The three Empresses were the same person at different stages of life. Their faces bore no real difference. Only their aura set them apart.
In terms of figure, Evernight, the embodiment of mature femininity, was undoubtedly the most captivating and striking. Daybreak was hardly inferior, though her icy and imposing presence made her feel distant, almost untouchable. As for Dawn, who represented youth, her figure was already exceptional for her age. Graceful and well-proportioned, she could easily be called a work of art.
Unfortunately, the only ones she could be compared to were two far more mesmerizing versions of herself.
Thus, despite not truly being an inexperienced girl, Dawn appeared almost innocent by comparison.
Yet from another perspective, she was the one with the brightest future ahead, because her growth was something that could be clearly foreseen.
After taking their respective positions, the three Empresses sat down in unison. Daybreak spoke first.
"Count Hain, what is the situation in the Special Zone?"
A careful observer might notice that the usually composed Daybreak, whose emotions were the most restrained among the three, showed the slightest tremor in her voice when mentioning the Special Zone.
Count Hain lowered his head respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the foundation of the Special Zone remains intact."
At those words, all three Empresses visibly relaxed.
Although they had long received reports confirming stability, along with detailed accounts, they only truly felt at ease after hearing it directly from Hain himself.
Because there was always the lingering fear that earlier reports might have been falsified to conceal the truth.
The possibility was slim, but when it came to the Special Zone, they could never afford to be careless.
Especially in their early years, when similar deceptions had occurred time and time again right before their eyes.
For a long period, the Empress had even believed that poverty no longer existed within the Empire. That under her rule, every citizen had become someone others envied.
But reality told a different story.
Even after fully consolidating power and ruling for over three hundred years, poverty still persisted within her domain.
To eliminate it entirely, no matter how hard she tried, seemed like an impossible goal.
Even merely slowing the widening gap between classes and preventing the upper ranks from excessively exploiting those below had already demanded immense effort.
And yet, despite all the sacrifices she had made, the result was still far from ideal.
At that thought, the eyes of all three Empresses dimmed slightly.
Moments later, aside from the still-young Dawn, the other two flawlessly concealed their disappointment.
They were the Empresses of Loran.
They had to remain confident. They had to remain unyielding.
Only then were they worthy of the title Eternal Monarch.
After a brief pause, Daybreak continued.
"Count Hain, the report mentioned a massive elven ruin hidden beneath the Old District. And within it, a terrifying elven construct?"
"Give us the full details."
Hain immediately bowed his head and began recounting everything. The underground hall, the Golden Legion, and all related events, as he understood them.
The three Empresses listened in silence. Compared to written reports, firsthand narration carried far greater depth.
After a long while, Daybreak frowned slightly.
"So, in other words, we still do not know who the true mastermind is?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Although Mozo had shared his experiences, and the black-robed leader had perished within the Empire, this only confirmed one thing.
The enemy was not the elves.
At best, it suggested that these black-robed figures belonged to a covert force of another empire.
But which empire remained unknown.
After all, more than one had both the motive and the capability to carry out such an act.
Daybreak nodded, then exchanged a glance with Evernight before issuing her final orders.
"Preserve the corpses of those criminals. Return the remains of the elven master craftsman to the elves' homeland."
"And lodge a formal protest. Demand appropriate compensation."
Hain did not respond, because the order was not directed at him.
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, a white dove flew out from the audience hall, carrying her command to its intended recipients.
Only after it departed did Hain speak again.
"Then, Your Majesty, what of the elven Sealed Artifact?"
Daybreak and Evernight smiled at the same time.
"That is ours," they said calmly. "Let the elves protest if they wish. We have already returned their kinsman's remains."
To the elves, the Golden Legion was important, but not important enough to start a war.
It was something they would not easily give up, yet not something they would fight to the death over.
It was foreseeable that Loran and the elves would engage in prolonged negotiations over its ownership.
As for returning the craftsman's remains, beyond matters of etiquette, it also served to prevent the elves from escalating the situation further.
After settling several major matters in just a few exchanges, Dawn, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"That college student, Mozo. Count, what kind of person do you think he is?"
Daybreak glanced at her with interest, while Evernight watched her with quiet affection.
They were one person.
And yet, also three.
After a moment's thought, Hain replied.
"A clever and fortunate young man."
"I believe he has no deliberate connection to this incident. He was simply caught up in it, and happened to play a significant role through sheer luck."
With a faint smile, Hain added.
"A mere Sequence Ten would hardly have the means to involve himself with the great Sun King, or His Sealed Artifact."
Before the Kings, one must show reverence.
As if standing before the gods behind them.
An ancient admonition, still observed to this day.
After discussing several political matters, the Empresses dismissed Hain, who would soon return to oversee the Special Zone.
But before leaving, he finally voiced the question that had lingered in his mind for years.
"Your Majesties, what is the true value of the Special Zone?"
Officially, the answer was simple.
To separate the extraordinary from ordinary people, creating a pure region to test whether society could develop better without supernatural influence.
It was one of the grand proposals once put forward by the great Saint, John Connor.
But Hain, and many others, never believed that the Loran Empire would maintain such a massive project merely to test a theoretical hypothesis.
It was too costly. Too absurd.
And over time, even the three Empresses themselves had considered shutting it down due to the lack of tangible results.
After a brief exchange of glances, Evernight finally answered him seriously.
"As you and those scavengers have long suspected."
"The Special Zone is part of a ritual."
Hain immediately understood.
This had always been one of the most widespread speculations among the great powers and across the entire extraordinary world.
That the Special Zone was part of a grand ascension ritual for some powerful figure within the Loran Empire.
Only now was it finally confirmed by the Empress herself.