“Alright, stop sending me off. The portal is just by the door—I'm old, but my legs aren't that weak yet.”

Within a chain of Mycroftian Void fortresses in the Zeta Ram system, the Galaxy of Beginnings, a rather plain gathering dinner was being held at an individually allocated recreation area. It was a huge zone which could accommodate over two hundred people with the help of spatial magic, and excessively wide for the number of people currently convening. After all, no matter how they counted, it was impossible for the warrior to have had more than two hundred acquaintances.

At present, the gathering was almost ending with many prepared to depart. Joshua and the archbishop Artanis clinked gla.s.ses, with the latter downing his champagne in one go. Having decided to head for the Church's headquarters for further studies and to attempt ascension to Legend, the old cleric bid the warrior goodbye, with him and two other clergies, Saya and Robzek, sending them to the portal by the door.

Turning around, Joshua looked around the recreation zone. It had been a successful gathering where both the host and guests enjoyed themselves, although it was a slight shame that Israel, Roland, and Hill were not able to make it. The former was deciding on his borders in the Infinite Horizon with the help of the other six G.o.ds, while Roland had been handed a diplomatic mission as a new Legend, and was now probably wandering in an otherworldly Abyss. Hill, currently an elven druid and the leader of a major elven tribe, was meanwhile busy working in Mycroft and could not free himself for Joshua's sudden gathering. If that was the case for him, it was the same for the dragon lady Fina as well—both husband and wife therefore regretfully missed the gathering, although Joshua thought nothing of it. He could simply split out multiple clones if he wanted to talk to his friends, although it was slightly disrespectful.

By now, many others had left. Elders such as Artanis and Nostradamus had work and could not stay around for long, while Igor and the four Fairy Queens who had came over halfway to greet did not linger since their workload would only have stacked up. On the other hand, it was not as if Arlwa the Seventh Prince was being deliberately unsociable, but Nostradamus—his father's mentor—was about to take him away for a special regime, and neither he nor Joshua could refuse.

Brandon's family had planned to stay until the end, but Rem and Flan were grown up. Both of them were studying at the Winter Fort Academy's branch in Wallachia and had attained excellent results, with one of them planning to joining the Imperial External Exploration Department as an explorer, and the other enlisting into the Void legion as a s.h.i.+p captain. Both parents, who were hoping that the two would develop steadily, therefore got into a disagreement with their daughters, although that was your run-off-the-mill parent-children squabble. Unable to give any suggestions, Joshua simply had a few drinks with Brandon before sending the new Legend-c.u.m-frowning father off. Even the sharpest blade could not cut down the concern of a father.

“We should be going.”

Great Nun Saya and Robzek, commander of the Holy Knights, were about to leave after Joshua had sent off Artanis. It was their sabbatical later and the two had no intention to stay over, as they were busy people as well—the abbey and the knights' legion had many matters to deal with, not to mention that it was now a period of stable development of new galaxies and the time to work hard. Joshua naturally did not stop them, and bade them farewell after giving both a hug.

Now, amongst those who had stayed behind were Priest and Sol, both of whom were standing by the window to view the scenery of the Void. Priest's sister, Britney, was sleeping under his coat on a couch, with Lisa the Drakonid girl held her in her arms, her large tail covering them and appearing very comfortable.

Black was eating up the food left from the banquet, while Light sat on her head, reaching out with luminous appendages to stir the gravy of the food happily since Joshua had previously been stopping that. In another corner, Nick the dwarf was sitting on a table but not eating, instead taking out a recipe book and making notes.

Ivan, Amelia, Karin, Clark (Rider), Said (Clergy) and Wayne (Mage) were sitting around a table to discuss the problems of Gold-tier, but as three of them were mages, Clergy and Rider resorted to playing Fairy Cards. Their faces made clear that Clergy appear to be in a good mood though he won less, while Rider had a rather disgusting winner's face.

“Elfcon! Hahahaha!”

“Bulls.h.i.+t!”

