Chapter 618 – The Stolen World (33)
—
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 226
Current Location: Searching…
Sage’s Advice: 0
– Han Kain
The beautiful song of the young Ark stopped abruptly.
It was starting to split apart, the mirror that had been part of the Ark.
But the problem was that the mirror was much larger than any ordinary building!
They said the Holy Mother of the lost era managed to shrink the mirror down to hand mirror size.
The Administration Bureau was capable of something similar, but this procedure required everyone to wait for a bit.
A brief calm.
If a person’s brain were a computer, then right now, I bet you’d hear a ‘whirring’ sound from all sides, right?
Everyone, including me, was doing their utmost to think things through.
The next faction to bring in is the plunderers!
Just as I was calmly organizing the information, a strange sound broke the silence.
— Click!
That was the sound made by Ari, who had belatedly joined with Eunsol.
As she clicked her tongue again with a ‘click!’, the people around her tilted their heads in confusion; the meaning of her gesture was simple.
It was her way of saying, “I lost my camera!”
It seemed like she just realized that her camera was gone from her possession.
But the camera wasn’t missing; it was inside the Moon along with Miro.
That was because I had ordered Miro to flip the hourglass back in the timeline that had vanished.
Why?
“…”
The status window didn’t provide any decent record, only scribbled notes that looked hastily written.
Given the context, the decision to flip the hourglass seemed to have been made impulsively at the last moment.
Thus, there was no detailed explanation for ‘why I flipped the hourglass.’
The intent appeared to be to keep Miro and the camera ‘inside the Moon’… but for now, let’s calm the confused Ari down.
I nodded slightly and said, “It’s okay,” which made Ari stop questioning further.
Instead, she threw me a rather worried glance as she stared at the crumbling Ark.
“You know what happens if the Ark collapses, right?”
To Ari’s words, the Dominator maintained a composed expression.
“The stone plate will punish you and me.”
“What did you do?”
It seemed Ari didn’t witness the scene where the Dominator backstabbed Osdoork since she joined late.
Dominator shrugged in response, showing no trace of guilt whatsoever.
“Osdoork is such an idiot, he can’t grasp the situation. I had no choice but to banish him.”
At that, Ari chuckled and slyly pulled out something she had been hiding.
“This—this is Basilio’s head!”
“I had no choice!”
“…”
Dominator looked like he wanted to say something for a moment, then sighed in resignation.
“The stone plate will end our lives. That’s alright. Even a life as long as eternity must come to an end, after all, even if it’s—”
Ari cut him off immediately, as if aghast.
“Hey! Oswald! Don’t go sorting out your life alone! Are you trying to get yourself killed or something?”
“Is there any special way?”
The reason why Ari and the Dominator can still avoid the stone plate’s judgment is simple.
The judgment of the stone plate applies to a single loop, while the Ark is fundamentally a half-external entity in that loop.
Thus, once the dismantling of the young Ark is completed, both the Dominator and Ari will die by the plate’s decree.
Of course, they just need to be in a safe spot before that.
“…”
As I gazed at my predecessor, the past Wisdom looked back at me.
「Do you need my help to save your comrades?」
The past Wisdom had merged with the Ark.
So if the Dominator and Ari temporarily merged with the past Wisdom, they could dodge the stone plate.
“Yes, that’s right.”
At that moment, the Dominator and Ari’s eyes widened in surprise and turned toward me.
“What is happening—”
“Is it even possible?”
The past Wisdom seemed unconcerned about their chatter and said,
「It’s not difficult. However, you’ll need to hear an explanation soon.」
“…”
「Just in time, there’s a little time left until the mirror shrinks.」
The azure-hued demi-god calmly extended his hand.
He was trying to pull me into his territory.
Since I needed more conversation to utilize this entity, I didn’t resist.
— Ding!
With a clear bell chime, the surrounding scenery began to change.
*
What came into view was a vast plain filled with golden wheat fields.
It was so beautiful it felt almost like paradise.
At that moment, I heard someone’s voice.
The past Wisdom wasn’t the azure demi-god anymore; he had transformed into an ordinary middle-aged man, dressed in simple clothes.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
He looked to be in his late 40s to early 50s, likely a Caucasian.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to hail from the Anatolian Peninsula.
“It resembles heaven.”
“Not to that extent…”
“Is this the original form you take?”
“Indeed.”
