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"Today, let it be proclaimed—the establishment of humanity's sole Empire! Our civilization shall endure, and humans shall persist forever!"
Following the grand military parade and series of events, Welt stood at the platform's edge, making this declaration to the entire world.
Both Welt and countless spectators were filled with intense emotion, but Zeke, seated amidst the clouds, lazily yawned.
"Ahh~"
After all, he was merely radiating golden brilliance and imposing aura from the sky, symbolizing the presence of the newly announced emperor wielding immense power over civilization. In reality, no one could truly discern his exact appearance.
If not for the formal nature of the occasion, Zeke would have already returned to the Inner City—oh, perhaps now it should be called the Imperial City. Regardless, he genuinely wanted to go back and rest.
The program was indeed captivating, and the spectacle grandiose, but the electronic processes governing the entire ceremony were transparent to Zeke. He knew exactly what would unfold. For such a performance, if Kiana or Bronya were sitting on his lap, engaging him playfully, maybe Zeke could muster patience to enjoy it. Alone, however, he found it utterly uninteresting.
As the event drew to a close, Zeke waved his hand, creating a spatial rift before him. The remaining tasks could be left for others to wrap up; Zeke departed on his own accord.
An emperor must exercise such whimsicality—not that his demeanor changed much from before his coronation.
Following the ceremony, given that everyone had gathered, a grand banquet was naturally arranged.
It was set up buffet-style, with seven or eight small round tables scattered throughout the hall to accommodate various groups' seating preferences freely.
Zeke's table stood out; he positioned a wide chair at its center and sat there while Kiana and Sin dined on either side of him. Bronya stood nearby holding a bottle of red wine, slowly pouring Zeke half a glass.
Joining them were Otto, Welt, and Fu Hua.
Surrounded by his quietly munching little pets, Zeke raised his wineglass and spoke leisurely, "The operation and maintenance of the Central System will now be overseen by administrative and technical teams. Dr. Einstein can focus fully on scientific research, as should Otto and Dr. Tesla. Technological advancement is the direct source of power needed to surpass and ultimately defeat Honkai. It would indeed be a waste to have geniuses like yourselves diverted into other fields."
"A wise decision, my emperor. I made similar suggestions to Joyce back then, but as you well know..." Smiling broadly, Otto raised his glass in a toast gesture towards Zeke.
His words made Welt, Einstein, and Tesla all raise their eyebrows simultaneously. To these three founding members of Anti-Entropy, although everyone now stood united against Honkai, seeing Otto—the very instigator—smiling as he brought up Joyce felt like deliberate provocation.
Naturally, Otto understood this sentiment. He raised his glass toward them, particularly addressing Einstein and Tesla, whom she was holding back by the shoulders, with an apologetic tone:
"No offense intended; it just struck me at the moment. If you'd prefer, I'll refrain from mentioning it again."
Otto wore a genuinely friendly smile, devoid of any pretense this time.
Having reached this point through countless steps, Otto's sole desire now was to witness the fulfillment of his long-held aspiration before calmly embracing his own destiny. That was all.
Welt could sense Otto's sincerity. After experiencing so much, the present-day Welt had achieved remarkable growth in both personal strength and philosophical outlook. No longer did he perceive Otto through a foggy haze, but rather on equal footing to some extent. Consequently, Welt recognized Otto's genuine intentions.
"We all miss Joyce dearly; it would have been wonderful if he could be here today... Let's not bring him up again—it's indeed quite distressing."
"Understood, Welt."
Otto raised his glass toward Welt, who reciprocated.
"Cheers!"
With a crisp clink of glasses, they toasted and downed their drinks together.
This gesture deflated Tesla's brewing frustration, leaving him to focus solely on devouring his steak without further disruption.
Zeke glanced downward, observing the ripples in his wineglass, unfazed by this minor conflict. Disagreements were inevitable, but as long as everyone kept the bigger picture in mind and worked towards the same overarching goal, they weren't significant issues.
