"Why should I stop him?"
Beneath the projection of the azure planet, Lacus turned her head slightly, smiling as she looked at Kirika Tachibana.
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly.
"You don't seem to plan on telling Luo Shu that getting the Five Great Powers to reach a consensus and execute a certain plan is, in itself, an impossible task."
"After all, it's not five people, but five countries with different demands. It's a chaotic mass of public voices and vested interests all mixed together."
"To get five such groups to unify their thoughts and execute something in unison is practically a miracle."
Seeing Kirika Tachibana say this, Lacus was rather surprised.
"I thought you, Kirika, would be the one who agreed with Luo Shu the most."
Seeing Lacus mock her like this, Kirika Tachibana resisted the urge to roll her eyes and said flatly:
"If you want to say I like using violence, just say it. No need to beat around the bush."
To this, Lacus just smiled, then turned her head back to look at the projection of the Earth in the sky.
"Luo Shu never said he wanted the Five Great Powers to follow his command and eradicate those demon god believers, did he?"
"Hm?" Kirika Tachibana immediately caught the meaning and said in surprise, "He didn't say that. He only said he wanted to determine the righteousness and evil of the Classes..."
With that, Kirika Tachibana fell silent. After a moment, she couldn't help but laugh.
"So, that guy wasn't looking for people for a meeting at all. He was just issuing a notice!"
Ultimately, things like good and evil are defined by people.
And people represent a certain collective.
This collective could be the common people, the ruling class, or even an individual.
As long as he defines a certain standard as good and another as evil, and rewards good while suppressing evil.
As long as he can do these two things and expand the scope of this standard to a region, a country, or even the entire world.
Then, what does it matter whether the Five Great Powers agree or not?
From the very beginning, Luo Shu never thought the Five Great Powers would actually follow his ideas and standards to eradicate all the demon god believers. He just wanted to inform them that any Class not on the approved list would be within the SDS's strike range.
Realising this, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but run a hand through her golden hair, which was tied in a single ponytail, and sighed.
"I should have known."
Lacus gently shook her head and said with a light laugh, "You just didn't realise that the Unions can also be constrained by us, Kirika."
Hearing Lacus say this, Kirika Tachibana's face flushed. She then placed a hand on her hip and said with a look of resignation:
"That may be so, but when did Luo Shu become so arrogant?"
Lacus tilted her head and thought for a moment. "He seems to become like this occasionally."
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but retort, "Don't talk as if you know him so well. How long have you two even been together..."
"'That's just how my man is, so wilful'... Aren't you sick of yourself..."
After her retort, Kirika Tachibana sighed and said directly to Lacus:
"Alright, let's leave this matter here for now. Setting standards for Classes is something that shouldn't fall to someone from the operations department like me anyway."
"Where's the new batch of Class materials? The new recruits in the operations department have been eyeing the sorcerer Class for a long time~"
Seeing Kirika Tachibana change the subject, Lacus smiled and reminded her:
"I've already had Ania wait for you in the materials hangar. By my calculations, she should have sent you a message by now."
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana's eyelids lifted. She instinctively took out her phone to open it, but only after taking it out did she realise her mistake and opened the Divine Pantheon chat interface with her consciousness instead.
Seeing Kirika Tachibana mix up her communication methods, Lacus just smiled, then turned her gaze back to the illusory projection of the Earth in the sky.
Under her bright eyes, on the projection of the Earth, in the region of Japan, a seed-like embryo was gradually taking shape.
"The virtual game Yggdrasil, is it..."
"I hope... everything goes smoothly..."
...
Chiba, Yggdrasil Inc., temporary headquarters.
On the way to the ground-floor lift, Akihiko Kayaba, a scholarly-looking young man with brown hair in a white lab coat, couldn't help but ask in surprise:
"A director of Yggdrasil wants to see me?"
"Teacher, what's going on?"
The man Akihiko Kayaba called Teacher was named Shigemura Tetsuhiro. He was an expert in brain-computer interface research and the one who recommended Akihiko Kayaba for Yggdrasil.
At that moment, hearing Akihiko Kayaba's question, Shigemura Tetsuhiro turned his head, looked at his prized student before him, and said:
"In a way, it's a good thing."
"I imagine you should know, Kayaba, that there's a personal research lab within Yggdrasil..."
Hearing this, Akihiko Kayaba couldn't help but ask:
"Is it the Copernicus Research Lab led by Dr Tabane Shinonono?"
At this, Shigemura Tetsuhiro shot Akihiko Kayaba a glare. He scanned their surroundings, and after confirming that none of the nearby staff were paying attention, he immediately said:
"Don't casually mention the name of that research lab when you're outside."
Akihiko Kayaba couldn't help but think, 'But you were the one who brought it up first, Teacher.' However, out of respect for the hierarchy between teacher and student, he held his tongue.
Once the lift arrived and they both stepped inside, Shigemura Tetsuhiro placed his hand on the lift's electronic screen.
Instantly, an electronic text indicating "Permission Granted" appeared on the screen.
Having unlocked the permission, Shigemura Tetsuhiro then pressed the button for the top floor and said to Akihiko Kayaba:
"You've even been told the name of that lab? It seems your talent is indeed quite remarkable, Kayaba."
"At the very least, much better than a mediocrity like me who has only heard of the research lab."
Seeing Shigemura Tetsuhiro's self-deprecating yet proud expression, Akihiko Kayaba didn't know what to say.
He knew his teacher was mocking himself for his own talent not being noticed by that special research lab, and he also knew his teacher was proud that his own student had caught the lab's attention.
Although he understood this in his heart, Akihiko Kayaba, who was not good at socialising, didn't know how to comfort his teacher, so he could only remain silent.
Similarly, Shigemura Tetsuhiro hadn't expected Akihiko Kayaba to say anything comforting. He turned his head and said directly:
"The Copernicus Research Lab..."
"From the moment I was invited to join Yggdrasil, all the research, all the virtual reality technology, all the brilliant and insane ideas, have come from that place."
"Every time I see the names on those papers, I can't help but marvel at what a place of countless ingenious ideas it must be."
"But regrettably, my only connection to that research lab is through a series of internal emails."
"To be honest, if the research results weren't right in front of me, I would even doubt whether that lab actually exists."
"But from the looks of it now, that place should exist."
At this point, Shigemura Tetsuhiro looked at Akihiko Kayaba. Seeing his complicated expression, he smiled.
"I suppose you've already guessed."
Hearing this, Akihiko Kayaba nodded and asked:
"Is that director from the Copernicus Research Lab?"
"Yes, and no."
Shigemura Tetsuhiro shook his head, then said:
"Although the Copernicus Research Lab led by Dr Tabane Shinonono is an institution independent of Yggdrasil Inc. and does not participate in Yggdrasil's operations, I've heard that the director who wants to see you now is the behind-the-scenes manager and funder of the Copernicus Research Lab."
Hearing this, Akihiko Kayaba instantly understood, a look of realisation dawning on his face.
So, the investors had taken a liking to him?
And just then, with a ding, the lift doors opened.
Shigemura Tetsuhiro glanced at the doors, then turned back to Akihiko Kayaba and said with a smile, "You've only been with me for a month, but it looks like you won't be staying at Yggdrasil for much longer, Kayaba!"
Hearing this, Akihiko Kayaba's voice trembled slightly as he said, "I might... disappoint you, Professor."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You're my star pupil!"
Shigemura Tetsuhiro clapped Akihiko Kayaba on the shoulder and then said, "Come on, let's go meet your future benefactor!"
With that, Shigemura Tetsuhiro gave Akihiko Kayaba a gentle push, and the two of them walked out of the lift together.