Hidden somewhere in the Riddle Archipelago, within the Timeless City, at this moment, a tall figure stood cross-legged in the middle of a black platform while golden sand particles swirled around him in slow motion.
On this figure's head shimmered a symbol of an hourglass, which seemed to produce a single particle of golden sand every few minutes.
At this moment, a static voice rang in this figure's head, "Golden Constant-87,001 request a timeless meeting with you (Golden Constant-51,117)!
"Do you accept?"
This figure's eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing completely pitch-black eyes like an abyss. "I accept," it emotionlessly responded.
The next moment, its entire body was enveloped by an ethereal black light before it vanished from its position and appeared in a dark space in the shape of a golden silhouette. A black number in an unknown language shimmered over its forehead, reading '51,117'.
In front of Golden Constant-51,117 was another golden silhouette with the number 87,001 on its forehead.
"Thank you for accepting the meeting my lord, I hope I didn't disturb you abruptly." Golden Constant-87,001 tone, despite being stoic, was filled with deep respect in front of 51,117.
Even if it were someone else, they would've been reacting in the same manner because the Golden Constant-51,117 was City Lord of the Timeless City, which means 51,117 was the strongest in the entire ATLAS in the Lesser Taurus Galaxy.
"Heh, don't fret it. In fact, I was waiting for you to contact me. Since you're here, I take it as Golden Constant-88,925 has already found the legendary key?" The City Lord chuckled, his tone very easygoing, like a friend, not like a superior at all.
"Well, that's the thing, sigh…" Golden Constant-87,001 sighed in frustration at this moment as he didn't know how to break this news to the City Lord. He didn't dare to take his easy-going tone at face value.
Because he knew that hidden behind this friendly demeanor was a shrewd schemer who had been controlling the entire Lesser Taurus Galaxy from the shadows for an unknown time. The City Lord was the only person who could also contact other Lesser Galaxies, even the Middle Galaxies, without paying any price. This was the privilege of the City Lord of Timeless City.
Golden Constant-87,001 had a pretty good idea of why he wanted the Legendary Key. He also knew better than anyone that the City Lord had no desire to leave his position and go to the middle galaxies.
After all, if the City Lord wanted to go to the middle galaxies, he could've done it long ago because for as long as the Golden Constant-87,001 remembered it, whenever a Legendary Key appeared, it always ended up in the City Lord's hand before the path of legend opened!
"Don't tell me you failed somewhat? Even I don't want to believe it after all these years of your service; you hadn't failed even once." City Lord questioned in a somewhat stern manner upon noticing Golden Constant-87,001's hesitation.
"I'll tell you what happened; you can judge on your own, my lord." Golden Constant-87,001 then told the City Lord about what happened in the deep ocean when the Ocean Oracle tried to pin down the location of the legendary key and failed miserably and the strange backlash.
"Are you sure about it? Is that really what happened?!" The City Lord's voice suddenly became hurried and agitated, as if he were in utter disbelief. He seemed to have thought about something absurd.
Golden Constant-87,001 was naturally surprised since it was out of character for the City Lord, but he still nodded in affirmation and said, "Indeed, my lord, there's no point in making something this ridiculous, and 88,925 is trustworthy for obvious reason. She even knows you owe me a favor, so she won't dare to double-cross me or play any tricks."
"An oracle that made the statue of a goddess render into dust? Fascinating, no, unbelievable… this can't be true, but what if it is?!" The City lord began to mutter like a crazy person, shocking Golden Constant-87,001 even more. He was also curious about what caused such a reaction from this old monster.
At this moment, the City Lord suddenly stopped muttering like a crazy person and looked towards Golden Constant-87,001, making the other party shiver for some reason. Despite knowing that in this space, no one could hurt him, he still felt his life and death were not his to decide at this moment.
The City Lord spoke in an irrefutable tone that even sounded like a threat: "Contact 88,925 again and tell her to perform oracles one by one on anyone who had come in contact with the legendary key.
"No! You'll personally go to the deep ocean to oversee this task. In return, tell her I'll compensate her with 1 Gram of Timeless Sand, and for the medium to perform these oracles, I'll give her ten Quasi Legend Rank faith-type treasures!
"No matter what the result is, you have to record it all and then send it to me right away. This is very important. If the result is satisfactory, you have my word that your servitude to me will end after this mission, and you'll be free. I'll even reward you for all these years of service. I pledge using my Constant status!"
Golden Constant-87,001 was gobsmacked and thought the City Lord in front of him was either fake or simply hallucinating. If there was anything Golden Constant-87,001 wanted, it was his freedom from the City Lord.
Something happened in the past, and he ended up pledging his loyalty to the City Lord, which means his entire life belonged to the City Lord. But after so many years, Golden Constant-87,001 was now tiered and even bored.
However, he didn't dare to show it and do his duties faithfully. But now, the chance of freedom that he never thought would come was finally here, and he sure didn't want to miss it.
So, without thinking much about the reason for the City Lord's strange reaction and his commands, he accepted this mission, which seemed quite simple without hesitation.
"Thank you for your generosity my lord, I will not let you down!"
"Good, I'll send the treasures and some more important stuff right away. This Constant meeting concluded!" The City Lord said, seeming in a hurry to return.
However, Golden Constant-87,001 didn't care since he was more eager to quickly go back and prepare for heading to the deep ocean, "Constant meeting concluded!"