A different world game? A different world game!

The Grand Master of the Palace, an elderly man with white hair and beard and profound magical powers, silently touched the Night Watch contact emblem hidden beneath his robes with his fingertips.

He then slowly opened his mouth, his voice not loud, but clearly suppressing all the noise.

“Be careful what you say, Lord Maurice. It is unwise to slander the gods who walk among men and their allies.”

His words echoed with the magic of magic, each one striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

"His Majesty the Prophet Kana's benevolence and bottom line are known to all. If it weren't for maintaining the world's overall combat power and dealing with the threat of the Void Abyss...would we still be sitting here today discussing countermeasures?"

The word "blasphemy" was left unuttered, but its meaning was as cold as ice, instantly freezing all the passion and anger of Home Secretary Maurice.

His face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he finally slumped back into his chair, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

Yes, to insult a real and true god who is clearly biased towards the Order?
This is no longer a matter of political stance; it's... courting death.

Even those nobles who had already secretly sided with the new order would be the first to jump out and tear him apart to show their loyalty.

The Night's Watch is able to develop so recklessly in its current state, and the Free Revolution is able to advance so rapidly.

A large part of the reason is due to Kana's will.

Everyone knows perfectly well that the Night's Watch also has a god who walks among the people, and this god has the name of savior.

Countless people call it the sun.

Without Carne, such a liberal revolution would have surely sparked a war across the continent.

But no one dares to do it, and no one can do it.

Because God will not allow it.

Minister of War Borg's fist clenched weakly. He looked around at his colleagues, seeing the undisguised fear and resignation in their eyes, and finally looked at the emperor on the throne, his voice filled with unprecedented bitterness.

"Your Majesty...then...what should we do? Are we really going to hand over Heron's thousand-year glory to those councils?"

A long silence.

The light from the crystal chandelier seemed even colder and more piercing.

Finally, Augustus VII raised his head very slowly, the last trace of struggle in his eyes extinguished, leaving only deep weariness and surrender to reality.

His voice was hoarse, as if every word had been uttered with great effort:

"Summon all surviving dukes and marquises, as well as representatives of citizens from major cities, to meet here in three days..." He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were empty. "To discuss the reform of the empire. Heron needs a constitution."

He made a decision, which seemed to be very difficult.

As the emperor finished speaking, the last vestiges of resistance within the council chamber vanished completely.

The somber atmosphere, like a physical coffin, slowly buried the former glory of the Helen Empire.

The web of order woven by the Night's Watch, along with the invisible pressure emanating from the god who walks on the earth, has rendered any large-scale civil war or rebellion a pipe dream.

All they can do is try to make a relatively dignified exit before they are completely crushed.

For the emperor, his loss was actually not that great.

As a member of the royal family, he had conflicts with the nobility, and in some cases, he also stood on the same side as the citizens.

Therefore, the so-called grief and hardship were not as difficult as he portrayed.

This revolution for freedom actually severely damaged the interests of the aristocratic class.

As emperor, he was well aware that the nobles were constantly vying for power and profit with him, the king.

He ascended to the throne at a young age and it took him a considerable amount of time to regain control of the power.

Even so, he was sometimes restricted by the nobles and sometimes had to argue with them.

So after his death, in a few years, the nobles will rise again and continue to fight for power with his descendants.

Now that these citizen representatives have been introduced, let them deal with those nobles, even if it diminishes his power.

But compared to those nobles who plummeted in status, it was still much easier to accept.

This outcome would be far better than letting the citizens launch a revolution, drag him off the throne, and behead him.

It's the best for him, at least.

Outside the Emerald Palace, the tide of the free revolution crashed against the ancient city walls, producing a dull and unstoppable roar.

…………

The continent of Taril.

Warship port.

"Eye of Silence" Floating Tower - Strategic Conference Hall

The dark red light of the Tahrir sky shone through the huge crystal porthole, casting an ominous hue over the three-dimensional continental image suspended in the center.

In the image, the dark blue area representing the expedition's controlled area, shimmering with a faint light, has covered nearly half of the continental model, like a tenacious patch of moss.

This border, representing countless blood, sweat, and sacrifices, now stands like a stalemate dam, facing the surging crimson on the map—the Void Pollution Zone, the withered yellow Death Zone—high-threat beast hordes/environments, and the stubborn gray—unexplored dangers.

The core decision-making team of the expedition was gathered around the circular conference table surrounding the images.

