"Welcome to the Azur Lane base, Observer Zero. Or should I just call you TB instead? You still retain memories from the other timelines right? Especially those that belong to TB." Adam said while looking at her reaction.
Adam isn't left disappointed as her eyes show some sense of longing although it was quickly removed as her expression returned to monotone like a machine bereft of emotions.
"I see. This is not your first time being the Azur Lane Commander." Observer Zero said as she gazed at Adam's eyes for a moment before she approached him. "You are a survivor of a terminated timeline. Then you should understand the threat this world is going to face very soon."
"I do. That's why I invited you here to discuss. For cooperation against our true enemy rather than to waste time doing those pointless attacks on the sea."
The atmosphere gets tense for a moment. Observer Zero didn't give an immediate answer. The faction leaders gathered behind Adam aren't exactly happy with Adam getting up close with who he describes as the current leader of the Siren that attacked their world.
Observer Zero tilted her head in confusion before she said. "You know about Deus X. You possess an interesting ability to see the future. You should and see the results of your rebellion. Yet, do you still have the confidence to say you can win?"
Adam smirks and said, "Well, that depends on what you consider as a victory."
"Then, what do you consider as a victory, Commander of Azur Lane?"
"The outcome with the least amount of death. As long as the seeds survive, the forest can still prosper after a fire" Adam said confidently. However, a frown made its way to Observer Zero's face which disappeared as fast as it appeared.
"I see." Observer Zero agrees as her objective from Inquisitor is to safeguard the future of Humanity.
As long as there is a future for humanity. Even if 99.99% of Humanity is wiped out as a result, it is still a success for her.
"So. Can I take that you agree to cooperate with me?" Adam asked and really hoped he could gain the cooperation of the Siren.
"That will… depend on what your plan entails." Observer Zero replied.
On the outside, Adam remains calm and collected as he nods and invites Observer Zero to the meeting room. But on the inside, Adam is already cheering because getting Siren on his side is a major step in his plan to win against Deus X.
———
Inside the meeting room, Adam basically did like a meeting to attract investors. He presents everything he currently has, his preparation against Deus X to Observer Zero who remained passive throughout, which made it difficult to read her expression but not a problem with his Observation Haki.
Anyway.
"My plan is simple. Rather than waiting for him to breakdown the barrier of the universe and invade this world. We are bringing the war to his world and fighting him there." Adam declared decisively which shocked even Observer Zero to make her show a rather big reaction.
"Da— That's… the most idiotic plan I ever heard." Observer Zero stuttered and caused her pale cheek to blushed up rather fiercely before she quickly retorted him.
"Wait. Hear me out first. I am not as suicidal as you thought, alright?" Adam sighed before his carefree expression vanished, replaced with a cold one.
"I know why you would call my plan idiotic. A god's domain is where they are the strongest. However, that benefit is a double edged sword." He said and paused as he scanned his eyes on the crowd and saw he now firmly grasped their attention.
"What is a god's source of power? It's faith. Now, pray tell. Where did that faith come from?" Adam said as a bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes briefly before it disappeared like it was never there.
"The people… don't tell me. You are going to…" Richelieu gasped immediately and wanted to say something but she swallowed her words back due to Adam's reply.
"It's either them or us, Richelieu." Adam said with a stern voice which made her flinch and lower her head but she raised back defiantly.
"But! Those people are innocent. They shouldn't be held accountable for the deed of the figure they worship. Just like the people are not guilty for the act of a monarch!" She argued and obviously was not on board with the plan but Adam looked adamant with his decision so he turned to the other KANSEN.
"Are you all going to agree to this madness?" The agitated Richelieu looked at the others, at Queen Elizabeth, Nagato, Sovetskaya Rossiya, Enterprise and New Jersey.
But Richelieu immediately noticed them averting their eyes from her.
"The Sakura Empire KANSEN swore our loyalty to the Lord Admiral. If it's his order, we will follow him to the end of the world without hesitation." Nagato was the first to step up and announce her decision while others are still hesitating.
"But, Lady Nagato. You are agreeing to a senseless slaughter!" Richelieu was distressed that she cannot talk sense into Nagato and confused what would have made her give such unwaveringly trust to Adam.
"You didn't need to say anything more, Richelieu. We are fighting a war. It's a war of survival. As my husband said, it's either them or us. There's always a price for peace and I am simply ready to pay for that peace unlike you who are still living in your delusion, it seems." Nagato said with a coldness in her eyes.
Nagato had the memories of her from another timeline. She saw what the state of the world had become. The corpses that pile up into mountains, blood that turn into rivers flowing into the sea. The once beautiful blue planet filled with memories turns into a black and red ball floating in space filled with ashes and brimstone. A floating tomb with nothing but pain and anguish where the few survivors like her left to mourn until the end of their existence.
There is nothing Nagato is not willing to do to avert that tragic fate. Even if she has to raise a mountain of corpses and create a river of blood with her own two hands. She will do anything to protect her happiness. But to someone who never experienced that pain, Richelieu would never understand why she would say so.
