Chapter 760 — Promotion
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
Were he to claim at this moment that his investigation had turned up no sensitive information whatsoever, that would not protect him; it would only prove that something was wrong with him!
The room fell silent for a time.
Daniel suddenly felt a faint, indistinct sensation: it seemed that the entire world beyond this room had vanished in an instant from his perception, as though heaven and earth held only this one quiet room, shielded, sealed off, watched by every eye of the Mystic Pole Order.
The woman before him merely watched him quietly.
Daniel knew the final scrutiny had begun, and that if he failed to pass it, his perception of this room would no longer be an illusion. This sole "room" in all of heaven and earth would at once become his mental prison, and his mind would be trapped within it forever.
The verdict came swiftly. The woman before him showed a faint smile.
"Mr. Daniel, are you willing to make a greater contribution to the order?"
"A greater contribution?" Daniel feigned a look of puzzled confusion. "You mean..."
"You now have the opportunity to enter the Mystic Pole Order and become one of the Luminary Elders. Your talents in security and structure are of vital importance to us, and the matter that concerns you—the recent anomalous fluctuations in the mind—will also be answered once you obtain higher clearance to access materials," the woman said evenly, Daniel's figure reflected in her eyes. "Mr. Daniel, we must also remind you of one thing: higher status means greater responsibility. Once you face the order's deeper secrets, there is no chance to turn back.
"So for now, you still have a choice. What is your choice?"
Daniel pondered for a moment with a solemn expression, then raised his head and said gravely, "For the interests of the order, I long ago set aside all thought of personal life or death."
The instant those words fell, the room's sense of "enclosure" and "singularity" dissolved at once. The stagnant sunlight and dust split apart like a shattered mirror, crumbling and vanishing in every direction, and the original bedroom in the blink of an eye became a magnificent golden hall—and Daniel himself was seated beside a vast round table in its midst.
Around the table sat many figures in white or black robes. The robes embroidered with silent stars and spiral patterns represented "the Waking Dream" and "Peaceful Deep Slumber" respectively. These figures rose from their seats and applauded Daniel.
"Welcome among us, Mr. Daniel," said a woman in a long white gown, gentle and serene of smile, rising also from the far side of the round table. "Your joining is of great importance to us."
Daniel recognized her identity at once and guessed that she must be the primary personality of the "interface" that had just conversed with him. He rose at once and paid his respects: "Luminary Elder Selena Guel."
"No need for such formality," Selena said with a nod to him. "Mr. Daniel, you have been promoted. Frankly, this promotion is somewhat hasty—we had no time to prepare a more formal ceremony for you, nor even any way to congratulate you in the physical world. We hope you can understand.
"On the other hand, you must still be somewhat confused now, and no doubt bewildered by the change of identity that comes with becoming a Luminary Elder. We should have given you more time to adapt slowly, but the circumstances are rather special, and we need you to understand certain matters as quickly as possible and get up to speed...
"As for the specifics, His Holiness the Pope will explain them to you in person."
Daniel kept a polite and calm expression, but at the words "His Holiness the Pope" he could not help his nerves snapping taut in an instant.
And almost the instant Selena's voice fell, a formless cloud of starlight had already appeared above the round table.