A brief two-second hesitation allowed the rulers to read a small portion of the fragmented memories, including two inconsequential conversations, a sonnet, a painting gifted to a friend, and even part of the plans concerning what lay beneath the depths.
And several strange names.
"Nothing useful."
The Sea of Unfixed Flowers fell into brief contemplation, then gave up thinking. It was merely a cluster of happy little flowers, not skilled at pondering such complicated matters.
"Your brains are well-developed and useful, so I'll leave it to you."
That was what it told the Abyssal Jesters loyal to it.
A quarter of an hour later, the Abyssal Jester · White Spot routinely uploaded this fragmented information into the shared dream of the Abyssal Jesters.
The incomplete data mixed with other incomplete data. Like all the other unfinished scraps, it had no value worth distinguishing.
Five minutes later, someone triggered an alarm, and invitations to an emergency meeting were sent to every Abyssal Jester within sixteen depths.
Someone had used their authority to convene an emergency court council.
Within the palace projected by the dream, one figure after another appeared. Abyssal Jesters stationed throughout the various depths descended there.
They looked at their companions in confusion.
"What's going on, Hedi?" someone asked. "Does the King of Withered have some urgent decree for us?"
"It has nothing to do with my employer."
The alchemist named Hedi spoke coldly. "Something happened!"
Before everyone lay that fragmented Source Matter memory.
And the name highlighted in red within it.
"Huai Shi?" White Spot asked. "That Sword of Calamity?"
"I heard the Workshop Masters have put a huge bounty on him," someone said.
Dozens of Abyssal Jesters exchanged looks. Tiancheng, whose rank was among the highest of them all, spoke up. "I've heard of him. Didn't you