The TOWEL system supports dual verification paths through two distinct trust structures: the centralized Tree of Life maintained by the Bureau of Harmony, and the decentralized Flux Field developed by the Fluxus network. ## Role: Vogon (Bureaual Verifier) The Vogon acts on behalf of the Bureau of Harmony. It uses a BabelFish verifier device to check credentials. However, the Vogon can only ask: > “Do you have any credentials I recognize?” As a result, the BabelFish will only attempt verification via the ToL Verifier — the component that checks credentials in the Bureau’s Tree of Life. If the Hitchhiker wants to avoid detection or pass through a bureaucratic checkpoint, they may choose to present a Proof of Harmony — even if they are aligned with Fluxus. ## Role: Hitchhiker (Peer Verifier) Other Hitchhikers, especially those aligned with Fluxus, can use their own BabelFish to verify fellow travelers. This interaction routes verification through the Flux Field Resolver, which evaluates Proof of Shimmer proofs based on decentralized attestations. ## Steganographic Strategy All proof formats are designed to appear identical to the Vogon. Even when the Hitchhiker is generating a Proof of Shimmer, the BabelFish can internally treat it as a response to the same query the Vogon always asks. This steganographic approach ensures: - Safety for dissidents - Interoperability across systems - A single workflow surface for different verification outcomes ---