NOVPUB"Today marks your forty-second day in the Shadow World."
"Not only has the Huo Ning Empire successfully occupied the neighboring Briss Kingdom, but the Fuclo Kingdom and the Idiss Kingdom on its east and west sides have also been infiltrated. The Palante Empire is continuously retreating on the front lines, and in this campaign, our army has suffered thirty thousand casualties, nearly a thousand Magic Cannons lost, and all ports in the Northern Continent strait have fallen into the hands of the Blood Clan. It has become an established fact that the Huo Ning Empire will launch a new offensive against our country or its neighbors."
"What’s worse, the confidence the council has in you has dropped to an unprecedented new low, and the no-confidence vote scheduled for tomorrow will most likely lead to your impeachment."
"This afternoon’s speech is your last chance."
"Success or failure, your destiny is now bound with Loren."
Cat Boss stood on Lanci’s desk, fiddling with his Luminescent Tube Timer, and reported to him.
It was noon in the Prime Minister’s Office of Hershalraym.
After drawing the curtains, the room was slightly dim, and the Luminescent Tube Timer’s tubes emitted a saturated orange-red light, like lava illuminating the final countdown.
Lanci sat alone behind an old-fashioned wooden desk, surrounded by stacks of dense files and document bags.
"Indeed, it’s about time for me to head to the Lower House for the speech."
Lanci’s face was obliquely lit by the glow from the tube on his desk, his gaze seemingly penetrating in the direction of the Congressional Building, his thoughts unknown to anyone.
Two days after returning to the capital, Hershalraym, from Bokin County on the Northern Border, Lanci had completed all the handover work with his body double and arranged the final agenda.
The wartime cabinet’s support for the resistance had dissipated; they were drafting peace agreements, even employing stalling tactics by postponing the alliance with the Demon Race.
Lanci stood up, walked around the large desk to the coat rack, and took down his coat.
Before he picked up Cat Boss, he took a Magic Device box covered with seals from a cabinet on the side of the room.
Upon opening it, there was only a small communication device inside, with a button on top where three Holy Marks were twisted and joined together.
"Cat, press this button for me, will you?"
Lanci stroked Cat Boss’s head as he spoke.
The faint humming of the timer resonated in the quiet room, reminding of the precious time slipping away.
"What’s this, meow?"
Cat Boss curiously circled the communication device several times.
"Once you press this button, your contribution to the Shadow World will skyrocket, and you might even receive an Epic-level reward appropriate for your rank," Lanci said with a smile.
"Meow meow?!"
Cat Boss rolled around with happiness.
It had thought that when Lanci mentioned helping it gain contribution points, it was just to make it happy; Cat Boss hadn’t expected Lanci to always keep it in mind—it loved him so much!
"Really? If I press it, there’s a chance I’ll get an Epic reward?"
After rolling on the desk, Cat Boss confirmed again.
It always felt that those legendary Epic Cards, which it had never dared to dream of obtaining before, seemed too easy to attain now.
"Yes, if you press it, many people will find happiness," Lanci affirmed as he flipped open a copy of the "Gospel of Ceremony" on his desk.
The concept of the Trinity represents the communion between the Heavenly Father, the Son of Man, and the Holy Spirit, a communion of love.
It reveals that love is the essence of God, and God’s love is unconditional, perfect, and eternal.
The followers of the Church of Ceremony are encouraged to emulate God’s love, striving to manifest love and harmony.
The concept of the Trinity is also related to the Church of Ceremony’s notion of redemption.
The Heavenly Father sent the Saint Heir to save humanity, and the work of the Holy Spirit within individuals and the Church assists in achieving this redemption plan.
Redemption is a collective action of the whole Godhead, aimed at saving the world.
And this button is the last step to actualize that Great Love.
"Meow!" 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Cat Boss hesitated not, raising its paw and pressing the button decisively.
"And now? What happens after pressing it?"
Cat Boss looked around anxiously and asked.
It felt like nothing had happened after pressing the button.
Lanci’s mysterious tone had led it to expect some change after pressing it.
"Somewhere in the Huo Ning Empire, ten thousand suns will rise," Lanci responded as he picked up Cat Boss, speaking to it kindly.
"Meow?"
Cat Boss’s bright cat eyes widened in confusion.
It didn’t understand.
But no matter, it was happy about the reward.
...
Three hours later.
In the present world.
In the heart of the Hutton Kingdom, the ancient Old Buri Court on the walls of Ichrite City, a building steeped in history, was lightly grazed by the pre-dawn blue-gray light of a not yet broken morning.
At this moment, the world had not yet fully awakened, but Old Buri Court silently waited on the edge of time, ready for the emergency hearing to be convened with the new day.
The time zone of the Seventh-order Dark Solar Eclipse Demon Realm in the Shadow World is approximately twelve hours ahead of the present world. If it is five or six o’clock in the morning in the present world, then it is five or six in the evening in the Shadow World.
There were less than seventy-two hours left in the Shadow World; almost everything was a foregone conclusion.
Inside the court, traditional wooden panels and heavy red curtains soared, and the statue of the God of Law and Light stood at the end of the hall, her gaze seemingly also fixed on the upcoming hearing.
On this solemn morning, Loren had already been standing alone in the center of the court for some time.
