"It's you!"
The moment the short-haired girl appeared before him, Kevin's eyes widened. The ashes deep in his memories instantly stung his breath.
To be honest, he was suffering from a bit of PTSD now. His chest rose and fell slightly as he forced down the chill that had risen in his throat.
Because, this girl before him... she...
She was the Sixth Herrscher from the original history, the one who had once feigned humanity and tricked him, causing him to soften his heart and get millions of people implicated.
"Herrscher of Death - Seele."
Previously, Kevin had already met her once in this Age of Rekindling, where he had gained a second chance.
But back then, she was just an ordinary girl.
Not like now...
"You've become a Herrscher again!"
Kevin's tone was low.
At this moment, his expression was strange.
Worried about history repeating itself?
No, it was more than just that!
You should know that when Kevin first met Seele in this Age of Rekindling, the reason he chose to spare her was because of the Authority she possessed.
Decay and Creation... This was an ability that could directly elevate an ordinary person's life level, a power countless people would dream of.
Dr. Einstein and Dr. Tesla from the Old Days (Current Era) had benefited from this.
And that was only due to an accident, an accident caused by a Divine Key.
It wasn't even the Herrscher herself who had personally used it.
And this ability, which was absolutely safer than Hypermutation Surgery as long as the person involved cooperated...
Kevin wanted it too.
Without a doubt, he didn't want it for himself.
But... the thought of MEI, who had collapsed from exhaustion at the workbench before...
At this moment, his right hand, which held Shamash, actually trembled slightly. His knuckles turned white from gripping it too hard.
For a powerhouse of his caliber, this was undoubtedly a situation that should have been impossible.
This alone showed just how much turmoil Kevin was feeling inside.
Fortunately, despite this, his vast experience accumulated over countless lives allowed him to forcibly suppress his emotions and regain his composure in a short time.
He had not forgotten his duty, nor had he forgotten to prioritize the bigger picture.
But on the other side...
"As expected, you're all just a bunch of people with malicious intentions."
Seele stared directly at Kevin, whose expression had turned strange. "It was you... wasn't it? The one who almost killed me and Bronya sister earlier."
"Bronya... sister?"
Standing to the side, Fu Hua's expression became rather odd.
As a Returnee like Kevin, she knew Bronya and she knew Seele... Of course, that was Seele Vollerei.
As for the Sixth Herrscher of the Previous Civilization... the one from the original historical trajectory of the current Era... although she had never encountered her personally, she was familiar with the relevant files.
So, from Fu Hua's perspective, when this Seele also used that specific term to address someone she knew well...
"Are you with Bronya right now?"
Fu Hua asked.
She didn't know about the events that had taken place around Berlin that night a few months ago.
On one hand, she hadn't joined the new World Serpent yet.
On the other hand...
In this Age of Rekindling, although many things had changed... there were still many things that remained the same.
For example: MEI... she was still the strategist who wouldn't share all of her plans with everyone.
Fu Hua knew her well enough to not ask too many questions about things that didn't concern her.
And that was precisely why she was asking this question now.
However, because of that one sentence...
"Are you also someone Bronya sister knows?"
Seele had no intention of responding to Fu Hua. Instead, after asking this question, her expression turned extremely ugly.
Tsk!
"Another one!"
She slowly lowered her head, her bangs covering the upper half of her face, making it impossible to see her expression clearly.
However...
"Old Timer, be careful."
Xiao Shi warned. "This person is not right."
At this moment, several Phantom Feathers drifted around Fu Hua.
Clearly, Xiao Shi was operating the remaining Fenghuang Down for her, taking precautions.
Fu Hua also grew alert.
Not just her...
Kevin and Elysia also held their breath, as if ready to burst out and fight at any moment.
It was in this incredibly tense situation...
Sigh...
Seele let out a long breath.
When she raised her head again, she first gave Fu Hua a look of utter repulsion, then... she glanced warily at Kevin.
This man... if he weren't here...
"Let's make a deal, outsider," Seele said coldly. "Leave now and never come back to disturb my life, and I won't continue expanding my Miniature Garden."
"If you don't agree, we'll fight to the death."
"You..."
"There is something I might as well tell you now."
Seeing Fu Hua about to say something, Seele cut her off sharply.
Then, she raised her hand and pointed to the side... to the people she controlled like puppets. "Inside my Miniature Garden, including these people... everyone is still alive."
"Or rather, having gained new life, they have also been given a so-called second chance."
"Now, their consciousnesses remain unchanged, but their bodies have been gradually modified and evolved by me. Not only can they live for long periods in an environment with a certain level of high Honkai energy, but their lifespans have also been greatly extended, and they are free from the pain of aging."
"Even many diseases have been made immune."
"Accidental injuries will heal faster."
"I have given them all this, and the price is: when I need them, they must play their roles well."
"If they perform well, they will also gain all kinds of sweet dreams they desire."
Seele raised her hands. "Healthy bodies, long lifespans, comfortable mental enjoyment... This is my world."
Her gaze swept over Kevin, Elysia, and Fu Hua.
"The reason I'm telling you this isn't because I want to show off, but rather to state a simple fact."
