"It's you!"
The moment the short-haired girl appeared before him, Kevin's eyes widened.
To be honest, he was having a small post-traumatic stress attack right now.
Because the girl standing before him—
She is the Sixth Herrscher in the original historical trajectory, who once pretended to be human and deceived herself, causing his heart to soften and implicating millions of people.
The Herrscher of Death—Xier.
Previously, Kevin had already met her in this era where he had been given a "second chance."
But at that time, she was just a normal girl.
Unlike now.
"You've become a Herrscher again!"
Kevin's tone was low.
At that moment, his expression looked strange.
Worried about repeating the same mistakes?
No, not just that!
You must know, the reason Kevin decided to let Xier go when he met her child in this revived era was based on the "power" she had.
Withering and creation. . . . . This was an ability that could directly mark the beginning of a leap in the living standards of ordinary people. . . . . would make countless people dream of it.
Dr. Einstein and Dr. Tesla in the old days (now the Era of Civilization) had benefited from this.
And that was only an accident, an accident of the "Key of God."
Not even the Herrscher herself had started it.
And this ability, which was absolutely much safer as long as the person involved cooperated, was relative to the execution of a hypervariable procedure.
Kevin wanted it too.
Without a doubt, naturally, he did not want it for himself.
But… May's thoughts, who had been so exhausted that she fell into a coma earlier.
At that moment, he gripped the right hand of "Tianhuo Shengcai" tightly, trembling slightly.
There was no doubt that this should have been impossible for a man of his strength.
This proved how uncomfortable Kevin was right now.
Fortunately, even so, having accumulated much experience due to his longevity, he forced himself to calm down in a very short time.
He did not forget his responsibilities, did not forget to consider the bigger picture.
But on the other side—
"As expected, you're also a group of ill-hearted types."
Xier looked directly at Kevin with a strange expression on her face, "It was you before. . . . . right? You almost killed me and my sister Bronia."
"Bronia. . . . . sister?"
Fu Hua, who was present, had a rather strange expression.
Like Kevin, she too was a "returnee" and knew Bronia and Xier. . . . . of course, "Xier Fuleai."
And the "pre-civilization" Sixth Herrscher in the original historical trajectory of the current era—although she had not had direct contact with her, she also knew related information.
So, from Fu Hua's perspective, when the "Xier" before her also used that specific word to call the people she knew. . . . .
"Are you with Bronia now?" Fu Hua asked.
She had no knowledge of all that had happened around the city of Berlin that night, a few months ago.
On one hand, at that time she had not joined World Serpent.
On the other hand—
In this revived era, although many things had changed—
Like: Mei. She was still the kind of strategist who wouldn't tell everyone all her plans.
Fu Hua knew her well enough, so before, she had not asked much about things that had nothing to do with her "current self."
And so, it was only now that this question arose.
However, in response—
"Are you also someone that Sister Bronia knows?"
Xier did not respond at all to Fu Hua. Instead, after asking this phrase, her expression became extremely ugly, "tsk\~"
"Another one!"
She slowly lowered her head, her bangs shading the upper half of her face, making it impossible to see her expression clearly.
However—
"Ancient one, be careful."
Xiao Shi reminded her: "This one isn't reasonable."
At this point, several phantom feathers floated around Fu Hua.
It was obvious Xiao Shi was operating the remaining "Yu Duchen" in her place to nip the problem in the bud.
Fu Hua herself became cautious.
Not only her.
Kevin and Alicia also held their breath, as if they were ready to fight at any moment.
In this incredibly delicate situation—
"Eh\~"
Xier exhaled in relief.
When she raised her head again, she first looked at Fu Hua with great repulsion and then looked at Kevin with fear.
This man—if not for being inside—
"Let's make a deal, outsiders."
Xier said coldly: "You will leave here and never return to disturb my life, and I will not continue to expand my 'Hakodome.'"
"If you don't agree, then the fish will die."
"You."
"I have something to say to you now."
Seeing that Fu Hua wanted to speak, Xier directly interrupted her.
Immediately, she pointed to the side. . . . . those people who were controlled by her like puppets, "within my 'Hakodome,' including these people. . . . . all of them are still alive."
"In other words, those who have obtained a 'new life' also have what's called a 'second chance.'"
"Nowadays, their consciousness remains unchanged, but their bodies have been transformed and evolved one after another by me. Not only can they live in a high Honkai energy environment to a certain extent for a long time, but their lifespans have also been greatly extended, and the pain of aging avoided."
"Even many illnesses are immune."
"Accidental injuries will heal faster."
"I gave them all of this at the cost that: they do their part when I need them."
"If they do well, they also gain all kinds of 'dreams' they want."
Xier raised her hands, "healthy body, long life, comfortable spiritual enjoyment. . . . . this is my 'world.'"
Her gaze swept over Kevin, Alicia, and Fu Hua.
"The reason I'm telling you this is not because I want to boast of anything, but because I am stating a very simple fact."
