Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

What does the blank scroll in Volume 18, page 1176 really mean?

Suri nodded almost imperceptibly, then turned again and calmly departed under the gazes of countless people, some filled with awe, some with curiosity, and some with fascination (?). The black figure quickly disappeared at the end of the snow-covered pastoral path leading down the mountain.

Chief Perrochi stood rooted to the spot, staring at the blank scroll in his hand, then glancing in the direction the messenger had vanished, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He turned to the equally bewildered elder and his son beside him, lowering his voice to mutter, his tone heavy with confusion and unease, "What... what does Lord Yeragand mean by this? Just a blank sheet of paper? What are we supposed to see? Snow?"

No one could answer him. But everyone felt that this "blank attention" from the sacred mountain, like the sudden drop in air pressure on the mountain, weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Having completed her "visits" to both the "Little Squirrel" and "Big Bear" families, Suri's feelings were... a little complicated.

On one hand, the feeling of wearing strange clothes, "playing tricks" in front of everyone, and watching those usually arrogant family leaders show surprise, fear, and helplessness because of a blank exam paper... to be honest, it was a little satisfying. Especially the Perrochi family chief's honest and simple look of scratching his head, wanting to ask but not daring to, made the corners of Su Rui's mouth under the mask curve almost imperceptibly.

On the other hand, he was even more curious. What exactly was Yela up to? Could these two families really "understand" the so-called "Sherrag Blizzard" from that blank scroll? Were they probably gathered together right now, racking their brains trying to guess the god's intentions?

However, none of that concerned him anymore. His task was simply to deliver the letter. As for "understanding," that was the recipient's responsibility.

Next, the last stop, and the one he was most "familiar" with—the Shiva Ash family home, the headquarters of the Karan Trading Company, SilverAsh.

I wonder what SilverAsh, who always has a cold face and a deep mind, will do when he sees this "Blank Edict of Snow and Wind"? And what about that blond "Big Goat" Mace... will he jump out again and try to pinch his ears?

A cold, sharp glint flashed in Su Rui's eyes as he thought of his trump card. If she dared to lay a hand on him again... perhaps he could try using his identity as a "messenger of the gods" to "slightly" retaliate?

With a mix of anticipation and mischievousness, Suri quickened her pace and hurried toward Shivaish Manor.

The wind and snow seemed to have intensified, but Suri, dressed in his specially made suit, felt little cold. He was like a black, mysterious silhouette weaving through the winter landscape of Shelag, rapidly approaching the end of this "message delivery" mission, which was also the possible starting point of his personal "small revenge."

Meanwhile, within the castles of Blantau and Perroch, chaos reigned over the "Blank Edict of Snow and Wind." Speculation, discussion, and even heated arguments raged within the families. Everyone realized that the Holy Mountain's stance had, in an extremely subtle yet undeniable way, intervened in the conflict below. Every step from now on required even greater caution.

A storm is brewing. Su Rui, the "messenger," has, in a way, become the most unique and "leisurely" bystander (and participant?) in this storm.

On a gloomy winter afternoon in Shelag, the sky was overcast, and fine snowflakes, like sifted salt, veiled the imposing yet exquisite architectural complex of the Karan Trading Company headquarters in a serene and austere atmosphere. Unlike the deep forests of the Blantau family estate or the rugged mountains of the Perroch family estate, the order and artificial craftsmanship of the Shivaish Manor were more pronounced. Even in this snowy weather, servants and guards remained at their posts, silently and efficiently maintaining the operation of the manor.

However, when that black figure, as if formed from the night and starlight, appeared without warning, as if "walking" out of a still snow scene painting, in the center of the square in front of the main building—a square that had been carefully swept, paved with smooth stone slabs, and now covered with a thin layer of snow—this orderly tranquility was instantly shattered.

The elite guards standing watch at the main building entrance, clad in cloaks bearing the sigil of the Shivaesh family, instinctively tensed and placed their hands on their weapons almost the instant Suri (in her messenger form) appeared. But their reaction was more disciplined, and...more shocked and bewildered, than that of the guards from the Brantau and Perroch families.

