My Divine Steel Realm Had Reached Mastery

The interrogation is still ongoing.

Black Dragon City has a dedicated interrogation team that aims to extract as much information as possible from the minds of these five hundred prisoners.

Everything beyond the fog: maps, faction divisions, Transcendent pathways, names of deities, renowned powerful figures, steam technology, and so on.

Black Dragon City has been closed off for tens of thousands of years and knows nothing about the outside world.

Now, a window has opened.

They absorbed all the information from the outside world like whales swallowing their prey.

A few hours later, the first round of preliminary interrogation was completed.

The high-ranking officials of Black Dragon City gathered for a meeting to summarize the intelligence they had gathered.

In the secret meeting room beneath the city hall, there is a huge round table.

This place has never had so many people seated together since it was built.

At the head of the round table, Rein sat with a serious expression.

Meanwhile, at the other seats around the round table, the core management of Black Dragon City — Ymir, Cavo, Mafat, Wudo, Canossa, Ilubeck, Tuster, and Metternich —all sat with solemn expressions.

After everyone took their seats, Rein personally chaired the high-level meeting and gave a general overview of the intelligence gathered.

"The outside world calls this area of our Ice Ridge Wasteland the 'God-forsaken Ruins,' the main battlefield of the 'War of a Hundred Races' that destroyed several powerful civilizations tens of thousands of years ago. I speculate that it's the war we learned about from the murals in the ruins—the war in which the Black Emperor Moises led his Seventy-Two Divine Generals in a decisive battle against the Three-Eyed Race."

Everyone listened, their brows furrowed in deep thought.

This is a very big crisis.

The slightest mistake could lead to utter disaster.

Rein continued, "It seems that the only airship we've captured is the one that has entered the Ice Ridge Wasteland. The situation isn't too bad, but it's very urgent. We don't have much time left for Black Dragon City."

"First of all, the 'Blood Shark Phantom Thieves' already know of the existence of our Ice Ridge Wasteland, as well as the existence of the 'Black Emperor's Tomb.' Although that phantom thief group is not a threat, we must rule out the possibility that this information might spread widely."

"."

The crowd listened and nodded slightly.

After all, the Ice Ridge Wasteland has a threshold of Fifth-tier Extraordinary, so a group of thieves whose strongest members are only Sixth-tier Extraordinary is not a threat.

Moreover, it seems that the combat power of the Transcendent beings from outside the realm has been greatly reduced. Even for the top experts of Black Dragon City, Sixth-tier Extraordinary is not an invincible existence.

However, those forces that possess truly Divine Tier Expert should not be underestimated.

For example, the "Holy Light Alliance" is a major threat right now!

A legendary Divine Tier Expert, who is said to be able to kill a High-tier Extraordinary of the seventh or eighth rank with a single finger.

For the top experts in the Ice Ridge Wasteland, the sixth rank above the fifth rank is still a level of power that they can barely fathom.

However, Transcendent abilities above the seventh level are completely beyond our comprehension.

"And then there's the 'Radiant Kingdom'!"

At this point, Rein paused.

He voiced his speculation, saying, "Based on the interrogation intelligence, the 'Holy Light Alliance,' home to the Three-Eyed Race evil god from beyond the realm, has launched a war. I suspect its purpose is most likely aimed at our Ice Ridge Wasteland. Those guys in City of Radiance must have contacted the outside world through the will of that Three-Eyed Evil God's descent. This is the biggest hidden danger we currently face!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became very somber.

Everyone seemed to feel an invisible pressure weighing on their chests.

An indescribably powerful deity that inspires no one to underestimate.

The enemies from beyond the realm are powerful and complex; by comparison, these Transcendent beings on the Ice Ridge Wasteland seem so insignificant.

Even the once-powerful "Monkell Civilization" perished, so what about them now?

When Rein mentioned City of Radiance, the Great Shaman Mafat spoke up, "According to intelligence, those gods from beyond the realms develop followers in human territories. Moreover, many wars in the outside world are actually caused by conflicts between believers, conflicts of faith."

He shared his perspective, saying, "Regarding faith, our Kolman Tribe has left behind some fragments. Legend has it that ancient gods collected faith to enhance their divine power. Believers, in turn, received the favor and guidance of a particular god. This was originally a win-win situation. But the methods of that three-eyed god in City of Radiance are clearly those of an evil god."

Of all those present, only the Kolman Tribe have a true belief in deities.

They are the only ones who have the final say on this topic.

However, the Kolman Tribe's faith is very pure, entirely based on custom and their reverence for their ancestors.

Instead of the evil methods used by City of Radiance that distorted people's perceptions.

