Chapter 989: Chapter 988: Aldernon in the Fog

As soon as Matilda finished speaking, a buzz of discussion erupted throughout the council hall.

Regardless of whether they were aristocratic councilors, representatives of affluent citizens, or delegates from various Mage and Scholar associations, at this moment, they were all equally stunned, and following the initial shock came irrepressible questioning and heated debate.

At this moment, they even forgot the decorum and rules they normally adhered to.

Amid the booming discussions, finally, a councilor stood up, demanding a more detailed explanation. A councilor shouted that this was a crazy idea, emphasizing that doing so would plunge the Empire into unprecedented and terrifying chaos. At the center of this storm, Matilda simply watched everything quietly, unsurprised by what was happening before her.

The council... this product of new governance has been present and operational in the Typhon Empire for more than a decade, while its earlier prototype, the "Aristocratic Convocation Court," has existed on this land for an even longer period. No one could deny the historical role and practical value of this entity in Typhon’s development, and even at this very moment, Matilda was well aware of the significant meaning of the "Council," and also understood the councilors’ shock and bewilderment at this moment. Therefore, she said nothing in the first few minutes, allowing time for the people in the hall to confirm and digest the news—and gradually calm down.

Finally, under Matilda’s calm gaze, those emotionally charged councilors closed their mouths one after another, and the buzzing hall slowly quieted down.

Earl Dule did not participate in the discussion; he sat quietly in his seat, watching the familiar gentlemen and ladies, flushed red in the face over the past few minutes. With a thoughtful expression on his face, he was summarizing the recent changes in the situation in Aldernon and the news coming from various channels in his mind. For half a minute, he even recalled his previous experience visiting the Cecil Clan with the embassy—finally, he looked up and happened to see the Empire’s Pearl standing up from her chair.

Matilda rose, and her action brought about total silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I can call out each of your names. I am familiar with each of you, I understand—and comprehend you," she surveyed the hall before speaking slowly in a composed voice, "Therefore, I understand your questioning and anxiety at this moment, but please calm down and listen to what I have to say—the royal family has no intention of disrupting the stable order we’ve maintained for a long time, nor is it attacking the council we’ve built together out of malice or other unspeakable motives."

Seeing all eyes focused on her, Matilda paused for a moment before continuing:

"The Empire is facing a crisis, a crisis unlike any challenge we’ve faced before—I am not only referring to the ’war’ with the Cecil Clan, a war fraught with uncertainties, nor merely the various recent anomalies of the Sect of the God of War. It is the reasons behind these anomalies that are more chilling.

"There are fatal breaches within our army, traitors have emerged within our aristocratic system, and our church and populace are being infiltrated by some malevolent force—these threats come aggressively, attempting to disrupt the Empire’s order. Their most terrifying aspect lies in their rapid destruction, unpredictability, and powerful infiltrative and lurking abilities. I believe all present are well aware of the recent changes in the situation and the rumors circulating in the imperial capital, so you should understand what I mean.

"Facing such a challenge, the council is clearly insufficient—I do not deny the significance of the council and its role for the Empire, but under current special circumstances, we must replace it with a more efficient, controlled, and securely enclosed group.

"From today onwards, the Empire will enter a state of emergency, where the royal cabinet, headed by His Majesty Rosetta, will fully take over numerous powers of the council. All military, administrative, and religious units will directly receive orders from the emperor. We must mobilize the army with the highest efficiency and eliminate domestic instabilities, restore stability to Aldernon as quickly as possible, unite the Empire’s power in the shortest time, and resolve this crisis in the briefest period.

"As for all of you sitting here... please rest assured. The council is temporarily closed, merely a facet of entering the state of emergency—although this is our first time implementing this level of ’emergency legislation,’ rest assured, everything is under His Majesty’s control. You need not worry about your safety and reputation—everyone under the three spires is the pride of upper society in the Empire, and I trust each of your loyalties, as does His Majesty."

"Therefore, loyal and upright councilors, you should also understand the royal family’s efforts in safeguarding the Empire’s interests—the choices you make today will be noble and worthy of being recorded in the annals."

"This is a rare opportunity to make significant contributions to the Empire and to prove yourselves, please seize it firmly."

"My speech is finished."

Every word spoken by Matilda was gentle yet filled with politeness, as if imbued with a force that made one involuntarily trust and relax. Earl Dule sat in the seat below, quietly listening to what Princess Veronica said, but inwardly sighed slightly.

An impeccable speech indeed—now, the reasonable debate ends.

Of course, for some people in this hall, they would continue to make efforts—Earl Dule saw councilors standing up to speak, some seemed to be discussing something with others around them, and others were casting some communication spells allowed within the hall, seemingly contacting their connections, seeking help with intelligence matters.

Earl Dule glanced at a speculative merchant not far away, noticing anxiety on his chubby face, but this time, there was no contempt in his heart for the other party. Then he lowered his head, casting a glance at the lavish ring adorned with a large gemstone on his finger.

After brief contemplation, he brought the ring close to his face and injected magic power into it—the expensive magic supplies slightly lit up, and a voice directly entered Earl Dule’s ear: "Sir, what are your orders?"

"Where is the Protectorate Knight Order?"

"They are in Council Street and the Upper Cross Street area."

"Where is Duke Ferdinand?"

"Duke Ferdinand left the Obsidian Palace an hour ago—but we cannot ascertain the specific whereabouts of the duke."

"That is enough."

Earl Dule exhaled, rubbed his slightly aching temples, and then decided to express full support for His Majesty’s emergency legislation.

...

The corridor of the Royal Mage Association was deep and long, a hunched figure slowly walked through those long corridors and arches depicting portraits of great mages in history, the artificial nerve cord under the magic robe subtly wriggled, sending an intimidating sound of friction.

