Chapter 1004 — Stirring

"I separated blood samples from these people and scanned their neural structures, hoping to reverse-engineer their modification process, but I have found no leads whatsoever... This matter is clearly not so simple."

"In other words, this path is a dead end," Bard said with a frown. In his view, once Bei Yila's string of technical explanations was boiled down, that was all it amounted to. "...I don't know whether His Majesty will attempt to contact Aldernan, but in the present situation, it is hardly likely the two nations could establish a channel for technical exchange while fighting a war..."

"So I have been considering other solutions on my end..." Bei Yila said unhurriedly.

"Other solutions?" Bard was taken aback, then looked in surprise at the former Canon before him. "You've thought of something?"

"An alternative technical route. Perhaps we can enhance ordinary people's ability to adapt to and control magic by other means—for instance, an additional nervous system... Nairetir told me some things about neural networks, and one concept in there called a 'wetware computing node' is quite interesting..."

Bard looked at Bei Yila and suddenly felt a chill for no reason at all. Though the Soriah region was springlike all year round, he instinctively rubbed his arms: "Damn... don't you go cooking up some bloody experiment. I'll be the first to report you."

Bei Yila glanced at him: "Of course I won't. My every move is under the Magic Web's surveillance, and besides, I myself long ago lost interest in those foolish experiments—I will submit an application and report to Minister Rebecca through the proper procedures."

...

Aldernan.

The snowfall that had lasted several days finally began to taper off, yet the fog that followed close behind once again shrouded this imperial capital on the plains. The sky over Aldernan remained a leaden gray, though compared with the days of wind and driving snow just past, today there was at last a trace of sunlight and warmth here.

A tall, lean man wearing a black count's greatcoat, with ribbons and sigils hanging from his person, walked through the deep, long corridors of the Obsidian Palace. His face bore a certain coldness, his nose was high, and his eyes were narrow and long—the typical face of a Typhon northerner.

Led by a maid, he passed through the corridors of the Obsidian Palace and arrived before the reception room Luo Yan Augustus most often used. Pushing open the heavy oak door, engraved with intricate heraldic patterns in golden lines, he stepped inside. Luo Yan Augustus sat in a high-backed chair by the hearth, and at the sound from the doorway he raised his head from his book.

"Count Clement Dart," Luo Yan said, regarding the tall, lean man appearing in the doorway with a slight nod. "You are very punctual."

"Punctuality is the tradition of the Dart family." The man called Clement walked toward Luo Yan as the reception room door closed behind him. At the same moment the wooden door clicked shut, he bowed to the ruler of the empire before him. "In accordance with law and propriety, I have come to take my leave of you."

His etiquette was impeccable and his words entirely proper, yet all of it was mechanical—precise and correct, but utterly devoid of feeling or warmth.

Luo Yan, however, clearly did not mind in the least.

"Tomorrow at dawn you will take the first train to the front," he said with a nod. "I wish you a smooth journey, and I wish you ferocity in battle and the winning of honors."

Clement Dart straightened, his narrow eyes fixed on the Great Emperor Luo Yan. The gaze lasted several seconds before he withdrew it and said coolly, "Thank you for your blessing."

With that, every courtesy that was due had been observed.

He stepped back half a pace, ready to take his leave, but before he could speak, Luo Yan suddenly asked, "Is there nothing else you wish to say? We may never have another chance to talk like this."

Clement regarded Luo Yan. Only after a long while did he speak. "Are you wavering now?"

"I am unshaken."

"Good. I understand," Clement nodded, then turned to look toward the door of the reception room. "Then I will watch you from the soil of Winterwolf Fortress. I will keep watching, until you truly bring about that golden age you once described—or sink into the abyss, past all redemption."

Having said this, the Typhon noble set off, leaving the reception room without a moment's pause.

In that vast room, Luo Yan Augustus sat quietly in his chair. Only after the door had closed once more did he raise his head and glance at the mechanical clock not far away.

"Two minutes. Not bad at all."

He murmured this softly to himself, idly toying with a small gemstone—roughly the size of a thumb, shaped like an eye. It was black through and through, yet across its dark surface faint motes of light seemed forever to flicker and wander, as though a phantom starfield were sealed within.

The "Starlight Flicker" gem rolled nimbly in Luo Yan's hand and went on that way for quite a while before he suddenly stopped. The faint starlight on its surface quivered as if carried by some momentum, and as the scattered points of light gradually steadied and congealed once more, something tiny began to surface from the black depths of the stone.

Bit by bit it grew distinct, until at last the details emerged—it was the face of Malm Dunite, a dull, vacant face.

Luo Yan Augustus watched the face rising to the gem's surface without expression. After a long while, he smiled faintly. "Are you pretending to be a mindless husk?"

The vacant Malm Dunite within the gem suddenly came to life. He glared viciously at Luo Yan, and his mocking voice set the air around the gem trembling: "What you have trapped is only an avatar! The true I merged long ago with the Lord's radiance—you will never comprehend that great realm beyond human understanding. Keep gloating here; as a mortal, you are not even qualified to stand against the Lord—this war alone will devour you and your pitiful family!"

Luo Yan watched the face in the gem quietly, not the least bit angered, his voice as calm as ever: "Yes... there is some truth in what you say. For a mortal, reaching a god enthroned on high is truly a difficult thing... and solving such a difficult problem—that is a joy without end."

His fingers tightened slightly, and immense magic power poured into the gem. With a faint crack and a half-heard scream, the gem and the spirit trapped within were annihilated in an instant.