The night sky is descending, but before darkness fully envelops the land, artificial lights have already been glowing in the city, dispelling the incoming dimness.
Street lights stretched along city roads and the bright lights from each household flicker in this forest made of steel and concrete, as if stars have fallen to earth, shimring brightly.
This city may not experience a night sky.
From a terrace sowhere in the Autumn Palace, Earl Dule gazes far into this unfamiliar city, unable to help but murmur: "Even the most remote districts have the sa number of street lights... that’s quite an expense."
Matilda’s voice cos from not far away: "But it improves security, making the city safer; in the long term, cri rates will drop, and the cost of maintaining law will also decrease."
"...The Noble Congress in Aldernon is not good at thinking about issues from a ’long-term’ perspective, that’s sothing that indeed needs to change," Earl Dule turns around and bows to Matilda, "Are you also here to enjoy the scenery?"
"Just taking a walk," Matilda says lightly, "Earl Dule, after everything you’ve seen today, what are your thoughts?"
"...This truly is a place different from Typhon, honestly, in so respects it’s chaotic to the point of being frightening, yet in other aspects it presents... a surprising order," Earl Dule shakes his head, "I still prefer Aldernon, its solemnity and solemness."
"Clearly, we and Emperor Gawain have different understandings of ’order’," Matilda casually remarks, then asks, "Earl Dule, what do you think of that ’The Fundantals of Everything’? You’ve seen its original manuscript and parts of its content."
"Honestly, my first feeling is a bit disappointing," Earl Dule contemplates before speaking frankly, "When I learned the Cecil Clan devoted so great an effort to compile it, knowing how much hope Emperor Gawain Cecil placed on it, I expected to see a great book filled with difficult magic secrets, deep philosopher wisdom, and brilliant literary talents, yet its content was so shallow... the wording was even mundane. But its scope and vast content are indeed awe-inspiring."
Matilda gazes at Earl Dule for a mont and speaks thodically: "But it also records parts you don’t understand, like typhoid fever and diseases, chanical crafts, and the unfinished Agricultural Volu... as its na suggests, it’s ’The Fundantals of Everything’, recording the basic knowledge required for maintaining societal function, rather than obscure knowledge only a few can delve into.
"More importantly, Emperor Cecil plans to disseminate this throughout the whole Empire, making it the ’knowledge standard’ for citizens, Earl Dule, can you imagine what this ans?"
Earl Dule replies with thought: "Yes, I can imagine... hence, despite the initial disappointnt, I understand your feelings after seeing the manuscript, and your requests to His Majesty Gawain..."
Matilda looks into Earl Dule’s eyes, "What is your opinion, Earl Dule? Do you think Typhon needs ’The Fundantals of Everything’?"
Earl Dule blinks, entering a brief contemplation, and after a mont of silence, he speaks with a sowhat complex tone: "Honestly, to , if it’s to be spread throughout society, then the content in ’The Fundantals of Everything’... it’s just a bit too much."
...
In a room sowhere in Cecil Palace, Amber looks at Gawain in surprise: "And then you decided to give the full version of ’The Fundantals of Everything’ to Typhon?"
"That’s right," Gawain says calmly, "And I plan to send a deluxe edition over -- personally signed by ."
"Aren’t you afraid it’ll backfire?!" Amber’s eyes widen even more, "That’s... how did you put it, that’s the ’foundation of modern society’s operation’, it’s sothing ant to elevate a whole generation’s competitiveness, handing it over to the Typhon Empire just like that, won’t it be problematic?"
"Firstly, when ’The Fundantals of Everything’ is mass-printed and distributed nationwide for everyone to purchase, who can ensure none of it reaches Typhon? These new printed publications aren’t classical magic books; unless we exert great effort to ban them, their circulation is unstoppable," Gawain glances at Amber, a hint of a smile on his face, "Secondly... do you think ’The Fundantals of Everything’ will face the sa situation in Typhon as in Cecil?"
Amber slightly frowns and shows a contemplative expression.
Gawain gently shakes his head.
"No, because Typhon’s nobles have beco new factory owners, and their congress is essentially a blend of capital and nobility; it’s a group greedier and more selfish than purely traditional nobility. Even if they’ve built factory systems similar to ours, even if their industrial machines have taken off, at their core, they are different from us.
"Compiling ’The Fundantals of Everything’ requires hundreds of scholars, experts, assistants, and an office capable of coordination; we can do it, Typhon can also do it.
"But to spread ’The Fundantals of Everything’ across society, it requires a powerful Supre Administration Office, tens of thousands of grassroots clerks, an army capable of shattering old nobility, and countless educational institutions like general academies and imperial academies, countless night schools, teachers, and literacy teams.
"These Typhon doesn’t have, and in their eyes, our ’The Fundantals of Everything’... it’s simply too much."
Amber can’t help but frown: "Then what significance does it have to send a set to Matilda?"
"Spreading knowledge, just for the sake of spreading knowledge," Gawain laughs, "Without any other motives, without any conspiracies, I rely hope for the widest dissemination possible. ’The Fundantals of Everything’ might end up on Emperor Rosetta Augustus’s desk, it might enter the Noble Congress, it might reach their Imperial Construction Association and Royal Mage Association, whatever the outco, it’s beneficial. And if there’s even that one in a million chance, Emperor Rosetta Augustus and his congress decide to spread the volu including societal common knowledge and continental history... it’s beneficial too."
