Chapter 1114 — An Invitation and Arrangements

In that prolonged stillness, Gao Yang stood before the giant deer, vast as a small hill, and the lady like a clock tower, standing there for a long while. Watching this scene, Milmina suddenly felt that this moment seemed to transcend time and space, as though projected onto the long, sinking scroll of this world's history—a scroll chaotic and dim, steeped in blood, flame, bone, and hollow echoes. So many figures who had once moved through that history now lay prone in the dust. Yet now someone had suddenly risen from the mortal world, standing face to face in this "court" that symbolized the ancient mortal spirit of defiance, and behind that silhouette certain different things began to emerge... a generation of mortals striving to stand, and a generation of gods striving to break free.

Had such a thing—gods and mortals holding their first frank conversation and common deliberation—ever happened in any of the civilizations of ages past?

"We understand your plan," Amon was the first to break the silence. "So what do you wish us to do?"

"This is a chariot, and mortals are not its only passengers," Gao Yang said calmly. "The Council of Divine Authority is an organization formed by the mortal nations, but in truth there remain certain special... 'seats' behind this Council. These seats are reserved for gods."

"You even intend to draw gods into this 'Council'..." Milmina's tone rose, though rather than surprise, it sounded more like a murmur of admiration from one who had long anticipated this. "Very well. Then which part do our seats occupy?"

Gao Yang answered at once: "All parts—I hope you will become special advisors to the Council of Divine Authority. From the Institute of Theology to the Tribunal of Arbitration, from the Bureau of Planning to the Bureau of Countermeasures, there will be opportunities for you to play a role. And foremost among these is participation in the Institute of Theology and the construction of the Grand Think Tank under its authority, working alongside our technicians to complete the most complex research in the entire plan."

Milmina suddenly gave a soft laugh. "Is our primary duty to be studied?"

Gao Yang met the gaze of this "Goddess of Magic" with perfect composure. It was a joke, but not entirely a joke: "Yes. To be studied."

"That does not sound so bad." Milmina was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, as though to herself. Then she lowered her eyes and looked at Amon, who had said nothing. "And you? Do you not intend to say something?"

"Idling away the days is indeed rather dull," Amon said, sacred radiance flowing around his body. "'Advisor'... I have never been one, but I suppose I can give it a try."

"Excellent. Then the Council of Divine Authority now welcomes two special 'members,'" Gao Yang finally exhaled softly. A smile rose from the depths of his heart, and his gaze shifted to the Weave terminal nearby, still in standby mode. "Next, I will arrange for Naritel to lift the network block on this Weave terminal... It will unlock certain new functions, in preparation for our next move."

Milmina reacted at once: "You mean... that neural network? For the next step, you intend to let us have contact with the outside world?!"

"Indirect contact," Gao Yang clarified. "We will establish a restricted, controllable, secure network. All connections will be placed under the protection of the Anti-Divinity Barrier, and all incoming and outgoing data will first be examined and filtered by Naritel. But in practical terms, the effect will be minimal—you will genuinely be in touch with the outside world. You will be able to hear news from beyond, and to send things out as well. You may even move about Phantom Hub City under hidden identities and establish communication with certain users... Only, all of this will be built within a strict security framework."

"Ah, I have long looked forward to this," Milmina could not help but let a note of delight enter her voice. "The 'Weave' you created, and the neural network built upon it—they are truly remarkable things. I still remember the novelty and the thrill they brought me... It is a pity my first experience of the network was not so pleasant, but fortunately I now have the chance to make up for that regret..."

Hearing this, Gao Yang could not resist glancing at Milmina and warning her: "Then you had best mind your manners as well. Naritel is the chief administrator of the entire neural network—her duties are not limited to expelling gods who intrude upon the network. They also include banning and kicking out users who violate the terms of use..."

Milmina quickly cooled from her anticipation of the Weave. Only then did she think to ask: "By the way, I heard you mention that name earlier—this Naritel you speak of..."

"The one with eight legs."

Milmina immediately fell silent. Beside her, Amon finally found his chance to speak: "You mentioned earlier that you wanted to install another Weave terminal here..."

"Of course, I remember," Gao Yang said with a smile. "The new equipment will arrive shortly."

And so the atmosphere in the Court of Defiance grew harmonious and cheerful—this might well have been one of the few pleasant moments Amon and Milmina had known in thousands of years, or even longer. The two former gods, having shed their divine stations, discussed the neural network and the Council of Divine Authority, looking forward to all that was to come. Gao Yang, after joining in briefly for a few words, suddenly gave a soft cough and looked toward Amon: "There is one more thing I must tell you."

Amon was in excellent spirits at this moment—better than he had been in three thousand years. He responded cheerfully: "What is it?"

"I have arranged a meeting for you," Gao Yang said. "It is also an important step in getting the Council of Divine Authority to function."

"A meeting?" Amon's tone carried puzzlement. "With whom? Have you dug up another technician of the Defiance Plan from some ancient ruin or the wreckage of a cult?"

Amorn's remark made Gao Yang cough dryly a couple of times. He wanted to say it sounded exactly like digging a grease-paper-wrapped Verodae/Ophelia out of the sewers of the Gondor Empire—but unfortunately no one in this world could possibly understand a reference of that caliber, so he could only crush the snark down inside himself and force his face into seriousness: "It's the empress of the Silver Elves, Belantia Dawnstar."

The entire Court of Defiance fell silent in an instant.

A full half minute passed before Amorn's astonished cry rang out in Gao Yang's mind: "You said who?!"

Gao Yang repeated it with perfect solemnity: "The Silver Empress, Belantia Dawnstar."

"I heard you, I heard you—but are you serious?" Amorn's gaze turned exceedingly grave, fixed hard upon Gao Yang. "I cannot reestablish contact with Silver Elven society, and especially not... the Silver Empress. Do you know what the Silver Empress means? She is the supreme leader of the Forest Twilight sect, the high priestess of the God of Nature—and you would have her..."

"She does not worship you," Gao Yang said quietly.