Previously, while the "Serene Miniature Garden" still existed and the Fourth Herrscher, Seele, had yet to be defeated by Kevin, she had left behind a hidden trump card on the Earth of the Current Era.
More specifically, she had concealed an enormous number of dormant "Cocoons" across the planet.
Once hatched, those Cocoons would transform into hundreds of millions of purple-black butterflies, each capable of turning a human into a "Long-life Species."
At the time, Seele had intended to use them to ignite a "War of Races," wielding that threat as leverage to prevent a conflict with Kevin Kaslana.
But fate was a cruel trickster.
After the "Reignition" of the Current Era, the Herrscher who desired conflict with humanity the least became the first to be hunted down.
Worse still, even after her defeat, she never activated her hidden trump card.
Having finally understood her true feelings, Seele devoted the last of her strength to a single purpose.
"Protecting her true family."
But now...
"Just as I suspected."
Inside a mysterious underground cavern at an unknown location, Kali turned toward the Herrscher of Thunder beside her and smiled.
"Your Authority to 'control electromagnetic force' is far more versatile than either mine or the Fourth One's."
"Mm!"
The Herrscher of Thunder was the Fifth One.
After hearing Kali praise her as even more exceptional than the Third and Fourth Ones, she could not help tilting her head up slightly, visibly pleased with herself.
At moments like this, she was also at her most agreeable.
Therefore...
"I'll have to trouble you to make a few more trips after this."
A faint smile touched Kali's lips.
"Use the frequency we discovered earlier to awaken every piece of the Fourth One's 'Legacy,' every Cocoon she left hidden across Earth!"
"All right!"
The Herrscher of Thunder's lips curved into a smile.
"I'll leave right now..."
"No, no. There is no need to be so impatient."
Kali stopped her. Her eyes narrowed slightly as a cunning expression crossed her face.
"If we don't want those Blasphemers interfering with you, we'll need a little help."
She grinned mischievously.
"For example... bait they absolutely cannot ignore."
As she spoke, Kali's main consciousness had already connected to several of her Spawn in South America.
Not long ago, those Spawn had discovered traces left behind by several individuals.
Among them, one person's appearance was particularly easy to recognize.
A blond man wearing a pure white clown mask.
"I believe those Blasphemers will be more than willing to deal with you on my behalf."
Kali's eyes narrowed.
"Otto Apocalypse."
Meanwhile, inside the Newborn World Serpent Headquarters...
After distributing the Brainwave-Shielding Earrings created by Vill-V among all the core members, MEI went alone to a secluded operations room.
This was where the Gray Serpents regularly processed intelligence.
MEI had only just arrived when...
"Welcome, Dr. MEI."
An Omnic stepped forward and bowed politely to her.
One had to admit that the Gray Serpents never compromised on their standards in matters like this.
However, MEI had not suddenly come here today to enjoy their compliments.
Instead...
"Gray Serpent, help me contact Mobius."
MEI spoke bluntly, without bothering to soften her words.
"I need to speak with her directly."
"This..."
"Don't waste time making unnecessary excuses."
MEI's expression was serious.
"I know that recently, you... no, all of you Gray Serpents have secretly remained in contact with her. You have also been providing her with considerable assistance in the form of resources and intelligence."
She looked directly into the red electronic eye of the Gray Serpent standing before her.
"Rest assured. I only wish to speak with Mobius and seek her cooperation. I have no intention of moving against her."
"Nor do I intend to target any of you."
"Of course..."
MEI had offered the carrot.
Now came the stick.
"If you refuse to cooperate, I can always ask Prometheus to come here and employ more drastic methods. They might take longer, but at least my time would not be wasted for nothing."
"..."
The Gray Serpent before her fell silent.
There was a long pause, as though the Omnic were carefully considering the situation.
But no... that was not it.
The Gray Serpent was secretly reporting what was happening here to someone else.
Finally...
"I understand, Dr. MEI."
The Gray Serpent bowed slightly once more, then stepped to the right and gestured ahead.
"Please follow me."
MEI moved forward.
Before long, the Gray Serpent led her to a communication console.
The connection had already been established.
The screen displayed a laboratory, but its precise location could not be determined from the environment visible within it.
To prevent anyone from tracing the transmission, the lighting and depth of field had clearly been distorted.
MEI could see only the person displayed on the screen.
Mobius.
Or, more precisely, Sim Mobius.
"It's been a long time, MEI."
The other woman's first words were dripping with sarcasm.
"What's wrong? Have things been going so badly for you lately that you've come to cry on my shoulder?"
"If you truly wish to see me in such a state, Dr. Mobius, I would not mind taking a crash course in acting for your sake," MEI replied.
"Tch. Boring."
Seeing that MEI remained completely unfazed, Sim Mobius changed the subject without further delay.
"Just say it. What do you want from me?"
"Project Stigma."
The instant MEI spoke those words, Sim Mobius's brow seemed to twitch.
Then...
"A new Project Stigma. I want you to assist me remotely and help me complete it."
Unfortunately, after hearing that request, Sim Mobius seemed to recall certain "painful memories."
The corner of her mouth began to twitch as well.
She replied...
"Oh? Project Stigma again?"
Sim Mobius clearly harbored quite a grudge against it.
"What is it this time? Do you want me to rewrite it over and over, creating more than a dozen different versions to serve as decoys for the most terrible 'real plan'?"
"..."
MEI seemed to have just learned something rather unpleasant.
My other self made her rewrite more than a dozen versions, only to discard every one of them as camouflage for the real plan?
Yes. That certainly sounded like something perfectly suited to "my" personality.
However...
"I have no such intention this time."
"Heh~ The other you said exactly the same thing back then."
"..."
MEI was left speechless.
After a long moment, she released a deep sigh.
"Dr. Mobius, you should understand that we don't have enough time to waste on something so laborious right now..."
"Wait!"
Sim Mobius interrupted her.
"Let's make one thing clear. There is no 'we' here."
"There is only 'you all' and 'me.'"
"Is that so?"
MEI's gaze sharpened slightly.
"And does this so-called 'you all' also include Griseo, along with everyone who vanished with the First Research Division before this?"
"Enough."
Sim Mobius's mood changed abruptly.
Clearly, she did not want those matters brought up.
Those... events she had never imagined would ever reach such a point.
Therefore...
"If you truly have business with me, then state it clearly."
Sim Mobius's tone turned cold.
"My time is limited as well."
"Very well."
MEI did not continue provoking her.
She understood the danger of overplaying her hand all too well.
So...
"Dr. Mobius."
MEI went directly to the heart of the matter.
"I want all of humanity to 'evolve' once."
"You should find that proposal interesting."
Sim Mobius did not respond immediately.
Seeing this, MEI continued.
"The new 'Project Stigma' is only of secondary importance compared with the version you already know."
"It exists solely to serve another plan."
"Therefore..."
MEI's gaze sharpened.
"I will not waste your time by forcing you to revise it more than a dozen times again."
After hearing that...
"Interesting."
Sim Mobius's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Since this is a partnership, what do I receive in return?"
"Let us be clear. I am no longer a member of The Moths Who Chase the Flames, nor do I have any intention of joining your little make-believe organization."
"If you want my assistance, you will need to offer me a sufficiently generous reward."
Upon hearing those words...
"Of course there is a reward."
MEI named her price directly.
Or rather, she offered something she was certain Mobius could never refuse.
"The Third Herrscher. The Herrscher of Blood."
"I will give you... an opportunity for revenge."