Are You Her Mother?

Just when everyone thought there was nothing more to discuss and they could leave the Court of Minds, Malitus spoke up one last time.

"Heratia's talent and achievements as a commander are undeniable. From my personal perspective, I highly acknowledge her abilities as a commander, but..."

Malitus then changed the subject, "But this time, the size of the Precursor Ruins is unprecedented, and there are even more valuable things inside."

"This is far beyond the responsibility that a single fleet can bear."

After speaking, Malitus looked around at everyone and gave his final answer.

"I propose that the next Mantle Exploration operation involve multiple ships, with Heratia as the overall commander and several deputy commanders selected to conduct joint operations and carry out separate exploration missions!"

He doesn't intend to gain command of the next operation. Instead, he chooses to mobilize multiple fleets for the next operation, and then specifically lead one of them to study the relics of the Precursor Civilization!

That's what he's planning!

399

Chapter 399 Are you her mother?

Before Heratia could even voice her objections, the Judgment Committee gave its answer.

"Allow..."

Perhaps they didn't realize that some people aren't actually very willing to take the initiative for a promotion.

But they also have their own ideas.

Although the trial was initially directed at Heratia, after the final discussion, everyone discovered that Heratia had not only done nothing wrong, but may even have saved the team from disaster.

This means that all the unfair treatment they had given Heratia was wrong. Whether as compensation or simply to recognize the success of Heratia's third Mantle Exploration, she should be promoted.

The passage was so swift that even the beneficiary herself, Heratia, was momentarily stunned, but after a few moments, she simply nodded silently.

She accepted the outcome.

"..."

Maria didn't speak; she simply stood at a distance and watched everything unfold.

Beside her, Ulpianus seemed quite curious about Maria.

"If you don't have any plans for the future, perhaps you could come and see my concert..."

As he spoke, he handed Maria an invitation.

"My understanding of music is not deep, so I may not be able to fully understand it..."

Maria shook her head slightly, her words conveying a sense of refusal.

She doesn't have much time or energy to pay attention to what's going on here right now.

But Ulpianus shook his head very seriously.

"People who don't understand music can't hear the problems in my music... At least, I didn't even notice them myself before you got up early."

Although Maria only briefly expressed her feelings and evaluation, Ulpianus felt that Maria's words were extremely correct.

This made him realize that Maria was a person with a high level of musical talent... perhaps she was an excellent composer herself, or perhaps she had listened to a lot of music.

Regardless, Ulpianus hopes Maria can attend future concerts... perhaps this will inspire him and help him improve...

"If there is an opportunity."

Since the other party had already spoken, Maria for a few moments and then didn't refuse. She simply nodded slightly, offering what wasn't exactly a promise.

That would be enough for Ulpianus.

"In that case, I look forward to your arrival."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Maria stood still, looking at Heratia in the distance.

She glanced in this direction as well.

The two exchanged a glance and then left.

"I really didn't expect them to have this in mind..."

Shortly after the Court of Minds ended, both sides arrived at Heratia's room.

At this time, the personnel who were originally stationed here to monitor Heratia had long since been evacuated, and the entire floor felt somewhat empty.

Sitting on the sofa, Heratia looked at the silent Maria beside her and shook her head helplessly.

"Perhaps their goal from the very beginning wasn't to push me down..."

"Malitus simply wants more freedom to conduct research..."

"Um..."

Maria nodded, her expression remaining largely unchanged, seemingly unconcerned about it all.

Heratia, standing to the side, seemed rather curious.

Don't you care?

What do you care about?

"Malitus's next mission might be to explore those ruined civilizations..."

Heratia blinked, as if reminding Maria, and asked her a question.

Aren't you worried that they might touch the danger you mentioned?

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Maria shook her head.

"This is something you will eventually come into contact with. My ultimate goal is not to prevent you from accessing it; I simply want to ensure that things happen at the right time..."

"You always speak in such a mysterious way."

Heratia smiled. "I previously thought you wanted me to retain my position to facilitate your handling of that Precursor Ruins... but now it seems that's not your ultimate goal; your ambitions lie far beyond that..."

So, what do you want me to help you with?

Heratia asked curiously.

Maria, however, did not explain much of her thoughts. After a moment of silence, she gave another riddle-like answer.

You'll find out later.

"Ha."

