Chapter 145 - The Expedition

The emergency summit continued long after most of the capital had fallen asleep. Within the Grand Strategic Hall, exhaustion was becoming increasingly visible on the faces of those gathered around the massive circular table. Reports continued arriving from every corner of the Empire. Military scouts. Provincial governors. Merchant guilds. Noble territories. Everyone had information, yet none of that information provided the answers humanity desperately sought. The Celestial Tower remained an enigma. It stood upon the horizon like a silent god observing the world beneath it, refusing to explain itself beyond the brief heavenly announcement that had shaken civilization the previous day. The Empire possessed armies, mages, scholars, and saints capable of overcoming almost any challenge. Unfortunately, none of those resources were particularly useful against a mystery.