Vera Zhou

A cunning, sharp-tongued emissary who doesn’t mind being feared as long as she’s respected. To her, effective diplomacy is tackling conflict head-on, either with strong words or even stronger fisticuffs.

But no matter how cruel and savage she may be, she firmly remains on the side of people as their protector.

• Being the oldest child was, to Vera, an unenviable responsibility. As a result, she quickly became independent from her family as soon as she could secure a government job. Though the Zhous send her occasional money as a financial incentive to re-integrate herself with family business, Vera remains firm on building a life outside of the will of her parents.
  • Her relationship with ​Tian, the only sibling still living with their parents, is the most strained. They can barely have a conversation without it descending into a one-sided argument.
  • Though Vera doesn’t particularly respect the Synestheistic church, she makes an effort to visit ​the youngest, Cheng, now and then. She admires Cheng’s resolve to move out and commit to such a lifestyle at a young age.
• Envoys such as Vera are largely tasked to travel abroad and represent more important, powerful figures. Her early years were rough; it wasn’t her first-choice career, she disliked having to tip-toe around rules and regulations, and she particularly struggled with maintaining a ‘personable’ public image that benefited political representatives. But she didn’t have anything to fall back on - besides returning to her family - so she bore through it, ascending through the ranks and becoming the disciplined agent she is today.
  • Her true skills lie in intimidation and battle strategy, so once her missions were adjusted to cater to these strengths, she started enjoying the job more.
• Not one to seek out thrills but enjoying action nonetheless, Vera needs movement in her routine or she will get restless. That is why she favors missions with elements of danger and challenge, such as ones that involve assassination attempts and war zones.
  • She was once held at gunpoint by a robber. This was at the end of a particularly boring day, and the smile she gave was so frightening that the man immediately surrendered. That didn’t stop her from delivering the beating of a lifetime, though.
• Jade is the Color Code Vera had in her teenage years, in tandem with the name she went by at the time and the people she affiliated with. She still employs it from time to time, though only for her more military responsibilities.
• During her academy years, she was in an exclusive social clique lead by then valedictorian and class president Regina Pretorius. She deeply admired Regina, acting as her second-in-command and confidant.
  • Yuna Chakrabarti, a member of the clique and lowerclassman, claims that Vera took it the hardest when the group later dissolved due to interpersonal conflicts.
• Not a particularly affectionate person, Vera has only dated once before in her life. It ended in a messy way - as is expected of two inexperienced teenagers - and ever since, she’s been more closed off to romance and other people in general.
  • Tian claims that the months in which Vera had a boyfriend was the happiest I’ve seen my dear, frightening sister.
  • Though it took months, Vera eventually rekindled her friendship with her ex. Since they would end up working alongside each other, they have maintained a professional and cordial relationship.