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===BREAK===
I'm used to feeling someone's gaze.
It's a bit conceited to say, but at this point, I'm fairly well-known within the Ark.
But if that gaze was coming from someone in the White Line, the story changed.
'Hmm…'
A gaze that was neither hostile nor friendly.
At first, I considered ignoring it—but once I realized the person behind it was Colonel Melissa, I had no intention of letting it go.
Skull Knight Colonel Melissa.
Though we hadn't had many chances to cross paths due to our lack of clear interaction points, her rank and influence within the Ark were undoubtedly valuable.
In fact, this seemed like a good opportunity to bring her under my control.
'Is it possible?'
To this, the Turncoat King replied in a hushed voice.
["To conquer and subjugate a foreign nation through presence alone… That too is a glory only a true king may claim."]
'So, it's possible.'
Even with Janus at the pinnacle of Bone Parasites, I wasn't sure if this could be done in the heart of the White Line.
But the answer I got was surprisingly affirmative.
'Janus.'
[Gigik.]
Janus didn't need to act directly.
All it took was for the being who sat atop all Bone Parasites to subtly reveal his presence.
Goooooo…
Gradually, slowly.
The quiet presence of Janus began to emerge.
It was just a fraction of his vast aura, yet for those who encountered it, that sliver was overwhelming.
["As expected."]
With the Turncoat King's soft admiration, Colonel Melissa, who had been facing me, froze.
"..."
A brief silence.
And when that silence passed, her once-firm knees buckled.
A Skull Knight of Colonel Melissa's caliber had instinctively submitted—just from a tiny fragment of Janus's presence.
'That should be enough.'
Seeing this, I turned and left.
With my business in the White Line concluded, there was no reason to linger.
'More importantly, this much is sufficient to ensure Colonel Melissa's subjugation.'
Being deeply connected to Janus, I could tell instinctively.
Even though our interaction had lasted mere moments, Melissa had already been subdued by Janus.
'And… she likely isn't even aware of it herself.'
A perfect form of subjugation that even bypassed one's own will.
It was no empty boast when it was said that Janus, having devoured the Bone Lord and the Turncoat King, had become the pinnacle of all Bone Parasites.
Now, without direct contact, he could exercise that power at will—so long as his target originated from Bone Parasites.
He had become a ruler in the truest sense.
'At this rate, subjugating other Skull Knights won't be difficult either.'
There weren't many Skull Knights in the Ark, but their individual combat power was significant—even on a national scale.
To make a force like that my personal asset—
If the Ark learned of it, they would stop at nothing to eliminate me.
'Not that I'd let that happen.'
Subjugating Skull Knights was simply a precaution—for convenience and potential emergencies within the Ark.
I wasn't about to use them as my personal army.
'I have a different military force in mind.'
It goes without saying—beyond the Ark's walls, countless Bone Parasites exist aside from the Bone Lord and the Turncoats.
If I could bring them all under control, I'd possess overwhelming strength.
'And eventually, I will build a Bone Legion.'
Not a legion empowered like the Turncoats, gifted with Janus's strength—that wouldn't be efficient.
Even Janus couldn't afford to share his power across so many.
'But even without enhancement, their existence alone would be invaluable.'
Not only during waves—but in the event of war with the Church of Morte or any other faction.
'I hope it doesn't come to that, but the Ark may need it one day.'
As I spaced out, mulling over the Bone Legion—
["What are you thinking about? You look so serious."]
'…Nothing.'
I shook my head, returning to the present at Esther's voice.
As important as the Bone Legion was, the immediate priority was still Barbara Claudia's request and the matter concerning the Machine Cult.
"Let's go."
It was time to head to the Purple Line.
* * *
The Machine Revolution Episode.
Alongside the previously successful Silk Road Episode, it's one of the defining turning points for the Ark, bringing monumental changes in security, technology, and culture.
The basic premise of the Machine Revolution Episode is simple.
Successfully integrate the Machine Cult's technology—which is said to be a hundred years ahead of the Ark's current level—into Ark society.
At first glance, it seems easy.
But it's not.
