Chapter 174

The will and actions of those in power often influence the rise and fall of many worldly phenomena, and it is through these phenomena and symbols that those who ascend to the higher realms climb step by step on the Path of Ascension.

But the Fisher King was a special ruler; his relationship with the world was far too close.

Therefore, when people are working to improve the environment and protect the world, it can also have a positive impact on the Fisher King.

Even if the impact is negligible.

For a long time, the Ascended Ones believed this to be a difference in rank, but now it seems they were probably on the wrong track.

Physical methods won't work; we need to use mysterious methods to solve the problem.

This means excluding the influence of the "moth" on the Fisher King.

So here's the question.

Who will take care of Eris?

249. Salvation!

Let's put it on hold for now.

After a long silence, the Grandmaster spoke.

If you want to target a potential leader, the first thing you need to do is to show that "I dare not target Him".

So the representatives present took turns expressing their opinions, creating a moment of humor, but the more humorous it was, the more somber and heavy the atmosphere became.

In the closed meeting room, frost had inexplicably formed on the tabletop, and a faint rumbling sound could be heard overhead.

Every delegate knows that the proposals they are about to submit must not contain any intention to target the quasi-government, but in reality, they are doing the exact opposite.

Albion was the first to tap the table.

Vina's voice grew increasingly cold and resolute. "Delineate the security zones to be managed by each nation, and make minor adjustments to the original spheres of influence."

"Can."

No objection.

"Agreed."

This was originally a well-established saying, and even if Arthur hadn't said it, the nations had been doing it for a long time.

For example, Cathay controlled the Far East, and under the Xin Dynasty system, each country handled its own internal affairs; the United States Federation, isolated overseas, dealt with many affairs in the Americas; Bharata, as the only major state on the subcontinent, exerted increasingly strong influence and interference over the smaller states...

This was the general order after World War II.

The only difference now is that they want to bring their sphere of influence into the open under the guise of a safe zone.

Naturally, the representatives from various countries could also see that this was a plan that would benefit authoritarian rule, and that doing so would strengthen Arthur's symbolism and image... However, in the face of the increasingly deteriorating world environment, this was nothing.

Even from a broader perspective, a wise and powerful monarch who can make decisive decisions is more in line with the interests of all nations.

"Let's increase investment in new energy and clean technologies," Bradamante said. "How long will it take to Controlled Nuclear Fusion?"

"At least forty years," Tesla replied.

The Grandmaster did not speak, but in the research of controllable nuclear technology, Cathay was a generation ahead of the United States Federation.

In the past, a ten-year gap would have been enough to create a terrible divide, but what the world needs now is technology that can be implemented immediately.

In this situation, there is not much difference between thirty years and three hundred years.

"The situation is not optimistic," the Grandmaster said with a wry smile.

Controlled nuclear technology is an outcome proposed at the 35th meeting. Its core concept is to create nuclear fusion reactions on the ground through magnetic confinement or inertial confinement, which can release enormous amounts of energy and produce almost no radioactive waste.

This is a vast energy source that is efficient, clean, and sustainable.

Naturally, this would greatly reduce the burden on the Fisher King. Furthermore, this technological breakthrough might also be able to overcome the barriers that Celestial Flint had set up on the Path of Ascension.

This can be described as killing three birds with one stone.

But ideals are glorious, the future is bumpy, and reality is cruel.

Those of you in the twilight years here are all familiar with the "Third World War," which was allowed to continue indefinitely by the ruling powers.

But the price is incredibly high.

Scar Father's authority was diminished, and he lost control over the areas under the Lamp's Principle.

Celestial Flint was forced to remain silent, yet he could not extricate himself from the situation.

He cannot respond in any way; the slightest misstep will drag the entire world into an abyss from which there is no return.

Even so, the world is still irreversibly turning into ruins, bit by bit.

In the end, this planet will likely collapse around the wasteland, transforming into a terrifying celestial body like a black hole.

"Then we have no choice but to build Nuclear Power Plant," Bradamante said in a harsh tone. "Don't worry about the potential cost of leaks; we need to adjust our energy structure as soon as possible."

Gaul has consistently been at the forefront of clean energy technologies.

"What does Caucasus say?"

"..."

Rasputin fell silent, a rare occurrence, tapping his fingers on the table as the representatives of the nations awaited his reply.

"I apologize, everyone. The Grand Patriarch has already agreed to let me tell you the plan." The Demonic Monk carefully chose his words. "The Caucasus Alliance's idea is that if everything is truly beyond repair, they will abandon their physical bodies and send the entire nation to the wasteland."

These words shocked everyone present!

Since World War III, the Great Caucasus Alliance has been mired in nihilistic delusion, with the entire nation exhibiting a spirit of suffering, self-destruction, and martyrdom.

Who would have thought they could pull off such a big feat?

The Demonic Monk was not surprised by this situation. He slowly began to explain Caucasus's plan.

—The Greater Caucasus has long been associated with figures known as the Holy Fool. They are typically filthy, half-mad vagrants with shackles on their feet. Some are barely able to speak, yet their voices are interpreted as divine pronouncements.

The Holy Fool expose the evils of the world through metaphorical or symbolic words or actions.

They strive to maintain this way of life, both to keep themselves humble and to influence others in a greater way.

Most importantly, they can be canonized in large numbers.

In the Caucasus Union's plan, these Holy Fool are both the anchors for the nation's ascension.