Because they recognized the robes! Or rather, they recognized the unique, icy-blue runes flowing across them, belonging to Mount Sherag and Yeragand! Those were no ordinary things that could imitate! Add to that the emissary's unmistakable, furry animal ears, his bushy tail also adorned with runes, and the icy mask that covered most of his face, adding to his mysterious and chilling aura…

They are messengers of the gods! Moreover, they appear in an extremely...shocking and visually striking manner!

The guards looked at each other in disbelief, but their discipline, honed through long-term training, prevented them from reacting rashly. Instead, they quickly tightened their defensive perimeter, securing the main building entrance. At the same time, a guard captain spoke into his waist communicator in an extremely urgent and low voice.

Suri remained oblivious to the surrounding vigilance and commotion. He stood still, tilted his head slightly, and gazed calmly at the main building's main gate—inlaid with intricate bronze ornaments, now tightly closed, a symbol of the core of the Shiva's family's power—through his calm, dark eyes behind his mask. In his hand, he held a dark silver metal cylinder; the runes on the cylinder seemed to sense the even stronger aura of "order" and "power" present, and the flowing light seemed to solidify slightly.

He opened his lips again, and with that practiced, cold, and distant "aria" tone, his voice echoed clearly across the empty square, even drowning out the sound of the wind and snow:

"By the command of Jeragand, Lord of Ice, Snow, and Mountains—"

Before the words were finished, the main building's doors were slowly pushed open from the inside.

The first to emerge were not SilverAsh, but two figures.

On the left was the mace. Today, she wasn't wearing her training clothes or a fitted outfit, but instead a relatively formal dark, fitted robe with the Shivaesh family crest, over which she wore a short leather cape of the same color. Her long, slightly wavy blonde hair, as dazzling as molten gold yet with a cold sheen, was tied high at the back of her head into a neat ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and a pair of slightly curved, beautifully sculpted, and sharp black goat horns belonging to Caprini.

Volume 18, Chapter 1177: Eager to try, you'd better not.

Jian's face was cold and stern, his amber vertical pupils like the most alert falcon. The moment he appeared, he locked his gaze on Su Rui in the center of the square with unparalleled precision and with extremely complex emotions—shock, vigilance, scrutiny, and a hint of indescribable, almost "It's you again" understanding and... eagerness?

On the right was Enshia. She seemed to have been drawn by the commotion outside, or perhaps she happened to be nearby, and ran out with Jian. She was still wearing her pale yellow winter dress embroidered with snowflakes, over which she wore a white fur cloak. Her face was slightly flushed from running and the cold outside. The moment her clear, bright lake-blue eyes caught sight of the figure in the center of the square, a look of shock and bewilderment flashed across them, just like everyone else's. But then, when her gaze fell upon Su Rui's slightly trembling, fluffy snow leopard ears, and that large, beautiful, bushy tail that looked strangely familiar even from a distance, her eyes widened in shock!

"Ah! It's..." Encia instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, almost gasping out! It was that new friend! That mysterious boy with cute ears and a tail who accompanied her to the greenhouse and even took away the cookies she baked! He... why was he dressed like that? And... and he became Yeragand's messenger?!

Jian seemed to sense Enxia's unusual behavior, and slightly turned his head, signaling her to be quiet with his eyes. Enxia quickly shut her mouth, but her eyes remained fixed on Su Rui, filled with curiosity, surprise, and a hint of worry.

Immediately afterward, Silver Grey (Enciodes Shivaesh) emerged unhurriedly from the gate. He was still wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, casually draped with a heavy black fur cloak. His short, silver-gray hair was perfectly styled, and his handsome, cold face was devoid of any superfluous expression. Only his gray-blue eyes, like the deepest sea, calmly swept over Suri in the square, finally settling on the metal cylinder in his hand and his tuxedo.

Unlike the outward shock displayed by the two family heads, Branta and Perroch, Silver Gray's eyes showed only an initial, fleeting surprise, which quickly transformed into a deep calm, as if he had long anticipated something, and... a very subtle, inscrutable, as if "it has finally come"... understanding?

He slowly descended the steps and came to the square, stopping a few steps away from Su Rui. Jian followed closely behind, like a silent and vigilant shadow, his amber vertical pupils never leaving Su Rui. Enshia followed nervously beside Jian, her small hands unconsciously twisting the ties of her cloak.

