Inside the diplomatic mission, Delegation Leader Jiang was busy signing documents. He reached the final stack—over two hundred applications from students wishing to study abroad in Great Shun.
Great Shun allocated a set quota of government-funded study-abroad positions every year.
Once these students completed their studies, some among them would become pro-Shun advocates. Upon returning to the Federation, they would serve as the backbone supporting Great Shun's interests there.
This year, the number of applicants far exceeded previous records. Beyond Great Shun's rapid development in recent years, there was another reason: as the Great Impact approached, many prominent families were diversifying their investments.
Consequently, quite a few among them might never return to the Federation.
Even so, he approved every single one. No one knew when the Great Impact would arrive, but if even one or two met Great Shun's standards, the nation's investment would not be in vain.
Just then, an aide walked in from outside and placed a folder on his desk.
"Delegation Leader, these are Vice Delegation Leader Chu's movements over the past few days. He has maintained prolonged, in-depth contact with several Federal senators, but the records he submitted regarding the contents of their conversations and the places he visited are lacking in detail—many sections are completely blank.
"We suspect he may have private dealings and backchannel contact with the Federal side. I would like to request authorization for a deeper investigation."
In theory, the covert affairs division could monitor every member of the delegation, but the unit this aide oversaw reported directly to Delegation Leader Jiang, thus requiring his personal approval.
Jiang's pen did not stop moving. "As deputy leader of the delegation, Vice Delegation Leader Chu has the authority to act independently and report directly to higher authorities. His refusal to disclose the contents of his discussions to us does not constitute a disciplinary breach.
"Furthermore, though we disagree at times, he remains a member of our delegation and represents Great Shun. While our visit continues, there is no need to treat him like an enemy. Drop the investigation."
The aide asked, "Delegation Leader Jiang, shall we withdraw surveillance on him entirely?"
Jiang paused his pen briefly. "We will be heading home soon. Pull them back." Glancing at the dossier, he added, "Good work. Leave the files here for now."
"Understood." The aide saluted him and stepped out.
Jiang lowered his head and resumed reviewing documents. Before long, a light knock sounded at the door. Vice Delegation Leader Tu Haisheng stepped inside and said, "Delegation Leader, everything you assigned has been taken care of."
Jiang finally wrote the last word, capped his pen, and looked up. "Since we are ready, then according to the itinerary, we will head to Serranocha State first to rendezvous with Delegation Leader Xie and the others, then set off for home."
Tu Haisheng nodded. "It's finally drawing to a close. We've been away for nearly three years. I wonder if my boy has truly grown as tall as he claims in his letters."
Jiang nodded with a faint smile. "Old Tu, when we first left, I recall your son had just entered middle school, hadn't he?"
"Indeed," Tu Haisheng replied. "Now he's preparing to test into higher academies. Time truly flies."
Jiang said, "Fortunately, the tasks our country entrusted to us have been completed. Though we cannot satisfy everyone, it is an acceptable result."
Tu Haisheng fell silent for a moment before speaking. "I only hope what we did this time was right."
Jiang understood what he meant. Their negotiations had been shaped by the will of the state and the interplay between competing factions. They knew this undertaking would have far-reaching ramifications in the future—perhaps even altering the direction of the world.
Yet whether their choices were right or wrong could not truly be determined now, nor did they know how history would ultimately judge them.
"History will prove it," Jiang said.
***
The Aurelian Palace, central wing, Sovereign Hall, front antechamber.
Three Federal Throne martial artists stood in the grand hall. In the center stood Vico Durant, Executive of the Federal Hazard Operations Directorate and personal security adviser to the Archon.
Standing to the left was Derian Crossal, representing Vea State and the West Coast Council, currently serving as the council's entrusted delegate. And on the right stood Wells Fantner, a military-appointed advisory commissioner.
The presence of three Throne martial artists standing together in the hall cast an overwhelmingly formidable aura. Across the expanse of Sovereign Hall where they stood, virtually no other martial artist or regular security guard was present.
Yet more than a hundred meters beyond the hall's perimeter lay an exceptionally tight cordon of security.
All three men were silently gazing at a stone pedestal set before them. Not one of them spoke. Only the ticking of a mechanical mantel clock marked the passing seconds.
When the clock struck twelve sharp, all three seemed to sense something at once and looked upward. A slender streamer of light and flame pierced the dome, descending straight down toward the pedestal.
With a bloom of spiritual fire, a faint wisp of smoke drifted up and coalesced into the silhouette of a human figure. It resembled a Visage of the Divine avatar. Though its exact facial features remained indistinguishable, its attire roughly identified the figure as a Xuanist.
Appearing without the slightest sign of being affected by the overwhelming pressure of the three men, the figure offered a customary greeting. "Greetings, gentlemen."
Durant spoke in a grave tone. "Real Man Ming, you are fifteen minutes past the agreed time."
Real Man Ming replied in a mild, genial voice, "My apologies for keeping you waiting. As I was leaving, my senior brother sought me out for a few words."
