Solomon's Ring

This time, Mephistopheles didn't say anything. He simply went over to Ritsuka Fujimaru and saw her Ritsuka Fujimaru her mouth in front of him, but without making a sound.

"Thank you for your help."

Mephistopheles could tell that this was what the other person was saying.

By this Mash Kyrielight could see that Mephistopheles's words had indeed been effective; at least Olga Marie was much better than before.

Olga Marie recovered somewhat; although Mephistopheles's words were harsh, she knew he wasn't wrong.

She is the current head of the Animusphere family and the director of Chaldea. If she were to fall here, what would become of the Animusphere Family?!

She paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, our current goal is to complete the communication with Chaldea."

At this moment, she transformed once again into that young, capable businesswoman who had taken on various responsibilities.

Although, this strength may not be that strong.

"What we need to do now is find the Leyline Terminal in this place, the place where the spiritual energy of the spiritual vein gathers. Once we get there, we can restore our connection with Chaldea."

As Olga Marie spoke, she carefully looked around, seemingly trying to sense where the power of the spiritual veins converged.

"It's right here, Director. This is the terminal of the ley line," Mash Kyrielight said from the side. This made Olga Marie's expression change. Like a child whose limelight had been stolen, she stiffened her neck and said, "Huh?! Ah...yes...yes, that's right. I know, of course I know such a small thing!"

Then, she commanded, "Mash Kyrielight, place your shield on the ground and set up a summoning circle using your Noble Phantasm as a catalyst."

Mash Kyrielight didn't start immediately, but looked at Ritsuka Fujimaru, since Ritsuka Fujimaru was now Mash Kyrielight's Master.

With Ritsuka Fujimaru's consent, Mash Kyrielight placed her weapon on the ground and set up a summoning circle. The surrounding environment changed, and everything was enveloped in a space with strange blue patterns, as if this were the interior of a high-tech laboratory.

"This... is just like the summoning laboratory at Chaldea..."

Mash Kyrielight exclaimed in surprise. Mephistopheles looked around and realized that this was indeed a special spatial Projection. It was probably because this place was so closely related to Chaldea that the summoning circle constructed here directly replicated the summoning environment inside Chaldea.

"Calling, calling! Hello! Okay, communication is restored!" The sudden voice and the appearance of the ghostly figure were Dr. Roman. He had re-established contact with the people in the Singularity, and Romani finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You've all worked hard. The space has been successfully fixed. This way, we can not only communicate, but also send supplies."

"Rome, how's it going over there? What are the losses?" Olga Marie asked directly as she approached.

"Huh?! Chief? You're still alive?!" Romani's eyes widened when he saw the person who suddenly appeared, as if he had seen a monster. "Such a huge explosion and you didn't die? And you're completely unharmed?! Really?!"

"What do you mean?!" Olga Marie shouted, but remembering that she was indeed dead, she took a deep breath. "Romani, I'm asking you, why are you in this position in the medical department? What exactly has been lost?!"

"I'm the highest-ranking person in charge now. Everyone else is either dead or wounded. In fact, I'm currently running between two places, handling communications here and treating the wounded on the other." Romani immediately wailed, "Come back quickly, Chief!"

Olga Marie's face darkened. Looking at Romani's anxious expression, she knew things were definitely bad.

"Be more specific."

"Currently, there are fewer than twenty surviving Chaldea employees, including myself, and I am now the highest-ranking."

Romani's words exploded in Olga Marie's mind like a bomb.

Romani continued, "Professor Lev was directing the Spiritron Transfer from the control room, which was right in the center of the explosion; the survival rate was extremely low."

This statement caused the group to fall even more silent. Seemingly realizing there was something wrong with what they had said, Romani asked, somewhat puzzled, "What did I say wrong? Why are you all reacting like this?"

"Actually, Dr. Roman, Lev ... Lev he..." Ritsuka Fujimaru said, hesitating whether to call him "Mr." or "Professor," or to leave it blank.

At this moment, Olga Marie spoke up herself, "Lev isn't dead; he's the one who caused this explosion..."

"What?! Professor Lev is the one who caused this explosion?"

Dr. Roman exclaimed in surprise, seemingly completely unprepared for such a thing.

Mephistopheles silently watched Dr. Roman, his mind filled with speculation.

So, how much did Dr. Roman, or rather Solomon, actually know? He must have foreseen the disastrous future, which is why he supported Chaldea, but if he could truly foresee everything, some things could have been completely avoided.

Therefore, there might actually be other reasons why King Solomon was unable to foresee everything?

Mephistopheles pondered for a moment, then continued to look at Romani, some new guesses forming in his mind.

Could it be that these events occurred because he gave up his position King Solomon and wished to become an ordinary person? After all, Goetia's plan essentially began because King Solomon gave up his own life to become human.

When King Solomon became Romani, he briefly foresaw the impending crisis, but before he could fully grasp it, he lost his power, rendering him unable to foresee the future and leading to the current situation.

Mephistopheles stroked his chin, continuing to watch Romani and Olga Marie's conversation.

After listening to Olga Marie recount what had just happened, Dr. Roman. Dr. Roman felt as if his mind had been swept away by a Category 10 hurricane.

