"The former queen of the Eldian Empire, Historia Reiss, pays homage to Saint Nerona."
A young girl with blonde hair tied back and crowned with a golden tiara, bowed nobly with great care.
Her height, barely one metre and fifty, made her look delicate and tiny. However, her serious expression gave her a certain coldness.
The queen in front of him was also a warrior who had faced the Pure Titans with her own hands and carried the responsibility of her people on her shoulders.
This made Imu somewhat interested in his request, although he already imagined what he meant.
"Noble Celestial Dragon, on behalf of the unfortunate Eldians, I implore your mercy so that the World Government will withdraw the punishment imposed upon us."
After finishing her words, Historia saw that Imu, sitting on the throne, showed no reaction and her heart sank.
She knew, through various sources, of the Celestial Dragons' influence on the World Government and believed that her people's hope lay in Imu.
Suddenly, she knelt down, her forehead touching the ground. With effort, she uttered a heavy plea.
"If... if you promise to treat the Eldians benevolently, I am willing to become your slave and offer you everything I have."
The atmosphere in the hall gradually became serious.
Imu stared coldly at Historia without saying a word.
After a moment, a cold voice resonated in Historia's mind.
"The World Government's ruling announcement cannot be changed overnight. The Eldians must pay the corresponding price for what Eren Yeager did. This cannot be changed."
The unexpected answer made Historia's eyes widen. She looked at Imu in amazement, noting that everyone seemed to be oblivious to what had happened.
Imu's words were, however, misleading. He had the ability to overturn the World Government's decision, but Historia was not brave enough to deserve such a favor.
"Now that I've responded to your request, it's time to talk about what I want."
Imu completely ignored the despair and unwillingness on the face of the young queen and continued to convey his voice coldly.
"You, as a member of the Eldian royalty, can access the Coordinate Space where Ymir resides. Take me to her."
"What?!"
Historia, who just a second before was lamenting the fate of her people, now looked at Imu in disbelief.
"How do you know that?!"
The next moment Historia's eyes became empty. Her will had been subdued by Imu's mind, leading her soul along with his through a path of multi-colored light.
Finally, they both appeared in a strange space, full of stars and silver sand, softly illuminated despite the darkness.
Imu immediately turned his gaze to a giant tree in the distance, knowing that it was the 'Path' linked to the blood of the Eldians.
Then, he focused on a silver-haired girl in torn white clothing, who was staring at him angrily from a distance.
Imu ignored Ymir's gaze and said calmly: "Since you've allowed me to come this far, I assume you want to talk to me too, right, Ymir?"
Historia regained consciousness, observing the situation without understanding what had just happened.
"I want to know, what is the dimensional door that you used to come to this world?" Ymir asked with a cold expression.
Imu said calmly: "I see that you have used the memories of future bearers of the Nine Titans to learn about the World Government and who I am."
"So, let me ask you something: Knowing all this, why did you help Eren Yeager fight against us and cause so many losses to the World Government?"
This question really intrigued Imu.
"What? Can't I let off some steam after you guys destroyed my hope for freedom?" Ymir turned her head away in disdain, her voice filled with resentment.
Imu was taken aback for a moment, and as he read her thoughts, he became even more astonished.
"You actually concealed a relatively good future from Eren just to vent your anger, and let him see only the worst future, so he was so determined to fight us!"
What absurd childishness!
No, there is no concept of time in this coordinate space. No matter how long she has been here, it is just a moment to the outside world, so Ymir's psychological age is likely to remain at the age before death.
But Eren is too pitiful.
"Eren is useless to me. His only value is to vent my anger. Now I want to make a deal with you." Ymir turned to face Imu again.
"Tell me."
"I will serve the World Government for fifty years, but after that you must kill me and free me from this place. I know you can do it." Ymir said with unwavering firmness.
"Fifty years?"
Imu raised an eyebrow, though what he was wondering was whether he really had the ability to kill Ymir. Right now, he didn't seem to have any means to directly harm a soul.
Maybe in the future?
Or perhaps Ymir is referring to the Enma sword. If she used that sword, it might be possible. But bringing the sword to this coordinate space might reveal the existence of this space to the King of Death, which would be too risky.
"It's too short."
"At least a hundred years, and you must also gather the power of the Nine Titans back into an Eldian chosen by me to serve the World Government."
Imu stated his request without hesitation.
"Eh... okay." Ymir sighed. In fact, she already knew what the outcome would be, she was just trying her luck.
"That..." At this moment, Historia, who had been silent, raised her head and looked at Imu with determination.
"Saint Nerona, if you are willing, you can give me the power of the Nine Titans. I am willing to be your Ultimate Titan!"
Ymir remained impassive, while Imu looked at Historia in surprise. "You should know that once you inherit the Power of Titans, you can only live for thirteen years, right?"
Then, he turned to Ymir and asked: "Or can you change that limitation?"
"No, thirteen years of life is already the basic rule of the Power of Titans, and I can't do anything about it." Ymir shook her head.
Historia knelt down again and pleaded with Imu.
"Saint Nerona, if I can exchange thirteen years of loyal service for your kindness to the Eldians, then as the queen of the Eldians, I am willing to do it!"
Imu was silent.
To maximize the power of the Titans, using a member of the Eldian royalty as a host was the best option. But Historia was the only remaining Eldian royalty. If she had no offspring before she died, the royal line would die out.
Furthermore, Historia, as a member of royalty, had some control over Ymir, due to the latter's submission.
"Let me make one thing clear: It is an unalterable fact that Eldians must enter industrial factories. It's not that I can't do it, but that your worth is not enough even if you become the Ultimate Titan."
The Ultimate Titan is indeed very powerful. If she were to master Busoshoku Haki and Kenbunshoku Haki, or even Rokushiki, the Eldian Queen's combat power could probably reach the level of a General.
"But, I can allow the Eldians to have a better living environment. Think about it a little more!"
Historia's tearful face froze for a moment, and when she reacted, she quickly wiped away her tears, then lowered her head and tried her best to think.
Imu and Ymir stood silently to the side.
After a moment Historia raised her head and stood up.
"Saint Nerona, I've made up my mind!"
"Tell me." Imu looked at her absentmindedly.
Because of her identity, her ability, her courage, and her appearance, Historia met Imu's requirements for a partner. Accepting her was no big deal. After all, he was not an ascetic like the previous Imu.
"On Paradis Island, I have established a few orphanages. I hope you will allow and support me in adopting current and future children in these orphanages and teaching them basic skills until they reach adulthood."
Historia's idea was simple: to protect the minds of the Eldians. Twenty years meant a generation of children growing up dedicated only to work. In twenty years, the children of most Eldians will only know about their parents' work and likewise when those children grow up they will only be able to teach that to their children. This will make the Eldians a rigid society from which none of them can escape.
"What a smart woman."
Imu looked at Historia in surprise. He hadn't thought about it, but he liked the woman in front of him more, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Okay, but the content taught in the orphanage must be supervised by the World Government."
"Of course!" Historia nodded without objection.
A moment later, Imu and Historia returned to their bodies. In the real world, everything that had happened took only an instant.
Meanwhile, Historia's body began to turn red and emit white vapor.
His eyes gradually changed from the original blue to emerald green, and there was even a stream of bright light flashing continuously, all of which made Imu feel very interested.
Ymir was fulfilling her promise to transfer the powers of the Nine Titans to Historia's body.
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