I am a former Flame Chasers

In a short amount of time, Mei had taken control of all departments within the Fire Moth and implemented certain reorganizations. Even the contraction of the front lines had gone smoothly without causing any trouble.

This, of course, was largely thanks to Ryan. After all, this was a reform, not a rebellion. The power had been granted by the Fire Chaser Council, and there were no major issues across the various branches. It was as though Mei was holding the emperor hostage, commanding the disobedient. Anyone who dared to defy her would be crushed by the most powerful combat group under her command. This was absolute suppression through force.

Additionally, if there were any rebels or those afraid of facing consequences, they could always join the Honkai. It was better than staying in the Fire Moth, dragging everyone down, and they couldn't take too many people with them. This back-and-forth made humanity more unified.

'Uniting the majority and targeting a small group—seems like Mei understands the strategy. It's not unlike the great leaders of the past,' Ryan thought, staring at the electronic map while sipping his coffee. This was why he could afford to slack off—he knew that he wouldn't do better if he acted on his own.

The world was clearly divided into two factions now, which aligned perfectly with Ryan's plan before he even took action. It also served his interests.

However, Ryan couldn't help but wonder—if he were to unite humanity, defeat the Herrscher, and restore the world to peace, what would happen then? Would there be a peaceful life in the youth? A happy ending?

No. That would only make the collapse more resentful and cause it to want to restart civilization again. The Herrscher of Corruption or something even more terrifying would eventually emerge. It would be nearly impossible to defeat it, and soon the Herrscher of the End would appear. Even if Ryan had three heads and six arms, he wouldn't be able to withstand such a fierce onslaught.

So, Ryan couldn't be too lenient. It was better to leave some uncertainty, to play with fire with more skill. He excelled at maintaining balance.

'Play with fire carefully. I'm best at striking that balance,' Ryan thought. He felt like he was sitting atop a volcano, with meteors falling intermittently overhead. He couldn't be killed by the meteors, nor could he let the volcano erupt under him. He couldn't help but touch his forehead, feeling the challenge ahead.

Mei, unaware of Ryan's musings, spoke somewhat unhappily, "The First Divine Keys was taken by Carius, and my Fire Plan has to be postponed."

The First Divine Keys, known as 'Void Treasures,' was crucial for replicating the authority of the First Ruler. It also had the hidden function of injecting all civilization's knowledge, allowing them to learn from the lessons of previous civilizations. If humanity left behind any legacy, this generation wouldn't struggle as much.

"That's certainly a problem," Ryan acknowledged. "But the Fire Plan is a last resort. Even without the First Divine Keys, it'll just take more effort. There are many ways to store knowledge."

"Yes, I'll find a replacement as soon as possible. But there's one more thing."

"The distribution of the Divine Keys?" Ryan guessed, already knowing where this conversation was heading. Besides the unfinished Fifth Divine Keys, there were four Divine Keyss currently in the Fire Moth's possession.

"The second Divine Keys, 'One Thousand Worlds,' will be under your control. The research on observing imaginary space must continue. Since you've become a fusion warrior, you'll be able to see even further. By the way, what's your awakened ability?" Mei suddenly asked, remembering the time she'd stopped Carius. Her combat strength had been impressive. "I can convert thoughts into desired outcomes to interfere with reality," Mei replied casually, throwing in a bunch of technical jargon.

Ryan, with his research background, almost understood. In simple terms, it meant Mei could affect reality using mental impulses, somewhat like the black technology from an old mechanical animation. The irony, however, was that an utterly rational scientist like Mei had gained a metaphysical ability.

"Okay, I'm not worried about how to control this power. Let's move on. Don't rush to activate the Fourth Divine Keys. Tell Vil-V the Fifth Divine Keys needs to have combat functions. You can allocate another sum of money to satisfy her whims. As for the 'Seven Thunders of Purification'—" Ryan glanced at Sakura, who was greeting Kevin at the door, "The Third Divine Keys will go to Sakura. She's a weapons expert and will adapt well."

Mei agreed without hesitation. "I'm fine with that. Giving it to you is just icing on the cake."

"Dr. Vidic from the Third Research Institute has the latest report," Mei continued. "They've developed a device that can open the barrier between reality and the Quantum Sea."

Ryan's interest piqued. The Quantum Sea was one of his key plans, so he paid close attention. According to Mei, the device could allow people to enter the Quantum Sea. However, when they tried, the people disappeared immediately after entering. After many attempts and wasted resources, they eventually found a method to "bind" reality to the entrants, essentially tethering them like a deep-sea research submarine. As they delved deeper, they discovered something fascinating.

