"Don't underestimate any extraordinary organization that has survived to this day. Even before the Night Race launched their first offensive on the Fortress of the Morning Wind, we had already obtained intelligence on this group of the Night Race."

Fuen began to lay out the long-planned conspiracy before Bologue.

"Since that time, the Clarks have been on high alert, always ready to respond to an attack from the Night Race."

Bologue asked, "And what about the Elder's betrayal?"

Ralph entered the Wind Cellar many years ago. For Fuen's generation, he was almost unlinked to them. For many years, Ralph remained silent, only recently falling due to the Regent King's temptation with the Blood of the Night King.

Bologue thought that no matter how vast the intelligence network, it would be hard to identify such defectors.

"It's a pity you are not a Clarks, and have not thoroughly studied the history of the Dawn War."

Fuen didn't immediately explain Bologue's query but instead brought up something else. "During the Dawn War, after every battle with the Night Race, many of the Clarks would be gravely wounded and on the verge of death."

"At the brink of death...

It is a prime time for corruption. Many Clarks would succumb to the Blood of the Night Race, betraying the Clarks, and stand against us.

Besides tempting the dying, the Night Race would selectively spare some, granting them blood, planting the seeds of temptation. With enough pressure and promises, these individuals would become deeply embedded defectors within us.

To handle such situations, all families who fought the Night Race have developed their own internal purge strategies to root out traitors."

Bologue was somewhat surprised, "But the Dawn War was over a hundred years ago..."

"But the Night Race still lives, right? It's an iron rule that before any battle with them, a pre-battle purge must be conducted," Fuen nonchalantly kicked his feet up onto the table. "See, we've just dealt with a traitor, and he was an Elder, no less."

Bologue didn't reply. Fuen's story was plausible, yet Bologue felt there were inconsistencies, but he couldn't exactly hold a knife to Fuen's throat to make him tell the truth. He could only stare at him intently.

Bologue's face was expressionless, a gaze that always had an intimidating effect. Fuen chuckled and then said.

"Alright, it was an order from the Decision Room, but regarding the internal purge, I wasn't joking, it's all true. I just didn't expect this time the issue would surface among the Elders."

Bologue asked, "The Decision Room orchestrated all this?"

Once again, it was the Decision Room. For the mysterious supreme decision-making body, Bologue had an indescribable feeling.

As if... the Decision Room was omnipotent.

"No, the Decision Room only provided some assistance; the rest was my doing."

Fuen continued explaining, "After realizing there were internal issues, according to protocol, the Order Bureau sent an inspector, which was Church.

Though he hardly seemed noticeable, Church was quite capable. To prevent accidents, he also brought Chekov's Gun."

To Fuen, the one with the most significant contrast among Bologue's group was Church.

Outwardly unremarkable, like an inconspicuous rock, but he was also the deadliest assassin, always ready to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.

By this point, everything was clear. Some of the Night Race had broken free of the constraints of the Dawn Oath and were planning to ally with Ralph to seize the Dawn Oath from within the Clarks and release the Night Race from the Land of Eternal Night.

The Clarks had received intelligence and launched an internal purge while the Order Bureau narrowed down the search to the Elders and even sent Church as an inspector for more covert tasks.

For instance, against Ralph's conspiracy.

To lure Ralph out, Fuen paid a great price, allowing the Night Race to breach the Fortress of the Morning Wind. Even during the Dawn War, not even the Night King had accomplished this.

On the way to the Wind Source Highlands, Church had mentioned to Bologue that he was there to carry out a mission, and it happened that the group acted together...

Wait a minute.

Bologue suddenly realized a grand web of conspiracy, belatedly realizing, "Palmer's leave was approved by you!"

The series of coincidences led to the current situation, but Bologue never believed in coincidences, especially not with the unlucky Palmer around.

"You guessed it!"

Fuen gave a thumbs up.

Bologue mourned for Palmer in his mind. As expected, the Field Operations Department wasn't kind enough to let Palmer come back; it was all Fuen's indication.

"But you can't say it's all a conspiracy. Palmer really hadn't been back for a long time. I didn't know how he was doing, although I could just wave my hand, and intel about him would continually flow from inside the Order Bureau, from whether he clocked in on time today to whether he left early, all detailed."

Fuen appeared like a kindly old father, not good at showing concern for children.

