Chapter 1925: I want to meet him

While Lackey was going through a thorough reform policy from his beloved elder sister, back in the slums, things were beginning to grow heated after he had saved Lily and his mother.

"Is that... a fairy?"

President muttered as he stared blankly at the image displayed before him. The tiny fairy had been captured by Alpha’s surveillance system.

Alpha knelt before him with one leg lowered and her head bowed, silently waiting for his judgment.

She had failed her mission. She had been deceived by that creature and allowed the two fugitives to escape.

President continued staring at the visuals as Alpha explained everything that had happened. His brow slowly furrowed beneath his helmet as an unsettling thought crossed his mind.

’Is this... the goddess doing it again? I thought she was not supposed to interfere with the affairs of this world...’

His frown deepened as he considered the implications.

To him, this was something that had gone beyond his calculations.

First... the Chained World.

Second... Lily had begun acting strangely and had even kidnapped Aether’s mother.

And now... a fairy?

It was beginning to feel like a chain reaction, with one inexplicable event following another before he could properly understand the previous one.

"Have you confirmed their escape?"

President asked coldly.

Alpha slowly raised her head and nodded.

"I cannot say for certain, President. The soldiers were on high alert and searched every nook and cranny, but there was no trace of them. They checked the surrounding buildings, underground passages, and every possible escape route, but there was no trace of them anywhere. That fairy must have somehow intervened and helped them escape."

President fell silent.

His fingers tapped lightly against the surface of the table, each quiet sound echoing through the otherwise still tent.

’So they escaped...’

There was a faint trace of surprise in his thoughts, though his expression remained hidden behind the cold surface of his helmet.

A little girl had managed to surprise him.

Of all people.

A faint smirk slowly appeared on his lips.

"It would have been disappointing if I caught her so easily. Now I wonder... what else she has in store for me."

Alpha blinked at his response.

She had expected him to be furious. After all, she had failed the mission and allowed their targets to escape right under her watch. She had even prepared herself for whatever punishment her President might decide to give her.

Yet, instead of anger, he seemed almost entertained.

"Purple Fairy..." President muttered.

His hand slowly curled into a tight fist.

It was not as though he had lost anything important here. At most, this was simply another unknown variable that had appeared within a situation.

That was all.

Yet an unknown variable was still an unknown variable, especially one he had never anticipated.

And that made things interesting.

Just as he became absorbed in his thoughts, a notification suddenly appeared in the corner of his visor.

An incoming call from Gamma.

President accepted it.

A mechanical voice immediately echoed inside his helmet.

"President, we have located a passage that leads into the Chained World."

The faint amusement in the President’s expression disappeared.

His attention immediately shifted toward the visuals Gamma transmitted to him.

The image of the Chained World appeared before his eyes, far clearer than the previous footage.

As the surveillance feed moved closer and closer, the President narrowed his eyes.

Something massive emerged from the darkness.

A thick silver chain extended outward from the depths of the Chained World, its enormous links disappearing into the distance like an unnatural staircase descending toward the heart of that sealed realm.

The surrounding space seemed distorted by the immense energy radiating from the world itself.

President stared at it for several seconds before finally speaking.

"You said the energy fluctuations prevented you from entering before. So how did you manage to pass through it this time?"

The mechanical voice replied in a stern tone,

"By isolating our internal energy with a controlled systematic barrier, President. Since all of our technology relies on energy, the barrier prevents the Chained World’s highly concentrated fluctuations from interfering with our systems."

President remained silent as he processed Gamma’s explanation.

The faint glow of the information projected across his visor reflected against the dark surface of his helmet, while several diagrams of the Chained World rotated slowly before his eyes.

"So, in other words..." President muttered, his voice carrying a trace of irritation, "that world is interfering with everything we have built around energy."

"That is correct, President."

President stared at the projection for several seconds.

Think like... the Chained World was behaving like an enormous, densely charged magnet with a single dominant polarity. Its immense magnetic field continuously leaked outward, producing powerful fluctuations throughout the surrounding space.

Their technology, however, had been built upon the same fundamental principle.

Whenever their systems approached the Chained World, the overwhelming concentration of magnetic fields interfered with their own technology, disrupting its internal functions.

It was similar to placing two magnets with the same polarity against one another. The stronger magnetic field would interfere with the weaker one and prevent it from functioning normally.

That was the simplest way to understand it.