Meanwhile, Constantine (Alchemist) was pressing Syndicate for his Spirit Terminal number even as the balrog insisted that he was male. Nonetheless, Joshua could tell that Alchemist was not interested in his appearance, but rather in Syndicate's unique Abyssal Slime essence—even if Alchemist appeared to be after hereditary attributes, it was clear that his methods did not fit what others believed his intentions to be.

As for Zero Three, the AI had spoken to Joshua for some time before leaving since she was needed to a.n.a.lyze a communication from the Knowers, leaving a magical projection in the recreation zone that hovered in the air with minimal processing power, flinching when poked and floating like a luminous balloon. Nearby, Ying and Ling were using buzzing sounds to communicate with Zero One—Joshua could understand them, and it appeared that they were discussing about moving from the Liege's Residence to the Void installation, and Zero One could a.s.sume a Void wars.h.i.+p form then and carry their old home around.

“Bzzt-bzzt, bzzt-bzzt-bzzt!” (A great idea)

“Bzzt-bzzt-bzzt, bzzt!” (A flawless plan)

“Bzzt-bzzt-bzzt , bzzt-bzzt-bzzt-bzzt?” (But would Master agree?)

Is that necessary?

Joshua almost could not refrain from laughting. Moving the Liege's Residence to the Void? Only they could think of that. And what purpose was there in having it away from Moldavia? It was essentially a territory without a liege…

Wait…

If that was the case, did it not mean that his long absences as liege of Moldavia meant he had lost his purpose too?

As always, time pa.s.sed quickly. Joshua could not care what problems his students would have, since they were all adults who should have taken responsibility over their own matters—the warrior would simply summarize several ways of ascending to Supreme, while they would take up the rest of the task. Joshua would at most, as their mentor, provide them some convenient conditions.

However, just as Joshua intended to dispel his clone and redirect his attention to his true form, Priest and Lisa—the latter who appeared to have just woken up—approached him, followed by Syndicate and Alchemist. In fact, Ivan, Amelia, Rider, Mage and Clergy had all already came up to him, while Karin and Nick stood at a corner, watching eagerly.

“What it is it, little ones?”

The warrior could tell at once that his students must have had some questions to ask and thus cancelled his idling itinerary, watching the youths before him with interest. “Could you all still be having problem with ascending to Supreme?”

Joshua's instructions held nothing back, having taught every single one of his acolytes unreservedly from his technique for ascension, his experience of Strength Mastery to his later meditation of Soul Mastery. Reasonably speaking, with the wit of these young ones who could be considered prodigies, there should not have been any more questions.

“It's not just that, Sir,” Karin spoke first. The daughter of a knight, she had dark circles under her eyes,probably from having delved too deeply in researching spells—she coughed first and panted, before saying quietly, “We were discussing what we would be doing after ascending to Supreme, and unwittingly s.h.i.+fted to the question about development.”

“Yes.” Nick continued. His beard had grown and not even Joshua looked as old as he did, even if his voice made clear that he was still a young dwarf. “The number of Legends would not increase drastically over the next dozen years, while Supreme champions would make up the most of the numbers. With things being as they are now, we would probably be sent to various va.s.sals and protectorates as local viceroys when we reach Supreme. We have thus been discussing about those va.s.sals that the Fleet had recently taken in.”

Mycroft's Combined Fleet had recently gathered considerable ranks of provisional Void civilization va.s.sals. Generally speaking, the civilizations near Mycroft's Dimensional Hubs had joined on their own accord or were forced to do so, since no loss of any Dimensional Hub was acceptable, not to mention that the forces stationed at each hub were formidable. Many civilizations had simply chosen to support the Starfall Era, So as to survive while gaining numerous benefits.

Naturally, both the Redemption System and Restoration Beams were promoted to those civilizations as well, with the Mycroft civilization dispatching parties of Extraordinary individuals who would be stationed in those nations provisionally. In fact, every nation remained autonomous, with those parties essentially there to act as guardsmen for the Dimensional Hubs.

Joshua certainly knew his students' intention in asking him that—the reason was clear. They could guess what the inc.u.mbent leaders of Mycroft were planning for in the next dozen years.

