Sometime later, Milla wakes with a long groan, her mind fogged by the lingering effects of the chloroform. Wh… Where am I? Opening her eyes, she's momentarily surprised to find she can see nothing. Huh? Why can't‑ Oh yeah, blindfold. I hope I'm in the right place… As her mind begins to clear, she takes in more of her current situation. Feels like I'm tied to something… a chair probably. "Hello? Anyone there? Where am I?" she calls, her voice severely muffled by the cloth stuffed in her mouth and held in place with a second cloth.

"Welcome to our headquarters, Bái Shén Měi Lán," a male voice greets. "Any attempt to escape is futile, so sit back and accept your fate."

Milla recognises the voice instantly. Nawang… I was hoping for the Huxian herself. "I… How did I…?" she asks in feigned confusion, the words almost unintelligible thanks to the gag.

"Seems your new friend had a change of heart," Nawang explains. "But that's no surprise: cowards always look out for themselves before others."

All according to plan. "But‑"

"You thought you would win? How naïve," Nawang interrupts. "This was always going to end this way; all you did was waste time. Now you're finally in our possession, there is nothing that can stop the Nine Tails from taking control of the Empire!"

Milla hangs her head as if in defeat. How long before the Huxian arrives?

The wait isn't long.

"Excellent work, my Shang Nanhu," a new voice compliments. "I trust our prisoner is compliant?"

"She is, my Huxian," Nawang assures. "I believe she finally realises the futility of her pathetic rebellion."

"At last, sense prevails," the Huxian replies, clearly pleased. "Now, leave us: I wish to talk with her alone."

"My… My Huxian, I‑"

"Will obey my order without question, Shang Nanhu."

Nawang hesitates before answering, "Aye‑aye, my Huxian."

Huxian Dolma waits until she is alone with Milla. "Bái Shén Měi Lán, the last of the descendants of the original Tiāngǒu, and one of the most powerful beings on all Avalice. How satisfying it is to have you captive and helpless at last. You've caused us a lot of trouble over the past year, more than we expected. But in the end, the correct side of our conflict has prevailed, and the Nine Tails will rise to its rightful place unopposed."

Milla doesn't respond.

Dolma crouches down in front of Milla and gently lifts the hound's head to where they'd make eye contact if it wasn't for the blindfold. "Just because you've lost, doesn't mean you have to be silent," the Huxian continues. "In fact, I'd like to learn about why you came here, and about this gemstone you mentioned to my Xia Nuhu. From what I've heard already, this gemstone sounds like something I'd like to have."

"I won't tell you anything," Milla attempts to say, her words rendered almost unintelligible by her gag.

"Typical Bái Shén, defiant until the end," Dolma sighs. "Therefore, I offer you a simple choice. If you tell me what you know about this Fire Crystal, I'll make sure the rest of your life is comfortable. If you withhold the information however, I will have no choice but to force the information from you, a prospect I'm not looking forward to. After all, you may be my enemy, but you are also a child who's already been through far more than a child should."

Milla cocks her head in curiosity. Is she…? Play along for now. Milla lets out a sigh. "OK."

"Excellent," Dolma smiles as she removes Milla's gag. "Better?"

"Better," Milla confirms, her words clear and unimpeded.

"Why did you come to the Empire?" Dolma asks.

"To find out the truth about my parents," Milla answers.

Dolma waits for more, only to be disappointed. "Is that it‽"

"Yes," Milla confirms without hesitation.

"So, you didn't come here to take us down?"

"I'd never heard of the Nine Tails before I arrived," Milla explains. "I'd never heard of the Order of the Phantom either," she adds, anticipating Dolma's next question.

"Huh." Dolma is silent for several moments while she contemplates the implications. "That means the Huànyǐng de Shùnxù put you in mortal danger simply to forward their agenda and with zero respect for your safety or well‑being."

"The Order of the Phantom fights for the truth," Milla states with conviction.

"That's what they claim," Dolma replies. "What is true for one is not necessarily true for all."

"What's your truth then?" Milla asks.

"I assume the Order told you their side of the war in the Origin Kingdoms a century ago?"

"Yes."

"And now you want to know our side."

"Yes."