Xier raised her right hand and lifted four slender fingers, "Almost 40 million."
"Throughout the entire White Eagle Republic. . . . . including parts of the northeastern side of the German Confederation, these more than 39 million people are still alive—all of them hostages in my hands."
"!!!" ×2
Fu Hua and Alicia showed shocked expressions.
Kevin's face was as heavy as water.
Look, Xier continued: "It is under this premise that if you want to destroy my 'Hakodome,' then you will have more than 30 million people buried along with it in the future."
"I think."
She looked at Kevin—the only man she couldn't possibly fear more—with quite a sharp curve at the corners of her mouth, "you may be able to kill me, but until then, at the very least I will destroy an entire continent."
"And even if I die, all these people whose 'hope (dream)' you took away will go mad."
"They have no choice."
"Because their long and healthy bodies will definitely become the prey in the eyes of other short-lived species, and a wealth that can be plundered."
"Faced with external plunder and exploitation, they can only resist."
"Perhaps there are some cowards, who choose to break their own necks."
"But I will, at the last moment, empower them all."
"Don't worry, I still have many countermeasures."
"Much more than what was mentioned earlier."
"I could trigger a worldwide epidemic with a high infection rate and high mortality rate."
"Or contaminate those precious resources humans depend on to survive."
"If one wanted to induce conflict, whether to create interests that cannot be ignored or to halve the original 'cake'. . . . . even reducing it to very little."
"All of these are feasible!"
"And then…"
Xier looked at the three people in front of her and told them the most terrifying future. "You, who made the wrong decision, may have indirectly initiated a 'new humans versus old humans,' 'immortal species versus short-lived species,' a world war between two different species and even within the same species."
"At that time, before the collapse is even over, war erupts again. . . . . how many people do you think will die in the process?"
"And after that. . . . . in this era of devastation, this era of scarcity, this era of no longer trusting each other and no longer being able to unite—does there still exist a possibility of defeating the collapse?"
"Or will it lead to an even crueler ending?"
Here, her words ended.
Kevin and Fu Hua looked at each other, and on both their faces, they saw an incomparably solemn expression.
Indeed, everything Xier said just now was quite complicated.
But neither he nor she were the type of people to hesitate.
They would make a quick decision and cut the knot with a sharp knife. . . . . as long as they were sure that doing so would be of greater benefit. . . . . Fu Hua, not to mention Kevin, would not hesitate.
All that has happened here today they would not judge immediately.
They would return and deliberate and eventually discuss an outcome.
Perhaps, in the future, due to this small difference in timing, Xier would gain more leverage, allowing her enough time to complete her unknown design.
But, as Xier said: right now, they cannot afford to gamble.
For the moment, however, the most critical issue this dilemma resides in is—
"What kind of Herrscher is this?"
In both their hearts arose a feeling of absolute absurdity.
They… had never seen a Herrscher like this before.
Whether it was in the memories of over 50,000 years ago or in the old era (the era of modern civilization) when they completely disappeared. . . . . never had such a Herrscher been born.
Speaking of conditions! Using "hostages"! Even—
Even using the insane negotiation method of "if you don't follow what I say, I'll die and drag everyone down, no one can escape easily."
This was exactly the same.
"Otto?" ×2
Kevin and Fu Hua both had a figure of a blond man appear in their minds at the same time.
The latter, with a cunning smile, habitually spread his hands, making them relax.
At that moment, when Kevin and Fu Hua looked again at the short-haired girl before them—
That wicked smile on her face was.
Exactly the same as that man.
\*\*\*\*\*\*
Same time.
Also within Europe, in some remote village.
"How is it, Miss Xier?"
"Using 'the future of an era' and 'the trigger of a world war' as the most tenacious cornerstones to stabilize the 'Hakodome' you created. . . . . "
"If you place these chips, even the strongest fusion warrior will not dare to make mistakes."
"Is the plan I proposed feasible?"
In a small church that was far from luxurious, but very clean, a blond figure wearing a white clown mask and a young girl sitting casually at the priest's small conference table before him greeted her respectfully.
The latter, dressed in a rich violet-blue dress with her legs crossed and chin resting on one hand, wore a cold expression.
"Well done."
The short-haired girl.
Clearly, it should have been a word of praise, but on her face there was no look of approval.
But even so—
"It is an honor for me to share your concerns. . . . . Otto Apocalypse."
The blond figure bowed again, without any regard for his own dignity.
It was clear that he—
"Do not show that disgusting attitude in front of me."
"It makes me want to kill you."
As Xier said this, tapping her fingertips, a few phantom butterflies fluttered their wings and slowly floated toward the blond figure.
She was not trying to attack him.
But—
"Take your reward."
Xier said blankly: "Seven opportunities to shape 'immortal species (new humans).' Your suggestion really is worth the price."
"Take it and don't come back."
"Including you, my 'Hakodome' does not welcome any outsiders."
Hearing this, Otto carefully gathered the phantom butterflies and immediately bowed his head again, smiling: "Understood."
"As you wish."