Chapter 1453: Strange Phenomena Multiply

In the study, where a deep blue velvet carpet stretched across the floor, High Lord Gawain sat listening to Amber’s report on the latest intelligence from various fronts. Despite the looming approach of the magical cataclysm, and the massive upheaval caused among the Alliance’s upper echelons—especially within the three great empires—life had to go on. Countless ordinary people still needed to live their daily lives; markets and economies still had to function. The imperial machine was too vast to simply stop, and so his routine affairs would not cease just because the end of days was near.

“…We’ve already sent the data from the magical cataclysm monitoring devices to both the Typhon and Silver Empires. Additionally, Talrond and the Sea Witch Kingdom have each formed expert teams to assist with the matter,” Amber stood before Gawain’s desk, doing her best to keep a serious expression as she read from the folder in her hands. At least during these daily briefings, she maintained a professional attitude. “Currently, we’ve controlled the spread of related information. Aside from those who must be involved, the intelligence from the Noy civilization has not caused any public panic…

“As for the ‘Alien Star Communications,’ we’ve prepared a public relations plan that deliberately obscures the parts about the magical cataclysm, focusing instead on encouraging and vague statements. Typhon and Silver are doing the same.

“Also, recently near White Sand Lake, we apprehended a small group of cultists preaching doomsday salvation. Preliminary interrogations confirm they were not influenced by the recent contact with the Noy civilization. They’re likely just a fringe group of low-level believers previously affected by the End of All Things sect or the Sleepless Ones. Their doctrine is crude and simplistic, their organization primitive. During the arrest, they posed no threat to our intelligence operatives. But even these scattered remnants can have an unpredictable impact on ordinary people if they grow. These cultists have now been handed over to the Divine Authority Council’s Tribunal for judgment.”

“Another batch caught, huh… That makes the ninth group in the past two years, right?” Gawain rubbed his temples, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “These scattered cultists really are impossible to eradicate completely…”

“In fact, if you count those ‘doomsayers’ directly subdued by local security forces, and the so-called ‘underground shrines’ that scam elderly villagers out of their grain subsidies, we’re arresting double-digit numbers of cult groups every month,” Amber shrugged. “Most ordinary people’s minds are easily stirred and hard to keep rational for long. So these lawless elements will always find fertile ground. Like you said, it’s a ‘war of attrition’.”

She twisted her mouth oddly. “Actually, these types have appeared less frequently recently. Before the Talash Conference, our intelligence agents and Tribunal inquisitors were working overtime so often their eyes were bloodshot…”

“Fewer lately?” Gawain raised an eyebrow. “Is that because of the aftermath of the Wasteland War?”

“Exactly. The Alliance wiped out the largest cult and its creations in the world. The Empire’s war machine dominates the news, especially with the Dawn of the World battle group currently patrolling the entire Empire. That thing flying overhead can be seen for hundreds of miles around. Compared to a real sky fortress, the little scare tactics cooked up by rural underground churches just don’t hold up,” Amber said casually. “You can’t expect a bunch of cult leaders who’ve barely been to a big city to have much imagination. Their greatest skill is usually convincing village elders to use government grain subsidies to buy their discounted indulgence certificates…”

She sighed. “These days, even the old folks in the villages know that one blast from the Dawn of the World can devastate a hundred miles. Back in the day, cults could scare people with ‘If you don’t believe, evil spirits will crawl down your chimney and kill your whole family.’ Now, the signs at village entrances read: ‘If you encounter evil spirits, please report to the township government immediately’…

“Also, there used to be cults preaching ‘If you don’t join us, evil spirits will drag you into hell.’ But after the ‘Gate’ project was publicly announced, that sect vanished overnight. After all, forget about the evil spirits’ hell—our war god’s divine realm has had its gates pried open by us. Plus, with our recent efforts to guide public opinion, some of the more progressive citizens now believe that if evil spirits or demons really had a hell, the Empire’s armies and the Divine Authority’s battle groups could smash the gates open and wipe out everything inside within three days…

“So overall, cult beliefs and doomsayers are steadily declining. But as you said… no matter how much they shrink, they’ll never be completely eradicated. Whenever there’s an opening, they’ll grow again.”

