Because they arrived early, Melissa and Benson were able to secure a good spot from which they could directly see the odd object now mounted on the gray-and-white stone columns at the center of the square. The object was bulbous at one end and tapered at the other, painted in deep blue paint, and connected to a series of cables. Below it, a group of soldiers in red shirts and white trousers stood guard, carrying gray-and-white metal backpacks and wielding complex, large-caliber rifles, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. As more and more citizens arrived, the square grew increasingly crowded and lively. At exactly nine o'clock, the odd object on the column suddenly began emitting a series of hissing and rustling sounds, which eventually coalesced into a deep, resonant voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am your Emperor, George Augustus III, ruler of Roon, Eastern Baring, and the Isles of Rosstead." ... Could that thing speak? Based on the principles of telegraphy? Melissa's eyes widened suddenly, and her attention instantly shifted from the content of the speech to the strange object. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am your Emperor, George Augustus III, ruler of Roon, Eastern Baryn, and the Isles of Rosd." On the Day of Remembrance Plaza in the West District, Audrey stood near the platform with her father, mother, and brother, gazing at the king in formal attire and listening to his speech. Having anticipated where George III would focus today and the atmosphere he would create, Audrey did not wear her preferred garments—light in color and youthful in style—as she had done before. Instead, she chose a simple, conservative dress in pure black, like Countess Catherine, with no jewelry. “…We are both delighted and deeply weighed down to announce that we have finally halted the Fyrsak’s initial offensive, thwarting their three-month plan to extinguish Runa…“ “…Yet too many promising young lives have been lost on the front lines, in this war—lives that were meant to unfold into brighter futures, to grow old beside their parents, to mature alongside their spouses, and to raise children in a nurturing environment, with a life of love and warmth… “…The Fyrsaks have destroyed all of this…” Audrey, who knew the reasons behind the war’s outbreak, was not stirred by the king’s speech—she simply recognized his natural flair for drama. She heard a series of soft, quiet sobs rising from the crowd, felt the emotion seeping in, gathering, converging—like a tide slowly building. And in turn, she found herself unable to hold back a gentle moisture in her eyes. The king's speech was false, but people's sorrow was truly authentic—especially Audrey, who had seen many bereaved families and helped those poor souls who, in a single night, lost their children, husbands, and fathers. This was the great emotional resonance—the very moment when one would drink the potion of the manipulator at its finest... Audrey suddenly had a revelation, yet couldn't act upon it, because not only had she not yet fully digested the potion of the dream-wanderer, but she also hadn't yet accumulated enough contributions with the Sir World. She slowly took a breath, steadying her emotions, shifting her gaze away from King George III, allowing her thoughts to wander freely: "Sir World is very invested in today's speech—how will he use this moment? I hope it doesn't bring too much surprise. Is the thing called 'broadcast' based on the principles of radio?" "The Lord of the World mentioned that there are already forces at sea applying this technology... Compared to the storm-prone oceans, land clearly offers a more suitable environment for such products..." As Audrey was pondering, the serious, reserved George III, with a small beard, concluded his first paragraph and solemnly declared: "Let us here pay our tribute to our hero, ladies and gentlemen. Follow me in your hearts as we say: 'In the name of Emperor George III, may the spirits of the departed find peace, and may they become eternal in the land of their chosen faith.' " "This phrase carried an unspoken dignity, causing every listener—including Audrey—to instinctively lower their heads, clasp their hands, and silently recite: 'By the name of Emperor George III...'... On the opposite side of the Memorial Square, Klein, dressed in a black wool coat and bearing an unremarkable countenance, joined the others in prayer, his actions entirely unremarkable. During the three-minute period of silence, he carefully observed Emperor George III's every movement through a bird-shaped secret automaton standing atop a nearby building roof, seeking subtle signs that would indicate the king's imminent departure—his quiet transition into the mausoleum and his ingestion of the magical potion. In Klein's understanding, the phrase 'By the name of Emperor George III' formed the core of the entire 'Black Emperor' ritual. If the magical potion was to be taken, it would inevitably occur at this moment—or within the next two to three minutes after the silence ended. Should it be delayed any further, the effect would likely be significantly diminished." "Hmm, George III is also remaining silent, with no extra movements at all..." Caine suppressed his impatience and curiosity, patiently waiting. As the moving moment that had touched so many people's hearts gradually came to an end, one by one, the audience began to open their eyes—yet George III still remained motionless, and then, he