Of course, it was merely a layman’s explanation. Replace the word "Magnet" with "Energies," Arcane and Clarion and the concept became much closer to what Gamma was actually describing.

President slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the armrest.

"Does that mean our weapons won’t work there?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. None of our conventional energy-based weapons would have any meaningful effect within that environment," Gamma replied in his calm, mechanical tone.

President’s tapping stopped.

His gaze slowly shifted toward the Alpha standing nearby. Its sophisticated armour, weapons, and countless integrated systems represented decades of technological advancement.

Under normal circumstances, the suit was powerful enough to dominate almost any battlefield.

But against the Chained World...

’That means even our mech-suit would be useless there.’

The thought irritated him more than he expected.

His jaw tightened slightly beneath his helmet.

"We built an entire civilisation around energy," President said quietly. "And now you’re telling me that a single world can make all of it worthless simply by existing?"

Gamma remained silent for a brief moment before responding.

"That assessment is accurate, President."

A faint, annoyed breath escaped the President.

"How convenient."

He stared at the projection again, watching the enormous silver chains.

Then another thought occurred to him.

"Can you do the same thing with the Governors?" President asked. "Can you cover them with an energy isolation system and allow them to enter without interference?"

"Yes, we can create a protective energy barrier around the Governors. However, maintaining that barrier will consume a considerable amount of their available energy. If unknown creatures are present within the Chained World, the Governors may have difficulty utilising the suit’s functions to their full capacity."

President just smirked, "Then we will go the old way then."

"President?"

Then, from the corner of his vision, his gaze fell upon Allen.

Allen had remained silent throughout the entire conversation. His body was tense, and his hands were trembling faintly at his sides, but he dared not interrupt.

President watched him for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Prepare the suit, Gamma."

"Understood, President."

The call ended.

President slowly turned his head toward Allen.

"Alpha, spread the news throughout the Empire."

"A human has allied herself with an otherworldly creature to destroy our land and prosperity, and placed our entire world at risk for their own amusement."

Allen’s eyes widened.

The president continued without giving him a chance to speak.

"Put Lily Hatcher on the wanted list. Her image, name, and crimes are to be distributed through every available channel. Anyone who shelters her, assists her, or attempts to conceal her whereabouts will be labelled a traitor to humanity."

Allen’s breathing became uneven.

"No..."

President noticed the fear spreading across his face, and a slow, merciless smile formed beneath his helmet.

"Lily Hatcher... The Traitor of Humanity."

He seemed to savour the title as he repeated it.

"Not bad, is it?"

Allen stared at him in horror.

President stepped closer, his voice becoming colder.

"Imagine it, Allen. Her face displayed across every city. Her name spoken by millions. Every soldier ordered to hunt her down, every citizen encouraged to report her whereabouts, and every person who once considered helping her forced to question whether they wish to stand beside a so-called traitor."

His eyes remained fixed on Allen.

"Your little girl will no longer be an insignificant child hiding within the slums. I will make her famous."

Allen’s face turned pale.

"N-No, President. Please... please don’t do this. I will accept any punishment you give me. Anything. Just leave her out of this. She’s only a child. She doesn’t even understand what she has done. I-I will—"

"Enough."

President’s voice cut through Allen’s pleading like a blade.

Allen immediately fell silent.

President stared at him for a moment before speaking again.

"You misunderstand me."

His voice was almost disturbingly calm.

"I have no interest in punishing a child simply because she happened to be involved in something beyond her understanding. What interests me is the person who protects her."

Allen’s eyes trembled.

President’s smirk returned.

"Fear is remarkably efficient, Allen. I don’t need to touch Lily to control her. I only need to make the entire world chase her."

Allen’s fists tightened helplessly.

Then President delivered the final blow.

"Zeta Governor... The Manager of Zeta Division shall be the leader of the upcoming expedition."

Allen flinched as though he had been struck.

For a moment, he could not even breathe.

Of course, he had already heard from his wife about the Chained World that had appeared within their atmosphere.

He knew how dangerous that place was, and he knew exactly what being appointed leader of the expedition meant.

His wife would have to enter that world herself.

And if she failed...

President did not need to explain the rest.

The tournament awaited those who failed.

Heck, this expedition was bound to fail.

After all, they had no idea what they were actually going to face inside that world. If the creatures dwelling there were powerful enough, his wife would be killed sooner or later.

"P-President... I-I will go instead of her. Please!"

