Not long after—
Cipher Pol No. 8 transmitted the recorded footage of Brimir's words.
It was immediately forwarded to the headquarters of Cipher Pol Aigis 0.
From there, it was reported upward to Saint Shepherd Ju Peter.
After watching it, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter realized the gravity of the matter.
He immediately ordered it classified as Level 9 Top Secret, accessible only to those of the Five Elders and above.
All personnel who had already been informed were required to sign confidentiality agreements.
Moreover, for a time, they would be placed under open surveillance.
Then, he picked up the golden Den-Den Mushi to contact Imu, while also transmitting the footage to the latter's "Star Den-Den Mushi."
Only after completing all this did Saint Shepherd Ju Peter begin notifying the other four members to gather in the Room of Authority.
...
Noah's Ark, Teigu World.
It still hovered within the extradimensional space.
Inside the Empty Hall—
Imu sat upon a lavish throne of gold and crimson, conversing with the "White Figure" seated cross-legged in midair.
Before him floated ten multicolored orbs of light.
These were the souls of the Main Gods, stripped of all intelligence.
Their discussion centered on how to make use of them.
Of course, Imu also had to pay an equal price for the information he received.
He had traded a spacefaring pirate's battleship in exchange for the complete craftsmanship of the Teigu.
Since the Teigu World possessed fragments of the technology—
—the most crucial part of the set of complete techniques given by "Truth" was the method for forging the highest-grade Teigu, along with knowledge guiding the use of divine souls.
Beyond that—
—was the matter of trading for Dimensional Gate passage rights.
Because "Truth" claimed to have already absorbed all the knowledge of the Demon Slayer World's universe, he wished to proceed to the next one.
Preferably, a world with magic.
"So soon?"
"Didn't you remain in the Kabane World for more than a year?"
Imu's brows knit slightly, his heart struck by surprise.
From the time the Dimensional Gate access to the Demon Slayer World was granted until now—
—it had only been about six months.
"Because most of the knowledge in the Demon Slayer World and the Kabane World overlaps, it saved me a great deal of time."
"Truth" sounded cheerful, a trace of laughter in his voice.
Imu, however, was not pleased. He had hoped the other would take things more slowly.
But judging from those words, the more similar the universes were, the more knowledge they shared.
So, if he wanted to slow him down, he would have to grant him access to worlds that were vastly different.
"Imu, I know what you're worried about. But I don't believe my 'conviction' is so fragile that mere magic could make me cease to be myself. You must understand—the very core of 'Truth' is the 'Law of Equivalent Exchange.'"
Suddenly, the "White Figure" floating in midair spoke these words.
Imu's brow twitched.
He knew that, with the protection of the "Starmap," the other could not possibly read his thoughts.
So "Truth" was merely speculating—yet had guessed correctly.
Even so, Imu still did not wish to agree.
That "Truth" had confidence in himself was understandable.
But Imu had no such confidence in him.
Before crossing over, he had read countless works of fantasy.
He knew well how overwhelmingly powerful magic could be.
And this was something that the "Truth" before him did not fully grasp.
[Polu-purupuru, Polu-purupuru~~]
Just as Imu was about to reply—
—the pure-gold Den-Den Mushi on the armrest of his throne began to call.
He did not avoid it from "Truth," but directly lifted the receiver with his mind.
"Reporting to Lord Imu, Brimir within Impel Down has revealed critical information concerning the 'Mist of Void.' He mentioned the existence of something called the 'God of Void.'"
The caller was none other than Saint Shepherd Ju Peter.
Inside the Empty Hall—
Imu and "Truth" listened in silence.
When they heard the words "a shadow cast down from a higher dimension"—
—their reactions were somewhat alike, yet ultimately different.
Imu's face grew heavy, lost in deep thought.
While "Truth" straightened his posture—
—and finally rose to his feet.
"I see. The matter of the 'spark' need not concern us. That so-called 'God of Void' cannot see the Starfish."
With those words, Imu set the receiver back down, ending the call.
After all, the Starfish had long since been sealed off from external information by the Starmap.
Just as "Truth" could not make contact with the alchemists on the Starfish, even Dean Isaac was unable to use Stigmata Alchemy.
Imu did not believe the "God of Void" possessed the ability to bypass the functions of the Starmap.
This was the mysterious confidence of a transmigrator in his own golden finger.
Even if the "God of Void" could sense Brimir, that tiny "spark"—
—could he even reach him?
And even if he could arrive, how long would it take?
If he truly had the power to freely and swiftly traverse different universes—
—the Zero Magic World would already have been consumed by the Void. How could it still exist for over six millennia?
Still, Imu knew he had to treat this seriously.
"Truth, what exactly is a 'higher dimension'? What's your take on this 'God of Void'?"
He himself had some understanding of higher dimensions—
—but only the hearsay of his former life before transmigration.
All the more reason he wanted to hear what this "Truth" had to say.
"And what do you plan to pay in exchange for those answers?"
"Truth" chuckled. "Don't think me stingy, you know the rule—I must abide by the Law of Equivalent Exchange."
"I'll allow you to enter a magic world," Imu replied flatly.
"…"
"Truth" froze, then burst out in protest: "Wow, you're ruthless! Clearly you just want me to deal with this 'God of Void,' but that would cost you one of the chances for me to act!"
"I never asked you to do anything against the 'God of Void.' I merely said you may enter that universe to absorb its knowledge."
