Chapter 1137

Moreover, Aglaea's 'Recreation of the World' has a method to support it; as long as twelve fire seeds are collected, the endpoint can be reached. But how does Kaines plan to return to the Golden Age? Kill the Three Titans of Disaster? Then what? How will she resist the Heichi?

The purple-clad woman sighed lightly: 'I fear in her eyes, the Heichi is brought by the Three Titans of Disaster; as soon as those three Titans die, the Heichi will naturally dissipate.'

If the truth of Nicadoli resisting the Heichi were told to the people of Aohema, how would that be? Kaines' argument would collapse on its own, after all, without Nicadoli, Weng Faluos would only face ruin even sooner.

Han Fei drained the cup in one gulp and said lightly: 'In fact, even the oracle received by Tibao and her companions makes no mention of a way to completely resolve the Heichi; only the Recreation of the World is currently the sole recourse, so they have no choice but to try.'

But even so, compared to retreating to an era thousands of years ago, I still find the mighty forward march of the Recreation of the World a bit more appealing. Doesn't Kaines want to know whether there will be a place for her in the world after the Recreation of the World?

——

'Ah, fifteen days and nights… that is precisely your time of death; how coincidental that such a thing exists in the world!'

Ke Xia crossed his arms and said: 'To prove the Way with death is exactly to my liking.'

Kaines clearly misunderstood, thinking that Ke Xia's remark was directed at her, and she couldn't help but applaud: 'How resounding! No wonder he is a hero who can stand toe‑to‑toe with the Goldweave.'

Aohema chuckled: 'Heh… she really did misunderstand.'

'All right, Lady Kaines, drop the pleasantries. I was invited to join forces with the Senate for the common good—don't test my patience with these formalities.'

Kaines said: 'That may be so, but you also need my help to survive under the Goldweave pursuit, right?'

'You worry too much. She still needs to vie for popular support at the Citizens' Assembly, so she will certainly not act rashly.'

Kaines sneered: 'Even I can see that she has hardly any humanity left. Do you really dare to claim she will surely play by the rules?'

'As you can see, Aglaea covets the fire seed in my bosom. That is my capital, and also yours as you contend with her; correspondingly, I also need the Senate to provide all support, including guards. Aohema's fire seed—how much weight it carries in the Golden Age you have been painstakingly pursuing, you know better than I… further words are useless; act as you see fit.'

Kaines' expression softened: 'Of course I understand. Politics is merely a matter of mutual benefit; as long as the demands are reasonable, the Senate never shortchanges its allies. Since we both wish to cooperate, let us speak plainly—let us, like true philosophers, decide through words and wisdom how much we can each gain for ourselves and how much we are willing to sacrifice.'

Kaines continued: 'Let us continue the previous topic and talk about our common enemy, Aglaea. She is the second‑most senior among Aohema's golden‑lined folk, gradually losing her humanity through the wear of time and the corrosion of fire seeds… a formidable and respectable adversary.'

'That is true, she has ample reason to strike you down lethally, yet what you say is not without merit: as a seasoned political animal, it remains uncertain whether she will truly cross that line, especially since she still needs you to complete the Titans' trial.'

'Who else present could swear an oath to KefaLe? Before this rendezvous you had no collusion with that woman, merely to conceal eyes and abet her atrocities.'

——

Spy pretend play.

'Quite wary… this woman.'

Lloyd stroked his chin; for an opponent with such rich combat experience, gaining her trust would also be a problem. Too bad she does not know that Ke Xia has only a short fifteen‑day lifespan, or she would surely reassess their cooperation.

Compared to the shared benefits of overthrowing Aglaea together, the risk of failure in this Citizens' Assembly Senate is harder to accept. Even if they suspect Ke Xia does not wish to cooperate with him, they must restrain him to prevent him from turning to Aglaea.

In Lloyd's eyes, Ke Xia is undoubtedly a bomb of immense power—he could blow up the Senate in the Citizens' Assembly, or destroy the thousand‑year labor of Aglaea's Fire Pursuit Journey. The key is that this bomb's danger lies not only in its power but in its 'uncontrollability.'

Putting himself in Kaines's place, this feeling made Lloyd's forehead gradually break out in a cold sweat.

Entrusting the outcome of the Citizens' Assembly to such an uncontrollable bomb would make him feel ill at ease.

The purpose of this questioning is undoubtedly to ascertain whether the bomb is equipped with a 'controller,' and… whether the bomb might instead explode back upon itself.

'Given the hostile relationship between Ke Xia and Aglaea, they couldn't possibly be in league, could they?' York shook his head.

'Indeed not very likely—Kaines must surely know this as well. Yet one aim of this talk is also to gauge Ke Xia's ability; if he cannot even answer such a question, then he has little to gain for himself in this deal.'

'I see…'

'But what concerns me is that Ke Xia here never asked Kaines how she intends to return to the Golden Age—does he not think her ideal is too illusory?'

York rested his finger on his chin, speculating with interest: 'Perhaps, in Ke Xia's view, Aglaea and Kaines are essentially the same sort of people—both seeking power in this chaotic age, merely one pursues the Fire Pursuit Journey, the other a return to the Golden Age.'

'Hmm… but Aglaea has held office for so many years; aside from the Fire Pursuit Journey, Aohema has been well ordered under her rule. Even if he sees both goals as false in his eyes, at least he ought to choose the side that looks more reliable. Does he think that someone who shifts with the wind will suddenly have a change of heart and become an excellent ruler?'

——

'If Aglaea needs a sufficiently wise golden‑lined one, then none but I fit the bill. But it is obvious she does not want a golden‑lined one who might break free of control at any moment. I do not believe in the Titans, I do not believe in the oracle, and I would never willingly walk the road she advocates. Her eyes have never tolerated a grain of sand, and how could she harbor someone like me, a heretic?'

Kaines nodded in satisfaction: 'Heh… I understand your opinion. At least, we both agree that this tyrant of insatiable greed is Aohema's greatest enemy to peace. The Senate is willing to defend your right to exist, just as we defend every oppressed citizen.'