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After three years - Year 753 After the CoronationInside the Soul Society - The Grand Hall
Here, where a hall stretched with no visible beginning and no discernible end, where visitors of the Soul Society gathered to meet, exchange information, and listen to the most important announcements... there was not a single place left for anyone to stand, not even a fragment of empty space within sight.
The last massive gathering of this magnitude had taken place decades ago, when Lord Human announced four groundbreaking innovations that completely shifted the direction of the universe and altered the balance between countless factions.
But even that gathering, the one born from a full month of anticipation and an open invitation from the Soul Society to every corner of existence... was nowhere close to the sheer number of beings present today.
This Grand Hall was not truly infinite, yet it had been crafted with such sophistication that it would never appear crowded. With every new arrival, the hall would expand slightly, seamlessly creating space to accommodate them, and that continuous expansion placed immense strain on the systems of the Soul Society and consumed vast resources.
And today, this very hall, stretched to contain hundreds of billions of beings at once, was costing the Soul Society an unimaginable amount of soul units with every passing second, a drain so immense that even the richest factions could not sustain it for long.
And yet...
"...This is the big day." Lord Morval spoke with a faint, controlled smile as he looked down toward the Grand Hall below, standing upon a high platform concealed above clouds that no one beneath could perceive.
"The announcement was only a week ago," beside him, Timari spoke while manifesting both her human form and her true presence simultaneously, "I truly did not expect such a gathering to actually form in such a short time."
"Well, I expected a larger crowd than last time. After all, those who failed to attend and hear the initial announcement were delayed in acquiring Lord Human's goods, delayed in gaining priority, and many of them suffered for years before finally managing to obtain even a single piece of what they needed." Morval spoke calmly, his tone steady, then shifted his gaze far into the horizon as if trying to see the very last individual within the endless sea of beings, "...but even in my highest projections, I did not expect attendance on this scale."
He then turned his head slightly toward Timari, "The total count has already reached 790 billion, and it is still rising at an alarming rate." Then he looked forward once more, a subtle trace of concern appearing within his eyes, "The Grand Hall was never designed to sustain such numbers indefinitely. I only hope the announcement concludes smoothly without placing excessive pressure on the system."
"Hehe, 19 billion new individuals registered in the Soul Society within just the past week alone," Timari laughed lightly, clearly amused, "Even those who had been boycotting the Soul Society out of fear for their personal data or because of those ridiculous gambling theories were forced to join after hearing about what is going to happen today!"
Timari's gaze turned toward the crowd, her expression filled with excitement and anticipation, "...Ever since we announced a week ago that Lord Human would be introducing a new and massive innovation to his personal section, a strange phenomenon spread across the entire universe, a state of collective anticipation. A large number of wars have halted completely, as countless factions wish to learn the nature of this innovation before deciding their next
moves."
Then her eyes gleamed in a peculiar, almost reverent manner, "...No one understands the true importance and brilliance of that man more than I do. I am the one who repeatedly tries to make him aware of his own standing, the level of his innovations, and the magnitude of their impact each time he creates something new. And yet... even I did not expect his influence to reach such an overwhelming level."
Morval nodded slowly, his expression returning to calm neutrality, "Who in recorded history has ever been known to deal with the plague and survive?" Then he continued with a completely emotionless face, "Lord Human himself openly declared that he is conducting experiments on the Crimson Plague in an attempt to tame it, and yet no one expressed anger or demanded his execution. There was no backlash whatsoever, only wishes for his success and wagers on when he would achieve it."
"Hehe, that is what you call blind trust." Timari laughed with a hint of pride, then gave a playful wink toward her older brother, "By the way, I see you have grown accustomed to calling him 'Lord. At the very least, you will stop criticizing me now, hehe."
