After his return, Adam went missing for some time again. He is once again cooping in his manufacturing complex in mars that had expanded to cover almost 30% of Mars although most of the progress is to essentially turn Mars into a planet sized spacecraft or mobile fortress which to be honest, Adam has little hope on it would succeed since it's just one of his overly ambitious project.
Anyway, with the Void Archive. He finally achieved the necessary technological breakthrough that finally allowed him to manufacture High Grade Neural Core and start producing Sternritter Class Mechanical Quincy.
After two weeks of working on the production line, Adam can finally step back and let it start manufacturing High Grade Neural Core which take a very long time to complete each. So, Adam decided to do something else while waiting for the cores to start assembling Sternritter Class Mechanical Quincy and programming their cores.
———
Early morning at the training ground, Orbital Fortress.
Siegfried as usual leading the morning training session as he had always done with others who joined willingly either just for the morning exercise or wanted to join the sparring session later too.
To everyone's surprise, Adam casually stroll in and join their session. Acting all natural and trying to blend in with the sizable crowd.
Siegfried sees him and is about to call out to Adam when Adam gestures back to stay silent. Otherwise, they wouldn't even have time to train as everyone's attention would be on him.
Then, as Adam requested. Siegfried stayed silent and went along with the morning exercise to warm up before the sparring session.
At the end of the exercise. When people went to their own circle and partners to start training, Adam moved over to greet Siegfried.
"It has been a while, Siegfried. How are you doing?"
"Fine I suppose." Siegfried sighed, not trying to hold back about his apparent boredom since there isn't much to do other than continue training and training which in itself is nothing wrong but Servants cannot improve. Their training is bound to yield nothing other than staving off boredom.
"I see. So, had you thought about my offer from last time?"
"To send me back to meet my wife, Kriemhild?" Siegfried mutters, already knowing what Adam wanted to do for him.
Siegfried does regret what he did and caused Kriemhild to suffer after his death. He did wish to correct that mistake if possible. However, he can't do it precisely because he is a hero.
In order to rectify his past mistakes, he needs to change the events of the past but that will cause changes to history and create a singularity centering around him. This means, even if he did correct his past mistakes. The world wouldn't allow it because it deviated from Proper Human History. These mistakes will be corrected unless he is capable of freeing himself from the influence of the Counter Force. Which means he will have to bring Kriemhild out from Nasuverse.
"No. It's not sending you back. But we are taking your wife away. The world wouldn't allow you to wantonly change history anyway." Adam said and tapped Siegfried on his shoulder and said. "You helped me a lot and it's time I repay you for your hard work."
Siegfried didn't show any reaction at what Adam said because he heard it before that he wished to reward him for his hard work. But Siegfried's guts can tell there is a deeper meaning why Adam wanted to do this. To reward him and help him reunite with his wife. However, Siegfried didn't pursue it because Adam clearly didn't want to share it if he wasn't willing to talk about it.
"Alright then. Let's go, Master." Siegfried don his Servant outfit and his dragon slaying sword, Balmung.
Together with Adam, Siegfried went to save the vengeful princess consumed by her despair and hatred.
———
While Adam is away to Nasuverse, Angie is busy handling a task given by Adam before he left.
In the middle of the sea, Angie stood patiently on the water surface and waited until she started seeing a silhouette of someone in the distance quickly approaching.
Angie widens her eyes a little but not much despite Adam just showing he could see the future to accurately tell the place and time she will encounter Purifier.
As for Purifier, she is surprised to meet someone standing in the middle of the sea who clearly is not a KANSEN and is using an unknown energy in order to stand above the water surface.
"Who— No. What are you?" Purifier warily looks at Angie after sensing she isn't exactly a biological lifeform either considering she sees what is under Angie's artificial skin.
"Just a maid." Angie replied to the flabbergasted Purifier that she just started sizing up Angie top to bottom before scanning her database for anything and found matching results.
"I remember you from the port when I tried to recruit the Commander. What are you doing here? Are you asking to be killed?" Purifier asked, immediately designated her as enemy for her affiliation to Adam.
Angie noted that Purifier is a little different from the one she met in the past. She looks less playful and more like a tired overworked worker. The look of lethargy hung around her face as Purifier aimed her cannon at Angie instead of trying to toy or play with her like she normally would.
"No. I am merely trying to deliver a letter from my Master." Angie took out a letter sealed with wax in a white envelope before she gave it to Purifier who took it with confusion on her face, not knowing how to react.
Angie didn't stay for long either and left immediately after she completed her task, leaving Purifier with many unanswered questions and annoyance that she now has too many unanswered questions burned into her mind to ignore this invitation.
"How did the Commander learn about Deus X and Timeline Origin? Who leaked these classified informations ahead of schedule?" Purifier said with an alarmed tone before sighing deeply and wiped her face and picked up her pace, leaving in a hurry.
———
Back in Azur Lane naval base.
"Good work everyone. You all are dismissed for now." Enterprise said as he dismissed another patrol team to rest after finishing their shift.
Lately, her workload has been significantly reduced so she only needs to spend a few hours in the office and the remaining time doing other things. Mainly her own enjoyment.
The upgrading project had been completed with all ships within Azur Lane having been outfitted with the latest and best equipment available. The Siren had also toned down their activities around the shores. However, she couldn't help but feel this is a premonition especially after what Adam said when he met her a few days ago to inform her of an important decision. It was about bringing Siren to their fold.
Enterprise possesses her memory from another timeline and she is aware of the secrets. Like how Siren is actually an ally rather than enemy. Their true enemy is Deus X.
The accelerated growth in strength of the KANSEN rendered the development plans of the Sirens useless which also caused the Siren a lot of issues and overworked because Adam basically pushed everything years ahead of schedule and the Siren is left catching up left and right. Not even have time to mount large-scale operations at this point.
Looking from all the signs, Enterprise can only draw the parallels and reach a conclusion…
"The time for the final battle is quickly approaching…" Enterprise mutters as her eyes stare at the air blankly as memories from her past life haunt her once again. But she quickly shook her head and said, "No! It's going to be different this time. We are stronger and better prepared than before." She said in a manner that sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than stating a fact.
But then Enterprise remembers about the Iron Blood faction. They were allies in the past but in this timeline, it seems they are beyond saving. The fact that Adam had made no action aside from constant surveillance is quite the obvious giveaway.
To that, she couldn't help but worry. Fighting against clear enemies is one thing. But former allies are another. After all, she confirmed Adam has memories of his past life. Then he must still remember those Iron Blood KANSEN he is in love with. She couldn't dismiss the conjecture that the reason Iron Blood was turned into Deus X puppet in this timeline is to firmly grasp at Adam's weakness considering his first love in his past life was Prinz Eugene who remained his favorite and they are basically inseparable.
—————
(Any Prinz Eugene enjoyer here?)
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