The guards around him bowed slightly after SilverAsh appeared, but remained on high alert.

“So it is His Excellency the envoy from Yeragand who has come in person,” SilverAsh said, his voice deep and steady, revealing little emotion. He bowed slightly to Suri, performing a standard and impeccable noble etiquette. “I apologize for not greeting you properly.”

Behind the mask, Suri's dark eyes calmly met Silver Grey's gaze. He could sense the sharp, calculating scrutiny beneath Silver Grey's calm surface. He also noticed Jian's gaze, which seemed to want to strip him naked (or rather, study him), and Enshia's almost overflowing curiosity and... intimacy?

He raised the metal cylinder in his hand again, and in that cold, aria-like tone, proclaimed:

"By order of Jeragand, this 'Decree of the Snowstorm' is presented to the head of the Shivaish family."

Then, just like the previous two times, he flipped his wrist and took out the last "ice crystal scroll" tied with a starlight ribbon from the cylinder, and handed it to SilverAsh with both hands.

Silver Gray's expression shifted almost imperceptibly upon hearing the words "Decree of Wind and Snow." He extended both hands and, with utmost respect, even a touch of solemnity, accepted the scroll that felt as light as a feather yet carried an immense weight.

It was cool to the touch, with a strange feel. Unlike Branta and the head of the Perroch family, Silver Grey didn't immediately unfold it to examine it. He simply used his fingertips to gently caress the smooth surface of the scroll, his grey-blue eyes taking a deep look at the almost transparent, empty "ice crystal" in his hand.

Then, he raised his head, looked at Su Rui, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards in an extremely subtle, almost "I knew it" arc.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for personally delivering the divine decree." Silver Gray's voice remained steady, yet it seemed to carry a hint of... strange, almost tacit understanding, composure.

Suri's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly behind her mask. This SilverAsh's reaction... seemed different from the previous two? He didn't show confusion or unease; instead, it was as if... he understood something?

Just then, Enxia, ​​who had been nervously watching Su Rui with bated breath, finally couldn't hold back any longer. She quietly peeked out from behind the mace and asked Su Rui in a soft voice, with a hint of excitement and uncertainty, "Um...you are...you are the...new friend from the greenhouse, right?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet square.

Jian's brows furrowed instantly, a hint of disapproval flashing in her amber vertical pupils, as if she wanted to stop Enshia. Silver Gray also glanced sideways at his sister, a complex light flashing in his gray-blue eyes, but he did not utter a word of reprimand.

Suri's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He hadn't expected Encia to "recognize" him at this moment, in this way. Although he had changed his clothes and was wearing a mask, his ears and tail, as well as his unique aura, seemed not difficult for Encia, who was simple-minded but surprisingly observant (especially about things that interested her), to recognize him.

He remained silent for a few seconds. To admit it? Or not? As a "messenger of the gods," it seemed he shouldn't have too much involvement with mortals. But... looking into Ensia's clear, bright, lake-blue eyes, filled with pure joy and expectation, and thinking of the kindness she had shown him before and the warm bag of cookies, Suri found that he seemed... unable to harden his heart and respond with indifference or denial.

Finally, under the slightly probing gazes of SilverAsh and Mace, and the expectant look of Enshia, Suri nodded almost imperceptibly and with a very small gesture.

That's considered an implicit agreement.

"Wow! It really is you!" Enxia burst into laughter instantly, as if she had discovered some incredible secret, all her previous tension and restraint vanishing. She even wanted to move closer, but was stopped by a look from Jian.

Volume 18, Chapter 1178: Silver-Gray's Etiquette

SilverAsh watched this scene, a barely perceptible, strange light flashing deep within his grey-blue eyes. He glanced at Suri, then at his cheerful younger sister, and seemed to understand something. This mysterious "messenger," so closely connected to the Holy Mountain (or rather, to Enya), seemed... to have an unusual patience and... indulgence towards Enya?

That's...an interesting discovery.

"Your Excellency has traveled a long way, braving wind and snow. You must be tired." Silver Grey spoke again, his tone more...gentle (relatively speaking) than before. "Why don't you move inside, rest for a while, and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up? My younger sister seems to be...acquainted with you as well, so we can catch up."