Upon hearing this, the others nodded in agreement, expressing their support. "Yes. The problems in City of Radiance must be resolved as soon as possible."

How to solve this is another big problem.

In the previous great battle in the Oma Imperial Capital, Rein killed the missionary in front of the Omar high command, exposing the conspiracy of the Evil God Worship. City of Radiance's plan to secretly distort the perceptions of the high nobility, spread the Evil God Worship, and rule the Ice Ridge Wasteland completely failed.

For more than a year, the three forces of Black Dragon City, Sid, and Omar have been strictly guarding against the spread of faith, prohibiting all forms of faith propagation within their territories, which has curbed the momentum of the spread of the Evil God Worship.

I thought things would calm down in City of Radiance, and that the Evil God Worship might just die out on its own.

Unexpectedly, forces from outside the region have now intervened.

The consequences were already predictable.

Once the war from beyond the realm reaches the "God-forsaken Ruins," the Ice Ridge Wasteland may face a large group of Three-Eyed Race from beyond the realm.

At that time, it might not be just one airship, but countless airships.

Even more so, if the restriction of the Fifth-tier Extraordinary is broken, and a true god-level Transcendent descends, that will be the end of all humanity on the Ice Ridge Wasteland.

At that moment, Metternich, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his eyes flashing with a cold light. "I think that no matter what happens in the future, the best option right now is to wipe out City of Radiance!"

The issue of City of Radiance remained unresolved, so the group turned their attention to other matters.

Rein: "Alright, everyone can share their thoughts now."

Ilubeck: "During the interrogation, I focused on some medical-related questions. I found that the foreign medical system is somewhat more advanced than ours, but the gap isn't that large. They mainly have an advantage in research equipment, but in terms of actual medical research, they're not that far ahead."

This world possesses Transcendent powers, so it's to be expected that medical research will progress slowly.

After all, most medical problems can be solved by Transcendent healing abilities. With such convenient access, few people would bother to study medicine.

In terms of power, top-tier Transcendent also have far greater advantages than machines.

Therefore, the situation is similar in the mechanical field.

Tuster added, "The situation in the technological field is similar. The main uses of Steam Machinery from beyond the realms are similar to ours, mostly for constructing airships, cities, and large-scale warfare. It's rare in the realm of high-end machinery; perhaps those thieves haven't encountered anything more advanced, but generally speaking, it's not much better than the technology we possess now. However, I've also heard that in some remote areas of the outer realms, among the goblin and dwarf tribes who don't interact much with human territories, there is also very advanced black technology."

This is good news.

There is no overwhelming gap in technological level, and Black Dragon City will have certain advantages should a large-scale war break out in the future.

At least in aerial combat, Black Dragon City's existing Wyvern Legion and mechanical airships are capable of putting up a fight.

At this moment, Cavo also said, "The magic system outside the realm is very powerful. I obtained several scrolls and spells for sixth-circle magic. I have a general understanding of the essence of sixth-circle magic's power. If possible, I would like to go out and see it at the end of my life. If I can break through to the Sixth-tier Extraordinary, perhaps I can comprehend some things that are blocked by the laws of this world."

Master Cavo's research area of magic is purely about Transcendent power.

In this respect, the Ice Ridge Wasteland and the outer regions are absolutely different.

The Fifth-tier Extraordinary and the God Realm are on Earth and in the heavens, respectively.

At the very least, this gap will never close if they don't go out into the world.

These words immediately created a sense of urgency among everyone.

They not only had to guard against the enemy coming in, but also wanted to go out and see the outside world.

They must become stronger in order to have some ability to protect themselves in the face of future changes.

This secret meeting lasted for most of the day, from morning until evening.

When the high-ranking officials of Black Dragon City walked out of the conference hall, their faces were all very solemn.

The interrogation of the "Red Shark Group" prisoners is still ongoing, and there is a lot of work to be done tomorrow, including meetings.

The sudden influx of information into his mind made it somewhat difficult for Rein, a man who rarely dealt with politics and was always immersed in asceticism, to adapt.

As they walked out of the council chamber, Canossa and he walked side by side.

She looked at Rein's furrowed brows and asked with a smile, "What, still thinking about things beyond the realm?"

"Yes."

Rein smiled at Canossa.

Several months had passed, and this lady had become even more beautiful and captivating. Her elegant cheongsam and exquisite makeup made her impossible to look away from.

From the moment the alarm sounded until the start of the battle, my nerves have been on edge the entire time.

Now that the meeting is over, there's finally time to say hello.