“My Liege, the goal appears to be using the Redemption System to gradually occupy those Void civilizations' internal economics, while using military might to threaten and promote Mycroftian Merchandise,” Mage said, adjusting his gla.s.ses. Although he was not a direct apprentice, he was almost half of one, as part of the Elite Party. “If this continues,” he deduced confidently, “the Void empires that appear independent would become our va.s.sals in less than ten years, squandering a part of their production capacity with the great convenience of the Redemption System. However, local industries of each product that could be easily exchanged would collapse, because the equivalent exchange applied would mean that there is no processing or production cost, not even taxation!”

Joshua remained expressionless and did not deny anything, although he did not stop the young ones from continuing—it was Priest's turn next, who had been explaining the matter to Sol beside him. “Some civilizations would become aware of it,” the young warrior said quietly, “but it would mean nothing. As long as they do not dare resist the Mycroft civilization or you, Sir, they would never ban the Redemption System. And with that persisting, some, or even most of their industrial system would fall with the convenient system, their citizens becoming servants of Mycroft who would work for us, offering resources and unwittingly losing all autonomy.” Everyone nodded in agreement at that.

“Well said.” Joshua nodded as no one continued for the time being, clapping his hands and agreed as well. “You've guessed correctly—that was an idea that I, the Pope, and the Seven G.o.ds have thought of… I certainly had my private agenda and tricks, but all of you are right, generally speaking.”

“However.” The warrior's tone soon turned to a lower pitch. “I can see that all of you do not seem to agree with that plan.”

There was silence in the zone.

“Why not? It sounds cruel and cold, just as there would be those who would ask something like 'is this the only future open to them?' out of excessive sympathy.”

Lisa briskly broke the quietness, as if intent on not affecting Britney as she slept behind. “However, it could not be helped—”

“Since the Evil G.o.ds are coming in decades,” Syndicate added, the balrog's expression solemn. Whether as Joshua's apprentices, his first 'Apostle', or the elite paragons of Mycroft's next generation, everyone present had long been aware of the existence of Evil G.o.ds, and the news that they would soon come.

“Still, even if it is to repel the Evil G.o.ds, isn't it better to combine the power of many civilizations than to have us work hard alone by pooling their resources?” Priest asked, finally stating the question he had in mind. “Sir, I don't understand,” he added, pointing at the Void beyond the window. “Those civilizations may not be comparable to us in certain aspects, since we have Glorious Era legacies, but their fighting forces have their own specialties. If they were called upon to fight against the Evil G.o.ds with us in the future, they would definitely contribute more significantly by acting as an individual resistance than being a va.s.sal with broken productivity!”

“Moreover, Mycroft would not completely a.s.similate those va.s.sals in the next decade—even combining territories is an undertaking. Look at the Sartreans, Starherders, and the demons who are now still separate from the Expedition Fleet's core—if that's the case for the civilizations who are very cooperative, the possibly hostile alien races are much less worth mentioning.”

“Additionally, it seems to kill the chance for those civilizations to develop…”

Both Ivan and his sister nodded, with Ivan offering quietly, “We have used the Redemption System, and it's very convenient and useful, but that is also why I tend to skip procedures, avoiding the work whenever I wanted to conduct some experiment… instead, I'd just request for help from the System.”

“That's right,” Amelia continued quickly, “I can even exchange for any tests or products if the Unified Archives happen to have something similar, doing away with the experiment entirely since information from our predecessors is data that can be realized directly. The release from such acc.u.mulation of experience and the spark of ideas is definitely nothing good! Those civilizations would basically go to waste if this continues.”

“As long as no one defeats you or the others, sir, no one would resist the Redemption System, and in turn, they would definitely be slaves to it!”

No Void civilization industry would win against the Legendary giant G.o.d who commanded Steel Strength and was a living creator. The latter would be able to create anything the former could, as well as what the former could not—it was also a quick process without side effects or pollution, apart from being cheap and without any variable levy, random taxing or price scissoring. It was nothing less than absolute equivalent exchange, and industries simply could not compare. Their defeat was absolute.

Such were the opinions and doubts of Joshua's apprentices.

Not bad.