"I agree with Lady Nagato too." Another voice which caused Richelieu to look even more stunned.
"Me too."
Enterprise and New Jersey voice their support for Adam. Enterprise for the same reason as Nagato. Her memories of her past life. But for NJ, her support is a little surprising for Enterprise. But if she had to guess, it's probably trust.
"I agree too." Queen Elizabeth stepped forward and declared her stance. "As the Queen, I have responsibilities to protect my subject and in the matter of war, indeed as my husband said, it is either them or us and I have my responsibility as the monarch to prioritize my people."
"Not you too, Queen Elizabeth." Richelieu found herself in disbelief that so much of them would agree.
Meanwhile, Observer Zero finds it surprising. Enterprise and Nagato, who she already knew, obtained their 'META' counterparts' memories. She is surprised that New Jersey and Queen Elizabeth would agree too without knowing the results of sparing the 'innocent victims'.
In the end, Sovetskaya Rossiya also agrees with Adam as she understands the ideology of it's either them or us. Especially on the scale of the whole world. It's their her world or their world. Obviously she would choose to spare her own world rather than condemn her people to their death.
In the end, Adam stepped in and said to Richelieu.
"It's alright if you are unwilling to help. I never created this plan to rely on you all KANSEN to execute the plan." Adam said. However, it somehow sounded very condescending as to say the Iris are unwilling to dirty their hands to maintain their image of good people but want to reap the benefits.
If not for everyone knowing Adam do not make jokes or to purposely insult anyone. She might have thought Adam was trying to insult her.
Then Adam continues his explanation.
"The main invading force would be the Mech, TSF and BETA. However, in case they can't handle the threat, I will employ the Quincy Army to handle the threat." Adam said and then explained in detail the capability of each of those he listed down.
"Well, for most of them there is no issue. However, the transportation, the Orbital Fortress fleet needs still only 25% complete and would take another 15 months to complete at this rate as the construction of the Mars' shipyard and fabrication facilities is still only 50% complete and until it is fully completed, the production speed of the Orbital Fortresses will continue to be delayed and unable to be completed within schedule, which is 8 months, the time we have until the final month, the barrier of the universe will still stand."
"I see. Is this why you need the help of us Siren? To help you speed up the construction speed of these Orbital Fortresses" Observer Zero mutters as her eyes are firmly latched to the holographic screen.
"Yes and I have another method to improve it too." Adam took out a Wisdom Cube that is unlike the usual blue one or the black one. "Well, rather than creating a wholly new shipgirl, it can be equipped by an existing shipgirl in order to control the Orbital Fortress, which I plan to distribute to each faction leader to lead their own faction into battle."
"Aside from simply allowing one to control the Orbital Fortress, this Auxiliary Cube can also bolster the power of the one equipping it." Adam explains how it was hooked up to himself and using him as an alternate energy source.
"I also plan to have each Wisdom Cube modified to also receive an alternative power source." Adam said since the current Wisdom Cube uses Deus X's power as an energy source which they can't rely on during the attack and thus need alternatives.
"From you?" Observer Zero is obviously confused as she cannot see how Adam is going to generate enough energy to supply enough energy to power not only the fleets, but also all the KANSEN.
To be honest, since Observer Zero is already on board with this cooperation, she is willing to divulge the Siren technology and one of them is to harness the power of stars. But what Adam did next surprises her.
Adam transformed into his Mugen form, it can be said to be his ultimate form, a form that pushed to his limit.
The power of Hollow and Shinigami brought together by Hogyoku that unleash all restraint and limit. But the main contributior of this form is of course Kyoka Suigetsu for a reason. That reason being, his original Zanpakuto is not real Zanpakuto. It lacked a spirit, thus, Hogyoku took Kyoka Suigetsu as the main one instead and she is very willing to since that means entering a bond much deeper than anyone could ever reach. To be bound together with his soul.
Everyone is looking very curiously as this is the first time they have seen Adam in this form. Meanwhile Observer Zero can sense the Hogyoku in Adam's chest cavity, each time it spins, it devours something she cannot see but she could sense. It devoured something metaphysical in the atmosphere and turned it into energy.
Then Adam dismissed the form and continued his explanation.
"As you can sense. It is my ability and I could devour Deus X's own power and use it against him during the attack. This weakens him and simultaneously makes us stronger." He said.
Observer Zero nods and agrees this is indeed a very good ability and to be honest, she is thoroughly surprised by the preparation Adam made and his own power that are quite simply mind baffling from producing machine of such advanced technology, gigantic starship like Orbital Fortress and then even capable of thinkering with KANSEN technology with ease.
"Then, I, Observer Zero, formally agree to your partnership in accordance with the order of Inquisitor, Commander of Azur Lane." She declared which surprised Observer Alpha while Purifier was cheering like she already expected this ending and immediately buddy up to her new allies like they were never an enemy.
"It's a pleasure to have you on board too, TB." Adam sneakily said and Observer Zero noted it but didn't bother correcting him as her lips curved up slightly before she turned away and left to prepare for their cooperation.
—————
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