Hexi did not head to the Royal Court via the conventional audience passage; instead, she directly activated her exclusive authority as the Heavenly Base King, appearing instantly beneath Holy Keisha's throne in a manner akin to space jumping.
The Royal Court was not a place for public discussion at this moment; only Keisha was there, reclining casually on the throne, resting her head on one hand, her gaze seemingly piercing through the magnificent hall and cast toward an unfathomable focal point deep within the Universe.
She did not seem surprised by Hexi's sudden arrival, merely lifting her eyelids slightly.
"It seems that 'good student' of yours has set another difficult problem for you?"
Keisha's voice carried its usual languor, but Hexi, who knew her well, could detect a hint of solemnity beneath that laziness.
Clearly, the fact that Hexi had used such a secret and rapid method of communication and movement indicated the urgency of the matter.
"It is not a problem, Keisha."
Hexi took a few steps up the stairs and sat casually in her usual spot beside Keisha's throne; although her posture was relaxed, her eyes were as sharp as silver light. "It is an opportunity... one that might allow us to make an even more beautiful move. An opportunity that could significantly reduce the cost while simultaneously achieving, or even exceeding, our original goals."
"Oh?"
Keisha finally turned her gaze fully, those eyes that seemed capable of perceiving the truths of the Universe landing on Hexi's face. "Speak."
Hexi did not answer directly; instead, she raised her hand and tapped the air. Several imperceptible streams of data light flowed from her fingertips, constructing an information barrier between them that completely isolated the inside from the outside.
Then, she transmitted the content of Artoria's communication, along with her own preliminary analysis and judgment, to Keisha in a highly condensed manner.
The amount of information was not large, but every word weighed as heavy as a thousand jun.
Especially the description regarding the "possible future trends"—Keisha's fall, the Angel turmoil, and heavy sacrifices—caused a faint ripple to pass through the depths of even Keisha's eternally calm eyes.
It was not fear, but a cold sharpness, as if verifying some deduction.
"Parallel observation? Information fragments?"
Keisha's fingertips tapped lightly on the throne's armrest, producing a rhythmic sound. "That is an interesting way to put it. Rather than an ethereal prophecy, it seems more like a 'perception' of certain high-probability causal lines, generated based on high-dimensional information fluctuations or the nature of her own special existence. Combined with that 'gift' she brought, it is not surprising that she possesses this characteristic."
She did not question the authenticity of Artoria's information. At their level, while the source of information was important, the "value" and "possibility" of the information were more worthy of attention.
Artoria's "perception" had a considerable degree of overlap with certain deductions that their Knowledge Treasury had performed based on existing data, which in itself spoke volumes.
"The point is not how she'sees' it, Keisha."
Hexi leaned forward slightly, her silver eyes fixed on Keisha. "The point lies in her proposal—to awaken the Ancient Angels, form the 'Guardians of the Path,' use a fake body for the trip to Earth, and move her true self and core forces into the shadows. While ensuring the direction of the revolution and the safety of new technologies, we should preserve our strength, stabilize the situation, and deter the petty. What do you think?"
Keisha did not answer immediately.
She leaned back against the throne, her eyelids drooping slightly as if she had fallen into deep thought.
The Royal Court fell into silence, with only the silent information flowing between the two of them, clashing, deducing, and simulating intensely.
After a long time, Keisha slowly spoke, her voice calm and waveless. "The cost can indeed be reduced. It is not my wish to sacrifice unnecessary young Angel warriors. If we can achieve our goals at a lower cost, that would naturally be better. However, Hexi..."
She raised her eyes, her gaze like ice and snow, shooting directly at Hexi. "Have you thought about what it means to awaken those old timers?"
Hexi's expression remained unchanged. "It means breaking the existing balance of power. It means reintroducing those long-sealed, old-day forces that may not entirely align with our current 'order of justice' philosophy back into the Heavenly City. It means that the dominance of the revolution may no longer be solely in your hands, mine, or the hands of the new generation represented by Yan. It means... risk."
"Correct."
