Mystery: The Stranger

Chapter 45 Founding Ceremony

Where are you going?

"This is our room for tonight."

Karen Tamara's voice remained cool and detached, her fingertips resting lightly on the sofa armrest. Her well-defined fingers, set against the satin of her black dress, appeared even whiter.

She slightly raised her eyes, her gray gaze slowly falling on Snow, her eyes sweeping over his soft facial features—delicate brow bones, the ends of his eyebrows slightly upturned, adding a touch of devilish eeriness; a high but not sharp nose, clear lip lines, and a pale pink lip color; his skin was as white as the finest mutton fat jade, gleaming with a lustrous sheen under the candlelight, even his jawline appeared exceptionally soft, shedding the ferocity of a devil and gaining a touch of cool and alluring androgynous beauty. Despite being a fifth-order demon, he was more outstanding than many noble girls.

Snow's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood something, once again feeling speechless at this era—You want to sleep with me?

Well, perhaps this is the norm in this era; there aren't that many twists and turns among extraordinary individuals.

However, if this was the reason why Count Cullen chose to take him on this business trip, then he found it rather amusing.

Karen was indeed a rare beauty, with cascading black hair that fell over her shoulders, cool and deep gray eyes, and a slender figure. Her black dress accentuated her noble and aloof demeanor, but he truly had no interest in her whatsoever.

The divine fire within his mind burned ceaselessly, eroding his spirit and desires day and night. Although he was primarily replenished by the natural spiritual energy he collected at night and the faith in the Red Moon, decades of nourishment had transformed the divine fire from its initial weak flame. Its current level of divinity was comparable to that of a true demigod. And his current body, still at Sequence Five, was already struggling to contain such abundant divinity.

His original plan was to participate in the ceremony peacefully as an inconspicuous fifth-ranked individual, and then immediately advance to demigod status to fully adapt to the divine fire within his body. Right now, he really couldn't muster the energy for such things. Like a wealthy young man who is chronically sensitive and suffers from serious sleep problems, he would definitely prefer to be alone before getting sufficient rest.

However, Snow didn't show any extra emotions. It didn't matter if he rested here. After all, in his opinion, superhumans were not too concerned about desires. Karen certainly didn't want to sleep with him. An overly comfortable material foundation wouldn't foster a hasty and impulsive personality.

...

Then, due to his misjudgment, Snow drank the marrow crystals from the Fairy Spring while soaking in the Moon Cup for three days.

For three whole days, I barely went out. Through the carved balcony of my room, I could take in the bustling and prosperous scene of Backlund. The streets were teeming with people, and nobles and extraordinary individuals dressed in various formal attire and adorned with extraordinary ornaments moved about. The sounds of horses' hooves, carriage wheels, and people's conversations mingled together, creating a vibrant urban symphony. The shops on both sides of the street were decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, and the air was filled with the aroma of spices, wine, and food. Everywhere exuded the joy and solemnity of the eve of the grand ceremony, and even the spirituality in the air seemed to become more active.

Finally, at dusk on the third day, the founding ceremony of the United Empire officially began.

As for why the time was chosen to be dusk, perhaps it is because dusk is the boundary between day and night, the connection between the old era and the new era, symbolizing the United Empire's inheritance of the past and the beginning of a new chapter; or perhaps it is because after the ceremony, there will be a grand banquet - that is the core stage for the new elites to socialize, speak freely, and divide interests. The ceremony at dusk is just a solemn opening ceremony for everyone.

Earl Cullen, accompanied by Snow, arrived at the ceremony site early—a grand plaza built in the asymmetrical style commonly favored in the Fourth Age. In the center of the plaza stood a huge black iron altar, surrounded by six towering stone pillars. The pillars were carved with reliefs of the six gods, the lines clear and lifelike, exuding a faint sacred aura.

The square was surrounded by layers of viewing platforms, arranged in a clear hierarchy from bottom to top. The top position was reserved for the six gods, below which were the seats for the two Grand Consuls and the dukes, and further down were the viewing positions for the various nobles and extraordinary forces.

Karen did not choose a seat too close to the front, but instead led Snow to a seat on the edge of the viewing area with an excellent view.

Although the location was off to the side, it was enough to take in the entire square – after all, she was the ruler of the coastal province, and even though the Tamara family had not entered the Senate, they still had enough dignity; moreover, the square was built to be extremely grand, and the asymmetrical layout did not appear chaotic, but rather added to its majestic atmosphere. Standing here, one could clearly see at the end of the altar the two black iron chairs that symbolized the highest power, and the two Grand Consuls sitting on them.

Arista Tudor was a tall and imposing man, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold patterns. He stood tall and straight, exuding an air of confidence and nobility that seemed to look down upon the world.

His face was sharp and angular, as if carved by a knife and axe, with prominent brow bones and piercing eyes like an eagle, seemingly able to see through people's hearts. His firm and resolute lips were tightly pursed, and his high, straight nose exuded a hint of arrogance. His long brown hair was casually draped over his shoulders, unrestrained. Just sitting there quietly, he naturally attracted everyone's attention, making people unconsciously feel admiration and submission. The domineering aura he exuded was the majesty that had been tempered by the core of power for a long time.

Trensost, on the other hand, possessed a completely different style. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with a handsome and gentle face, and a scholarly air about him. He wore an elegant silver robe, without excessive adornment, yet exuded a calm and unassuming demeanor, as if he were not a regent wielding the reins of the empire, but rather a scholar deeply immersed in learning. However, upon closer observation, one would discover the calmness and sharpness deep within his eyes, and that composure that was not possessed by ordinary scholars, but rather the confidence gained from weathering storms and controlling the overall situation.

The two governors sat at the far end of the long black iron chairs, surrounded by a faint aura of the extraordinary, their powerful presence making the surrounding air seem to freeze.

The other dukes, whether they were the heads of the red-haired hunter families of Sauron and Einhorn, or the leaders of the angel families of Augustus and Castia through the arbitrator pathway, could only sit in the lower seats. From Snow's perspective, he could only see their tall backs—each one upright and distinguished, with an aura that was either sharp, calm, or arrogant, all befitting those who had long held positions of power.

But everyone knows that the main protagonists of this grand ceremony are never the two Grand Consuls, nor these renowned dukes.

Rather, it is the gods!