The black sun hangs high

Chapter 227 "The Flame"

Clearly, this is a hastily cobbled-together newspaper.

The layout, the paper, the ink, and the many details in the newspaper all indicate that it was printed hastily and began to circulate.

It was only then that Valery realized he hadn't had time to check the name of the newspaper.

"Passing on the torch."

He quietly read out the newspaper's name before turning to the second page and beginning to read the rest of the content.

What comes into view is a text that occupies a large portion of the page, titled: "The Shadow of 'Serenity' and the Problems We Need to Face."

The title was bolded, and paired with that sharp font, it looked even more shocking.

Valery was taken aback by the author's name, which was not the "Mayer" he had expected, but a rather strange pen name that he had never seen before.

"The ghost of Seren?"

As Valery began to read the words before him, this article, written by Mayer, polished by George Markm, and published under the new pseudonym Hugh Ernst, also came into the view of more people. It traveled through cities, into villages, and onto ships... Not only in plateaus and plains, but also in the distant Eastern world, people saw these words.

Mage Markm trusted his good friend Mayer, with whom he had co-founded a newspaper in the Kingdom of St. Steel, completely. The two shared similar views and ideals and had always harbored resentment towards the St. Steel royal family and the Black Sun Society. Therefore, after reading the letter disguised by Virin, George Markm took decisive action.

The newspaper, which was still in the planning stage, started operating ahead of schedule. Gerasimov, a famous painter who was closely related to Mayer and Markm, was notified by Markm immediately. The painter immediately gave up his rest and, despite his illness, began to work through the night to create the huge magical painting.

Markm himself quickly polished the article and took it to several newspapers and publishers he had previously contacted who opposed the war.

Hugh, who was inside the city of Seren, and Valery, who was also trapped on the edge of this dead city, never expected that Mayer and his friends could unleash such amazing energy in such a short time.

In fact, during his conversation with Hughes, Meyer was deliberately concealing the plans he and his friends were preparing.

Mayer was always extremely cautious about anything related to the Black Sun Society, because he knew very well just how terrifying this bizarre, vast, and ancient organization was.

They are capable of infiltrating the regimes of any country in Vain, planting their own spies in Merlinle, influencing and even controlling the royal family of Saint Steel, and thus making important decisions that can interfere with the operation of the entire world.

Meyer himself almost stepped into the Black Sun Society.

As a key member of the Black Sun Society and a "proud student" of St. Steel Academy, Mayer became even more wary of the Black Sun Society after his complete break with his teacher. Later, the long-term arrest warrants issued by the St. Steel royal family against the newspaper and its members made Mayer even more cautious.

When Hugh appeared before Mayer, he even suspected that this young nobleman, who seemed somewhat out of place with Vaan, was an important pawn planted by the Black Sun Society within the Ernst family.

It wasn't until the two had several in-depth conversations, and Meyer witnessed Hugh's actions firsthand and read his writings, that Meyer truly trusted this young man who was about ten years younger than him.

However, even now, Mayer still has doubts.

In his view, the ideas and concepts that Hugh Ernst inadvertently revealed were inconsistent with his past experiences.

But right now, this is clearly not a priority issue. As a series of events unfolded, the crucial moment that Mayer and others had been waiting for finally arrived.

Mayer’s control over language is astonishing. Although the article looks long, anyone who tries to read it can extract its core content in a very short time and shudder at the terrifying truths it reveals.

This article will tear down the veil that has been covering the truth all along.

It will reveal the Black Sun Society and their terrifying beliefs to everyone.

It will expose the real threat that Vaan and all its inhabitants need to face to the light of day.

……

The North, Merlinle and...

An old and angry roar echoed from the office of the Public Magic Affairs Department.

"Did you see that? Did you see that?"

With this roar, a "Torchbearer's Report" was slammed onto the table, causing the magical ornaments on the table to tremble.

An old monk dressed in a heavy robe and a scarf paced around the table twice, but he still could not quell his dissatisfaction and anger. So he stood up again, raised his hand and slammed it on the table several times. The loud noise silenced everyone in the office.

The old mage glared at everyone before speaking, "The Black Sun Society, huh... This was a proposal we started discussing two months ago, as was the one in Seren City, but what was the result? Tell me, where is the result?"

At that moment, no one dared to speak.

People who work at the Public Magic Affairs Department are always more perceptive of interpersonal relationships. Everyone present knew that their boss was really, really angry. Speaking out rashly at this moment would easily make them a sitting duck.

Remaining silent is the best option right now.

However, the clerks on the legal committee underestimated the old monk's anger. "What, no one's answering?"

The old mage angrily took two steps forward, and a mage's hand appeared instantly. A figure was immediately lifted from the seat by this mage's hand, and then the old mage raised his eyebrows and said, "Come, answer me, where is the progress of these matters?"

The unfortunate man who was caught stood up, trembling, his face and expression somewhat subtle.

“Mr. Vika, the office has submitted a total of five different proposals against the Black Sun Society in the past two months, and nine proposals against the city of Seren... The latest proposal was submitted seven days ago.”

The old mage Vika's anger seemed to have subsided a little. He nodded and said, "Hmm, you understand now. Continue."

