But when Ravenna announced that etheric firearms could be mass-produced, the meaning contained in this “alternative scepter” was completely different.

“…Etheric firearms and floating cannons.”

Hendrik was taken aback, then smiled bitterly, “Ravenna, that thing…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the door of the conference room was suddenly opened.

Ansel, who had been staying inside the Tower of Babel for the past few days, walked into the oppressive room with Seraphina. Facing the surprised or delighted gazes, he said softly, “Dear all of Bable, I sincerely apologize if I interrupted your proceedings. Originally, I hadn’t intended to partake in your meeting.

However, upon contemplating the matter, I realized it would be more beneficial to learn about your perceptions of the current circumstances and future flans.” freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

“Don’t mind me.” He walked to the end of the conference table, opposite Ravenna, pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling, “Continue, oh, I might raise some questions or opinions in the middle, I hope it can help you.”

“…Such contributions would be more than appreciated.”

Ansel’s appearance brought a sense of relief to Hendrik, and the expressions of the high-level members of the Tower of Babel present also improved significantly — except for Ravenna.

She stared at Ansel sitting opposite her, looking at his calm demeanor, and a very bad premonition suddenly rose in her heart.

The woman’s mind was filled with everything he and he had done recently, and then, all the images froze at the moment before he entered the door, the moment Hendrik wanted to speak.

“Where were we… Yes, Ravenna suggested upgrading firearms and floating cannons.”

Hendrik sighed, “Although the idea is good, we should indeed be able to do it, but… Ravenna, this war is, after all, a fight between two extraordinary beings of territories. What we can do is to provide the strongest extraordinary beings with the best equipment, and the upper limit of firearms and floating cannons… far from meeting our needs.”

Ravenna didn’t speak, but the sense of danger and even trembling reached its peak at this moment.

“Oh?”

At such a silent moment for Ravenna, Ansel suddenly spoke.

He tapped the conference table rhythmically with his fingers and asked with interest:

“So, Mr. Rundell thinks that extraordinary beings are the ones who decide everything?”

“…” Hendrik was taken aback, then subconsciously nodded, “Indeed, after all, weapons are used by extraordinary beings, extraordinary beings are everything…”

As he spoke, he suddenly felt something was wrong, but in the current context and situation, he couldn’t find where the sense of incongruity came from.

Extraordinary beings can decide everything in this war, this is naturally correct.

Extraordinary beings dominate this world, and war and fighting are just a negligible part of this domination.

This idea, this thought, of course, is not a problem.

And it was this absolutely correct statement that made Ravenna suddenly stand up.

“Extraordinary beings… are everything?”

She stared at Hendrik intently, word by word, “Hendrik, do you think that extraordinary beings are the foundation of this world?”

“…Ravenna, what we should discuss now is about weapons, not—”

Hendrik obviously noticed the change in Ravenna’s mood. He didn’t want Ravenna to be so rude in front of Ansel, so he wanted to quickly skip this topic that he himself found a bit strange.

But obviously… when he said that sentence, the direction of the entire conversation had already been grasped by Ansel.

words, the trajectory of the conversation was already firmly within Ansel of Hydral’s grasp.

“Is there an issue with extraordinary beings being the foundation?”

The young Hydral leaned back slightly, resting against the back of his chair, uttering words starkly different from those spoken three years prior: “The extraordinary beings govern everything, hence everything is led by them, Miss Ravenna… What perplexes you?”

With these words, Ansel began to smile, turning his gaze towards Hendrik:

“You agree, don’t you, Mr. Rundell?”

Hendrik, who seemed to have vaguely perceived a problem, fell silent for a moment, then nodded somewhat reluctantly, “I believe you’re correct, Lord Ansel.”

“…”

Ravenna suddenly fell silent.

She decisively ceased speaking, retreating to her seat without attempting to argue further.

This was Hydral’s plan. She warned herself of this.

It was all too clear, a malicious tactic designed to make her feel alienated, isolated, and devoid of any companions in the world.

But what of it? The Tower of Babel seeks truth, unlike the Etheric Academy, which monopolizes knowledge and resources, shackled by greed and power, becoming servants to the extraordinary beings.

Even without you, I still harbor hope of witnessing the new world with companions, Hydral.

…And what if there are no companions?

I can do it alone, even if I’m the only one, even if I abandon everything… I can continue, I will continue.

Moreover, Hydral, do you presume that when left with no choice, I would inevitably choose to rely on you?

The woman subconsciously clenched her fists, whispering to herself.

You never regretted your lies, which means… you never truly wished to accompany me, everything was merely a fabrication.

Just a lie.

Just…

Ravenna, silent and head bowed, looked at the chest of this puppet body. There was no heart there, only an empty cavity filled with etheric circuits.

Ansel of Hydral, that devil, had cruelly deceived her, weaving dreams with ideals, attempting to tame her with them.

What he desired was her absolute, unswerving loyalty, he didn’t care about anything else, including the false yet dazzling illusion he described.

Lies… Ravenna knew they were lies.

But why, when she heard him utter those words with such an indifferent tone, did she still feel an uncontrollable pain in her empty chest?

Why was this pain… so real, as if it was carving into her soul?

Was it because when Ansel of Hydral spoke those words, it seemed as if he had casually, yet thoroughly, killed the past version of himself — a naive and vibrant boy?

If that’s the case…

Why did he… kill that version of himself?

*