Closing her eyes, Rita took several deep breaths before looking at Zeke, regaining some of her usual composure. "Your Majesty, does the court's performance meet your expectations?"
"It's quite commendable. You all have demonstrated the ability to safeguard this new era effectively."
"If placed in Rita's position, how would Your Majesty approach the situation?"
"The overall direction is consistent: relocating civilians, mobilizing civilian warriors and mages, encircling with a vast army—all using the most straightforward approach to eliminate threats and rekindle the nation's spirit. This embodies the path of righteousness. If you must indulge in some intrigue, exploiting this opportunity to neutralize troublesome factions isn't entirely out of the question. However, since you already control the momentum of the era, it's best to proceed openly and boldly. Resorting to conspiracies may not yield lasting results; understanding this is crucial."
Zeke spoke, his words carrying both admiration and advice.
At this point, the country no longer needed him, an outsider, to guide its steps. The remaining tasks should be entrusted to those genuinely committed to protecting their people and safeguarding the nation—a more fitting arrangement.
Rita nodded thoughtfully, taking these cautions deeply to heart.
Meanwhile, at the rear, Senti was curled up on the imperial throne, watching the war unfold through the projected screens, gnawing anxiously on her thumb.
Many had perished.
Senti couldn't tell if any of the foolish students she had personally taught were among them, nor could she count how many individuals had been crushed or torn apart by Huo Dou. After enduring this for quite some time, she furiously swiped away the projection, pulling at her hair and yelling,
"Agh! This is so annoying! I can't watch anymore! It's just one weak monster; why are they all so useless?!"
Zeke and Rita turned abruptly at Senti's sudden outburst.
Fu Hua, standing beside the throne with a genuine smile, gently stroked Senti's hair.
"Don't worry, this is a trial they must face themselves. Just like the conflicts we witnessed in Shenzhou, our role now is to observe and silently offer support."
"Old Antique! I still don't get it! Forget it, I'm going to squash that thing myself—this dawdling is unbearable!"
Senti leaped off the throne and strode towards the exit.
Fu Hua's hand paused mid-air, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. In the end, she chose not to stop Senti.
As an ancient figure who had seen countless trials, Fu Hua had her own choices and ways of handling situations. But Senti was different, young, passionate, and full of vigor. Acting swiftly to save lives held such noble intentions; Fu Hua couldn't hinder her, nor did she wish to.
For Fu Hua, feeling somewhat aged herself, Senti's decision brought only comfort, perhaps tinged with a hint of envy.
"Hmm?"
Zeke looked at Fu Hua questioningly.
With a gentle smile, Fu Hua shook her head slightly.
Senti passed by Zeke without showing any emotion or hesitation, her gaze unwavering, appearing both calm and resolute.
However, precisely because she dared not even glance at Zeke, he knew she feared being stopped.
"Lord Senti..."
As Zeke remained motionless, Rita hesitated with mixed emotions, wanting to reach out but ultimately lowering her hand.
Fu Hua was unwilling to obstruct Senti's intentions, but how could Rita bear watching so many compatriots perish in the wilds? Despite the miraculous existence of Valhalla, with tens of thousands already sacrificed, it was simply impossible for the Huang Kingdom to revive them all given its limited resources!
Just as Senti was about to leave the palace without looking back, Zeke suddenly tossed a metallic ring towards her.
"Hmm? What's this?" Senti caught the object, blinking in confusion at the exquisite and beautiful metal band before her eyes.
"It's a leg ring. It will conceal your true appearance. Since you still have missions ahead, don't reveal yourself prematurely. Also, wait until the rear forces gain some battlefield experience before intervening. Don't waste this rare opportunity for their mental training."
"Oh! No problem!"
Holding the leg ring, Senti turned around, revealing a radiant smile with her dazzling white teeth.
Zeke's willingness to advise her indicated his consent for her intervention, which brought immense relief to Senti.
Swiftly mounting her flying sword, she soared high into the sky.
Zeke shook his head and patted Rita on the shoulder, saying, "Just claim that you invited a transcendent immortal from some remote ancient forest. However, even immortals cannot directly eliminate xenobeasts; it was largely thanks to the many brave warriors who wore down Huo Dou's vitality... In short, attribute the main credit to the national court and courageous fighters. You can fill in the details as needed. Now that this matter is resolved, you can take a breath."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gracious favor!"
"No need for constant 'Your Majesty' and 'my sovereign.' I won't interfere in your affairs anymore. From now on, I'll only observe and collect data. This country is back in your hands."
"Your Majesty..."
Rita was initially taken aback and hastily tried to detain Zeke, but he had already walked out of the hall. Seeing his departing figure, Rita found herself at a loss for words.
As Fu Hua passed by Rita, she gently touched the center of Rita's forehead.
Rita's mind, muddled from prolonged strenuous labor, suddenly felt much clearer and calmer.
"Alright," said Fu Hua, "since he's made his stance clear, you should focus on adjusting to leading this country again. Don't worry too much, though—we're not leaving just yet. If any issues arise, feel free to seek our help anytime. Take some rest now, and good luck!"
With a warm smile that seemed to bring a refreshing breeze, Fu Hua pulled up a chair for Rita and gently guided her to sit down.
Looking up, Rita met Fu Hua's gentle gaze, gradually relaxing her expression.
"Lady Fu Hua...and Your Majesty, thank you both. This nation...all its people...owe you their gratitude..."
Leaning back in the chair, Rita, with dark circles under her eyes, succumbed to heavy eyelids and drifted off to sleep.
Fu Hua draped a cloak over Rita, then walked out of the hall.
Zeke hadn't gone far; he stood near the palace steps, gazing at the sky where Senti had disappeared.
"What's on your mind, Zeke?"
"I was just thinking, is this brat truly your Herrscher Persona? With her innocent and endearingly naive demeanor, always proudly proclaiming herself as Fu Hua... she's truly one of a kind."
"Well, you know, unexpected surprises abound in a world plagued by Honkai!" Fu Hua scratched her face, unsure how to explain it.
As she observed Zeke's profile, noticing a hint of a smile, she asked, "Zeke, what's your current opinion on Senti?"
"Not bad. After some discipline, she's more obedient than many other Herrscher Personas. However, her impulsive nature still makes controlling her destructive power challenging. I strongly recommend utilizing the educational materials I provided; they have remarkable effects."
"I... uh, regarding that, I'll make sure to pass along the message to Little Fuxi. She should handle it without issues."
"Great. Once you've finished with them, feel free to come back. After the foundational courses, I also offer advanced and specialized curricula, all rigorously tested." Zeke nodded, slightly proud.
Even the initially dim-witted paramecium could now present herself as perfectly normal and intelligent before others. When it comes to education, his expertise indeed shone through!
With that thought, Zeke produced a device to contact the real world.
"Come to think of it, it's been a while since I last reached out to them..."
After a moment's hesitation, he put the device away again.
No matter; I'm still focused on important matters right now. There will be time for reunions later.
Most crucially, initiating contact might make him seem too eager and lonely, like a tsundere character who feigns disdain during their meetings but feels uneasy after not seeing those girls for some time. Unthinkable! As the esteemed Acting Schicksal Bishop, Chief Executive of Anti-Entropy, and future Emperor of Humanity—Zeke, naturally prioritizes duty over personal interests, unwaveringly!
Hmm, if they don't reach out themselves after some time, then he'll send a signal later.