He looked at Mephistopheles, and after a long while, he said, "Are you True Magic from the Age of Gods? Or Magecraft?"

"A genuine True Magic, but the title of 'Age of Gods True Magic'... if my trip to the Age of Gods counts as acquiring the status of Age of Gods True Magic, then so be it."

Romani shook his head. "To fight the giants alongside the Greece gods and defeat Typhon with Artemis —that's not something that can be described simply by saying you've taken a trip through the Age of Gods..."

"So Lev really is one of the Demon Pillar?!" Romani deliberately sounded nonchalant about the question.

"Yes, it is indeed one of the Demon Pillar."

"I understand." Romani nodded slightly.

At this moment, Olga Marie continued to issue orders, "Alright, stop talking for now. Romani, go and start cryopreservation immediately. Freeze everyone inside the Spiritron Transfer Device. Make sure they don't die!"

"Oh?! Right! There's that feature too! I'll go get it right now!" Romani nodded and rushed out, while Olga Marie couldn't help but facepalm. "I told you, he's not suited to be the head."

"That's astonishing. Freezing someone without their consent is a crime," Mash Kyrielight said, looking surprised.

Mephistopheles felt that Mash Kyrielight was indeed quite dark and sharp-tongued in some ways.

But then she smiled and said, "However, you were able to make such a decisive decision. You seem to value human life more than your responsibilities as the director."

"Don't talk nonsense. As long as you're not dead, you'll always find a way to explain it later!" Olga Marie immediately said.

"I think it's fine too." Mephistopheles nodded, indicating his approval.

Just as some people thought Mephistopheles also valued human life, Mephistopheles stroked his chin and said, "Anyway, we'll just use a major amnesia spell on those who aren't unconscious yet. As for those who were frozen, they won't be frozen anymore when they're rescued and awakened. That's what they call 'if you don't see it, it's not a crime!'"

The group fell silent.

They seem to have been too naive.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm more surprised that a legitimate Magecraft values human life so much. I'm just a little surprised." Mephistopheles shook his head, his approval of Olga Marie growing even stronger. "The old madman is gradually dying. Fresh blood is indeed needed to replace him."

"It's done!" Romani returned, slightly out of breath, and reported, "Chaldea has lost 80% of its functionality, and the remaining staff can only do so much. I plan to allocate personnel to three areas: repairing the Spiritron Transfer system, and maintaining Chaldeas and Sheba."

"Once we re-establish contact with the outside world, we will request supplies to rebuild Chaldea... This is the current plan."

"Okay, I'll use the same formation over there. Until I get back, I'm counting on you! We'll continue investigating Singularity F in this city."

"Hey? Chief, weren't you scared at that kind of explosion-like scene?! Aren't you a coward?!"

Upon hearing Romani's words, Mephistopheles looked at Olga Marie in surprise, which also caught the attention of Ritsuka Fujimaru, who seemed surprised that this strong woman was actually a coward.

"... You're really something, always saying unnecessary things!" Olga Marie immediately exclaimed, her cheeks flushing slightly before returning to normal. "Although I really want to go back, I have to wait until the Spiritron Transfer is repaired, and it will take you some time to complete it, right?"

As she spoke, her expression dimmed slightly. "Besides, I might not even be able to go back..."

"Don't say that. The Spiritron Transfer will definitely be repaired as quickly as possible, please rest assured!"

What I mean is, I'm actually already dead.

"Huh? Huh?!!!!!" Romani exclaimed in surprise, startled by Olga Marie's words, but judging from Olga Marie's expression, she was clearly not joking with him.

After a long pause, Romani finally said, "Really?"

"It's true, Lev confirmed it too. He said my soul is currently protected by Chaldeas. Of course, according to McRemitz..."

"Just call me Mephistopheles."

"According to Mephistopheles, it was actually him who protected my soul. But regardless of who protected it, I'll most likely have to continue staying inside Chaldeas, surviving in this special space..."

Romani was caught in a dilemma. "But if we eliminate Singularity F, wouldn't that mean..."

"Please don't be so sad yet, allow me to say a few words." Mephistopheles suddenly interrupted their conversation, saying somewhat helplessly, "I didn't say you can't go out. There are just two possibilities. One is that you will fall into a deep sleep and remain there until I wake you up. This is similar to keeping your soul completely protected, like a fetus on the placenta."

This analogy made Olga Marie frown.

"Another way is to mimic the existence mode of Servants, relying on magic to keep you in the outside world. Although your soul certainly can't become as powerful as a Servant's, your own soul is also impure, so it's impossible for you to gain any powerful abilities."

"What do you mean my soul is corrupt?!" Olga Marie exploded, feeling that Mephistopheles was deliberately trying to provoke her.

Mephistopheles shrugged and said, "Not only your soul, but mine is also corrupted."

"You're insulting me and then dragging yourself down with you?!"

"Let me finish. Never mind... whether it's corrupt or not is irrelevant now." Mephistopheles shook his head. "Anyway, what I mean is, it doesn't matter if your soul stays in the real world, you'll just be a ghost anyway."