They made a difficult vow to remove a part of their brains and throw it into the wilderness.

In this way, their spirits become intimately connected with the wasteland, and their bodies will be opened to the outside world after a series of horrifying ascetic practices, becoming a gateway through which people can pass.

The Greater Caucasus Federation planned to relocate the entire nation to the wilderness through these Side Gate!

They have endured the harsh northern climate for centuries, and going to the wilderness could not be any worse.

In the meeting room, someone started clapping first, and then everyone stood up and applauded.

Rasputin stood up resolutely and accepted the applause from the nations.

This is, so far, the only complete plan that can barely cope with the future, even if it is no different from fleeing.

The Greater Caucasus is naturally entitled to this honor.

However, this kind of plan is not replicable.

If the Caucasus were to carry out the operation, the success rate would be close to 50%, but other countries would probably have less than Issei.

The Grandmaster and Tesla exchanged a glance.

In reality, only a handful of countries in the world have the capacity to formulate contingency plans and execute them.

"The federal plan is also about migration."

Tesla said, "But not upwards, but outwards."

The Caucasus Union's plan was to open the gates through the martyrdom of the Holy Fool and ascend into the wilderness.

The United States Federation hand, involves using space technology to relocate the population on a large scale to the moon, or even further to Mars.

This plan is also feasible because, with the technological boom triggered by Celestial Flint, humanity is now able to build miniature ecosystems in orbit and create space stations large enough for hundreds of people to live in for ten years.

Living in such an environment long-term is obviously not advisable, but it's more than enough if it's just used as a transit point.

"This plan requires the assistance of the Republic of Zhendan," Tesla said. "Otherwise, we can only relocate citizens of the Americas...which is still insignificant to the world as a whole."

The United States Federation is not the only country capable of independently building a space station; Cathay can do it too.

Furthermore, Cathay's ecosystem technology surpasses that of the United States Federation by a significant margin.

When the Cathay first ventured into space, their idea was to grow vegetables on the space station...

The Grandmaster nodded solemnly. "I will take this message back with me."

Then applause rang out again.

In any case, the attitude of the United States Federation deserves respect. They are no longer confining themselves to their own country, but are truly considering the entire world.

Even though they are gradually declining and stagnating... at least at this time, the United States Federation can still be called a "beacon of the planet".

Cathay represents a compromise—it is neither confined to one country like the Caucasus nor encompasses the entire world like the United States Federation.

The plan covers the entire Far East, that is, the area within the Cathay cultural sphere.

"A long, long time ago, Cathay devised a similar plan." The Grandmaster stared at his finger, drawing a square in the air. "'Round Heaven, Square Earth and Earth is square,' you should all be familiar with this theory."

"Ah, yes," Tesla said, "Isn't it that theory of the world being lifted up by a tortoise?"

"Hey, that's our Bharata's theory." A protest came from afar.

"The Round Heaven, Square Earth and the earth is square; heaven and earth have boundaries." The Grandmaster sighed, "This is the oldest, most primitive, and simplest world structure within the Cathay cultural sphere."

The simplest is also the most robust.

The earth, tempered by the Cathay vein of China, can withstand this weight.

Cathay will also re-establish the four seasons and twenty-four solar terms, with Mount Everest as "Buzhou Mountain," that is, the pillar supporting the world.

At that time, the Cathay cultural sphere will become an independent world, and the planet will become a flat land.

The entire planet will exist in a flat form, which is called "Jambudvipa," also known as "Mount Meru," meaning the flat earth described in Buddhist scriptures.

The most brilliant aspect of this plan is that it redefined the form of the planet and also included the Fisher King within it.

In this way, the Fisher King was able to protect the newly born world and continue to exist in the universe.

However, such a plan also comes at a price.

Humanity will be forever isolated under the protection of the Fisher King, and any thought of exploring the outside world will be forbidden. Once they take that step, not only will the pioneers themselves be destroyed, but the world itself will be destroyed as well.

In other words, under this plan, humanity will no longer have the possibility of exploring the outside world.

However, such a heavy price was paid for a success rate as high as 80%.

Since Cathay has brought this to the forefront, it proves that they are confident in ensuring the survival of nearly one-third of the world's population!

Bharata was so delighted by what he heard that he almost danced with joy.

Until someone reminded him that Bharata cannot be considered part of the Far Eastern cultural sphere.

"Hey, we admire Mount Everest too. And we can believe in the theory that the Round Heaven, Square Earth."

Bharata, representing the world, argued, "Worldviews and such can be changed, they can all be altered—"

The Grandmaster smiled but did not answer.

As expected, the other countries had no further contingency plans.

This issue does not require discussion or a vote; for the time remaining in the world, the proposals of Albion and Gaul will take precedence.

On the one hand, it demarcates security zones under the responsibility of each country and vigorously develops clean energy technologies, with the aim of maintaining stability.

The Orthodox Church cooperates with the Caucasus Alliance's plans. Even if there are doctrinal differences, as long as the object of their faith remains the same, the Orthodox Church has to reluctantly cooperate with them.

Cathay, in collaboration with the Federation, is striving to relocate more people before the end of the world.

Naturally, the burden of this plan mainly fell on the United States Federation.

But the Federation didn't say much, because all the nations knew that the topic they had avoided had been taken over by Cathay.

—Neither the Caucasus nor the United States Federation have a place for the Fisher King in their plans.

But Cathay embraced it.

In other words, Cathay will face the incoming ruler codenamed "Moth".