Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

This filled the visitors with anticipation for the upcoming exhibits, wondering what kind of great machinery could satisfy Olivia’s ambition.

This anticipation, under the blessing of the First Law of Mysticism, transformed into special energy, injected into the instrument beside Olivia, with the red liquid column in the instrument rising steadily as this power accumulated.

When the red liquid column reached the calibration line, a huge roar came from beneath the Crystal Palace.

The floor behind Olivia cracked open, and a gigantic special steam engine rose from within.

More accurately, it was a part of a steam engine.

On the podium, Olivia pointed to the large extraordinary steam engine behind her and said:

"It is called the Differential Machine, boasting infinite computing power, rendering all our troubling problems insignificant before it."

"I’ve often heard people say that the Extraordinary Steam Engine is the pearl on the Industrial Crown, if that’s true, then the Differential Machine is the Industrial Crown itself."

As Olivia’s words fell, the entire Crystal Palace began to tremble slightly.

The trembling wasn’t the Crystal Palace itself, but the extraordinary steam engines placed at various booths throughout the Crystal Palace.

These extraordinary steam engines seemed to resonate, vibrating at the same frequency, all activating simultaneously and spewing thick steam.

Confronted with this sudden change, visitors thought it was a planned show and spontaneously applauded the scene.

Contrary to the visitors, all the transcendents present, especially the players who had come to complete the main quest one, had no trace of excitement in their eyes, only horror.

With Olivia’s actions, in just a few seconds, the once vanished steam rules reappeared.

The returning steam rules were even more suppressive than those triggered by Xavier.

Under the steam rules, not only were the players’ skills and attributes suppressed, but even their mobility was quickly being stripped away.

Except for a few transcendents mastering the Power of Root, barely maintaining movement in the mist, other players, upon realizing, lost control of their bodies, frozen in place, unable to move.

The deprivation of players’ mobility wasn’t purely a physical constraint but a mental control.

Take Cold Mountain and the Divine Tongue, their bodies didn’t feel much restraint, yet in their minds, a voice continuously whispered:

"Give up thinking, do not struggle pointlessly, follow the instructions of the superior."

They had to combat that voice with their will to move.

Every step was a mental confrontation, making them sweat after only a few steps.

In contrast, Sword Star, with his Sword Heart Talent and the tempering from the previous near-failed reincarnation, had a will attribute far surpassing the two.

This made Sword Star, though not as powerful as the two, move more effortlessly within the steam rules.

With Sword Star’s support, the three of them quickly found Wu Chang True Self.

The contrast to Cold Mountain and the Divine Tongue greatly boosted Sword Star’s confidence, thinking he might have a chance to help True Self before they met, to repay a personal favor first.

But upon seeing True Self, he found that True Self was completely unaffected by the steam rules, swiftly moving the members of the Secret Magic Knight Order out of the Crystal Palace.

This immediately doused the new-found confidence of Sword Star with cold water before it even warmed up.

Is it truly this difficult to find a domain surpassing Peace?

Wu Chang didn’t notice Sword Star’s disappointment; he naturally grabbed the three and took them outside the Crystal Palace, telling them something major was about to happen inside and to hide around.

Neither stay too far nor too close, and discover as much truth as they could rely on themselves.

Inside the Crystal Palace, the applause had stopped unknowingly, with the clapping visitors, like the ordinary transcendents inside the venue, having halted their actions, losing control of their bodies.

Over a hundred thousand visitors stood like a hundred thousand stone statues, frozen in their last clapping postures.

Their eyes fixed on the Differential Machine, appearing religiously devout, surprisingly eerie.

The returning steam rules not only appeared inside the Crystal Palace; the fog that had dissipated for days now enshrouded the skies over Grimland once more.

Under the steam rules’ shroud, Grimland seemed to be paused, with all the city’s residents frozen in their last active posture, just like the visitors inside the Crystal Palace.

Except for Gray Church Slums.

Just like with Xavier, the steam rules triggered by Olivia couldn’t penetrate Erin’s Divine Kingdom.

The slums became an independent space, with its residents acting as usual, completely unaffected, at most glancing skyward, lamenting the sun’s absence.

In an improvised infirmary, noticing the plane’s change, Erin intensified the energy release, using Light Magic to dispel toxins within the bedridden girl, then told Thomas beside her:

"Something’s come up, and I need to leave for a bit. Go out and tell everyone to come another day."

Without waiting for Thomas’s response, Erin vanished from the makeshift infirmary.

Inside the Crystal Palace, when the dense steam filled the room, the extraordinary steam engines ceased vibrating.

They rose into the air, guided by the steam rules, merging into the Differential Machine.

As the last extraordinary steam engine entered the Differential Machine, it emitted a loud noise, seemingly manufacturing something astounding inside.

Watching the complete Differential Machine, Olivia softly murmured:

"Just one last step, and I’ll soon fulfill our agreement."

Clap, clap, clap.

In the silent hall, a sparse applause came from behind Olivia.

Olivia turned around, finding the applause was from Wu Chang himself.

Wu Chang said, "The pearl of the Industrial Crown should indeed be set upon the Industrial Crown itself."

Seeing Wu Chang remain freely mobile, seemingly unaffected, Olivia remarked in surprise:

"Sir Sean, you’re more remarkable than I imagined, and I apologize for ever doubting your capabilities upon your return from the New World."

"To earn your recognition is my honor." Wu Chang gave a gentlemanly salute and responded.

Olivia narrowed her eyes, as if examining a new invention, probingly asked:

"You seem to have discovered my plan long ago."

Wu Chang shrugged and said, "I’m not like others; I dare not underestimate Your Majesty in the slightest."

"If I’m not mistaken, everything from Prime Minister Ron’s assassination attempt till now has been part of your design."

"Including the reconstruction of the Secret Magic Knight Order, sending me to find Raventon, and through investigating Grimland’s anomalies, discovering the existence of the Steam Council."

The Steam Council’s relationship with Prime Minister Ron had already made him suspicious of Olivia.

After annihilating the Steam Council and meeting Olivia again, the resentment belonging to Phantom on her further solidified his conjecture.

Olivia neither confirmed nor denied, simply smiling and quietly watching Wu Chang, awaiting his next move.

Wu Chang continued:

"I’m someone who sees things through to the end. Since I agreed to your commission, I must investigate thoroughly."

"Therefore, there’s something I wish to confirm with you, hoping you can answer me."

Olivia asked, "What is it?"

Wu Chang gazed into Olivia’s eyes and said, "Prime Minister Ron’s death wasn’t murder but suicide, right?"