Chapter 805: The Day of Action

“Foundations of All Things?
Newborn Health Check and Basic Nutrition Assurance Program?
Quick-Start Guide for Village Pharmacists?”

As Matilda detailed her observations and experiences in the Empire of Cecile, Rosetta Augustus’s brow gradually furrowed, a thoughtful expression settling over her face.

“Some of these I saw firsthand during my visits to their facilities,” Matilda explained, “others I inferred from conversations with locals, and a few were printed in their newspapers and posted on public bulletin boards in town squares. It seems none of this is secret—His Majesty Gawain openly publishes all of it.”

“These aren’t classified, nor could they be,” Rosetta said, her frown deepening. “They’re public knowledge…” She paused, then asked sharply, “Have these programs already been put into effect? Is their Department of State really capable of carrying out such bold initiatives?”

“As far as I know, most are still in progress, some even in the preparatory stages,” Matilda replied. “Even those already implemented only cover certain regions. For example, the newborn health check and nutrition program—it’s one of Gawain Cecile’s earliest reforms, but so far it’s only been widely adopted in the southern provinces.”

She hesitated briefly, choosing her words carefully. “But I suspect these ambitious plans will eventually be fully realized. Their Department of State is confident, with a large number of trained personnel entering the final stages of education. And within Cecile, no one dares to question the Emperor’s orders.”

Rosetta remained silent for a moment.

It wasn’t about how many of these plans had been completed; their very existence stirred something deep within the far-sighted Emperor of Typhon. She found herself running through a series of deductions, speculating on Gawain Cecile’s possible intentions and pondering the broader significance of these measures.

“Father,” Matilda noticed Rosetta’s expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think what the Cecilians are doing will have a huge impact?”

“More than huge,” Rosetta said gravely. “Gawain Cecile is laying the groundwork for a far more distant future. He seems to have great faith in the power of ordinary people united, tirelessly working to enhance their role in society’s functioning. I can’t yet say if this is right or wrong, but his approach… it’s something I never considered before.”

“Do you think there’s anything we can learn from this?” Matilda asked, curious.

“That requires more observation,” Rosetta mused. “The key is that Gawain Cecile’s plans are extremely bold. Bold plans mean high costs and unpredictable consequences. Until we fully understand the mechanisms behind his actions, we mustn’t recklessly interfere with the Empire’s own operations.”

Matilda lowered her head. “I understand. I’ll gather as much information as I can.”

“Good.” Rosetta nodded briefly, then asked, “What’s your impression of Gawain Cecile himself?”

“That legendary hero…” Matilda’s eyes clouded with thought. “I’ve heard many stories about him, but a living person is always different from a mythologized figure. He’s gentler than I imagined. Setting aside our identities, he strikes me as a generous and kind elder. Though I’m sure many of his actions have political motives, his demeanor is undeniably dignified.

“Also, he doesn’t feel like an ‘ancient’ at all—there’s no sense of a time gap. Considering he’s been resurrected for five years now, that makes sense. Besides bringing ancient wisdom and experience, he’s thoroughly a modern man.”

Rosetta allowed herself a faint smile. “Sounds like you have a good impression of him.”

“Just as you once said, he carries a similar aura to yours.”

“Then, about the student exchange program…” Rosetta continued, “What are your thoughts now?”

“This must go forward. We need to deepen our understanding of cutting-edge magitech and expand economic and technological exchanges with Cecile,” Matilda answered without hesitation, clearly having thought this through. “But on the other hand… as you feared, we will inevitably face the risk of our students being assimilated and swayed.”

“Oh?”

“The capital of Cecile is a dazzling city full of wonders and distractions. It offers entertainment beyond dull hunting parties and balls—countless newspapers and magazines, a magical ‘webcast’ called the ‘Maginet,’ and even an enchanting ‘magic shadow theater.’ Gawain Cecile himself is a master of influencing minds. We’ve received intelligence about the ‘Great Trial of Luan,’ and now I’ve seen collections of newspapers and books documenting the shifting situation in Luan City at that time. Their control over the common people’s psychology and prediction of group behavior is chilling. They even exploit the psychological weaknesses of the nobility and clergy, and identify all possible channels for negative propaganda…

“While these tactics might not be directly used on our exchange students, the methods behind them are a warning.

“I have reason to believe our students sent to Cecile will be influenced—likely not through overt persuasion, but through subtle lifestyle changes.

“The lifestyle and cultural atmosphere of Cecile City are simply too… irresistible for young people.”

Rosetta listened quietly, her expression unreadable, as if she had long anticipated all this.

When Matilda finished, the Typhon ruler asked calmly, “How many do you think will return?”

“…I don’t have high hopes for the nobles’ children over the past two years,” Matilda said bluntly. “Thirty percent, optimistically.”

Rosetta nodded, composed. “That’s not bad.”

A silence fell between father and daughter, both lost in their own thoughts.

After a moment, Rosetta suddenly said, “The power of the curse has been rising lately. I’m sure you’ve felt it.”

Matilda nodded. “Yes. This is my second ‘dream entry’ since arriving in Cecile.”

