Chapter 352: A Minor Conceptualization
After terminating the Soul Link with 749, Kaito did not immediately succumb to
dormancy.
He remained sprawled out within the velvet-lined confines of his hand-crafted
luxury coffin, listlessly auditing a stack of data-scrolls that had recently
arrived from the Eldritch Realm. These were the "Cultural and Recreational
Analysis Reports" compiled by the State Army, saturated with visual archives of
the coordinate before the Scourge's manifestation.
Floating before Kaito's ocular sensors were several high-definition magical
projections of human cities.
The structures in the photos, though currently dilapidated by Anomaly erosion,
still radiated a unique, high-tier aesthetic. Skyscrapers ascended like jagged
glass spears aimed at the heavens, their mirrored surfaces reflecting the sun
with a brilliance that was statistically dazzling. The thoroughfares were wide
and black, marked with precise white symbols and rhythmic geometric patterns.
Then there were the neon signs—a chaotic, multi-colored neon-spectrum that
suggested a high-density "Loudness" even during the day.
Kaito shifted his gaze from the archives. Through the narrow gap in the coffin
lid, he audited the scenery of his own Valley Base.
Mmh. Heavy "High-Fantasy Medieval" aesthetic. Cool? Affirmative. Majestic?
Statistically superior.
But...
The more he observed the data, the more he perceived a "Lack of Variable." Is
the Evernight Empire... too monochrome?
The thought refused to be archived. It became a persistent loop in his logic.
He then recalled a localized navigational error from his previous cycle. He had
departed for a midnight fishing expedition. The Unnamed River possessed several
prime "Strike-Zones," but his sensory tracking relied purely on intuition. When
the dark was absolute, several identical rock formations had caused him to loop
in circles for forty minutes.
If there were a lit road-sign, or perhaps a uniquely glowing skyscraper to serve
as a topographical anchor... the expedition would be significantly more
efficient.
Driven by this singular desire for navigational convenience, Kaito extended a
bony finger, tapping the void of the Soul Link.
"Greed."
"YOUR SERVANT IS PRESENT! STANDING BY FOR YOUR DIVINE MANDATE, MAGNANIMOUS
SOVEREIGN!"
Greed's voice erupted in his mind, saturated with a battle-lust for
administrative toil, as if he were ready to bleed Od for the Empire's paperwork
at a micro-second's notice.
"A query for your processors," Kaito's voice drawled lazily, the signal slightly
blurred by his own lethargy.
"Do you perceive that our Empire is... perhaps... lagging in its development?"
"..."
The other end of the link hit absolute zero for five long seconds.
To Greed, those five seconds were a chronological eternity. His mental gears
were rotating at terminal velocity, trying to parse the profound, hidden depth
behind the Sovereign's casual observation.
Lagging? The Evernight Empire?
Was the Master jesting? They possessed an Undead Legion capable of pulverizing
Gods. They held seven Generals who could tear the Planar fabric with a gesture.
Their borders were expanding into the Multiverse with an unstoppable momentum.
How could the term "Lagging" be statistically applied to such a power?
Negative! Greed realized. The Sovereign never speaks without a structural
purpose!
If the Master stated they were lagging, then they were lagging! It was a failure
of the subordinates! Their vision was too narrow, their tactical scope too
small! They had failed to keep pace with the Sovereign's trans-dimensional
logic!
"My Lord," Greed's voice returned, now carrying a note of terrified, desperate
humility. "Does your wisdom imply... that the Empire's infrastructure requires a
total paradigm shift and systemic upgrade?"
"Exactly. You possess high-tier intuition," Kaito murmured, his tone carrying a
spark of "Finally-He-Gets-It" relief.
"Audit the photos transmitted from the Eldritch Realm. Compare them to our own
sectors."
"The towers. The roads. The brilliant glass facades. Do you not project that our
own territories could utilize a bit of... novelty?"
Kaito paused, adding a secondary data point. "I am not referring to combat
parameters. Our output there is satisfactory. I am referring to... Quality of
Life."
"Look at their 'Hive-Architectures.' The office spires. The residential
high-rises. They possess cinemas, game-centers, automated lifts, gourmet hubs...
Oh, wait. The Undead lack a requirement for a 'Food-Court'."
Kaito attempted to delete the last variable. "Disregard the sustenance-hubs. But
we still have biological human subjects, correct? Statistics suggest their
numbers will scale in the future."
"Overall... do you grasp my intent?"
I grasp it.
In that micro-second, Greed felt as if a bolt of divine lightning had struck his
soul-core. He remembered! He finally archived the truth!
From the acceptance of human refugees to the annexation of the Eldritch Realm,
to this very conversation... the Sovereign never desired a cold Empire of pure
force and slaughter!
From the beginning, the Master's win-condition was a "Multiversal Utopia"—a
supreme civilization capable of housing all races under the Evernight banner in
a state of comfort, ease, and absolute dignity!
Combat parameters were merely the "Antivirus." The foundation.
True Greatness was localized in the Civilizational Core! In the ultimate concern
for the life-parameters of every individual subject! This wasn't a construction
project; this was the creation of an unprecedented "Paradise" that spanned the
dimensions!
The logic was now absolute.
"YOUR SERVANT HAS FULLY ARCHIVED YOUR INTENT!" Greed's voice exploded with a
manic, religious fervor.
"I shall summon every relevant department immediately! We shall commence the
'New Era Urban Planning' protocol with maximum intensity!"
"Mmh. Keep the output within reasonable thresholds. Do not induce a
system-overload," Kaito cautioned casually.
"Utilize the Iron Fortress Territory as a beta-test sector. We shall audit the
results there first."
"AS COMMANDED! THE DIRECTIVE SHALL BE EXECUTED WITHOUT ERROR! I SHALL NOT FAIL
YOUR VISION!"
The link severed.
Silence reclaimed the interior of the coffin. Kaito repositioned himself into a
"Flat-Lay" posture, closing the lid with a satisfied thud.
Truthfully, his logic was far less complex. He simply found the modern urban
aesthetic of the Eldritch Realm to be visually relaxing. If he had one or two
glowing towers outside his front door, he wouldn't have to guess his way home
while fishing at night.
It was a matter of convenience.
Simple as that.
☆☆☆
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