Lioz would kill him.
Jio Zeiou knew very well that this was more than just a threat. At this point, Lioz, wielding the demon sword Tanzimat, had every bit of the strength needed to do so.
Yet there was one thing he could not accept.
"...Lioz, was sparing me your own idea as well?"
"It was not."
"Then what do you think? In your heart, do you truly want to destroy me and expand Tanzimat's godslaying power? Or spare me and stabilize the Conservative Party's sentiments...?"
Lioz replied, "My thoughts are unimportant."
"Why are they unimportant?! If you do not even care about yourself, how can you care about outsiders like us?"
Jio Zeiou demanded:
"Even now, have you never truly lived for yourself? Think about yourself, Lioz. What is your will? Even if you kill me, I only hope that you can think and live freely like a person, rather than becoming a slave to efficiency. You should love this world—"
"I have never loved this world."
Holding up his blade, Lioz said, "You cannot ask a Cannon Fodder God whose emotions were carved out by Red King's sword to understand this complex, multifaceted Star Abyss Universe through sentiment. Protecting this place, defending Star Abyss sovereignty, and fighting bloodily for this land are the Underlying Logic Lai Anding carved into my body."
"And that is precisely why you were never liberated. You are still a slave—"
"And it is precisely because I have never truly gained freedom that you can continue to exist."
Lioz said calmly:
"It is not because I wish to protect you. It is because only I can bring peace and stability to the Star Abyss Universe."
"But is that fair to you?"
Jio Zeiou opened his mouth. His faceplate unfolded, revealing his human face, and