The Scholars

On January 4th of the Divine Eagle New Calendar, a cold, torrential downpour shrouded the entire Special District. The curtain of rain pattering relentlessly against the earth did nothing to diminish the solemn weight of the Federation's political center.

The residents of Wilson City at the foot of the mountain still followed their usual habit during breaks from sheltering from the rain, occasionally glancing toward the summit of that towering peak, toward the massive rock reaching into the heavens, and the ancient, imposing building upon it.

Eagleheart Palace!

For some Federation residents who had not studied properly, this was a question beyond the curriculum: the Presidential Palace of the Divine Eagle Federation was not in Hawknest City, but atop Mount Saint Wilson in the Special District, upon Eagle's Nest Rock.

It was a massive three-story structure built in imitation of an ancient civilization from the vanished Old Continent. Its main body consisted of huge blocks of gray-black stone, carved with countless runes representing the Federation. Burn marks and signs of destruction could be seen everywhere.

Most Federation citizens knew that the fastest way to gain an understanding of Federation history was to spend a day carefully observing Eagleheart Palace, inside and out.

Ordinarily, the most heavily guarded place was the main entrance.

But today, it was an inconspicuous side door.

Outside the iron door, covered in all manner of marks and now transformed into a Curio, only two agents in specially tailored suits appeared to be standing guard. Yet any perceptive supernatural being here would immediately sense danger emanating from every corner of the area.

Not even a Legendary Rank, no, not even a Demigod Level being could force their way in.

Unconcealed footsteps rang out, and the two agents turned to look at the same time.

Within the curtain