Indistinguishable and Deceptive

"Grace, is our little cutie back yet?" Shannon asked as soon as she saw her.

Grace nodded. "She's back. Leon Zane was indeed trapped by someone, but he's not in any danger."

"Trapped, but not in danger?" Shannon looked puzzled. "What happened exactly?"

I can't really guess the details! You know our little cutie can't talk, so I have to rely on guessing—she just nods or shakes her head.

Shannon nodded.

Though she still didn't know exactly what had happened to Leon Zane, hearing he was safe put her mind at ease.

"Shannon, your plan to get the Frostbound Casket failed. Do you have a backup plan?"

Shannon sighed and said, "The Frostbound Casket is locked in the underground chamber.

It's guarded by heavy troops and protected by a Glacier Array.

Unless you get my father's token, there's absolutely no way to get in.

Besides, the Frostbound Casket is insanely heavy. Even if you get the token and go in, moving it is a whole other problem.

Grace asked, "Do you know what the Frostbound Casket looks like?"

Shannon chuckled, "I doubt anyone knows it better than I do."

"What do you mean by that?"

"When I was a kid, that lovely Empress locked me inside the array where the casket was kept for three years." Shannon's eyes flashed with deeply hidden resentment. "I almost died in there!"

Grace perked up, "So, if I ask you to have someone make a Replica Frostbound Casket that's identical to the real one, could you do it?"

Shannon nodded without hesitation. "No problem."

"Then let's make one!" Grace said. "Leave the casket business to me! I promise I'll get it!"

"But the Frostbound Casket weighs over ten thousand pounds. How are you going to get it?" Shannon asked, baffled.

"Just get someone to make it and wait for my good news." Grace said. "I've got a way!"

Shannon: "Alright... By the way, what's going on with Byron White?"

"What do you mean?"

"He snatched the custom Spirit Gem jewelry from the Prime Minister's daughter, and the Prime Minister reported him to His Majesty the Emperor," Shannon said. "The Emperor was furious and scolded him in front of everyone, ordered him to compensate tenfold, and to apologize in person. Total humiliation!"

Grace: "...Why does it feel like this has something to do with me?"

"Byron White is ambitious, whether it's for the Eastern Luo Empire or the Spirit Alliance," Shannon said. "He's very protective of his reputation, so he'd never do something like this. I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with you."

Grace chuckled and told her what happened. Shannon laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

Shannon really was familiar with the Frostbound Casket. In just two days, she secretly had someone craft the Replica Frostbound Casket.

It was a square stone box the size of a coffin, smooth as a mirror, with no fancy details—no wonder it was finished so quickly.

The only special thing was the material. It was as pure as white jade, flawless and cold to the touch.

"It's a fake, so why is it so cold?" Grace asked, touching the Replica Frostbound Casket.

"I put a Glacier Array inside the casket," Shannon replied.

Grace nodded, waved her hand, and the casket vanished into thin air.

Shannon stared, dumbfounded. "What was that...?"

"Magic trick!" Grace laughed. "I'm off! Wait for my good news."

With that, Grace really left.

As soon as she got back to the Spirit Alliance, Byron White came looking for her.

Apparently, the punishment from the White Emperor hadn't affected him much.

Or maybe, sabotaging her relationship with Evan Xiao and creating an opening for his sister was way more important to him than any punishment.

So when Grace saw Byron White, he was just as lovey-dovey as ever.

"Grace, have you made up your mind yet?" Byron White asked.

Grace bit her lip and said, "Honestly, I'm willing. Evan Xiao may be great, but compared to you, President, he's nowhere near your league."