On this day, the twelfth high-level meeting was convened within the land of Shenzhou.
The agenda was a comprehensive review of the second exposure video.
"Yang, you first."
"Very well."
A middle-aged man rose to his feet.
Surveying his colleagues with a steady gaze, he spoke in a measured tone.
"After thorough analysis, our team unanimously agrees with the view that Origin and Finality are inextricably linked. We believe that the evaluation may have begun from the very moment of Finality's birth."
"In that case," he continued, "Origin can be seen as Finality's other half—a being who likewise perceives human civilization through her own eyes and senses on Finality's behalf."
He paused, then added, "We can infer that the final evaluation may not rest solely with Finality, but also with Origin. Her perspective on our civilization undoubtedly influences Finality's judgment and may even affect the difficulty of the trial itself."
"Fortunately," he went on, "as things stand, both Origin and Finality seem favorably disposed toward our civilization—especially Origin. Unlike ordinary humans, she embodies a saintlike compassion, loving all beings equally."
"So long as we avoid crossing her fundamental boundaries, it's possible she may not take issue with our actions."
The man's voice grew solemn. "However, that is no excuse for repeatedly testing their limits. I believe that sincerity, not calculation, should be the cornerstone of our approach to engaging with them."
"Well said. Please be seated." The elder at the head of the table gave a slight nod, gesturing for him to sit.
"Old Chen, your turn." His eyes shifted to another elder.
"Very well, let me share a few thoughts."
The elder nodded faintly, stood up, and began reading from prepared notes.
"Although our current analyses are based on the premise that the Honkai is conscious and that it indeed serves as a form of civilization evaluation..."
"...we have so far encountered only two Herrschers—or, as they call them, two major Honkai Eruptions."
"Not only were these events relatively low in intensity, but many aspects remain unclear and unverifiable."
At this point, another elder interjected earnestly, "But we both know the Honkai grows stronger alongside our societal development!"
"Every time we advance, it advances too—always staying just a step ahead of us. It truly feels like it's pushing us to evolve."
He continued, "Though it pains me to admit it, most major technological breakthroughs are directly or indirectly tied to war. If the Honkai truly sought to destroy us, it wouldn't go to such lengths—it could simply checkmate us outright."
"That would leave us no time or means to study the Honkai, let alone harness its energy. Why bother with such complications?"
Around the conference table, some nodded thoughtfully while others whispered among themselves.
The first elder smiled faintly. "Old Li, no need to be impatient. I'm merely stating the facts."
In truth, he too believed the Honkai was essentially a trial for the world and civilization—indeed, he hoped it was.
Nowadays, nations and organizations worldwide were sharing knowledge and collaborating, and the evidence increasingly supported this view. It was like knowing the answer before examining the question—many overlooked details and uncertainties became clear all at once.
It was a reassuring feeling.
But that didn't mean they could afford to treat the Honkai lightly or dismiss it casually.
Certain considerations still had to be taken seriously.
"Our position is that both Origin and Finality are Herrschers. As we all know, Herrschers possess extraordinary powers. The content revealed in the celestial broadcast can be trusted, but not unconditionally—we must analyze it ourselves to determine what is useful."
"We propose that if Origin and Finality are indeed examiners, then their interactions with people—whether those individuals are hypocritical, kind, or evil—may all be part of the evaluation criteria."
"But what standards are they using? Their own perspectives? Conventional values? Universal ethical norms? Or something else entirely?"
The elder spoke unhurriedly.
"As the old saying goes, 'Hearts are separated by ribs'—we can never truly know another's mind."
"Yet when it comes to Origin and Finality, this may not hold true. They might indeed see through human hearts, perceive our intentions—they simply choose not to speak of it, not because they cannot."
He set down his notes and looked intently at the elder presiding at the head of the table.
"I propose that, regardless of how others choose to engage with them, we must at the very least maintain a foundation of sincerity."
"Miss Kiana has been under house arrest for over a week now."
"To us, it may not seem long," he continued, "but let's not forget—she is still just a young girl in the prime of her youth. Girls her age are emotionally sensitive and prone to introspection. Even if we've consistently shown goodwill, there's no guarantee she won't read too much into the situation."
His gaze swept across his colleagues.
"Whether it's us or others—are we acting for peace of mind, for caution, or for other reasons? We all know the answer in our hearts."
"But we also know we can't restrict her forever, nor should we. Now that we've had a week to cool off, reflect, analyze, and discuss extensively, we should have a clearer idea about whether her restrictions can be lifted."
"Delaying further won't benefit us."
"It would be better to grant her a measure of freedom."
The elder's words were firm and resonant.
Despite his age, he was a veteran who had shouldered arms and fought in wars—a man of unyielding spirit.
He had no personal ties to Kiana's family, yet he had been among those who opposed her house arrest from the very beginning.
Weighing the pros and cons—you politicians only know how to weigh pros and cons.
And what has all that weighing achieved now?
"Alright, please take your seat." The elder at the head of the table smiled gently, attempting to soothe him.
In truth, the broader trend was already clear—Kiana wouldn't remain under house arrest much longer.
She knew it, Mobius knew it, and many others were well aware of it too.
But!
The initial shock from the first video had gradually faded. Although subsequent updates, including the revelations about Kiana, still left many feeling wary, people were now more inclined to deliberate and measure their actions—whether out of self-interest, external influence, or personal reflection. It was only natural to consider more factors.
Such was human nature—perfectly understandable.
Some had long advocated that restricting freedom was deeply unpleasant and that excessive control would only breed resentment. It was better to release her sooner rather than later.
Others, however, schemed to delay—just a little longer, another day, another moment… surely it would be fine.
The two sides had been deadlocked until now.
But by now, a resolution was due.
After all!
Those who insisted on delaying further weren't just acting out of lingering unease—many were simply hiding guilty consciences.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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