Chapter 778 — The Confusion Wrought by Memory

Gao Yang thought for a moment, then added: "At Dragoncall Fjord, lay a solid foundation for the port—build it to military-port standards. In the future we will also add facilities there for testing ocean-going warships..."

Victoria raised her eyes. "Warships... magical warships built for ocean combat?"

"Yes," Gao Yang nodded, his tone carrying a hint of emotion. "We are not the only ones who can think of the sea... Typhon has a far longer and finer coastline than Cecil, with a wealth of natural harbors and coastal resources. Sooner or later they too will turn their eyes to the ocean. They may even already be on the move."

Across Victoria's habitually expressionless face, her eyes could not help but shift slightly.

A sense of urgency rose of its own accord.

Having given his instructions, Gao Yang's thoughts drifted a little:

Dragoncall Fjord was still territory of the Cecil Empire, but its very geography made it a rather sensitive spot between the Holy Dragon Duchy and the Cecil Empire.

Establishing a military port there, setting up large-scale military research facilities, even stationing troops and permanently basing warships—such moves would not go unnoticed.

It seemed necessary, then, to take advantage of this diplomatic mission to cultivate good relations with the Holy Dragon Duchy.

The good news Victoria had brought... could not have come at a better time.

...

A chaotic darkness seemed to shroud the whole world. Above a flat, colorless plain, a woman in a white dress holding a lantern stood quietly in midair, gazing at the distant unmanned town that lay dormant in the night.

This was the "Imaginary Number Zone" on the outskirts of Illusory Pivot City—a region unmarked by the psychic network and impossible to address directly. Ordinary residents of Illusory Pivot City (the Ever-Sleepers), without authorization, could not even perceive its existence—even if they stood exactly where Celina Gerfen now stood, they would see nothing but empty darkness.

This property of the "Imaginary Number Zone" effectively prevented the spread of contamination.

But the town's strangeness had surpassed all imagination. It seemed almost to possess thought and reason, actively seeking ways to break through the blockade and to infiltrate the network's trunk structure.

After a long, silent watch, Celina suddenly turned her head toward the dim sky beside her.

A man in a white robe, refined in bearing, outlined his form out of the void.

"Grand Archon Celina, are you still monitoring this region personally?"

"No one is better suited to this work than I—a ghost in the network needs no rest," Celina said with a slight nod to Yuri. "Has something happened?"

"Preparations for the second expedition are complete. I came to ask when the next operation should begin."

"Next Ninthday," Celina said.

"I understand," Archon You Yaoheng nodded, then let his gaze follow Celina's to the distant unmanned town. "This phantom town... has anything changed?"

"As always—quiet and empty, as if time itself were frozen," Celina said calmly. "That church has not appeared again, and no bell has rung in the town—according to the intelligence revealed by the priest in that church before, yesterday should have been the day the bell rang."

Archon You Yaoheng ventured a guess: "Perhaps... it only 'comes alive' when we enter the town."

Celina was silent for a moment, neither confirming nor denying, then asked, "Has there been any change in Sandbox One?"

"The sandbox is unchanged, and we have made no progress."

"...No news is the best news."

"Indeed, as you say," Archon You Yaoheng said with a sigh, then took half a step back, his figure gradually fading. "Then I shall head back first—there is still work at the sandbox control group."

"Take care."

After Archon You Yaoheng's presence vanished, Celina lowered her head and quietly looked at the lantern in her hand for a long while.

Only after what seemed a very long time did she break the silence softly, as if speaking to herself:

"Will you be a thread of hope..."

...

The cold wind swept across the hills southeast of Winterwolf Keep. The chill of winter's closing days was fearsome; even the soldiers permanently stationed at this northern fortress could not help but shiver when the wind came.

Yet even so, the sentries inside and outside the main keep faced the wind and stood as straight as they could, maintaining the dignity and bearing of Imperial soldiers.

For a special guest was visiting this border stronghold.

In the main hall of the castle, Anluo Wendell—silver-gray long hair, clad in women's armor, a family heirloom sword at her waist—stood straight before the steps, her silver-gray eyes, the same shade as her hair, full of solemnity.

Before her stood the delegation from the imperial capital, Aldernan.

Leading the delegation was a beautiful woman in an elaborate, resplendent black court gown. Her skin was fair, her figure tall, her straight black hair falling to her waist, with fine golden chains set with tiny rubies hanging down through the strands; in those deep, water-like eyes was reflected the face of Anluo Wendell.

The woman in the black court gown wore a faint smile, yet a calm and noble air radiated from her, making those around her instinctively feel respect—and, at the same time, a subtle sense of distance.

"Your Highness Matilda," Anluo Wendell bowed before this flower of the Empire's high peaks, "welcome to Winterwolf Keep.

"Beyond this place lies the land of the Cecilians."