Lord Shadow

Chapter 1963: News That Come Out of Nowhere

Death Monarch returns. This is the news that has come out from the island continent of Arturia.

But this news is just making headway to other places

The world was big even before the Fall.

But after the Fall, the world is even bigger and there is many swaths of unexplored land and seas and even the Divine Sense of Divine Comprehension realm being would find it hard to scan the entire world like before.

The energy storms and the interference from the Heavenly Will have made this return to the world just right before the Fall.

A world where a new age of exploration begins. Where dark things could hide again and there is many unexplored wonders waiting to be discovered

And where is Death Monarch right now. He is on an island.

It has been three days since Azief returned to Earth.

The world has been informed.

At least the seven world powers and the factions are informed.

There are so many people in the world and in some places this news has no consequences. But in some other places, there is nothing more important

The first one that come to respond was the Empire of Japan.

The Emperor of Japan send some gifts and messenger to Arturia using some kind of teleportation method

And then there is Hikigaya and Oreki who came in their avatars.

They came to determine whether he was real.

Azief had some things to say to them, but when he saw that they were just Hikigaya and Oreki avatar, he did not say what he wanted to say

Certain things should be only talked about when they truly meet face to face.

And also, because he knew that there is a way of hijacking through the memories of avatar. The reason why avatars and the real being is different is only one thing

The absence of soul.

It is why avatars and clones could die and not be considered lives. If they have soul, there is no restriction.

If they did not have, even if they have a mind of their won and they have their own prerogatives, there is subtle difference between the real body and the avatar and clones.

And it is because they lack such a soul, that their memories and their thoughts are more susceptible to hijacking

Azief himself did not know this until he accessed that treasured knowledge of the Etherna. The things he wanted to discuss with Oreki and Hikigaya were something important.

So important that he did not dare trust just an avatar.

Because the things he wanted to say concern the future, he fears the moment he said it, some beings in the distant sky would perceive it and send some methods to uncover it.

Like Wargod and Odin told him, there is a lot of eyes watching. And those eyes that are watching not all of them are benevolent eyes. Some have dark intentions.

If the avatar and the real body are now linked Azief might have said it anyway.

But from what the avatars of these two are telling him Oreki and Hikigaya are in seclusion right now and they cut off contact even from their own avatars.

Only when they emerge from their seclusion will the avatar return back to the real body and only then do their memories sync back together

Since that is the case there is no need for Azief to tell them anything at this moment. It could even be harmful to him and his plan

Maybe, this in itself is fate. Azief had already concocted some plans.

There are his plans, Loki plans and probably Erika plans.

These people who know the future, none of them are simple.

Loki knows more than what he is telling and that Erika always looks at him like he is a dead man walking

He did not like his future being told because he understood knowing the future has a price. Loki is exempt from this.

Because he comes from a deleted timeline. It is no more a future than it is a dream

But for Erika, seeing the future and knowing the future, there must be a price.

Or maybe she knows from that mysterious connection of Oracles.

Azief learns in the codex of Etherna Borgan ability connects all Seers and Oracles through timelines and dimensions.

Even a parallel dimension could not stop them

Like a network of Oracles and Seers.

Of course, not all oracles and clairvoyants could enter this network. Only the most accomplished of them could

“Maybe this plan would work with more people in it. Or maybe it will work better if less people know about it.”

Azief wanted to share some things with Oreki and Hikigaya. Mostly Hikigaya. Illusion and reality, turning it and flipping it as one pleases

That ability of his is very useful and Azief wanted to make use of it.

But now there is such an obstacle and he had to rethink. Is it better to know or is it better not to know? Azief himself has been in dilemma on how to solve this matter

And he knew why Oreki and Hikigaya sent their avatars

Just like the Emperor of Japan, they were skeptical and Azief understood why.

They met only briefly and talked only briefly and then they disappeared. Empire of Japan right now has become closed off country reminiscent the time of the Tokugawa

But that did not mean they close their county to all people. Azief returns had a global impact.

Because Pandemonium is a global power, his return also means that Pandemonium chaos would be resolved

Why? Because he is Pandemonium

Hikigaya and Oreki did not ask too much about this matter because this is Pandemonium matter and it is not appropriate for them to meddle too much.

But Hikigaya and Oreki do express that they would like it if Pandemonium is a bit peaceful. It is not a request. It is a plead

The world needs stability right now and a war between the world powers would destabilize any peaceful recuperation.

And Empire of Japan itself needs a peaceful world. A chaotic world is not beneficial for them right now. Maybe, when they have power, they would prefer the world to be in chaos. But for now, Hikigaya and Oreki wanted the world to be at peace.

The world could not keep fighting wars on a global scale. It doesn’t matter that the world is getting stronger

What matters is they also need rest. The common people. They need time.

If only Azief could tell these two, he also needed time.

Hikigaya said that it is in the best interest of everyone for the world to be at peace for a few years.

Conflict is inevitable. This world thrives on conflict.

Even more so among those who have great powers. And the Seven great powers all wanted what the others have.

Even if they wanted to be peaceful, others would not let them be.

Hikigaya and Oreki are not that naïve that they could just hope people stop fighting and people would stop fighting

They just wanted to delay the conflict.

And if the war in Pandemonium did not happen, then the whole world would not have enter into a period of uncertainty.

Nowadays, all of the world powers are on uncertain mode

They did not know whether the changes of Pandemonium would make other world powers make a move.

So, whether they wanted to or not, the other world powers have to be ready for any attack.

In a world of magic, the attack one could employ is numerous and some border on reality altering methods and this feeling and atmosphere of vigilance is not good

Because someone might slip up and do something stupid

For common people a good amount of vigilance is necessary.

But when the object of that vigilance are seven great powers that control the majority of the world, that kind of vigilance could start a global war that would affect everyone in it.

It is something Azief also understood and wanted. Azief simply reassures them that this matter would be handled and Oreki and Hikigaya did not push on.

They know there are lines, and they are not intending to break through that line.

Azief on the other hand ask them about their relationship with the World Government and Hikigaya and Oreki also only gives vague answers.

This is important.

Azief knows that there is now a secession movement in the World Government right now and this secession movement is headed by Hikigaya and Oreki.

These two people started it with the secession of Japan.

Azief did not intend to stop it.

This is the internal matter of the World Government, so it is not appropriate for him to meddle. But he does want to know the real reason why Japan secede itself.

And Hikigaya and Oreki do give him an excuse

It is just that Hikigaya and Oreki feel that the power of the World Government is encroaching upon the sovereignty of their nation.

Azief only smiles when listening to this excuse. He knows it is a bull but Azief did not intend to expose them

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