Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

Peace has arrived.

No great men emerged, nor any groundbreaking theories arose. And not enough blood was shed; peace descended upon the world silently. Before anyone knew it, mercenaries lost their jobs, and soldiers laid down their swords and guns.

A strange peace.

But no one...not a single individual felt anything was amiss.

In an instant, it was as if the moral standards of the entire world's inhabitants had risen to a new level. They no longer fought or complained about each other. Even if disagreements remained, they could sit down and resolve them verbally instead of resorting to brute force to eliminate their opponents, as had been done before.

The war ended. With the cessation of conflict, the inhabitants of the world channeled their energy and desires into other areas. People's livelihoods, technology, medicine… in the days following this peace, these fields developed far more rapidly than in the previous century of war and famine. And soon, this wind of change reached the shores of Rhodes.

The administrators of Rhode Island suddenly discovered something. Something that should have made everyone happy, but instead left them with a lingering sense of loss. That was…

...They are no longer the main characters.

...The Oripathy patients no longer need their banner, no longer need these heroes who descended from the sky to guide them.

Their ideals—the ideals of the founders of Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals and the founders of Babel, the predecessor of Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals—were realized almost imperceptibly. However, this realization did not occur through their own hands, nor did it rely on even the slightest bit of their effort or struggle… They prepared extensively, they were prepared, they paid the price, they made sacrifices. Yet, victory did not come through their efforts.

The old man Yu Gong made a firm decision, swore an oath, and inspired his entire family and descendants to attempt to move the mountain, but the mountain was taken away by the gods, rendering all their previous efforts futile. Such myths exist in many civilizations.

So, reflecting on reality, when the 'mountain' is truly moved by a powerful external force, for those around Yu Gong—those who followed him and shared his ideals—this is undoubtedly a great thing to celebrate. Suffering is finally over, no longer a shackle. They will rejoice, cheer, and bless Yu Gong. Because the reason they followed Yu Gong was actually to follow his beliefs. For them, as long as the goal is reached, whether it was achieved through their own efforts is not particularly important.

And 'Yu Gong' would also celebrate. He and his followers would cheer joyfully. Because no matter what, the 'mountain' had been moved after all. The rewards of achieving the goal would eventually be obtained. But even so, when the night was deep and quiet, when he was alone, 'Yu Gong' might also have some sorrow in his heart.

Why wasn't it me who did all of this?

Why is it that my ideals are so easily achieved through external forces?

So, my wishes, my efforts... weren't really that important?

Such emotions may not be frequent, but they are inevitable. And when the time is right, they become a poison that gnaws at the soul.

Thus, when the fact of 'world peace' became clearly presented to the members of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, amidst the celebration and cheers, a sentiment akin to that of 'The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains' arose in the hearts of many. Their lofty ideals and unwavering resolve crumbled quietly with the unexpected arrival of the finish line. And the invisible, intangible force of fate that had drawn them together from all corners of the world gradually vanished with the passage of time.

Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals remains a top-tier medical institution developing a cure for Oripathy. However, it is no longer the sole refuge for those infected with Oripathy it once was. Several large nations have implemented policies to eliminate discrimination against the infected, allowing them to return to the cities. This time, however, as the infected stepped through the city gates, they did not experience the hostility emanating from the crowds.

In the past, some scholars have proposed theories suggesting that discrimination and exclusion against the infected are inevitable. This is because, without a cure, no country, or its leaders, is willing to accept or ignore this ever-present ticking time bomb created annually by Originium Technology. Since they lack the means to save the infected, they choose to protect the lives of the uninfected.

Many people, many who are not human, agree with this idea. This includes not only the other inhabitants of the Qin Empire who participated in this 'Kuaizi Game,' but also members of the Central Continent Team who crossed the border, including Alice, Luo Ye, and others who had once witnessed this land. They believe it is correct; they believe it is the inevitable future.

They were wrong.

Their mistake lies in the premise of their acceptance of this ideology: the acceptance of the idea that 'human nature is inherently evil,' and a distrust of the concept of 'moral standards for ordinary people.' When they accept the notion that people cannot understand each other, and that understanding only leads to more ruthless killing, they conclude that all the inhabitants of this planet will be as short-sighted and weak as the masses they have encountered—that noble qualities will only emerge in times of crisis, and that the more peaceful and prosperous the world, the more ugliness will be revealed.

