Chapter 690 — Speaker Anqian

"...In summary, I believe Gaoyang Cecil and the order he has built may prove a valuable variable. We should strengthen our attention upon him and, when necessary, further raise the level of contact."

Speaker Anqian was silent for several seconds. His supplementary thought unit whirred at high speed and exchanged a series of data with "Omega" that no outsider could know of. At last he spoke: "The current contact level is already high enough; there is no need to raise it for now. But this 'variable' you speak of... does indeed have a certain value."

"Then..."

"But he is not necessarily the only variable, child," Speaker Anqian's voice continued. "Other agents have sent reports. The human Typhoon Empire is likewise undergoing changes of enormous scale; breakthroughs in technology and culture are underway. The elven Silver Empire is also gradually 'thawing,' attempting to resume development. Though they too have sunk into a technological mire like ours, they were never 'locked down,' and the possibility of breaking the seal exists. In addition, the Violet Kingdom, the Dwarven Court, and the Highland Kingdom all show signs of social upheaval or major technological breakthrough... All of these may serve as variables."

Meiheng blinked, thought briefly, then nodded: "...I have been focusing too narrowly on the Cecil Empire."

"That is your assigned region; close attention is only proper. And besides..." Speaker Anqian's voice paused slightly, as though weighing his words. "This variable, Gaoyang Cecil, is indeed somewhat different. By whose guidance he set sail that year, we have still not discovered. The mysteries hidden in this human make even me curious."

"On that point, Gaoyang Cecil himself seems not to know either," Meiheng said. "I have spoken with him many times. His memories of that secret voyage appear to have been erased by some factor—all memories relating to it, before and after, were wiped entirely clean. Moreover, everyone who acted alongside him in those days left not the slightest clue; we cannot even determine who his companions were."

"To deceive the eyes of the Mithril Vault—there are not many 'people' in this world capable of that..." The aged golden dragon's voice was deep, steady, and powerful. "Maintain contact with Gaoyang Cecil. This commission—the Mithril Vault accepts it."

Meiheng bowed respectfully: "Yes."

Part of the lighting in the room flickered bright and dim; a hidden door in the corner opened, and a machine servant flew out, taking the manuscripts that had been reorganized. Speaker Anqian nodded to Meiheng: "Meiheng, is there anything else?"

Meiheng had been ready to take her leave, but she hesitated and stopped. Under the gaze of the old Speaker's mechanical eye, she at last could not help speaking: "Your Excellency Speaker, on the Loren Continent I encountered a dragon with a genetic defect..."

"Oh? You went to the Holy Dragon Principality?"

"No, it was within Ansù—which is now the Cecil Empire, of course," Meiheng breathed out, her words flowing smoothly again. "A black dragon. Her wings had developed halfway, but genetic defect halted their growth, and her body is deformed to a certain degree. For some reason she left the Holy Dragon Principality and chose to live among humans—and it seems she has lived there for many years..."

Speaker Anqian's gentle voice interrupted Meiheng's account: "And then?"

"Speaker, apart from the physical deformity of that black dragon, everything else about her is normal. She has a sound mind, and her human form is perfectly healthy—more than capable of any work that does not require flight. So I am curious..."

The white dragon Noreta, who had remained silent all this while, could not help but softly remind her: "Meiheng, you have asked about this topic before..."

Yet Meiheng acted as though she had not heard her friend's reminder at all, and pressed on stubbornly: "I am curious as to what the actual reason is for the exile of the genetically defective—is it merely because they were born deformed? The Holy Dragon Duchy has been exiled at the coldest northern reaches of the Loren Continent for so many years—is there truly no end to it?"

"...The Dragon Empire has never required exiles to build their nests in the ice mountains. The Senate merely had them leave Tarond; settling at the northern reaches of the Loren Continent was their own decision. And as for the reason for exile... genetic contamination is reason enough."

Meiheng lifted her head, meeting the gaze of that august and aged ancient dragon, whose eyes held nothing but calm candor.

Only after a full two minutes did Meiheng, under the stare of that mechanical prosthetic eye, shift her gaze away. She lowered her head: "I understand, Speaker."

Speaker Anqian regarded the young junior before him. The many devices connected to him throughout the room emitted a pleasant, low hum, and his voice came through the speaker: "Meiheng, you are young and full of vitality—a most precious quality among dragons. I do not mind that it leads you to ask rash questions; rather, I hope you will long preserve this curiosity, and may it accompany you all your life. But there are certain matters that, as you are now, you are destined not to change, and not fit to know. I hope you can understand this."

Meiheng answered with reverence and sincerity: "Yes, Speaker. I understand."

"Go back. Rest a while, then make preparations for the audience ceremony. The God will dispel your weariness and your pain. Once you have fully recovered your spirits, return to your post."

"Yes, Speaker."