[Malindo], Imperial Clan Council station, Imperial Clan Office, Core Research Division.
"...Impossible. How could this happen? This is impossible!"
A large computer at the research division had just encountered some kind of error, resulting in irreversible overload and ultimate destruction.
A gaunt old man knelt on the floor in disbelief, his hands pressed weakly against the ground.
"This is the precious [knowledge] you swore by, Vice Bishop Lockhart?! No, you are no longer a vice bishop. You worthless piece of trash!"
Several furious gazes converged on Lockhart at once, as though they were looking at a dead man—including Imperial Uncle Fleche.
"No! Something must have gone wrong!" Lockhart said anxiously. "I personally brought this out of the [treasury]. There could not possibly have been a mistake... I understand now! Your Empire's technology is incapable of analyzing it... That must be it!"
Fleche laughed in extreme anger. "Absurd. It is not as if we have never decoded similar [knowledge chips]! I told you, you were never the first member of the [Infinity Clan] to cooperate with us! Are you still going to argue, Lockhart? You deceived me. The [knowledge] you brought out was fake from the start!"
"No, I did not! I swear!" Lockhart hurriedly scrambled to his feet, his emotions unusually agitated. "I even voluntarily severed my connection to my first-generation [God-Slaying Armor]! I have already gone this far. What benefit would there be in lying to you?!!"
"You are nothing but a cowardly piece of trash. Open your eyes and look at your so-called [knowledge chip]!"
The chip that had originally been inserted into the computer's slot was now covered in cracks... Lockhart shuddered violently and rushed forward, trying to pull it out. But the instant he touched it, the already fragile chip shattered completely.
"No... No, no!!" His