Chapter 1080

Klee bit the lollipop in her mouth, producing a crisp crack.

Moreover, someone like Aglaea is absolutely the type who weighs results ten thousand times more than process. As long as she can ultimately accomplish the Recreation of the World, complete the Fire Pursuit Journey, even if she is despised by millions, it doesn't matter. What would this attitude look like in others' eyes? Provocation? Arrogance? Or something else? She might even disdain to explain her plan to these people. Got it, idiot Jin.

"Hmm..." Jin lowered his head, striving to digest what Klee had just said.

Klee is right, Jin. Moreover... many people inherently view others with preset biases. Zitang Huan continued Klee's words, saying, "For example, Kelatus, once he preemptively judges Aglaea as a hypocrite and ambitious, anything she does afterward will be interpreted and viewed through that frame. My family is the same... after they labeled me the 'useless second son of the Zitang family,' no matter how hard I strive, in their eyes I am merely a laughable struggle."

That, that's utterly unreasonable! Jin clenched his fists in anger.

But that's just how it is: when someone stands in a high position, what she sees as a 'necessary sacrifice' appears to those below as 'cold-blooded and heartless.' This is a mismatch of perspective, something that can never be filled by explanation. Because people... they only want to believe what they want to believe. If Aglaea were to speak in defense, some would take her words out of context and twist them.

So, instead of wasting energy on futile arguments, Aglaea chose the loneliest yet most direct path—using the outcome of the Fire Pursuit Journey to silence everyone.

——

"Shut up, Kelatus! Do you know what you're saying?" Wandi hurriedly interrupted him.

"Are you defending this woman, Maidemos? Over the past thousand years, surrounding her—and the prophecies they spread—how many times have wars ignited, how many city-states have slaughtered each other?" Kelatus denounced loudly, word by word.

"Even if the so-called 'Creation' truly exists, will the new world have a place for the Suspended Blade tribe?!"

Tibao and Tining exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads in silence.

Aglaea crossed her arms, coldly saying: "Has your statement ended? According to the agreement between the Golden Descendants and the Senate, anyone who trespasses into the Creation Vortex Core need not undergo parliamentary judgment; I can dispose of them myself."

Kelatus, your actions are unforgivable. I hereby pronounce judgment...

Just before the death sentence arrived, Tibao's childish voice echoed deep within the vortex core.

"*We*... have a proposal. This conflict between the city-states must be resolved by someone stepping forward.

Tining also stepped forward to add: "Lord Kelatus did not use violence to harm *we*. *We* can feel that his anxiety stems from concern for the tribe's future."

"Please, Aglaea, hear *our* thoughts first."

"... \" Aglaea drew a deep breath, only then suppressing her killing intent, 'I am listening.'

"Sorry, Lord Kelatus. We have been solely focused on interpreting the fragments of the prophecy, neglecting those not favored by the oracle… Your accusation, though harsh, is also reasonable. We wish to earn your trust, as well as that of the Suspended Blade tribe. I think the best way… is to bring you to personally witness the source of the prophecy."

Kelatus countered: "…How will you let me see the illusory, ethereal thing?"

"You've heard of that foreigner, right? For some reason, she has established a connection with Euronois and can fully recreate the scenery of the past." Tining said, "*We* will ask for her help. Tomorrow, at Fate's Deep Abyss, the temple of Janusapolis… Kelatus, *we* are willing to show you that ancient memory in full."

——

Harry Potter.

"Oh? Finally able to know what that Recreation of the World prophecy is all about." Ron yawned, nudging Harry with his elbow, "Hey, you guys say, how much truth does that prophecy actually have? I think it's completely untrustworthy; maybe that prophecy is actually spread by the black-clad swordsman."

"Don't spout nonsense, Ron." Harry's gaze didn't leave the sky, his brows furrowed, "The black-clad swordsman doesn't need to spread prophecies; with his strength, there's no need to go through all this trouble—he just needs the fire seed to directly hunt the Titans. Besides, no one can stop him."

"But if the prophecy were truly reliable, it should have foretold the existence of the black-clad swordsman to everyone early on." Hermione also agreed with Ron's view; she lowered her head in thought for a moment, then slowly said, "The prophecy drives humans and Titans to slaughter each other, harvesting their fire seeds, yet never mentions the black-clad swordsman even once. I suspect this at least proves two things——"

Hermione extended a forefinger: "First, the person spreading the prophecy also cannot predict the existence of the black-clad swordsman. That fellow appeared long ago in Bai'e's hometown, killed Xilian, and has since lain low in the Heichi; this attack on the Tree Garden is surely the result of his long-premeditated plan."

After saying that, she slowly extended a second finger: "Second, the one spreading the prophecy is certainly not a god—at least not an omniscient, omnipotent one. He cannot foretell the black-clad swordsman's existence, yet he spreads the prophecy to lure everyone into completing the Fire Pursuit Journey; it's very likely to achieve some unknown goal of his…… It's hard to say this person is benevolent."

Ron scratched his head, looking puzzled: "Could it be that the person spreading the prophecy is also allied with the black-clad swordsman?"

"Impossible." Hermione almost certainly denied his guess: "Although the black-clad swordsman's purpose is currently unclear, we can be certain he does not wish for the advent of the Recreation of the World. Just that alone puts him on the opposite side from the one spreading the prophecy."

——

"... Sounds fair. I accept this proposal."

Aglaea turned her face away, coldly staring at him: "But before that, you will be deprived of freedom of action. This is my bottom line; there is no room for compromise."

Kelatus sneered: "Heh, this isn't the first time I've been someone else's prisoner. Do as you wish, 'Demigod'."

Wandi looked at him with difficulty: "Master… why must you go to such lengths?"

"Sorry, young master… I can no longer endure. Since your father's death, I and the clansmen have been waiting for the opportunity to revive the Suspended Blade. We have placed all our hopes in you, yet we have received no response."