Obtaining their tech is no small feat, and there are multiple factions within the Ark who either covet or oppose it.
If the episode is successfully completed, however, the Ark undergoes unprecedented transformation.
From daily life to culture and national defense, everything evolves—ushering in a new golden age for the Ark, distinct from that of the Silk Road.
A hallmark of this change is the rise of machine soldiers.
Even now, the Ark has the technology to replace missing limbs with machines.
But it's limited—used only on severely wounded soldiers, and the cost is prohibitively high.
After the Machine Revolution, that changes.
The number of machine soldiers—those who replace even healthy limbs with cyberware—rises dramatically.
The Machine Cult's tech drastically lowers the cost of cyberware and offers vastly superior performance.
'Of course, turning every soldier into a machine soldier wouldn't be ideal.'
Machine soldiers are incredibly useful through mid-to-late-stage content—but that's where the problem begins.
A machine is, after all, just a machine.
No matter how much cyberware they upgrade, there are limits to both cost and capability.
Soldiers who would otherwise grow stronger through experience and lead others stagnate—limited by their mechanical limbs.
In short, cyber-enhanced soldiers raise the Ark's average power—but only to a certain level.
I had once turned all my characters into machine soldiers after the Machine Revolution.
The result?
The Ark fell—before even reaching the Black Line stage.
Despite the Ark's overall strength, it lacked specialized forces to eliminate asymmetrical threats like BOSS monsters and massive beasts.
'Given my presence and the Turncoats, one could argue that we already have such forces... but I won't gamble the Ark's future on that.'
The choice between present and future—
It's the Ark's greatest dilemma.
Historically, the Ark has always prioritized the present.
But I know—
That's not the right answer.
The present bought by sacrificing the future holds no meaning.
["Master?"]
"Ah."
Lost in thought about the Machine Revolution, I had already arrived in the Purple Line.
["This place hasn't changed."]
As Esther noted, the Purple Line welcomed us with the eerie silence of a ghost town.
There were faint traces of movement, but they belonged more to cleaning bots than people.
["So... this Messiah of the Machine Cult. What do you think they are?"]
"No idea."
["Really? I thought you of all people would know."]
"Isn't it natural not to?"
["Hmm... You always act like you know everything. It's kind of your karma."]
Whether that was really karma or not was debatable—but I was just as curious about this "Messiah."
A Messiah…
As far as I knew, no such concept existed in the Machine Cult.
After all, the religion worshipped science and machinery—not some tangible savior.
'If such a figure has emerged, it must be a result of the butterfly effect so far.'
It made sense.
The Silk Road disrupted the Ark's supply chains, flooding it with materials and rare items from beyond its borders.
Abundance and scarcity both drive technological advancement.
And in the Ark—starved of resources—the results were predictable.
More importantly, individuals who should've died were still alive.
It wouldn't be strange if entirely new developments had emerged.
'I'll know more when I see it firsthand.'
Finding traces of the Machine Cult in the Purple Line wasn't hard.
Even the street-sweeping bots scattered about were, in essence, under the Cult's purview.
'I could be forceful... but no need.'
There are two main ways to progress the Machine Revolution Episode:
Oppose the Machine Cult and steal their tech. Cooperate with them and have their tech handed over willingly.
For me, the first method would be easier—on paper.
But easy paths always carry a cost.
And in my experience, opposing the Machine Cult never ended well.
'Better to try a peaceful approach first.'
Contacting the Machine Cult isn't difficult.
They're widely spread throughout the Purple Line and nearby areas.
Which means their evangelism is equally active.
["…What are you doing?"]
"You'll see."
["…I'm seeing, and I still don't get it."]
"Quiet."
I quietly fiddled with a broken cleaning bot on the roadside.
It was beyond repair, but that didn't matter.
The act alone was enough to draw attention.
'They're here.'
This was the Purple Line.
Even if there were few people, countless bots wandered with surveillance protocols.
In other words, every action here was within the Machine Cult's sight.
"Brother, what business do you have with one who has departed for rest?"
Speak of the devil…
This might be easier than I thought.
===BREAK===
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