After receiving a direct answer from the Empress, Count Hain bowed and withdrew from the audience hall.
On his way back to the Special Zone, his thoughts lingered on a question that countless great powers had been pondering.
Just who, within the Empire, required such a complex ritual for advancement?
After all, this meant deceiving a city of over a million people for three hundred years, all under the watchful eyes of the entire world.
Such an extraordinary foundation would be more than enough even for the ascension of an angel.
No wonder other empires had been trying every possible means to sabotage it. It also explained why the organization behind the black-robed figure was willing to deploy Sealed Artifact 1-047.
Because no one wanted to see an already powerful empire suddenly gain another angel, at least Sequence Two or above.
What Count Hain did not notice, however, was that the Empress's wording bore a striking resemblance to how Mozo had handled the Judgment Pocket Watch.
Neither of them had directly acknowledged the most crucial point.
---
After Count Hain departed, the three Empresses finished their respective duties for the day.
Then, without a word yet in perfect coordination, they each entered a hidden location deep beneath the imperial palace from three different directions.
Daybreak, Evernight, and Dawn walked through separate passageways, arriving before a massive stone gate.
Evernight stepped forward first and addressed the strange statue carved upon the gate.
"I am the Eternal Monarch, guardian of the Empire's prosperity, your one and only Emperor."
Next, Dawn stepped forward. The statue, which had slightly opened its eyes after Evernight spoke, reacted further as she continued,
"I am the Eternal Monarch, the sole legitimate ruler of the Andar people. Your Emperor for all eternity."
The statue fully opened its eyes.
But that was still not enough.
Finally, Daybreak stepped forward, her tone proud and absolute.
"I am the Eternal Monarch, the one beloved by all subjects across the Seven Nations. Your Emperor, forever."
This time, the statue not only opened its eyes, but also spread its fang-filled jaws wide, revealing three keyholes within.
Daybreak carefully took out a key symbolizing the Empire's sky and inserted it into one of the locks.
Dawn took a deep breath, then retrieved a key symbolizing the Empire's land from within her skirt and inserted it as well.
Lastly, Evernight reached into the valley between her chest and drew out the final key, symbolizing the Empire's seas.
With all three keys inserted, the massive stone gate, which even gods would find difficult to breach, slowly opened.
This place had been built by the founding emperor of the Loran Empire, the Andar Emperor, after conquering the Seven Nations.
It was a sanctuary forged using the heads of the seven monarchs and his own extraordinary characteristics, meant to protect the imperial bloodline in times of crisis.
Its security was absolute.
The method to open it was extremely complex and precise. Even the timing and order of spoken phrases mattered. The sequence in which the keys were inserted changed over time.
Combined with its near-indestructible defense, it was a perfect safeguard.
Yet in the hands of the current Empress, this royal sanctuary was being used for something else.
After the gate opened, the three Empresses entered in order, led by Daybreak.
Inside, everything had been cleared.
At the center of the room stood a single stone platform.
Upon it lay a body formed from seven-colored light, a vague and illusory figure.
Beside it stood an old man with white hair.
Aside from the striking platform, the old man himself was equally peculiar. He wore a rough linen robe, its black dye cheap and faded, the kind of clothing even commoners would avoid.
Only the poorest of the poor would dress like that.
In contrast, his silver-white hair possessed an almost surreal beauty.
And upon his face rested a mask made of flowing silver substance, like liquid metal in constant motion.
Without the hunched posture and aged features, it would have been difficult to tell he was an old man at all.
Seeing the three Empresses enter, the masked elder merely gave a slight bow, offering the bare minimum of respect to three Sequence One beings.
Then he returned his gaze to the illusory body on the platform.
Evernight was the first to approach.
The proud Empress revealed a depth of emotion that no ordinary person would ever witness. She raised her hand, as if wanting to touch the figure, yet hesitated.
In the end, she let her hand hover in the air for a moment before withdrawing it, filled with quiet sorrow.
Dawn stepped forward as well, her expression tinged with curiosity and a faint blush as she observed the figure.
Daybreak did not approach immediately. She studied the body for a long time before walking to the elder's side.
"Will it really succeed?" she asked.
The old man sighed helplessly.
"You have already asked me this more than two hundred times. If we include your previous iterations, then it has been thousands."
Though clearly exasperated by repeated questioning, he still answered as always.
"The ritual is nearing completion. Please wait patiently for good news. And when the time comes, I hope you will honor our original agreement."
Daybreak exhaled softly, visibly relieved.
"You have my word. I will recount this entire history to you in full. As for what will be made public, you may decide what should and should not be revealed."
After a brief pause, she added casually,
"I have heard some rather uninteresting rumors. It is said that someone has stolen the Green Mask. Would you require any assistance?"
The elder let out a faint laugh and shook his head.
"No one can steal what belongs to us. It is nothing more than a ridiculous rumor."
Daybreak glanced at the flowing silver mask on his face, countless thoughts flashing through her mind, before she fell silent.
She turned her gaze back to the stone platform.
This time, her eyes held the same affection as Evernight's.
It was only natural.
They were the same person, after all. Only their personalities and perspectives differed across time.
At that moment, the elder suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesties, I must take my leave for a short while. Just one day."
All three Empresses frowned at once.
The Holy Night Festival was approaching, and he was the key figure overseeing the ritual.
Facing three Sequence One beings, the elder remained completely calm.
"I am merely guiding a new member," he said lightly. "It will not take long."