Listening to Amber’s rambling, Gawain couldn’t help but smile faintly. He leaned back in his chair, relaxing. “Education, technological progress, and the establishment of official authority will continue to squeeze the cultists’ survival space. It seems that having the Dawn of the World battle group patrol the entire Empire has had a better effect than we expected. But… troublemakers will always exist. They won’t keep their eyes closed forever. Their methods will evolve with the times.”

Amber immediately patted her chest. “Of course. I’m keeping a close watch on this. The Internal Affairs agents and Tribunal inquisitors were born for this very purpose.”

Gawain nodded slightly. “Good. You and the Divine Authority Council need to stay vigilant. This isn’t just about internal security… especially now that we’ve established contact with the Noy. Although information about the impending magical cataclysm remains tightly sealed, as some major projects begin, we’ll have to consider the spread of rumors and the opportunistic doomsayers. After all… we can’t expect everyone to be rational.”

Amber nodded earnestly, then furrowed her brow. “Also, the External Affairs agents have recently reported some worrying developments…”

“External Affairs?” Gawain frowned. “In the current Alliance situation, is there still anyone trying to stir up trouble?”

“It’s not internal to the Alliance. It’s the Violet Kingdom up north,” Amber said, recalling the latest intelligence. “Our agents who successfully established footholds in several border cities there recently reported… the atmosphere is strange. For about a month now, the high-ranking mage nobles have rarely appeared in public. The merchant caravans that regularly travel between cities have suddenly decreased significantly…”

Gawain’s expression grew serious. He straightened from his previously relaxed posture. “The Violet Kingdom…”

This mysterious, secluded nation had long hidden itself from the world. For centuries, it remained shrouded in a thick fog. Even when the Wasteland War nearly tore the heavens and earth apart, even when sentinel warships rained down like shooting stars from near-earth orbit, and the dying screams of the Inverse Tide God echoed across half the continent, that island nation across the sea from Loren had never shown the slightest sign of movement.

Sometimes Gawain himself would “forget” that such a neighbor existed beside the continent. Yet the state machinery he had built continued to operate loyally. Amber’s intelligence bureau kept a constant watch on the island’s activity. Although infiltration into the Violet Kingdom’s interior had been declared a failure, a handful of agents posing as merchants and scholars had managed to establish themselves on the fringes of the island. These footholds allowed occasional intelligence reports, maintaining a basic understanding of the Violet Kingdom for the Empire.

Gawain knew that Cecile was not the only nation doing this. The Typhon Empire also conducted similar intelligence operations there. The Violet Kingdom was so mysterious and suspicious that even if it did nothing, it attracted curious eyes. Moreover, despite its policy of seclusion, the kingdom was far from peaceful. For centuries, this “Mage Kingdom” had subtly influenced the continent’s magical community. Loren’s various nations had lacked the knowledge and resources to respond adequately. Now, with great powers like Cecile and Typhon aware, their attention naturally turned toward the mist-shrouded land.

After all, even Talrond and the Deep Sea Kingdom had established diplomatic relations—making the Violet Kingdom’s fog all the more unsettling.

“Any more detailed intelligence?” Gawain frowned, looking at Amber. “What you just mentioned is a bit vague.”

Amber thought carefully. “Besides the high mage nobles’ withdrawal from public life and the drop in merchant caravans, some agents active in the coastal city of Prandel reported that the local post office has become eerily quiet. Incoming mail has drastically decreased, and a courier who regularly traveled between Prandel and the kingdom’s interior hasn’t been seen for a long time.

