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Why did Zeke know Ana so well?
Duh! She was a Herrscher after all—how could he possibly overlook her existence? Naturally, he had thoroughly analyzed every aspect of her to prepare for future manipulation or utilization.
With a faint sigh, Zeke glanced down at his hands and then looked up at Kiana, expressing some regret:
"You should feel fortunate this is just a projection, otherwise... Never mind, regardless, once she starts recovering, have her read 'An Introduction to Ideology' and arrange a proper conversation with Welt."
"Huh?"
"Simply stepping out isn't enough; to harness Herrscher's power, she needs unwavering conviction. Noble ideals and lofty aspirations are undoubtedly the best ways to shape such belief—oh, don't worry about her losing control of the Herrscher abilities. The Void Portal is tethered to her being, as are those powers. This loss of energy is temporary; they will return eventually."
"Got it, I'll remember that!" Kiana nodded emphatically, carefully taking note of his advice.
Seeing Kiana pull out a notebook to record everything with a serious demeanor, Zeke felt privately satisfied. He then asked,
"Anything else?"
"Yes! What should we do about Mei's 'Zeke-phobia'? We can't let her stay like this indefinitely."
"My previous brief attempts, along with your current approach, essentially amount to desensitization therapy. It seems limited in effectiveness so far. Perhaps we could try inducement instead?"
"Mm-hmm! Please continue."
"For instance, what if we induce her physiological fear of me into absolute obedience towards me?" Zeke stroked his chin, unusually uncertain.
While this approach might be beneficial and could potentially yield a more compliant tool, Zeke felt partially responsible for Raiden Mei's current state. Would pushing ahead with such manipulations be too unfair to her?
Zeke frowned, sensing a faint twinge of guilt.
Moreover, treating something as niche as "Zeke Phobia" seemed downright impractical—how would one even begin addressing it?
Kiana pondered for a moment before a lightbulb flashed above her head. Pointing accusingly at Zeke with a slender finger, she leaned forward assertively, her hips jutting out:
"Wait a minute! Could this have been part of Zeke's plan all along? First, plant psychological trauma in Mei, then exploit that to tame her, making her obey your every command so you can do whatever you please... Aha! I've cracked the case! So, Zeke had his eyes on adorable Mei from the start—I never expected you to be like this!"
"Zzzt... Zzzzt..."
Several tiny worker bees crackling with electricity materialized in the air and slowly approached Kiana, who wore an expression of accusation.
Zeke gazed at her, devoid of any mercy.
Half a second later, Kiana swiftly assumed the prostrate position with her long silver hair spread across the ground like scattered silk threads. With solemnity, she said,
"I'm sorry; I was being too impulsive."
"When discussing serious matters, keep your thoughts focused."
"Yes! You're absolutely right!"
"Regarding Raiden Mei, let's continue with desensitization therapy for now. After all, its effectiveness has made it a commonly used approach. This situation is ultimately due to a series of misunderstandings and my momentary mischief. I believe she will eventually come around."
"Yes! I'll keep working diligently!"
"That's all then. Get plenty of sleep, don't kick off your blankets. Avoid excessive sweets after dinner. In battles, be cautious and avoid taking unnecessary risks. If faced with danger, disregard any mission objectives—seek help or retreat if needed. A mere Herrscher of a Thousand People can't cause significant chaos... Remember to take your prescribed vitality supplements on time. Hmm, that should cover everything."
Zeke cut off the communication abruptly. There wasn't much choice; once such conversations start, they tend to drag on endlessly, and he couldn't afford to indulge.
Kiana cautiously lifted her head slightly, stealing a glance to ensure Zeke had left. Only then did she exhale deeply and collapse onto the floor.
"Ahh... That scared me half to death! Thought I'd get zapped!"
Kiana kicked her legs lazily for a moment before rolling over to gaze at the ceiling, fingers caressing Zeke's coin-sized communicator left behind.
"Even if it meant getting scolded, I wish...that Zeke was truly here just now," she murmured softly. Turning on her side, Kiana pressed the communicator against her chest, curling up her petite body as tender longing filled her eyes, brimming with affectionate memories.
"Is that Kiana Kaslana? What an adorable child."
Inside the inner world of the Cosmic Juggernaut, Su rested his cheek on one hand, his gentle smile akin to a revitalizing spring breeze.
Zeke glanced sideways at him and murmured softly, "Yes, she's my girl."
"I know, I didn't mean otherwise; no ulterior motives here!" Su waved his hands repeatedly, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Zeke continued staring at him for quite some time before finally breaking his deathly gaze under Su's mounting pressure.
Struggling to maintain his smile, Su sighed helplessly, "Ah! If only the Kevin from years ago had possessed just a fraction of your assertiveness, he surely would have won Mei over before the Fusion experiment... In that case, perhaps I could have welcomed their true love's offspring, either a nephew or niece."
"Speaking of Kevin, what is he up to now?"
Zeke pointed towards a vast region enveloped by icy chill and chaotic energy in the distance.
Scratching his face, Su looked back at Zeke and said:
"It's just that your era is exceptionally rich with resources and knowledge. Kevin fears that upon returning to reality, he won't be able to secure enough control. Therefore, he's currently attempting to fuse Honkai Energy with the power of the Sea of Quanta, aiming to further enhance himself."
"I see... That sounds good," Zeke responded nonchalantly.
Concerned? Not at all.
Even if Kevin becomes stronger, strong enough to consistently defeat Zeke's current form, what difference would it make? In the real world, Zeke holds numerous trump cards up his sleeve. The likelihood of Kevin surpassing him solely through individual prowess approaches zero.
Moreover, for humans, factors determining one's status extend far beyond mere strength.
With the Life Equation in hand and wielding significant influence over civilization, regardless of how powerful Kevin grows, Zeke has ample means to keep him under control. He remains nothing more than a tool, after all.
Why worry when a tool improves its capabilities? On the contrary, the stronger Kevin becomes, the more effectively Zeke can utilize him—it truly is beneficial.
Zeke took a sip of tea, momentarily alleviating the exhaustion from connecting with the real world. Then, rising from his seat, he stepped into another opened world bubble channel to continue his work.
With only Su remaining at the scene, he tidied up the tea set and then gazed absentmindedly towards Kevin's training area, pondering almost like a devoted spouse:
"What should I prepare for their dinner tonight? I'm only skilled in dishes from the pre-epoch and some ancient recipes of this era. It shouldn't be an issue for Kevin, but I wonder if Zeke might have any preferences..."