"Resurrection...is impossible. Even Mei said it couldn't be done." Kevin's expression shifted dramatically before settling back into utter calm—more akin to a heart turned cold ash than serene peace.
Resurrection was deemed unequivocally unachievable by Mei herself. Trusting her judgment, Kevin never entertained this far-fetched fantasy from the start.
Zeke tapped his index finger on the table and glanced emotionlessly at Su, still lost in thought, gesturing for him to refill their cups with tea.
"Oh! R-right away!"
For a moment, Su appeared flustered and somewhat absent-minded but eventually managed to properly top up Zeke's cup.
As Zeke lifted his teacup, he began meticulously analyzing the situation:
"Dr. Mei might have dismissed resurrection technology because she never truly valued it. After all, reviving one or two individuals wouldn't impact the broader struggle. Instead, revealing such technology could likely ignite internal conflicts within the human world, outweighing any potential benefits against Honkai. Additionally, time constraints were probably a factor. In her race against Honkai, even maintaining her own health took a backseat as every moment was crucial. Otherwise, given Dr. Mei's achievements, I doubt she couldn't have preserved her life somehow. At the very least, extending her consciousness should not have been too challenging."
In Zeke's view, Dr. Mei's death was more likely akin to what humans call "overwork," bearing the immense burden of combating Honkai, so consumed by her work that she neglected her own well-being—ultimately leading to her demise. How else could someone of her stature simply succumb without resistance?! If Otto could survive for centuries, why couldn't Dr. Mei find a way to prolong her life? The answer is clear: Her unwavering dedication to fighting Honkai left no time or energy to consider her own longevity.
"You...what exactly are you trying to say?" Kevin asked after a brief silence. He didn't lift his teacup, fearing he might spill due to trembling hands—or perhaps, he had already lost sight of the cup beside him.
"Mr. Kevin, have you heard of Otto?"
"Yes, I have. When Gray Serpent contacted me, he mentioned him as both highly intelligent and dangerous. Gray Serpent surmised that Otto could potentially be the greatest obstacle to Project Stigma or, conversely, its most significant asset. Long ago, I planned to have a thorough discussion with him once we returned to reality."
Zeke inwardly snorted, suspecting it would likely be a "discussion" in the physical sense. However, his expression remained unchanged as he said,
"A very accurate assessment. If anyone in the real world could outwit you or assist in eliminating all hindrances, it would undoubtedly be Otto—assuming my presence isn't considered."
"...Tell me about resurrection," Kevin stated, his demeanor completely composed.
It wasn't that he lacked interest; on the contrary, if such a possibility truly existed, he might become more obsessed than anyone else. Nevertheless, Kevin still trusted Mei's earlier assertion—that resurrection was impossible to achieve.
Of course, despite harboring little hope, there was no harm in listening, right?
The corners of Zeke's mouth curved slightly before returning to their indifferent expression, and he began:
"Otto is someone who relentlessly pursued resurrection; he aimed to perfectly revive a girl who had been dead for over five centuries. Whether it was through Schicksal or suppressing Honkai, the transformations in the world's dynamics over these past five hundred years, countless dramas and tragedies, were all driven by this singular goal. Yet now, he almost entirely submits to me, even willing to kneel as my subject. What do you think could be the reason behind that?"
"...Perhaps your deception skills are just exceptionally advanced."
"He mastered the Void Archives, revolutionized Dr. Mei's technology, and developed mature, scalable artificial stigma and Valkyrie Armor systems from scratch. He is also a master manipulator who has controlled the world from the shadows for five hundred years, causing numerous heroes to falter and compelling many tyrants to bow before him. Even your little pet trembles at the thought of facing him... Do you really believe such a person can be deceived by falsehoods?"
"And thus, I emphasize how exceptional your deception skills must be." Kevin chose stubbornness.
It wasn't that he didn't yearn to witness resurrection technology, but false hope only breeds deeper despair. Kevin didn't want his resolve to crumble due to some absurd deceit before Mei's plan came to fruition.
No matter how beautiful, a deception holds no meaning.
Zeke nodded, grasping Kevin's mindset quite well.
