# Chapter 20: Technical Personnel Are All Like This
On the broad fountain square, an elf dressed in splendid attire walked hurriedly.
The fountain gurgled, emitting a reassuring flowing sound, but this elf with silver-white hair and purple eyes had no mood to stop and admire the scenery. He passed through the central fountain of the square, walked across the ground paved with flat stone slabs, and strode quickly toward the auditorium on the other side.
Above the auditorium hung an emblem, depicting a lighthouse standing on the coast, guiding the distance, with twelve stars encircling it.
This was the symbol representing the most powerful organization on this continent—the Bay Federation.
He stepped up the stairs in large strides and entered the auditorium. The surrounding guards, upon seeing his face, immediately stepped aside, waiting respectfully for him to pass.
"Director, the esteemed lords are waiting for you in the conference hall."
A guard who seemed to be the leader reminded him, and the elf softly thanked him before heading toward the conference hall.
Soon, he passed through the corridor of the auditorium and arrived at the conference hall.
"I'm late, my apologies."
As he opened the door, he softly apologized, but when he looked up, the scene before him shocked him—in the conference hall, more than a dozen people were sitting around the round table that had almost never been fully occupied, all staring at him.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Magic, the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Technology, the Ministry of Religion... the heads of all major systems within the Federation had all arrived, and his arrival was the last.
"Please take a seat, Director Lora."
The Minister of Defense, who was presiding over the meeting, nodded to him, and the elf named Lora quickly found his seat and sat down.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin the meeting."
The Minister of Defense looked around the room, and seeing that no one had any objections, he directly began: "First, let's discuss the situation at the Sigma Volcano. The Ministry of Civil Affairs, please report the current situation."
"Understood."
A middle-aged man with a somewhat weary expression stood up, holding a document in his hand: "The eruption of the Sigma Volcano has been ongoing for three days. The surrounding three cities and seventeen towns have been severely affected. The number of confirmed dead has reached 120,000, and the number of missing is still being counted. The Ministry of Magic has already set up a large-scale barrier to block the volcanic ash, but the volcanic eruption is still continuing, and the barrier may not hold for long..."
"Wait."
At this moment, the Minister of Military Affairs interrupted him: "The eruption of the Sigma Volcano is not a natural disaster, is it? The Ministry of Magic has already confirmed that there is an extremely powerful life form inside the volcano. What is the situation now?"
"Indeed."
The Minister of Magic nodded, his expression grave: "We have detected a life form with energy levels exceeding 30,000 within the volcano. Moreover, its energy fluctuations are extremely unstable, and it is very likely that it was the one that triggered the volcanic eruption."
"30,000?!"
Gasps of shock echoed through the conference hall.
"That's impossible..."
"Our most advanced magic cannon's peak output during full-power firing is only around this number."
"30,000 energy levels... this is only the lower limit; it could be even higher!"
"Triggering a volcanic eruption... my god, what kind of monster is this?"
The conference hall fell into chaos. Only a few of the high-ranking officials present had the corresponding technical expertise; most were specialized in their own fields. Only such a stark comparison could create a sense of shock.
30,000 energy levels meant that there was no weapon in the entire Federation that could surpass its energy level. Even the strongest among those extraterrestrial monsters only approached 10,000 energy levels—their numbers were their true advantage.
As for triggering a volcanic eruption, that went without saying. The Federation had plenty of weapons and technologies capable of triggering volcanic eruptions, but an individual's power reaching this level... it couldn't be said there were none, but their existence was merely a legend.
"Alright, the meeting is adjourned."
Seeing that morale was beginning to waver, and that many present had worked hard all day and indeed needed rest, the Ministers of Military Affairs and National Defense exchanged a glance across the room. Both nodded simultaneously, and then the Minister of National Defense stood up, announcing the end of the meeting: "Since the High Commander is not present, we will follow the orders he left behind. Icarus, you will go and release a press release later. The people in the Sigma Volcano region need to be reassured, and disaster relief supplies need to be dispatched as quickly as possible..."
While the Minister of National Defense was exercising his authority as the second-in-command, the Minister of Technology also stood up. He walked over to Lora's side and asked him to follow. How could Lora dare to express any objection to his direct superior? He was merely the director of a research institute specializing in the study of those extraterrestrial beings. Above him were the predecessors at the National Research Headquarters. The Minister of Technology was far too high above him—so high that he would never have imagined this scene on an ordinary day.
"What you said was too brief, but it was enough to make those other fellows understand the severity of the situation."
Walking along the corridor leading to other rooms in the auditorium, the Minister of Technology spoke concisely. His demeanor was steady, and he seemed to dislike unnecessary words: "Later, you will go to the High Commander and give him a more detailed explanation of your judgment regarding this creature... If you feel a bit nervous, you can tell me first and organize your thoughts."
"The High Commander?"
Lora didn't pay attention to the latter part of the sentence. He seemed to suddenly think of something and muttered softly: "That's right, the Sigma Volcano erupted, and an incredibly powerful mysterious creature appeared. With such a serious incident this time, why is the High Commander nowhere to be seen?"
The Minister of Technology didn't mind this minor disrespect. Technical personnel were all like this. So he turned his head to look toward the southwest, his eyes seemingly able to penetrate the walls of the auditorium: "The High Commander..."
"He is currently at the Sigma Volcano."
---
And at the other end of time and space, the Mycroft Continent.
In the Northern Empire, at the teleportation array of the city closest to the Imperial Capital, three figures appeared.
A man, and two relatively petite youths—a boy and a girl.
Tap. Footsteps sounded. With one step, the black-haired man at the lead stepped out of the teleportation array. He raised his head and looked into the distance at the three towering peaks, and the three massive fortresses brimming with arcane power atop them. The warrior knew that behind them lay a majestic city, as magnificent as a miracle.
"It's so quiet around here. The victory celebration hasn't started yet. Have I arrived a bit early?"
He casually said with a smile, as if not expecting an answer, muttering to himself: "Well then, it seems this is the Imperial Capital of the Northern Empire."
"The Three Mountains Holy City."