Allen’s voice trembled as he desperately stepped forward, but President did not even slow down. He simply walked out of the tent, leaving Allen’s plea behind him as though it had never been spoken.

Alpha immediately followed after him.

Once they were outside, she hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"President... wouldn’t it be easier if we announced her entire family as traitors and ordered their execution if she failed to return?"

President suddenly stopped.

His head turned slightly toward Alpha.

The single glance he gave her was enough to make the air around them feel colder.

Alpha’s body stiffened.

She immediately lowered her head.

"F-Forgive me, President."

President said nothing.

Of course, he was aware of that possibility.

It would be simple.

Declare the family traitors. Place a death sentence over their heads. Then use their lives as leverage to ensure that the Lily had no choice but to return.

But he could not do that.

Not yet.

Not until he broke Aether.

Allen and Jonathan were important pieces on his board, and their value extended far beyond their immediate usefulness.

If he moved against Allen’s family now, the consequences could interfere with the moment he was waiting for.

’Not yet.’

His expression remained hidden behind his helmet.

’When the time comes, I will decide exactly how much they are worth.’

Instead of answering Alpha’s suggestion, President suddenly asked,

"Have you chosen your teammate?"

Alpha blinked before shaking her head.

"No, President. Unfortunately, there was no one who piqued my interest."

She paused.

"...Although, there is one."

President’s brow furrowed slightly.

"But he belongs to another."

"You mean?"

Alpha raised her hand, and a holographic display appeared between them.

The footage showed Lackey fighting against the enormous monster spider.

President glanced at the projection.

Alpha began explaining.

"He is a slave recently brought in by Genome Beta. From what we have observed, he has performed remarkably well in combat. He relies almost entirely on his physical abilities and fights with his bare hands. His speed and strength are considerably higher than those of ordinary participants."

President barely paid attention.

He had been too occupied with the Chained World to concern himself with the countless participants being thrown into the tournament.

He had not even bothered to look into this matter.

But when Alpha expanded the footage, President’s attention finally settled on the figure moving across the battlefield.

Lackey moved with brutal efficiency.

President watched silently.

"A brute... and impressive speed."

His gaze narrowed.

"Hmm... and he taunts his opponents as well."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"But is that what piqued your interest?"

Alpha shook her head.

"No. Not just that."

She changed the footage.

The battlefield disappeared.

Another recording appeared before them.

Hundreds of participants were scattered across the arena, their expressions filled with terror as they desperately tried to distance themselves from one particular figure.

Lackey.

Alpha continued calmly.

"He is the only participant who has killed two thousand opponents without showing any meaningful signs of exhaustion."

President stopped walking.

His eyes narrowed.

The footage continued.

Lackey moved through the battlefield with an almost savage exhilaration, tearing through anyone who dared approach him. There was no hesitation in his attacks and no visible trace of mercy.

Every opponent who stood in his way was ruthlessly eliminated.

The disturbing part was not merely the number of bodies left behind.

He was enjoying himself.

President stared at the footage.

For the first time, his eyes widened slightly.

"Now that..." he muttered.

There was something almost captivating about the raw brutality displayed before him.

The other participants were no longer trying to challenge Lackey. They were running from him.

The only reason the number had not continued rising exponentially was that the remaining participants left the arena immediately.

President watched the scene with growing interest.

"Haha..."

A low laugh escaped him.

"He didn’t even show mercy."

His gaze remained fixed on Lackey.

"He ruthlessly killed every single one of them..."

President’s smile slowly widened.

"Interesting."

He turned his head toward Alpha.

"What’s his name again?"

"Lackey," Alpha answered.

President raised an eyebrow.

"Lackey?"

For a moment, he simply repeated the name in his mind.

Then a quiet, amused smile appeared beneath his helmet.

"What a wonderfully suitable name."

He slowly repeated it, almost as though tasting the sound of it.

"Lackey..."

Alpha raised her eyebrows.

She had expected President to show some interest after seeing the footage, but his reaction was stronger than she anticipated.

President looked back at the holographic image.

"I want to meet him."

President himself could feel it.

Something was beginning to change.

"New people... new worlds... new opportunities... new faces."

President stared toward the distant horizon, quietly watching a world that was beginning to change before his eyes.

"Who among them will stand beside me?"

His smile slowly deepened.

"And who will stand against me?"

His gaze remained fixed upon the horizon.

"Does it matter?" President muttered.

"In the end..."