Then, Zeke turned to Welt and Fu Hua.
"Welt, you will oversee the judicial system, purging any rotten elements that hinder our progress," Zeke said. "It's a cruel task, requiring you to wield your blade against fellow comrades, but I believe you're capable of handling it, aren't you?"
"...It is my duty," Welt replied solemnly.
Precisely because it was such brutal work, it required someone with a compassionate heart and unwavering principles to lead. The necessary eliminations must be made without indiscriminate killing when there's room for leniency. Welt would devote his utmost effort to this task.
Zeke smiled at Welt. "Here's to you!"
"Thank you."
Their glasses clinked together as they toasted.
After finishing his drink, Zeke turned towards Fu Hua while Bronya refilled his glass, tossing her a golden, diamond-shaped crystal.
"The Truth Hall is entrusted to you. Its purpose is to assess officials, key personnel, and adjudicate stubborn criminals. With your activation of the Truth Domain, few can lie. However, use discretion; avoid misuse, and under no circumstances should you lose it."
"Yes, I will diligently fulfill my duties!" Fu Hua nodded firmly, holding the crystal reverently with both hands.
Zeke raised another toast to Fu Hua, expressing both trust and encouragement.
Following a brief pause, Zeke called out a name from a different table.
"Durandal."
"Present!"
The Valkyrie, clad in gold armor matching her hair color, stood up abruptly, caught off guard. Her cheeks were puffed full of delicious food meticulously prepared by Seele, Raiden Mei, Wendy, Rita, and others.
Durandal's meticulous nature shone through as she ceased chewing entirely upon being addressed by her superior, striving to maintain a serious expression—imagine a tiny squirrel with puffed cheeks attempting solemnity; it was undeniably amusing.
"Pfft ha-ha!"
Many girls tried hard not to laugh while Zeke spoke, but only Senti couldn't contain herself, slapping the table and laughing until tears streamed down her face.
Then, from within his long sleeves, Zeke produced a large frying pan transformed from the Key of Domination.
"Whack!"
"Eek!"
Setting aside this brief interlude, Durandal now stood upright, her clear blue eyes intently focused on Zeke.
Zeke declared, "The Valhalla shall be under your supervision. Resurrection is valuable, yet its cost is steep. Approval should not be granted easily without significant achievements or necessity. Study carefully how to strike the right balance."
"Yes, Durandal acknowledges the command!" Despite her comically puffed cheeks, her words were remarkably clear, and no food fell out—a skill that elicited admiration for its finesse.
At least Kiana's eyes sparkled with interest—she had been scolded by Zeke multiple times for speaking with her mouth full while eating. This skill seemed highly practical to her.
"(?o?o)? Zeke, Zeke, I want to learn this! Teach me!" Kiana tugged at Zeke's sleeve, pleading with a greasy mouth.
"Tsk!"
Zeke frowned, conjuring a white silk cloth. He gently held Kiana's head and wiped away the grease from her face and lips. With an impatient and disgusted tone, he said:
"Seek guidance on such matters privately; don't interrupt my conversations!"
"Yes..." Kiana responded weakly, shrinking under Zeke's stern gaze. She cautiously continued eating, making a conscious effort to minimize noise.
Zeke let out a soft scoff before turning towards Durandal, who had patiently waited on the sidelines: "Please sit down and continue eating. Next time, finish your meal before responding."
"Yes sir! My apologies, please forgive the interruption!"
Durandal responded with a military salute before sitting down and resuming her meal. Her swollen cheeks finally found some relief.
Zeke initially planned to toast Durandal, expressing his respect like he had done for the others earlier. However, seeing her earnestly focused on eating, he ultimately shook his head and decided against it.
"The specific assignments and arrangements for everyone will be sent to your personal terminals later and posted on the Central System as well. Make sure to keep an eye out. Alright, continue enjoying your meals; that's all I have to say."
"Yes sir!" × N