Just as the high-level leaders were fantasizing about what kind of Amber Lord gift they would receive, they suddenly realized there seemed to be another message they hadn't checked.
"Strange, it's not from Topaz, but an... empty number? And there are two parts?"
Before they could finish speaking, a video sent by an unknown user automatically played on the screen.
Ever-Flame Mansion. Duke Inferno, Ifrit, gathered his children there, proclaiming something:
"[The Planet of Festivities] Penacony. The cradle where beautiful dreams sink, the resting place for cowards."
"The Family sets a banquet, and the guests attend by invitation. The golden blood of [Destruction] will flow together, dedicating a grand sacrifice to HIM."
"Children of flames... this is your rite of passage."
A cluster of flames popped from Ifrit's fingertips as he said:
"Akash, my most sensitive child. I ignite your eyes and teach you to pluck strings and make music. You shall play the banquet tune with a four-stringed instrument, striking the choir of [Harmony] dumb with silence."
"Just what I had in mind, Father." Akash closed his eyes and plucked the strings. The ghostly blue flame flowed into his fingers with the notes, as if rehearsing a funeral dirge.
"Dubra, my most intelligent child. I ignite your body and grant you saws and axes. You shall quench your iron scythe with sulfur, bestow pain upon [Elation], and let the blood and tears of the actors flow into the River Styx."
"Caterina, my bravest child. I ignite your heart and grant you blood full of fervor. You shall chisel open the treasury of [Preservation] with fury, smelt their gold, and cast a statue for our Benefactor."
"No need to say more, old man." Caterina wiped the war hammer with her thumb, her mouth grinning in a silent sneer.
Ifrit stepped down from the throne, gazing at the gorgeously dressed Constance.
"Constance, my most ambitious child, my most excellent child."
"I have nothing left to teach you. Just remember... make the midnight of Penacony wither and wilt. Take away everything you love, leaving only the grave of [Remembrance]."
"Enjoy Penacony, enjoy her invitation. Prepare this beautiful dream to welcome its new master from Tophet."
Ifrit raised his arms high, his voice resounding through the mansion's dome.
"Finally, I gathered you here... not just to attend the [Planet of Festivities], but to strip the authority of [Eternity] from Ite's stiff fingers! Drag HIS corpse into the abyss..."
"Akash, your string sound is the prologue to the funeral dirge of [Eternity]! Dubra, your scythe blade will be the abyss that severs the Path of [Eternity]! Caterina, your furnace will be the sarcophagus for the divine remains of [Eternity]!"
"And Constance—the midnight you wither with your own hands will eventually become the shroud covering the throne of [Eternity]!"
"When the stars tremble at the flame marks of Tophet, only [Destruction] will sit upon the divine throne cast from entropic ash!"
"As for a way out? As always, it never existed! Remember our purpose: All things in the world will eventually fall to [Destruction]..."
Beep beep!
The first video ended here. The company executives looked at each other and fell into silence again.
"The Annihilation Gang..."
Naturally, these executives had heard of this faction. Not all fanatics who advocated the Path of [Destruction] could be included in the Antimatter Legion.
There are many bloodthirsty races wandering in the universe. They are keen on burning and looting, but lack the special ability to systematically pursue the will of [Destruction].
As for the scum of the Annihilation Gang, they fantasize about one day serving as the pioneers of [Destruction], not knowing... their own inferiority can only attract Nanook's contempt.
The reason is that their original intention of implementing destruction is not pure enough; chaotic desires are mixed in.
Some take pleasure in slaughter, drawing joy from flesh and blood; some use looting as an excuse to cover up the original intention of revenge; some just want to calm their inner madness through endless destruction.
Self-proclaimed loyal servants of [Destruction], yet they can never escape the slavery of selfish desires. I really like a saying from [Genius Society] #64 Dr. Primitive:
The value Nanook sees in the so-called [Annihilation Gang] may be far less than an infant who deliberately breaks a vase, and even less than the [Church of Eternity] HE loathes the most.
Feels like their focus is wrong... The Company just got stepped on by the Church, mocked to their faces. While they were still fuming, an Annihilation Gang that didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth jumped out.
Mmh... seems they found a punching bag...
"Cough cough cough... In order to defend the majesty of the Amber Lord, our company must not sit idly by. Send someone to deal with it."
"Watch the rest before making a conclusion."
The executives still had different ideas about this. An Annihilation Gang need not be taken to heart. Didn't you see Ifrit's main target is [Eternity]?
There are specialties in every field. Better leave this kind of thing to the people of the Church. Do you understand the gap between small enterprises and universal giants?
If they really react to a provocation, wouldn't it make the Company look petty? They practice the Path of [Preservation]; they should proactively hold umbrellas for others and save those planets persecuted by [Destruction].
"Let's look at the second video..."
...
Still Ever-Flame Mansion. A familiar location, seeming to follow the end of the previous video.
The ghostly fire in Ifrit's skull flickered, as if chewing on a hidden joke. He suddenly raised his hand to pick up a handful of ash, letting it rustle down between his bone fingers—
"Before we go to the [Planet of Festivities]..."
The ash condensed into a comical mask grinning to the ears in Ifrit's palm, tears of flame dripping from the mask's eye sockets.
"The envoy of [Elation] brought us a piece of... sweet bad news."
"My children, have you heard... that indestructible Director of the [Company]... was attacked?"
Ifrit smiled faintly and spread his arms, the entire mansion trembling with his piercing laughter.
"How ironic. The supposedly indestructible [Preservation] was attacked. The universal scales are tipping for us! Because the real culprit—"
"Is actually [Eternity]'s own loyal dog!"
As soon as the words fell, a flame shot straight to the dome of the mansion, reflecting Adrian's figure!
[Pause]
Two heavy news items in a row. The brains of the company executives crashed instantly, their eyes all focused on Adrian in black clothes.
Who is this guy?! A hidden third [Eternity] Emanator?
But have to say, Ifrit is quite a character. You Tophet Fire Demons are quite honest, directly selling out the Masked Fools.
Envoy of [Elation]... The Mourning Actors have no grudge against the Church, so rule them out first. That only leaves the Masked Fools.
Too many events piled up at once. Haven't recovered from the rejection of the Jarilo-VI debt project yet, and now come the [Annihilation Gang] and an [Eternity] Emanator.
Ah... seems there's also the matter of [Penacony].
By unanimous internal decision, the company executives chose Strategic Amnesia, all throwing themselves into the embrace of the [Cremators].
...
Jarilo-VI, Robot Settlement.
Topaz's fingertip hovered over the projection button. The screen still froze on Ifrit's face during his declaration.
"You... you two?" She turned her head tremblingly, looking at Freesna and Blake, whose faces had turned completely dark.
Hiss... if I remember correctly, hasn't the Eternal Winter been eliminated? Why does she feel the temperature has dropped so much...