Keisha nodded, her tone devoid of happiness or anger. "They are loyal to the Angel Civilization; that is beyond doubt. But which 'Angel Civilization' are they loyal to? Is it the Angel Civilization before the Battle of Fury Sea, which could use any means necessary to survive? Is it the Angel Civilization during the Form War, which established its foundation with iron-blooded means? Or is it this relatively... 'gentler' Angel Civilization after I established the 'order of justice'?"
Her gaze swept across the empty Royal Court, as if piercing through the walls to see those ancient figures silent in the dust of history.
"Many of them may not fully agree with the current 'justice.' They might think we are weak, or that the order has bound their hands and feet. Awakening them and giving them power can certainly enhance deterrence, but it may also introduce new unstable factors, and even... the conflict of ideologies could turn from an undercurrent into a tidal wave. During this critical period of change, this could be a help, but it could also be a greater obstacle, or even... the seeds of division."
Keisha's concerns were not without reason.
The wars that the Ancient Angels experienced were more cruel and direct; survival was the only law.
The order of justice of Keisha's era, however, carried more idealism and rule-based constraints.
The chasm between their ideologies did indeed exist.
Hexi, however, curled the corners of her lips slightly, a smile that carried both coldness and wisdom. "Keisha, you have forgotten the most critical point—what do we have in our hands now?"
Keisha's eyes flickered slightly.
"It is the 'Knowledge' sufficient to overturn cognition and lead us toward a brand-new future!"
Hexi's voice was resolute and decisive. "This knowledge is not just technology; it is a brand-new possibility, a higher-level path that transcends the existing binary opposition of 'justice' and 'chaos.' For those old timers who pursue power, seek the sublimation of civilization, and are tired of endless low-level disputes, what could be more attractive than this? What noble goal could better unite hearts and transcend old ideological differences than 'participating in and leading the Angel Civilization toward a brand-new era'?"
She stood up, her silver hair moving without wind, her eyes shining with an almost scorching light. "We can clearly tell them that the old era has reached a bottleneck, and new threats, whether Void or otherwise, are imminent. The Angel Civilization needs change and power, but it needs the correct direction even more. Now, we have the direction, but we need the most loyal and powerful Angel warriors to guard this path and escort the civilization's leap! This is not a return to the old war mode, but the initiation of a higher-level 'expedition' for survival, for sublimation, and for exploring the unknown!"
"Elevate their loyalty from loyalty to a specific creed or individual to loyalty to the 'future of the Angel Civilization' itself. Guide their power toward guarding 'hope' and the 'future.' This will not only resolve some ideological conflicts but also ignite their long-dormant passion and sense of mission."
Hexi looked at Keisha, saying every word clearly. "Furthermore, Keisha, you are still here. Your prestige, combined with this 'blueprint for the future' that would make any rational Angel's heart flutter, is enough to suppress the vast majority of dissenting voices. As for the few stubborn ones... I believe they, too, will make a wise choice under the great cause of 'fighting for the Angel Civilization.' Even if there are truly those with ulterior motives, they will not be able to make waves under the attraction of absolute power and new goals."
"As for the risk," Hexi's tone slowed, but became more firm, "any change carries risks. Compared to following the original script, paying the price of your 'fall' and the sacrifice of countless young Angel warriors to gamble on a future full of variables, the risk assumed by awakening a portion of controllable, powerful, and new-goal-aligned old Angels is much smaller and much more controllable. We have the Knowledge Treasury, the Sky-based Computing Cluster, your prestige and mine, and even more... this 'future' that no one can refuse. We have the full ability to harness this power and transform it into the greatest assistance for driving the civilization forward, rather than an obstacle."
Keisha listened quietly, the tapping of her fingers having stopped at some point.
Her eyes, which seemed to contain the birth and death of the Universe, reflected Hexi's face, which was slightly glowing with excitement, and also reflected the countless possibilities that were being rapidly calculated in her own heart.
Hexi's proposal was bold, even somewhat radical.
But it was not a castle in the air; it was built upon the foundation of the "knowledge" they had just acquired, which was sufficient to overturn the status quo.
This knowledge was the greatest variable and also the greatest source of confidence.
"The fake body descending to Earth..." Keisha spoke slowly, seemingly pondering the details of the plan. "Are you confident in the technology? It is not easy to deceive Karl's great clock, to deceive Morgana, or even to deceive the vast majority of observers in the known Universe."
