In Room 217.
Kafka focused her gaze on Sol, waiting for his response.
The Stellaron Hunters hoped to realize their wishes through scripts that could foresee the future, while also guiding that future toward a relatively beautiful ending.
Therefore, any loss of control over the script was an extremely bad outcome for them.
"Please answer seriously. The Stellaron Hunters wish to become your friends."
From every possible angle, she did not want to become Sol's enemy.
Just as she had allowed Stelle to be born on the Herta Space Station, and later guided the Astral Express to establish contact with the Xianzhou.
The Stellaron Hunters were uniting every force that could possibly be united, merely using the Astral Express as the connective bridge. After all, compared to a group of terrorists, the Astral Express—linking worlds together—clearly possessed greater credibility.
And Sol Mercer—an extraordinary existence who received the power of becoming an Emanator of Nous the moment he descended, a nonexistent individual who disrupted the script—was also a force worth absorbing.
"So that's what you came for. In that case, there's no need for me to hide anything." Sol nodded slightly and spoke with a solemn expression. "I don't harbor the ambitions of a madman who wants to destroy the universe. I am waiting for that unprecedented great war to arrive. I will accumulate strength and plan to ascend to godhood."
"Before my preparations are sufficient, my goal is to maintain peace in the universe."
"If the script predicts that my actions will accelerate the coming of that war, you can come discuss it with me."
In truth, he didn't have particularly grand ambitions. What he wanted was absolute freedom. He could restrain himself, but he did not wish to be restrained by others.
Do whatever he wanted, refuse whatever he didn't want—no one could threaten him.
And while he was at it, he wanted to see the scenery at the top. Since predecessors were already standing up there, even with cheats enabled, he couldn't afford to lose.
At this moment, Sparkle, Silver Wolf, and Stelle were all stunned, their gazes snapping toward Sol Mercer.
Darling actually wants to become an Aeon!
To keep something like this from Lady Sparkle—isn't that a bit too heartless?!
I really want to see him fail, crying and throwing a tantrum, so pitiful!
But I also really want to see him succeed, drag Aha down from the throne and give the seat to Lady Sparkle!
Sparkle's face twisted in conflict, unable to decide which outcome she preferred.
Silver Wolf, meanwhile, could hardly believe it. A lunatic was right beside her. No wonder she could never beat Sol Mercer at games—this was a freak.
Herta was already crazy enough, trying to research Aeons through the Simulated Universe.
Sol was even crazier—he wanted to become an Aeon directly.
These Emanators of Erudition really didn't treat Aeons as something sacred at all!
Stelle's eyes were full of confusion. What had she just heard? She felt like she didn't understand any of it.
But seeing that everyone else seemed to understand, she hurriedly put on an expression of deep comprehension and said to Sol Mercer, "Um, could you explain in more detail? I think I might be able to give you a pretty good idea—Lady Herta praises me all the time!"
"Heh heh."
Sol looked at the little gray-haired girl and gave an awkward yet polite smile. "If I need help in the future, I'll call on you."
"Oh, leave it to me!"
Stelle patted her chest, brimming with confidence.
Whether it was testing the Simulated Universe or anything else, she would definitely complete the task perfectly.
"Thank you for your answer." Kafka carefully examined Sol and said with a smile, "From the looks of it, you will be a friend of the Stellaron Hunters."
"A friend who seeks to stand at the pinnacle of Aeons—this is truly our honor."
She wasn't surprised in the slightest, because Elio had seen Sol 's past conversation with Nous.
No one had deliberately concealed that exchange—neither Nous, nor Sol Mercer, nor even the History Fictionologists.
"Hmm."
Sol neither confirmed nor denied it. "So, is there anything else?"
His ambitions didn't stop at ascending to Aeonhood. His short-term goal was to climb to the ninth tier within a year and then enjoy the annual time-doubling bonus.
"There is one more thing I'd like to ask. What is your view on Penacony?"
Kafka straightened slightly as she asked.
"The light of hope abides with it." Sol smiled faintly. "It is Penacony, the land of dreams. I hope it remains that way."
A radiant light of hope would bloom here, spreading across the entire universe.
As the place where divine miracles first manifested, if it were to become a battlefield of chaotic factions, it would be far too careless.
"It seems the IPC will suffer a loss at your hands."
Kafka's gaze shifted as she grasped his meaning. "Thank you for your goodwill toward the Stellaron Hunters. If you need anything in the future, you may contact me at any time."
She handed over a business card, bearing several contact methods.
This visit had gone smoothly—so smoothly it surprised her. Sol Mercer was extremely candid and cooperative, as though he held the Stellaron Hunters in rather high regard.
Given his behavioral logic of blowing apart an asteroid belt simply because he got lost, being able to have a proper conversation with him was practically an honor.
Could it be that Silver Wolf had earned the Stellaron Hunters quite a bit of goodwill during this time? That must have been hard on her.
"If I need anything, I'll contact you."
Sol accepted the card and slipped it into his pocket.
"I look forward to our next meeting—and a genuine cooperation."
Kafka bowed slightly and said meaningfully, "We are willing to resolve certain troubles for you. Perhaps we can even assist you on your path to ascending to godhood."
"Because of my wanted status, it would be inconvenient for me to disturb you further."
"Farewell, Mr. Mercer."
She waved elegantly and only left the room after seeing him nod.
Kafka exited the room like intangible air itself, unnoticed by a single member of any Family.
She activated her communicator and spoke softly, "Elio, this conversation was very successful. He's far more reasonable than we imagined."
"No. In my view, he is downright arrogant."
Elio spoke with a heavy tone.
"You mean his ambition to ascend to Aeonhood?"
Kafka raised an eyebrow.
"The power of Aeons is unimaginably vast—enough to shake the entire universe. Even galaxies are insignificant before them." Elio shook his head. "Even if Nous regards him favorably, that does not mean he possesses the qualifications to achieve a miracle."
Across the endless galaxies, many coveted the power of Aeons—some were madmen, others geniuses.
Yet even the proud Herta understood the principle of advancing step by step, cautiously probing upward through the Simulated Universe.
But Sol truly intended to soar to the heavens in a single leap amid that war.
Elio said with confusion, "What I can't understand is why, after meeting two Aeons in such a short time, he still harbors such wild ambitions. I don't believe he's insane—something must have allowed him to glimpse the hope of becoming a god."
But what could that be?
If there truly existed a divine artifact capable of usurping an Aeon's authority, then Aeons would not stand so supreme.
"Let's watch him perform."
Kafka's fingers moved slightly as she hypnotized a Bloodhound Family member nearby. "The waters of Penacony have been stirred even more by him."
"He will face pressure from both the Families and the Corporation, along with other troublesome figures. Even an Emanator should find that headache-inducing."
She had not placed absolute trust in Sol based solely on a verbal exchange.
This was merely an exchange of intent, a buffer easing relations between both sides. Establishing contact now was simply a matter of convenience for future actions.
An impression, after all, was far less reliable than a contract.
At this moment, Kafka had already arrived at the door of another room. "This is Stelle's room. I'll squeeze in with her for now."
She would wait until the Penacony incident concluded before leaving again.
While waiting for the outcome, she might as well keep Stelle company for a while.
Come to think of it, the Stellaron Hunters were only two members away from being fully assembled.
===BREAK===
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