“That is… what?”
Noah almost pressed his face against the porthole and exclaimed in shock.
His gaze could not move away from the outline of that black giant sword.
“Inside those steel structures… I think I saw a sword?
An unimaginably huge sword?!”
“Your observation is very sharp.
That is precisely the core foundation upon which the Starward Riseway was built.”
Rover’s voice sounded beside him, calm yet carrying a trace of solemnity toward an ancient creation.
“The Starward Riseway vertical track transportation system.
The steel tracks and propulsion rings you see are transportation engineering built upon it by later generations.
But its true core pillar is that completely black giant sword.”
“According to research, it is the ‘Exostrider,’ a remnant weapon from a giant machine left behind by an extraterrestrial civilization.
The lower end of its sword body extends deep into Swordfall Lake, while the upper hilt area supports the curved ceiling of the underground space above us.
Its structure runs through the entire core region of Lahai-Roi.”
She paused for a moment when mentioning “Exostrider,” as if choosing her words carefully.
Rover paused again, then continued in the tone of recounting an ancient legend: “In the ‘Three Epochs Mythology’ of Lahai-Roi’s indigenous people, the Roya people, this sword is prophesied as the ‘Sword of the End.'”
“Mythological records state that in the final decisive battle, it will be drawn by the hero ‘Baldur,’ who represents hope and light, to confront and end the world-destroying evil dragon ‘Helong.'”
“Of course, that is only myth.”
Rover’s tone returned to its usual rationality.
“But in reality, it is indeed the physical cornerstone that allows Lahai-Roi to exist in this extreme place and serves as the transportation lifeline.”
Noah listened with his heart surging.
His gaze shifted back and forth between the cold technological creation and the mysterious ancient giant sword.
The grandeur of engineering and the weight of mythological prophecy intertwined at this moment, once again overturning his understanding of Lahai-Roi.
This was no longer merely a technologically advanced academy city.
It was an underground fortress built upon a mythological relic, bearing an unknown destiny.
“It is a massive lifting system connecting Lahai-Roi with Roya Frostlands – the most efficient transportation hub for traveling between the surface and underground, continuously transporting supplies from the outside world from the icefield into Lahai-Roi.”
Rover’s words interrupted Noah’s inner sigh.
Her gaze fell upon that magnificent structure as she continued, “Relying on track propulsion acceleration technology, it can complete vertical lifts of dozens of kilometers in just a few minutes.”
“Many years ago, when various nations cooperated to establish the academy city, it was once a symbol of freedom and openness.
But now, after Lahai-Roi gained independence, its usage rights are completely in the hands of the Lahai-Roi Council.”
Hearing this, Noah turned his head to look at her.
Rover’s profile appeared somewhat distant under the light coming through the porthole.
“The Council stipulates that only personnel and supplies holding permits issued by them may pass through the Riseway to enter or exit.
However, for external visitors like us…”
She paused.
Noah nodded, understanding.
“So we can only wait for the magnetic storm window period and force our way in with aircraft?”
“This is currently the tacitly permitted method.”
Rover withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its usual calm.
“Moreover, even after descending via the Riseway, one can only reach the bottom hub area.
To continue to the academy city or research institutes, one must still transfer to the Startorch Train here.”
“We have formal cooperative relations with Lahai-Roi.
After reporting to the Council, Black Shores personnel may fly in via aircraft to designated airports at their own risk.”
Noah looked once more at that silent steel giant beast, but a trace of doubt subconsciously flashed through his mind.
“Lahai-Roi Council?
Independence?”
“Was this mentioned in the game plot?
I don’t think so… In my impression, Lahai-Roi was a borderless academy city, right?”
“Ah, if only I had finished the plot before drawing cards back then… Now that I’ve transmigrated, I don’t even know the specific plot of 3.0.
I can only guess based on previews and some insider information I saw.”
While someone was still lost in wild thoughts, Rover’s gaze had already turned once more toward the gradually receding giant structure outside the window.
Her golden pupils reflected her cold profile, as if piercing through time and seeing another scene from many years ago.
Noah noticed her momentary distraction.
“Rover.”
He asked cautiously, “Back then… did something happen between Black Shores and Lahai-Roi?”
Rover did not answer immediately.
Inside the cabin, for a moment there was only the low hum of the engines.
A few seconds later, she slowly spoke.
Her voice was calm, yet like deep water flowing beneath ice: “Lahai-Roi’s independence was not a peaceful transition.”
“Decades ago, after the end of the first long-term virtual mass magnetic storm, when they issued their independence notice, various nations – especially Huanglong and the New Federation, which had invested the most – expressed that they could not accept it.”
Her fingertips lightly tapped the armrest of the seat – an extremely rare subtle action that revealed emotion.
“The two nations sent envoys to Black Shores.
I signed the order and formed a coalition with Huanglong, the New Federation, and Rinascita.
The fleet set out for the Arctic Ocean.”
Her statement was concise and devoid of any emotional color, yet Noah could feel its weight.
“That was the final measure, and also a failed show of force.”
Noah was somewhat puzzled.
A coalition of four nations had actually failed?
Although the coalition included some atmosphere, with just Black Shores alone they should have been able to deal with a small Lahai-Roi, right?
“We deployed troops on the surface icefield, attempting to force the Council back to the negotiation table and accept a plan of high autonomy rather than complete independence.”
Rover turned her head to look at Noah.
There was a complex penetrating quality in her gaze.
“But we underestimated the people inside… especially the determination of their leader.”
“That was a scholar who had come from Black Shores.
She believed that our path had already been polluted by secular politics, and that Lahai-Roi must find the ultimate answer in absolute purity and independence.”
She paused, as if recalling a specific scene.
“They were determined to perish together, using the entire city and all research materials as chips.
And we could not actually destroy that place.”
“After all, there were key researches against The Lament, the lifelong wisdom of countless scholars, and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.”
“So you chose to withdraw the troops?”
Noah felt he seemed to understand.
“I chose compromise.”
Rover corrected him.
There was a trace of fatigue in her tone, but it was immediately replaced by firmness.
“Force could not win back hearts, nor could it preserve knowledge.”
“Since they firmly believed that lonely path could lead to truth… then Black Shores was willing to wait and examine that result as a cooperative partner.”
“This is more valuable than one more ruin.”
She withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its usual composure.
“It’s just that once a rift is created, it is difficult to mend.
The Council remains highly wary of us to this day, and we have never stopped paying attention to this place.”
“This is why we must be so cautious on this trip.”
Noah silently nodded.
His understanding of the leader before him had deepened another layer.
Her strength lay not only in power, but also in that clarity and restraint that, even under extreme pressure, still focused on the long term.
His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but then smoothed out.
He thought to himself, “Rover infiltrating the academy this time… maybe it has something to do with this?”
But that wasn’t important.
Lahai-Roi and Black Shores’ past events…
In any case, none of it had anything to do with him.
He just needed to tightly hug Rover’s thigh.