Based on this viewpoint, it is indeed impossible for humanity to ever stop its internal strife.

However perfect a viewpoint may be, however logically consistent a theory may be, when undeniable facts come into view, they all become nothing more than scraps of paper. They never imagined that humanity could truly achieve peace without external interference—not even the Qin dynasty, which ruled over the vast galaxies, could accomplish such a feat—yet, when peace truly arrived, all they could do, besides searching for the cause, was to doubt themselves.

Something they hadn't expected happened.

The protagonist they chose and judged was unqualified.

That once near-perfect theory has become a fallacy due to the overall rise in moral standards. Because high morality is a vast torrent, sweeping across everything, even including the infected.

The healthy no longer discriminate against or ostracize the infected. Instead, they treat them as fellow sufferers of the disease. The infected no longer envy or hate the healthy. They proactively maintain a safe distance and report their symptoms whenever they feel it necessary. If their condition is critical and near-fatal, they choose to leave quietly alone, like an aging elephant walking alone into its grave. While the severely ill exercise self-discipline, the healthy also organize their forces and invest heavily in conquering Oripathy.

Morality……

Moral elevation leads to mutual assistance among all individuals.

For Alice, this was perhaps the first race she had encountered that hadn't developed a hive mind, and that could unite as one during peacetime. For a fleeting moment, she even began to doubt whether these creatures were truly human. However, the next instant brought a sudden realization: this land… truly wasn't inhabited by humans.

This is Terra, inhabited by countless races showing signs of bestiality. On this land, few life forms are human—or were once human.

They, she and Luo Ye, had failed to live up to the script they had previously envisioned. Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals, having lost its lofty ideals and goals, also lost its protagonist-like charisma and unifying force. It still existed, but its influence waned, gradually becoming just another pharmaceutical company. Meanwhile, many Terra elites who had joined Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals for various reasons—some with deep or shallow backgrounds, others simply seeking refuge—all left Rhode Island, returning to their true, permanent homes.

It began with the royal family of Veroria, Vina, who served as the vanguard in the Rhodes battle, and Reed, who wished to remain anonymous. They returned to their country and reaffirmed the loyalty of their subjects.

Then there was Yan Guo's Iron-Eating Beast, who returned to her homeland and resumed her career as a martial arts actress, a profession she had been forced to abandon due to Oripathy. Soon after, several other operators with similar backgrounds, or those who had simply come to Rhodes Island for part-time work, also returned to their homelands.

Celia, Hermes, Ifrit, and others from Rhine Lab also left. They had received an invitation from the Colombian authorities. Rhine Lab would be rebuilt there and would receive strong support from the entire country. Many of their colleagues had already gone elsewhere, and the allure was almost irresistible to them.

The contract between Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals and Kjerag was also dissolved. With the changing world situation, the previous alliance no longer needed to exist. The Snowland Kingdom, which had been closed off for many years, chose to open up as this new era arrived. And it needed a strong leader to govern it. The Snowland leader, who had stayed in Rhodes Island under the pretext of treating his sister's illness, also left quietly one morning with his entourage and his saintly sister, leaving only a farewell letter in the empty lounge as a final remnant.

They all left, along with the mundane routines of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Andromeda, one of the leaders, didn't stop any of them. He simply joined two other high-ranking Rhodes Island officials, Kal'tsit and Amiya with her rabbit ears, in offering their departing friends farewell blessings. And soon, even Black and Ceylon left the landship on a sunny morning.

Hei is Ming Yanwei, and Xilan is Luo Ye. They know Andromeda's true identity, and Andromeda also knows their true nature and the reason for their arrival here. At the moment of their final parting, one of them almost couldn't resist attacking. However, in the end, they ultimately brought silence to this separation.

The official reason given was that Ceylon's arrival was to treat Black's Oripathy—but that's no longer necessary.

The underlying reason was that Luo Ye's arrival was intended to disrupt Andromeda's plans at the right time, or to prevent Andromeda from disrupting his own plans. But now, that is no longer necessary.