Seele raised her right hand, holding up four slender fingers. "Nearly forty million people."
"Within the entire Republic of the White Eagle... including parts of the northeastern side of the German Federation, these over thirty nine million living people are all hostages in my hands."
!!!
Both Fu Hua and Elysia looked shocked.
Kevin's expression remained as still as water.
Seele continued, "Under this prerequisite, if you want to destroy my Miniature Garden, then the number of people you will bury in the future will no longer be just over thirty nine million."
"Let me think..."
She looked at Kevin, the only man who truly intimidated her. A distinct smile curved her lips. "You might be able to kill me, but before that, I will destroy an entire continent."
"And even if I die, these people whose hope—their sweet dreams—you've stolen will all go mad."
"They have no choice."
"Because their healthy bodies, which grant them long lives, will become coveted prizes for other short lived species. They will be seen as wealth to be stolen."
"Faced with external plunder and exploitation, they can only fight back."
"Perhaps some cowards will choose to offer their necks for the blade."
"But at the final moment, I will push everyone to act."
"Rest assured, I have many more tricks up my sleeve."
"Far more than what I've mentioned."
"I could unleash a global pandemic with high contagion and mortality rates."
"Or I could contaminate the precious resources that humanity relies on for survival."
"To incite conflict, whether by creating irresistible benefits or by cutting the existing cake in half... or even reducing it to almost nothing..."
"All of it is possible!"
"And when that time comes..."
Seele looked at the three people before her and described the most terrifying future. "By making the wrong choice, you might indirectly trigger a world war between New Humanity and Old Humanity, between immortal species and short lived species, between different species, and even within the same species."
"At that point, with the Honkai still unstopped and war breaking out... how many more people do you think will die in the process?"
"And after that... in this scarred era, this era of scarce resources, this era where trust is gone and unity is impossible, will there even be a chance to defeat the Honkai?"
"Or will we head toward an even more brutal ending?"
At this point...
Dead silence.
Kevin and Fu Hua exchanged a glance, both seeing the same grim expression on the other's face.
Indeed, everything Seele had just said was extremely troublesome.
But they were not the kind of people to hesitate.
They would make a decisive move and cut through the mess quickly... as long as they were sure it would bring greater benefits. Fu Hua aside, Kevin would not hesitate.
They would not make an immediate judgment on everything they encountered here today.
They would go back, discuss it, and ultimately reach a conclusion.
Perhaps, this brief time difference would have given Seele more options and enough time to complete her unknown plot.
But, just as Seele said: they couldn't afford to gamble right now.
However, at this moment, there was a more critical problem than this deadlock...
What kind of Herrscher is this?
An incredibly absurd feeling rose in both of their hearts.
They... had never seen a Herrscher like this before.
Neither in their memories from over 50,000 years ago, nor in the Old Days (Current Era) that had long since passed... had such a Herrscher ever appeared.
She could negotiate terms! She could use hostages! She was even using the darkness in human nature to achieve her own goals.
And that insane negotiating style where she'd rather destroy everything if you didn't follow her demands, ensuring no one would be left unharmed...
This was just like...
Otto?
The image of a blond man flashed through Kevin's and Fu Hua's minds at the same time.
The man wore a cunning smile, his hands spread habitually, making people's skin crawl. That hypocritical shadow was now deeply engraved on the outline of the girl before them.
In that instant, when Kevin and Fu Hua looked at the short haired girl again...
The malicious smile on her face was simply...
Simply identical to the man's.
At the same time...
In a remote town, also within Europe.
"How does that sound, Miss Seele?"
"Using the future of an era and the catalyst for a world war as the... sturdiest foundation for the 'Miniature Garden' you've created."
"Even the strongest MANTIS wouldn't dare to act recklessly with such stakes on the line."
"Is the plan I've proposed feasible?"
Inside a small chapel that was far from luxurious but impeccably clean, a blond figure wearing a white clown mask bowed respectfully to the young woman sitting casually on the priest's small lectern. The elegant hand placed over his chest concealed a thick layer of calculation.
The young woman, dressed in a magnificent blue-purple gown, sat with her legs crossed, her chin resting on one hand, and an impassive expression on her face.
"Not bad," Seele, the short-haired girl, said coldly.
Though the words should have been praise, no trace of approval showed on her face.
Yet, even so...
"It is my honor, Otto Apocalypse, to ease your burdens."
The blond figure bowed again, showing no regard for his own dignity.
Seeing him act like this...
"Stop putting on this disgusting act in front of me."
"It makes me want to kill you."
As Seele spoke, she tapped her fingertips. Several Phantasm Butterflies fluttered their wings and slowly drifted toward the blond figure. A sharp chill pressed against his throat.
She wasn't attacking him.
Instead...
"Here is your payment," Seele said coldly. "Seven opportunities to create an immortal species (New Humanity)... Your suggestion is indeed worth this price."
"Once you take it, don't come back."
"My Miniature Garden welcomes no outsiders, including you."
Hearing this, Otto carefully collected the Phantasm Butterflies, then bowed again and smiled, "Understood."
"As you wish."