Facing Durandal's instructions, Kiana said seriously: "Understood. We will proceed with caution."
Schrödinger also spoke: "Mm. If you can get that person to explain the original plan in your own way, that would be for the best."
"Of course, we will also think about how to deal with possible negative outcomes."
Durandal said: "If we ask for Raiden Mei's opinion, she should think the same as me."
"The Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era cannot be considered evil in the strict sense."
"…But that definitely does not mean they are all as easy to get along with as Senior Fu Hua. You should understand what I mean, right?"
Kiana nodded: "Mm. Mei… she has already told me about some of the things she experienced."
"However, more importantly — thank you for your concern, Durandal."
"When everyone finally meets up… there should still be long challenges waiting for all of us."
Durandal agreed: "Yes. After all, this is the Stigmata Plan. Take care, Kiana."
Kiana said: "Mm. You too, Durandal."
...
The scene changed.
The TV's perspective returned to the Sea of Quanta, on Kiana's side.
"Dr. MEI… Prometheus… are they really hiding something…"
Gazing at the remains of the Imaginary Tree God Remains before her, Kiana thought silently.
But before she could reach a conclusion, Bronya and Mei's figures had already arrived to regroup.
Mei proactively asked: "…Kiana, did something happen?"
Kiana showed a smile: "I'm fine, Mei."
"It's just that earlier, Durandal and the others in the outside world captured my Herrscher signal."
"And through that, they completed a special communication with me via the Herrscher Core."
Bronya asked: "Durandal… is she still at Schicksal headquarters?"
Kiana shook her head: "No. She, Seele, and Li Sushang were forcibly teleported to the real Moon by the Stigmata Plan."
"And coincidentally, they are in the corresponding same position as us."
"There is a large shelter there called New Atla, currently housing many Stigmata Awakened selected by World Serpent through this forced mechanism."
"Our act of rebuilding the bridge earlier also affected the outside reality."
"And because of that, Durandal was able to establish brief contact with me."
Mei pinched her chin: "…New Atla? I heard Raven mention this name before, but I didn't expect it to be on the Moon."
Kiana couldn't help but say: "This… it couldn't be…"
Mei hummed: "She said at the time that World Serpent planned to send Kiana and the others to New Atla for a vacation."
"—You still remember Kiana, right?" (Note: referring to the child)
Kiana smiled: "Of course I remember. Back in Nagazora, you made sweet pepper curry for them, and I ate quite a lot too."
"…Ara, we really did a lot of stupid things back then."
The two girls' conversation unintentionally touched on some sad past events.
But this time, both girls could look at each other and smile.
As if recalling embarrassing childhood stories, they could now face them lightly from the bottom of their hearts.
Bronya watched the atmosphere between the two as they looked at each other and couldn't help but speak:
"…Let's get back to the main topic."
"That is to say, after we break through this World Bubble, we can at least directly meet up with Durandal and the others."
"And then think about the next course of action."
Kiana nodded: "That's right, but — Durandal also raised a concern to me about Dr. MEI."
Mei showed a surprised expression at this moment, as if a question mark appeared above her head.
Kiana then told them about Durandal and Schrödinger's speculation that Dr. MEI was hiding something.
After listening, Mei: "This…"
Bronya said: "If she feels something is off… then we really do need to find Dr. MEI and discuss the issue clearly."
Kiana asked: "Speaking of which, where is the Herrscher of Sentience?"
Mei answered: "She should still be with Dr. MEI. At least, I haven't told her about the current situation through the mental link yet."
Bronya scratched her head: "…In that case, there should be quite a show to watch later."
Mei asked: "You mean the Herrscher of Sentience's reaction after learning about this suspicion?"
Bronya spread her hands: "Of course. Doesn't that guy hate being deceived by others the most?"
Kiana also agreed: "Indeed, but… I always feel like she has some complicated feelings toward Dr. MEI."
Mei spoke: "When the Class President was still a member of the Flame-Chasers, Dr. MEI was the de facto leader of Fire Moth."
"Perhaps to the Herrscher of Sentience, the Doctor is also somewhat of an old acquaintance."
Bronya said thoughtfully: "Now that you mention it, it seems Dr. MEI is quite skilled at understanding her psychology."
"However, if such a Dr. MEI is hiding something from her, and from us…"
Kiana nodded: "Mm. Then perhaps it has nothing to do with personal gain, but some kind of sad hidden reason."
"I have a feeling… I can guess how she will answer our questions."
Mei: "…"
Bronya said at this moment: "In any case, let's go ask her first what the real situation is."
After the three reached an agreement, they quickly headed toward Dr. MEI's location.
As soon as they approached, they heard the Herrscher of Sentience talking with Dr. MEI.
"…And then, that old antique got seriously injured again and lost consciousness."
The Herrscher of Sentience said angrily: "Don't you think she's stupid? And now, she even got tricked by some guy named Otto and sent to Europe!"
The name Otto seemed to have magic power, instantly triggering stress reactions in many viewers.
Those who liked him liked him a lot; those who hated him would at least raise a glass in respect.
MEI said: "I think the person named Otto is probably no ordinary individual."
The Herrscher of Sentience said unhappily: "If only he were!"
"…Sigh, forget it. Let's not talk about him. Talking about him brings bad luck."
"That guy spent his whole life as a world leader, but in his heart there was only one woman who had been dead for five hundred years."
"And guess what — they say he really traded his life for hers and saved that lady in another world."
"Tell me, what kind of nonsense is that?"
MEI listened and suddenly understood: "I see. No wonder, even without the descent of the Herrscher of Finality."