At this point, Mephistopheles quickly finished saying what he wanted to say, "So what I mean is, I can make a contract between you and me, you will become my servant, and I will supply you with magic power, allowing you to move freely within reality and Singularity."

She wondered which method she should choose. If possible, she would prefer the first method: to sleep until she woke up and had her own body.

However, Olga Marie hesitated for only a moment before choosing the second option.

Even though she had no desire to form a contract with this infuriating guy in front of her, and even wanted him to become her Master.

"You wouldn't order me around like that, would you?"

"It's just a very simple contract. I can skip the Command Spell. As for the establishment of this contract, you can have someone come and watch. If there are any problems, we can stop." Mephistopheles said, shrugging. "Besides, you can stay inside Chaldea. I think this is the most suitable for you, since you can still manage things."

Since things have come to this point, there's no other choice left.

The second one is the most suitable.

"Okay, I choose to be the ghost first!"

After Olga Marie finished speaking, she saw Mephistopheles's lips curl up in a smile.

She suddenly felt a pang of regret. Could this guy be hiding something?!

Chapter 129 Solomon's Ring

"Alright, while we're at work, why don't we discuss Chaldea first? To be honest, I was tricked by Lev as soon as I arrived. Do you guys need to explain to me what happened, like the purpose of the various facilities inside Chaldea?"

As Mephistopheles spoke, he suppressed the upward curve of his lips.

He was very happy that Olga Marie made this choice, for a simple reason.

It's better to avoid trouble. Olga Marie was originally the director of Chaldea, and she is definitely more suitable to be the commander here than Romani. Even if Romani was King Solomon in the past, it would still be the same. The current Romani is not Omniscience. Even if he is really capable, he would have to figure out many details that he didn't know before in order to manage this place well.

In this respect, Olga Marie is different. With her many years as director, her familiarity with Chaldea is unmatched by Romani. One is a branch area, and the other is the whole picture. He needs someone who can grasp the overall direction of Chaldea.

This is Olga Marie's role.

He'd be fine with expending magic to power an AI to analyze the situation and lead Chaldea forward, but asking him to use his own brain to lead Chaldea forward is out of the question; he'd rather just fight his way through.

"Yes, you know even less than Ritsuka Fujimaru," Olga Marie said, looking at Ritsuka Fujimaru. "Do you remember what I said during my speech? Tell Mephistopheles about it."

Ritsuka Fujimaru: o((⊙⊙))o

Seeing Ritsuka Fujimaru's bewildered expression, Olga Marie couldn't help but wail, "Please, remember! You really don't remember anything?!"

"Let me explain," Mash Kyrielight said at this moment. "Back then, the director was explaining the usefulness of Chaldea, saying that..."

"Achievements comparable to those of humankind in metal smelting, the rise of religion, the development of navigation, the information revolution, and space exploration—no, they are even greater than these..."

As Mash Kyrielight recounted everything Olga Marie had said back then in detail, she added a final sentence.

"You were kicked out like this, senior?"

Seeing Ritsuka Fujimaru's somewhat embarrassed expression, Mephistopheles was once again certain that Mash Kyrielight was indeed a cunning and scheming person.

Mephistopheles finally understood, and he summarized it roughly. "In other words, Sheba, as an observer of the future, and Chaldeas, as the mastermind, are essentially observing the past as well as the future."

"If the Earth in the future has firelight, it signifies the existence of civilization. But if there is no firelight, it signifies the destruction of human civilization. You observed that the firelight of civilization disappeared from the Earth starting in 2016, so you investigated and found that a problem occurred in Fuyuki City in 2004. You designated it as Singularity F, sent people to investigate, and forcibly changed the situation to prevent the observed future from becoming a reality."

"That's right, that's exactly it. Chaldea to ensure the continuation of humanity's flame and to ensure the inevitable future of human existence! Our fundamental purpose in Chaldea is to protect human civilization!" Olga Marie immediately said, sounding incredibly proud as she spoke.

"But I'm saying, it's just a possibility..." Mephistopheles said, "Is it possible that the future destruction of humanity is actually due to Chaldea?"

A simple guess left everyone stunned, even Romani on the other end of the communicator fell into deep thought.

"No, that's impossible! Chaldea is for the continuation of humanity, how could it possibly lead to the destruction of humanity?!" Olga Marie immediately shook her head, frantically denying the possibility. Mephistopheles smiled upon seeing this and said, "Indeed, after all, it is the greatest crystallization of human wisdom accumulated since ancient times."

He glanced at Romani, who was deep in thought, and then said, "Alright, let's continue. Let's get this sorted out first and change the future of humanity's extinction!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru immediately nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, our most important task is to first address the future of humanity's destruction! Just as the director said, protecting the principles of humanity is also protecting the Human Order."

After saying that, she looked at Mephistopheles and pondered her words.

As an ordinary human being, she has been exposed to far more modern novels and movies than Magecraft. There are countless imaginative novels about humans, and what Mephistopheles just said is actually reflected in many novels.

Such a thing is not impossible, but for the director of Chaldea, this blow would be too great, even if it is just a guess.

What you think can help others turns out to be the culprit that destroys everything; anyone in that position would find it unbearable.