Chapter 790: Faint Emergence

In the fountain garden square before the main gate, the crisp, tinkling sound of bells rang out intermittently. Rebecca, bubbling with excitement, was perched atop her “new toy,” circling the flowerbeds again and again. The helpless attendants could only stand nearby or try to keep pace, ready at any moment to catch the princess should she fall.

But compared to when she first started, Rebecca was clearly much more skilled now—at least she no longer plunged headfirst into the flowerbeds.

Behind the study’s floor-to-ceiling window, Gawain quietly withdrew his gaze from the square.

“A two-wheeled vehicle… The Typhons really have come up with some interesting stuff,” Amber’s voice came from behind him. “The scholars advising the Administration Office have evaluated it. This seemingly simple mode of transport actually holds huge potential. It’s agile, convenient, and cheap to produce. Anyone with basic mobility can learn to use it proficiently in a short time. As long as the roads are relatively flat, it works. The threshold for adoption is even lower than that for magitech devices… It’s a good thing.”

Gawain remained silent for a moment.

What he was thinking was something outsiders couldn’t know.

Though its shape wasn’t exactly like the “bicycle” he remembered, the principle and general structure were no different from what he was familiar with. Only… before he had the chance to promote this in Cecil, the Typhons had already taken the lead.

Seeing Gawain’s silence, Amber couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Feeling uneasy that the Typhons are ahead in ‘technological innovation’?”

“Not at all,” Gawain shook his head. “Honestly, even during the Ansu era, the Typhons were always ahead in technology. We only led for a few years thanks to magitech. And realistically, it makes sense that they developed this flexible, convenient transport before us…”

“Oh? How so?”

“They started road renovation and leveling projects earlier than we did. While Ansu was still mired in internal strife, Typhon towns and villages already had smooth, wide new roads. Even if we worked at full speed now, we could only ensure that roads between major cities and towns meet the new standards,” Gawain turned to face Amber. “Ultimately, new things don’t just appear with a snap of the fingers. Without the right environment, innovations that fit that environment won’t emerge.

“More than that, I’m curious when the prototype of this ‘two-wheeler’ first appeared. It’s quite refined now, so it probably didn’t just pop up recently…”

Amber blinked and quickly recalled the data. “There were indeed earlier prototypes. Over a decade ago, Typhon craftsmen made wooden assistive carts, but they attracted little attention and were seen as novelties. Later, some craftsmen made a few improvements, but still, few cared. Then, about six months ago, the number of factories in the Aldernan region surged. Many workers needed to commute to factories, and numerous factory-related personnel had to travel frequently. As factories multiplied and workers increased, the residential areas for workers moved farther from city centers—then some sharp-eyed merchants noticed the previously overlooked ‘two-wheeler.’

“According to intelligence from the ‘Trajectory’ network, this transport is rapidly gaining popularity among Aldernan’s middle-class citizens—mainly stable-income technicians, foremen, small and medium lawyers, and respectable business staff. As for the lower-level workers, they can’t yet afford the price. However, a few Typhon nobles have launched a ‘two-wheeler welfare program,’ urging factories to fund cheaper versions of the vehicle to lend to workers. If workers stay employed for a certain number of years, they can ‘own’ the vehicle for free. This plan has been widely welcomed and should be realized soon—both factory owners and workers see great benefits.”

“Factory owners always recoup costs from workers, and workers feel their commuting burden eased. In the end, capital always inspires the ingenuity of capitalists,” Gawain mused with a faint smile. “But regardless, it’s a good thing. We can use it too… Most roads in the southern region have improved significantly. This two-wheeler can be put to good use. Its technology isn’t complicated; factories can replicate it.”

He paused, lost in thought.

Magitech machinery and factory production don’t just have a single, one-dimensional impact on society. Industrialization is a chain reaction. Once its source starts running, all related social sectors inevitably begin to change.

Factories need ordinary people as workers. The role of commoners in society’s operation is amplified. Whether the Typhon upper class likes it or not, they will start paying attention to ordinary people—even if only as cogs and wallets.

The two-wheeler made specifically for commoners is just the beginning—it represents not only a few clever Typhon merchants spotting a new business opportunity but also a shift in mindset among some Typhon elites who control knowledge and means of production.

Once this change happens, their ability to utilize magitech will inevitably improve rapidly. For Gawain, this is pressure—but also something he hopes to see.

He sank again into a tangle of conflicting feelings—anxious yet hopeful.

Amber looked at him curiously. “What are you thinking about?”

“The Typhons… their thinking has become more flexible,” Gawain said slowly, a trace of admiration in his voice. “But that’s a good thing.”

“…I’m not sure how many complicated thoughts you’ve had in the last few seconds, but I remember you said before that others’ development isn’t bad, as long as we keep developing faster,” Amber said seriously, pulling a quote from her notes titled ‘Gawain Cecil the Great Emperor’s Sacred Banter.’ Then she shifted the topic. “Speaking of Typhon, by my count, Princess Mathilda should be arriving soon.”

“Mathilda Augustus…” Gawain tapped his chin thoughtfully. “According to intelligence from Mariland and Philip, that princess is very interested in magitech. Though it might be a deliberate show, she does have a solid understanding of some specialized magitech knowledge.”

Amber glanced at Gawain. “Are you worried she might uncover something about Cecil’s magitech and affect the secrecy around ‘Number Twenty-Five’?”

