Eight months had passed. Snow had begun falling over the Keynes Continent in the fifth month of the Mechanical Ascension Plan.
Through Titan, Cheng Yu now saw a world blanketed in white. Yesterday, the Conductor had told him that Titan's scans still detected a few signs of life on the continent.
But today, the Conductor said only those few Silver Creatures remained.
To give these people every chance, Cheng Yu had announced to the entire continent that there would be an opportunity to enter the "Divine Kingdom" at a particular moment every night. Even now, his highest-level legion clearance allowed him to check on every resident in the virtual world.
Yet he had not seen Help, the Elf Queen, the Beast Emperor, or Karen VI among them.
Cheng Yu sighed at the news. He knew who the Silver Creatures the Conductor mentioned were. He had not expected them to make such a choice, but everyone had their own convictions, and he would not interfere.
They were all true sovereigns and truly powerful individuals. Compared with them, he still had far too far to go, Cheng Yu reflected as he gazed at the snow-covered world.
He only hoped they would... have no regrets in this life.
The imperial palace of the Karen Empire.
The normally bustling, imposing palace was now terrifyingly silent.
Karen VI looked at the son he was proudest of and asked with a smile,
"Have all your younger brothers and sisters gone to 'sleep'?"
Help nodded.
"I used a few tricks."
Karen VI smiled and shook his head.
"You never change. You've always known how to handle them, even as a child."
Help smiled too.
"Well, I am their eldest brother."
Karen VI stepped down from his throne and sat on the steps. He shifted to one