"Is this—an invitation to me?"
The sudden invitation and the leaping thoughts almost made Wade unable to keep up. He looked at Emrys with a strange expression, but out of politeness, he still politely declined.
"Sorry, Mr. Emrys, I don't think I am suitable to be a Wallfacer's assistant, and I am quite satisfied with my current job."
This was also the truth.
He didn't think these Wallfacers were stronger than him.
But his current job was indeed more suitable for him.
However—he didn't know why, but whenever he met the young man's gaze, Wade always felt as if his inner thoughts were seen through.
In front of him, he felt like he was stripped bare, without any secrets.
This feeling made Wade very uncomfortable.
"Is that truly what you think deep down?"
Emrys, sitting in the chair, suddenly leaned forward a few degrees. In the depths of his pupils, stars seemed to be reflected, a faint glow that could pierce through people's hearts.
"You are a smart person, but precisely because of that, you can see things others cannot, such as—a future of failure, isn't that right?"
Wade appeared expressionless, but the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Mr. Emrys."
He hated such a gaze.
One that could discern the deepest secrets of the human heart.
"If you have nothing else, I will take my leave, Mr. Emrys."
Wade suddenly stood up. He didn't want to be entangled with this 'Wallfacer' anymore, because—he was afraid that his deepest secrets would also be dug out.
He quickly left his seat, turned, and walked to the door, as if fleeing in haste.
He didn't know how long it had been—since he last felt this way. The pressure this young man put on him was immense!
However, just as Wade grasped the doorknob to open the door and leave, he heard a voice:
"Mr. Wade, under the ultimate pressure of civilization, which do you think is more important: pure 'rationality' or moral 'humanity'?"
Wade's movements froze as if he were a still image.
If one looked closely, one would notice his pupils trembling slightly, mixed with a hint of—madness.
"Mr. Wade, please answer my question."
Emrys remained seated, his fingers intertwined, as if he had held the 'initiative' of this conversation from beginning to end.
Wade took a deep breath, turned, and stared into Emrys' eyes.
"A civilization without humanity is meaningless!"
"The necessary prerequisite for the existence of civilization is 'continuation.' If even the basic prerequisite cannot be met, then so-called morality is merely 'weeds' on the grave of 'civilization'!"
"So, your stance is that for the continuation of civilization, humanity can allow 'necessary evil,' correct?" Emrys intertwined his fingers, resting them on his chin, observing Wade with interest.
"If civilization cannot continue, what is the point of humanity, morality—these 'thoughts' born from civilization—existing?"
Wade said coldly.
"Since the birth of human civilization, every leap has been accompanied by the extinction of numerous species. I do not consider this 'evil.' So-called 'good and evil' are merely shackles that society and humanity impose upon themselves, but—they are not necessary."
"You ask me, between morality and rationality, what should humanity choose?"
"My answer is—"
"If, at the moment of civilization's demise, humanity can lose its humanity, but it must never lose its animality!"
"To lose humanity is to lose much;
But to lose animality, humanity will lose everything!"
"Excellent answer."
Emrys couldn't help but applaud him.
This answer was perfectly suited for Warhammer!
"You've asked me so many questions, it's my turn now." Wade looked directly at Emrys, seemingly trying to discern something from his eyes.
"Will you be humanity's 'savior'?"
"I'll take you to see a 'thing'."
Emrys rose from his chair and chuckled.
"It will answer your question—Mr. Wade."
Military base, 100 floors underground.
This was a top-secret area. Besides rows of 'cells' welded from alloy, there were no researchers present.
Inside the metal corridor, the lights were bright.
Wade followed Emrys' steps and arrived in front of one of the 'cells,' his brows furrowed.
"What do you want me to see?"
"Don't rush."
Emrys smiled, then snapped his fingers.
Boom—!
The several-centimeter-thick alloy steel door in front of them was kicked inward, creating a large metallic tearing sound,
mixed with a roar like that of a beast, emanating from within.
Even though Wade considered himself well-traveled and knowledgeable, he was startled by the shrill roars and howls coming from inside the door, his face slightly paling.
"What exactly is in there?!"
Emrys lit a cigarette, nicotine smoke filling his lungs, then slowly exhaled. The drifting smoke rose, making his face appear somewhat ethereal.
"...—the future."
The future?
Wade's heart was pounding in his throat.
This wasn't fear, but—a 'terror' originating from the deepest part of life, etched into his genes.
Standing before this door, he could even hear the heavy breathing of the creature inside, as well as—that terrifying, horrifying, invisible aura of death.
His limbs were cold and numb.
Wade's pupils contracted as he stared at the door, speechless for a long time, swallowing his saliva. He didn't even realize his voice was so hoarse and sharp.
"What is the future?"
"Now, I will ask you again."
Emrys exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze distant.
"Mr. Thomas Wade, are you prepared to 'witness' what lies behind this door? Once you 'witness' it, there will be no turning back."
Wade took a deep breath, forcing his brain to calm down. He subconsciously, or perhaps uneasily, clenched his fists, sticky sweat seeping into his palms. A difficult sound escaped his throat, like burnt charcoal, like consumed dry wood.
"Why—me?"
Emrys did not evade this question.
He looked directly into Wade's eyes, speaking each word slowly, as if it carried immense weight.
"Because—I need 'people' like you."
"'People'—like me?"
Wade muttered these words, his eyes bewildered.
What kind of person was he?
At this moment, it was as if another 'personality' had emerged in Wade's mind, standing at a higher position, 'looking down' at himself.
Absolute rationality above all else.
Like a third-person perspective, discarding those messy, useless emotions, analyzing himself with the purest, calmest four-dimensional thinking.
Emrys just quietly watched Wade.
His state at this moment was very strange, as if another 'personality' had taken over, his eyes showing absolute calmness, without any emotional interference.
Wade seemed to have regained his composure, returning to his usual extremely cold and rational self.
"I, I will join you."
"Now, please let me see your 'plan' and the 'thing' behind this door!"