Chapter 77: The Watchtower Palace
Chapter 77: The Watchtower Palace
After reading the intelligence provided by the Materialist, Lyon couldn't help but be slightly taken aback as he realized the Immersion Value was an astonishing 48 points. He turned his gaze towards the Red-Haired Director.
Earlier, wasn't it said that even choosing the first option would only yield 45 points of Immersion Value, and the third option would have a maximum of 42 points? How could it be so much higher now?
"..."
Why are you staring at me? Hurry up and thank her!
After catching Lyon's gaze, the Red-Haired Director couldn't help but glare at him again. She then hid her hand behind her back and slyly hooked her finger towards Lyon's neck.
"Huh?"
As his neck was tugged by her hair, Lyon immediately understood the director's hint and quickly bowed, sincerely expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Director. I will not let you down, nor will I disappoint this Anomaly that you personally crafted!"
"Why are you making it so formal... Oh well..."
Easily seeing through the Red-Haired Director's little trick, the Silver-Haired Elder couldn't help but give her a look. Then, with a hint of helplessness, she smiled and said, "It's just... If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have requested identity confidentiality back then. Now, it's troublesome wherever I go, with all the bowing and greetings..."
"The bowing and greetings are voluntary, and they come from our sincere respect for you."
Hearing the Silver-Haired Elder's words, the usually carefree Red-Haired Director surprisingly straightened up and spoke earnestly, "Director Taurus, whether it's your past achievements or the choices you will make in the future, this respect is well-deserved."
"Perhaps... But it's truly troublesome like this..."
With a disinterested response, the Silver-Haired Elder stood up from the sofa and bid farewell, "Then, Olivia, I came here today to deliver something and check on the situation in your Sixth Bureau. Since everything is normal, I won't disturb you further."
"You're too kind."
The Red-Haired Director respectfully nodded in acknowledgment, then secretly tugged Lyon back as they both retreated a step. Meanwhile, the Taurus Director, who appeared no different from an ordinary elderly woman, hunched her back and made her way towards the window on the second floor. Suddenly, as if stepping into another world, she vanished without a trace.
"No wonder I didn't see any footprints. So, you all don't use the stairs..."
A hint of realization flashed in Lyon's eyes as he witnessed the seemingly high-ranking director's departure. He had been holding back a bellyful of questions, and finally, he couldn't resist asking, "That person just now..."
"She is one of the Twelve Directors, the current Taurus Director, and also the most skilled Anomaly crafter in the Bureau."
After briefly explaining the old lady's identity, the Red-Haired Director sighed, "I thought it would be good enough to have a master crafter overseeing the forging, but I never expected Director Taurus to be available. Not only did she take charge of crafting this Anomaly, but she also personally delivered it after completion. You're truly lucky."
So, it was because of this master crafter that the Immersion Value was significantly higher than expected?
Lyon nodded in understanding and stole a glance at the director's expression before continuing, "Director, are the Twelve Directors very powerful? How do they compare to you?"
"You misunderstand."
The Red-Haired Director glanced at Lyon and shook her head, "The reason I asked you to show respect to her is not because of her strength or her status, but out of genuine admiration.
In a year's time, Director Taurus will voluntarily give up her physical body and become a part of the Watchtower Palace."
"The Watchtower Palace?"
"It's an Anomaly crafted by the Cleaning Bureau, hanging high above our world. As its name suggests, it serves as the guardian and the strongest, final barrier for all of humanity.
After a simple explanation of the Watchtower Palace's function, the Red-Haired Bureau Chief's eyes grew complex as she spoke.
"Only those who truly love humanity from the bottom of their hearts can receive the call of the Watchtower Palace. Once they accept the call, they are stripped of their physical bodies and most of their emotions, leaving behind only the purest will to watch over humanity. They are then guided into the Watchtower Palace."
"Lord Taurus has already accepted the call. Within a year, she will depart to the Watchtower Palace beyond the world to oversee it. She will sit in silent watchfulness in the dead void, until even her last remaining will is completely devoured by the merciless passage of time."
Is this what they call 'watchful waiting'? Or is it more like a life sentence in a twisted prison?
After hearing the Red-Haired Chief's explanation, Lyon imagined what she described, and his heart sank.
Leaving behind a colorful world and the company of his loving family, sitting alone in the dead void for an eternity, waiting until even his will is swallowed by loneliness—this is an incredibly cruel torture for any intelligent being.
"Must it be so painful?"
Thinking of the kind and amiable face of the silver-haired old lady, Lyon couldn't bear the thought of what she was about to face. He couldn't help but ask,
"Was this anomaly created by the Bureau? Can it be modified slightly to have people take turns overseeing the Watchtower Palace? At least there would be some shifts, right?"
"No."
The Red-Haired Chief sighed and said,
"Only the extreme is memorable, only obsession dares to charge forward, only madness can comprehend greatness... This is a saying that is widely circulated within the Bureau.
My understanding of it is that only the most extreme and pure things, whether it's positive love or reverence, or negative hatred or resentment, can truly influence the world and give birth to corresponding 'anomalies'."
At this point, the Red-Haired Chief paused, then looked up at the sky outside the window. Her tone turned somber as she continued,
"The existence of the Watchtower Palace follows this rule. Its call is not compulsory, and there is even a full ten years of preparation before ascending the Palace. During this time, you can back out at any moment, and no one will remember that you were ever called.
Most people in the Bureau believe that these ten years are just a cooling-off period for the chosen ones. But I think that both the agonizing eternal watchfulness that follows and these ten years of contemplation are actually the process by which the Watchtower Palace gathers strength. It's a selection and purification of the will to watch over.
Only when one knows the hopeless future that awaits and can safely back out at any time, yet still chooses to go with pure determination, can such a will give birth to an infinite power that spans past and future, capable of protecting all of humanity."
So that's what it's about...
Finally understanding why the usually unreserved Chief was acting so "compliant" today, Lyon unconsciously took a deep breath, and his eyes revealed deep reverence.
Even without mentioning the creation of the anomaly for him, as one of the humans blessed by the Watchtower Palace, that silver-haired old lady deserved his respect.
Hmm... Watchtower Palace... I never imagined that the Cleanup Bureau possessed something so grand...
"Ziz..."
[By attentively listening to the explanation, you have obtained a large amount of intelligence regarding the "Watchtower Palace," activating the Aberration Badge "Materialism Soul (Crimson)."
Learning about the existence of the "Watchtower Palace," understanding its source of power, and becoming aware of some of its operational rules, your resistance to this anomaly has significantly increased, and you are now able to block its influence at a normal level.]
"..."
???
(End of Chapter)
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