"The sea isn't empty," Mei explained. "Some things float like bubbles. Some of these 'bubbles' contain land, oceans, and creatures—like 'planets' in a universe. This isn't about astronomy; it's an entirely new research project."

Ryan leaned in, his excitement growing. "Dr. Vidic must be ecstatic. Reality is even grander than he imagined."

"It's meaningful," Mei replied, excited herself, though concerned. "I've named these things 'World Bubbles,' but exploration must be cautious. I must be present at every contact."

"Are you worried about attracting enemies from the Quantum Sea?"

"Yes, I don't want to be attacked from both sides. The Quantum Sea is dangerous, Ryan. Do you have any ideas?"

Ryan pursed his lips, unsure of how to answer. He wasn't fully familiar with the Quantum Sea, and it lacked sufficient data. But he knew one thing—it was dangerous. He would play it safe but also explore it strategically.

"These World Bubbles can't form naturally. They contain Honkai energy, which clashes with the Quantum Sea. I'm curious about how they're formed and what will happen when the energy runs out. It's worth considering from the perspective of a world Honkai."

Mei nodded thoughtfully. "Then?"

Ryan shrugged. "There's nothing else. You'll have to explore it yourself. But when I have time, I'll go specifically to see it."

Mei didn't seem to mind the lack of immediate answers. "Let's focus on researching the World Bubbles. Since one person can go in, why not a million?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's a big leap. But I agree."

Mei turned the pages of the report and then paused, glancing up at Ryan. "Do you want to use one of the World Bubbles as a shelter? According to the Third Research Institute's plan, they want to discharge the Honkai energy into it. They've called it the 'Trash Can' plan."

Ryan frowned. "That's wasteful. Let's first figure out the nature and lifespan of each World Bubble. Given the current situation, a war could destroy everything. It's better to leave a backup plan. How about calling it... the 'Wandering Human' plan?"

"Wandering Human Plan?" Mei echoed, thinking it over. Her brain whirred as she calculated the potential outcomes.

She quickly concluded, "No matter who wins or loses, humanity will lose over 99% of its population. The Earth will be left in ruins, devastated. Even with the Fourth Divine Keys, survival in the short term will be impossible."

Ryan nodded grimly. "Then we have to find a way to survive. Let's start the 'Wandering Human' plan."

Mei looked determined. "Okay, I'll personally oversee the plan, and I'll have Mobius and Vil-V assist. We'll need biologists and engineers to figure out which World Bubbles can support human life."

Ryan smiled, relieved. "Good. Let's settle this. By the way, what do you think of Elysia's suggestion? How long will it take to complete? And what should I do next after it's done?"

Mei's eyes sparkled with ideas, and she looked at the clock. "It's noon. Let's eat while we talk. I'm not being lazy, I didn't eat at noon yesterday. Carbs help with thinking."

Kevin, overhearing, added, "Didn't I send you food last night?"

"Several assistants didn't eat yesterday because they were busy. I made sure they were taken care of. I won't starve to death," Mei replied.

Kevin shot a resentful look at Ryan, making him feel embarrassed.

"I'll treat you to lunch. Sakura, go see if Mobius is working. If she is, call her." Ryan stood up, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders.

"Let's get this all done quickly. Otherwise, Kevin will turn evil sooner or later."

Ryan knew that his workload was heavy, but compared to Mobius, he was more conscientious. He felt guilty using people like tools, but it had to be done.

The group headed to the underground city, which was becoming a thriving hub. Refugees and family members had settled there, and the Fire Moth was working hard to stabilize human order. The commercial activities and financial systems were intact, and the underground town had schools, offices, and factories—almost like the world above, except everything was Fire Moth-related.

At lunch, the group found a ramen restaurant run by a Neon immigrant. The taste was authentic.

Ryan ordered a few side dishes and a bottle of sake. Before they started eating, Sakura returned.

"Where's Mobius?" Ryan asked.

"She said she had an important experiment. I saw Kalpas too. I think she wants to do a fusion operation," Sakura replied, frowning. "Do you need me to stop her?"

"Forget it, Kalpas craves power. Let him have it."

"But he wants to challenge you. That man won't hold back."

Sakura, now in the role of secretary, was concerned for Ryan's safety.

Ryan appreciated her concern but simply stretched his neck with a slight click. "I won't hold back either. It's always boring to be too idle. A little exercise isn't a bad thing. You're right, Kevin, I'll see how much you've developed when I have the time."

Kevin, slurping his noodles, blinked. "Huh? What?"

Ryan grinned. "You'll see."