"Leave it to me."
Hexi accepted without hesitation, the light of excitement that researchers show when facing high-difficulty challenges flashing in her eyes. "Combining the conjectures in the new knowledge regarding information projection, energy mimicry, and some rule-level aspects, I have a seventy percent certainty of being able to create a 'Holy Keisha' fake body that even Karl cannot see through in the short term. As long as we do not engage in ultra-high-intensity confrontation involving core rule-level aspects, it will be enough to support us until the 'fall' drama is completed. As for the method of the 'fall' and the subsequent information masking... we can also use certain ideas from the new knowledge to optimize and ensure authenticity. In this way, we can achieve the goal of drawing out the enemy, creating chaos, and buying time for you to move into the shadows, while also ensuring your absolute safety."
Keisha nodded slightly; this was indeed a field in which Hexi excelled, and with the assistance of the new knowledge, the feasibility was high.
"Then, awakening the Ancient Angels..." Keisha's gaze became profound once more. "You will draft the list. The criteria lie not only in strength but also in temperament, in the loyalty to the concept of the 'Angel Civilization' itself, and... in the degree of acceptance of new things. For the first batch, the quantity should not be too large, but they must be absolutely elite and capable of undertaking important tasks. The method of awakening and the rhetoric used also need to be carefully considered."
"Understood."
The silver light in Hexi's eyes intensified; she was clearly already screening the list and formulating plans in her heart. "I will proceed secretly to ensure nothing goes wrong. After awakening, they will not appear directly in the Heavenly City but will secretly assemble at several absolutely safe backup Bases, directly led by me, responsible for the defense of core areas for new technologies, and... executing some special missions."
"As for Yan..." Keisha mused.
"Do not let her know everything for the time being."
Hexi continued, "But we can let her know that we have had a new, important technological breakthrough that requires an absolutely secret and safe environment. She needs to be on Earth, undergo trials, and grow rapidly, while also... cooperating to play this part well. She will be the focus on the surface and the key to our evaluation of whether she can truly grow up under pressure. As for the future... when she is truly mature, this power and new knowledge will naturally be opened to her gradually."
Keisha was silent for a moment, and finally, she nodded slowly.
The movement was light, yet it seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jun, finalizing the shift in the core strategy of the Angel Civilization for a period of time.
"It seems our script indeed needs to be rewritten."
Keisha's voice returned to its usual calm, but beneath that calm was a power and determination about to burst forth. "Use a fake body to go to the Earth's game, draw the snake out of its hole, and confuse the gods. Secretly awaken the sharp blades, guard the fire, and accumulate strength. When the time is ripe..."
She did not continue, but Hexi already understood.
That would be the moment when the Angel Civilization, with a brand-new posture, would redefine the landscape of the known Universe.
"This 'gift' from Artoria and her suggestion..."
Keisha's gaze seemed to pierce through the Royal Court and cast toward the direction of the Silver Moon Observatory, with a hint of indescribable meaning in her eyes. "It is truly... just right. She may not even be fully aware herself that what she brought is not just knowledge, but a possibility... to break the inherent framework of thinking."
Hexi also looked in that direction and smiled slightly. "She is a good student and also... an interesting variable. It seems that taking her in back then was one of the most correct investments I have made in these tens of thousands of years."
"Then, start preparing, Hexi."
Keisha withdrew her gaze, becoming majestic and unfathomable once again. "Time will not wait for us too long. The stage of Earth is about to open. Before we take the stage, we must first arrange the 'props' and 'actors' backstage."
"Yes, my Queen."
Hexi bowed elegantly, the light of eagerness flashing in her eyes.
A layout far grander and more controllable than the original plan was about to quietly unfold under the joint promotion of her and Keisha.
And the source of all these changes, that young girl from another world, was at this moment enjoying the long-lost, peaceful time with her lover under the sunlight of the Silver Moon Observatory.
She did not know what kind of waves her words had stirred up at the highest level of the Angel Civilization, nor how they would change the fate of countless people.
The storm was brewing in silence.
And this time, the cards in the hands of the chess player seemed to be more numerous and more stable.
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