Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

These things all contain secrets that no one knows about!

This ID card is probably much more valuable than Roy imagined!

"What's wrong? Is something the problem?"

After patiently waiting for Roy for a while, the Empress, finding him still unable to recover, called out with some concern. Roy heard the call and forced himself to pull back his thoughts, which had gradually drifted away even without activating [Water Moon]. He shook his head:

"No, it's okay. I just remembered something."

"About what?" the Queen pressed, though it was somewhat impolite, her woman's intuition told her that Roy must have just thought of some crucial clue.

Roy looked at her, his expression momentarily conflicted and hesitant. Finally, he paused and said:

"What are your thoughts on the words left by the Witch King?"

"Arrogant, but because he is the Witch King, there is still a sliver of possibility. I need to take him back to verify," the Queen said.

Roy nodded. "That's right. I can tell you that if the Witch King... if I'm not mistaken, he must have seen the end of the world."

What can drive someone crazy?

While the Sea Kings were terrifying, they couldn't fundamentally change an emperor's temperament. The Sarkaz's hatred was endless, but they were, in essence, also inhabitants of Terra. The Witch King's Tower was the tallest, most imposing structure in Letania, and the turning point in his life was the "ascension" he underwent at its summit.

Roy walked to the terrace, a height from which he could look down upon the entire Black Forest City shrouded in red mist, a place that could be described as "reaching for the stars."

so.....

"He may have seen the 'false heaven'."

Volume 1: Chapter 212 The Shadow Over Letania

Beyond the sea lies the enemy.

The Sarkaz of Kazdel are the enemy.

The stars in the sky are also enemies.

Roy was sometimes really curious: how did Terra, a place surrounded by enemies and constantly plagued by natural disasters, manage to survive and develop into a deformed civilization that, in some ways, even surpassed Earth's technology?

The Shard, which at least functions as a weather controller and can bring about natural disasters, was something Roy had only ever seen in Red Alert in his previous life.

However, considering that Kazdel has been razed thousands of times, and the Sarkaz have been hated and slaughtered for millennia, yet they have still stubbornly survived to this day, even possessing the strength to occupy the capital of Terra's most powerful empire and plotting revenge against the entire land, this question is thus answered.

—Because the people who create and perpetuate the concept of civilization are a group of people who never succumb to fate.

What exactly the Witch King experienced at the top of the tower is now unknown to Roy. He can only speculate from the fragments left in history and the clues he has found in this mysterious tower that this former emperor of Letania may have indeed deciphered some secrets from the stars at the top of the tower that reaches into the clouds.

Perhaps he saw alien observation stations orbiting Terra?

Roy's mind raced with wild thoughts. More likely, what the Witch King saw was an unknown entity from beyond the heavens, bringing Originium energy and demonic beings. Given the current understanding of demons among the people of Terra, simply knowing of their existence could lead to a situation similar to memetic contamination. If what the Witch King saw was truly the origin of demons and Originium, then he would inevitably suffer the most terrifying contamination ever seen. Given human willpower, it was entirely possible that he would be driven mad as a result. This might also explain why, after that "ascension," while the Witch King's magic improved beyond imagination, his personality also drastically changed, turning him into a ruthless tyrant.

While demons bring corruption, they also possess immense power. The Ursus Inner Guard are bio-warriors created from fragments of demons. They also possess a kind of "manipulation of space" ability that is difficult to analyze. This coincides with the Witch King's ability to create a space the size of a city and construct magic arrays within it.

One coincidence is one coincidence, but when all the coincidences come together, Roy feels that he has grasped a clue to the many mysteries of Terra civilization.

While the empress was by his side, her mind was filled with thoughts of the "false heaven."

The sky is an illusion, a fact not hidden among certain families who practice astrology. As a leader, she also knew that the dangers lurking above were no less than those that brought the Great Tranquility and destroyed the Iberian Sea. The image of demons descending from the sky, as depicted in the portrait of the Witch King, had already put her on high alert.

But knowing is one thing; no one can say for sure what lies in the sky. Terra, at this moment, has neither the ability nor the desire to explore beyond the heavens.

These leaders, most of the time, focused all their attention on this land, showing little interest in the planet's oceans and skies. She wanted to continue asking questions, to see if Roy, who seemed like a "prophet," knew anything more useful, but after hesitating for a moment, she abandoned her plan to start asking questions now.

They've already lingered long enough on this tower. There are at least three more towers waiting for them. Roy isn't going anywhere. As for the earth and the secrets beyond it, once they're safely out, she can set up a quiet and comfortable place and play a question-and-answer game with Roy again.

