Cocolia was at a press conference, fielding questions from nations all over the world.
Among them, the Russian representatives were the most agitated.
But there was nothing they could do. They couldn't even get close to the combat zone.
Cordoned off by a ring of SELENE Engines, the Honkai Energy concentration within the area had become so high that it was lethal for any ordinary person to approach. Entering meant certain death. That was without even mentioning the high-energy protective barrier; any drone that attempted to get close met the same fiery end.
The only viable method was a direct airdrop of personnel with high Honkai resistance via an airship.
Cocolia paid the inquiries no mind, acting as if Russia had already walked up to her and was about to pull the trigger.
The poor Russians probably didn't realize that ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, no country held any expectations for them. Their death or dissolution would not cause a single ripple on the world stage.
Academy City's reason for choosing Russia was simple: no other nation would send troops to help when they were attacked. This would minimize international friction and allow Academy City to quickly and efficiently secure a new territory for itself.
With Honkai Energy in one hand, biotechnology in the other, and the AI technology of the Previous Era, nothing could stop Academy City anymore.
It had already completed the foundation of its rule and would no longer be content with the small patch of land in the Far East.
Cocolia's disdain forced the Russian diplomats to taste a bitterness they had never known before.
The march of Geneticism would not stop, nor would it fly a banner of its own.
Geneticism didn't need a flag. All it needed was to root its ideology in the hearts of all humanity. As for flags, those were a tool for dividing humanity that it would only consider after it had already taken over the world.
It was just like how capitalist regimes never wave the flag of capitalism, instead raising banners of democracy, liberty, republicanism, and other miscellaneous ideals.
---||---
Kiana listened quietly to the android Cecilia's tearful plea. Although she desperately wanted to help Sirin, the Kiana of today could no longer take such direct action.
Kiana knew in her heart that Sirin was still mentally trapped in the year 2000; she had never moved on. This wasn't a problem that could be solved simply by Kiana rushing in to save her.
"I know you want to save Sirin, which is why you could only come to me for help. But this is not something I can do. Even though I know Sirin might be innocent, that she might die, I still can't do it. As long as her revenge is carried out from the standpoint of a Herrscher, it will never have justice."
"I cannot go and save her, because this is the final reckoning for the conflict between humanity and the Honkai from the previous era. Be it Sirin or Otto, they are both part of that reckoning. There is no personal hatred between them, only a struggle to see which of them will survive to become the ideological representative of the old humanity."
Kiana's words left the android Cecilia stunned. She sat on the floor, dumbfounded, unable to accept such an outcome for a moment.
The android Cecilia understood Kiana's predicament. Just as a modern society that has overthrown an empire would not allow its leaders to help the old emperor, Kiana could not show any affinity for a "Herrscher" of the old era.
This didn't refer to the people in her own home who possessed Herrscher Cores, but to a being who identified as a Herrscher and sought revenge on human civilization.
Sirin was a person shackled by this very ideology. Her soul had been trapped in Babylon Labs all this time.
"However, while I can't help you, there is someone who can. And she has her own unresolved history with both of them. I will not stop this person from seeking them out to settle these matters."
"Who?" The android Cecilia grew excited, as if she were grasping at the last straw of her life.
"Durandal. My sister. You should remember, right? How Cecilia sacrificed herself. How Otto used my mother, whom I never met. And Overseer Otto, the man Durandal trusted, the one who taught her like a teacher and a father. No matter which side or which standpoint I take, I cannot stop Durandal from resolving this."
"My sister is in the other room. I think she'll..."
Before Kiana could finish, Durandal pushed the door open and entered, her presence formidable. "I'll go! No matter what, I will bring you back a result!"
The android Cecilia looked at Durandal, who had just burst through the door, momentarily stunned that happiness had arrived so simply.
"Alright then!" Kiana didn't mind being interrupted. She gave her orders crisply.
"Durandal, you'll go with Himeko. She'll airdrop you into position. Sister, remember not to be reckless. Fight who you must, kill who you must, and don't hold back and get yourself hurt."
Durandal was suddenly speechless. This sounded as if the job had been arranged for her long ago.
But it didn't matter. She had prepared some new equipment of her own and was eager to test it out.
Whether it was Otto, Sirin, or even Cecilia...
There needed to be a conclusion.
Durandal said grimly, "Don't worry, there will be a result. Also... help me thank the Director. I will remember his kindness to me."
Kiana felt there was a hidden meaning in her sister's words. She didn't sound at all like she would "remember Noldrei's kindness."
Regardless of whether she truly meant it, Durandal set off with the android Cecilia.
Kiana wondered what her sister was truly feeling.
"Kiana, have they all left?" Raiden Mei only came out after everyone was gone.
"Uh, yeah..."
Kiana nodded hesitantly, because she wasn't sure if the android Cecilia could actually trigger the birth of a new Herrscher.
"I'm not sure, Mei. Do you think... an android can truly become the physical manifestation of a past human's emotional will?" Kiana pulled up a file on her communicator and sent it to Raiden Mei.
It was a document regarding the use of androids to replace death row inmates.
The proposal was simple: after an inmate was executed, an android, modified with their mind and will, would take their place to care for their family.
The goal was to help the relatives slowly come to terms with the pain of the inmate's absence, thereby mitigating the spread of social hatred and desire for revenge.
This was the solution proposed by the research institute.
If they followed the legal basis of equal rights and responsibilities, then the death penalty was an inevitability. Human society would have to accept the principle of "reaping what you sow."
Mei was also unsure. She didn't know if the android Cecilia could truly carry the will of the living Cecilia to Sirin.
If this experiment succeeded, it would mean that the concept of androids substituting for the spiritual will of the deceased was indeed feasible.