Dolma takes a moment to organise her thoughts. "The Great Draconic War lasted a decade, fought on three fronts: the pure‑bloods, the mixed‑bloods, and the citizens. Obviously, the Nine Tails fought with the citizens, opposing both draconic forces, knowing that if either of them won, then the rest of us would suffer under their oppressive rule.

"But that all changed when the two draconic sides turned almost entirely on each other. Sensing our opportunity to free the citizens from draconic rule, the Nine Tails moved to seize control of Shang Tu, knowing that Shang Mu and Shuigang would quickly follow. Unfortunately, we were prevented from doing so. Exactly what happened, I never found out, but before we could seize what was rightfully ours, a new Magister was installed, and peace was brought to the Origin Kingdoms.

"Soon after, the Nine Tails were declared an enemy of the people. Forced into exile, we eventually found this Empire, mercifully free from draconic rule or influence. Of course, without anyone to help us, we were forced to play the long game, steadily working our way into positions of power where we could begin to shape the Empire into a tool to use to strike back at Shang Tu and reclaim what we were forcefully denied a century ago."

"It's a good thing I'm here," Milla replies. "Someone has to stop you."

"It is a good thing you're here, actually: you've accelerated our plans," Dolma informs. "Thanks to you, I've been able to swing public opinion against the Empress much quicker than I ever imagined. If it wasn't for the fact that you're a Bái Shén, I'd be tempted to offer you a place in our ranks. Once I've jettisoned some… excess baggage, of course."

"I wouldn't join you anyway," Milla states.

"Obviously," Dolma acknowledges. "Anyway, enough of that: tell me about the Fire Crystal."

Enough playing along. "No."

"Wrong answer."

"I'm not telling you about the Fire Crystal."

"I will get that information, no matter what it takes."

"Even though you don't want to hurt me?"

"I will if I have to. Now, tell me about the Fire Crystal."

"Not a chance."

Dolma stands up and lets out an exasperated sigh. "And there I was thinking you'd realised the futility of your actions."

Milla looks directly at Dolma. "It's all on camera."

"There are no cameras in here," Dolma mistakenly corrects.

"Did you check on top of the standard?" Milla asks.

"If you're trying to stall, don't," Dolma instructs.

"I'm not stalling," Milla states defiantly. "Check on top of the standard."

"This is ridiculous," Dolma dismisses, turning to look above the standard anyway. "There's nothing up th‑"

The unblinking red light from the hidden camera stops Dolma's sentence dead.

In the abandoned warehouse, Rinzen stops the recording and closes his laptop computer. I have everything I need, thanks to Milla. Now all I need to do is get to the Palace and show the Empress. I just hope I'm quick enough.

Knowing there's no time to waste, Rinzen dashes to his car and drives away, heading as fast as he can get away with towards the Imperial Palace.

"Told you there was one up there," Milla smirks.

"It won't do you any good," Dolma dismisses, turning back to Milla, her composure recovered. "You'll never get it out of here."

"I don't need to," Milla informs. "It's a remote camera."

"Then we shall find whoever is recording and eliminate them," Dolma replies.

"If you can catch him in time."

"We will." Without another word, Dolma storms out of the room.

Now alone, Milla takes a deep breath and starts working out how to free herself from her bindings. I pray to the Ancients and the Five Deities that Rinzen makes it to the Palace before the Nine Tails catch up to him. If he doesn't…

Half an hour later, Rinzen screeches to a halt outside the Imperial Palace, leaps out of his car, and sprints inside before the guards at the entrance can stop him. Ignoring all cries for him to stop, the owl heads directly for the throne room, clutching his laptop like his life depends on it. Don't care if I get arrested: the Empress must see this!

In the throne room, Empress Kelsang is contemplating trying to contact Dolma when the doors suddenly burst open as a burgundy long‑eared owl wearing a black ulsterette overcoat over a plain black shirt, black jeans, and black bluchers sprints into the room, his laptop clutched tightly to his chest.

"What is the meaning of this‽" Kelsang demands as her personal bodyguard moves to protect her.

The owl slides to a halt right in front of the throne. "Forgive my intrusion… Your Imperial Majesty… but I have something… you must see immediately," Rinzen pants, holding out his laptop.