Suddenly, I thought of something.
Could it be that the past Wisdom and I didn’t exchange this kind of first-class greetings even in the lost timeline?
“Let’s get to the point.”
“I’m all ears. Today, I’m learning from an excellent junior.”
The core of the plan I made in the lost timeline is simple.
“First, you will need to convince the plunderers starting now. Their active support is essential along with the mirror we will soon obtain.”
“What kind of support are we talking about?”
“Restraining the Moon. Right now, the Moon is waiting underground on Earth. It would naturally awaken in a few months if left alone, but for now, it’s tied up.”
“Do you want it to be more forcefully restrained?”
“Is that even possible?”
“It is, but… do you know why the Ark roaming through time doesn’t easily interfere with the Earth?”
“They probably fear exhausting their energy and getting hunted by the Moon.”
“Quite right. Keep that in mind. The plunderers, who call themselves an ‘alliance,’ are essentially very cowardly.”
“…”
“They’re just a bunch of refugees who fled the apocalypse. They’re not brave warriors. To get them to reveal their hidden strengths, you must show them a clear path.”
“A sure way to defeat the Moon?”
“Correct.”
Rather than brave warriors, the plunderers are more like cowardly refugees.
Without being certain they can defeat the Moon, they won’t expend their energy recklessly.
Thus, I must ensure they know they can ‘definitely’ win against the Moon.
“… Is this conversation just between you and me?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s keep this information from spreading too far.”
“I’ll filter it appropriately for the alliance.”
“Stage 1 of Soul Conglomerate.”
“Hmm?”
“This is the true identities of all the Arks.”
“…”
“Stage 2 is the Moon.”
I relayed the ancient records written in the status window, appropriately edited.
The past Wisdom, who had been listening, suddenly gasped in amazement.
“Whoa…! You mean there were countless test subjects before the first Ark?”
“Exactly.”
While skimming through the documents about the Soul Conglomerate, I discovered this fact.
The so-called first Ark or Moon was not actually the first Soul Conglomerate; even Stage 2 was the same.
According to the records, the entity known as ‘TX-135 (AS 4694, Atlantis)’ is said to be the first Stage 2 Soul Conglomerate.
TX-135 doesn’t even leave a trace at this point.
Perhaps the ancient civilization, panicked by seeing the psychotic form of the first Stage 2 Soul Conglomerate, destroyed it.
“The initial research records didn’t even mention the mirror. It could have been before the discovery of the mirror, or they may have discovered it and just didn’t connect it to the Soul Conglomerate. The important thing is—”
“Your intentions were not to share. It was not made to be an Ark.”
The implication of the initial Soul Conglomerate being designed without any relation to the mirror.
In the beginning, there was never an intention to divide.
It wasn’t meant for use as an Ark.
The past Wisdom pondered for a moment before forming a rational hypothesis.
“You’re saying that it wasn’t intended to be shared, nor was it made to be an Ark. So was it designed to be a weapon?”
“…”
What could have driven the ancient civilization to study the Soul Conglomerate?
A powerful weapon?
The past Wisdom already seemed assured in that direction, but I wasn’t so sure.
“I believe I understand what you’re trying to get across now. The Soul Conglomerate can be seen as a ‘self-aware weapon,’ right?”
“That’s right.”
“A self-aware weapon must have a controlling means. It’s the logical outcome.”
“Of course.”
“And you figured out that controlling means, didn’t you?”
“It’s called ‘the crown.’”
The crown.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t provide any further details.
It seems the past me also didn’t figure out how the crown looked and what principle it could use to control the Soul Conglomerate.
“The Holy Mother must know the location of the crown.”
“Most likely! Naturally!”
“I’ve persuaded her; she was preserved in that state.”
“Let me summarize your plan, and please correct me if I’m wrong.”
“Go ahead.”
“First, combine forces with the Administration Bureau and the alliance to further restrain the Moon. Second, during that time, a select team including you sneaks into the Moon’s internal area. Third, seize the ‘crown’ with the Holy Mother’s help inside the Moon. Did I get it right?”
“Close enough.”
1. Temporarily apply a stronger restraint on the Moon.
2. Infiltrate the Moon’s internal area.
3. Capture the crown and take control away from the prince.
“There’s one thing that worries me. No matter how much we restrain the Moon, getting into the Moon’s interior might not be easy…”
Questioning the second point’s feasibility.
