Chapter 270: The Elder's Blessing
Albert was adjusting his mechanical arm.
Anti-Entropy had long since mastered the technology of limb regeneration. In fact, it was so advanced that in the civilian sector, it was as common as cold medicine—an everyday medical procedure that no one found surprising.
Yet, Albert had chosen not to restore his original arm. While he was born with a rare, mild resistance to Honkai energy and had undergone human enhancement procedures under Anti-Entropy, making his physical combat abilities quite formidable, his natural talent was still limited. Under such circumstances, a mechanical arm was an effective way to boost his combat strength.
Mechanical arms were convenient, reliable, and had already been extensively tested for stability. However, to be absolutely certain, Albert made it a habit to test his arm's functionality before every battle.
Especially now, as the personal guard of the leader of Anti-Entropy, he had to seize every moment of downtime to maintain himself in peak condition.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
With the rhythmic sounds of metal components shifting and clicking into place, the black metallic fingers flexed one by one, resembling a solemn requiem.
At least, to the noblewoman standing outside the door, lifting the hem of her luxurious gown, it felt stifling and oppressive.
"I came here to negotiate with your leader. What is the meaning of keeping me waiting here? Is this how Anti-Entropy treats its guests?"
Agina Tyrol voiced her displeasure to the indifferent officer who was nearly ignoring her. There was an innate arrogance in her tone—once upon a time, such low-ranking soldiers had no choice but to bow and scrape before her!
Clack!
With one final flex, Albert pulled on a pair of black leather gloves, inspected both of his hands, then looked up expressionlessly at the elegant and noble woman before him.
"Your surname is Tyrol?"
"Oh? So you've heard of my family's name?"
"I lost this arm during the Great Honkai Outbreak in New Zealand. Later, I was the one who led the purge against those criminals who delayed rescue operations and interfered with the war effort… I remember personally executing two people with the surname Tyrol. Do you know them?"
"…Those were lawless criminals, disgraces to the Tyrol family. They have nothing to do with me."
Agina quickly reined in her frustration, replacing it with a gentle and courteous smile.
Albert simply responded with a neutral hum, his cold expression unchanged.
"The leader is still handling some military affairs. You'll have to wait."
In reality, the leader was reviewing reports, weighing whether to conduct this negotiation in an attempt to peacefully dismantle the alliance of interest groups that Agina represented—or to take the more straightforward route and crush them with force.
Albert personally favored the latter option—it was simpler.
Unfortunately, the leader was a moderate at heart. No matter how many purges he had led, that part of him never changed.
Albert glanced briefly at Agina's smooth, porcelain-like neck and felt a slight tinge of regret.
Meanwhile, Agina instinctively felt a chill down her spine without knowing why. But when she noticed where Albert's gaze had landed, she straightened her posture slightly with a hint of smugness, emphasizing her impressive figure.
After all, the body was a form of capital too. If it had value, Agina was more than willing to use it.
Albert, however, simply looked away, not bothering to spare her another glance.
'Once this matter is settled, we'll have a clear course of action for the Eight Cities Alliance, and I can finally take a short break. I should call Tina—otherwise, she'll start complaining that I never pay attention to her when I get busy.'
'Though… Director Cioara's attitude has been getting worse lately. Last time, she even drew her gun on me. I swear I've always been loyal and professional—what exactly did I do to offend her?'
'Could it be… that Tina has been badmouthing me behind my back? That mischievous little brat—it's definitely possible. I'll have to interrogate her properly later.'
Albert muttered to himself, though part of his attention remained fixed on Agina, who stood still, not daring to move. As a bodyguard, even though he knew their leader was unimaginably powerful, he still had to fulfill his duty.
Time passed in silence, and Agina grew increasingly uneasy. A cold sweat began forming on her back. She was truly frightened—after all, she was now facing a terrifying man who was in the process of overturning the world. The longer she waited, the more she feared the worst possible outcome.
"Come in."
A clear yet steady voice called out from within. The heavy doors slowly swung open.
Agina glanced at Albert, but seeing no reaction from him, she swallowed her nerves and stepped inside.
"Sit."
The room was bright yet modestly furnished. A man had removed his glasses and was rubbing his temples, looking somewhat fatigued. Without lifting his head, he gestured for her to take a seat.
Agina obediently sat down.
"Lord Welt, we—"
"You represent a coalition of factions that, while once oppositional, have since learned restraint after experiencing varying degrees of pressure. You've come to confirm the terms of unification, haven't you?"
"As you say, Lord Welt. We would never dare oppose Anti-Entropy or Schicksal. But when it comes to our survival, we had no choice but to band together and gather the courage to come before you."
"If… and I do mean if we decide to conduct a thorough purge, what would you do? Would you rally the Eight Cities Alliance and go to war with us?"
