Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Before Mika Seien could finish her suggestion, Nagisa Kirito had already raised her hand and pressed it to her temple.

"Wei Hua. They're here to discuss serious business, not to accompany you to a dessert shop."

Mika pouted, about to retort, when she saw Kirito Nagisa pull out another Swiss roll from somewhere—this time it was matcha flavored, with green spirals that stood out against the white cream.

"Wait, Nagisa—uh!"

Precise feeding.

Kirito Nagisa watched expressionlessly as Mika's mouth was gagged again, then turned to Lin Yi and nodded slightly, his face showing just the right amount of apology: "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. Please come with me, the other members of the tea party are already waiting for you."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wei Hua, who was chewing diligently, her eyes clearly saying, "Try spitting it out."

Lin Yi nodded and followed.

The three walked through the intricate corridors of Trinity College.

White marble columns support the arched corridor, and stained glass windows filter the sunlight into dappled spots that fall on the floor.

Occasionally, when students pass by, they will stop and respectfully greet Kirito Nagisa.

The designated area for tea parties is located on the top floor of the main building of the college.

Pushing open the heavy, carved wooden door, you are greeted by a huge open-air balcony.

Above the balcony is a transparent arched dome, which can both block rain and allow light to pass through.

In the center was a white table more than ten meters long, covered with a tablecloth embroidered with gold patterns.

What truly caught the eye was the dazzling array of desserts on the table—three-tiered cake towers, delicate macarons, cream puffs drizzled with chocolate sauce, scones arranged in the shape of roses, and various other pastries whose names I didn't know, all neatly arranged on a silver tray.

Two people were already seated on either side of the long table.

The one on the left is wearing a pure black nun's habit, a headscarf, and a silver cross around her neck.

She sat upright with her hands folded on her lap, her face expressionless, but her peach-colored eyes held a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.

Lin Yi's gaze lingered on her for a moment.

The nun's habit and his priest's robe do have similarities in style. If one did not know the inside story, an outsider would probably really think that the two came from the same denomination.

The one on the right presents a completely different picture.

She wore a set of silver-white cross armor, with intricate emblems engraved on the breastplate, heavy shoulder armor, and her calves encased in chainmail stockings peeking out from under the skirt armor.

A complete set of plate armor was worn on her, yet she appeared relaxed and at ease, as if the armor were nothing more than everyday clothing.

Most striking is the kite-shaped shield leaning at her feet—its surface is silver-white, and the raised relief in the center depicts a guardian angel with outstretched wings.

The medieval attire of the Knights of Salvation appeared so out of place at this modern dessert and tea party.

"Teacher, let me introduce you."

After finally swallowing the matcha Swiss roll, Mika Seien leaned close to Lin Yi and whispered, her voice still carrying a hint of lingering fear.

She first pointed to the armored girl: "That's Mina Aomori, the captain of the Holy Trinity Knights of Salvation. She's... very straightforward, often leaving people speechless."

Then she turned to the black-clad nun: "That's Sakurako Utazumi, the head of the nun's order. She's actually a very nice person, but she's too serious. She does everything in a very rigid way, and sometimes she'll argue with people for a long time over the smallest things."

As Wei Hua spoke, the two people also looked over.

Aomori Mina's gaze fell directly on Lin Yi, scrutinizing him without any attempt to conceal it.

Sakurako Utazumi, on the other hand, seemed much more reserved.

She first nodded slightly to Lin Yi, then her gaze lingered on Lin Yi's priest's robe for a few more seconds, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, as if she were wondering if the attire conformed to the regulations.

Kirito Nagisa has already taken the seat at the head of the long table.

She didn't sit down immediately, but first pulled out the chair to Lin Yi's right—the second most important seat after the head of the table.

"Please have a seat." After she finished speaking, she turned to the other two people, "President Sakurako, Captain Mina, thank you both for accepting the invitation."

Sakurako Utazumi nodded slightly: "Since it is Miss Seiya's request, I will naturally come."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Kirito Nagisa: "Although I don't quite understand why the internal meetings of the tea party would invite members of the nuns to participate."

The subtext of these words couldn't be clearer: we're not on the same side.

Aomori Mina is more direct.

She lifted the kite-shaped shield with one hand, and placed it beside her with a clang, the sound of metal hitting the marble floor echoing on the balcony.

"I have three rescue missions waiting for approval, two training grounds that need repair, and a bunch of casualty reports to process."