“Not really. ‘Number Twenty-Five’ has always been cautious. The tech he releases is all modified, and he’s prepared very thorough ‘research evidence’—nothing suspicious,” Gawain shook his head. “I’m just curious whether the princess’s interest in magitech is merely a reflection of the Typhon royal family’s stance… or if it’s genuinely her personal preference. If it’s the latter… I’d be happy to build a good relationship with her and use her to deliver some ‘gifts’ we plan to export to Typhon more naturally and reasonably…”

Seeing the classic scheming look on Gawain’s face, Amber wanted to roll her eyes on the spot but feared getting slapped against the wall for it. So she swallowed her urge and changed the subject. “Speaking of the Typhon royal family, the Intelligence Bureau has recently been investigating rumors about the Augustus family’s hereditary ‘madness.’ We found some interesting things.”

“Oh?” Gawain raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

Knowing your opponent is the foundation of self-protection. Since the Southern Region’s unification war, Gawain had kept a close eye on the Typhon Augustus family, especially their infamous “madness curse.” Gathering intelligence on this was a key task for the Intelligence Bureau in Typhon. Hearing new information, he immediately perked up.

“Based on previously collected, relatively public information, we know the Augustus family’s ‘madness’ didn’t always exist. It appeared only after the ‘Great Collapse’ two hundred years ago,” Amber began her report. “Two centuries ago, the old Typhon imperial capital collapsed due to a massive earthquake and sank underground. But before the collapse, the emperor at the time foresaw the disaster and evacuated people in advance, avoiding casualties. It was only after that that the Augustus family members began to suffer from the madness curse…

“In our latest intelligence, there’s an explanation for this curse appearing only after the Great Collapse.

“Some Typhon nobles and scholars believe the collapse wasn’t a natural disaster but a man-made catastrophe. The Typhon royal family tried to draw some forbidden power from the earth, which backfired and caused the collapse. So the emperor didn’t foresee a disaster but knew the ritual had gone awry and evacuated accordingly.

“As for the madness, it’s a side effect of that backlash—the uncontrolled power deep underground polluted the Augustus family’s souls, and this corruption has been passed down through generations.”

“A man-made disaster… trying to draw power from deep underground?” Gawain frowned. “That sounds more like a wild, rebellious court legend. Such rumors that tarnish the royal reputation must be taboo in Typhon, right?”

“Of course. No one dares discuss these openly. Those who do publicly are basically courting death—the Typhon royal family is tough, unlike the Ansu monarchy back then,” Amber nodded. “But these stories are secretly preserved and circulate among some less loyal nobles and scholars.

“Rosetta Augustus took strong measures to push reforms early on, but domestic conditions limited her thoroughness compared to you. This left many disgruntled nobles inside Typhon. They might not oppose Rosetta’s rule but certainly don’t mind privately sharing ‘little stories’ about the Augustus family.

“These stories sound wild and rebellious, but since they dare involve the royal family and circulate among scholars and supernaturals, some of it must be true…”

Gawain glanced at Amber. “What you’ve told me—has it been filtered and verified?”

“We’ve removed the most absurd and malicious parts, keeping only those that align with various versions of the rumors,” Amber said. “I can’t say it’s the truth, but it’s very likely the Augustus family did something two hundred years ago that caused the hereditary madness.”

“…Now I’m curious what exactly lies beneath their collapsed old capital,” Gawain murmured. “The Lord of Storms lies beneath the deep sea, the Rebellious Fortress beneath the Dark Mountains, and the great Thorin tree connects to the legacy of the Reverse Tide Empire… In this world, digging underground is never a safe business.”

As he spoke, another, somewhat strange thought crept into his mind:

Does Princess Mathilda Augustus, who is about to arrive, also carry this madness-inducing curse?

…

In the Dream City, inside the circular hall of the Central Temple, Selina Gerfen’s figure had just materialized in the air when the voice of Archbishop Yuri sounded beside her:

“Archbishop Selina, we’ve encountered a problem during the initial probe of Sandbox One.”

“I know,” Selina’s form solidified as she looked at the white-robed Yuri. “What’s the situation?”

“The first group of Spirit Riders who entered Sandbox One have arrived at the deserted city,” Archbishop Yuri spoke rapidly, “and what they found were chaotic, fragmented records claiming that the world has ended, and all living beings have escaped the meaningless cycle of reincarnation. After surveying the surrounding area, the team confirmed there are no inhabitants left.”

Selina Gervin’s expression instantly turned grave. “All of them? Including the real test subjects and every virtual personality simulated within the sandbox?”

“Yes, every single one,” Yuri nodded. “There are no ‘residents’ left inside Sandbox One. In fact, it was likely emptied out early on, shortly after the sandbox was sealed. That phantom town we previously explored, which appeared completely deserted—we once thought it was a distorted projection, some kind of illusion. But now it’s clear that emptiness isn’t a ‘distorted vision’ at all. It’s the true state of Sandbox One. It’s running empty. It’s been running empty all along.”

Sandbox One, which had long since spiraled out of control and was supposed to house tens of thousands of ‘residents,’ had been evolving rapidly inside. In its early stages of malfunction, it even projected illusions of inhabitants. Yet now, it was completely void.

Where did all those minds go?

What were those ‘residents’ it projected in the beginning? The ‘clerics’ in that phantom town… what exactly were they?

Though Selina Gervin had lost her physical presence in the real world, an inexplicable chill suddenly crept over her.

(End of chapter)