The moment those words hit my ears, I smirked.
I now understood why my past self left Miro inside the Moon!
“… There’s another comrade within the Moon. If they help, it’ll be easier to infiltrate.”
“Aha! Have you completed preparations for that? That’s impressive! Quite impressive!”
A victorious smile spread across the old man’s face, the past Wisdom.
He likely saw this as enough to face the Moon.
“Really appreciate your efforts. I’ll appropriately edit this information and convey it. The alliance should accept your words without issue. However…”
“However?”
The past Wisdom glinted his eyes sharply, asking.
“Your entire plan is focused on ‘attacking the Moon.’”
“Do we need more?”
“You must realize this? The Administration Bureau and the alliance can never truly join forces. Right now, they’re just united against the common enemy, the Moon. What’s your plan afterward?”
Once the common enemy, the Moon, is dealt with, the issue of the plunderers will emerge again.
One chair, ten participants.
Over ten entities vying for one world.
I calmly replied.
“The problem afterward doesn’t matter.”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten? This world is not a true one for us anyway…”
In the past, both Eunsol and Jinchul had secretly agreed with this statement.
The plunderers are essentially a group similar to the Administration Bureau, and their goal is also to rebuild their own civilization.
Therefore, the plunderers’ victory is not a great tragedy for us.
In the distant past, what the Administration Bureau did would just be handled by a similar group.
While it might be a painful tale for Ari or Grandpa, who had dedicated their lives to the Administration Bureau, what about the other comrades left in this world, devoid of family?
The Administration Bureau and the plunderers are essentially the same.
I hoped the past Wisdom would come to understand my thinking like this.
*
After a moment of silence, a look of realization dawned on the past Wisdom.
“Ah… so for you, there’s no difference whatsoever between the Administration Bureau and the alliance?”
“As long as the winner is not the Moon, that’s all that matters.”
“I get it.”
“Then what about the rematch after the Moon disappears?”
“Well, should we just go into Pioneer and take a break?”
“You’re not planning to get involved in the fight between the Administration Bureau and the plunderers, nor a conflict among the plunderers?”
“That’s right.”
“Can we really trust that?”
“Patrick.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m talking about the Pact. Bring it tomorrow. Just having it is enough, right? Han Kain won’t intervene in the disputes between the Administration Bureau and the plunderers.”
“Is it necessary to go that far? I trust you.”
That line was pretty funny.
Without a doubt, the most amusing word among people like us is ‘trust’!
“Really? In that case, let’s consider we trust each other—”
“Bring the Pact tomorrow.”
This guy! Why say such nonsense?
And thus, the negotiations with the plunderer faction wrapped up.
*
— Snap!
“Alright, this is the deal I reached with the plunderers.”
First, until the Moon showdown is over, the plunderer forces will actively assist us.
Second, after that, the Hotel Party won’t intervene in conflicts between the Administration Bureau and the plunderers, or among the plunderers themselves.
Third, these details will be written in the Pact. Breach it, and death is the price.
Everyone fell silent as they read what was written on the whiteboard.
The reason for their silence was surely because of the second point: we would stand clear from the conflict between the Administration Bureau and the plunderers, right?
Ari and Grandpa, who had been loyal to the Administration Bureau all their lives, wore pale, frozen expressions that were hard to describe.
Meanwhile, other comrades like Eunsol and Jinchul also didn’t look pleased.
Well, the implied meaning from earlier was more about “The plunderers’ victory is better than the Moon’s,” not “I hope for the plunderers’ victory.”
Maybe Songyi wouldn’t mind the unchanged things?
Seungyub had a blank expression as if he were out of thoughts.
Eunsol, cautiously glancing around, finally took the initiative to ask.
“Um…”
“Go ahead.”
“If we don’t get involved, isn’t the Bureau’s defeat a certainty?”
“Pretty much, yes.”
“… one of the plunderers might establish a strange, unidentified civilization.”
“Very likely.”
“Y-you’re really saying all this? Even signed the Pact?”
“Here!”
— Squeak!
I drew a line through the contents of the agreement.
Everyone gasped in surprise and turned to me.
“Now, I’ll write down the ‘real plan.’”
“Yikes!”
“Haha! You really think the plunderers and the Administration Bureau are going to tear each other apart until the end? That can’t be the happy ending, right?”
“The Pact—”
“I’ll uphold it too.”
—
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