He extended the invitation. On one hand, it was out of basic courtesy to the "messenger of the gods"; on the other hand, perhaps... he also wanted to take this opportunity to observe and understand this special "messenger" more closely, and... what kind of connection he had with Enshia, and even with the Holy Mountain and Enshia.

Su Rui initially wanted to refuse. His task was simply to deliver the message. But... he glanced at the still blank scroll in Silver Gray's hand, then at Enshia, who was staring at him expectantly, seemingly hoping he would stay, and a thought flickered in his mind.

He was also curious about how SilverAsh had managed to "understand" the blank paper. And perhaps, keeping it for a while... would also allow him to "observe" the blonde goat's (mace's) reaction?

“…Okay.” Suri uttered a short, cold syllable from behind the mask, which was considered his agreement.

A look of expectation flashed in Silver Gray's eyes as he stepped aside and gestured for him to enter: "Your Excellency, please."

Led by SilverAsh and guarded by Mace (along with Encia's excited following), Suri entered the warm and luxurious main hall of the Shivaesh family home. He didn't go to SilverAsh's cold and solemn office, but was instead led to a more comfortable reception room next door, decorated with expensive tapestries and furniture, and with a fireplace burning brightly.

Servants quickly brought in steaming hot black tea and several plates of delicate refreshments. Silver Ash sat down in the main seat, while Jian stood like a statue to his side, slightly behind, his gaze still sharply fixed on Su Rui. Ensia, on the other hand, naturally sat down on the sofa next to Su Rui, and even pushed a plate of delicious-looking, savory cheese biscuits in front of Su Rui, whispering, "These are very tasty, would you like to try some?"

Su Rui glanced at her but didn't touch the tea and snacks. He was now in the role of an "envoy," and needed to maintain a certain distance and mystery. However, a barely perceptible smile curved the corners of his mouth beneath the mask. This younger sister... wasn't shy at all.

SilverAsh picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then his gaze fell on the still-rolled "ice crystal scroll" that he had casually placed on the low table next to him.

"The 'Decree of Wind and Snow' sent by Your Excellency the Envoy," SilverAsh spoke slowly, breaking the silence in the room. His gaze shifted from the scroll to the eyes behind Suri's mask, his tone calm yet carrying a knowing composure, "SilverAsh... has received it. And... understands it."

"Did you understand?" A sharp glint flashed in Suri's dark eyes behind his mask. He sat up straight, waiting for Silver Gray to continue. Even Mace beside him, his amber vertical pupils twitched slightly, seemingly also waiting for the family head's interpretation. Only Enshia looked curiously at her brother, then at Suri, seemingly still not fully understanding the situation.

Silver Gray put down his teacup, leaned back slightly, and his gray-blue eyes gleamed with a light that mixed wisdom, awe, and a hint of... self-mockery.

"This decree is blank," Silver Grey's voice sounded particularly clear and deep in the warm room, "not because Lord Yeragand had nothing to say, nor because His will was difficult to express in words. Quite the opposite..."

He paused, his gaze returning to the blank scroll, his tone becoming even more solemn:

"This blank scroll itself is an oracle. It represents... the snowstorm of Shelag itself."

“The wind and snow themselves are silent, formless, and invisible, yet they can cover everything, shape everything, and also… bury everything and destroy everything,” SilverAsh said slowly, as if expounding an ancient truth. “It is impartial and selfless, falling on the sacred mountain, and also on every valley, forest, and pasture. It is both a gift, nourishing all things, and a test, tempering all beings.”

He looked up at Su Rui, the self-mockery in his gray-blue eyes deepening.

"Lord Jeragand bestowed this 'blank snowstorm' to remind us, to remind everyone in Sherag—that the land beneath our feet, the power, wealth, and even life itself we possess, did not come from nowhere, nor were they our due."

"The forest hunting grounds of the Blanta family, the high-altitude pastures of the Perroch family, the mines and trade routes of my Shivaish family..." Silverash's voice carried a strange heaviness, "...all of this is built upon the land of Kjerag, bathed in the snow and wind bestowed by Lord Jeragand. Our rights do not come from the bravery or strategy of our ancestors, nor from the nobility of our bloodline or the strength of our contracts..."