Amber once again shows a thoughtful expression, while Gawain looks at her with curious inquiry.
"Speaking of which... you’ve been increasingly attentive to these complex matters lately, you can even discuss with extensively—weren’t you previously the most impatient about such things?"
Amber pauses for a mont before hurriedly waving her hand: "I am impatient, but honestly, your salary is just too generous..."
Gawain is speechless, and after a mont, he can’t help but chuckle and shake his head: "Let’s consider it that way, then."
After Amber leaves the room, Gawain rises from a high-backed chair and approaches the wide floor-to-ceiling window facing the Dark Mountain Range.
The bright magic crystal lamp light shone behind him, dispelling the darkness that had enveloped the mountain range. Above the ancient and majestic Dark Mountain Range, brilliant stars were rising.
A familiar spiritual fluctuation suddenly surged deep within his consciousness—it was Daniel’s request for communication.
Gawain recognized the mark within the spiritual fluctuation and didn’t enter a deep dream but directly connected to Daniel’s spiritual communication through his shallow consciousness.
"My lord," the respectful voice of the old mage echoed in Gawain’s heart, "I’ve received intelligence; Pope gal III will agree to your terms."
Gawain was sowhat curious: "Did the archbishops hold another eting while I was away?"
"It wasn’t a formal eting; gal III reached a tacit understanding with so archbishops beforehand," Daniel reported, "Barring any surprises, this will be the final eting result..."
"...It seems the Eternal Sleepers have intricately complicated relationships internally, yet gal III’s control is clearly above all factions," Gawain, well-versed in similar factional relationships, internal disputes, and reshuffling behaviors, wasn’t surprised but quite agreed with it, "He is decisive and wise; now is not the ti for leisurely discussions. He must ensure that the entire sect only has one voice in a short ti... and ensure that the ones left within the sect after I, an ’Outland Wanderer,’ receive his sect, are those he has filtered through..."
"My lord, do you need to coordinate any actions?"
"No need, just let things take their natural course. gal III has accumulated seven hundred years of wisdom; he will handle everything well," Gawain said, "What I’m interested in are only the technology and knowledge of the Eternal Sleepers. As for how the sect develops... it will naturally follow a healthy trajectory after my transformation."
Then he paused, casually asking, "How about on your end? After my ’Outland Wanderer’ intrusion, did you, the ’Chief of Security,’ encounter trouble?"
"...I’ve received comndations," Daniel’s voice had so hesitation and pause, "Although I couldn’t ’prevent’ your ’intrusion,’ the Pope and over half of the archbishops believe I at least caused you trouble, displayed mortal strength... They think I’ve accomplished what they couldn’t, therefore, established rit."
Gawain: "..."
Faced with Gawain’s brief silence, Daniel’s voice beca increasingly cautious: "My lord, do you think... there’s a problem?"
Gawain: "...No, there’s no problem, everything is fine."
How to put it, just now, he actually felt a hint of guilt for a mont, thinking that had he not dug too deep a pit for those Eternal Sleepers, but after thinking it over, since evil cult followers have no human rights, he calmly accepted reality.
Besides, as an Outland Wanderer, he can’t casually succumb to embarrassnt in front of Daniel—it’s detrintal to his image.
And during the conversation with Daniel, Gawain suddenly sensed sothing.
He chuckled inwardly, "It seems that the ssage you ntioned is about to arrive, quicker than I imagined."
The old mage’s voice followed, "Then, my lord, I shall withdraw."
Daniel’s ntal state quietly left, and after erasing all traces, Gawain redirected his shallow consciousness to the heart network, responding to a voice continuously calling for him.
Accompanied by intuitive sensing, he looked to his side, seeing a piece of hazy and gentle lamplight abruptly appearing in the air, then the light coalesced into a lamp with a crystal shell, styled in a classical fashion.
Selena Gerfen, in a white long dress with a placid and gentle deanor, stood next to Gawain, holding the lantern.
"Hello," Gawain slightly nodded at this familiar yet unfamiliar "Lantern Saintess," "I didn’t expect you to co personally."
"In cases relying on dreams, I have more ans of self-preservation than other sect mbers," Selena said softly, "Contact with ’Outland Wanderers’ poses significant risk for us."
"I can understand your concerns, though I find it unnecessary," Gawain chuckled, "I was even wondering before how you would contact without a ’contact thod’ left behind."
Selena kept a calm face: "Indeed, we can’t pinpoint your location, but we believe that as long as we call your na within the entire heart network, you will surely hear it—you are definitely monitoring the heart network."
"That doesn’t exactly sound like a reason for celebration... but it does indeed align with the facts," Gawain said as he raised an eyebrow, "Then, are you here to tell the response from the Eternal Sleepers?"
"We can agree to your demands," Selena spoke straightforwardly, revealing the answer Gawain already knew, "Though further discussion by the Supre Council of Bishops is still required, we can already provide you with a response."
Gawain showed no surprise and maintained a composed deanor: "It sounds like your situation is indeed urgent—good, this decision benefits everyone."
"We have conditions as well," Selena suddenly stated, "Or rather... we are preemptively expressing our stance."
"Let hear it."
"We can pledge allegiance to ’Outland Wanderers,’ can accept the ’incorporation’ and ’transformation’ you ntioned, but all this is based on human laws and rules. We will no longer believe in a new God. If there cos a day when you tread the path of a God..."
Gawain intervened before Selena finished speaking, "There will never be such a day. If it happens, then all our agreents are void."
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