Chapter 346: Handover, This World

"That is enough. The situation here is resolved; come with me. If the timing aligns, everything should be settled on the other side as well."

Zieg’s voice resonated from the dragon’s maw, reaching everyone present, leaving those who knew of the Truth Overseers’ scholar in a state of profound shock.

As it turned out, one of the newest members of their society was, in fact, a dragon.

"You encountered obstruction, including that Fire Elemental Lord awakened prematurely from its slumber—all orchestrated by the lackeys of the Central Council of Sky Mechanical City. Their goal was to prevent your return to the Truth Overseers and stop you from completing the metamagic research."

Zieg explained in a steady tone the origins of the bizarre events that had plagued the members who ventured into the Fire Elemental Plane to investigate and gather materials.

"I knew there was something wrong, but why the Central Council? What could they possibly gain from this? Completing our metamagic research would only earn us a rise in status and some rewards from them; they have no reason to stop us."

The scholar who had previously pointed out the irregularities responded to Zieg, still unable to fathom the Council’s motives.

"That is not the point. The point is that this matter ends here. Climb onto my back; I will take you to the location where the planar rift opened so we may return to the Prime Material Plane together."

"As for those who remained hidden and tripped you up, I believe the Truth Overseers, having secured a seat on the Central Council, will gain partial observation access to the Beacon Longbridge. If those culprits do not wish to spend an eternity in the Fire Elemental Plane, they will inevitably be intercepted by you at the site of the rift."

Zieg had no inherent desire to slay the Fire Elemental Lord; if he could safely extract the members of the Truth Overseers, he preferred to avoid combat.

However, returning to the Prime Material Plane from the Fire Elemental Plane required passing through a planar rift—unless one possessed immense spatial abilities like the silver dragon Aeryllian—and to use that rift, one had to return to its original point of manifestation.

Zieg had arrived by consuming a portion of the power from the mark Aeryllian had given him to tear a one-way path, but the other members had to return through the established rift.

The Fire Elemental Lord, a creature of minimal intellect, would undoubtedly pursue the members who had disturbed its sleep with relentless fury.

If that entity, brimming with vast, volatile energy, reached the rift, the resulting disturbances could cause the passage to collapse, leaving them stranded in the Fire Elemental Plane to wait for a new one to open.

"Mr. Zieg, what do you mean by the Truth Overseers obtaining a seat on the Central Council? Isn't that position permanent? Could it be..."

Climbing onto Zieg’s back, the members asked, puzzled by the implications of his words.

In their minds, the seats of the Central Council were immutable, much like the figures above the rank of Sage—eternal fixtures of Sky Mechanical City.

Coupled with Zieg’s revelation that their troubles were the work of the Council’s pawns, they sensed a shift in the status quo. If the seats could be changed, the long-held belief in their permanence became deeply intriguing.

"You will know when we return. I think it will be a very pleasant surprise."

Zieg offered no further explanation, a faint smile playing on his lips. Through the prayer communication network, the Lady of Night had informed him that the matter was finished.

Wang Yu had dismantled the Central Council, and they were currently tending to his severe wounds. All that remained for Zieg and the others was to finalize the metamagic research data and deliver it to the Tower Spirit, Astartes.

"Truly good news. Wang Yu has done his part; the rest is up to us."

Zieg mused to himself as his massive dragon form descended onto a stable plain, free from the unpredictable eruptions of magma. This was the site of the planar rift.

The members produced their magical instruments to open the gate, and together with Zieg, who had resumed his human form, they stepped through and returned to the Prime Material Plane.

At the Beacon Longbridge, Icarus, her radiant wings fluttering, waited for them. She greeted the returning members with a smile and shared the news.

"I am pleased to inform those who went to the Fire Elemental Plane that our metamagic research is complete. This study will bring significant changes to our future life here in Sky Mechanical City."

As the others buzzed with excitement over the completion of the research, Zieg waved at Icarus.

Icarus understood his intent, nodded, and flew down to lift Zieg, who could not manifest his dragon form in the Prime Material Plane, carrying him back to the ruins of the Truth Overseers’ headquarters.

They had to finalize the data immediately. Amidst the rubble, those who had survived the alchemy machine legion’s assault under Icarus’s protection were already working overtime to package the research findings.

Though the building was destroyed, they had committed most of the theoretical data to memory, while the complex formulas and data were stored in their portable spatial artifacts.

A group of scholars, clad in dusty, tattered robes, gathered on the wreckage, scribbling furiously—a scene that was as bizarre as it was comical.

Such an event was rare in the strictly policed Sky Mechanical City, and under normal circumstances, it would have drawn the attention of other societies and curious citizens.

In reality, the streets surrounding the ruins were deserted, save for the unfortunate souls whose own buildings had been destroyed by the collateral damage of the machine legion’s attack.

The reason was the swarm of alchemy machines surrounding the site—Astartes’s legion, with airships patrolling overhead, exuding a chilling, metallic aura of lethality.

The sheer power of these machines deterred the residents from satisfying their curiosity; they had no desire to lose their lives for a mere glimpse.

