Speaking those words to his own Servants as the Master of Chaldea was, for Shen He, equivalent to a declaration of war.
However, Jeanne was the only true Heroic Spirit here. So while the others' expressions hardly changed, she alone grew a bit more solemn.
"HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. have already become one," Lelouch said, striking directly at the heart of this war's real objective the moment he opened his mouth. "And the justification wrapped around it is nothing but a lofty excuse. At its core, it's still an organization acting as a lapdog to power. Therefore, winning this game is extremely easy."
To Lelouch, war was merely a game waged with lives on the line.
And to win a game one is unfamiliar with, the first step is to understand the rules; the second is to exploit those rules.
Now, he had already grasped the rules of this world.
"Go on," Shen He straightened slightly.
"An organization like this has been weaving countless lies since the moment it came into being," Lelouch said with a faint, cold smile. "Their creed is lies; their actions are lies. What we must do is tear those lies open and expose them, bloody and raw, to everyone. Under the rules of this world, once stripped of the cover of lies, authority loses the trust that sustains it."
Lelouch didn't finish the rest, but Shen He already understood.
Once an organization like S.H.I.E.L.D. loses the trust that legitimizes its power, it naturally has no reason to exist—and will inevitably face retribution.
"And your concrete plan? You must already have one."
Shen He was curious just how "easy" Lelouch's version of "easy" actually was.
Lelouch handed him a white report booklet taken from the backpack beside him.
Even though he now wielded power, Lelouch knew this world held forces far stronger than his own. Earning the trust of the man before him was an important step toward his vengeance against the Holy Britannian Empire.
Shen He opened the report, reading it word by word with full seriousness.
It was only an outline of a basic plan, so it wasn't long. He finished it in about twenty minutes, then exhaled.
"Saiki, what do you make of this plan?" Shen He looked toward Saiki Kusuo.
"You already know the answer. You wouldn't let me do something like this." Saiki's voice echoed in everyone's mind.
Lelouch's plan precisely listed each person's assigned task, chained tightly together. But it radiated the atmosphere of a behind-the-scenes mastermind—and showed complete disregard for civilian lives. One step even called for using the deaths of innocent bystanders caught up in the incident to drive public opinion to a climax. Saiki was the one assigned to carry out that step.
It was, undeniably, very much Lelouch's style.
"I actually think it's pretty good." Shen He smiled and handed the report back. "But Lelouch, you need to learn more about us—and more about this world."
Attacking innocent civilians wasn't just something he himself struggled to accept; Jeanne certainly wouldn't accept it. And once such a thing leaked out, Chaldea would become the target of all. At that point, every hero—possibly even Iron Man Tony, despite their good relations—might come to destroy them.
"Morality, is it?" Lelouch murmured softly, expression unchanged.
"Anyway, I've read your plan. I'll be commanding the operation; you'll be assisting me," Shen He continued smiling. "Also, keep that plan well hidden. Don't let Jeanne see it—or prepare for a holy woman's lecture."
"What are you saying, Master?" Jeanne puffed her cheeks in mild protest. "Is that something you should say to my face?"
"Hahaha." Shen He laughed heartily, then stood up and clapped his hands. "All right, everyone—let's work together. Once we get rid of HYDRA, we can finally go out in peace, shop around, buy things, and enjoy a good feast."
If HYDRA wasn't taken care of,the moment anyone in Shen He's group stepped outside, they would be monitored.
There were probably enemy spies even inside the company. They were already being watched completely.
...
The early-stage executors of the entire plan were limited to Shen He's group—plus Tony.
No one else could be trusted.
In truth, Tony could only offer some support. He had his hands full—developing the virtual reality company, overseeing construction of Stark Tower, producing the Iron Legion…
And enjoying his two-person world with Pepper.
"Sir, the information has been compiled."
That day, as Shen He was teaching Violet and Jeanne how to read and write, JARVIS's voice sounded abruptly.
"Is that so… Then, the 'Zero' Project officially begins." Shen He said casually.
"Yes, sir."
JARVIS's voice faded again.
"It's starting already, Master?"
Jeanne, who had been carefully copying characters stroke by stroke, lifted her head.
"That's right. Everything's ready." Shen He nodded, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Why did you write all over your face?"
"Eh—really!?"
Jeanne scrambled to grab the mirror from the drawer and saw a long ink streak starting from the side of her nose, looping across her cheek in a big circle, and ending near her lips.
"T-This pen is just too hard to control…"
Her cheeks flushed pink, especially when she noticed Violet staring fixedly at her face.
"Your grip is a little off. Didn't I already teach you…?" Shen He said, patiently guiding her hand again.
"…I-I'm terribly sorry, Master."
Realizing she had again held the pen incorrectly, Jeanne apologized shyly. Shen He didn't mind at all—he would teach her as many times as needed.
The three of them seemed to push aside all thoughts of the newly-activated plan, treating it like something completely trivial.
But for certain people, that moment was enough to overturn their entire worldview.
"T-T-This… oh my god…"
A woman sitting before her computer stared wide-eyed at the email that had just popped up.
The email was filled with unbelievable photos and videos, as well as documents—mostly about alien information covered up by an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D., about Mexico, about Asgard, and even about beings long spoken of only in legend.
At the bottom was the signature "Zero," followed by a single short sentence:
"They hid the truth. They used authority to weave lies. They want the people to remain ignorant until disaster arrives. If aliens truly threaten our safety, then the people have the right to know everything. Skye—do what Rising Tide was meant to do. The truth cannot be buried."
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