"Will this [Fate] interfere?" Of course, Daniel had his concerns.
He didn't know exactly how powerful this [Fate], which acted as a kind of mechanism to maintain balance in the world, truly was, and that was precisely what worried him.
Would this Fate force him in some way to join that other one to ensure that everything unfolded as it did in the novel, without any deviation?
He couldn't say for sure… although it was merely a worry for now. He was determined to ensure that everything went according to his own will.
Even if it was [Fate], he would destroy it if necessary. After all, there were people in the novel who managed to destroy it.
"Next meeting of the Guardian Council," he muttered while switching to the next piece of news on a screen projected from a magical artifact, forming a blue holographic display.
"Heh, things really aren't looking good." A small smirk appeared on his face. Four Calamities that had disappeared three centuries ago had now begun to show signs of reappearing.
Or at least, traces and hints of their emergence had been discovered. This wasn't a matter concerning only humanity but required a collective decision from the Seat Holders of the Guardian Council.
Of course, such a thing wasn't unexpected, and the novel provided a completely logical explanation for their reappearance.
Three hundred years ago, the Hero had been the one who stopped them, preventing them from attacking humanity and the world. But after the events of three centuries past, everything had changed.
The time of the contract had ended, and now, no one existed who could stand in their way.
The Guardian Council was essentially this world's version of the United Nations, but with a critical difference: this organization was built upon a fragile alliance among races to counter the Beastkin of Corruption.
The superpowers of each race held a Seat in the Council, granting them the right to vote and decide on issues that affected the fate of all races and the world itself.
However, there was a catch: the voting power and influence of each superpower were not equal. Those with greater strength and authority naturally had far more significant sway.
"Even though I can't fully underestand why, the Church is at peak," Daniel murmured as he glanced at a list of the most influential individuals in the world, including the one who held the highest authority among the Council's Seat Holders.
In the early chapters of the novel, when the Guardian Council was first introduced, both Daniel and the readers had assumed that the Hero's old friends held the greatest influence within the Council. But reality hit like a harsh slap to the face: the highest authority belonged to the Pope.
"Not surprising," Daniel thought aloud, analyzing the situation. The five new human superpowers were, directly or indirectly, under the control of the Church.
Even one of the three ancient superpowers, which was on par with the Vorhelm family and had existed since the era of the second Hero, had been founded by one of the Knights of Light.
"The Dwarves… hmm, if my memories of the novel are correct, the Church has plans for them," he mused, thinking about the renowned race of Dwarves—masters of forging weapons and magical artifacts.
This race wasn't particularly skilled in combat, which had historically made them the slaves of humans, vampires, and dragons.
However, in the current era, things had changed dramatically. Thanks to their heavenly talents in crafting and the establishment of one of the world's largest organizations, they now wielded considerable influence over the global economy.
But only a fool would believe their rise was solely due to their hard work and talents. Such a notion was utterly naïve.
"I've forgotten so many details about this novel," Daniel sighed. It had been a long time since he'd last read The Fall of Heroes, and he couldn't recall every minor detail.
However, he was fairly certain that the Church played a significant role in the Dwarves' ascent.
Speaking of Dwarves…
"Maybe I should find that father and son…" Two characters from the novel came to his mind—a father and son who had forged the Hero's sword, the greatest masterpiece in history.
"They'd make excellent pawns. With their help, I could grow stronger more efficiently. I might even gain some control over the global economy."
Daniel's ambitions were far from modest.
If he truly intended to destroy the gods responsible for Earth's destruction, he had to reach the pinnacle of power—and to achieve that, he couldn't afford to leave any stones unturned.
But revenge wasn't enough for him. For all the deaths of those he loved, he wanted to make the gods feel anguish and fear in every fiber of their beings.
Only such an elaborate vengeance would satisfy him—a revenge that would strip his enemies from their peak and etch terror into their very souls.
"Perhaps I should devise a plan similar to the Hero's," Daniel thought, pulling his gaze away from the holographic screen.
In the novel, after regaining her memories, the Hero decided to establish her own force—a legion that would dominate the world's economy and politics.
A Corps.
Although the Corps was merely an auxiliary force for the Hero, it played a crucial role in her growth. In the novel, this legion controlled both the bright and dark sides of society.
Daniel contemplated whether he should establish a similar force or simply exploit the opportunity and seize control of the Hero's Corps when she created it.
"Either way, there are more pressing matters to deal with first." He set aside thoughts of the legion for the time being.
"I need to figure out what to do about the prophecy. Even if my brother don't come after me, those five certainly will," he muttered, feeling a slight headache coming on.
While Primordial Dragon Template granted him the potential to become the strongest, it would take time.
"Maybe I should track down the Hero's master?"
He wasn't sure whether that person was still alive after three centuries. Even in the novel, the Hero intended to seek out her master but couldn't due to unforeseen events.
In the novel, her master was one of the strongest beings in the world and had taught her swordsmanship.
Looking at the Hero's life, this master was one of the few individuals Daniel could consider a true friend.
He had a lead on where the master might reside, thanks to clues uncovered by the Hero in the novel, but that was irrelevant.
"Oh? So he's finally back. Time to return to training." Hearing Augustus's telepathic voice, Daniel left the library and headed to the training room.
At the same time, he instructed Augustus to meet him there, believing his presence would reduce the risk of accidents.
"Did you get the rune pen?"