Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

"So... what kind of rewards should we offer?"

Cocolia asked the ultimate question, one that made everyone focus their attention on Noldrei.

A smile spread across Noldrei's face. "Weren't you all eager to get a piece of my authority to manufacture Stigma Battlesuits? The solution is simple. We'll grant that authority to the top performers of each season, and then create a tiered system, distributing lesser privileges downward to complete the seasonal framework."

Otto had always thought Noldrei was an excellent politician, and now it seemed he wasn't wrong. This scheme was so compelling that Otto himself felt an urge to participate in the new season.

What is an emperor? The emperors of every dynasty were all master fishermen.

They would start by dividing up their own ruling authority, using it as bait to unite a new ruling class and draw more people into the work of governance, all while systematically replacing their old comrades.

You know full well this man is constantly creating replaceable "New Stigma Humans," yet you jump into his trap anyway because of your own thirst for power.

Otto immediately began to applaud, saying seriously, "How about this: let's call it the 'Stigma Imperial Examination System'?"

Bronya found that term too feudalistic. "I suggest calling it the 'Stigma Academy Season System,'" she said. "By actively promoting humanity's pursuit of Stigmata, we tie the Stigma to organizational power. I propose that only the strongest humans who pass this seasonal trial should be qualified to form their own Stigma clubs."

"Through the transfer and transformation of club ownership, those who possess Stigmata will continuously create more people who possess Stigmata."

Welt truly hadn't anticipated this possibility—turning the Stigma into a seasonal system, then allowing its organizational power to constantly expand and multiply.

Countless new Stigma organizations would be born from the struggles between these clubs. The future would inevitably belong to this new world of Stigma Humans.

Welt took a deep breath. He needed to go back and have a serious discussion with Dr. Einstein about how to handle this situation.

Schicksal and Anti-Entropy had started out as Noldrei's partners.

Now, he, Welt Yang, had been pushed down to the position of a mere "club master." If they had all started as eight kings ruling together, there was now a clear hierarchy of power.

The eight kings were still eight kings, but only in name. The real power to govern was now entirely concentrated in Noldrei's hands.

Relying on Kiana, the Mother of Stigmata, and his status as the original creator of the Kaslana Stigma Battlesuits, Noldrei had leaped to become the leader of the new Stigma Humans.

Otto and Welt exchanged a look, both clearly aware of the shift this meeting represented for Academy City's internal structure.

He who controls the meeting controls the agenda.

Thousands of years had passed, from feudal dynasties to modern civilization, yet they still hadn't escaped this cycle.

But this process was exactly what Otto wanted. He himself hoped for more Stigma bearers to emerge. The so-called organizational power being tied to it didn't really matter to him.

"I agree with this proposal. When I get back, I'll have a good discussion with the people at Schicksal about how to construct this system."

Otto felt this was something worth trying. Guiding humanity toward continuous learning and progress through this method was indeed an excellent idea.

You couldn't say Noldrei was acting purely for his own power. He was genuinely helping all of human society advance, he just happened to be controlling the ultimate direction of that progress.

Since Noldrei was considering official business that benefited everyone, the outcome of this meeting was bound to be in his hands.

"I also agree, but I think we need to find a suitable pilot location." Welt pushed up his glasses, which he still wore even though he no longer needed them.

"The Far East and the Middle East. I think the populations of these two places are sufficient. We don't need to expand further, except for the upcoming North American Academy City. We'll need Tesla to discuss the planning for that one. I'll make time to go have a look."

Hearing Noldrei say this, Welt felt a twinge of apprehension. He had a feeling that Noldrei "making time" would be a very "intimate" experience for the North Americans.

He could only hope the people of North America would be alright.

"What about China? Hasn't Fu Hua returned yet?" Cocolia asked about Fu Hua's situation. It wasn't that she was particularly concerned about Fu Hua, but she coveted Fu Hua's high prestige and ability to mobilize people in China.

"Don't worry about her. China is currently relatively closed off and conservative. Fu Hua needs to manage the pace of Academy City's influence there herself. Besides, the political situation there is more sensitive than in the Far East. We'll take it slow; we're in no hurry."

Noldrei had plenty of time. He looked kindly at Kiana and asked, "Well? Did you understand anything this time?"

Kiana nodded earnestly. "I get it! Everyone will be more enthusiastic about school from now on! It's really a good thing!"

Theresa sucked in a sharp breath, gaining a deeper understanding of Kiana's ability to completely zone out during meetings.

As expected of the crown princess. Though not a single word she said hit the mark, Noldrei still forgave her.

Kiana was still oblivious to the fact that she had been completely bamboozled. She was still wondering how people in the future would cope with such a frenzied learning-obsessed society.

This completely transformed school into something unrecognizable. Would learning in the future be like going to war over and over again?

[Power of Mathematics, Level Three!]

[Power of Physics, Level Seven!]

[Will there be other incomprehensible ranks like Student, Scholar, Master, Spirit, King, Emperor, Sovereign, Venerate, Half-Step Saint, and Saint?]

Kiana truly felt that if learning permeated society to that extent, she would probably pass out on the spot in an exam hall.

But was the authority over the highest-ranking Stigma organizations appealing?

Just look at Kiana herself. As the owner of the Kaslana Stigma authority, she knew just how powerful a force people organized by Stigma Battlesuits could be.

Even a worldly-wise wanderer like her could get addicted to it, let alone people who had never been exposed to such things.

A day without study meant a lifetime without hope of reaching the highest position.

This meeting covered a lot of ground, and everyone needed to go back and carefully consider their new place and plans within Academy City's future.

The form of human organization was being constantly pushed by Noldrei into a new realm of centralized power.

Without a doubt, future Stigma bearers were the reserves for the ruling class, and the owners of Stigma Battlesuit authority would be the new ruling class itself.

And now, Noldrei was using his power to create this new class to launch a radical, sweeping transformation of all human society.