"...He has earned it." Morval spoke in a serious, unwavering tone, his voice carrying quiet conviction, "Even the sons of Behemoths, I address them as 'Lord; yet none of them offer us as much benefit as Lord Robin, nor do they hold his level of importance upon the current stage of the universe." Then he allowed a faint smile to form, subtle yet genuine, "I only hope he grows a little stronger and matures somewhat with time, so the title does not feel... misplaced."
Timari waved her hand lightly, her expression relaxed, "I am certain that after today, he will return to being one of the wealthiest beings in the universe once more. As for strength, that matter is still distant... he is a Truth Chosen after all. Even if he reaches the level of a World Cataclysm, it would still be something extraordinary, far beyond the norm."
"...You are right." Morval replied after a brief moment of hesitation, as if weighing the thought carefully, "His overwhelming wealth alone will justify his standing, especially if that wealth flows through us and strengthens our position alongside his."
He frowned slightly after saying that, a rare expression crossing his face, then suddenly let out a strange, almost disbelieving laugh, "Hehe... I never imagined I would say such words about anyone in my life. Who could possibly contribute to the wealth of the Soul Society? And yet... here we stand." Then he gestured downward with an open palm, indicating the vast gathering below, "I am not even angered that he is about to publish something related to soul power, something so significant that it may overturn the entire first path completely!"
"But he will overturn the path in a good way, that is what matters most." Timari responded quickly, her tone firm and confident, "A transformation that will undoubtedly benefit us and strengthen our position rather than weaken it." "....." Morval placed his hands behind his back once more, his posture straight and composed, "That is precisely why I approved its publication." Then he fell silent for a few seconds, his expression shifting slightly, "...There is something... strange about this."
"Hmm?" Timari turned her delicate face toward her older brother, curiosity and faint concern appearing in her eyes.
"...Tell me, how was Lord Robin when he handed you this project?" Morval asked in a quieter voice, as if probing deeper into something unseen.
"He seemed tense." Timari looked downward again, recalling the brief meeting she had with him recently within the Spirit Sapling, replaying every detail in her mind, "He appeared suddenly, gave me the details of the project without hesitation, then told me he needed it published and to generate funds quickly... and left just as abruptly. From his expressions and the speed of that exchange, I believe something else is occupying his thoughts, something far greater... This massive project felt almost trivial, almost like a side matter, to him!" "...So we are about to publish something massive related to soul force, here within the Soul Society, celebrating and waiting for our share of the profits," Morval spoke slowly, his confusion deepening as he laid out the situation, "while he himself did not appear worried, did not attempt to offer any form of incentive this time, did not even mention the possibility of negotiation if I found the project unsatisfactory, as he did before... is that truly the case?" "Hmm, perhaps he simply did not see it as important because the project itself is already extraordinary beyond doubt?" Timari tilted her head slightly, trying to rationalize it, "...What exactly are you trying to imply?"
"I am saying that I no longer know which of us depends on the other more at this stage." Morval's brows gradually furrowed, his tone becoming heavier, "Lord Robin needs us to manage nearly all buying and selling across the network... yet at the same time, he has become one of the greatest pillars supporting the Soul Society itself, and the strongest force attracting buyers. Dormant users and new users alike have surged in activity because of him, and the era he has ignited is flourishing with unprecedented momentum, and will flourish even further with today's project... He has become a cornerstone we cannot afford to lose under any circumstance."
"...I do not know how I feel about that, but I do know one thing..." Then he took
several slow steps toward the very edge of the vast platform upon which he stood, each step measured and deliberate, "Either Lord Robin fully understands everything I just said and has grown confident in our restraint... or he has simply grown far too accustomed to our presence and influence."
When Morval reached the edge of the platform, he raised his hand and waved lightly, and in response, a mechanical fairy appeared instantly, casting a focused beam of light upon him, illuminating his figure before the unimaginable
crowd below.
Then he spoke with a composed, carefully maintained smile, one that concealed every trace of his earlier thoughts:
<Welcome, users of the Soul Society... you have waited long enough.>