"What?!"
After Aquarius Director finished sharing his discovery, before Leon could ask any question, the female Cleaner beside him couldn't help but exclaim:
"How could that be? Stone Marrow Realm was sealed, it's impossible to go there now, isn't it?"
"It's sealed, not completely blocked off."
In the little mirror, Aquarius Director said helplessly:
"Moreover, even though Stone Marrow Realm has been stripped away, it was originally part of the main Plane. How could it be blocked off so easily?
Sigh... I always thought the path from the Earth's core to Stone Marrow Realm would be opened sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. It has only been a few years, and it's already unsustainable."
"But... but if that's the case..."
Looking at the helpless expression of Aquarius Director in the little mirror, the female Cleaner pursed her lips tightly, her expression quite complex, saying:
"If Stone Marrow Realm cannot be blocked, then why did we even..."
"Sorry, to interrupt."
Seeing the drastically changed expressions of the pair in the mirror, Leon, who was completely confused, couldn't help but ask:
"What is Stone Marrow Realm? What's its relationship with the Earth's core? Can you explain it to me a little bit?"
"Let me explain..."
Among the three Deputy Directors who were attentively listening, the short middle-aged woman raised her hand and then explained complexly:
"Back when we sealed the Earth's core, our Tianmao Branch also sent two people, and we know a bit about the situation... Mr. Leon, Stone Marrow Realm is one of the Subsidiary Planes of the current world.
However, unlike Planes like the Realm of the Dead or Dream Realm, which can be accessed automatically if conditions are met, Stone Marrow Realm was self-sealed by the Earth Three Tribes living within it, and it can only be accessed through the Earth's core connected to Stone Marrow Realm.
Additionally, the existence of Stone Marrow Realm is also different from the Realm of the Dead and Dream Realm. Stone Marrow Realm was once a part of the Earth's core, hence it hasn't completely separated from the current world but is more like a train carriage 'attached' to the Earth's core by the Earth Three Tribes."
"..."
The implication is that "Stone Marrow Realm" was once part of the Earth's core, but later got cut off by the "Earth Three Tribes," and they still prohibit humans from entering? So what are the Earth Three Tribes? It seems that after your explanation, I have even more to understand, doesn't it?
...
"The Earth Three Tribes are one of the indigenous peoples of this world."
Seeing Leon's confusion, the Aquarius Director in the little mirror blinked and then explained:
"You should already know, we humans were not the earliest arrivals in this world. Before we came, this world was already inhabited by several native races, among which the Earth Three Tribes are the three largest terrestrial species. Besides the Earth Three Tribes, there are also the Sea Three Clans and the Three Feathered Tribes.
After rounds of wars for survival space, humans emerged as the final victors and occupied the most favorable conditions on the surface, while the indigenous peoples of this world chose to voluntarily retreat.
The Earth Three Tribes retreated into the Earth's core, the Sea Three Clans chose to sink into the Sea Eye, and the strongest Feathered Tribes actively flew high into the sky to occupy the Cloud Country closest to the Sun.
As the three largest indigenous forces, according to the agreement with the Clean-up Bureau, these nine indigenous races were allowed to carve out a piece of the current world to create their own three small Planes.
The Earth Three Tribes first created the Stone Marrow Realm and reconnected it to the Earth's core, the Sea Three Clans similarly took a portion of the Sea Eye to create the Tidal Realm, and the Feathered Tribes took a different path and didn't split away the Cloud Country, but instead set up the Mirror Sky Court above, similarly closing it off and not allowing entry."
"..."
Wow, listening to this, it seems like our human ancestors were quite something, forcing others to retreat into the sky and underground...
Unable to help but grumble in his heart, after roughly understanding the situation, Leon couldn't help but curiously ask:
"What happened afterward? Didn't they think of counter-attacking?"
"They tried several times, but it wasn't very successful. After all, the Clean-up Bureau was terribly strong back then, and after realizing there was no chance, they slowly accepted it."
Upon hearing Leon's inquiry, the Aquarius Director in the little mirror squinted slightly, then calmly narrated:
"After being forced to permanently leave the surface, the Three Feathered Tribes lived the best, choosing to reconcile with humans first. Though they seldom come down from Cloud Country, they occasionally communicate with Refraction Kingdom and Thunderstorm Country.
The Sea Three Clans had a slightly worse situation, but since humans inherently cannot survive in the ocean, the deeper areas of the sea and far-off open sea areas were slowly handed over to the Sea Three Clans, and their relations remained relatively harmonious.
As for the remaining Earth Three Tribes, they lived in the worst environment. The Stone Marrow Realm is unbearably monotonous and hot. Coupled with their heart's longing for the surface and sunlight, they often engaged in some quite intense actions, keeping their relationship with the Clean-up Bureau quite tense."
At this point, the Aquarius Director in the little mirror couldn't help but glance at the female Cleaner beside him, then said somewhat vaguely:
"About ten years ago, the Earth Three Tribes selected more than two hundred volcanoes across the entire surface, planning to blow them all up in one go, thoroughly clearing the way to move in and out of the Earth's core.
This plan completely angered the Clean-up Bureau, so the on-duty Aquarius Director gave an order; while requiring each Branch to suppress the volcanoes, they gathered two Directors and four Zodiac Bureau Heads to delve into the Earth's core and directly sealed off the entrance to Stone Marrow Realm."
So... were you one of the people that went down there that time? And because you went down to block Stone Marrow Realm, there was no Zodiac Director stationed in the Aquarius Branch, the female Cleaner's mother sacrificed herself in suppressing the volcanoes within the territory on the mission?
Gazing upon the female Cleaner's somewhat gloomy expression and having guessed some of the past situation, Leon didn't ask further but instead consciously shifted the topic, saying:
"Director Baltro, so the Slaughter King Association doesn't intend to directly attack the Northern Kingdom this time, but rather plans to go to the Earth's core through the lava passage beneath Rehe City, intending to unseal Stone Marrow Realm and release all the Earth Three Tribes?"
"More or less."
The Aquarius Director in the mirror nodded, his expression quite grave, saying:
"Aside from this, I can't think of any other reason for them to go to the Earth's core."
"So what can I do?"
Looking at the tired expression of the old man, drenched with moisture, his blue hair sticking wetly on his forehead in the mirror, Leon couldn't help but respectfully ask:
"Your Excellency Baltro, do you need me to go down to Rehe?"
"No need."
Upon hearing Leon's inquiry, the Aquarius Director in the mirror smiled and then warmly said:
"When you arrived, the Directors must have promised you that, as long as you signal, they can activate the [Sun Dial] at any time, providing you with a second of sunlight, am I right?"
"Yes."
"But this time, the issue lies underground, and the sunlight intercepted by the [Sun Dial] cannot directly reach there. Your strongest card is essentially half-wasted."
Pointing out the [Sun Dial]'s problem, the director of the Aquarius Branch seriously said:
"Also, the people from the Slaughter King Association have entered the lava passage, heading into the Earth's core for a while now. Even if you go down now, you surely won't reach them in time. So it's more fitting for you to stay above ground and watch over the Aquarius Branch for me.
With you helping to oversee what's happening on the surface, I wouldn't have to worry about the Slaughter King Association diverting my attention and taking the opportunity to attack Rehe City. I can confidently continue pursuing downward... What do you think of this arrangement?"