“Lord Nagisa, if today is just about drinking tea and having snacks, then I suggest we keep it short.”

Faced with their cold attitude, Kirito Nagisa revealed a faint smile.

After taking her seat, she picked up the teacup that had been prepared beforehand and gently blew on it to warm it.

"Please calm down, both of you." She took a sip of tea. "The matter we are going to discuss today concerns the future of the entire Holy Trinity. Otherwise, I would not have asked Saintia to invite you two."

As she set down the teacup, the porcelain clinked against the tray with a crisp sound.

"I know that the Knights of Salvation have always maintained neutrality and have no interest in political maneuvering."

Sakurako's brows furrowed even more, and her fingers, resting on her lap, tightened slightly, causing tiny wrinkles to form on the fabric of her black nun's habit.

“Since you know this, why create such an awkward meeting?” Her voice remained politely steady, but her pace quickened slightly. “The Sisters’ Order’s purpose is to serve the Holy Spirit and uphold the traditions and faith of the College. But a tea party…” She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, “is more focused on practical interests and the balance of power. We are not on the same path.”

As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously swept over the luxurious desserts on the long table, a barely perceptible hint of resistance flashing in her eyes—disapproval of this overly extravagant display.

"Not on the same path?" Kirito Nagisa chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his voice. "President Sakurako, you don't actually think that as long as you pray fervently and adhere to the doctrines, you can keep Trinity safe in this chaotic Givotos, do you?"

She leaned forward, placing her hands clasped on the table: "Do you know why the two secondary schools affiliated with the Sisters of Christ suddenly received rent payment notices from Caesars Company last week? Do you know why your application for three years of ancient book restoration funding was only suddenly approved last week?"

“That’s because,” Kirito Nagisa said, enunciating each word clearly, “that the tea party has always been shielding the Sisters from troubles from the outside. The difficulties caused by the Caesars Company, the border friction with Gohena… these things won’t automatically disappear just because you recite the prayer once more each day.”

She turned to Aomori Mina: "Commander Mina, why do you think the Rescue Knights have been able to maintain neutrality? Why is it that no matter how much infighting occurs within the academy, no one dares to touch the Knights' medical resources and rescue authority?"

“Because the tea party ensured one thing—” Kirito Nagisa’s voice turned cold, “Anyone who tries to reach out to the Knights will find that they have lost half of their supporters the next day, their funding has dried up, and even the most basic supplies are in trouble.”

The air on the balcony seemed to freeze.

Sakurako Kazumi pursed her lips tightly. She was a person of strong principles. The education she received from childhood taught her that power struggles were shameful, and that upholding beliefs and rules was the right path.

But she did have some awareness of what Kirito Nagisa was talking about.

“Those threats were dealt with before they even surfaced. They were dealt with by the tea party.”

She leaned back in her chair, picked up her teacup, and regained her usual elegance: "So please don't misunderstand the pragmatism of the tea party as a desecration of faith. We are just protecting the same place in different ways."

Aomori Mina suddenly chuckled.

The laughter was soft, but it was exceptionally clear on the quiet balcony.

“That sounds nice.” She rested her chin on her hand, tapping her cheek with the metal knuckles of her armored glove. “But the version I’ve heard is different. The tea party certainly deflected a lot of external trouble, but what about the internal trouble?”

Her gaze pierced through Kirito Nagisa: "Last year, the medical department applied to add ten emergency beds. Why did it take four months to get approved? Because the Tea Party wanted to 'weigh the allocation of resources among the various departments.' The training ground expansion plan the year before last was ultimately reduced by a third. Because that land 'had a more important use'—the Tea Party's new reception hall was later built on it."

With each word she spoke, Kirito Nagisa's expression grew colder.

"Commander Mina, resources are limited." Kirito Nagisa's voice remained steady, but her pace noticeably quickened. "Every decision needs to consider the overall balance—"

“I don’t understand anything about overall balance.” Aomori Mina interrupted her directly. “All I know is that if there aren’t enough emergency beds, seriously wounded soldiers will have to wait an extra thirty minutes. If the training ground is too small, new recruits can’t conduct live-fire drills. These things can’t wait for your ‘balancing acts’.”

She stood up, her armor making a metallic scraping sound with each movement.

"Are you aware of the accident at the training ground last week?" she asked, her voice low. "Two freshmen were injured in the simulated battle because the area was too narrow and there wasn't enough space to take cover. One of them suffered a ruptured spleen, and she would be dead now if members of the Knights hadn't been patrolling nearby."