"But these are just cold words. I wanted to see for myself how Palmer was doing."

Bologue uncertainly asked, "This incident wasn't just an internal purge, but also a test for Palmer?"

"I suppose so."

"Then... how about Palmer?"

"Only in the face of adversity does a person reveal their true nature."

The relationship between Fuen and Palmer should have been quite bad, but every time Fuen mentioned Palmer, their relationship seemed surprisingly harmonious.

"Palmer's performance was perfect, truly worthy of being my child, the heir chosen by the era."

Fuen added, "The only regret is that he's still young and needs time to grow."

Bologue nodded in agreement; Prayer Believers were still too weak, merely basic units in the Extraordinary War. The ones who truly determined the war's direction were Defenders and Seekers of Glory.

"Aren't you afraid of Palmer's death?"

Bologue said with lingering fear, "He is a Defender."

The terrifying Ether reaction of Ralph still lingered in Bologue's mind, and relying solely on the Tier One Prayer Believers, facing the Defender was quite challenging.

"You are aware of Alchemy Matrix Technology, right, Bologue? Then you should understand that it wasn't until the modern era, during the time of Scorched Earth Fury, that Alchemy Matrix Technology saw rapid advancement."

"What do you mean?"

"Ralph may be a Defender, but he is already an old relic... can you guess his Secret Energy?"

Fuen didn't let Bologue guess for long and directly gave the answer, "Secret Energy·Wind Source."

"Isn't that..."

"This is the limitation of the era, Bologue. In the era Ralph belonged to, the technology of the Alchemy Matrix was far less advanced than it is now. Many powerful Condensers used cumbersome primitive Secret Energy, like giving him a precision rifle, only for him to swing the butt like a club."

"Is this why Palmer is so special? He lives in an era of explosive growth for Alchemy Matrix Technology."

"Indeed, the Path of Wind Fury, perfected over a century, is the most flawless path for the Clarks."

Fuen sighed, "Think about it, a hundred years ago, we rode on horseback, wielding swords. A hundred years later, we can send heavy steel into the sky... all this within just a century, so it is with Alchemy Matrix Technology."

Bologue suddenly asked, "Do you think the difference in Alchemy Matrix Technology is really just a limitation of the era?"

"What's wrong?"

"I once learned of a theory like this: a hundred years ago, or even earlier, there wasn't much Ether saturating the world, which made it difficult for Alchemists to sense the existence of Secret Sources. But with the passage of time, the Ether concentration of the entire world has been continuously rising, which led to the explosive growth of Alchemy Matrix Technology."

"Hmm... interesting, it's the first time I've heard such a theory," Fuen thought for a moment, "You mean that the eruption of Alchemy Matrix Technology in this era is also due to the increase in Ether concentration, right?"

"Probably..."

Bologue didn't continue speaking; Teda was already dead, and his theory remained unverified.

Then Bologue understood why the battle went so smoothly: "Because of the gap in Alchemy Matrix Technology, you could easily take down Ralph."

That's why Fuen so calmly set the trap, even without Fuen's action, there was Church watching closely. Bologue even suspected that when they were suppressed by Ralph, Church had already taken aim at Ralph, only needing the right opportunity to pull the deadly trigger.

"Ralph had the Ether strength of a Defender, but lacked an adequately advanced Alchemy Matrix. When he swung the rifle butt at me, I had already fired a bullet, penetrating his body."

Fuen added, "Of course, the most important thing is that he was too old, about to die, and had violated the oath."

"The oath restricting the Elders?"

"Of course, maintaining the unity of such a colossal entity is not an easy task. The higher the position a person holds, the more they are bound by the oath."

Fuen pulled open a drawer, took out a heavy book, with the words "Wind Source Oath" engraved on it.

Bologue's expression was somewhat complicated. Would Fuen really just leave something this important in a drawer?

Fuen seemed to know what Bologue was thinking and casually explained, "This is just a copy; it's standard issue in the Clarks."

"The main targets of the oath's constraints are the Elders and Executioner; they are very senior in the family, bear honors, and are in high tiers. If not handled well, it can easily cause disaster."

Fuen opened a page and read one of the most important ordinances aloud.

"Unless with the Executioner's permission, the Elders shall not harm any member of the Clarks."

"Who is the Executioner?"

"Right in front of you."

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