Chapter 162: The Strange Golden Thread
Countless stars, like diamonds spilled across a deep, inky canvas, revolved in a slow, majestic dance, emitting an aura that was at once mysterious and grand. Even more astonishing was the ring of twelve giant, ethereal totems that encircled the star-dusted expanse. Six of them were already alight, suffused with a warm and potent energy that radiated a stable, dazzling light like a star in its own right. The other six remained dim, silent sentinels quietly awaiting their turn.
"Where is this?" March 7th exclaimed, her voice a breath of disbelief as she and Dan Heng followed their host into the otherworldly domain.
Aglaea stood beside them, her gaze fixed on the stunning scene. A deep reverence filled her voice. "This is the heart of Amphoreus… and the source of our hope for recreation."
After her introduction, Aglaea slowly turned. As she faced Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng, the gentle smile on her face gradually faded. Her eyes grew focused and cautious, and the very air around her shifted. The hospitable host was gone, replaced by a leader burdened with a heavy, unspoken responsibility.
"So, now…" Aglaea's gaze swept over the three of them, her tone steady and serious. "The environment is private and safe enough. May we… speak frankly and officially?"
Stelle, ever straightforward, was thrown by the sudden shift. "Huh?" she asked, a little bewildered. "Why so formal all of a sudden? What do we need to talk about?"
She assumed Aglaea wanted to discuss the upcoming confrontation. "Is it about fighting Nikador with you? Don't worry about that, we'll definitely help! There's no need to discuss it, just leave it to us!" Stelle patted her chest with a confident thud, trying to steer the atmosphere back to the familiar, more relaxed rhythm they had shared.
Aglaea regarded them calmly, her eyes—which seemed to see through everything—betraying no ripple of emotion. She gently shook her head.
"Not so," she said, her voice echoing with exceptional clarity in the vast, mysterious vortex of creation. "I already know of your origins from beyond the stars."
"This time, what I want to know is your deeper, truer purpose for coming to Amphoreus."
As soon as the words left her lips, she lightly raised a slender finger. Three threads of pure, flowing golden light condensed from thin air, hovering before Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng as if they possessed a life of their own. The golden threads hung there, quiescent, emitting a soft and peculiar aura.
"The fate of the Sacred City is as fragile as a fine thread…" Aglaea's voice was laced with a solemn gravity. "As its guardian, I must carefully scrutinize every existence that might influence its future."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over their slightly surprised and confused faces before she continued her explanation. "These golden threads can detect whether your answers are sincere. Dishonest words will cause them to tremble, while sincere responses will leave them calm."
"I promise you, I will not ask questions that involve your core secrets or personal privacy. All I require is an honest declaration of your intent."
Hearing this, Stelle immediately understood. It was clear that Aglaea still didn't fully trust them. That was why she had brought out these… lie detector threads for one final verification.
An inexplicable knot of discomfort tightened in her chest. She thought back on everything that had happened since they first set foot in Amphoreus—from the initial caution to fighting side-by-side. She remembered the defense of Okhema, where the three of them had contributed immensely, arguably bearing the brunt of the Chrysos Heirs' most ferocious assault.
And now, with the dust of that victory not yet fully settled, they were being subjected to this… an interrogation disguised as a test of trust. The feeling was truly unpleasant. The corners of her mouth twitched, and her eyes betrayed a flicker of offense and bewilderment.
Perhaps sensing the subtle shift in their emotions, Aglaea let out a soft sigh. Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible weariness, yet it was underpinned by an unyielding resolve.
"I ask for your forgiveness for this unreasonable request. But for the Sacred City of Okhema, and for all the citizens who live here, I am willing to embrace all the characteristics that are disliked and suspected by the world. I will use all necessary, however seemingly cold, methods just to eliminate any possible threat. This is my responsibility. It is something I must do."
With her words spoken so plainly and her posture so humble, even if Stelle and the others felt a sting of resentment, they couldn't find the words to object.
Ultimately, it was Dan Heng who stepped forward, speaking on behalf of the three. His tone remained calm but measured. "We understand your position and your difficulties, Madam Aglaea. We can accept your request."
He glanced at the golden thread floating before him, his tone shifting slightly as he clearly drew a line. "But please also understand that if a question touches upon our core secrets, or those of our companions, we will reserve the right to remain silent. This is not a matter of sincerity, but a principle we must uphold."
Aglaea nodded, accepting his terms. "Of course. Fairness in the rules is the basis for any dialogue. I will respect and listen to your requests."
Seeing this, Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng exchanged a look. Then, they reached out, each carefully wrapping a glowing golden thread around their wrist.
Once they were ready, Aglaea began. Her first question was direct and central to her concerns.
"Please, tell me. Why did you come to Amphoreus? Do you harbor any other, deeper purposes?"
Stelle, being the most straightforward, answered first. "We came to find March's other half! Part of her was forcibly taken from the Astral Express by some mysterious guy, who sent her through space by some unknown method to Amphoreus!"
Her voice was edged with a hint of complaint. "We've been following the clues all the way here! Otherwise, who would want to travel to a place where there's fighting everywhere?"
Her tone was blunt, but her words were clear and direct.
The golden thread wrapped around her wrist remained perfectly calm, its light stable and unwavering.
Aglaea's expression softened with understanding. "I see. So this is why you were inquiring everywhere in Okhema earlier, asking if anyone had seen someone resembling Miss March."
She paused briefly, then gave a clear answer. "Forgive my directness, but based on my perception, the 'other half' of Miss March you are looking for does not exist. At least, not within the whole of Okhema."
Stelle unconsciously retorted, finding the claim hard to believe. "How can you be so sure? Can you really see what everyone in Okhema looks like in real-time?"
Aglaea patiently explained, her tone flat and certain. "The network of golden threads extends throughout and protects all of Okhema. My perception and its are intertwined."
"While I cannot carefully observe every detail in every corner, I can definitively say that an individual with energy characteristics, life fluctuations, and even an appearance highly similar to Miss March does not exist here. No."
Hearing this explanation, a spark of comprehension flashed in Dan Heng's eyes.
Only now did he realize why, earlier in the bathhouse, just as he was about to suggest they contact their other companions for help, Aglaea had so timely interrupted and diverted the topic.
It turned out she had already vaguely sensed their intentions through her network of golden threads. Perhaps she had even guessed that the person they were searching for was not in Okhema at all. That was why she had chosen to confront them here, in this more private and formal setting, using this very method to draw out the truth.
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