"How dare you make a demand of your Empress!" Kelsang barks. "Have you no respect‽"

"There's no time!" Rinzen replies. "You must see this now! The future of your Empire… depends on it!"

The violet lupine bodyguard places himself between Rinzen and Kelsang as Palace guards enter the throne room to cut off Rinzen's escape route. "Don't worry, my Empress: I will ensure this intruder is dealt with accordingly."

"Five minutes, my Empress," Rinzen begs. "That's all I ask… Grant me that… and I'll surrender."

"Out of the question!" the bodyguard denies. "You will‑"

"Hold on, Temba," Empress Kelsang interrupts, emerging from behind her bodyguard. "You have two minutes," she informs Rinzen.

"A thousand thankyous, my Empress," Rinzen sighs in relief, opening his laptop and quickly finding the correct piece of footage. "Watch this," he instructs, maxing out the volume and turning the laptop so Kelsang can see the screen.

Less than a minute later, she's seen and heard enough. "Guards, stand down," she orders quietly, keeping her composure despite the seething anger at Dolma's betrayal.

"My Empress, I‑" Temba begins.

But Kelsang's having none of it. "Stand! Down!"

"…as you wish, my Empress," Temba obeys.

"My apologies," Kelsang calmly directs to Rinzen. "It is right that you have brought this to my attention. If you would do me the honour of accompanying me while I deal with this matter personally?"

Rinzen is briefly stunned into silence by the request. "I… The honour is mine, my Empress," he agrees.

"Temba, you will accompany us as well," Kelsang instructs. "Let's not waste any more time: we depart immediately."

In the casino, Dolma receives the bad news. "What do you mean, he made it‽" she almost screams into her radio.

"My most sincere apologies, my Huxian," Shigara replies. "We did our best to catch him."

Incensed, Dolma crushes the radio in her hand. "That mongrel will pay for this!"

"No, she won't," a voice corrects.

Surprised, Dolma wheels around to see Milla Basset standing outside the storeroom, Phantom Shield raised, glowing piandao in hand, ready for combat.

"I don't want to fight you," Milla continues. "But I will if I have to."

"I will destroy you!" Dolma growls, her clenched fists surrounded with intense flames.

"You know what I become," Milla reminds, outwardly calm while her heart races almost out of control. "You know you cannot beat a Tiāngǒu."

"That won't stop me trying," Dolma growls, advancing on Milla.

"You're only making things worse," Milla warns, her voice shaking a little. "Please, surrender before either of us gets hurt."

But Dolma's not listening. Consumed with rage, she unleashes a powerful fire blast directly at Milla. The hound ducks behind her shield, but she cannot avoid being blown back into the storeroom and slammed into the decoy slot machine by the force of the blast, the impact causing her to drop both shield and sword.

Dolma marches into the storeroom and looms over Milla. "You have no hope of defeating me," she growls. "Now DIE!"

"Not a chance!" Milla barks, unleashing a powerful blast of Phantom energy that catapults Dolma out of the storeroom. Unable to control her flight, the Huxian slams into one of the banks of slot machines, collapsing to the floor in silence.

Milla extracts herself from the wreckage of the decoy slot machine, retrieves her piandao, and limps out of the storeroom to find Dolma lying motionless between two banks of slot machines. Not again… Wait: it might be a trap. Energising her sword and raising a shield, Milla slowly creeps up to the motionless Dolma, ready to fend off a surprise attack. As she gets closer however, it becomes clearer that Dolma's in no fit state to fight. But Milla's not taking any chances: she keeps her sword and shield raised, halting just out of reach in case Dolma suddenly lunges at her. "D… Dolma?"

A soft groan confirms that the vixen is alive.

"Thank the Ancients!" Milla sighs in relief. "Are you hurt?"

The muzzle of a loaded gun being placed on the back of her head turns Milla's blood to ice.

"Drop the sword," Nawang growls.

"I‑" Milla begins.

"NOW!" Nawang yells.

Milla drops her sword and her shield. "W… What are‑"

"SILENCE!"

Milla swallows hard and remains silent, her heart beating so fast it feels like it's going to leap out of her chest.

"You have interfered with our plans long enough," Nawang growls. "No more: I'm ending this now."

Milla closes her eyes and allows the tears to flow. Lilac, Carol, I‑

A gunshot echoes around the casino.