The dwarven sage Lurek, the expedition's commander-in-chief, sat in the main seat. His gray beard was still meticulously combed, but a hint of seriousness was etched between his brows.

Beside him were two representatives of the Night's Watch.

A combat master clad in half-body armor, his aura as deep and imposing as a mountain.

The other was dressed in a more elegant tactical master robe, his fingertips unconsciously tracing patterns on the data panel.

Sitting opposite were three mercenary leaders: Klaus of Steel Shield, Daniel of Ghost Claw, who represented his deputy, and Magda, the female leader of the "Stonebreaker" mercenary group, who was known for her bravery.

Beside them were two noble representatives from the collateral branches of Harren and Lor'themar, dressed in fine clothes but unable to conceal the tension and aloofness in their expressions.

The merchant representative, Pollock, looked shrewd, toying with an exquisite alchemical calculator between his fingers.

As is customary, the meeting was opened by Lurik's adjutant.

The young but capable human officer manipulated the imagery, pulling several glaring gaps outward from the blue border that represented the front line, especially in the northeast, where a deep, writhing crimson area was highlighted.

“Commanders and representatives,” the adjutant’s voice was clear and calm, “as you can see, our controlled area has stabilized to half of the continent’s border. However, continued advance faces significant bottlenecks.”

He pointed to the long blue border line.

"The battle lines are too long, far exceeding the limits of the current forces for efficient defense and advance."

"In the northeastern part, the Void Rift Zone codenamed 'Rotten Swamp' has continued to spread due to the lack of effective containment in the early stages, forming a massive nest of Void creatures. Conventional progress is severely hampered, requiring a purification effort far exceeding expectations."

The image was magnified, revealing several withered yellow marks.

"In addition, the Earth-Splitting Beasts of the 'Iron Ridge Mountains' and the highly toxic environment of the 'Scorched Wind Rift Valley'..."

“These high-threat areas form a natural barrier, and it takes time, specialized equipment, and a lot of sacrifice to conquer them.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the mercenary leaders present:
"More importantly, logistical pressure has reached a critical point. Maintaining the existing defensive line and supplying scattered outposts has already exhausted the transportation sector. If we continue to advance, the supply lines will be further lengthened, and the risks will increase dramatically."

The adjutant concluded, "In short, we've hit a ceiling in our expansion. The pace has far exceeded our expectations, but the foundation is not yet solid."

“Many pioneering groups,” he glanced at Klaus and Magda, “have focused on consolidating existing strongholds, clearing out the remaining monsters, and developing their territories. The overall situation… needs time to settle.” A buzz of discussion filled the meeting room, but there was no surprise or resentment.

The previous meetings had already set the tone for this.

The mercenary leaders nodded in agreement, and Klaus grinned broadly.

"The adjutant is right! After taking over the territory, we still need to spend time 'cleaning up' and building the houses, right? I'm currently struggling to find enough manpower to mine the newly discovered mineral vein over there!"

Magda also said in a gruff voice, "My cubs have just finished clearing out a cluster of insect nests. The territory is finally stable. We need to take a break."

Pollock immediately chimed in, beaming at the group leaders:

"Rest assured, commanders! My transport team is working day and night! The 'Hovering Track Transport Scorpion' provided by Lord Lurek is really useful, doubling the load capacity and adapting well to different terrains."

"Alchemy technology, wow, it really changes the world! Mineral veins? Resources? Just say the word, and I'll do my best to coordinate."

His familiar interactions with the team leaders revealed a tacit understanding formed through long-term cooperation.

Only the two noble representatives remained silent, their faces still grim, seemingly out of place in this "harvest" scene.

A young mercenary representative, looking at their appearance, couldn't help but chuckle softly and mutter to his companion.

"Look at him, still dreaming of being a nobleman... His house must be turned upside down by now."

The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to reach the ears of the noble representative.

The two nobles' faces instantly darkened, their knuckles turning slightly white as they gripped the armrests, but they ultimately refrained from reacting.

Just then, Lurek raised his rough, large hand and tapped three times on the heavy oak table with his knuckles.

"Tap. Tap. Tap."

His voice was steady and powerful, instantly drowning out all the discussions and whispers.

The entire conference hall immediately fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the dwarf commander-in-chief.

Everyone knew that when Lurek banged on the table, it meant he was about to announce a truly important decision.

Lurek glanced around, his gaze lingering on each person's face for a moment before finally returning to the central map image. He then announced in a loud and clear voice:

"Based on the analysis of the current situation and the strategic considerations of headquarters, we hereby announce two resolutions."

