A Promising Future, Miluno

(Miluno)

SpiCa pushed up his glasses.

You mean seeds?

Climbing out of Betelgeuse's cabin chair, I replied:

"Yes, my view is somewhat different from yours. You see the 'Great Will' as a cold, impersonal system, but in my opinion, it is also a high-ranking being with strong emotions. It's not wrong for it to want to protect the people of its world and hope that they can live better lives. If resources are limited, then find a way to make the pie bigger. Passionate emotions are proof of being alive, and Mono and the others are the same..."

They are not backup systems, but the "seeds" that will ultimately thrive in this world, the inheritors of the "Great Will".

SpiCa retorted, "After all that talk, isn't it still about replacing the 'Great Will'? How is that any different from a backup?"

"Unlike rigid systems, they have their own choices. They can completely avoid things like devouring each other. Since darkness can multiply, there's no need for any fratricide, right?"

I don't want to experience anything like that again, like waking up one morning to find I've eaten half of my "daughter"—it's terrifying.

"Oh, Miluno, so you trust her that much?"

Mono looked at me with eyes full of emotion... which made me feel a little disgusted.

SpiCa pondered for a moment, rubbing the tip of her chin.

"But there's a question: if the aggregated darkness is all 'Proxy Unit,' then what is the 'Great Hand'?"

"I don't know. We can't completely trust Aldebaran's words. Perhaps it's just a larger 'Proxy Unit,' or it might really be the 'Great Will' itself... But to contend with the 'Great Hand,' we need even stronger power."

If there's a next time, if Aldebaran were to once again unleash its "Great Hand" on invasion, do we really have any way to stop it?

SpiCa glanced at Mono and Azura and asked.

"So, are you going to raise Mono?"

That's a strange way of putting it, but I understand what she means.

"No, feeding her darkness would have led her Aldebaran. I have a feeling she's plotting something, and I don't intend to make any dangerous attempts until I fully understand the situation."

"Is that so..."

There didn't seem to be any other topics to discuss.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. I have a concert tonight, so I'll leave you to continue your research."

I squatted down in front of Azura, and she understood and climbed onto my back. I carried her on my back, supporting her two thin legs.

But after thinking about it, I asked again:

"SpiCa, why were you arrested?"

She blinked.

"Some people in the Association are dissatisfied with me and are using that incident to manipulate public opinion..."

"Alright, just tell me the truth. I don't believe you'll be brought down over something like this. Given your control over the Association, even if you were to fall from grace, you wouldn't be in here so quickly. What exactly are you planning to do?"

"Well..."

She closed her eyes and sighed, only opening them again after a long while.

"Okay, but don't tell anyone else yet."

"No problem."

SpiCa pinched Azura's chubby little face as she explained:

"Actually, I orchestrated this whole thing myself."

I initially thought it was just a matter of non-resistance, but I never imagined that she even arranged for the whistleblower to be there?

What are the benefits of doing this?

"There are many benefits to this. First of all, the heavy losses in that operation were indeed partly due to my underestimation of the enemy. My arrest can quell public anger."

"It's not your fault, nobody expected there to be a Shuttle Tower on the 'The Other Side'."

SpiCa shook his head.

"Sitting in the position of Tactical Division Association, I can't use such an excuse. This is my dereliction of duty, and I do need to take responsibility for it."

I glanced at the half-eaten spaghetti bolognese on the table... I had a feeling she was just on vacation.

"Besides that?" I pressed.

"Sit down and let's talk."

SpiCa simply pulled me to sit on the sofa, Mono also made room for us while holding Betelgeuse.

"During this period, A-Ji's informants have been lying low for longer and longer. If this continues, we won't be able to find their tracks. My disappearance is a signal to them that 'it's time to move.'"

"Those informants are very vigilant, and the Prosecutorate isn't idle either. Even if they know you've been arrested, will they take the bait?"

"Even if they fall for it, they will still try. A-Ji wants to become a member of the 'Supreme Council,' and he must achieve something for that... He must have taken some action during this time, even if it requires taking some risks."

For Sun Ji, is the moment SpiCa is imprisoned a golden opportunity that he cannot afford to miss, even at the risk of losing it?

"Moreover, this prison is an information island built by Sirius, where not even a fly can get in. I can continue to perform my duties here, directing the Tactical Division to complete the encirclement of the inside. As long as the trap is set, there is no worry about the fish not taking the bait."

"What trap?"

When I asked this question, SpiCa gave me a mysterious smile.

"Sun Ji wants to become a councilor. What kind of big news do you think he needs to create to suddenly boost his approval rating?"

"His actions have always been aimed at increasing the Corruption Rate, and I don't think this time will be any different."

"So, in your opinion, where in the world is an attack or occupation most likely to cause public panic?"

Big cities?

Wrong...

"The Association headquarters?"

SpiCa shook his head.

"No, guess again?"

"... The Zodiacal?"

"Hehehe, I am the Future 'Great Will'."

Having gained a general understanding of her origins, Mono chuckled foolishly, clearly satisfied with the result. Even though nothing was actually going to happen, she already felt invincible.

But the greatest value of that Ancient Computer lies in the history of the lost civilization it records.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." Knowing the origin of "the Other Side" and what those Monsters are all about will allow us to be better prepared for the battle. We might even be able to uncover some information about some deadly weapons, since who knows what else is crammed into the Armory of the "Supreme Council."

Aside from setting traps for Sun Ji, SpiCa has essentially locked himself in Ancient Computer during this period, much like being imprisoned while playing solo queue.

I carried Azura back to the dormitory through the teleportation tunnel.

It was already 10 a. m.

While Ceruno was still asleep, Halley had already arrived at the City School and was now leisurely drinking tea on the sofa, chatting with Barbara, and helping her practice her pronunciation and speech.

"Miluno, where have you been so early in the morning?"

"Prison, let's go visit him."

"Visiting Director SpiCa? I never imagined she'd be ousted too. Those traitors are truly despicable."

Actually, she got herself into trouble, but she just made it look like someone was unhappy with her.

"Why don't you try this outfit on first? It's custom-made by a famous designer, and it's a matching set with Ceruno!"

Are those long clothing bags for clothes that can't be folded?

"Ceruno is still sleeping. I'll change first, and we'll go straight to the stage for rehearsal when she wakes up."

The fact that the Ancient Computer has been hacked, and the speculation about Mono's background, should not be publicized for now. The more people who know, the more likely it is to be leaked to my cheap father-in-law. If she becomes wary, we'll have a real headache if she doesn't take action.