“Something may be happening in the real world, connected to the curse’s source. You must pay close attention to any unusual changes around you, and watch for anomalies in your normal dreams,” Rosetta said sternly, but with the tone of a concerned parent. “If you encounter trouble you can’t handle… pray to the God of War.

“Better to bow to a sane god than a mad one.”

Matilda’s eyes darkened as she looked at her father—still imposing and dignified, but clearly on a downward slope. After a long silence, she lowered her head slowly. “I will remember your advice, Father.”

…

Visitors from Typhon were receiving courteous and thorough hospitality in Cecile City. Scheduled tours and negotiations proceeded smoothly.

Gawain and Matilda completed their initial meetings and discussions, then handed over most affairs to the Department of State and other diplomats in the delegation.

Matilda and her entourage had their own plans. As for Gawain… he could finally focus on the more pressing matter at hand.

The day of the Sleepless Order’s planned operation had arrived.

In Gawain’s chambers, Hetty, Rebecca, Kamail, and others were summoned for a special briefing to prepare.

“The auxiliary runes are ready,” Kamail floated before Gawain. On the walls and floor behind him, shimmering runes pulsed as if breathing. “These will provide you with some mental protection and an extra link to the real world. While you may not need the former, the latter ensures you maintain sharp awareness of reality, preventing ‘over-immersion.’ This is a technological breakthrough from Phase Two of the Immersion Pod project.”

Gawain nodded, then looked at Hetty standing nearby. “This mission may take some time. Although the Sleepless will accelerate the time flow inside Sandbox One after we begin, allowing us more relative time to operate, the acceleration is limited for safety reasons. I might have to ‘sleep’ in the real world for two or three days. I’m entrusting the Department of State and liaison with the Typhon delegation to you.”

“Rest assured,” Hetty nodded firmly. “I won’t let you down…”

Having accompanied Gawain from the very beginning, through the Empire of Cecile’s rise and trials, the imperial princess couldn’t help but show a flicker of concern. “Please be very careful. After all, you’re facing…”

She opened her mouth several times but said nothing more—reason told her it would be neither mature nor realistic.

Still, her worry remained. Watching the “Ancestor” prepare to enter a unique battlefield alone, confronting unimaginable challenges, she felt no less uneasy.

It wasn’t a lack of faith in him, but the enemy this time was beyond the ordinary: a nightmare creature. How would the Ancestor deal with it? And if something happened to him… what would become of all this hard-won progress?

Gawain understood Hetty’s concern and smiled. “Don’t worry, I know my limits.

“I realize this is dangerous, but just like when you and Rebecca stayed in the castle to fight those mutants, some things… someone has to do.”

He glanced behind Hetty, toward a certain “intercontinental friend” idly holding his tail.

“Tyr.”

Tyr snapped back to attention. “Ah? Oh, here.”

“This time, I can’t be sure where your ‘little cookies’ will pop up,” Gawain said. “Although Sandbox One’s main control center in the real world is fixed, the Overarching Narrator is a product of the dreamscape. When it enters reality, it can jump through dreams and relocate anywhere humans gather and dream. That could cause you a lot of trouble.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already told the Queen. My sisters will be ready,” Tyr wagged the tip of his tail. “It just means we’ll have to hunt instead of waiting for meals to be served. No big deal.”

Amber, standing nearby, widened her eyes. “‘Hunt’ is used like that?”

Meanwhile, no matter how serious the potential crisis, Gawain couldn’t help but laugh at the deep-sea sea slug’s rambling. “It’s good you think that way. By the way, this Overarching Narrator will probably be very different from the ‘little cookies’ you’ve encountered before. It’s more like… ‘spiritual nourishment’…”

Amber stared at Gawain again. “‘Spiritual nourishment’ is used like that?!”

Tyr waved a paw, curling his tail slowly as he settled into a graceful ball in the corner, lazily saying, “Whether it’s ‘spiritual nourishment’ or not, the best case is that we don’t have to appear at all. That means things aren’t out of control, and many will survive, right?”

Gawain quietly looked at the sea slug, now dozing in the corner, then withdrew his gaze as if responding to him—and reminding himself: “That is exactly my goal.”

He then approached the large bed, preparing to connect with the mental network.

Hetty and the others stood nearby, a hint of concern on their faces.

But moments later, Gawain suddenly opened his eyes again.

Rebecca leaned in curiously. “Ancestor, did you forget something?”

Gawain glanced at the people around his bed, his expression a bit strange. “You all… step back a little.”

Hetty blinked, caught off guard. “Huh? Why?”

Gawain pointed at himself, then at Hetty and the others. “When I was… you know, before, the scene should have been pretty much the same…”

Rebecca suddenly understood. “Oh, you mean it looked like a funeral…”

Before she could finish, Hetty quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

Gawain sighed. “…You’d better go outside. Just leave Amber and Tyr here to keep watch.”

Hetty held down Rebecca, who was still struggling and flailing, making muffled “oooh oooh” sounds, then gave a deep bow. “Yes, Ancestor!”

Gawain: “…”

(Oh, man!)

(End of chapter)