“Our Manufactories should take absolute priority.” Beholder Knalzark cut to the chase with a swift demand. “All major products are handled by us in one way or another. Ensuring our logistics are streamlined takes precedence.”

“I see that your Dwarven blood hasn’t been rooted out yet. It sounds like you’ve lost confidence in the same trains you’ve been vouching to many for as long as I can remember.” Beholder Marionette belittled nonchalantly. “It is strange that you cannot fall back onto them so readily.”

“The trains expose sensitive material. The last time we lost a train carrying our cargo, a Syndicate came into possession of Anti-Healing waste. That same train was then swallowed by those Hearts. That waste is one of the byproducts of the North Sea Illuminator those sick Deep Sea Aquatids purchased from the Fallen Atelier – Luminal Synchrony.” Knlazark answered, slamming both palms onto the desks.

It was a miracle that they didn’t crumble under his sheer destructive might.

“So many contaminants are at risk. Our role is to cleanse Elysia from them. The resolution should be over already. You know exactly where those Hyperlinks will best serve, as much as I regret to admit it.”

Frost paused the Council momentarily with her inquiry of Luminal Synchrony. It was a long-Fallen Atelier that fell into ruins in Deep Sea Aquatid territory. Several kilometers deep into the northern oceans, past the Region of Dwarhelven, Caldera and even the Frozen Springs.

Where light was known to be devoid many kilometers underneath the ocean, that area specifically was illuminated brighter than the sun. A loud buzzing was known to accompany the bright blue lights which Frost immediately recognized as radiation.

“Cherenkov radiation.” Nav found the specific phenomenon in question. “So this is the origin of the Anti-Healing materials. Strange that they come from the Aquatid.”

Apparently, they did not begin in Aquatid arms. Rather, they were built close to the coast. When disaster struck, their entire headquarters was swallowed by the sea; their technology forever lost as the many Aspects were left to irradiate the northern seas.

The effects could not be felt nor heard until one descended to the point where the ocean would snap them like a twig. It was far from the only place, as Ateliers were universally spread across Elysia. But it was by far the largest burial grounds of Luminal Synchrony.

It was a brief explanation, but it was enough for Frost to get a picture and understand where Knalzark was coming from.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if we found out that Ateliers specializing in spaceships were a thing.

“Caldera Industries comes close with their floating fortresses though. Ah. I can see it now.”

See what?

“A century from now we’ll be exploring space. That is ‘if’ we can get everyone on board.”

The sad thing is – that’s probably more likely to happen than to get them to get off each other’s backs.

Frost mentally lamented, allowing the Council to resume.

“It can’t always be you, Knalzark. You’re making demands to someone that crippled you.” Beholder E. finally joined. “Did you not hear Galia’s warning? If our technology can be compromised, then having a gateway built into the hearts of our infrastructure is a major risk. I am still a believer of Hyperlinks being a service used civilly, and semi-privately in a shared, controlled environment.”

“I’m in agreement only if we can have private Hyperlinks too.” Beholder Descartes 3 nodded, tapping on the side of her head as her eyes suddenly flickered through several colors like a flipbook, reverting to its blue hue. “All we ask is for one modified Hyperlink Site Crystal. We will return all previous constructs. They pose too much of a risk.”

“They’ve already been shut down. The entire Network was gone the moment it was compromised.” Umbra brought up. “That alone saved countless branches of ours, even if it meant completely isolating them.”

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“We’d see a mass uprising of Corrupted. ImpulseWorks Sites relies on Minor Hyperlinks by sending in you know who.” Enoch referred to the Code Red Protocol that would send Scarlet Logic Personnel to aid in a Corrupted breakout.

Scarlet Logic would now absolutely ruin a Site rather than save it.

Frost also remembered seeing an inactive Hyperlink Site in Little Tais’ Guild. It was damaged, but not to the same extent as the one found in the Village of Virt. She quickly realized that the one in Little Tais was not damaged by Iscario, but instead, was the result of Galia mass deactivating all other Hyperlink Sites.

Some areas were only accessible by them to begin with. Allowing Iscario, and by extension the Impuritas access would be catastrophic knowing that they could harness their tech.

