Anno knew exactly what Ozymandias was thinking.
On the surface, Ozymandias appeared to be an arrogant, disdainful, and utterly conceited king. But as Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt's most renowned pharaohs, how could he truly be as shallow as he seemed?
Contrary to his flamboyant exterior, he was a wise king who cared for his people, shrewd yet dignified.
Nothing he had said to Fujimaru Ritsuka earlier—his views on the people, his concerns about the situation—had been a lie.
However, his claim that he had gone all out was indeed false.
The place where everyone, including himself, stood was Ozymandias's Noble Phantasm. Within the Great Temple, it would not have been an exaggeration to call Ozymandias invincible. Even Anno himself was only confident in protecting himself, not in protecting Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others.
That was why he had entered first and supposedly "informed" Ozymandias of Fujimaru Ritsuka's intentions.
He had needed to confirm whether the Sun King truly intended to kill Fujimaru Ritsuka.
If the Sun King had genuinely harbored murderous intent toward Fujimaru Ritsuka and the Chaldeans, Anno would never have allowed them inside.
Fortunately, from beginning to end, Anno had never sensed any hostility from the Sun King.
His attacks against Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others truly had only been a "test."
A test of whether they possessed the determination and strength to reclaim human history from the Incineration of Humanity—and that strength included Anno.
Anno was not one of those being tested. And if he joined the group under examination, the nature of the matter would change completely.
The Sun King would undoubtedly have to use all his strength. Anno was worthy of that much. Even within his Great Temple, Ozymandias had no absolute confidence that he could send Anno back to the Throne of