“The agents find the courier’s disappearance suspicious and have tried to investigate, but found nothing. Our operations in the Violet Kingdom have been difficult. Although border areas allow trade and foreign residents, all roads leading inland are blocked by strange ‘mystic locks.’ Our agents’ training and skills are useless against the endless forests and dead-end roads shrouded in mist.

“As far as I know, observers sent by other nations have had similar experiences. Everyone is confined to the border regions.”

Gawain propped one hand on the desk, the other on his temple, pondering slowly. “It sounds like the border cities of the Violet Kingdom have fallen into a state of isolation. Commercial activity and civilian communications are declining… Do the locals not notice? Are their lives unaffected?”

“That’s the strangest part,” Amber said seriously. “According to the agents, the locals seem completely unaware of the changes in their cities. Their lives appear genuinely unaffected. Although merchant caravans have decreased, the market goods remain plentiful. Items that used to be imported suddenly seem locally produced. The residents don’t seem to care about the missing courier. They continue discussing everyday topics, but naturally avoid mentioning the interior.”

She made a strange face. “One agent described it as if ‘the entire city had unknowingly switched to a different stage. The people haven’t changed, the buildings haven’t changed, the scenery inside and outside the city hasn’t changed, but every detail has quietly shifted.’ The feeling it gives… is deeply unsettling.”

“Sounds like a supernatural phenomenon… Such phenomena are more alarming than ordinary disasters or human conflicts, especially in a mage kingdom already steeped in mystery,” Gawain muttered, frowning deeply. “Wait, if all the cities are experiencing these strange changes, what about our agents there? How are they faring?”

“They haven’t been affected at all. Although some operatives felt nervous, the changes in the city seemed to bypass those ‘outsiders’ like them,” Amber nodded. “Of course, I’ve already reminded all operatives working outside to stay vigilant about their safety. If the anomaly starts affecting them directly, their priority is to evacuate safely—after all, we only sent them to Violet to keep watch.”

Gawain gave a thoughtful hum, about to say more, when suddenly a call echoed in his mind, interrupting him.

“Hold on a moment,” Gawain waved his hand. “Nicholas just sent a message.”

Amber, familiar with the routine, moved over to a nearby chair. “Got it. I’ll keep watch here for you.”

Gawain nodded and immediately focused, responding to the mental call. His consciousness began to rise beyond his physical form, detaching from the earth itself, until he connected purely in spirit with the vast expanse of space. As his vision stabilized in the darkness, the figure of Asarina appeared before him.

The surroundings looked like a newly established “safe zone” by the Joint Engineering Corps. He could see a brightly lit corridor and several dragonkin engineers standing guard nearby.

“What’s the situation up there?” Gawain asked, his voice transmitted through a synthetic device, echoing down the empty corridor where Asarina stood.

“We’ve discovered a hall shrouded in shadow energy,” Asarina replied quickly, her words rushing out. “There are traces that strongly suggest residual contamination from the Inverse Tide!”

“…What?!”

In an instant, Gawain nearly lost his connection—though he prided himself on his usual mental discipline, he hadn’t expected Asarina’s news to be so explosive.

Traces of Inverse Tide contamination found at the Sky Station?

Suddenly, the report Amber had just given was pushed aside. Gawain’s tone turned grave. “Give me a detailed report—what’s going on with that hall? What exactly is this contamination you found?”

“Yes. The hall is located at the end of the temporary section labeled C-7. Preliminary analysis suggests it’s a connecting area between two ring belts. The hall is roughly the size of the ‘Assembly Hall’ in the transit section. It’s filled with abnormal shadow energy, maintaining a constant dimness. External light sources are heavily suppressed inside. At the center, we found a massive structure made of intertwined purple-black, thorn-like crystals. Inside this structure is a large device of unknown purpose. At the base of the structure, we discovered highly suspicious traces of Inverse Tide contamination…

“Currently, Commander Nicholas is investigating the structure and the device it encloses. He instructed me to send a team to report the situation immediately.”

(End of chapter)