Heratia smiled and leaned back on the sofa.

"In that case, let me tell you something that might interest you..."

Heratia spoke, her fingers twitched slightly, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

"The fourth Mantle Exploration should begin in a week..."

"Um?"

Maria blinked, looking at Heratia strangely.

One week later.

Didn't they say before that they had spent three months preparing before launching this third Mantle Exploration?

How come it's only been a few days and we're already preparing for the fourth time?

"It took a total of three months... it wasn't that we started preparing from scratch after we got back."

Heratia said this, then closed her eyes.

Just as preparations began for the third Mantle Exploration, preparations for the fourth also began at almost the same time.

However, at that time, its initial goal was to build a new underwater city.

However, this trial made everyone realize that the scale of the Precursor Ruins discovered this time may be unprecedented, and its importance naturally jumped several levels, becoming the most important task in the entire Jiake Nanle.

Therefore, they urgently changed their strategy, which also accelerated the pace of the entire fourth Mantle Exploration.

"This time, the scale is unprecedented. It's said that all the engineers in Jiake Nanle have been mobilized here to modify the fleet that was already ready to depart... If nothing unexpected happens, at least three ships and a total crew of three hundred people will set sail together!"

Heratia blinked as she spoke.

"I'll go too."

If an ordinary person were to talk about these things, they would probably just mention it casually.

But Maria knew Heratia quite well, and at this moment, Heratia brought up this matter more to ask for Maria's opinion.

My advice is... don't get involved in this matter at all.

Maria's answer was somewhat indifferent, but it was indeed the best choice.

Judging from their last operation, their intrusion has already provoked the giant tree in the deep sea... Perhaps it doesn't have much intention to attack yet, but some of its Seaborn characteristics have already been revealed.

This time, if they rashly barge in again, what awaits them might be a massacre by the Seaborn.

Therefore, Maria's advice was to stay away from this matter.

But Heratia shook her head.

"You may have heard it from others... The foundation of Aegir's prosperous civilization lies in the remnants of Precursor Civilization."

"For us... for all of Aegir, the existence of the Precursor Civilization was like a mother; it nurtured us, propelled us forward, and its value is indisputable."

"Besides..."

At this point, Heratia wore the same solemn expression she had on the submarine.

"As its successors, I feel it's necessary for us to understand why the Precursor Civilization perished... what caused all of this..."

"Even excessive understanding will further shorten the lifespan of your already short-lived civilization?"

Maria gave her answer, her words cold and devoid of emotion.

But Heratia understood a different meaning.

Maria... seems to understand why the Precursor Civilization was destroyed?!

This instantly transformed Heratia's initial curiosity about Maria into a peak of excitement!

Her heart began to pound, and even her usual smile faltered.

"... I must admit, I used to think that the saying 'secrets make people more charming' was just a laughable statement made by an ignorant person who saw the world through their own limited perspective. But your appearance has truly made me realize that this world does indeed have many mysteries that are so alluring and unbearable."

Heratia spoke, her eyes narrowed slightly, then she smiled.

"Regarding what you said... if we also face destruction after learning about the fate of Precursor Civilization... doesn't that mean we should learn about them?"

"The significance of understanding Precursor Civilization is not to make us become Precursor Civilization, but to help us avoid the mistakes they Precursor Civilization."

"If we continue at the current pace, perhaps we won't even have time to replicate the glory of Precursor Civilization before we reach our end?"

"... Perhaps."

Maria remained vague, as if she didn't care at all about what Heratia was saying.

This left Heratia quite helpless.

But soon, she remembered something else.

"What are you planning to do now?"

Heratia propped her head up with one hand, looking at Maria with curiosity.

"I have done as you said, saving... and even upgrading my permissions. The fourth Mantle Exploration will begin soon. In the meantime, do you plan to do anything?"

"... No."

Although Heratia's words were rather tedious, they did serve as a reminder to Maria.

Her ultimate goal is to advance the Deep Sea Hunters Project after the Aegir are powerless against the Seaborn, and at the same time, to push forward the future Hunter Plan so that it can be arranged to carry out the subjugation of Gordan.

But all of this was predicated on Seaborn launching a large-scale operation, and before that... it seems he didn't really have much to do, did he?

"In that case, why don't you come with us and explore the deep sea?"

Heratia smiled and extended an invitation to Maria.