all about you!"

"Hah? You want to challenge me? I would win so I would gladly punch him in the face." Ayai cracked her knuckles. 'Mister' Xiong grinned as they lined up.

The distance between was about thirty egems. With a nod of agreement, the two took off.