He paused, then spoke his final conclusion, word by word, his voice clear and firm:

"...Our rights come from Yeragand's permission. From whether we can care for and protect this land and...the people on this land, just as the wind and snow nourish and temper all things."

"Lord Yeragand is not giving us specific instructions, but... scrutinizing us." Silver-gray's gaze swept over the mace, then seemed to pierce through the wall, looking towards the distant territories of Brantau and Perroch. "He is watching whether, beneath this seemingly calm but actually turbulent snowstorm, we, the families endowed with 'rights,' still remember our 'duty,' whether we are still fulfilling our original and most fundamental 'responsibility'—to care for the people and protect Sherag."

“This blank scroll is a mirror,” SilverAsh concluded, his tone regaining its calmness yet carrying an undeniable certainty. “It reflects not the will of the gods, but… our own hearts and actions. When we fight endlessly over mines, hunting grounds, and water sources, even scheming and plotting against each other, what we see in this ‘mirror’ is only our own greed, shortsightedness, and… blasphemy against the permission of the gods.”

"But when we shift our focus away from pointless struggles and turn back to the land and people we protect, and consider how to make Shelag more prosperous and peaceful amidst the snow and wind, this 'mirror' may... reflect a different picture."

Volume 18, Chapter 1179: Direct Access to Heaven's Hearing

After Silvergray finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the room. Only the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and the faint sound of wind and snow outside the window could be heard.

A thoughtful glint flashed in Jian's amber-colored vertical pupils. His initial wariness of Su Rui seemed to have shifted slightly due to this profound understanding. Enxia nodded, seemingly understanding, but also feeling that what her brother said made a lot of sense, yet also seemed...very profound.

And Suri...

His dark eyes, hidden behind the mask, gazed intently at Silver Gray. A complex mix of emotions surged within him.

He hadn't expected that SilverAsh could decipher such profound, so... "politically correct," yet seemingly core "divine will" from a blank scroll. This was not merely a conjecture of the will of the gods, but more like... a politician's "enlightenment" grounded in the reality of Sherag, imbued with strong self-reflection and a sense of warning.

This SilverAsh… is indeed no ordinary person. He is deep in thought, has a sharp eye, and… seems to possess a sense of responsibility towards this land that transcends mere family interests? Or perhaps, a grander ambition and aspiration? In any case, his interpretation is undoubtedly the “standard answer” that best aligns with Yeragand’s expectations (or rather, Yeragand’s).

No wonder Yela said, "They'll understand." Perhaps those who truly "understand" are those in power like SilverAsh. Even if the heads of the Branta and Perroch families don't understand at first, they'll probably have no choice but to "understand" under SilverAsh's "interpretation" (or rather, pressure).

Suri suddenly felt that Yera's decision to send him the "Blank Snowstorm" might not just be a warning or a statement, but rather a... screening and confirmation? To confirm whether SilverAsh was truly the "collaborator" who could understand and was willing to implement the "will of the gods" (or, in other words, in accordance with Sherag's long-term interests) to a certain extent?

Interesting. Suri's lips curved almost imperceptibly again beneath the mask. This "game of the gods" seemed even more interesting than he had imagined.

“Master…you are absolutely right.” Suri finally spoke, his tone still that cold, “elegy,” but there seemed to be a hint of…approval? Or perhaps the relief of “mission accomplished”? “The divine message has been delivered; its interpretation…lies in the hearts of men. Yeragand…looks forward to seeing a new scene beneath the snowstorm of Sherag.”

His words were ambiguous, seemingly both an affirmation of SilverAsh's interpretation and a mere reiteration of the "god's" expectations.

A barely perceptible glint flashed in his silver-grayish-blue eyes. He noticed the subtle change in Su Rui's tone. This mysterious envoy seemed... to have accepted his understanding?

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, and please also convey to Lady Yeragand," SilverAsh stood up, bowed slightly to Suri, and said solemnly, "The Shiva Ash family will heed the divine decree, fulfill its duties, and prioritize the well-being of Sherag and its people. As for the previous disturbances... SilverAsh will handle them properly and will not cause any trouble for the gods and the saintess."

