"Are you here to act as an emissary for that deity of Pandora?" The elderly Councilwoman Hea chuckled as she listened to Ellen's words.
"No, I did come following the will of that great being, but I also want to bring peace to my world. The war we initiated against Pandora was utterly pointless—it only caused needless casualties, inflicting wounds on both the native inhabitants of Pandora and countless families back in our world."
"Wait a minute, you went missing in Pandora. How could you possibly know we launched a military campaign there? Where did you get news of the war? Here on Earth, that information has been kept entirely secret."
Suspicion filled Hea's gaze as she scrutinized Dr. Ellen. Her instincts, honed by years in power, picked up on something unusual—perhaps not about Ellen herself, but about the being backing her.
"The noble being told me," Ellen replied calmly. "He was directly involved in the war. He led the Ikons of Pandora to victory!"
"In other words, the 'noble being' you speak of is this one?" Hea lightly tapped her console, projecting a video clip into the air before them.
The clip replayed a moment that had previously shocked Earth's ruling elite—a vision of an overwhelming power that left everyone speechless. Dr. Ellen's eyes widened as she watched the video.
"That's the flagship of our main fleet, The Glory, in its final moments before it was shot down. Do you recognize the entity responsible for its destruction?" Hea asked, gesturing toward the dramatic scene.
"Of course I do!" Dr. Ellen's face was full of shock. She knew Muria was powerful, but she hadn't imagined he was powerful to this extent.
"So, this is the deity you worship. Have you never seen him display power like this before?"
"If I'd witnessed such a display, I might not be here to tell the tale. This is the first time I've seen His Majesty reveal his destructive capabilities."
"And what kind of power did you witness from this deity that made an educated person like you so devoted?"
"I saw him resurrect a student who had already died before my eyes," Ellen answered, explaining why she had pledged her loyalty to Muria. "And then, he restored my body to its prime youth."
"So, not only can this god grant eternal youth, but he can also make us immortal?" Hea seized on Ellen's words, her eyes gleaming with a hint of desire.
"Yes," Ellen nodded after a brief hesitation. In her view, Muria indeed had the power to reverse life and death, making immortality for mere mortals entirely feasible.
"If I wish to receive this deity's blessing, what must I do?" Hea asked, her expression unreadable.
"You…" Ellen couldn't help but smile, knowing she had chosen the right target.
"Don't look at me like that," Hea replied nonchalantly. "I think what you're saying makes sense. I'm not betraying humanity; I'm acting in its best interest while also allowing myself to become younger."
The councilwoman's face remained expressionless, but she knew her own situation all too well. Despite accessing the latest life-extension technology, there were limits; she had at most ten years left. She'd exhausted every available means, yet no drug or cutting-edge technology could prolong her life further. She couldn't resign herself to death just yet.
After decades of hard work, she now held immense power, able to influence the lives of millions with a single decision. She hadn't enjoyed it long enough; she wanted to live forever.
But before today, such a thought had been an unattainable dream. She'd only ever hoped for a few more decades at most. Yet now, someone was standing before her, offering not just extended life, but the possibility of immortality—a goal she could now reach with a simple stretch of her hand.
"Lady Hea, yes, that is the right way to think about it. Everything you do is for humanity's future. War is meaningless; our world and Pandora can benefit each other and grow together."
"So you're saying that if I can ensure our civilization ceases hostilities with Pandora, this god will grant me eternal life?" Hea ignored the lofty rhetoric, getting straight to the point.
"This is only the first step in Lord Ural's vision. He hopes for deeper cultural exchange between our two worlds."
"Lord Ural, that's the name of the being you revere as a god?" Hea murmured thoughtfully before making a straightforward request. "I can indeed push these plans forward, perhaps even ensure their success, but only if you let me witness this god's power firsthand."
"I understand!" Ellen wasn't surprised by the councilwoman's practical response. Politicians of her level had no use for empty promises—they needed tangible benefits before they acted.
"Lord Ural anticipated this and sent a small sample of his power for you to experience firsthand," Ellen said, carefully pulling a small, green crystal the size of a thumbnail from a wooden box. She handed it to the councilwoman, her eyes gleaming.
"And how do I use this?" Hea's hands trembled slightly just from seeing the crystal, as her body seemed to instinctively yearn to absorb it.
"Simply place it against your brow or over your heart. This is a concentrated essence of pure life energy," Ellen explained, smiling as she handed the crystal to the visibly excited councilwoman.
"That simple? No preparations, no rituals?" Hea held the crystal close, ready to place it on her brow.
Just then, an ill-timed warning sounded. "Madam, the crystal in your possession is composed of unknown energy. It's recommended that you send it to the lab for analysis before using it."
"No, no need. I trust Ellen," Hea replied with a smile, pressing the crystal to her brow without hesitation.
Of course, she didn't truly trust Ellen. At her age and with her position, she was extremely cautious with her life. But her body was beyond her control—every organ, every cell was crying out for this crystal.
As soon as the green crystal touched her brow, it melted like liquid, instantly merging into her body.
"This feeling!" The moment the crystal touched her skin, Hea felt a tiny, warm current spreading from her brow throughout her body, enveloping her in a comforting warmth. She felt like a prisoner shedding the chains of her confinement, her entire body suddenly lighter.
"Well, Councilwoman Hea, how do you feel?" Ellen smiled as she watched the changes sweeping over Hea, witnessing what appeared to be a miracle unfolding before her.
"Unparalleled, utterly marvelous!" Hea's eyes, which had unknowingly closed from sheer comfort, opened to find the world around her brighter than ever. Her vision had sharpened noticeably.
"Congratulations, ma'am. You look like you're twenty years younger!" the AI assistant's congratulatory voice rang through the room.
"Really?" Hea's expression softened into a genuine smile as she noticed her own improved physical condition.
"Display my current appearance—I want to see what I look like now."
At her command, a three-dimensional projection appeared before her: a woman in her late sixties or early seventies, her face showing a few wrinkles but not many. Her hair, though graying, looked healthy and vibrant.
"This is what I look like now?" She raised her hand to touch the projected hair, feeling disbelief.
"I even have black hair growing again! Incredible—I'm ninety years old!" Looking at her image, seemingly twenty years younger, Hea's face lit up with excitement as she turned toward Ellen, her eyes glinting.
"Do you have more of that crystal? Obviously, you're not here to convince only me. You'll need to sway the other old-timers too. You must have more—give it to me. I want to be as young as you are!"
"Councilwoman, that crystal was merely a sample of Lord Ural's power. Until you achieve some concrete results, you aren't qualified to receive another of his blessings."
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