novellk Chapter 1075 The Meeting Begins
Chapter 1075 The Meeting Begins
The two nobles who stopped to watch took in the whole scene.
The composed nobleman remained expressionless, but his gaze shifted to his friend beside him, carrying a hint of "look."
The pampered noblewoman looked at the elegant but dusty and disheveled "comrade" on the ground.
Thinking back to what had just happened and the feeble curse the other person uttered before losing consciousness, the flush of anger that had risen on her face instantly faded, replaced by a mixture of lingering fear, shame, and an indescribable sense of suffocation.
He suddenly lowered his head, said nothing, and hurried past the crowd as if a raging flood was chasing him.
What's wrong with the people in this place?
"This idiot... is even worse than me..." The composed nobleman silently commented to himself as he watched his friend's panicked figure disappear, and then followed after him.
Such conflicts, like a virus, spread throughout the southern part of the city within just one or two days.
Among the nobles from various countries who flocked in, there were certainly some who were pragmatic and knew how to restrain themselves, but many more were hard-to-change old habits.
They may have curbed their atrocities against civilians in their own territories, but their deep-seated arrogance in regarding civilians as inferior beings, and their habit of readily uttering vile words, are already ingrained in their very being.
In the starkly different environment of the City of the Ring Tower, once "offended," that suppressed arrogance erupts like dry grass set ablaze.
However, this is not their territory to lord it over.
The inhabitants of the City of the Ring have long lived in an atmosphere of widespread Night's Watch "blessings," equal rules, and the bestowal of power; they are no longer lambs to be slaughtered.
They might be professionals of a certain rank—like the woman in overalls, or they might be artisans skilled in alchemy, or even just ordinary citizens, but their strength is generally around level five or six.
Faced with insults or even shoving from nobles, their response was simple and direct—fists!
As a result, news such as "A nobleman was beaten up for insulting a commoner in the street," "The son of a count from a certain country had his arm dislocated on the spot for harassing a waitress in a tavern," and "A marquis was trapped in an alchemical trap by the homeowner for trespassing on private property and was screaming in agony" spread like wildfire throughout the southern city.
Each incident was accompanied by cheers from onlookers and the "late arrival" of the night watch patrol.
The patrol members handled these incidents in a highly consistent and efficient manner.
First, a recording crystal, a small alchemical device, is used to quickly record the scene and the statements of the parties involved;
Then, without hesitation, the abusive nobleman and his guards were handcuffed with specially made energy-disabling handcuffs, regardless of whether he was beaten even worse.
Finally, like dragging a dead dog, they stuffed this group of troublemakers into a special escort vehicle and sent them to a temporary detention center under the Nancheng Public Security Bureau.
The entire process was carried out smoothly, with the most common response to the beaten civilians being given a simple injury check and a verbal warning, and sometimes no warning at all.
Ninety percent of this arrogant aristocratic paradigm can be attributed to the aristocracy.
Only a very small percentage of these incidents will be initiated by one's own people.
Most of these troublemakers were people who had been persecuted by nobles before joining the Night's Watch, and thus hated the entire noble class.
Next comes the part that leaves diplomatic officials from various countries extremely anxious and humiliated—rescuing the person.
They needed to go to the sheriff's office with official documents, pay a hefty fine under the watchman's cold procedures, and sign a guarantee before they could be released from those bruised, dejected "noblemen."
Every time someone is rescued, it's a public execution, nailing the scandal of "a nobleman from a certain country being imprisoned for causing trouble in the city of the Tower Ring" to the pillar of shame, quickly becoming a laughing stock for other factions' delegations.
"Idiots! A bunch of useless idiots who are good for nothing but causing trouble!"
Similar roars echoed throughout the diplomatic missions of various countries.
At such a world-class conference that attracts global attention, one's reputation is a matter of political life.
The fact that the nobles of one's own country are making such a disgraceful spectacle is tantamount to rubbing the face of one's country into the ground.
Enraged by the actions of high-ranking officials in various countries, a series of strongly worded orders were swiftly issued.
All accompanying nobles, regardless of their status, were strictly confined to designated areas or required to be accompanied by high-ranking guards when going out.
Anyone who causes trouble will not only be severely punished by the Night's Watch, but will also face stripping of their title, exile, or even more severe punishment within their family upon returning home.
It was a truly disgraceful display. I should never have let those stupid nobles stuff their pig-like offspring into the delegation.
