The "Gate" Project at Pact Fortress was the first large-scale joint operation since the establishment of the Divine Authority Council. It could also be called a great undertaking capable of shaking the Alliance Nations and leaving a weighty page in mortal history—although the only nations able to directly participate in this grand project were the two great human empires of Typhon and Cecil, countless eyes within the Alliance were watching Pact Fortress's progress.
Those nations unable to participate directly either did everything they could to send their finest scholars, even if those scholars could at most perform peripheral "inspection" work at the project site; provided whatever manpower and material resources they could spare in hopes of learning the results of the gate-opening process sooner; or supplied large numbers of ancient theological texts and references in exchange for the qualification to leave their names on the list of participating nations...
These forces gathered from the various nations like trickling streams, ultimately integrated and guided through the channels of the two empires before being poured into this towering fortress standing amid the cold wind.
"Pact Fortress..." On the way to the castle's main hall, Winsor Mapel could not help raising her head to look at the banners flying high above the fortress. Thoughtfully, she said, "Built during the Ansu Era, and having witnessed Ansu's downfall... The peace agreement between Ansu and Typhon, the trade agreement between Typhon and the Cecil Empire, the armistice agreement, the new peace agreement... One agreement after another symbolizing 'unity and progress' was signed here. And now, forces from foreign lands and different peoples have gathered here to devote themselves to a common cause. This 'Pact Fortress' has finally lived up to its name..."
"I don't recall you being such a sentimental person, capable of such profound insight,"