However, the clerk, who had received permission from his superior, began to stammer at this moment, and the old monk standing in front of him began to look serious again.

Finally, the Raindrop-level mage clerk could no longer bear the pressure. He gritted his teeth and said, "The five proposals against the Black Sun Society have been repealed under the latest orders. As for the proposals from Seren, the first eight were rejected by you and the General Affairs Office respectively. The ninth one should be on your desk... but you just returned from Delan and probably haven't seen it yet."

"..."

The large room became even quieter.

As one of the main people in charge of the entire office, Master Vika's expression turned somber at this moment. He did not continue to be angry, nor did he choose to blame the ordinary clerk. He let out a heavy sigh of relief, and then waved his hand: "Alright, I don't care what happened before. Now... everyone get busy. Make a new response proposal for this newspaper and this article... and while you're at it, reorganize all the previous plans related to the Black Sun Society. I will take them to the General Affairs Office tonight."

Vika stopped and raised his voice: "Do you understand?"

"understand……"

The answers were somewhat inconsistent, clearly indicating that the clerks present were not very confident about the task assigned by their superiors. However, at this moment, the mage Vika obviously had no intention of continuing to lecture his subordinates. He snorted and then quickly walked out.

Two seconds after the mage left, the previously silent office immediately became noisy, and the previously anxious clerks started moving again.

Numerous magical hands appeared, delivering various documents and information. Meanwhile, the "Torchbearer's Report" left behind by Vika was presented to several officials in the administrative office. They stared with worried expressions at the magical painting that kept flashing on the front page of the newspaper, trying hard to think of a strategy to deal with it.

The mage walked outside the building's door, stood in the open space, took out his pipe, and looked at the snowflakes that were slowly falling from the sky but were kept out by the massive magical ritual.

In many ways, the Public Magic Affairs Office was like the huge barrier that covered Merlinle and above, used to keep out the snowfall.

Not everyone can possess magic or control it.

Of course, not everyone should know or understand those important magical matters.

Some things need to be made public, some things need to be secretly communicated to the rulers of various countries, and some things are destined to be buried forever in the confidential archives of the Legal Committee... The "Public Magic Affairs Office" has been operating in Merlinle for thousands of years. Its name has changed countless times, but its function has never changed.

Vika slowly exhaled the smoke. He knew very well that the Public Magic Affairs Office, and indeed the entire Merlinler and the Law Council, were now facing an unprecedented and enormous challenge.

Or rather, a crisis?

The Legal Committee and various countries have consistently maintained a policy of concealment regarding the Black Sun Society and the truth about the city of Seren.

These two events are unlike any natural disasters or major magical plagues that have occurred in the past. The truth they lead to is actually the same, but this terrible truth could very well destroy the current operating rules of Vaan in an instant and have a devastating impact on the public's faith.

Faced with this incident, even Mehringer and his internal staff experienced extremely exaggerated disagreements.

Many people believe that, under the current circumstances, the Legal Affairs Commission should do everything in its power to stop the ongoing war and call on the warring nations to cease their confrontation and jointly address the crisis that could erupt at any time.

Fundamentally, this idea is certainly correct, but the possibility of realizing it is infinitely close to zero.

The city of Seren is both a catalyst and a microcosm. If the nations cannot reach an effective consensus on this matter, then there is no point in even thinking about other things. As for the enormous threat brewing within Seren, Merlinle and the higher-ups are already aware of it. In recent days, the magical messages constantly being sent through the Eye of Meren arcane device in Seren have further intensified the concerns of these veteran mages and scholars about those monsters.

If we compare all that is happening to an alchemical bomb piled up in a house, emitting faint smoke, then the sudden appearance and sensational "Torchbearer" becomes the skylight of that house. Through this small window, everyone can glimpse the deadly explosion that may occur at any moment.

"Vera, let's go, we should head to the general affairs office."

A middle-aged female mage, with an elegant appearance and attire, approached. She smiled and nodded to old Vika, extending an invitation.

"What's the point of going there now?"

Vika shook his head, pipe in mouth: "A meeting? What kind of meeting? The same as before, everyone sits in a circle arguing for ages, and then just starts fighting?"

The female mage maintained her smile: "You should at least attend the meeting. Even if a fight breaks out, it's better than doing nothing, isn't it?"

“Then I won’t go either. It’s the same whether I’m there or not… I submitted the opinions and attitudes of the Delan royal family and the national government before I came back, but what happened? The General Affairs Office didn’t respond at all. I suspect that these things are useless and they don’t care.”

As Vika spoke, he exhaled a puff of smoke, his aged face showing signs of fatigue: "By the goddess Mel, we really want to solve some problems, but we can't take a single step right now. I even think that our 'elites' are less efficient than those who created the 'Torchbearer'. At least they are more decisive in their actions and can indeed bring about some new changes."

Hearing Old Vika's words, the female mage sighed helplessly: "That's why you should come with me to the General Affairs Office. The two ambassadors of the Highland Mage Council have arrived. They have brought some new ideas and opinions about Seren City. This is the first time since the outbreak of war. Don't you want to go and listen?"

(End of this chapter)