“I personally submitted the expansion plan for that training ground,” Aomori Mina stared at Kirito Nagisa. “It dragged on for eleven months, and the final approved budget was only enough to build two new locker rooms. I’d like to ask Nagisa-sama, can locker rooms really save a life?”

That's too harsh a statement.

Sakurako Utazumi subconsciously looked at Nagisa Kirito, hoping to find a trace of guilt or wavering on her face, but all she saw was a cold mask.

“Commander Mina,” Kirito Nagisa began slowly, “Do you think I don’t want to approve it? Do you know how many projects the Academy is vying for the budget at the same time? The new laboratory in the Science Department, the construction of the Literature Museum, and the reinforcement of the border defenses—every single one of them is important.”

"Then rank them by importance!" Mina Aomori's voice suddenly rose. "Are the lives of the wounded important? Are the safety of the students important? If these don't even count, then what exactly are you protecting with all this talk of 'protecting the Holy Trinity' at the tea party? Are you protecting this table where you hold your tea party?"

That last sentence was practically an insult pointed directly at his face.

Mika Seien shrank back in fright, stealing glances at Lin Yi, hoping to catch a reaction on his face. But Lin Yi simply sat calmly, as if the tense argument before him had nothing to do with him.

There was nothing they could do. In Lin Yi's eyes, Trinity's methods were nothing special, like children playing house. They were nothing compared to the old silver coins like the Lion King, and even real-world politicians were far superior.

After being rebuffed, Kirito Nagisa fell silent.

She lowered her head, looking at the reflection of the tea swirling in her cup.

For the first time, a crack appeared on that always composed face—not from anger, but from something deeper: self-loathing.

She hates herself like this.

I hate having to say cold things in these situations, I hate having to weigh the value of life, and I hate having to play the villain.

But she had no choice.

“Commander Mina.” When she spoke again, there was a hint of weariness in Kirito Nagisa’s voice. “You’re right, the locker room can’t save lives.”

She raised her head and looked directly into Aomori Mina's eyes: "I'm not making excuses. I'm just telling you the reality—the reality is that we will never have enough resources to do everything we should do. We will always have to choose between 'important' and 'more important'. And the one who makes the choice is destined to be criticized."

Aomori Mina did not immediately refute; she stood there with a complicated expression.

She hated politics, hated scheming, hated all that intrigue.

But she also knew that what Kirito Nagisa said was not a lie.

The Knights of Rescue are able to remain neutral and focus on rescue efforts precisely because someone else takes on the dirty work for them.

Just as she accused—but isn't that accusation itself a case of getting the benefit and then complaining?

A stalemate has formed on the table.

Sakurako hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

She wanted to say something to ease the tension, but her long-held principles prevented her from easily agreeing with the tea party's practices.

Those methods were indeed dirty, and those considerations were indeed ruthless, but... if, as Kirito Nagisa said, those troubles are real, then who will deal with them?

Just then, Lin Yi spoke up.

"The tea is getting cold."

The words were simple and soft, yet they were like a pair of scissors, cutting through a taut string.

All three of them turned to look at him at the same time.

Lin Yi picked up the cup of tea in front of him that he hadn't touched and took a small sip.

His movements were casual, as if he were simply reminding someone of something insignificant.

“Continuing to argue will only make this pot of fine black tea cold; it won't achieve anything.” He put down his teacup and looked at Aomori Mina. “Commander, you just said there's still a rescue mission to handle?”

Aomori Mina paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously: "...Yes."

"Then please sit down. Since you're here, at least listen to the whole thing. If you feel it's a waste of time, you can leave later."

He then turned to Sakurako Utazumi: "It's normal that you have doubts about the tea party. But doubts are doubts, and cooperation is cooperation. Let's put our differences aside for now, at least until we hear the important business."

When Lin Yi said this, he neither blamed nor advised, but simply stated a fact—arguing like this won't solve anything.

Aomori Mina stared at Lin Yi for a few seconds before finally sitting heavily back in her chair, the armor clashing against the chair with a dull thud.

Sakurako Uta took a deep breath and readjusted her posture, but her fingers were still tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

Both women knew that the reason they were willing to hold back for the time being was not because Lin Yi's words were particularly brilliant, but because of his identity—an outsider personally invited by Sheng Ya of Lily Garden, a variable that she was willing to use her precognitive abilities to secure.