"…"
Agina knew she should deny it outright. But under Welt's calm gaze—one that seemed to see through everything—she found herself unable to say anything at all.
"I understand." Welt leaned back slightly. "Judgments made before and after unification will be held to relatively lenient standards. However, there are lines that will never be crossed, and this is the only opportunity. Once unification is complete, everyone will be treated equally. If you wish to rise, no one will deliberately suppress you—we will judge only by merit and actions. That's all there is to say. As for the credibility of these policies, I will provide you with a signed guarantee. I hope you will all consider carefully. You may leave."
With Welt's signature in hand, Agina left the Anti-Entropy branch base in a daze.
The entire negotiation had lasted only a few minutes.
<+>
"Leader, are you really going with the moderate approach?"
Shortly after the meeting, Albert entered the room and sincerely suggested, "I still believe this is a rare opportunity to eliminate the remnants of the old order in one decisive strike. A momentary sacrifice would be worth it."
Welt looked at the young officer, whose face carried a maturity beyond his years, and smiled slightly.
"I understand your perspective. The Eight Cities Alliance is insignificant. Even if we add up all the other factions that have joined together, we have the strength to wipe them out entirely if we so choose. But is it necessary?"
"For the purity and unity of the empire, I believe it is."
"Purity and unity…" Welt murmured. "At first glance, that does seem logical. But Albert, you understand as well as I do—many of them are not truly guilty. Among them are countless innocents, and they make up the majority of our opposition. Tell me, Albert, if we wipe everything clean, will the new empire truly be free of conflict? What about the resentment left behind by those who survive the slaughter?"
Welt's gaze was warm, but behind that kindness was a deep, rational clarity.
Albert opened his mouth but gradually furrowed his brows, struggling to find an answer.
Welt let out a sigh.
"I understand what you're thinking. Eliminating these factions completely would ensure that the new empire remains free from sharp class conflicts for a long time. But killing one person breeds at least three to five new grudges. We would be left with countless people harboring resentment toward us—including many children… Who will deal with that? Who will ensure they don't become a future problem? Will we just keep killing indefinitely?"
"But, Lord Welt, class conflict is the sharpest social contradiction!" Albert argued.
"No. Right now, the greatest conflict is between humanity and the Honkai. As for class conflict… once the new empire is established, all former class enemies will be reintegrated into the masses. The highest, most dominant class will be us. Do you understand?"
"…That's making my head spin. Leader, I think I'll just keep quiet. Call me when it's time to fight."
Albert scratched his head. He felt like he was starting to understand, but at the same time, he was still utterly confused—whatever. These complex, long-term issues were for the big shots to figure out. He was just a soldier, what did he know about politics?
Welt looked at him with disappointment.
Albert guiltily rubbed his nose.
After a moment, Welt smiled.
"Read more books in the future. Also, questioning and challenging ideas is a great quality—keep it up."
"Yes, sir!"
"In the end, leaving some of them alive won't lead to the class remnants you fear. Before unification, they won't be able to accomplish much, and after unification, they'll be even less capable of hindering our fight against Honkai and our progress toward reform."
"So in reality, taking a more moderate approach will help our cause. And don't forget—we have our own unwavering principles. It's not as if we're offering unconditional forgiveness."
"The policies explaining this in detail will be compiled soon. You can look through them for answers. If you have more suggestions, feel free to bring them to me anytime."
"Understood, Leader! So, if there's nothing else for today, can I clock out?"
"Go ahead. Get some rest."
Albert saluted and left.
Welt pushed aside the pile of documents on his desk, stretched, then turned his gaze toward the distant headquarters.
"The battle over there should be starting soon too, huh? Give it your all, kids. The future is in our hands—but ultimately, it will be your world to inherit…"
Beep! Beep!
His communicator chimed.
Welt answered the call.
"We've been tracking the Eight Cities Alliance and detected some signs of the Herrscher of Thousands. If our suspicions are correct, they're trying to disrupt the peaceful transition. What are your orders, Yang?"
"Prioritize the bigger picture. Capture them alive if possible. If not, eliminate them—don't let them stir up trouble. At this point, any hidden interest groups willing to reveal themselves have already done so. Now, we should focus on steadily advancing unification."
"Understood. Take care of yourself, don't overwork."
"I know. You too, Einstein. Oh, by the way, want to come over for dinner tonight?"
"We're in the same city, of course I'll come. I'll bring Dr. Tesla along. She's in an unusually excited mood now that she gets to test a bunch of new machines."
"Haha! Keep an eye on her, will you? Tesla… well, better to keep an eye on her just in case."
Welt chuckled. Despite how reckless Tesla could be, her presence was oddly reassuring.
The call ended.
For now, his work was temporarily done.
He gazed once more toward the sky over headquarters, silently offering his blessings and hopes for the younger generation.
<+>
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