The two followed Phoebe's steps, arriving at the center of City Square.
Above two towering buildings, two giant octopuses were coiled, playing unknown melodies with instruments.
Before them, countless diverse Echoes were frolicking with people.
There were painters using Bathtub Hounds to store their art supplies, people enjoying performances by bands composed of Echoes like Diggy Duggy and Lottie Lost, and others marveling at the flamboyant tricks of Hocus Pocus.
But the most striking feature was the Resonance Nexus, standing tall at the very center of City Square.
Lucian noticed that the top of this Resonance Nexus was designed in the shape of a whale's tail.
At that moment, Abby popped out from the Tacet Mark.
"Wow! Are those all Echoes?"
Phoebe's beautiful eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, staring at Abby's back in a daze.
She had never seen such an Echo… so… so cute! It looked soft and fluffy…
Was this Mr. Lucian's Echo?
During the livestream, she had heard that Lucian was called the God of Universal Love.
But Phoebe didn't believe it.
After all, in her understanding, a god should be benevolent like the Sentinel Imperator.
How could a god have ambiguous relationships with human women?
Was this why Mr. Lucian was called the God of Universal Love?
Rover asked, puzzled, "Miss Phoebe?"
Phoebe shook her head, quickly snapping out of it. She was guiding them—how could she get distracted?
Phoebe hurriedly said, "First-time visitors to Ragunna City are often amazed by this scene."
Abby turned around, crossing his arms smugly, "Now this feels like the nation of Echoes."
"That grumpy guy at the gate smelled so lifeless… I thought all of Rinascita's Echoes were like that."
Phoebe, watching Abby's spirited demeanor, was momentarily stunned.
Abby floated up to Phoebe and greeted her, feeling her aura was very comforting, "Hi, I'm Abby!"
Seeing Abby's appearance, Phoebe felt her heart melt—so adorably cute!
Especially those heterochromatic eyes, blinking brightly, and those soft, fluffy ears—she really wanted to reach out and touch them…
Phoebe raised her hand, lowering her voice, "Um… I'm Phoebe, hi."
Lucian, pondering, said, "I noticed that the guard Echoes of the priests have golden halos above their heads, but the Echoes here in the square don't."
"Why is that?"
Phoebe chuckled lightly, "Mr. Lucian is very observant."
"Those are the 'La Guardia' under the Order, part of the Order's armed forces."
"They work with the clergy to maintain safety and order in Ragunna City."
At that moment, a Magician Lord wobbled over. It spun around in front of Phoebe, then produced a delicate small box in its hand.
Phoebe seemed startled by the Magician Lord and stepped back.
Seeing this, the Magician Lord handed the gift box to Lucian and Rover before cheerfully running off.
Rover noticed Phoebe's reaction and asked curiously, "Does Miss Phoebe not like Echoes?"
Phoebe clasped her hands in front of her, looking somewhat distressed.
"As clergy, we must fulfill the noble duties of managing on behalf of the Sentinel."
"We must not have any improper contact with Echoes…"
Lucian asked, confused, "But aren't Echoes a blessing from the Sentinel?"
"As the Sentinel's stewards in the mortal world, is it such a grave sin to interact with Her blessings?"
"Isn't that contradictory?"
Phoebe fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, "I don't know why either. It's just… the doctrine of the Order of the Deep."
Rover and Lucian exchanged a glance. It seemed the Order of the Deep was indeed hiding something.
Even whether Fenrico was truly the so-called Enlightened One was highly questionable.
After all, though they had only just arrived in Ragunna City, they had already encountered many contradictions.
For instance, the priests of the Order claimed the Sentinel was benevolent, so why were resistors exiled?
Or was it truly, as the Order claimed, for the sake of 'pilgrimage'?
Lucian found it highly suspicious.
Rover changed the subject, "Is this the Resonance Nexus?"
Phoebe nodded slightly, "Yes, this beacon is called the Resonance Nexus by the people of Ragunna City."
"Visitors only need to register their information to gain the same rights as Ragunna City's residents to use all the public Echoes in the city."
"Please place your terminals on it."
Rover said with amusement, "You knew we brought terminals?"
During the entry inspection, Lucian had claimed they didn't bring terminals.
Phoebe nodded, "Of course. I watched your livestream, after all."
"You couldn't have done that without terminals."
As for why Phoebe let them in despite knowing they had terminals, it was naturally because they had the Montelli family's guarantee, allowing them to freely bring terminals in and out of Ragunna City.
If she only knew from the livestream that Lucian and Rover were heroes who saved Jinzhou,
or learned from Miss Chixia's comments that Lucian was the God of Universal Love,
even if Phoebe personally believed they meant no harm, as a priest, she couldn't let subjective feelings influence her.
Especially during the Carnevale, which hadn't been held in years.
Lucian and Rover placed their terminals on the Resonance Nexus.
At that moment, two lines appeared on the platform.
[With strength and justice, I ascend the throne, the fury of the sea lies at my feet.]
[Those unwilling to drown in the tides must remember: salvation comes from the origin.]
Abby asked curiously, "What do these words mean? Salvation comes from the origin?"
Phoebe smiled and said, "Let me explain."
"This inscription comes from Rinascita's origin legend—legend has it that the first inhabitants of Rinascita were exiles fleeing disasters brought by the Lament."
"They came from all corners of the world, forced to abandon their homelands, following the ocean currents to the same remote, uncharted sea."
"However, what awaited them was not a tranquil paradise but a perilous realm surrounded by Tacet Discords—a raging sea stirring storms to bring black death upon them."