Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

Pantalone, who had envisioned that outcome, began preparing another plan shortly after proposing the plan to deal with the failure of the 'Stigmata Project' and the 'Eternal Return Project'.

After much deliberation, he finally came up with a plan to safeguard against that layer of security, much like Pantalone's philosophy, which he held as a pessimistic loser.

He didn't believe they could ultimately overcome that cruel end, and for that he had to find a way to escape it all. As long as he could ensure continuity, he could believe there was always a way to start over.

The question is how to escape that cruel end and ensure that there is still a chance to start over after other plans have failed.

Pantalone had already planned what to do from the very beginning.

That is--

escapism.

If even after doing everything in the best possible way, there is still no way to overcome that final end, then there is no other option. In that case, the only way out is to escape.

However, escape and resistance are inherently contradictory, and he naturally could not abandon his own forces to prepare for the escape plan. Therefore, the escape plan itself was not, in fact, an escape plan to abandon everything and preserve the flame.

More precisely, this plan is based on a plan that Pantalone had formulated long ago, and it is also inextricably linked to the 'Stigmata Project'.

To ensure the foundation of escapism, the most important thing for this plan is to utilize the system inherent in Teyvat itself, namely the power of the World Tree and the ley lines.

If one can use the power of the earth's veins to transform life into pure consciousness and data, then one can abandon the fragile body and transform one's life form into a permanent form of living metal.

Compared to living beings, such things are more like 'dead spirits' than real life. In Pantalone's vision, these beings are essentially those that carry the information of civilization, and as long as that information is not lost, they can be reborn indefinitely.

Only such an existence can guarantee the continuation of the flame and ensure that no unexpected mistakes occur.

In a sense, this is the true idea behind Pantalone's real 'Undead Project'.

Pantalone didn't believe in anything else; he only believed that only pure 'necromancers' could steadfastly carry out his plan, and only 'necromancers' could break free from the shackles of flesh and blood and venture into the endless sea of ​​stars to complete their true escape.

Similarly, the technology of the 'necromancers', which is not restricted by the world, will be able to develop without limits.

In their planned future, they will spread and evolve without limit like a plague, ultimately overcoming everything to achieve perfect revenge.

Pantalone calls this plan, which is derived from escapism and is used as an additional layer of insurance after the final plan fails, the 'Space Necromancer Project'!

Even if the plan ultimately fails, the 'space necromancers' carrying information will represent the existence of civilization and be reborn in another form.

From this perspective, this can be considered a perfect strategy.

However, the 'living metal' technology, which is crucial to this project, has not yet been completed. This metal prosthetic body is of paramount importance to Pantalone's plans.

Without this kind of living metal capable of carrying soul information, the plan is merely a draft and a concept existing only in a project plan.

In fact, that's exactly what he did. Among his many plans, setting aside the others, Pantalone has been consciously researching and investing in the study of living metals.

The moment his research on living metals was completed, that was the moment he officially committed to the project.

However, this does not prevent Pantalone from consciously pushing forward these plans. But to complete them completely, he needs to find someone to discuss them properly. He does not intend to entrust this aspect and field to "The Doctor".

It wasn't that he didn't believe in "Doctor's" strength and talent, but Pantalone wouldn't entrust everything he had to "Doctor" alone.

He preferred to entrust the project to "Puppet" rather than "Doctor," not because he wanted to reconnect with his other chief partner after a long time, but simply because it was more in his best interest.

As a banker, Pantalone knew very well that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket.

If problems arise, then things won't be pleasant at all.

Pantalone undoubtedly had absolute trust in the "Doctor's" talent, but even though Pantalone had enough trust in the "Doctor," he did not completely trust the "Doctor."

To be more precise, there is a part of "Doctor" that can be trusted, or rather, a part of him does indeed consider him a close friend.

However, this does not mean that other parts of the "Doctor" are the same, so it would be foolish to completely hand over everything to the other party.

Pantalone did not believe that his harmonious relationship with Dotole could continue. After all, even though they were colleagues as executives of the Fools, the relationship between Pantalone and "The Doctor" was ultimately based on a bond of mutual interests.

If one day in the future I lose the ability to provide value to "Doctor", then their seemingly harmonious relationship will not last long.

However, by that time, Pantalone's tasks and everything he needed to do would be almost complete.

By then, he would no longer need to care about the technical support that "Doctor" could provide him. Fortunately, there was still a considerable amount of time after the relationship between Pantalone and "Doctor" completely ended.

At least until Pantalone completely loses its ability to provide value, this relationship between Pantalone and "The Doctor" can continue to be maintained during this period.

Once the snowfield project is completed, his plan will be nearing its final stage.

If you calculate the time, he has almost completely mastered the technology from another world on the other side of the starry sea that he obtained from that "princess" of the abyss, which is used to convert 'imaginary energy' and will soon be able to apply it in practice.

Once the role of the knowledge and technology used to transform 'imaginary energy' is reversed and fully completed, the preparatory phase of the plan can be considered completely finished.

He has done everything he could; now all that remains is to wait.

In that case, it's time for him to make the trip.

Piero, also known as "The Clown," was the original executor of the Fools and the commander-in-chief of the Fools' executors. He was a witness to the downfall of the Black Sun Dynasty of Canria.

After all, some things still require some permission to be implemented more easily.

Pantalone's mind was swirling with thoughts, and finally, as those countless thoughts came together, he slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the distant, pure white horizon.

Standing atop the ice cliff, he took in the endless expanse of icy sea, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable depth.

Chapter 167: The Puppet Titled 'The Collapse of the Nation' and the "Doctor's" God-Making Experiment (4k)

For the people of the North, the harsh cold is a common sight.