So You Didn't Die After All. (Continued)

Under Theresa's slightly furrowed brow, he removed the sword from his body and moved closer to Theresa.

This was a gesture he made to show that he posed no threat, but to Theresa, it seemed utterly ridiculous.

You should know that they used to not even care about these things.

At first, Theresa could even completely trust her back to him.

But nowadays...

Even when speaking in close proximity, both parties need to make such a gesture to indicate that they pose no threat.

"This is pointless..."

"That's what Theresa said."

Theresa's performance made Theresis hesitate for a moment, and then he suddenly came to his senses and realized how ridiculous his previous thoughts had been.

He thought that by laying down his arms, he could express his goodwill to Theresa, but he forgot that, given their relationship, such covert actions only made it clearer to each other that the rift already existed.

Theresis didn't realize this, but Theresa had already seen it.

This left him speechless for a long while before he finally exhaled a breath of stale air.

"You... have grown a lot."

Theresis looked at Theresa with a complicated expression.

He had always worried that if he were to pass away one day, how would Theresa ensure that her rights were not coveted by others? And who would stand by her side to observe the enemies and discern the truth from falsehood in every touch?

But as time passed, Theresa grew to the point where she could stand on her own, while he became the enemy who coveted Theresa's power...

This caused Theresis's mood to waver for a moment, but she quickly regained her icy composure.

The fact that things have turned out this way is something everyone expected, and there's no need to continue feeling sad about it.

He looked up at the wary girl in front of him and spoke slowly.

"I've heard something..."

"Um?"

"All Originium in this world are one; everything about them comes from a common source."

As Theresis spoke, her gaze remained fixed on the Black Crown atop Theresa's head.

This action made Theresa tense, but she managed to remain calm, her gaze fixed on the other person.

"So?"

"... I didn't believe such ridiculous talk before, but... you were just trying to change the form of the Originium, weren't you?"

Theresis wasn't just a reckless warrior who only knew how to fight. After seeing Theresa's actions, he realized that the information he had received wasn't false... the so-called First Originium, the so-called secret of the Black Crown... truly existed!

"Theresa, your actions have convinced me that it does indeed possess some terrible potential..."

Theresis spoke, she took another step forward, getting closer to Theresa.

Theresa also took a half-step back warily, her gaze sharp.

"Give it to me, Theresa."

Theresis extended her hand, her calm gaze carrying a sharp edge.

Just as Theresa had predicted, Theresis's arrival was definitely not just for a simple visit; he had his own purpose.

His goal was to seize the Black Crown!

But...

"I refuse."

Theresa was neither angry, nor nervous, nor afraid.

Facing her former closest relative, now an opponent or even an enemy, she showed no fear, and her answers were simple and direct.

She knew perfectly well that if Theresis got her hands on this, what she was about to do would absolutely not bring peace to Kazdel!

So she refused.

Without giving any reason or response, they used the calmest words to deliver the firmest rejection.

This left Theresis stunned for a moment before she lowered her hand.

You have indeed grown up a lot.

He sighed, a hint of unreadable emotion appearing on his usually stern and resolute face.

But after a short while, he raised his head again, his gaze slightly cold.

"But this kind of growth is not enough... Theresa, you're still as naive as ever."

"Your voice can unite many things, but it can't change anything."

"I don't really want to hurt you, Theresa, but you can't stop me."

Theresis spoke, she stepped forward.

This made Theresa feel somewhat uneasy.

She hadn't expected that Theresis would actually intend to make a move here!

What should I do?

Should we call out to summon those who have followed us?

"It's no use."

Theresis shook her head.

How could he not know what Theresa was thinking?

In fact, he had already arranged for people to deal with the guards after he arrived here.

In other words, at this very moment, in these ruins, only he remains!

"Hand over the Black Crown... Theresa, and then hide forever in Kazdel Castle. Don't interfere in my affairs. As long as you do that, we won't attack you. You can still play your Kazdel building game through your Babel. We'll stop targeting you."

Theresis's tone was heavy, and her words silenced Theresa.

Although it has always been known that Theresis's forces were involved to some extent in the problems facing the Babel, this is the first time that such a direct answer has been given.

This made Theresa realize that the other party was truly determined to break off all pretense of civility here.

Even so, she took a deep breath and resolutely raised her head.

"I refuse."

She spoke again, and her words silenced Theresis for a moment.

He then shook his head helplessly and picked up the longsword he had put down beside him.

