The Ifrit Brand Magic Lamp

"... Thank you for your hard work, Persephone."

"I'm not having a hard time," the Maiden Doctor replied calmly. "Rather than dealing with me, I'd prefer you to comfort Skadi. She has developed a special fondness for you because of this operation. If you don't mind, I hope you'll treat her well during this time. Don't let her do something rash and end up in the sea."

Chapter 161. Surtr's Magic Lamp

Persephone left.

She left because she had important matters to attend to—whether it was managing the city, the power struggle with Ursus and neighboring countries, the ferries between Rhodes Island's main ship and the hostility from the deep sea, all required her presence. This massive workload necessitated finding a place to house her physical body.

In other words, she intends to use herself as a supercomputer. Therefore, when operating at full power, the physical body, as the terminal, naturally does not need to continue maintaining physiological functions.

Miss Surtr knew where she had gone—she had gone to the Sarcophagus, where she could exert her power to the fullest extent in an institution that could supply her with unlimited energy and provide her with healing—where her body would rest temporarily, and where her will would burst forth from there, extending outwards like a spider web throughout the world.

She's not here.

But she is everywhere.

Every lamp, every road, every drone, every leaping electronic or Originium signal is an extension of her. And yet, only Miss Surtr knows this.

—She and another Terra emperor must have had a lot in common.

Ah... really. If I didn't exist in this world, would this planet called Terra have become another Warhammer Terra because of Persephone's existence?

With a jumble of random thoughts in her mind, Miss Surtr stepped into the city—treating Skadi hadn't taken long. Before the Rhodes Island main ship arrived, she still had plenty of time to continue providing insignificant assistance to Persephone's work.

For example, leveling abandoned plots of land, burning stones, melting steel, and then using iron and stone to lay out new foundations on new plots according to the plan.

For example, it can power abandoned heavy factories, enabling metal smelting and the large-scale production of various mechanical parts, whether large or small, weighing hundreds or thousands of tons, and put them into use.

For example, they could go to underground pipelines to remove some 'illegal residents'. Or they could patrol the area around Chernobog to deal with any infected creatures that might pose a minor obstacle.

She has many things to do, and she does a lot of things.

In just a few hours, her 'daily activities' surpassed the results of a month of non-stop work by a team of 10,000 elite engineers.

She didn't feel tired at all—doing this kind of thing was as easy for her as eating and drinking.

However, if Persephone had a system similar to some management games, then this 'player' would see the resource pool's technology and economic points skyrocket as if they were cheating during this short period of time.

Of course, Persephone didn't have such a system—and she didn't need one. She was a complete cheater from the start. Naturally, she didn't care about having one or two more cheats.

She simply cooperated with Miss Surtr's actions, handling the various planned and unplanned changes in this mobile city-state precisely and effectively. Time passed little by little, from morning until noon.

Noon, 1:09 PM.

Rhodes Island's main ship appeared precisely on the horizon—just as Miss Surtr remembered, this ancient wonder of the land, a high-speed Landship with formidable maneuverability, was hundreds of meters long and of considerable size. As it approached Chernobog, a cloud of dust rose across the wasteland.

Rhodes Island, the Ark, a rectangular land-based spacecraft.

Miss Surtr participated in the construction of the shipyard, using her fiery, unrestrained power to alter the terrain, to transform an entire abandoned district of Chernobog into a land port serving Rhodes Island.

Instead of approaching the ship docking site, she observed this special operation, which was of great significance to Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, from the top of a tower with a good enough view.

Significant...

She watched as colossal metal objects crashed together with a deafening roar, the tremors of the ground stretching from the edge of the harbor all the way to her feet. A large contingent of Rhodes Island operators, already prepared, poured out in an orderly fashion from several exits, whereby the vehicles arranged by Persephone would pick them up and transport them to various key locations throughout the city.

Persephone was the best strategist, not the best king. She did not cling to power like the ancient monarchs.

Therefore, Rhodes Island operators will soon objectively replace her and take over the city. All the profits she has seized from Ursus will also be quickly transferred to Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals.

—The fact that Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals was originally the Sarkaz Babel Tower is no secret to those in the know.

—And the connection between Rhodes Island and Chernobog, after some of the city's inner workings were revealed, will inevitably be interpreted by the world as Theresia's legacy. The iteration of the Sarkaz Babel Tower has accumulated sufficient power and gained a new leader. And this power, which has been dormant for several years, is now planning to officially return to Terra, the chessboard of the players.

This is a simple and obvious truth; anyone with even a basic understanding of politics can reach this conclusion. Soon, this city will be filled with opportunists, Theresia's former associates, spies on missions... It will become a vortex of military and political intrigue. The clash of forces will be depicted in the game as even more massive and perilous. And all this pressure will weigh heavily on Amiya's shoulders like a tangible dark cloud.

Is she ready?

Miss Surtr gazed at the Landship anchored in the harbor as if it were a jewel set in a crown.

She saw many familiar faces among the crowd disembarking from the Rhodes Island main ship. But she had no intention of greeting or speaking to them now.

Because Amiya was standing there.

She saw the Little Rabbit, the one she, Persephone, and Kal'tsit had raised, standing before the operators, fearlessly and without hesitation addressing Casters Rhodes Island followers.

She didn't listen to the specifics, because she knew that even if Amiya made a mistake, she wouldn't make it in this way. And in her perception, the operators' emotions were rising with Amiya's words!

—Amiya did not use Originium Arts... She used her sincerity, earnestness, and unwavering beliefs to win over the Rhodes Island operators.

—Together with her, as Persephone suggested, we will transform this city of Chernobog into a sanctuary, a place where all children can sleep peacefully at night.

"She will make your dreams come true, Theresia."

"Miss Surtr," she said softly from the top of the tower.

As she spoke and the space shifted, the steel forest beneath her feet vanished in an instant. In the blink of an eye, she found herself in a sea of reeds that could perhaps be considered Terra's paradise.

She saw Theresia standing right beside her—no, even closer, the Princess's slender limbs resting lightly on her arm.

"I have no doubt about it." Theresia's voice was somewhat different from when they first met—she seemed to have made a decision, to make some kind of change. But it wasn't immediately clear what her decision was.

"But aren't you going to help her?"

"No, unless she asks me for help." Miss Surtr's reply was exactly as she always had. "Besides, you don't intend to stay asleep for long, do you? I guess you'll be back on the Terra stage soon, and when that happens, you should be there to help her and work with her to achieve your shared dream."

"...You're always so perceptive where ambiguity is necessary, Surtr." The Princess sighed softly, not denying Miss Surtr's statement—she still carried that unspeakable secret. And at this moment, she wasn't wearing the armor Miss Surtr had forged for her.

"I do have that thought, but I can't do it."

"Do you need my help?"

"If I say yes, will you remove all obstacles for me and help me return to the earth? And will you help me and Amiya, and help the people who have suffered on this earth, to build a peaceful and prosperous Terra?"

"That's right." Miss Surtr nodded slightly. "But the correction is only for you, and not for anyone or anything else."

"Not even Amiya?"

"Unless she asks me for help, she is excluded."

Then, Miss Surtr heard the Princess's second sigh.

"Surtr, Surtr... Do you respond to every request you receive? Are you only willing to give without expecting anything in return?"