Imu's gaze sharpened. "What happens to you afterward—does that have anything to do with me?"
"Of course, you can also choose not to enter."
"As for the question of what a higher dimension is, I'm willing to pay an equal price."
"What do you require?"
"…"
Truth did not reply immediately.
Instead, Truth first proposed a trade to Imu: use all his experience and understanding of Haki and swordsmanship to exchange information about "what higher dimensions are, and how to reach them."
It was, in effect, a mutual exchange of knowledge.
After Imu confirmed that the exchange was only a sharing of information and would cost him nothing, he nodded and agreed.
For Truth, Haki and swordsmanship were of little practical use — they were primarily collectible, additions to his knowledge reservoir.
Perhaps in the future they could be used as bargaining chips with others.
Besides, this was the understanding and experience of Imu, ruler of the World Government.
"First, if you want to know what a higher dimension is, you must understand what dimension we are in."
Imu broke in somewhat rudely. "Three dimensions — skip that part."
"Very well. I hope you can follow what comes next."
Truth looked surprised, but asked no questions.
"A higher dimension is one in which time takes on a tangible shape."
"Even the weakest gods there can clearly see the past and future along a given timeline of themselves or other beings — though they cannot see gods who exist on the same level as themselves or on higher levels."
Imu frowned. "So you can see my future?"
"I can't. That's why I've long suspected you're disguising yourself, secretly laughing at me deep inside." Truth answered. "Because whether it's you personally, those who have had direct contact with you, or people originating from the Starfish World or the Titan World, I cannot see their timelines."
"By the way — just a few days ago the Teigu World showed the same phenomenon. Can you explain that to me?"
The white little figure hovering in midair tilted the head that had nothing but a mouth.
"You can regard those worlds as planets brought under my control."
Imu, of course, did not expose the existence of his starmap.
Still, those words put him somewhat at ease.
As expected — a golden finger is unbeatable!
Truth asked again, "So you conceal yourself from my sight… If I cannot perceive your timelines, then either you wield some ability that shields them, or you stand at a level beyond my reach. Which is it—and why ask me these questions if you already hold such an advantage?"
Imu's tone stayed cold. "You need not dwell on that. Since this is an equal exchange, and I have already paid the price, continue."
"All right, all right." Truth shook his head and spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
"In short, the dimension in which time is materialized is a higher dimension — the primary dwelling place of the True Gods — hence it is called the 'Domain of the Gods.'"
"So you—"
Truth nodded. "Correct. My true body actually resides in the Domain of the Gods. What you see before you is only the projected phantasm of my form. In essence, it is no different from the shadow of that 'God of Void.'"
Imu asked, "You said even the weakest True Gods can see the past and future along a single timeline. What about the stronger True Gods?"
"Of course they can see more timelines — that is, more possible outcomes. For example, they can see results in which the World Government does not dominate — you included."
Truth paused, then raised a finger for emphasis.
"However, there is one distinction that must be made."
"It's not that possessing this temporal ability makes one a True God; rather, once you reach True Godhood you will certainly possess this temporal ability."
Imu asked, "And you?"
"Oh, that's not part of the bargain. I refuse to answer." Truth said with a smile.
"Very well. Then how does one reach that True-God realm?" Imu asked again.
"You first need to understand roughly how the realms are divided. Do you know what realm you are in now?"
"You mean things like the Fifth Sense, the Sixth Sense?" Imu recalled the words the King of the Dead had once spoken.
Truth nodded. "To reach a higher dimension, aside from rare cases like me—born from a concept and naturally becoming an incarnation of cosmic law—the clearest path is to break the light-speed barrier."
"Of course, that's inferred from the knowledge I currently hold. There may be other routes; I simply don't know them."
"So you must first raise yourself to light speed, and only then consider how to transcend it."
"But to reach light speed you must possess a Seventh Sense above the Sixth Sense."
"Because only the Seventh Sense can let you truly perceive the existence of light—hence it is also called 'Light Sense.'"
"Again, reaching the Seventh Sense does not automatically grant you light-speed. It simply provides the basic conditions for perceiving and controlling light."
"It's like sentient beings having five senses—how many can actually control those five senses? For example, intentionally making your vision vanish while your eyes are open, or seeing the outside world without eyes?"
"As for how to attain light-speed itself, that is another question. I cannot give you the answer or the method right now."
Imu listened intently while rapidly thinking.
"So a True God is the Eighth Sense above the Seventh?" Imu asked.
"The Eighth Sense is indeed a realm that low-tier True Gods can control, and most of them are soul-type True Gods," Truth answered calmly.
"Because any soul that can move freely within the Underworld possesses the Eighth Sense, just as humans naturally possess the Fifth Sense."
"And the 'God of the Void' you just saw is likely a high-tier True God in possession of the Ninth Sense."
Truth's tone was steady as he delivered his conclusion.
"That Brimir was right—at present, the World Government truly cannot contend against such a being, even if it has not fully reached the Ninth Sense."
But Imu caught a trace of mockery in those words.
So he immediately countered: "Then have you decided whether to enter the Falmart World?"
"The Zero Magic World works as well. I can open the Dimensional Gate for you at any time."
Truth fell silent.
He disliked conflict—least of all with another True God.
"Not interested in magic?" Imu asked with feigned puzzlement.
"Or are you afraid?"
If the World Government wanted more intelligence on the "God of the Void," then Truth would have to be the one to test it.
Perhaps they could not provoke that god now—but in the future, who could say?
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