If the king does not advance, how can his subordinates follow?

Everything in the illusion was actually proceeding in a step-by-step manner.

So, when I become Herrscher... how will he deal with me?

Are you going to kill me like the Herrscher of the past?

Or is it...?

Just as Ling had this thought, a voice suddenly came from outside her door.

"Ring, are you there? I'm your sister's good friend Elysia."

"... Here I am."

Knowing she had to face this, Rin opened the door and spoke to Elysia with extreme nervousness.

"Hello, Sister Elysia— "

"Call me Elysia, little sister."

Despite the other person saying illogical things, Ling obediently nodded under their unquestioning gaze.

"Yes, little sister Elysia."

"Hmm, good girl?"

Seeing the tension and panic in the girl's eyes, Elysia naturally took her hand, pulled her out of the house, and closed the door behind her.

"Everyone already knows about your situation, so don't worry, we've already come up with a solution."

"... I am Herrscher."

Upon hearing Elysia's words, Rin suddenly shook off Elysia's hand and gave Elysia a fierce look.

"Stay away from me, humans! I won't trust you!"

Yes, just like back then.

After that woman locked me up, I still died at the hands of those humans.

Humans are filthy creatures that should not exist in this world—how could I forget this just because some things happened in this mere illusionary realm!

"Oh dear, I knew it would turn out like this."

Looking at the girl in front of her, Elysia smiled helplessly, tossed her into the air, and then hugged her tightly amidst the girl's exclamation.

At this moment, Ling sadly remembered something.

The girl named Elysia is not a delicate and beautiful girl.

In the past, she was the second strongest warrior of the Fire Moth, but in this illusion, because of Lin Yu's appearance, she went from being the second strongest to the third strongest.

But regardless of whether the opponent is the second or third, for Rin, whose strength is still that of an ordinary girl, if the opponent wants to use force, she has no way to resist.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"No way!"

Looking at the girl in her arms, Elysia smiled and hugged Rin, then immediately got into the vehicle that Fire Moth had prepared for her and spoke to the male driver in front of her.

"Mike, the mission target has been brought back."

"Now, shouldn't we take this child back to the stage Lin Yu prepared for her?"

Half an hour later. Inside the Fire Moth, in a certain square.

In the square, the warriors and researchers of the Fire Moth were discussing why their superiors had suddenly ordered them to put down their work and come to this square for some strange meeting.

As for the key members who already knew the truth, their eyes were filled with suspicion as they looked at each other.

Although Lin Yu had successfully resolved four large-scale Honkai in the past, this time...

The awakening of Herrscher is inevitably accompanied by a massive Honkai, and in the center of the Honkai, the manifested Herrscher will begin to slaughter humans.

This used to be a theorem, but now you're telling us the rule has changed, and the Herrscher are even harmless allies?

Isn't this a bit... too fantastical?

Of course, no one will say everything on their mind.

Lin Yu has never tricked anyone before. Although everyone doesn't understand what he's thinking this time, they won't start to doubt him because of it.

In this eerie atmosphere, Lin Yu, along with Elysia, Ling, and the pilot Mike who brought the two back, arrived at the square.

After arriving in the square, Lin Yu addressed the crowd.

"Alright, since everyone still has questions, I'll just waste a few minutes of your time."

"In fact, I have been secretly carrying out a plan since the time when the Dominance Herrscher was suppressed."

"As everyone knows, I am a mental Fusion Warrior, so I can use mental suggestion to plunge some people into despair."

"After subduing a Dominance Herrscher using the power of a Spiritual Fusion Warrior, I suddenly had an idea."

"Since Herrscher is a Honkai Apostle is in a state of despair, then—if we put someone into a false state of despair and then awaken her, could we create Herrscher who stands on the side of humanity?"

"I know this is inhumane, but unfortunately, humanity doesn't have time left to defeat the Honkai."

"So after that, I started collecting medical examination information from members of the Fire Moth and their families, and finally found a suitable body to become Herrscher."

After saying this, Lin Yu immediately took a step back, letting Ling's trembling body stand in front of him.

"Rin, the core of the Twelfth Herrscher is now sealed within her body."

"Because of the characteristics of the Twelfth Herrscher, once we kill the Twelfth Herrscher, it will evolve into its true complete form and begin to erode all things in the world as the Corrosion Herrscher."

"But now, we don't have to worry about that anymore—as long as the core of the Corrosion Herrscher is sealed by the bell, the Corrosion Herrscher will not pose a threat to humanity."

At that moment, Lin Yu placed his hands on Ling's shoulders, glanced around at the members of the Fire Moth, and spoke to them sternly.

"The reason I've brought everyone here today is to make one thing clear—Rin is the hero who sealed away the Herrscher, not an enemy we should defeat."

"If anyone fails to recognize this and tries to harm Ling, then they are making an enemy of me, Lin Yu!"

At this moment, everyone present, even those as powerful as Rita, Elysia, and Sakura, felt a terrifying sense of oppression descend upon them.

Although the oppressive feeling vanished instantly, they couldn't forget the fleeting sensation it had just given them.

