Right, they were speaking Loen… how strange!
Ebner muttered in boredom in his heart, not believing a single word that the seemingly "honest" black mecha man had just said.
In fact, ever since he first entered Morning Star City, he had noticed the language issue among its residents.
Generally speaking, the residents living in the lower and middle levels of the mountain mostly spoke Ancient Fusac or Hermes. The so-called "Mechanical Emperor" had clearly popularized those two languages.
But the more mature and complex "Loen" was only spoken by those who lived on the Cloudtop Platform near the central tower—the very same "Morning Star Speech" that the black mecha man had just mentioned.
Furthermore, this language had long since become a symbol of identity. To settle in the Cloudtop District, aside from needing a certain level of military merit, sufficient energy points, and a property of the required size, "Morning Star Speech" was also a crucial qualification. One had to pass the language exam at Level 4 in order to qualify as a Cloudtop resident and enjoy a series of added privileges.
This rule had been rolled out gradually during the first century after Morning Star's fall. Initially, it was meant to stimulate demand and liven up the city's atmosphere… but eventually it became a synonym for "noble status."
Now, for those in the middle and lower levels, learning "Morning Star Speech" required paying a huge price.
Take Lazar, for example. The reason he could still live in the Cloudtop District despite his poor financial state was because he had lived long enough. In addition to mastering certain mechanical skills, he also knew "Morning Star Speech." Whenever he was short of energy points, he would privately run small tutoring lessons…
—Not everyone who underwent mechanical modification could survive two hundred years. Just look at how Lazar, even while living in Cloudtop, couldn't afford to replace his broken left leg. In the lower strata, where resources were even scarcer, the implanted materials were of even worse quality. Once vital parts broke down, death was inevitable.
Among the ten thousand residents of Morning Star City, only thirty percent had lived through its glory days before the fall. Strangely, however, even newborns who grew up later still had a deep faith in the "Mechanical Emperor."
Perhaps this was due to education… or perhaps there was some deeper reason.
The "Mechanical Emperor's" previous life was Danit. Even if he didn't promote Southern Continent Dutan, he should have picked Fenepot or Lunburg as the so-called "noble speech," right? Why Loen?
Of course, between Danit and the "Mechanical Emperor" Evans, there may have been several short lives that left no traces… could it be that there were more Loen people here, so he—no, so "I"—was particularly impressed with this language?
As his thoughts wandered, Ebner turned his gaze again toward the statue of the Mechanical Emperor.
As said before, Ebner did not believe Olmos's explanation about "Morning Star Speech." If they truly trusted him just because of that, they wouldn't have been so cautious at first.
What had really swayed their attitude was most likely the salute, and that yellow gem on top of the statue's head fused with extraordinary traits.
Yet none of this information had been recorded in the "data" he had extracted earlier from the residents' "database"…
They had known nothing about the salute, yet when the statue performed that gesture, they had instinctively returned it! That was far from normal.
Quietly observing, Ebner faintly formed a hypothesis in his heart, though he dared not confirm it.
As for that yellow stone fused with traits, it was also bizarre. The mental residue on it did not come from the extraordinary trait but from the stone itself… as if the stone were the true "corpse" of the Mechanical Emperor.
I wonder, if Alwin or the God of Fortune were cremated, would something like this remain as well… what exactly is that? A relic?
After muttering inwardly, Ebner controlled the statue to return himself to the ground. He did not pick up Olmos's topic about "Morning Star Speech," instead saying:
"I was sent here to Morning Star City, not only to deliver my Lord's decree, but also to examine you…"
As he spoke, he deliberately swept his gaze over the people who had just finished saluting. "I am gratified that you have not forgotten the glory of the Lord."
Although Ebner did not know exactly what the salute meant, from the councilors' change in attitude, he could guess that it might be some kind of "signal." Besides, his words only claimed they had not forgotten the glory of the Mechanical Emperor; he had not directly linked the two. Even if there was a discrepancy, he could always explain it away.
Upon hearing this, Annick, in his RoboCop form, immediately said, "Morning Star City will always believe in the Mechanical Emperor. All heretics were purged in the War of the Fall."
After making this declaration, he turned the topic and asked, "What decree has the Emperor entrusted you to deliver?"
Ebner smiled faintly and glanced toward the tower, but did not answer. As for what that meant, he left it for them to interpret.
