strictlysupreme Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Chapter 157 (Final Chapter)
"This—this is the prototype of the ruins where the scavenger found the stone slab on the Ash Plains?" Duden's voice trembled as he compared the images with the stone slab rubbings.
"Where is the maintenance unit that lost contact?"
"Besides the stone slabs, could there be something else there? Like—the maintenance unit itself that's lost contact?"
New clues have emerged, each one intricately linked to the next.
Rowling carefully preserved this record.
He knew that this trip to the Ash Plains would bring back more than just a report on the entrance to a ruin; it would be a complex map leading to a much larger, more secret network.
The remaining time was spent on intense and efficient record-keeping.
As the agreed six hours were about to end, the four of them, laden with data and astonishing discoveries, carefully retreated from the ancient front hall, which had only just been awakened, following the original route.
After passing through the reopened passage and returning to the metal platform beside the quicksand vortex, the raging energy turbulence outside seemed less terrifying.
Looking back at the dark silver metal door that had closed again and whose patterns had returned to their somber state, Roland knew that behind that door lay the lingering light of an era and countless mysteries waiting to be unraveled.
Evacuating from the metal platform at the edge of the quicksand vortex was more difficult than entering.
The energy-stabilizing powder had long been used up, and the periodic weakening pattern of the quicksand had become somewhat disordered due to the previous intrusion and the brief activation of the Relics System.
Thanks to Ella's precise fire recoil, Rolin's quick-thinking energy node interference, and Gorson's inhuman strength, the four of them managed to "slide" back to the other side without any serious injury, where they reunited with the Imperial Guard who had been anxiously waiting.
Officer Rexton visibly relaxed when he saw them return safely, and was then drawn to their exhausted yet unusually spirited expressions.
"A discovery?"
"A major discovery." Researcher Duden tried to calm his excitement, speaking concisely.
"The entrance to the site has been confirmed, and the interior is relatively well-preserved, with an ancient control system still operating at low power."
"We have successfully obtained some key data, involving ancient observation networks, records of environmental energy anomalies, and —"
Coordinates of other potential relics.
Officer Renekton's golden soul flame flickered violently, clearly understanding the value of this information.
He didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded: "Let's retreat to the fortress first."
"Commander Hector and High Priest Moradin are waiting for you."
The journey back to Forge was equally fraught with danger, but the atmosphere among the group was noticeably different from when they arrived.
Although the imperial soldiers remained silent, a subtle hint of awe crept into their gazes as they looked at Rolin and his companions.
To not only survive such a desperate situation but also bring back a major discovery is enough to earn the respect of these warriors who admire the strong.
Upon returning to the fortress, the four were taken directly to the command hall without even having time to rest.
Commander Hector and High Priest Moradin were already waiting there, along with two imperial civil officials dressed in even more ornate attire bearing the royal coat of arms.
And the phantoms of Master Veranika and the Third Ring Old Wizard from the Shadowraven Tower who remotely accessed the meeting via a special communication array.
A stone platform was temporarily raised in the center of the hall to hold the recording crystals and display images.
Researcher Duden, as the team leader, began his formal report.
He spoke clearly and logically, recounting in an orderly manner the entire process, from how to use Rolin's energy markers and Ayla's flame recoil to traverse the quicksand zone, to how to activate the entrance verification device by simulating the ancient energy structure, to activating the control console, accessing the low-privilege logs, discovering the observation network diagram, the Purple Plague Stone origin record, the coordinates of Nexus-2 and the star map archive, and finally activating the emergency energy and discovering the maintenance unit's disconnection record.
Combined with the key images and data charts recorded by the Insight Ring and Imaging Crystal, which were selected and organized by Rowling, the entire report was highly persuasive and impactful.
The hall fell silent when the full network map, the Purple Plague Stone labeled as "mutated energy sediment" and its hazards, and the clear coordinates of "Nexus-2" and "Star Map Archive" appeared in the image.
Commander Hector's golden soul flame burned with unusual stability, but those familiar with him could see the intense fluctuations beneath the calm surface.
The high priest Moradin closed his eyes, the white soul fire flickering slightly, and silently chanted something.
The two court officials quickly took notes, their faces filled with shock.
Although Master Veranika and the Third Ring Elder on the other side of the communication array were only phantoms, their solemn aura seemed to permeate through the array.
"You—are you sure this information is true?" After a long silence, Hector spoke slowly, his voice low.
"All data was obtained and recorded directly from the Relics Control Center, and the energy characteristics perfectly match the artifacts we identified in the fortress."
"The description of Ziwen Stone is consistent with the results of our field research."
"The location of the observed network nodes also matches the known location of the Infernal Observatory Tower and the entrance we are currently at."
Duden answered affirmatively and gestured for Rowling to show several key energy characteristic waveforms for comparison.
Rowling stepped forward and superimposed and compared the waveform of the observer order energy characteristics extracted from the metal base and the relic control console by the Insight Ring with the energy afterimage waveform of the batch of ancient artifacts in the Fortress Appraisal Institute.
The waveforms show a high degree of consistency in core frequency and decay mode.
High Priest Moradin opened his eyes, looked at the overlapping waveforms, and sighed softly: "An ancient rhythm—undoubtedly true."
"The legacy of the Silent Eye is far greater and—profounder than we imagined."
Master Veranica's illusory figure spoke, her voice coming through the magic circle, carrying the calmness of a researcher mixed with a hint of urgency: "Can you provide more details about the records and images of that maintenance unit going missing, and about that gray stone slab?"
Luo Lin retrieved the last warning messages and blurry images that the maintenance unit sent back before it lost contact.
In the video, the outline of the gray stone slab half-buried in the ashes and marked with stars, compared with the rubbing in Rolin's hand, is clearly shown to everyone.
"I bought this stone slab by chance at the market in Yaoyan City."
"According to the stall owner, it comes from a ruin buried by quicksand deep in the Ash Plains."
"It now appears that the ruins are very likely the location of the lost maintenance unit, or at least part of it."
"The slate may be an identifier carried by the maintenance unit, or a marker for local ancillary facilities."
Rowling explained.
"An ancient automatic maintenance unit that may be relatively well preserved—" the old wizard of the Third Ring pondered.
"Its technological value may be no less than that of a static entrance to a historical site."
"Moreover, the warnings it issued before losing contact about the accumulation of quicksand energy may help us explore that area more safely."
Commander Hector exchanged a glance with High Priest Moradin, and then whispered a few words to the two court officials.
Finally, Hector looked towards Duden and the direction of the communication array: "The Empire acknowledges the results of this exploration."
"Regarding the subsequent exploration of Hub-2, the Star Chart Archive, and this lost maintenance unit, the Royal Court has agreed in principle to establish a deeper cooperation framework with Shadowraven Tower."
"Specific details, including personnel composition, command authority, profit distribution, and risk sharing, need to be discussed in detail by senior management from both sides."
Master Veranica nodded: "Saint Tower agrees."
"We will send a formal negotiation team as soon as possible."
"During this period, please ensure that the Imperial side protects the discovered entrances to the ruins and shares any further reconnaissance information regarding the target area in Ash Plains."
With the initial cooperation agreement reached, the atmosphere at the meeting eased considerably.
Further discussions were held regarding some technical details and preliminary arrangements for data sharing.
At the end of the meeting, High Priest Moradin suddenly called out to Rolin, who was about to leave.
"Young wizard, please wait a moment."