Meanwhile, in Nigeria, thousands of miles away from Duca Mines, Arlo Griffin was standing on a tower without anyone in sight, aside from his consul Callum Biffle.

At the moment, the Right Military Governor was grumbling, "How long do we have to wait? We don't even have the faintest clue when that prick is coming. What if they have sensed a trap? Doesn't that mean he will never show up?"

Callum then told him under his breath, "Well, we can't exactly be half-hearted when the Three Elders are here in our jurisdiction. I mean, they're mostly staying in seclusion for cultivation and don't need us serving their beck and call, but top officials like us goofing off here? We definitely could achieve more elsewhere.

"The Transition is supposed to start in two days, but Kansair Mile's garrison is exempt, anyway. Talk about serving no purpose at all… if anything, we should be asking Her Lordship for permission to return to Naples."

Arlo was silent for a beat, but he soon sighed. "Look, I'd lik