The Ecliptic Veil

"This is our present to the USSR, officer. If possible, I will teach you all how to use it after getting promises of protection from you all. However, only I can use it." Serina tells after explaining to the officer the function of 'The Ecliptic Veil'.

The officer does not touch the device that is put on the table, who knows what will it do? A device that can predict the future of the country, it seems to be a very attractive bait, and also the surrender of two Karak middle-top rank wizards. 

This will be a bold gamble and something he does not have the right to decide.

"So, if you can use it, there must be someone in the Karak who can use it as well, why didn't they predict that our missile will accidentally launch due to some other factors? If we could receive some notification, maybe losses due on the Karak can be prevented."The officer quickly notices the logical loopholes in their words.

"It used to work well, but the appearance of the USSR interrupted its working. I think it might need to enter the mainland of the USSR so that we can connect and predict it."

"Well, your present is heavy, the Union appreciate it, and it must be protected. Allow me to leave, for now, I will need to report your situation to my supervisors."

Serina nodded showing her understanding.

"I still hate this. Every part of it."

After the officer left, Aria communicated with Serina in my mind.

"Be patient, maybe you will change your mind after we reach the mainland of the USSR. Many things will subvert your cognition."

Their deflection was on purpose, Elowen thinks that since they can't do anything to the Soviets, the easiest way is to send someone who can be trusted and loyal to the Kingdom to the USSR and earn the Soviets' trust. Unlike those 'Priest' that were sent before, both of them can directly send messages back to the kingdom with more advanced magic. 

They chose, Serina, because she had previously visited the USSR, or perhaps they viewed her as a potential threat and wanted to prevent her from remaining in the kingdom. As for Aria, she was selected due to her role as a trusted aide, tasked with monitoring Serina to ensure this feigned defection did not turn into a genuine one. However, after receiving all the small nuclear presents from the Soviets, they were instructed to communicate only in the most urgent situations.

Both communicated telepathically, believing the Soviets would be unaware of it. Yet, the Soviets had not been ignorant of magic before, technology from Plainspire had enhanced their comprehension of it.

Their communication appeared as waves on the monitor. Colonel Ivanov observed everything unfolding. Just then, the officer in charge of interrogating them entered the room and awaited Ivanov's next command.

"Colonel, we received the latest report from the Lubyanka regarding Serina. She is among the first patches to establish contact with us. Comrade Chernov was previously responsible for their security. According to the report, it indicates that she may have already identified with socialism, most likely, she genuinely wants to defect to us. However, there is no information available about the other individual, Aria." Staff came into the room with a folder.

Ivanov takes over the folder and starts reading on it. Not long later, only a word was said.

"Interesting."

"Lieutenant, what was your impression when talking to them? Anything you can get analysis from what you have learned?" Ivanov asked the officer and wasn't afraid of him getting control, the device here would know if he did.

"Reporting Comrade Colonel, for Serina, I have the same conclusion as the report, from Psychology and body language, I believe she genuinely wants to defect to us. But Aria, rarely talks, and her eyes are alerting, I would say she is doing the same thing as us, she is doing the same thing as us, working in the intelligence department."

Ivanov nodded.

"Any instruction from Lubyanka?"

"No, they give you the authority to handle this. Report to them after you have made your decision with valid reason."

So, should they accept their deflection?

The reason they are here is likely to conduct some intelligence work in the USSR, but they have warned the Karak, that they may not be operating too overtly. Whether the other is genuine or not seems less significant, the society of an industrial socialist nation represents a dimensionality reduction blow to that of a feudal medieval society.

No matter whether she is loyal to Karak or not, something will change inside his mind after staying some time in the USSR, even starting to identify with socialism.

Maybe one of their targets is Chernov, who suffers from the magic of Karak. But the real problem is, 'The Ecliptic Veil'. How will it damage the nation if it is brought into the country? Does it just do like what they said? Or does it have other uses? Should he allow it to be brought into the country?

There is still one significant question that the Soviets do not know about, what is the trump card of these countries? The undead, the orcs and the Karak, Soviets have never seen their massive strategy weapon used before, perhaps a little on the undead, but they know it is not the strongest. That is another reason why they don't launch another total war against the country and power in Astalia even if they can't temporarily duel the orcs.

Allowing it brought into the country, they faced the risk of getting massive destructive damage by it but also got the chance to predict the future and wipe out all the unstable factors. 

Disallowing it, nothing will happen, but same their future, nothing can be done if there is something serious happens.

Success, no one will remember him.

Failed, everyone will blame him, his family will be implicated.

And now, he has the right to decide it.