Even the longest tunnel eventually comes to an end. After passing countless piles of bones, Sailesi finally saw a huge crystal door with a sentence carved in Imperial language on it.
Unlike Luxiusi, he did not have experience serving in the Empire, and his grasp of the Imperial language was only superficial.
Seeing his confusion, [ Crown ] extended his well-defined knuckles and pointed to the line of inscription, softly reading:
"Those who enter this gate must relinquish all hope."
Although Sailesi was illiterate, he had served as a cardinal for a century, so his cultural literacy was still quite high.
He immediately asked:
What does this mean?
[ Crown ] said seriously:
"Once you step through this door, you will no longer be Sailesi Richter. As long as you still identify with your former name, we cannot accept you as one of us."
"Why is that?"
Sailesi wasn't against changing his name, but he found it somewhat difficult to understand.
"Because we don't need a fugitive cardinal of the Theocracy, but a new member of parliament."
" Sailesi, that's the name of a traitor, representing your constant desire to leave the Skeleton Alliance and return to the Theocracy."
"Don't deny it, it's human nature, I understand, that's why I said that."
[ Crown ] looked at Sailesi and continued:
"But Crown, Divine Wings, Giant Arms, Whale Tail, and Hard Armor... these are the 'names' that belong to the councilors."
"If you want to join us, you'll need a new name. With a new name comes a new identity and new hope."
Sailesi had actually wanted to ask about this for a while, after all, [ Crown ] had just said that he was the second son of a noble family before the Demonic Tide, and obviously no noble family would give their second son such an overstepping name as " Crown ".
So, did he also abandon his former name?
The Fallen Cardinal fell into thought, sensing the crisscrossing roots of the [ Dream of Rebirth ] within his body.
He had considered that joining the Skeleton Alliance would mean losing something, initially thinking it would be the symbiotic plant that had been with him for a hundred years, but he never expected it would be his "true name."
Well, although it's a bit outrageous, it's at least acceptable.
The crystal cluster gate slowly opened before them, and [ Crown ] led Sailesi into the space behind it. There, one of the most complex Psionic Energy Formula in the world was inscribed. When activated at full power, it could fuse a High Tier symbiotic plant into one, completely transforming it into a crystal cluster skeleton.
[ Crown ] arrived at the center of the magic circle, turned to ask Sailesi:
"So, have you made up your mind?"
Sailesi nodded:
"I've made up my mind. It's just a past failure; there's nothing I can't let go of."
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant."
The skull face on the [ Crown ] appears to be smiling:
"Of course I know you're willing to pay this price. My question is, have you decided on your new name, or rather, your new title?"
Sailesi paused for a moment and then said:
"Your codenames seem to have a deeper meaning. Could you elaborate?"
Hahahaha!
[ The Crown ] looked at Sailesi, a look of admiration appearing in the two round holes in his face:
"You're very perceptive; these titles certainly have specific meanings."
[ Crown ] patiently explained:
" Crown, Divine Wings, Giant Arms, Whale Tail, Hard Armor... these titles are either symbols of 'power' or manifestations of 'strength'."
We often wonder: what would it be like to take the skeletal path to the Transcendent Tier?
"The so-called code names are just people's ideas about the Transcendent Tier. Some people think that the wings of Psionic Energy can cover the entire sky, and some people think that an invisible giant tail can stir up a tsunami that sweeps across the continent..."
"Although everyone can do it now, their 'power' and 'strength' are ultimately too limited. This is the limitation of High Tier. As a fellow High Tier, you should understand this."
Sailesi nodded:
"In that case, I've made up my mind."
Oh? Would you mind telling me?
[ The Crown ] became interested upon hearing this, but saw Sailesi gently shake his head:
"I'll tell you myself after the transformation."
"Good."
[ Crown ] laughed heartily and left the center of the magic circle. The crystal cluster gate behind Sailesi slowly closed. Several days later, the gate reopened, but Cardinal Sailesi was no longer inside; only the Skeleton Alliance's prospective councilor—[ Nether Crossing ]—remained.
Time: Now.
Location: The Great Labyrinth City.
The Grand Foundry Master Gray Gris, turned the spring-loaded key in his hand until he heard the "click-click" sound that indicated the spring had reached its limit before he stopped.
He was holding a mechanical bird the size of a fist in his hands. He walked to the window of the Rotating Library, stretched out his hands, and released the mechanical carrier pigeon.
The carrier pigeon flew through the streets and alleys of the Great Labyrinth City, over parts factories, over commercial and residential areas, over the Great Labyrinth City walls covered with a layer of gray, frosted material, and finally landed on the branch of a large tree by the farmland outside the city.
This is no ordinary tree; ordinary trees simply cannot grow this tall in the barren mining land of the Graycast Corridor.
The tree where the carrier pigeon is currently located is actually a Root Network terminal that grew here after being authorized by the Great Labyrinth City's Machine Spirit. It undertakes daily functions such as allowing the Soul Returner of the nearby city to return home to visit relatives and be resurrected.
"Knock knock knock!"
The mechanical carrier pigeon tapped on the tree trunk with its beak, which was almost the same length as a woodpecker's.
"Knock knock knock!"
"Knock knock knock!"
The carrier pigeon repeated the call several times, and the giant tree beneath its feet actually responded!
Two slender twigs removed a small scroll of paper from the pigeon's leg, then gently tapped the pigeon's head with the twigs, sending it back to the Great Labyrinth City.
Two branches unfurled the paper strips, one on the left and one on the right, and a pair of eyes, filled with a look of confusion, slowly opened on the tree trunk.
When he doesn't need to show his face, Ed exists as the entity of the Root Network.
The repeated calls from the carrier pigeon had indeed summoned a wisp of his thought.
The gaze of that eye gradually sharpened, and it quickly made out the contents of the note:
[Assassination attempt at the banquet in three days. Members of the Skeleton Alliance, Giant Arms, and Nether Crossing need help.]
Good heavens, has the Skeleton Alliance gone mad?
Ed read the contents of the note and was suddenly startled—
The Skeleton Alliance has already begun a small-scale war with the Empire on the western front. What gives them the confidence to wage war on two fronts?
Do you really think the Graycast Corridor is a pushover?
And they sent two councilors at once. If I remember correctly, there are only five councilors in total, right?
This is truly a huge investment.
Valhalla, the study in the castle.
The plant tissues in the cracks of the bricks and stones wriggled wildly, and Ed regained his body.
He grabbed the Noya Knight Sword beside him, slashed open the space in front of him, and appeared on a secluded riverbank in the suburbs.
Looking at the two retired elderly people enjoying their peaceful retirement, Ed cleared his throat:
"There's something I need to tell you two..."