Essentially, this was a tacit understanding that had been going on all along, but no one expected it to turn out so disgraceful this time.
This caused many kings to lose face, as they represented the entire country at that moment, and it was as if they had disgraced the entire nation.
These nobles, who originally intended to gild their resumes, ended up committing serious crimes one after another.
The bustling city of the Ring Tower's southern district remains as vibrant as ever, but the once arrogant and flamboyant figures of the nobles have visibly diminished in number.
The restlessness and tension that permeated the air finally began to subside under the combined effect of the Night's Watch's iron-fisted rules and the strict control exerted by high-ranking officials from various countries.
……
Several days have passed.
At this moment, the square and all the space around it where one could stand had already been filled with a surging crowd.
They came from all corners of the continent, of different races and backgrounds—merchants, artisans, farmers, scholars, adventurers, and even many commoners with their families.
Although they knew they could not enter the hall that floated overhead and determined the fate of the world, an invisible force held them firmly in place.
It's as if getting one step closer to that floating fortress, the symbol of hope and the core of resistance, brings one closer to that meeting of life and death, and allows one to connect one's heartbeat more closely with the pulse of the world.
A palpable sense of anticipation and suppressed tension filled the air. Countless eyes gazed up at the sky, their gazes piercing through the midday sun, focusing on the towering, mountain-like metal structure.
Inside the giant floating fortress that hovers above the plaza like a second moon, the atmosphere presents a completely different and extreme contrast.
At the heart of the fortress is a conference hall called the "Hall of the Universe".
Its design perfectly embodies the Night's Watch's aesthetic philosophy of "grand pragmatism".
The space is extremely vast, with a towering dome that seems to simulate an endless starry sky, deep and cold. If only one person were to stand in the center and speak, their voice would collide and echo between the empty walls, creating a sound like being in a giant valley, making one feel insignificant.
However, at this moment, this space, which should have been quiet and solemn, was filled with a low and dense "buzzing" sound.
The venue was laid out in distinct layers, like ripples of power.
At the very center is a huge, round main table cast from a single piece of dark star-patterned alloy.
The tabletop was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the simulated starlight from the dome above. Surrounding the main table were two concentric semi-circular tiered seating areas, rising in tiers, like an ancient Roman amphitheater, enclosing the central area.
Needless to say, the central seat at the head table is reserved for the core leaders who truly hold the power and authority in the world.
The outer tiered seating is reserved for representatives of small kingdoms, duchies, city-states, or independent organizations whose influence is limited or who can only exist as witnesses.
The venue was now bustling with activity. Guided by the Night Watchmen in their silver-gray uniforms, representatives from all sides were entering and taking their seats according to their nameplates or pre-assigned areas.
At the main table, a power that could make anyone's heart tremble was gathered.
The four kings of the Elf Realm's Ring Council.
The Radiant Sun King sat upright, his eyes, like molten gold, calm and undisturbed; the Dark Queen's gaze, as deep as the eternal night forest, swept across the entire area; the Elder of Nature's body seemed to merge with his chair, radiating the pulse of life; the Stargazer's robes flowed with tranquil starlight, like an observer of the universe.
Emperor of the Human Empire.
The once ambitious ruler, who harbored aspirations for unification, now appears composed, his graying temples telling tales of time and change, his sharp gaze revealing a profound authority and a clear understanding of reality.
Lion King of the Orc Empire.
With golden mane like a burning sun, behind him on the viewing platform stood the mountain-like figure of "Iron Nose," the elephant tribe's marshal.
The tribal leaders, including the leopard clan's "Shadow Strike," the wolf clan's "Black Mane," the rhinoceros clan's "Firm Horn," and the rabbit clan's "Swift Fang," took their seats in turn, exuding a wild and powerful aura.
The Night Watch Council of Candlelight.
Supreme Commander Ariris, Commander-in-Chief of the Lightbringer Legion Black, Lelia, the Golden King Sergio, the halfling Begg, the Eastern Wilderness Vansha, the elf Maxim, and Archbishop Trosiva of the Holy Light Church were all present.
The Pope of the Holy Light Church, several legendary councilors with profound auras from the Mage Alliance, the lord of the Golden Sail City-State who ultimately won the Commercial City-State Alliance, and the highest representatives of several other continental powers.
Those around the main table either whispered to each other or simply nodded in greeting.
A delicate balance and silence were maintained among the four elven kings.