After all, he had no decree. He had only come here to investigate what arrangements his past life had left behind. If not for the central tower's defense system being so advanced that he could not sneak in, why would he need to put on such a show in public?
At this, the three councilors once again used their built-in encrypted shortwave to communicate.
"Olmos, what do you think? Can the Apostle's words be trusted?" Annick Splint asked first.
Though Olmos's black mecha made him look the most imposing, giving the impression of a combatant, in truth he was the wisest man in all Morning Star City.
"You've already called him 'Apostle,' so why ask my opinion?" Olmos's shortwave was far more expressive than his external mechanical voice, even carrying a hint of a bitter smile. "Besides, he was able to influence the statue of the Mechanical Emperor and issue a psychic broadcast!
"You know well that after the Emperor's fall… no, his return to the divine throne, the psychic broadcast has only sounded once—during the Fall of Morning Star… and afterward, we inexplicably entered this nightmare afternoon town."
Eleanor's little girl avatar followed: "Yes, perhaps only we three still remember the scene of the Fall of Morning Star… and the psychic broadcast that resounded as the city collapsed.
"According to the Apostle, that was most likely the Emperor, who had already returned to His throne, perceiving our crisis and saving us and His followers… You both know, although we destroyed four churches of the True Creator, many among the populace still worshipped that evil god. Yet they did not enter this strange little town, this intact dream of Morning Star… They most likely perished with the crashed city more than two centuries ago.
"So, my view is: the psychic broadcast cannot deceive. Since the Emperor clearly commanded us to heed this Apostle, we have no reason to doubt."
Annick pondered for a few seconds, then asked again via shortwave: "Could the psychic broadcast have been triggered by the statue performing the 'Ceremony of Supreme Glory'?
"Though few know of this rite, perhaps someone from the Emperor's reign still remembered…"
He had not finished when Eleanor cut him off: "Never mind that no one in the city would ever betray the Emperor by giving such crucial information to outsiders… even if the Apostle somehow learned of it through special means, how could he possibly know that the 'Ceremony of Supreme Glory' required the statue to issue a psychic broadcast? That cannot just be coincidence.
"This was a secret even the three of us did not know!
"Besides, who but the Apostle could have activated the Emperor's armor statue? And we all know that yellow gem still contains the Emperor's indelible spirit. We have long suspected that He had not truly perished.
"And now, the Apostle's arrival confirms it."
Her words clearly convinced Annick, who gave a barely perceptible nod. After all, in the past two hundred years, the statue had only activated once, when a monster infiltrated during the shutdown of the Night Barrier. That activation had been the floating city's automated defense, not under their control.
In fact, Annick had never truly doubted Ebner's identity. He was only being cautious, listing all possible explanations.
"In that case, let us vote… shall we trust him and bring him into the central tower? It seems clear that the Apostle's objective lies inside. I vote in favor," Annick said calmly.
"I also agree… you must have noticed, the Apostle holds the Mechanical Codex in his hands… Mr. Ebner's mission is likely related to it.
"And Morning Star City truly needs the Codex's return," Olmos added, casting his vote in favor.
What they craved from the Codex was not the potion formulas imagined by residents like Lazar. As demigods, they remembered those formulas themselves, and had no need of the book for that.
The reason Morning Star had not produced a new Alchemist in two centuries was not for lack of formulas, but because the necessary ritual condition—extracting the life force of an area—could not be met.
After all, there was no life force in this nightmare afternoon town.
"I naturally agree! Perhaps… perhaps the Apostle's mission is to bring us to the world of light," Eleanor said without the slightest hesitation.
The world of light… Both men lost themselves for a second in rare longing, before Olmos and Eleanor led Ebner to register his identity and enter the tower.
Annick remained behind to reassure the gathered populace and repair their speech and auditory systems.
…
Meanwhile, accompanied by the two Alchemists, Ebner entered the tower. At the very center of the first floor, he saw a tall altar. Its top seemed to be missing a piece, forming a recess whose shape perfectly matched the "Gear Book" in his hands.
At this sight, Ebner recalled how Klein had once described the replica floating city beneath Nas—he too had emphasized such an altar.
The importance of the Destiny Waymark? Ebner's heart stirred with speculation.
After exchanging a few words with the two Alchemists, he leapt into the air and placed the Gear Book into the matching recess atop the altar.
May 12th, today was Ebner's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Ebner.
(End of Chapter)