Hearing this, Canossa raised a beautiful finger and said in a relaxed tone, "I don't think it's all a crisis; on the contrary, it's an opportunity. If those guys from beyond the realm hadn't come looking for us, we might have thought that the fifth rank was the end of the Transcendent. Now, we see a much wider sky."

She seemed quite optimistic, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She added, "Now that I know there's such a wonderful world out there, I'm even more eager to see it."

After all, every Transcendent who can advance to the "legendary" level has experienced the Great Terror calls between life and death.

The current situation, though urgent, does not put much pressure on her.

Come, let's fight.

This is the heart of a strong person.

After a pause, Canossa glanced at Rein and asked, "And you?"

"I've always wanted to go out and see the world."

Perhaps influenced by Canossa's optimistic attitude, Rein's gloom vanished.

Crisis?

He actually agreed more with Canossa's words.

This is a crisis, but it is also an opportunity.

An opportunity to witness this amazing Transcendent world.

Looking at his relaxed brows, Canossa smiled and said, "It's been so long, Lord City Lord, won't you offer me a drink?"

Rein readily agreed, "Great! 'Black Dragon Tavern'!"

Today, Black Dragon City boasts the most bustling and vibrant nightlife in the Ice Ridge Wasteland, bar none.

Xicheng District has a brightly lit entertainment district called "Maple Leaf Street," which has hundreds of bars, bathhouses, and brothels.

Alcohol tax is also a major source of revenue for Black Dragon City.

This street has also generated a significant amount of tax revenue for Black Dragon City.

Elsewhere, taverns are considered high-end establishments. Those with spare cash who frequent taverns are either nobles or hunters who risk their lives for a living.

Ordinary people simply don't have the means to indulge in such entertainment.

In Black Dragon City, taverns are an affordable daily expense for everyone.

Whether they are craftsmen, guards, or gardeners, they can all spend a little money to have a good drink at the tavern.

With more money in their pockets, residents have also developed a strong need for entertainment and leisure.

As a result, the entertainment industry in Black Dragon City has become increasingly prosperous.

It's evening now, and "Maple Leaf Street," which has been quiet all day, is gradually waking up.

This street is at its most bustling and lively at night.

Before long, a luxurious Steam Locomotive pulled up in front of the "Black Dragon Tavern".

Rein and Canossa got out of the car hand in hand.

To avoid being recognized, Rein wore a Zorro-style half-face mask, Canossa covered her face with a light veil.

This is the liveliest tavern in Black Dragon City.

The two greeters at the entrance, not recognizing them, warmly led them inside.

The tavern was dimly lit, creating a hazy, ambiguous atmosphere.

Although we arrived early, the tavern was already 70% full.

The heavy metal music pounded against our eardrums, and young men and women on the dance floor kissed and caressed each other boldly. A faint smell of alcohol and the simmering scent of hormones filled the air.

The scantily clad bar girls strolled through the tavern, occasionally getting their butts pinched by slightly tipsy patrons, but they would just laugh it off.

This place can bring you joy and peace of mind.

Rein gave the waiter a tip, and then the two of them were seated in a corner booth.

The bartender beamed with joy as they ordered expensive drinks.

The professional bar girls who frequented the tavern naturally recognized at a glance that the generous Rein was definitely a "sugar baby," but seeing Canossa beside him, the heavily made-up and glamorous women lost all courage to approach him.

Even with a mask covering half her face, Canossa's proud aura would make any man around her pale in comparison.

Just one glance was enough to make one lose the courage to compete.

The pub's design is ingenious; this corner offers a clear view of the dance floor while also ensuring guests' privacy.

Suitable for some intimate actions.

Canossa took her seat, and Rein didn't stand on ceremony.

He didn't sit opposite her, but sat next to her side.

Canossa took a sip of her drink, unconcerned that the man was rudely wrapping his arm around her slender waist.

"How are things?"

"The project in Sid is completely finished, so I won't need to go there for a long time. Besides, Aunt Catherine is handling most of the Chamber of Commerce affairs now, so I'll probably be staying in Black Dragon City for quite some time."

"Oh? Aunt Catherine is the vice president now?"

"Yes."

"."

The two drank and chatted about old times.

It's been several months since we last met, and there's so much to say.

The music in the pub was loud, and the conversation sounded more like intimate whispers.

As they chatted, Canossa asked again, "And you, my dear lord, how have you been lately?"

Rein knew she wanted to ask about his situation, but deliberately didn't answer. Instead, he said quietly, "I've achieved the Great Perfection of the Divine Steel Realm."

"."

Hearing this, Canossa rolled her eyes at him.

She picked up her glass and took a sip. Tilting her head, she looked at Rein, a captivating smile playing on her lips. "And then?" she asked, a half-smile playing on her lips.