"I'm a timid man. Don't scare me."

"Of course."

Long Live walked to the conference table at the side of the room. With a grave expression, he took a sheet of brown paper from his coat and spread it across the table. A hand-drawn Dark Technology Tree covered it. He began to explain.

"The first three entries on the Dark Technology Tree are foundational Dark Technologies."

"They are—"

"'Dark Technology Name': Resource Generation."

"'Dark Technology Name': Accelerated Growth."

"'Dark Technology Name': Ammunition Consumption."

"After the third foundational Dark Technology, the tree branches into 'Economy,' 'Civil Welfare,' and 'Military.'"

"We can only learn the details of the next Dark Technology after unlocking the one before it."

"The 'Economy' branch remains locked. Its first Dark Technology is 'Dark Abyss Generation.' Once unlocked, it has a low chance of generating a shallow Black Abyss in the waters near the Eternal Night Continent."

"The 'Civil Welfare' branch is also locked. Its first Dark Technology is 'Public Safety.' When society is stable, the likelihood of natural disasters falls significantly."

"The 'Military' branch already has two technologies unlocked: 'Sky-Piercing Pillar Range Boost' and 'Mushroom Cloud.' The third, 'Anti-Aircraft Cannon Enhancement,' remains locked."

Long Live paused before continuing.

"We believe Dark Technologies may work together. For example, the combination of 'Sky-Piercing Pillar Range Boost' and 'Mushroom Cloud' gave the Mortal Domain its now-famous 'Nuclear-Warhead Sky-Piercing Pillar.'"

"And..."

"Judging by the current trend, Dark Technologies grow stronger farther up the tree."

"We need only spend two Dark Technology Source Points to obtain the fourth technology on the 'Military' branch. But obtaining the fourth on the 'Economy' branch would cost us a full four points. Rather than develop every branch, we should focus on one."

"And the 'Military' branch may offer more combinations."

"If you had unlocked two 'Economy' technologies instead of choosing 'Military,' the Strategist