She gently patted Roy on the shoulder and took the lead down the spiral staircase.

...............

"Her Majesty the Queen and the Elector have disappeared in Violet City! The Elector's guards have gone with them!"

On the edge of the nation of Letania, Violet City still stands. Built at the end of the Witch King's reign and completed only after the Queen's ascension to the throne, this city now appears exceptionally solemn and imposing. The super-mobile fortress symbolizing the Queen's authority and power—the [Queen's Voice]—is now stationed outside Violet City. Countless magical cannons are already aimed at the city, and a chilling atmosphere shrouds the entire city in gloom.

The Empress has mysteriously disappeared in Violet City. This news shouldn't have been revealed so quickly. When the Empress arrived in Violet City, she had already prepared for the worst, anticipating some "minor friction" with the scheming Elector of Teutonic Knights. Therefore, measures to suppress the news and prevent the situation from escalating were already in place.

Unfortunately, along with the Queen, the Teutonic Elector and his personal guard also disappeared.

That's hard to say. Even in war, at least both sides would be out in formation and attacking each other, but the sudden disappearance of the leaders and representatives of the two strongest factions within the empire makes it hard not to speculate.

No one believed that anyone else in Letania could harm them, especially since the Teutonic Elector's personal guard was with him when they disappeared. According to the last Teutonic message, the Teutonics had invited the Queen to a banquet just before their disappearance.

What kind of banquet could have eaten them both up?

Hongmen Banquet?

The duel between kings is always mysterious and full of variables, especially since both of them were among the most outstanding magic masters of their time. Some believe that they had a conflict at the banquet, which led to their deaths, while others speculate that their magic may have caused some kind of change, which led to their disappearance.

Regardless, the disappearance of the Queen and the Elector, coupled with the approaching Elector's army and the sound of the Queen's cannons, has spread throughout Violet City. In the streets and alleys, citizens whisper about the Queen's disappearance. This city, though not wealthy, has enjoyed a peaceful life, and now it is on edge, fearing its fate.

In this chaotic and uneasy atmosphere, the great nobles of Letania began to stir in secret. Two electors had already set off with their armies to the place where the Empress's voice resided. Three other electors began to hold frequent large-scale banquets in their mansions. At these banquets, they feigned concern for the fate of the nation, inviting many nobles, but always subtly hinting at Letania's future. The entire country of Letania now seemed like a vast walled city. Within the high walls, the nobles' mansions were silent, silk curtains drawn tightly, as if trying to shut out the outside world and prevent their conspiracies from being known. Outside the high walls, the once-glorious art palaces were now empty, the beautiful gardens rarely visited, becoming eerie and sinister. Even the cries of the winged beasts were low and mournful, as if telling of the nation's and the Empress's disappearance.

A power struggle raged around a violet city, like a thick fog that could not be dispelled.

In this turbulent time, the future of the nation of Letania has become uncertain, while outside the city of Violet, a land-based warship has submitted a docking application and is slowly mooring in Letania's harbor.

We've arrived at Rhodes Island.

Volume 1: Chapter 213 Babel Tower Mining and Refining Company

Letania, the Violet City, the Port of Connection.

The permit to dock for resupply has been approved. With a thunderous roar, the Rhodes Island landship, which had officially entered the lower levels of the mobile city, slowly braked and docked at the docking point. The gangway connects the port to the ship from the side of the landship.

The hatch slowly opened, and Kal'tsit, dressed in a Letanian-style tailcoat, straightened her silk hat. As soon as she stepped out of the hatch, she couldn't help but furrow her beautiful brows.

If her long memory served her correctly, this port should be a commercial hub where merchants would stop, trade, and exchange intelligence between Letania and Victoria. But at this moment, the port was filled with military units. A tense and serious atmosphere hung over the faces of everyone passing by, armed to the teeth. Some carried heavy crossbows, some wore exquisite robes, and others gathered in small groups, pushing the massive, black cannons before them. Clearly, this level of firepower was excessive for any caravan.

They are not businessmen; they are soldiers.

At this very moment, this commercial port is teeming with troops!

What has happened in Rhodes Island these past few days, near Violet City? Is another conflict about to erupt between Letania and Victoria?

Kal'tsit hadn't heard of any unusual military movements recently by Grand Duke Windermere, who guarded the border between Victoria and Letania. Her informant in Victoria, Miss Heidi, hadn't sent her any intelligence about an impending war between the two countries. Could it be a surprise attack like the one in Ursus? Was Letania planning to take advantage of Victoria's internal instability to launch a surprise attack?

