Then utter darkness descended. Fireworks burst forth, streaking like wandering dragons to light every corner of the Imperial Capital.
In that instant, every gaze watching from the shadows tightened sharply.
"How is that possible!"
Someone sprang to his feet, knocking over his teacup. Tea spilled across the carpet, leaving a dark, ominous stain.
Impossible!
"How could the timing be wrong?"
Since forty years ago, when the Longevity Banquet had first begun more than fifty years earlier, its exact date had been uncertain. But one thing had always been certain.
The Longevity Banquet only arrived at midnight!
Now that certainty had been shattered.
It was as though some unseen Restriction had been released.
The realization was too bizarre. No one had been prepared for it.
Prepared for what? Before this, none of them had ever imagined the time might change.
For decades, it had remained the same.
That hour had long since become custom, an exact time everyone understood without saying a word.
Yet now they were being told it had changed.
The Longevity Banquet had actually arrived early.
It was only the beginning of the hour of the Rooster.
Midnight was still several hours away.
Worse still—
A terrifying, irresistible feeling seemed to well up from within their hearts.
It made their scalps prickle in an instant.
A banquet naturally required fine wine and food.
And they were probably among the dishes.
"The Old Emperor has gone mad. He wants to sacrifice the Imperial Capital."
The Faceless person had no features, yet an unmistakable look of horror appeared on that featureless face.
The organization behind him had troubles of its own now.
After all, almost everyone ambitious enough to seek Longevity had come to this ancient city over the past few months.
Even those who had stayed away from the