The plan was ruined; regardless of whose plan it was, it was now meaningless. As this sudden change spread across the planet's surface, Luo Ye was fairly certain that Andromeda had not been involved.

It's truly fascinating. This world, so clearly a tapestry of cause and effect, has witnessed an anomaly that even a true god couldn't perceive. Upon realizing this, Luo Ye mentally deduced several plausible explanations. Regardless of the truth, she felt she should retreat.

Thus, the vast Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals was almost completely dismantled within a month. Soon, the entire company returned to the state it was before the Chernobog operation, before Andromeda returned from his retirement. Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals could finally focus on manufacturing pharmaceuticals, instead of participating in the carnage of war. And when a message arrived from the kingdom of Kazde, the Sarkaz kingdom, a connection to Rhodes Island's past, extending an invitation to Amiya, the leader of Rhodes Island, in the name of the royal family, the biggest change finally occurred on this landship.

Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals is not simply a pharmaceutical company. The leader of Rhodes Island, Amiya, with her rabbit ears and who was originally slated to be the absolute protagonist, is qualified to inherit the crown of Kazdel. This invitation is also a hint, suggesting that she should go to Kazdel to fulfill her responsibilities and obligations as the Demon King.

She knew she had to go. A new era had arrived, even if she didn't enjoy being a 'Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains'. She wouldn't be foolish enough to abandon her pursuit of the demonic crown, equivalent to 'divine power,' because of a momentary impulse. She knew that while her ideals had been forcibly fulfilled for the sake of world peace, if she wanted more, if she wanted to completely end this era dominated by natural disasters and plagues, then she needed to acquire more power.

Rhodes Island will never be Rhodes Island again; the little rabbit will be crowned king in a foreign land.

After all of this was laid bare at an internal meeting at Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, all the operators still remaining on Rhodes Island had to make a final decision.

Become a confidant and supporter of the new king, or leave?

For some operators, this is an easy question to answer. But for another group, it's a completely different story.

and so……

As Lin Xi stood atop the independent vehicle, watching the Rhodes Island landship gradually shrink in his field of vision.

She then knew.

In the time that follows, I will no longer have time to be 'carefree'.

Section 50 The Messenger

Rhodes Island is gone.

When dreams fade and like-minded individuals scatter, Rhodes Island and its leaders must ultimately make a choice.

They chose to return to Kazdel, to the land inhabited by the Sarkaz. To reclaim... or rather, to take back the crown that rightfully belonged to Amiya, the leader with the rank of Demon Lord. Their journey might be fraught with difficulties, but ultimately, they should achieve their desired outcome. For the invitation came from the Sarkaz Regent, the very same ruler who had defeated, or rather, fought to a draw with, the Kazdel king who was the predecessor of Rhodes Island. This meant that, at most, it was merely a power transfer whose process was still uncertain.

Amiya will receive her crown. Amiya will rekindle her dreams in her new position.

As for this little rabbit, the fact that this Carter had managed to get to that point... that kind of thing... was no longer relevant to Lin Xi, who had left Rhodes Island.

Lin Xi wouldn't get involved in this, nor did she have any interest in it. She sat in the large all-terrain vehicle that Rhodes Island had given her as a parting gift, watching the massive landship shrink visibly at a visible speed until it finally disappeared without a trace on the horizon.

"From now on, there probably won't be any chance to meet again," Lin Xi murmured. This was both a judgment and a prophecy. Within her vision, the invisible connection between heaven and earth was visibly fading. She saw the bond between herself and Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals fading away constantly, until finally, only a thin thread remained.

Meeting her will likely be difficult. But perhaps some connection will remain. Maybe one day, she'll receive a communication from Rhodes Island. Or perhaps one day, the operators of Rhodes Island will see her in the newspaper.

Ah...it's alright. None of it matters.

The important thing is...

"Where should we go next?" she said softly, asking herself and Miss Skadi beside her.

Skadi, meanwhile, simply sat in the passenger seat, clutching the greatsword she had never parted with since awakening, and closed her eyes to rest.

"It's your decision, Lin Xi," the white-haired Agor woman said softly, her voice like the gentle tides rising on the beach. "But wherever you want to go, I will follow you, stay by your side."