A few doubts lingered in her mind. Kal'tsit removed her top hat and gave a perfect bow to a soldier approaching her. As the soldier drew nearer, she glanced at his epaulets; he was a lieutenant.

"Lieutenant Schneider."

The officer deftly produced his identification, flashed it in front of Kal'tsit, and then put it away, thus introducing himself. Afterward, he pulled a notebook and pen from his pocket and asked, as if interrogating her,

"Madam, where are you from?"

"I don't think I should answer your questions, because I have already obtained entry permits from your country's officials and the city council. I had no idea that I would be questioned by the military in a commercial port in Letania. Unless you can tell me what happened here?"

Kal'tsit replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

It's not common for a commercial port to be requisitioned. If Violet City is currently embroiled in some kind of upheaval, Kal'tsit wouldn't mind leaving immediately after bringing back Nightfall and Margaret.

The officer named Schneider's expressionless, routine face underwent a slight change. He looked at the reasonably attractive woman in front of him with some interest and nodded slightly.

“You’re right, ma’am. If it were any other time, if you met me here, I should have struck up a conversation with you and offered you a cup of coffee. But not now, this is a ‘dangerous time’.”

"Although I shouldn't tell you this, but..."

He shrugged, looking nonchalant, and said...

"We are searching for a group of dangerous individuals calling themselves 'Rhode Island,' who belong to a multinational medical company. The reason for this brief inquiry is that we are afraid that a polite and law-abiding lady like yourself might inadvertently let these cunning and dangerous individuals get on your side."

After he finished speaking, he deliberately observed Kal'tsit's expression, confirming that she was only slightly frowning and deep in thought, without showing any sign of panic or guilt, before withdrawing his scrutinizing gaze and continuing softly:

"Now, let's continue our previous topic, ma'am. I've already told you, and now, please cooperate with us. Which company do you and this land-based vessel behind you belong to?"

“Babel Tower.” Kal'tsit’s expression remained unchanged, and she uttered the name without the slightest hesitation. “Babel Tower Mining and Refining Co., Ltd., registered in Rembitox. Its main business, well, you can probably guess.”

Kal'tsit's smile was highly infectious. Officer Schneider smiled and nodded, noting down the keywords "Tower of Babel" and "Rembiton" in his notebook. He then put away his pen, turned around, and asked, seemingly out of simple curiosity:

"Madam, I've heard that the weather in Rembiton is terrible, with frequent sandstorms mixed with Originium dust. But your hands are so smooth, and your skin doesn't show any signs of sunburn. How do you do that?"

Kal'tsit paused, not answering immediately. When Schneider turned his gaze back to Kal'tsit, he noticed that Ms. Felin was looking at him with a strange expression.

"That's not a very polite question. I suggest you don't ask a lady that question next time."

Kal'tsit reprimanded him somewhat sternly.

“Mining and refining have always been the workers’ job. Do you think that when tower sorcerers research new Originium arts, they will personally go into the mines to dig up stones?”

Schneider paused, seemingly taken aback by Kal'tsit's reaction, but quickly regained his smile and bowed apologetically, saying, "You're right, I was presumptuous. Your examination is perfectly satisfactory. I wish you continued enjoyment of Letania's great art and magic. Please."

He held out his hand, pointing out the exit to Kal'tsit. Only after Kal'tsit had walked away did a voice come from the walkie-talkie on his chest:

"Is there a problem with the company that just entered the dock?"

“No problem,” Lieutenant Schneider said. “She is a very distinctive and courteous lady.”

........

After leaving the port, Kal'tsit wandered through the city, making sure no one was following her, before finally finding a coffee shop on the street, ordering a Letanian black coffee, and sitting down.

Kal'tsit wasn't worried that the Babel Tower Mining and Refining Company she'd fabricated for the officer would be uncovered, even though the lieutenant seemed to have taken the company's name very seriously. There were thousands, even tens of thousands, of these kinds of mining companies in Rembiton's massive mines; just the shell companies used to launder money for certain high-ranking officials numbered around a thousand. Investigating them would be a time-consuming and poorly rewarding task, and the military wouldn't invest too much effort in it until she was identified as a suspect.

What she really cared about was the reason Rhodes Island was wanted and the current situation of the Rhodes Island office.

What are the current situations of Nightfall, Margaret, and Roy, who should have understood the implication in his letter that "official meetings are refused, but private meetings are possible"? And where are they now?

Since the military has already launched a search, it means they must still be safely at large. But how can we contact them?

"call--"