The emperor of the empire and the monarch of a human kingdom sitting next to him exchanged views in hushed tones.
The Lion King and the Iron-Nose Marshal were making final confirmations in the Orc language; the Candlelight Councilors mostly looked solemn, their eyes scanning the entire room to ensure everything was in order.
The scene on the outer tiered seating area was even more chaotic.
The monarchs of small states, tribal chiefs, and city-state councilors either sat upright, unable to hide their nervousness; or chatted with their neighbors, trying to establish connections before the meeting began; and many more looked at the figures on the main table with awe and curiosity, figures that usually only existed in legends and battle reports.
Finally, as the last few representatives hurriedly took their seats under guidance, all the seats were filled.
The conversations in the room did not stop immediately, but a wonderful tacit understanding began to spread.
It was as if an invisible hand was slowly turning down the volume knob.
The whispers quickly subsided, and everyone's attention turned to the north side of the main table.
The only empty, most prestigious seat, and standing behind it, a silver-haired figure with a posture as straight as a javelin—Ariris.
Within a dozen seconds, like a beach returning to calm after the tide has come in, the entire Hall of the Universe fell into an absolute silence so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Thousands of eyes were focused on one point, and even breathing seemed to be deliberately slowed down.
Alyris's crimson pupils calmly swept across the room, confirming the silence.
She didn't speak, but turned slightly to the side, facing the heavy alloy door next to the main seat, which was engraved with spatial stability runes.
"Could someone really be late?"
On the outer seats, some representatives of smaller factions couldn't help but wonder: who would dare keep everyone waiting for such an important meeting?
However, the giants at the main table—the Four Elf Kings, the Emperor, the Lion King, the Candlelight Councilors, and even the Holy Light Pope and the Speaker of the Mage Council—held their breath almost the instant Areris turned to the side, their bodies unconsciously leaning slightly forward.
They knew that the one waiting was not the latecomer, but the only one in the room who was worthy of making everyone wait.
The door slid open silently inward.
There was no dazzling light, nor was there any deliberate release of overwhelming pressure.
But the moment that figure stepped into the conference hall, time seemed to freeze.
Kana walked in.
He did not deliberately display the dazzling brilliance and breathtaking majesty of a deity, but he was by no means a mortal who had completely suppressed his divinity.
It is a marvelous balance, a state in which the form of a "human" carries the essence of a "god," a state of natural expression.
Maintaining a purely human form would be a drain on him; his current posture is the truest reflection of his existence.
He wore a plain white robe, the fabric of which resembled clouds and mist, flowing with a warm luster.
On the robe, silver patterns meandered and flowed like the trajectory of stars, interspersed with tiny golden glints, like the most dazzling stardust in the night sky.
Behind his head, instead of an exaggerated halo, there was a soft yet undeniable pale silver aura, floating quietly like a solar corona.
What is most striking are his arms; from the wrists down, they seem to transform into a flowing, condensed silver night sky, with twinkling starlight within them.
His eyes radiated a soft, gentle light, like the first light of dawn, without deliberately revealing the "divine eye" that could see through the essence of all things.
Majestic, peaceful, and sacred, yet possessing an approachable solemnity—these contradictory qualities are perfectly blended within him.
No announcement or proof was needed; everyone present, whether a powerful legend or a monarch wielding immense power, instantly confirmed it deep within their souls.
This is God!
He is the only god in this world, the creator of the Night Watch, the prophet and savior—Karna!
Absolute silence enveloped the hall, as if even the air itself had stopped moving.
The moment everyone witnessed Kana step in, they all seemed to be drawn together by an invisible force and stood up in unison.
The movements were so fast and synchronized, as if they had been rehearsed countless times.
Every face was filled with utmost reverence, and their bodies leaned slightly forward, performing the most noble and solemn etiquette of their respective races and cultures.
The elves' elegant hand-to-chest salute, the human emperor's deep bow, the orc lion king and marshal's iron fist-pounding chest salute, the dwarf king's heart-pounding salute...
At this moment, worldly distinctions of rank and status vanish before the radiance of the divine, leaving only profound reverence from the very soul.
Cana walked with steady and composed steps through the passage between the main table and the outer seating area, heading towards the seat reserved for him.
His gaze swept calmly across the room, a gaze that seemed to carry warmth, causing anyone who landed on it to tremble, involuntarily bowing lower and lowering their head even further. (End of Chapter)