Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

The pure white world was perfectly normal, but for this area located on the border of the Northern Kingdom, near the Dark Sea, the snow and wind were not the usual occurrences known to the people of the Northern Kingdom.

In that harbor research institute area far from the boundary of densely populated areas, black snow fell from the hazy sky, unlike the snow and ice that the people of the North knew.

Rather, it is a product of the explosion and diffusion after radiation in this experimental research institute. Even a slight contact with it will cause infection by that radiation, leading to irreversible burns and decay of the body.

Behind that seemingly beautiful scene lies a forbidden zone where life withers at the slightest touch.

That was a zone that life was absolutely forbidden to approach. Even just placing oneself in that snowstorm would result in being unable to withstand the radiation contained in that area and being left forever in that forbidden zone.

Besides these, only the weeds that withstood the radiation of this forbidden zone of life, and the birds that had mutated due to the radiation of this forbidden zone of life, soared in the sky.

If I weren't human, then being exposed to such a forbidden zone of life would probably mean I would become a skeleton forever trapped in this forbidden zone, just like everyone else.

As the doll named "Skirmisher" gasped for breath, breathing in the 'imaginary energy' radiation that filled the air—enough to be lethal to any living being—such thoughts surfaced in its mind.

However, these things were not of much concern to him, and the puppet named "Scattered Soldier" withdrew his thoughts.

He focused his gaze on the scholar in front of him, who wore an executive coat identical to his own and exuded an intellectual aura. The scholar wore a bird-beak mask that completely covered his eyes.

The figure standing before the "Scouts" was none other than "The Doctor," the second-ranking executive officer of the Fools, who was also the owner of this experimental site and the originator of this forbidden zone of life.

This scene, so different from nature, is the result of the 'imaginary energy' radiation that leaked out and transformed this area after the 'imaginary singularity' experiment.

Like a "scattered soldier," he was brazenly exposed to the radiation of "imaginary energy." In this lethal radiation zone, the "Doctor" was oblivious to everything around him, as if he were a non-human being, like a "scattered soldier."

And that is indeed the case. The "Doctor," who has undergone inhuman surgical modifications, no longer resembles a human except for still wearing human clothes.

Even when exposed to such a vast area of ​​'imaginary energy' radiation, his bodily functions were not affected in any way.

As he looked at his masterpiece, "Doctor," a slight smile appeared on his lips. Out of the corner of his eye, he turned to look at "Skirmisher," who was standing obediently behind him, and chuckled.

"I thought you were so confident that you had the ability to accomplish everything on your own without my help that you no longer needed my strength."

"However, it seems that after suffering a few losses, you have finally found your place. From this point of view, you are not entirely beyond redemption."

Beneath the doctor's somewhat teasing words lay a subtle undercurrent of mockery and irony.

It seemed as if he had anticipated that the "scatterers" would come to him for help, just as if he had been waiting for the "cowards" to arrive and had prepared to mock them in advance.

Faced with the "Doctor's" mockery, "Scattered Soldier," who used to pride himself on being a transcendent being and the sixth seat of the Fools' Executive, unusually did not refute the "Doctor's" sarcasm.

Because he knew he still needed the "Doctor's" help.

Even he, who once considered himself a transcendent being, realized after countless defeats in the face of Pantalone that he was not yet complete before truly achieving his goal.

Only when he is truly complete can he truly become a transcendent being, a puppet called "the collapse of the nation".

That was something he couldn't do alone, and for that he needed the "Doctor's" help. Having abandoned all that, he chose to submit to the "Doctor" and reposition himself.

Even if he didn't like this feeling, such a compromise in order to achieve completeness was not something unacceptable to the "scatterers".

So, he did not refute the "doctor's" sarcasm and ridicule.

He knew, of course, that the actions he had taken were enough for "The Doctor" to make him redo his actions many times over, which made his expression somewhat unpleasant.

However, his face did not show much fear. He just stared at the "Doctor's" figure, took a deep breath, and said.

“Those things were meaningless actions to begin with. Compared to the ‘Ascension to Godhood’ plan, those things probably don’t even matter to you, do they?”

"Once the goal is achieved, the impact of other 'slices' is completely irrelevant."

Although what he had done did have some impact on the "Doctor's" other plans and experiments, those impacts probably didn't matter much to the "Doctor" in front of him.

Perhaps for other "doctoral" slides, those plans and experiments might occupy a more important place in their minds, but for other slides, this is not the case.

Because the "Doctor" slice standing in front of the "Scouts" was none other than the one who, at his peak, possessed the greatest strength among all the slices, and was also the most selfish of all the slices.

From this slice's perspective, those plans might hold a certain place in his heart, but compared to what he pursues and the "Doctor" who is the most selfish slice, the will of the other slices is not taken seriously by the "Doctor" in front of him.

The same slice of the most selfish "Doctor" in front of us is also the slice of the "Doctor" who, when the doll named "Kokubaku" first joined the Fatui, helped him unleash his own power and become the sixth seat of the Fatui Executive.

Putting everything else aside, at least in this slice of "Doctor", compared to those other plans in their original plan, the "ascension" experiment to create gods was one of the most important parts of his plan.

He knew that as long as he was still useful to the other party, they would not give up on him.

This is one of the reasons why "Skirmisher" chose to seek out the most selfish "Doctor" slice. Only the most selfish slice, who puts his own will above others, can help him accomplish what he has always been pursuing.

Regarding this most selfish aspect of the "Doctor," the "Soldier" knew perfectly well what words to use to get the other party to help him.

That is to prove himself to the other party, to prove that his value as a tool is still worth his help. In fact, he is very clear about his value to the "Doctor".

"I believe I still have some value to your experiment. Before I 'ascend to godhood,' I think I'm still somewhat useful to you."

“I will cooperate with your arrangements to complete the original plan, as long as you help me become a god and make me whole, just as we originally agreed.”

As long as the other party hasn't given up on the 'Ascension to Godhood' experiment, he knows that "Doctor" will absolutely not abandon him, this invaluable tool.

Even though he didn't like being seen as a 'doll' because it reminded him of some unpleasant memories he didn't want to recall, he still chose to adjust his attitude and position.

Moreover, it was because he knew that their interests were aligned in a certain general direction.

That is, regarding the attitude towards Pantalone.

Although Pantalone and Dotole have achieved a certain harmonious relationship, as one of the most senior "streets" among the Fools' Executors, he is well aware of just how fragile this relationship truly is.

He knew that Pantalone couldn't possibly be unaware of this, and he also knew the personality of "The Doctor," the second-in-command of the Fools, who was their colleague—what kind of person he was.

As is well known, the executive known as "Doctor" has countless facets, each with its own distinct personality. However, even with so many facets, they are ultimately different individuals.