His hand rested on the hilt of the sword, but he did not draw it directly.

"I don't want it to come to this, Theresa. Whether it's you or me, it's all for Kazdel ... We're the same."

"It's different!"

Theresa retorted decisively, remaining steadfast even when threatened.

"Your methods will only drag Kazdel into the abyss!"

"You are simply repeating the same mistakes that Kazdel has made over and over again for thousands of years!"

Theresa's tone was radical, but Theresis was far more radical than her!

"That's because they failed!"

"..."

Theresa was taken aback, while Theresis continued speaking in his slightly hoarse voice.

"Theresa, abandon your ridiculous illusions... You won't get anything by blindly currying favor with those countries."

"Kazdel's economy has been built..."

"I know that Kazdel's economy has been built up!"

Theresa wanted to retort, but Theresis spoke silently, tearing away the shell of the relatively prosperous Kazdel that Theresa had built up in the coldest tone.

"But what is the foundation of all this construction?"

"Theresa... you should know that after you opened Kazdel, many countries established factories and various commercial bases in our border regions. But, Theresa, why do you think they would build factories on the territory of this evil incarnation that they have fought against for countless years?"

"Just for peace? Just for the sake of belief? Theresa, don't be naive!"

"Because in their eyes, we are cheap tools!"

Theresis spoke, and her calm words startled Theresa.

But he continued talking without stopping.

"Because our villains are monsters infected with Oripathy, they don't care about the peace of our fellow citizens at all. They set up factories, exchanging our labor for the lowest possible price, sometimes just enough for two meals a day... Those living on the very edge only crave the bare minimum of peace and tranquility, so they willingly enter those mechanical factories and are even grateful to those damned guys!"

"Their lives are not guaranteed. After they die, their brothers, sisters, children, and wives will also have to go to those factories... Even in the countries where those factories are located, if a death occurs in their factories, they will still be condemned by various newspapers. But here, whether one Sarkaz dies or a hundred Sarkaz dies, they don't care, and neither do you!"

Theresis's tone gradually became more aggressive.

But Theresa remained silent, clenching her teeth tightly.

"I care!"

She looked up at Theresis.

"Brother! Theresis! Do you think I'm still the same tailor I used to be?!"

"I know all of this, and I am changing it!"

"You think the Babel was built solely for my own selfish desires, just to oppose you? I don't care about any of that, Theresis!"

The girl's tone was excited, and although her movements didn't change much, her gaze had become very determined.

"You wanted power, so I made you the chairman of the Kazdel Military Committee!"

"You want freedom, so I'm amplifying the autonomy of military micro-members."

"You yearn to bring glory to the Sarkaz, and I entrust you with some border skirmishes, only asking that you do not escalate the conflict into war..."

"I only have this one request, Theresis!"

Theresa took a deep breath.

"But even this is something you can't do."

"I know everything you've said, and I've been sending people to deal with those issues... I know I can't solve everything at once, and the tragedies you've witnessed will repeat themselves time and time again..."

"But... do you think war can solve all of this?"

"You're just sending more people, more of our compatriots, to die in a different way!"

"But at least they are..."

Theresis wanted to argue, but Theresa was even more insistent.

"At least what? To die gloriously in what you think is a dignified way?! Do you think those prisoners would like to choose between hanging and beheading as their preferred method of death? What they want is to live!"

Theresa doesn't really like speaking in a sarcastic or unpleasant tone... In fact, she usually speaks very gently, afraid that her words might cause misunderstandings.

But at this moment, in front of her wronged relatives, all she wanted to do was vent the emotions she had accumulated over the years.

Did Theresis think she was unaware of all this, and didn't care about any of it?

She cares!

But she knew that only by perfecting Kazdel's Law and improving the rules and enforcement of the law could they truly move towards a future.

Along the way, there will be repeated pains and tragedies... She is also constantly using her own methods—buying and renovating those factories, raising the Law awareness of all Sarkaz, reducing the use of violence, and regulating the actions of merchants from other countries.

If Theresis had a better way, she certainly wouldn't be as wary of her as she is now. In fact, if Theresis could truly do better and go further than her, she wouldn't mind taking off her crown and handing it over to her.

Could Theresis have done better?

He can't!

"You've only dragged Kazdel into the war."

Theresa spoke, her tone returning to calm.

They were a generation that emerged from the flames of war, but the difference was that Theresa survived the war, while her brother, Theresis, did not.