Joshua did not immediately respond to his acolytes. He looked around to see youthful faces filled with curiosity, determination, and their very own resolve. They were able to a.n.a.lyze the matter and make their own conclusions, just as they could see through how things would have turned out in a dozen years, even thinking and worrying about the future from then on.

Perhaps this was how the Sage explained his knowledge and opinions to the Apostles who followed him back in his time?

Perhaps.

At that very moment, the warrior was filled with mildness and delight, and thus he put his hands together and said calmly, “Alright. Both myself and the Pope as well as the other Legends have actually considered your questions before.”

“And the answer to that is simple—we have to do this.”

With that, Joshua looked up at the ceiling, his gaze seemingly able to pierce the walls easily to look into the dark Void. “The Evil G.o.ds would come in several decades, and that is why we kill the futures of those civilizations—so everyone can obtain more possibilities in the future.”

Then, as he lowered his head, the warrior released his presence slightly. All at once, everyone from Black who was still eating, Ying, Ling, Light, Zero One—everyone looked up, feeling that his might had instantly surpa.s.sed every threshold at any given moment before. Joshua's apprentices felt the strength that was ten times greater than it usually was, each abruptly becoming wobbly and having to help each other to stand straight.

Only Syndicate caught and held up Lisa in time, displaying his vigor as a former champion to push back the warrior's presence. A Supreme-tier archdemon and Legend-hopeful in the past, he knew well that this was far beyond the past when he was used as a weapon by the champion before him to ma.s.sacre ranks of demonic encirclement. Even so, it made evident that Joshua was serious.

“Future possibilities… it sounds great. But it is the truth that the reason we picked those civilizations was that they were already declining, having no progress to speak of save for their vast territories.”

Slightly solemn, Joshua spoke with a rather strict tone, “It may be a good choice and a good future for them without our influence, but in reality, we are giving them choices and futures far better than ninety percent of other futures. Well, that sounds like a sham so I'll put it in another way…” The warrior then paused, narrowed his eyes and looked at his students around him. “This is how the world works.”

“The weak can only accept all this and change themselves for the world to adapt to it. Unless they would surpa.s.s everyone including myself to become profound, then they could act like us, compelling worlds and other civilizations in changing themselves so that world and other species adapted to them instead.”

Joshua had noticed that everyone was neither cowering nor surrendering despite his blast of presence, which made him very satisfied and withdrew some of his presence. “In fact, there is one point that all of you are wrong about,” he said, shaking his head. “Neither I, nor Igor nor the Seven G.o.ds have thought about promoting the Redemption System by force.”

“Might is one way to change the world. It is the same with courage, confidence, fear, resolve, a rush of blood in the heat of the moment, even threat, charm, brainwas.h.i.+ng, and deception. But those are all 'ways'—the most important thing is to act upon it, to change the possibility to something beyond zero. The Redemption System is merely a prelude, but all of you are right—their production systems may collapse, but likewise, they are absorbing all knowledge they could possibly gain from us, from Mycroft.”

“Listen, kids. We would generously share all our data with every civilization without forcing it on anyone. They can simply rely on resolve and belief to absorb the knowledge within, accelerating civilization's development and changing its future, just as they can apply laziness and luck with the Redemption System, destroying their own industrial functions and have themselves fall into a fate of decline.”

And all of that was 'change'.

To fall for temptations or triumph over self were all futures and fates, and those choices were what the Mycroft civilization offered. In the decades before Finality, they were now gathering comrades instead creating va.s.sals, even if not all civilizations could pa.s.s that hurdle.

“Do you understand?” Joshua paused at that, noticing the thoughtful expression of his acolytes and nodding in satisfaction. “Change could be good or bad,” he continued, “what I provide is merely a guide to hasten their change but without forcing them.”

“As for the more essential question of why these civilizations are so easily influenced and changed by us, the answer is quite simple,” the warrior spoke with a deep and quiet voice. Both his arms crossed before his chest, and he turned to look at the Void beyond the window. “Each civilization has their own definition of correctness, but of course…”

Joshua then finished with a tone of utmost arrogance as if it could not be more natural.

“We are more correct.”