This can be considered... a statement and a promise. It promises to handle the conflicts with the other two companies properly and to prevent the situation from escalating and affecting the peace of the sacred mountain.

Su Rui nodded and stood up. His mission was completely complete.

“Very well then,” Su Rui said, preparing to take his leave.

"Is Your Excellency leaving already?" Enshia stood up reluctantly, looking at Su Rui with pleading eyes. "Won't you stay a little longer? The snow outside seems to be getting heavier..."

Su Rui glanced at her, then at Jian, who remained as still as a statue, but whose gaze seemed more complex than before (with inquiry, wariness, and perhaps a hint of contemplation triggered by the patriarch's interpretation?).

“My duty is done, and I cannot stay any longer,” Su Rui replied in a cold tone. Then, he nodded slightly to SilverAsh and gave Encia an almost imperceptible nod as a farewell.

Then, without lingering, he turned and walked towards the door of the reception room. The hem of his black tuxedo traced a graceful arc, and his tail swayed gently behind him.

SilverAsh, Mace, and Encia escorted him to the main building entrance.

Standing on the steps, watching the increasingly blurred black figure disappear back into the snowstorm, a glint of light flashed in his silver-gray-blue eyes. He whispered to the man beside him, "Pass down the order: in my name, formally invite the heads of the Blantau and Perroch families to a second round of talks in three days at the council chamber of the Kalan Trading Company. The topic... shall be 'How to discuss the future development of Shelag under the watchful eye of Yeragand.'"

"Yes, Master," Jian replied in a deep voice, her gaze still following the disappearing black dot in the snowstorm. That mysterious messenger… this time, it seemed she wasn't given the chance to "pinch his ear"? Was it because his status was different now? Or…

She touched the pair of cold, curved black ram horns on the top of her head, and a barely perceptible, almost regretful (?) glint flashed in her amber vertical pupils.

Enshia waved to the wind and snow, whispered "Goodbye," her eyes filled with blessings and anticipation for her "new friend."

In the wind and snow, Suri's figure completely disappeared. But this time, the arrival of the "messenger" and the "empty snow edict" have thrown a heavy stone into the Shivaesh family and even the upper echelons of Kjerag, and the ripples it has stirred up are quietly spreading, changing some predetermined trajectories.

Suri was in a good mood on his way back to Mount Saint. The mission went smoothly, SilverAsh got a perfect score on his "reading comprehension," and he even got to "observe" the unusually "well-behaved" behavior of that blond goat (Mace). As for whether Yera was satisfied or not... that was none of his concern.

All he wanted to do now was get back quickly, take off this "work uniform" that, while powerful, made him feel uncomfortable, and then... maybe ask Enya for some good food to reward himself as the "messenger of the gods" who had been on a "hard-working business trip"?

"Hmm, that's a good idea." A hint of pleasure flashed in Su Rui's eyes, and she unconsciously quickened her pace.

Since the day the "messenger of the gods" descended and bestowed the "blanket snowstorm edict," the atmosphere within the Shiva'esh Manor seemed to have undergone a subtle shift. Beneath the surface tranquility, a more cautious and pragmatic undercurrent was surging. On SilverAsh's (Ensiodis Shiva'esh) schedule, preparations for the second round of talks with the Blantau and Perroch families were given top priority. The manor's security forces were quietly redeployed, and targeted investigations and intelligence analyses were being intensified behind the scenes. Everyone could sense that beneath the patriarch's seemingly calm exterior lay a more composed and resolute power, poised to be unleashed.

Volume 18, Chapter 1180: Someone is peeping.

However, in this atmosphere that is slightly somber because of the "divine oracle," there is a small world that still maintains the warm sunshine of innocence and carefree joy—that is the greenhouse of the third young lady Ensia, and her newly confirmed "new friend" from the Holy Mountain, with fluffy ears and a tail.

Two days had passed since the envoy's visit. That afternoon, a rare warm winter sun pierced through the thin clouds, shining on the land of Shivaish Manor and slightly dispelling the chill in the air. Inside the greenhouse, it was even warmer than spring, with sunlight filtering through the transparent dome and casting dappled, dancing spots of light among the lush plants and misty vapors.