Spokesperson for the Dead

In the dim hall, countless translucent faces floated within the Alchemy Matrix above the ceiling. Those dead souls had been reconstructed from Source Matter and records, becoming nearly perfect copies of Simulated Souls.

At that moment, countless voices continuously rang beside Hedi's ears.

"Your progress has already fallen behind."

"How long is this going to drag on?"

"Something has to change."

"Otherwise, we'll suffocate to death."

"I said it long ago—we should have used Rome's ritual. That obsolete Greek set is completely useless."

"Regretting it now won't help. It'll only create more internal strife. None of us is less talented than Publius."

"But Publius has no strength left... Blood, spirit, body, and bones—after so many divisions, does he really still possess his original talent?"

"To be fair, I think creating gods is fucking stupid. You should try my project..."

"Hah? An artificial Silver Sea is completely uncontrollable. Recreating the Remnant of the World would be far more practical."

"Now that you mention that, I'm not sleepy anymore..."

"Enough!"

A dignified Simulated Soul cut off the pointless quarrels and complaints.

Source Matter flowing between the soul copies rapidly transmitted the conclusions of thought. Sparks of thought collided and rubbed against one another, eventually producing a conclusion accepted by everyone.

The stern face of the previous chief lowered, looking down at Hedi's cold expression. "Losing the initiative means waiting for death, Hedi. You are the chief. You should do something."

There was none of the resentment or hatred one might have expected after being poisoned and murdered.

Nor had they been brainwashed or altered in any way, much less subjected to violation or torture.

These souls, "revived" after death through phenomena, did not care in the slightest as they offered wisdom and advice to the murderer who had killed them. They did