026: Decisive Battle Against the Secret Council

"Long live the glory of humanity!"

The Hidden Councilors' presence deeply shook the Star Abyss Citizens present. Even Li Aoz was taken aback.

This transcendent unity was founded entirely on an immense conviction in and cohesion around a shared social identity. Let alone Azure Planet, even Narrative Civilization could never command such fanatical support.

If racial identity relied on bloodlines, national identity on culture, state identity on law and ideology, and narrative identity on the pursuit of dreams and Pathway power...

Then the identity of the Hidden Society completely surpassed ethnicity, culture, law, institutions, and dreams.

Caramel Snail looked at the fanatical writers before him and instinctively felt a chill.

Writer Viktor gently adjusted his glasses. The notebook in his hand rapidly flipped open and released a powerful shockwave. Caramel Snail failed to react in time and was instantly blasted away.

"Agh!"

Caramel Snail landed on the flesh behind his shoulder, swiftly dispersed the force, rolled twice, and rose to his feet beside Li Aoz and the others.

"Got sent back, huh." Siveston said casually. "Still, that's normal. They're Councilors, after all—Hidden Councilors. Just treat them like the speakers of other societies."

"What is this...?"

His hands trembled without stop, while the green in his eyes spread and shifted. The fear buried in his instincts had been awakened. Caramel Snail raised his head toward the three Councilors and shuddered uncontrollably.

"You Citizens, even if you come from different origins, can you truly abandon the worlds that raised you completely, just because you accepted the existence of a society, and devote yourselves wholly to Gaia?"

"Of course we do not serve Gaia."

Astrologer Kauna said calmly, "Gaia is the Hidden One's name. She is our leader, our mother, our teacher—and ourselves."

"You Star Abyss brats naturally cannot understand such a relationship."