Crossal interjected, "Did he see through something?"
Real Man Ming smiled faintly. "When heavenly secrets stir, all things manifest in resonance. He may have felt an intuition and thus sought me out to converse. If you ask whether he truly knows, he might not. Thus he delayed me by a quarter of an hour—yet that quarter of an hour is not enough to alter the turning of heavenly secrets."
Durant said sternly, "Real Man Ming, we did not meet you here today to discuss Eastern metaphysics. We only wish to confirm one thing: has Celestial Master Lu of your Tianji Sect departed beyond the Ring of the World?"
Fantner and Crossal both fixed their gazes directly upon Ming. This was the question they cared about most.
Real Man Ming said, "The Celestial Master has already departed for the realms beyond."
Fantner smiled, yet posed a sharp inquiry nonetheless. "Then, Real Man Ming, have your actions aroused his suspicion?"
Real Man Ming answered frankly, "I do not know."
"What do you mean by that?"
Durant's piercing gaze bored into his face, while the eyes of the other two flickered.
Unperturbed, Real Man Ming said, "The Celestial Master may know, or he may not. We of the Tianji Sect act by following the heavenly design. In the turning of heavenly secrets, lesser currents may be shifted, but the grand tide cannot be defied. Therefore, so long as one acts in accordance with the grand tide, trivial details warrant no concern. Whether the Celestial Master knows or does not know, so long as he has departed for the outer realms, his departure is absolute. We need only proceed as previously agreed; there is no need to fret over the rest."
Crossal remarked coldly, "Going by your words, so long as one acts in accordance with this so-called 'grand tide,' one does not need to do anything at all in between?"
Real Man Ming smiled. "That requires first knowing how to peer into heavenly secrets. It took me over a century of gazing upon the heavens and discerning the underlying order to attain this realization. If you are willing to enter my sect and cultivate diligently for sixty years, you too might catch a fleeting glimpse."
Durant said in a deep voice, "Real Man Ming, I only need a definite answer: are you acting strictly according to our prior agreement, and will you ensure the outcome matches what was agreed upon?"
Real Man Ming smiled, answering without hesitation, "Yes."
"That is all I need to know. I trust you will cooperate with our operation."
"Naturally. If there is nothing further, I shall take my leave. I will await you all with deference in the Tianji Grand Hall."
With that, Real Man Ming offered them a bow. The smoke slowly dissipated, turning back into a slender plume of light and flame that shot upward, vanishing in an instant.
Once he was gone, Durant and the other two left the front antechamber and walked along the corridor toward the rear chamber of Sovereign Hall.
Waiting here was the Archon's staff team, led by Olin and Cassian, alongside several internal affairs officials and the Archon's principal secretary.
Seeing the three arrive, they stood at once. The secretary looked at them and asked cautiously, "Gentlemen, the Archon wishes to know whether matters went smoothly?"
Durant replied, "So far, quite smoothly."
The secretary asked solemnly, "May we initiate the plan? Your opinions will serve as vital counsel."
Durant said, "Personally, I see no issue. We may proceed according to the prior plan."
Crossal remained silent.
Fantner smiled and said, "I believe we may."
A look of relief and pleasure crossed the secretary's face. Bowing, he said, "Thank you, gentlemen." He then briskly walked toward the Archon's office. Olin and Cassian exchanged a glance and quickly followed behind with the rest of the staff.
Half an hour later, the doors to the Archon's office were pushed open from within. An orderly held the door open with his body, gesturing politely outward, and numerous aides and staff members filed out.
They dispersed one by one and began making calls to key departments, while various encoded telegrams and directives were dispatched across the capital in succession.
An hour later, vehicles began pulling up one after another before the Aurelian Palace. Representatives dispatched from various departments and institutional entities hurried forward, exchanging brief greetings with colleagues before ascending the steps into Sovereign Hall.
Once most of the personnel had arrived and taken their seats in the council chamber, the ornate, carved double oak doors closed heavily with a dull thud. Many could not help but glance back over their shoulders.
Olin walked up onto the dais. Cassian stood at his side and signaled attendants to distribute the dossiers.
Amid a flurry of rustling pages, sporadic gasps rose from below, followed by ripples of unrest.
"Ladies and gentlemen—"
Olin clapped his hands. "I assume you have all seen the plan. Yes, its contents are startling, but I must ask for your understanding and full cooperation in the operations that follow.
"I must state clearly: this operation involves vital national security, and no one may disclose anything to the outside. Under emergency authorization from the Federal Executive Administration, elite personnel and crucial resources from every department will be requisitioned in service of Operation Cornerstone. From this moment onward until the conclusion of the operation, internal affairs personnel will accompany each of you at all times..."
He reeled off a string of regulations and requirements, paused briefly, and then added, "From this point forward, all of your work will treat this operational plan as the highest priority. Please lend your full support to advancing this plan."
Chapter 1283