With the high academic standards of Zieg and Icarus, the final packaging of the research progressed rapidly. Half an hour passed, and the members finally set down their tools and pens, raising their hands in a jubilant cheer.

"Yeah! Finally finished!"

"Our hard work wasn't in vain. Honestly, when those machines attacked, I thought I was a dead man."

"I still can't figure out how that legion was destroyed in an instant."

"If the President didn't tell you, there’s a reason. Don't dwell on it. Think instead about the benefits we’ll gain with a seat on the Central Council, and what research you want to pursue next!"

"That’s true. That’s not my concern. Let me think... I want to study the source of magic."

"Isn't that a bit too ambitious? But if we can figure that out, our names will surely be etched in history."

The members high-fived, celebrating the completion of their work and looking toward the future with excitement.

Icarus held a cubic box, intricately carved with mechanical patterns and metallic textures. She looked at Zieg, who was eyes-closed, communicating with Avia via the prayer network, and asked where to deliver it.

"Take it to Wang Yu. Astartes is with them. Once it verifies the data, it will grant the Truth Overseers the seat on the Central Council according to the rules."

Zieg opened his eyes and nodded slightly. The metal box contained the entire history of the research from inception to conclusion.

The data was comprehensive enough to deduce the essence of metamagic; anyone with sufficient academic standing could follow the steps within to replicate the Truth Overseers’ breakthrough.

"Well, we owe him a lot this time. What he accomplished is the most shocking thing I’ve seen in years."

Icarus followed Zieg, speaking as they walked.

"Who could disagree?"

Zieg sighed; he was already accustomed to such feats.

...

Zieg and Icarus entered the residence where Wang Yu and the others were staying. The Lady of Night, Avia, Noelle, and Wang Yu—now recovered enough to move on his own—were waiting. On the table sat the small mechanical device, which served as the interface for Astartes.

"Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Truth Overseers. For researchers like us, being able to complete the work we’ve sought to understand is the greatest fortune."

Icarus placed the box on the table and, shedding her formality, gave Wang Yu a hug.

"Mr. Icarus, give the data to Astartes. Once it confirms it, the Truth Overseers will receive their seat on the Council as promised."

Wang Yu didn't stand on ceremony, pointing to the device on the table.

"Then let us begin."

Icarus pushed the box toward the device.

...

A brief silence fell over the room. The box and the device sat side by side, but nothing happened. Astartes remained silent.

Seconds ticked by until Astartes could no longer endure the quiet.

"Seriously? What are you doing? Do you expect me to read your data with a device that lacks everything? You’re doing this on purpose, aren't you? Honestly, hurry up and open a door for me."

Astartes’s cursing voice emanated from the device resting beside the box, accompanied simultaneously by a rhythmic knocking at the chamber door.

"Er..."

The gathered crowd felt a ripple of awkwardness; it seemed Astartes was right, and they had stood there staring blankly for ages, none of them—despite their collective reputation for superior intellect—having considered the obvious.

Wang Yu, whose intellect was not among those deemed superior, pulled the door open to reveal an alchemical construct, evidently sent by Astartes to retrieve the data.

The construct, which one might as well call Astartes, strode into the room with unceremonious purpose, lifted the metal box from the table, slotted it into a recess in its chest, and began to process the contents.

"This is indeed a research breakthrough worthy of the term revolutionary. The rules established by the Mentor have validated this work, and thus, from this moment forth, the Truth Oversight Committee shall be the new Central Council."

"Your member statuses have been updated within the database; you may hereafter visit the Central Spire to acquaint yourselves with the privileges afforded by this new standing."

Astartes processed the data with blistering speed, delivering its verdict on the meta-magic research in a voice of steady, grave authority, effectively bestowing the mantle of the Central Council upon the members of the Truth Oversight Committee.

Though it appeared a trivial task, Astartes, as the spire-spirit of the Sky Mechanical City, was omnipresent; this brief interval was more than sufficient to amend every necessary entry within the database.

"You need not fear that some new discovery will arise to usurp your Central Council status; according to the rules set by the Mentor, your standing is protected and shall remain valid for a period of five years."

"As for what follows those five years, you must rely upon your own subsequent research achievements to ensure your status is not supplanted by other societies or individuals."

Astartes further clarified the nature of the status granted to the Truth Oversight Committee, for the rules laid down by Merlin ensured that a newly appointed Central Council would not be immediately rendered obsolete.

Astartes then turned, facing Wang Yu, who had been watching from the sidelines, and spoke.

"And as for you, Wang Yu, I shall, by the authority of my newly acquired permissions, bestow upon you a special status; while it does not transcend my own, it should suffice for you to accomplish whatever you desire within the Sky Mechanical City."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow in mild surprise and responded.

"My thanks. May I ask, then, if I am permitted to consult those 'forbidden' archives and data?"

"If that is your wish, it is no problem at all."

With Astartes’s affirmation, Wang Yu drew a sharp breath; the opportunity to fathom the deeper layers of this world had finally arrived.