spoke again, delivering his speech: "We have now weathered our most difficult period. We shall surely overcome evil and brutality. This is the power of justice—the strength of every soldier on the front lines, the strength of every worker in every factory..." That is... The arrangement for "0–08" had not succeeded. Today, George III had no intention of becoming a god. He was simply aiming to draw out the enemies who sought to disrupt the ceremony. After all, he could deliver such speeches many times over in the future? Caine's brow slightly furrowed as a series of thoughts ran through his mind. Suddenly, his expression grew serious, and a possibility came to him. In an instant, Caine and the hidden figure Enyuni within the sewer exchanged places—Enyuni, dressed and in appearance exactly like Caine, was indistinguishable from him at first glance. Immediately thereafter, Caine stepped backward four paces, entering the gray mist, and using the deep red star representing the "Lady Justice," activated his "True Sight" to observe the scene on the plaza. ——He had now reached Sequence 3, no longer needing to extend his range with the "Sea God's Staff." Of course, compared to the "Ancient Scholar," the "Sea King's" "True Sight" domain was clearly broader, but that was unnecessary for this moment. As Caine's gaze settled upon the dais where King George III had been speaking, it instantly froze—there was no one there, or rather, only a false "phantom"! It was a George III imagined entirely. Before the speech began, Kline had anticipated potential issues in this area and had made deliberate observations to verify that the person arriving was indeed King George III. Yet, within just a few minutes—without any of his awareness—the genuine George III had transformed into a figment of imagination. During the moment of silence, using the ability of the "Black Emperor" pathway, he had silently undergone a "distortion," effectively swapping places with his stand-in? Now, George III must have already entered a secret mausoleum, consuming magical elixirs in an effort to ascend. Kline immediately turned his attention to the surroundings, noticing an unusually powerful, deeply black force quietly emerging from beneath the stage. He then picked up the "Black Emperor" card resting on the bronze table, utilizing the extraordinary property of the aggregation law to confirm that the force belonged to the "Black Emperor" pathway and originated from "distortion." That's truly impressive—simultaneously luring enemies with speeches, disguising himself as a dummy, and quietly departing, taking the magic potion... they're completely caught off guard. Klein's spirit tightened immediately, and he returned to the real world, reciting in the language of the giants within the underground: "the spirit pursuing knowledge, the lighthouse of the mysterious world, the eyes observing fate, the ruler above the sea, Saint Bernadette Gustave..." This is the royal title of the "Mysterious Queen," though it differs slightly from the standard Sequence 3 designation. Her scope is exceptionally broad, and it remains effective even in Beckland—something Klein suspects may have been achieved through the use of a Level 0 sealant object by the daughter of Emperor Roscel. This title, Bernadette rarely shares with others, for fear that during the Sequence 2 phase, certain adversaries might lock onto her position through prayer and automatic responses—exactly aligning with Klein's own observations. Klein had agreed with her that as soon as he uttered this sacred name, she would freely choose any one of the secret tombs, use the blood allotted to her to draw symbols to open the door, and attempt to disrupt it. Neither Klein nor Bernadette had high hopes of success, since, with angels present on either side, the guards within each tomb would inevitably recite the angels' names at regular intervals, enabling them to remotely observe designated areas through "prayer spots" via the light emanating from those prayers. Should any irregularities be detected, the angels would immediately dispatch aid. Bernadette's primary role was simply to draw attention! Of course, if the angels arrived more slowly, the "Mysterious Queen" could shift from support to offense. Immediately after this, Klein extended his right hand and reached out toward the air. As he pulled his arm back, a figure materialized before him—a lady with ordinary features, dark eyes, wearing a simple robe, a belt of woven bark, long black hair flowing down her back, barefoot, with no shoes or socks. Abbess of the Night, leader of the austere monks, "the Secret Servant," the Angel of the Earth, Arianna. It worked on the first try... Caine was startled, yet didn't pause to reflect, quickly stating, "Keep my presence hidden, protect the people of Beckland." He feared that if King George III lost control following the disruption of the ritual, he might burst forth from the mausoleum, endangering the inhabitants of the great city. "Very well," Arianna replied calmly, neither stiff nor rigid. ...Is it really a person who has come? In truth, my summoning didn't succeed—Arianna had already been quietly returned to Beckland by the goddess, and upon sensing my call, she came here. Does the Angel of the Earth even have a grasp on the image of myself within the historical fissures? As the thought flashed through Caine's mind, he realized he had entered a peculiar state—one in which he was no longer detectable to the outside world.