Chapter 940 - 398: Peace Envoy (Part 2)
"Enough." Olivia interrupted Wu Chang’s next words.
She knew Wu Chang was right and was aware of the risks that collective consciousness might bring, but she had to take a gamble.
Because the Differential Machine told her that only this method could fulfill the promise she made with Julie.
Moreover, as things stood, collective consciousness was no longer just a promise between her and Julie; too many people had joined this plan and had paid too much for it.
Like Ron, he firmly believed in the answers from the Differential Machine, and for the perfect order world he envisioned, he was even willing to sacrifice his life.
If she abandoned the plan now because of Wu Chang’s few words, then all their previous efforts, including Ron’s sacrifice, would be utterly meaningless.
She raised her hand, adjusted the crown on her head, and looked at Wu Chang saying:
"The omniscience of the Differential Machine has been verified by us multiple times."
"Now, with the complete form of the Differential Machine taking shape, and the World Industrial Exposition being held, everything is within its calculations, which is enough to prove its effectiveness."
"Sir Sean, you just need to answer me now, what is your choice."
"Do you want to help me build a perfect mechanical world, or do you want to become an enemy of Stilan?"
Wu Chang shrugged and said:
"You shouldn’t be asking me this question, but asking Julie by your side."
He said to Julie:
"Julie, I once asked you if you had found a way to solve the current dilemma. At that time, you were afraid of failure and worried that you couldn’t find a correct, perfect answer, so you didn’t dare to act."
"But there is no perfect answer in this world, nor a perfect solution, because to gain something, one must also give something."
"Now, the power of choice is handed to you. Do you choose for people to lose their true selves, turning into apathetic shells; or do you give up on seeking a perfect answer, and find a solution that is not so perfect, yet better than the current situation, and can be continuously improved?"
Julie appeared somewhat shaken. She looked at Olivia, who took a step closer and said, "Julie, what are you hesitating about, this is the era I’ve created for you."
Julie looked at Wu Chang, who remained calm and said:
"Your own path needs to be chosen by yourself; no one can decide for you."
Julie turned around, looking at the visitors surrounding the speech stage who had frozen in applause.
When she turned back, the confusion in her eyes had vanished, replaced by determination.
She said to Olivia:
"Olivia, I think your method is wrong, stop it. This time, let me and you together find a path that is not so perfect but is correct."
Olivia sighed, stepped back two paces, and said:
"Julie, is this your answer? You really disappoint me."
Hiss~
A massive jet sound surged from within the Differential Machine, its roar diminishing, as a colossal lion-shaped mechanical beast nearly fifteen meters in length, manufactured by Extraordinary Industry, emerged.
The previously absorbed Extraordinary Steam Engine Core was now embedded in various parts of the lion-shaped mechanical beast, providing it with various abilities.
Steam rules gathered beneath Olivia’s feet, lifting her off the ground and carrying her to the mechanical beast’s head.
She drew the Sword of Victory belonging to the monarch from her waist, gripping the hilt with both hands, and plunged the blade downward into a slot in the lion-shaped mechanical beast’s head.
As steam billowed forth, the lion-shaped mechanical beast seemed to come alive, its movements becoming much more agile.
"Julie, I know you’re just temporarily confused, so chose the wrong path."
"It’s okay, I will prove I’m right to you. If you want to stop me, I’ll have to temporarily keep you from interfering, allowing you to quietly watch as an audience."
Wu Chang clicked his tongue, muttering that the boss of the Abyssal Game wasn’t as simple as a comic, able to be swayed by mere rhetoric and love and justice; in the end, it was necessary to have a direct confrontation.
He came to Julie’s side and asked, "Julie, do you want to stop Her Majesty Olivia?"
Julie said hesitatingly, "The fog spewing from the Extraordinary Steam Engine can suppress the abilities of the Transcendent. My abilities cannot be used, I’m afraid I can’t stop her."
"Sean, do you have a way?"
Wu Chang said, "I don’t have a way, but someone does."
As he spoke, he snapped his fingers, and a True Self wearing the guise of the White Ghost ran out from within the fog.
Wu Chang’s original body introduced Julie:
"Peace came to Grimland this time not just to help me; he actually agreed with a certain great being to help solve the trouble you’re facing."
Julie observed Peace, their relationship amounted to merely knowing each other, with little intersection, and she could hardly imagine Peace coming to Grimland actually to help her.
"Help me? Why?"
Wu Chang True Self interjected, "Because of Revelation, which Grimland refers to as the Holy Awakening Sect, Revelation actually has branches in many places. A high-level member of one of those sects found me, saying you were facing trouble and needed help. I owed that guy a favor, so I came."
He allowed Olivia to create the Differential Machine but exposed Olivia’s plan flaws when there was no conflict between them, all to help Julie make a choice and rid herself of confusion.
Although judging from the dungeon’s difficulty, he would be ranked into the Steam Dungeon even without any item, the initial reason he entered was to repay Kristen’s favor and save Revelation’s Saint Heir.