We have no choice but to give them face.

Kirito Nagisa gave Lin Yi a deep look, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and complex emotions.

But she quickly composed herself and put the mask back on.

She took two folders from her side.

The folder was pure black, with no markings on the cover.

Kirito Nagisa pushes them toward Utazumi Sakurako and Aomori Mina respectively.

"Gentlemen, please take a look at this first."

Sakurako's fingers were still a little stiff when she took the folder. She opened the cover and began to read the contents of the first page.

Aomori Mina's actions were much more decisive. She didn't even bother to take off her gloves, simply using her metal fingers to flip through the documents, her eyes quickly scanning the pages.

Both women read very quickly—as leaders of their respective organizations, they were already accustomed to handling large amounts of paperwork.

But this time, their speed was noticeably slower.

Sakurako's brows furrowed deeper and deeper; the contents of the document were too... outrageous.

It's not absurd, but rather a subversive feeling that makes you think, "If this is true, then the world we know is simply an illusion."

Even more terrifying are the last few pages—sparse notes about "color," and the fate of those worlds that have been confirmed to have been eroded.

Sakurako's fingertips trembled slightly.

She forced herself to keep reading, but the more she read, the heavier her heart became.

If these accounts are true, then all the internal struggles and political maneuvering that Trinity is currently engaged in are like ants in an anthill fighting over the ownership of a single grain of rice in the face of the impending crisis.

Ridiculous and sad.

Aomori Mina's reaction was more direct; she looked up halfway through the movie, her eyes fixed on Kirito Nagisa.

"What is this? A joke? Or some kind of test?"

“These are the pieces of a puzzle that Saintia has collected over the past three years using her precognitive abilities,” Kirito Nagisa replied calmly. “Every piece of information has been cross-verified. I can tell you both with certainty that the content here is over 90% credible.”

"Ninety percent?" Sakurako finally spoke, her voice a little dry. "You mean... these records about the end of the world, there's a 90% chance they're true?"

“It’s not a possibility,” Kirito Nagisa corrected her, “it’s a 'future' that has already happened.”

She paused, then added, "In more than 80 percent of the countless timelines that Saintia has seen, Kiwatos comes to an end in various forms of disaster. Some are due to civil war, some to external invasion, and some to... the arrival of some being we cannot understand."

Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, the previous resistance was gone, replaced by worry.

"So Saintia invited this gentleman because he can change something in those 'futures'?"

"To be precise, it was only after he appeared that Saintia saw a different ending for the first time."

"Before his involvement in the Abydos incident, all timelines were dead ends. But after his appearance, things changed."

Aomori Mina put down the documents, turned to look at Lin Yi, and carefully examined him from head to toe.

This time, her gaze held less scrutiny and more inquiry.

Lin Yi met her gaze, his face expressionless.

Sakurako Utazumi looked at the document in her hand again and turned to the last page.

Several lines of text were marked there in red pen:
"Key turning point: outsider intervention in the Abydos debt crisis."

"Chain reaction: the purge of Kaiser Permanente's top executives temporarily relieved external pressure."

"Current timeline characteristics: Variables have been introduced, and the trajectory is shifting. Further developments remain to be seen."

She stared at those lines of text for a long time, then gently closed the folder and placed it neatly on the desktop.

“I understand.” Her voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm lay the weight of a resolute decision. “The nuns… will cooperate.”

Aomori Mina did not immediately express her opinion.

She placed one hand on the folder, the metal glove rubbing against the paper with a rustling sound.

“The Knights only do one thing—save people.” She raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Kirito Nagisa and Utazumi Sakurako, finally landing on Lin Yi. “But if the existence of certain people is itself creating disaster, then eliminating the source of disaster is also a form of rescue.”

The words were spoken cryptically, but everyone present understood them.

She agreed.

Kirito Nagisa finally showed his first genuine smile of the day.

“So, we’ve reached an agreement.” She picked up her slightly cooled tea and raised her glass to the two of them. “For the Holy Trinity, and for Givortos.”

Sakurako hesitated for a second, but still picked up her teacup.

Aomori Mina was much more direct. She didn't even touch the teacup, but simply tapped the table twice with her gloved hand as a response.

The tense atmosphere on the balcony finally eased.

Although differences remain and trust has not yet been established, at least they have found a reason to cooperate.

Survival. (End of Chapter)