"Remember the Senate that was keeping an eye on us? They seem to have made a new move," Dan Heng said.
"Let me add some background information: The Senate is a powerful body composed of representatives from the city-states of Amphoreus. It holds legislative power over the Holy City and is responsible for presiding over the annual citizen assembly."
"This is Okhema's most important social event, so influential that it can even sway the course of the Journey of Flame-Chase."
Xing was deeply shocked. "So it's not Aglaea has the final say after all?"
Even Aglaea couldn't win everyone's hearts, despite her vision and wisdom spanning millennia.
"Then... what about the priestess?" Xing asked again.
Phainon fell into deep thought. "You mean the High Priest? I remember she said she had no time for sociology-related matters..."
I never passed sociology.
Xing shrugged after hearing this. "Exams? I have absolutely no idea."
Let me explain the citizens' assembly in more detail.
"Every five to ten years, the Senate holds a citizens' assembly at Dawncloud Cliff," Phainon explained to the two. "At that time, the delegates will vote on important issues."
"For example, do the Chrysos Heirs, led by Aglaea, have the right to govern the Holy City, and... should the conquest of the Titan continue?"
"It sounds like a mechanism to balance heroes and mortals."
"That's right." Phainon nodded, "But the problem is that there are malicious extremists in the Senate. They see the Citizens' Assembly as a means to check the Chrysos Heirs and want to use it to completely control the Journey of Flame-Chase."
Let's call them the "opposition" for now, or even just the "villains."
"Wow... it's actually the real 'villain'!" Xing seized the opportunity to make a scene.
Dan Heng looked at Xing, "This isn't funny."
"Throughout the more than ten conferences held over the past century, the voices supporting them have been quietly growing stronger. It is thanks to Aglaea's presence that the Journey of Flame-Chase has been able to continue to this day."
"But with the next citizens' assembly about to convene, the situation has taken a new turn..."
Xing pulled Mimi out. "Could it be her?"
"People?"
"... The idea is novel," Dan Heng commented, "But the Senate's target is someone else entirely."
"I'm worried that Teacher Anaxa might be used by the Senate at that moment. Aglaea will definitely reclaim Cerces's Core Flame, but Teacher Xia's current state... is extremely special, and no one knows the possible consequences of removing the Core Flame."
"The professor has always only cared about his own research, and he must also want to escape the surveillance of the gold thread and protect himself. If, at this moment, that group extends an olive branch to him..."
"You suspect he might betray the Journey of Flame-Chase and defect to the Senate?"
" Teacher Anaxa never believed in Prophecy, nor did he 'betray' anyone. But he had taught many Chrysos Heirs and was already an important ally of Okhema."
Phainon looked troubled. "I really don't want to... watch my comrades turn against each other."
"I trust the teacher's character and intend to plead with Aglaea to buy him more time. At that time, as long as you two understand what I'm fighting for, that will be the greatest help."
"Things always seem to come in droves... In March 7th, Mimi and I still have to deal with the trials of Oronyx. I also plan to go to the Grove to gather clues about the ' World Beyond the Sky '."
"Sigh~ Let's just take it one step at a time. They're all troublemakers."
Star is always optimistic, but even the Galactic Baseballer gets tired. As the saying goes, work and rest are essential!
"I'm so sorry to always be troubling you. I hope the 'trials of Years ' will be kind to Miss March 7th and be more lenient."
"Take good care of yourself and recharge. See you at Vortex of Genesis in a few days."
Before leaving, Phainon placed an important book in Xing's hands. "By the way, just in case, if you're thinking about the Senate and the Citizens' Assembly, you might as well read this book."
Xing turned to the first page, "An investigation into the 'Citizens' Assembly'... What is she babbling about? I can't understand a single word."
Haha~
Xing handed the book to Dan Heng, and Dan Heng actually found key information in it.
"Appendix: Key Members of the Senate... Star, look."
" The Senate is a governing body composed of representatives from the city-states of Amphoreus. Most of its members are elected by different city-states."
"A small number of members are directly invited by active members of the Senate, granted power by the Citizens' Assembly, and actually handle all matters, large and small, in the city of Okhema."
"Among them, the most famous honorary elder was Lycurgus, Antikythera had almost disappeared before the Golden War."
"It communicated directly with Kephale on several occasions during the Golden Age, conveying the mortal voices of humankind to Kephale, making it a true ' Audience of Divine Ordeals.'"
" Lycurgus's neutrality is evident to all, which is the main reason why he has been repeatedly elected as the chairman of the citizens' assembly."
"It is worth mentioning that Elder Canis has been quite successful in her affairs in Okhema City and has a large following."
Many believe that Canis will use the resources she has accumulated to change the current situation where " the Chrysos Heirs holds real power" and reshape the political landscape of Okhema.
After reading this passage, Dan Heng and Xing exchanged a glance. Could this ' Lycurgus ' be Ye Yan?
"Teacher Dan Heng, what do you think?"
"Just as I suspected, the predicament of the Journey of Flame-Chase Star doesn't only stem from external factors. Complex internal politics and interpersonal relationships are also the triggers for the problem."
"It's not time to relax yet... We need to find our place in this big net."
Xing stopped thinking about it and relaxed, lying down in the chair.
"Hmm..." Mimi flew out of the hourglass necklace again, "The trial is just around the corner, I'm a little nervous."
"It won't be that quick, it'll take a few days. Isn't this like forcing a duck onto a shelf?"
"The bathhouse in Okhema doesn't seem to have any rubber duck toys. Only these... seals?"
"I hope everything goes well. Having already withstood the Aeon's glimpse, March 7th should be able to handle the local gods' test as well."
"That's right. The three of us were being watched by the ' Eternity ' Aeon every day; we're already ' Eternity ' Walkers."
"Without realizing it, we've gotten used to falling asleep in the midday sun. Get some rest, Xing."
"Perhaps Amphoreus's ' Trailblaze ' journey is about to enter a new phase."
At the same time, in Cloud Stone Market, at the " Pink Fairy " milk tea shop.
Ye Yan arrived at the milk tea shop, where he sat opposite March 7th, who remained silent.
He originally wanted to check on their " Trailblaze " progress, but as soon as he arrived, March 7th seemed to have some kind of telepathic connection and pulled him directly into the milk tea shop.
Then, the kind-hearted Teacher Ye Yan provided some psychological counseling for March 7th. As for how he did it...
"Hey... Teacher Ye Yan, what does it mean that you're the examiner for the 'Trial of Years '?"