"First, the Taliel Continent Expedition has officially entered the strategic defense and consolidation phase."

"Our core task is to digest, consolidate, and develop the areas we currently control in the future."

"Cease large-scale proactive outward expansion and shift the focus to eliminating remaining threats within the controlled area, strengthening outpost construction, and optimizing the logistics network."

Everyone nodded in agreement; this was exactly what they had expected.

Lurek paused, his gaze becoming even more profound, as if piercing through the walls of the floating tower and looking towards some more distant and dangerous place.

"The second resolution involves a higher strategic level, and... the place of opportunity for you all in the future."

He emphasized, "I believe some of you have already heard about it, while others may still be in the dark."

"The Night's Watch has always been engaged in an eternal bloody battle with the true source of chaos on another battlefield—the Abyss."

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp filled the meeting room.

The nobleman's representative looked up abruptly, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes; the merchant Pollock stopped playing with his calculator, his eyes gleaming; the mercenary captains exchanged excited or surprised glances.

abyss!

This legendary forbidden land, a synonym for bloodshed and chaos, is actually the battlefield of the Night's Watch.

"The abyss is not a legend, but a real threat, and also... a huge source of opportunity."

Lurek's voice seemed to carry the echo of sulfur colliding with steel.

“There, demons are endless. They themselves are a rich mine of ‘experience’.”

"The power boost you gain from hunting those creatures twisted by the abyss in Taril will have a more significant and direct effect when facing true demons!"

He saw the flame that suddenly ignited in the mercenaries' eyes—a thirst for power.

“Not only that,” Lurek continued, “the remains of abyssal creatures, crystals, twisted materials…”

"It contains alchemical and economic value that is unimaginable in the material world. It is also wealth."

Pollock's eyes lit up instantly, as if he could see a flowing river of gold coins.

“However,” Lurek’s tone shifted abruptly, his voice turning stern and cold, “the Abyss is not a playground! The chaotic will there is constantly eroding souls and twisting minds.”

"A disorderly influx will only lead to disaster, not only killing oneself, but also potentially becoming an accomplice to the chaos backlash against the main world."

His sharp gaze swept over everyone present, especially the mercenary representatives whose faces were filled with fanaticism.

"Therefore, the Night Watchers decided to cautiously open up access to some of the Abyss Battlefields."

"But the premise is—you must accept the unified command and dispatch of the Night's Watch! Individual heroism there is tantamount to suicide."

"At the same time, all applicants must undergo rigorous assessments of their abilities, tests of mental resilience, and a deep commitment to the concept of order."

"Only those who meet the requirements will be granted permission to enter the abyss."

Lurek's gaze finally settled on several mercenary leaders.

"This means that a dangerous but also opportunity-filled path will be opened up for your most elite members who are most eager to break through."

"Similarly, this also applies to other individuals who aspire to combat true chaos and seek power and wealth."

A brief silence fell over the conference room, which was then broken by Klaus's hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! Lord Lurek, you've really dropped a bombshell!"
"The Abyss...that sounds really exciting! I'll go back and select the best people! I promise I'll pick the toughest ones!"

Magda was also eager to join in: "Count us in! We're tired of killing bugs in Taril, let's go chop up a few great demons for a change of pace!"

Merchant Pollock nodded repeatedly: "Command should rightfully rest with the Night's Watch. Safety first, order paramount."

"As for material recycling... Hehe, Lord Lurek, our Chamber of Commerce will definitely provide the most professional and efficient valuation and transportation services!"

The noble representatives, on the other hand, appeared even more silent and out of place; the news of the abyss seemed more like a horror story from another world to them.

Their dwindling interests in Tarril and their crumbling family status on the shore left them feeling suffocated and powerless.

Lurek nodded slightly.

"The specific screening process and admission criteria will be explained in detail by the Night's Watch tactical master later."

"The meeting is adjourned. Hopefully, at the next meeting, we will see a more solid foundation for Tallir, as well as... a list of elites suitable for the Abyss front."

He tapped the table, signaling the meeting to adjourn.

The attendees immediately stood up, and the mercenary leaders walked arm in arm toward the door, eagerly discussing the candidates to be selected.

The businessman Pollock quickly caught up with the tactician and asked him for details in a low voice.

The noble representatives exchanged glances and left silently without saying a word.

Inside the floating tower's conference hall, only Lurek and two Night's Watch representatives remained. (End of Chapter)