So long as the Nexus was in possession of the Warped Stone, then they had the authority to shut down all Hyperlink Sites stemming from it. Galia’s Workshop was far more than just the center of Justica Arms. It was its beating heart that could cut off all circulation at Galia’s discretion.

The number of failsafes she possessed was commendable.

“I can provide one to each Atelier. Major Hyperlink Sites are limited. Do not expect them to be ready by the end of this year.” Galia warned. “Minor Hyperlinks will not be handed to Ateliers either. With how limited they are, they’d function far better in the hands of all Blessed than us.”

“Guilds.” Magus waved his hand. “Guilds and Sectors. In each major city at the very least. Semi-private, Atelier-only Hyperlinks can be set up in areas of dense Atelier infrastructure. Like the Asclepein, or Carpal Tower. Whatever it is your Atelier owns. However –!”

He cleared his throat, pausing as he waited for someone to bounce off him.

“However?” Jury was the only one who caught on.

“My friend Jury. Semi-private to allow access to you specifically. Time Reverberations should have authority to enter your premises.” Magus was immediately met with covert scorn, which caused the Arbiter to cleave the air with a single wing, silencing them before they could even utter word.

Frost wanted to spit. But she settled by clicking her tongue in silence before she spoke:

“Time Reverberation works directly with me. Beholder Jury is my Beholder. Therefore, why do you feel threatened by an inspection? Do you want us to warn you so you can continue hiding lies from our eyes? I’m afraid that you’ve only further divided us. Unfortunately for you, this is not arguable. All Archetypes are in agreement. Beholder Marionette. I imagine the Director would also agree.”

Frost’s many golden eyes began to shed faint particles. A golden snow was set upon the Council as she added:

“You Beholders may have claimed the Nexus as your homes. But don’t forget that we were born from the Nexus. Your Residential Floors are the mercy of the Nexus. Our Floors are proof enough of our rightful ownership.”

“Do you wish to control us?” Beholder E. had to ask.

Frost sealed her eyes shut.

“I just wish to regulate you. No. Rather, I wish you could see what you’ve done beyond the Nexus. I don’t need to draw you a picture to tell you that the more we allow people to suffer, the more Corrupted will begin to emerge. I’m beyond shocked that you’re ignorant of this correlation. Or more accurately, some of you actively enforce it. After all, you can always deal with the Corrupted as they emerge retroactively.”

When they fluttered open, she dragged her gaze onto Jury and smiled.

“We want to fix things before they occur. Look how much damage has already been done. Look at how you’re scrambling to deal with them. Look at how you failed to combat a Corrupted version of myself. Would it not be easier had they never occurred in the first place? Galia. I’m inclined to let you take over your resolution. But I want to be as fair as possible. Don’t make this difficult for me.”

Frost couldn’t believe how many times she had to regulate the same thing repeatedly like they were children.

“Guilds, locations of major intertest to us, and one Hyperlink Site for each Atelier. All with the caveat of Time Reverberation’s undeniable access. We will start locally in the Nex Megalopolis before we can branch out. Protection will be done naturally by its location. Atelier personnel will always be present, but a dedicated group can be arranged.” Galia relayed the terms of the resolution, which was accepted albeit with major hesitation.

Satania was entertained by the debacle, laughing to herself on occasion.

“Insulting that a handful of you were the survivors of the War in Heaven. If it were up to me, I’d send you all into the Subcut. But the Arbiter obviously sees value in you, as does the Amalgam.” Satania shrewdly remarked, lighting the tip of her finger against her horn like a matchstick. “Galia. Are you able to supply several to us as well?”

“They are in reservation.”

“Perfect. Ah. What Ateliers could do if they were more willing to embrace one another.

A shame, really.” Satania blew out the flame.

“That brings it to me. Oboros Infinitas. Like Galia, there is no issue on our end. I instead bring a proposal. For all to hear, and for most especially the Amalgam to approve to generate the much-required Nex moving forward. I present to you the Infinite Restoration Project. Or Salvation Procedure. However you wish to call it.

To put it in the briefest of abstracts – it will be an outline of how we plan to use the criminals we’ve accumulated, and how they will restore the Nex Megalopolis under the guise of working towards their freedom. Through them, we will extract all the Nex we could ever wish for. We only need your help, Amalgam.”