"Prometheus also recorded an energy spike strong enough to affect the entire planet in an instant."
"After all, the dead cannot be revived. If he really achieved that, the only possibility is the so-called reversal of fate."
The Herrscher of Sentience roasted: "Hey… why are you even praising him now?"
"In my opinion, that's because you haven't met him in person and don't know how disgusting that person really is."
MEI smiled: "I believe you on that."
At this time, Kiana walked over and said: "Dr. MEI, Herrscher of Sentience, we're back."
The Herrscher of Sentience glanced at Kiana: "Oh? You're finally back."
"We were almost done talking about the entire history of the past fifty thousand years from start to finish."
Bronya said: "Then we really kept you waiting."
Mei also spoke: "In any case — the preparations before activating the Imaginary Tree God Remains should be considered properly handled now, right?"
MEI said: "The first step… indeed. However…"
"It looks like you have something else you want to ask?"
A question mark appeared above the Herrscher of Sentience's head.
Kiana nodded: "Yes. To be honest, while completing these preparations, I received a communication from the outside world."
"They are my comrades. They were forcibly teleported to the real Moon by the Stigmata Plan."
"And what's even more coincidental is — one of them had previously participated in experiments helping World Bubbles establish connection with the terminals you mentioned."
MEI said calmly: "I see."
Mei asked: "Dr. MEI, it seems you previously didn't tell us the full truth about this World Bubble due to some reasons…"
"Right?"
MEI did not deny it at all: "Of course."
Herrscher of Sentience: "…What?"
MEI spoke: "Calm down, Hua."
"You should understand that when something is extremely complicated, hiding some things is not deception, but a way of organizing information."
"The origin of the world is intricate and complex, originally impossible for humans to grasp —"
"But by the power of organizing, we can ignore the unimportant parts and to a certain extent predict the operation of all things."
"…This is the essence of physics."
After such a long principled speech, the Herrscher of Sentience immediately felt dizzy.
"Fine, fine. So you're saying these concealments were not intentional, right?"
MEI nodded: "Yes. Because those details are not important to you. They are just minor matters that don't need attention."
"However, since you have asked so seriously, I will also seriously try to explain them clearly."
"In any case, there is no need for misunderstandings between us."
Mei fell somewhat silent upon hearing this.
"…"
MEI continued: "Simply put, the part of the facts I omitted earlier is this."
"When establishing connection with the Imaginary side, the probability that this World Bubble can naturally reconnect there — is not high."
"And even if that could be achieved… without an available anchor point, the World Bubble would only be forcibly merged by the Prime World."
"This means that both Prometheus and I would disappear as a result."
Kiana couldn't help but say: "Disappear… just like that?"
"…"
Prometheus on the side gave a meaningful look toward the broken bridge that Kiana had repaired.
Unfortunately, probably no one noticed the small action of the mechanical girl.
MEI continued: "Do you remember the previous state of that bridge?"
"When this World Bubble became a tool, the intact state of that bridge conflicted with the corresponding collapsed state in the Prime World."
"And the result was exactly as you saw."
"…Kiana being able to contact her comrades outside should also be directly related to using the power of the Herrscher of the Void to repair the bridge, right?"
Seeing this, some viewers already felt that Dr. MEI was seriously making things up.
But Kiana nodded: "Mm. And my comrade said."
"From the perspective of three-dimensional space, we are actually in the same location on the Moon."
MEI was not surprised: "As expected. Kevin's act of sealing all of you here using the Stigmata Plan."
"Itself would cause the World Bubble to rise and bring about such results."
"In fact, even the core of our current plan — that Imaginary Tree God Remains…"
"It only appeared because the Stigmata Plan selected our World Bubble."
"Didn't you also question Prometheus about it?"
"Asking how such things could appear in the depths of the Sea of Quanta."
Mei suddenly interjected: "…Wait. That means even if we did nothing."
"This World Bubble would eventually merge with the outside world?"
MEI nodded: "Exactly. In that case, you would also be able to return to the real Moon."
"However, by that time, the Stigmata Plan would have been completely completed, and your Herrscher Cores would most likely have become fully inactive."
"You see… for you, the fate of this World Bubble itself is indeed not the main point, right?"
Bronya: "…"
The Herrscher of Sentience frowned: "What is this? You mean…"
"You want us to treat you as tools too, just like that World Serpent?"
MEI said calmly: "How you view us is your own business."
"But the reality is undeniable — whether facing Kevin personally or the Stigmata Plan, time is your enemy."
The Herrscher of Sentience said angrily: "You!"
"…You're always like this, right?"
"No matter toward others, toward Kevin, or toward yourself — the same cold ruthlessness."
MEI remained expressionless: "For my work, excess emotions bring more harm than benefit."
"…Imagine a general living in a time of war. If he is competent, he must deeply love every one of his soldiers."
"Even so, when calculating and arranging military strength, he must turn these living soldiers into a pile of numbers on paper."
"Without this work, people cannot utilize the power of science."
"This is the inevitable contradiction between humanity and reality."
"And the fairness we can achieve lies precisely in applying the same standard to all people and things equally."
Mei said speechlessly: "This…"
MEI comforted: "Relax. For your generation, the cruelty you need to face actually lies on the other side of things."
"Rather than mourning the fate of history… what you should do is guide the future, right?"
By now, some viewers had started complaining that Dr. MEI should stop talking, or else Senti would be completely fooled.
Kiana then said: "That is indeed our mission, but — mission is not the entirety of life."
"I think what everyone cares about is this point."