As for Rin herself, who originally thought she was going to die and had even started preparing to see if she could activate her powers, she was now dumbfounded.

Lin Yu's attitude towards Ling had always been very bad in the past.

Therefore, in Ling's view, Lin Yu's decision to have Elysia bring her to the Fire Moth was clearly not for good reasons.

However, as Ling listened to Lin Yu's words, she could sense that Lin Yu was absolutely serious when he said them.

Damn it, no, things can't be like this!

This is just an illusion; he's simply using this cost-free scam to win me over!

Even though she kept reminding herself of these things, Ling realized that her heart was inevitably being softened.

But at this moment, Lin Yu no longer had any thoughts about her.

"Alright, let's end the discussion about Little Hero Bell here for now."

"Actually, what I want to talk about today is more than just this."

After removing his hands from Ling's shoulders, Lin Yu adjusted his expression and spoke to everyone in a teasing tone.

"Recently, I've been hearing people say things like, 'We were able to defeat the Honkai because of Lin Yu,' 'Many people might have died without Lin Yu,' and 'We can't do without Lin Yu.'"

Seeing a hint of amusement in everyone's eyes, Lin Yu abruptly changed the subject and spoke to them in an angry tone.

"In my opinion, all of these words are fucking bullshit."

"I, Lin Yu, am indeed a little better than you all in terms of fighting ability and skill, but as a fighter, my strength is just so-so."

"Everyone, get this straight, is the reason our Fire Moth can function because of me, Lin Yu?"

"Even if Lin Yu isn't there, Rita will step up. Even if Rita isn't there, Elysia will lead everyone forward."

"The reason we were able to successfully resist the Honkai was not because of the efforts of one person, but because of the collective struggle of everyone."

"Without researchers developing medicines, weapons, and equipment, what will our soldiers on the front lines use to fight?"

"Without frontline warriors fighting in various places, we headquarters warriors simply cannot fight the Herrscher at our peak."

"Without those grassroots workers collecting medicinal herbs and mining minerals, our logistics would not be guaranteed."

"Without the people in the human resources department to manage and recruit talent, an organization that loses fresh blood will definitely decline."

"Without those drivers who risked their lives to transport supplies, we might have lost even more of our comrades because we couldn't resupply in time."

"If this world can be saved, I, Lin Yu, will certainly have a share of the credit, but I hope everyone can understand..."

"—My friends, you are the real heroes."

To be honest, Lin Yu's words at this moment did not gain the approval of everyone.

But for the members of the Fire Moth who had been fighting tirelessly, this moment brought them to the unexpected realization that Lin Yu, whom they had always regarded as the light of humanity, had recognized them to this extent...

Who the hell cares about all that nonsense!

Being recognized by the person you respect most is an incredibly satisfying thing for ordinary people!

And so, after Lin Yu's words, the frenzied atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.

After gesturing for everyone to calm down with both hands, Lin Yu continued to speak to the crowd with a smile.

"Alright, I've finished giving instructions and I've bragged to everyone. Now everyone can just go about their business."

"However, based on my speculation, although the final battle against the Honkai may be delayed for a while because Rin sealed the Corrosion Herrscher, in the not-too-distant future, we humans will inevitably engage in the final battle against the Honkai."

"Everyone, let us shout that sentence with our beliefs and determination."

"Humans—"

"We will surely defeat the Honkai!"

Outside the illusion, Su, listening to Lin Yu's heartfelt shout, truly felt...

Although I know very well that this is an illusion, I don't know what this exhilarating feeling is all about.

Fifty thousand years have passed, and even though my body remains as youthful as it was in my youth, now...

—Has my heart truly grown so old that I feel such envy when I look at this illusion?

Mr. Lin Yu, you've had self-awareness from the very beginning, haven't you?

However, despite your self-awareness, you not only didn't show any dissatisfaction towards me, but also played along with me in this boring drama.

Thank you, Mr. Lin Yu. Now I finally understand why I felt so conflicted.

We, the spirits of the past, have all had, to varying degrees, the thought, 'If things had been different back then, we might not have lost.'

Now, all the high-ranking insects have been brought under control, Muhu Continent has been saved, domination has not caused people to become suspicious of each other, restraint has not caused a tragedy, and Ling has not been killed by Apponia's commandments.

Although everyone in the organization is still working very hard, we have gained what we have always wanted—hope that can ignite everyone's motivation.

All the tragedies were completely changed under Mr. Lin Yu's manipulation.

This is different from the past when we struggled to survive but could only watch humanity step by step into a desperate situation.

This is me...

—No, this is perhaps a dream that was unattainable for everyone in the past.

Chapter 171. If the king doesn't advance, how can his subordinates keep up?

Within the illusion, time continues to flow.

According to Lin Yu's own speculation, for a period of time after the Twelfth Herrscher appears, the Finality will not immediately show up after discovering that Rin is not doing anything.

So during this time, he urged the research team to work together to develop an enhanced version of the Moonlight Throne and to prepare the Blank Key to enable the link between the Blank Key and the Moonlight Throne.

Even after Dr. Bianca developed Prometheus, Lin Yu made it his auxiliary computing AI.