The mages passing by could all feel the oppression and somberness emanating from the figure in the black robe, yet none showed any disrespect towards this figure who casually strolled within the Royal Mage Association—despite him wearing a private magic robe without any insignia, not wearing any badge of the association, and almost never greeting anyone on the road actively.

Even so, every person passing by this figure would still stop respectfully, bow slightly, and call him "Master Daniel."

To this, Daniel would simply nod in acknowledgment—this was already the most friendly and congenial reaction he could afford in this place.

Daniel stopped at the end of the corridor.

He looked up at the wall on one side of the corridor, which still had several blank spaces, and one of those blanks had been sketched with simple lines, the faint smell of some paint lingering in the air.

After a while, he suddenly withdrew his gaze and looked in the other direction towards the corner of the corridor—a female mage in a light purple gown-style robe seemingly appeared there out of thin air, walking this way.

The passing mages, upon seeing this woman, would stop and greet with utmost respect, addressing her as "Chairwoman Maple."

Windsor Maple responded warmly to the greetings around her, yet her pace did not slow down at all. She walked straight up to Daniel, a slight smile on her face: "I didn’t expect you to come so early."

"Hmm, I just happened to have some free time," Daniel nodded lightly, his attitude still cold, but without the evident hostility and disdain towards the Royal Mage Association. As he spoke, he looked up at the corridor next to him, his brow slightly furrowed, "Who is it this time, a person of both fame and fortune to be painted on this corridor?"

Windsor Maple looked at her mentor twice, unable to hold back a smile: "It’s you, my mentor."

Daniel’s stern face finally showed a change due to surprise, his yellowed pupils widened slightly as he glanced at the portrait on the wall, then looked back at his former apprentice, his furrowed brow growing more pronounced: "Me? That’s not funny."

"It’s not a joke, this decision was unanimously agreed upon by the high-ranking representatives of the Mage Association and even endorsed by His Majesty."

"I haven’t been a member of your association for ages," Daniel said in an odd tone.

"Lord Richard in the fourth portrait isn’t a member either, nor is Lady Marlena Wenton in the twelfth," Windsor Maple said with a smile, "No one ever stipulated that only members’ portraits can be painted in the Sage’s Hallway of the Royal Mage Association, and you’re certainly qualified to be among them—you practically single-handedly established the foundational system of the Empire’s magical industry, guiding us through key transitions of the times. For this alone, you meet the standard of a ’sage.’"

Daniel lightly twitched a brow, his pupils shifted several times before the mural that had yet to be outlined, yet he said nothing, only Windsor Maple’s voice continued from the side: "I know, this was one of your biggest dreams back then—although now you might no longer care, I believe you are entirely qualified to enter this corridor.

"In terms of achievements that can change an era, laying the cornerstone for the Empire’s magical industry far surpasses the merit of a mere association head fulfilling their duty."

After a few seconds of silence, Daniel tugged at the corners of his mouth and turned to walk forward: "Futile pursuits."

Listening to this dismissive and cold assessment, Windsor Maple couldn’t help but laugh: the mentor hadn’t demanded she send someone to scrape the images off the wall.

She turned and followed Daniel’s steps, who slightly turned his head, speaking offhandedly: "I came to hand over the technical data of the communication device to you—the Constructers’ Guild has completed the design blueprints for the energy and amplification structure and passed the lab acceptance; our work is done, what’s left is yours."

"Right on time!" Windsor Maple said with a smile, "This way, the transceiver device I designed will completely solve the energy problem. The next step is to enter the practical phase—now the communication towers across the regions are ready for a full renovation. The timing is just perfect."

Daniel nodded and then smirked slightly with a tinge of sarcasm: "Not long ago, over half the people at the Mage Association were fiercely debating the cost and feasibility of overhauling the national communication tower network, arguing with red faces as if willing to break with the entire world for the Empire’s sake. Now you’ve completed the renovation plans... The direction of the association still changes as swiftly as in the past."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Windsor Maple’s face. She shook her head with a wry smile: "You ought to know about the changes in town’s atmosphere recently, and have heard some unconfirmed... rumors."

"I’ve heard quite a bit," Daniel said casually, "Although I don’t want to listen, living in Aldernon, it’s hard for anyone’s ears to stay calm."

"...Mages are the keenest group," Windsor Maple sighed, "though proud, pride can’t withstand royal power—it’s not so much that the association’s direction changes too quickly, but Aldernon’s direction changes too fast indeed."

Daniel’s steps came to a halt, and with a seemingly thoughtful expression, he muttered softly: "Aldernon’s direction, huh..."

"Mentor," Windsor Maple seemed not to have heard clearly the elderly man’s indistinct words beside her, "What did you say?"

"Nothing, just lamenting the numerous bustling affairs in this city," Daniel shook his head, then seemingly casually asked, "By the way, I heard you figured out those peculiar ’Deep Sea Runes’ the Cecil Clan gave us?"

"Far from figuring them out," Windsor Maple said, "those things are more bizarre than I imagined, inexplicably bizarre—even as the Cecil Clan initially explained, those so-called ’Deep Sea Runes’ come from beyond human civilizations, and the differences between the two civilizations are far greater than between humans and elves. So unraveling the deep-seated logic of those runes is probably not that easy. Fortunately, even without understanding the deeper logic, those runes can still function. Experiments have shown that after constructing a fully enclosed space using those deep-sea runes, it can block any form of mental pollution, and even has a powerful purifying effect on already contaminated individuals..."

"...Oh, it does sound intriguing," Daniel raised a brow, "If I have the time, I’d like to see the facility you built after its completion."

"Of course, you may. It’s in the Obsidian Palace, and His Majesty would surely be delighted with your interest—after all, you are an expert in the field of runes."

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