When the plot-skips players into the game world

"—Don't cough towards me, Doctor."

Master Walter frowned, displaying clear displeasure.

In usual circumstances, he wouldn't be so impolite to a friend.

He looked somewhat tired, and his beard was unkempt—most others already knew why.

Master Walter's pampered, rebellious only daughter, who had fallen to become a Son of the Moon, failed and died at last night's ascension ceremony.

Generally speaking, a Son of the Moon possesses stronger life force. Even if the ceremony fails, even with grave injuries or death, they may not die completely upon returning to the real world.

He was somewhat suspicious if the one who killed Andrea was the ascending Laro and Her Royal Highness the Princess. Given their proximity, it was entirely possible they entered the same ascension ceremony—Master Walter had long sent someone to warn Andrea, but she clearly wasn't willing to follow Master Walter's orders.

The Red Fortress currently has only one person of the Fifth Power Level, which is the head of the "Secret Room Mechanism," the Blood Diamond lady. This means the next person of the Fifth Power Level will certainly become this generation's "Red Chancellor" and be the most trusted by Queen Louise.

Since Louise, the current ruler of Star Antimony, would definitely not participate in the ascension ceremony, she would most likely urge other Sons of the Moon stuck at the Fourth Power Level to attempt the ascension... Nowadays, the Serpent Father's influence on the transcendent consciousness of the world is very strong. The increase in power level and ascension awareness would be much simpler than in the past and grow simpler over time.

Although Andrea had already turned into a Son of the Moon... in some sense, she was already dead.

But after all, she was Master Walter's only daughter—

On one hand, he knew "it was just a monster stealing his daughter's body and memories," but on the other hand, seeing that face, hearing that voice still made him tear up tenderly. Each time, he could deeply understand why Valentine VII was bewitched by Queen Louise.

Therefore, Master Walter couldn't help but tell her this secret—that ascensions would become simpler in the future.

Yet unexpectedly, this news triggered her rebellious desires. Or perhaps it was because future ascensions would be simpler, so Andrea was eager to ascend at this time...

And Dr. Levique clearly knew where Master Walter's irritability stemmed from as well.

"Sorry... cough..."

He didn't argue with Master Walter; instead, he nodded slowly while coughing, politely turning his head and covering his mouth with his hand, then continued coughing endlessly.

Seeing Dr. Levique not acknowledging him, Master Walter felt as if he had punched a ball of cotton.

He steadily gazed at Dr. Levique for a while before finally shifting his gaze away.

He awkwardly changed the subject: "So what now, everyone? Let's take a vote.

"How many want to stop the ceremony? Raise your hand if you do."

Out of twelve people, only two raised their hands.

They both seemed to be over fifty or sixty years old, and only one of them was at the Fifth Power Level, which was Lady Marasia.

"So that means there are ten people who want to continue the ceremony."

Master Walter nodded: "Then the ceremony will proceed as planned—

"But we can't afford to lose any more people. We have to trick a transcender from another country to be the sacrifice, so this matter..."

"Let me handle it," Miss Sprengel suddenly suggested.

The opening of this senior member surprised Master Walter.

But he readily agreed: "Then I'll trouble you, Miss Sprengel."

Sprengel merely smiled gently, not responding.

"...Cough, cough, cough..."

Dr. Levique, after coughing for a while, suddenly said: "I've always considered a possibility...

"Could it be... that the Ring of Ouroboros ceremony was a scam from the start?

"Just sacrificing one person to allow a group to ascend to the Sixth Power Level. It's fundamentally unequal. Even for a 'ceremony,' it's far too lenient..."

"I've actually considered this question as well."

Unexpectedly, Master Walter did not say anything like "there's no turning back now," "we must go through with it," but instead gave a suggestion: "So we prepare for both outcomes.

"First, let's see if the Ring of Ouroboros ceremony can succeed. If it does, then all's well. If it doesn't, then...

"We'll win over these foreign transcenders, offering them benefits. We have the Army Department's support, and many officials are on our side. If worse comes to worst...

"—We'll declare independence, separate from the Alchemy Association and the Red Fortress, carve out a piece of land, and establish a pure Transcendence Country... as a haven for Demon Scholars, it's also a path. Those who attended the ceremony plus our four make nine people. Even if a few die along the way, together we can still protect a nation."

"But how would you convince them?"

Lady Marasia frowned, adjusting her reading glasses and sharply commented: "Transcenders never submit beneath others—especially those of the Fifth Power Level."

"So we simply create a country without a king, like the Irisflower People did."

Master Walter proposed.

This proposition startled everyone.

Because the Church primarily protects "all monarchs from assassination by other countries," thus people never considered the possibility of abandoning a monarch. As long as a monarch exists, at least in times approaching ruin, they could request help from the Holy Nation.

But also think about it... the Church is no longer neutral, and their principles of intervention must have changed by now.