Meanwhile, Su, who had remained silent, suddenly widened his eyes as if witnessing something utterly unbelievable.
"Perhaps... it might be true?" he murmured softly.
However, the other two listeners were monstrous beings transcending conventional life theories; they couldn't possibly miss such a whisper.
"What have you seen, Su?"
Kevin turned to his closest friend, asking expressionlessly with an overwhelming intensity.
He wouldn't believe Zeke's words, but when it came to Su, Kevin could place almost unwavering trust—a key factor behind Su's success years ago.
Su finally regained his composure fully. After briefly organizing his thoughts, he slowly said:
"Earlier, I was focused on observing more parallel worlds and didn't have the time or energy to pay attention to our own world. Just now, I examined the information from reality. In summary, young Zeke has developed new scientific theories, from which emerged...a method for resurrection. Currently, Otto is researching ways to interact with past Anchor Points. If he succeeds... perhaps resurrecting Mei isn't just wishful thinking."
"I don't believe it! Mei never mentioned... It can't be possible." Kevin's breaths became erratic as he irritably tugged at his collar.
Zeke looked at Kevin and nonchalantly said, "No matter how much you argue, it holds no significance. Instead, why not patiently wait? Perhaps there might be a pleasant surprise."
Kevin remained silent.
"Regardless, your ultimate goal is still to overcome Honkai and seek vengeance for Dr. Mei. Therefore, cooperating with the current humans' plan should pose no issue. In return, I can designate your Project Stigma as a contingency measure for extreme situations, and simultaneously... when the time is right, revive Dr. Mei in this era."
Still, Kevin did not respond.
"Silence serves no purpose. As one who will soon command the strength of the entire civilization, if I reject Project Stigma, you'll have no place left in reality, and the plan would inevitably fail. Thus, you truly have no choice but to either collaborate with me in hopes of resurrection or simply for the sake of the plan itself. We'll remain here for some time, so take your time to decide."
Zeke finished his second cup of tea, feeling quite satisfied, and declined Su's offer to refill it by saying:
"Since you're aware of our plan and anticipated my arrival, I assume you know my purpose here?"
"I do indeed. I've already selected several suitable worlds for you, allowing you to learn and experiment with your Imperial Arts at any time..."
"It seems you may have misunderstood something."
"Huh?" Su paused, taken aback.
Zeke shook his head and replied, "When it comes to physical strength, I could defeat a Herrscher barehanded. As for intellect, though it might sound arrogant, even Dr. Mei reborn might not surpass me significantly. Regarding power and status... Welt and Otto stand by my side, Tesla and Einstein heed my commands, swarms, Titan hordes, and Valkyrie legions charge under my banner, and with a mere gesture, I can summon Herrscher-level combatants—why would I need Imperial Arts?"
Zeke appeared genuinely puzzled.
Su was left speechless.
His point was valid; the Imperial Arts were tools used by feudal rulers to balance power within their court and centralize authority. If Zeke became Emperor, with his own capabilities and the support of those around him, who could or would dare rebel?
"Then... what do you wish to accomplish?"
"Give me a blank world bubble. I need to develop technologies that will greatly enhance governance and civilization advancement, as well as refine my understanding of my own power systems while considering long-term plans... In short, the real world cannot afford disruptions, so here is where I can work undisturbed. Can you provide suitable world bubbles and ensure a quiet environment for me?"
"...Yes, of course, no problem."
"I'll leave it to you then. Oh, and Mr. Kevin over there, please be prepared; at any moment, I might require a living target... ahem, I mean a powerful experimental assistant."
Kevin, momentarily dazed, snapped back to reality and nodded.
"Agreed. Regardless, you are a formidable force in this current era, and I also owe Su a debt of gratitude which needs repaying. Providing some assistance is not an issue."
"Excellent. As expected from Mr. Kevin, always open-minded and accommodating." Zeke smiled, his handsome face radiating warmth like gentle sunshine on a spring day.
Su involuntarily rubbed his arms, feeling puzzled. 'Strange, why do I suddenly feel a chill? Did the temperature drop? But my world bubble shouldn't have such settings...'