After she finished speaking, she shut her mouth and didn't say another word.

Lin Xi shook her head and started the sturdy all-terrain vehicle, laden with supplies, heading towards a location she remembered. She recalled the routes of all the mobile cities and knew that the nearest area to her was a mobile city-state called Lungmen. And the body she currently possessed seemed to have originated from there before arriving at Rhodes Island.

Body……

The concept of 'body' only just entered her mind. Recent memories flooded back. She realized that this 'dream' had been going on for almost a month, and now she had absolutely no chance of 'waking up'.

No, this is not a dream. This is reality, this is another world—she had clearly realized this. Then she also discovered that her past life, or what she believed to be another version of herself, had been in a deep slumber ever since she came into contact with Skadi.

Was the resurrection plan a failure? — It doesn't seem so.

So, is there another reason? —Possibly.

However, whatever the specifics of the situation, Lin Xi neither knew nor cared. She only knew that her death was a little further away, and this allowed her to do things she wanted to do.

But what exactly do I want to do?

The bold words I uttered not long ago echoed in my mind. My former self had declared that I would decide the course of my destiny, that I would decide the death I would face. Yet now, with opportunity and time in my grasp, I had lost my direction.

What should I do? What should I do?

She drove the vehicle across the wasteland, her vision stretching to both sides of endless plains transformed from wasteland and ruins. Dust billowed outwards behind the vehicle, following the tracks left by the wheels. Her gaze shifted slightly, fixed on the roadless expanse ahead, while simultaneously glancing at Skadi beside her.

Ceylon said that this Miss Skadi could be involved with power beyond the Species—although Lin Xi still didn't understand what the Species were, she could sense the immense power contained in the words—however, despite saying that, she still hadn't sensed the truth about Miss Skadi.

She tried to observe Miss Skadi through that 'connected' gaze. The conclusion she reached was that the young lady had never lied to her—she had indeed come to Lin Xi's side because of the prophecy originating from the deep sea. Even though this world, by all accounts, didn't seem to have any signs of human calamity.

She gazed at Skadi, at that face that appeared incomparably beautiful and aloof in her meditation. Her gaze swept past Skadi's shoulder, her long hair, her gloves, her boots, and her sword—she knew Skadi could sense her gaze. And she knew Skadi was oblivious to it.

This woman... had absolutely no feelings for Lin Xi. She could sense the surging emotions deep within Skadi's heart, emotions as turbulent as an undercurrent beneath a calm sea. However, those emotions did not belong to or point to her in the slightest.

Skadi came for the prophecy.

They came solely for the purpose of prophecy.

This Agor girl from the deep sea will follow her and protect her, but she will only follow and protect her.

"Jealousy surfaced deep within me," Lin Xi whispered to himself.

"But why am I jealous?"—She whispered, her voice filled with the same confusion that pointed to herself.

She remembered Miss Ceylon's words, from the first time she met Ceylon, the deep-sea girl lying in the container. Ceylon had asked her if she had forgotten something important. Forgotten some important love—at that time, her answer was no. And now, her answer remained unchanged.

I don't remember ever loving anyone, nor do I remember ever having anyone I cared about.

She reflected on her past, from Terra all the way back to the distant island of Kyushu. From birth to adulthood, from being bullied to gradually gaining respect. She recalled her past bit by bit, and finally arrived at an answer that she felt was perfectly reasonable.

I have never loved anyone, and I have never cared about anyone.

I study hard to change my living conditions. I work diligently for a higher status. And all of this is simply for my own life. I have no friends, no lover, no blood relatives. I am myself, and I have only myself.

She was certain of this. She was quite certain that she possessed her earliest memories as an orphan, and that she had never had a stern father, a loving mother, a gentle older sister, or a sweet younger sister—she was certain she had always been alone. And there was nothing missing from her memories.

So……

Is my jealousy merely a manifestation of my flaws, proof of my weakness and insignificance?

She couldn't help but twitch her lips. Even though she didn't want to laugh at all, she felt she should experience the feeling of being mocked by herself. But just then...

“There’s biological activity three kilometers ahead.” — Miss Skadi, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly opened her eyes. Then she clutched the sword in her arms.