The list provided by Aiden came as a surprise to Adam and Silvana. They had no idea that this was what Aiden had been up to.
All his actions and experiments were aimed at the young people on the list, and the fact that most of them turned out to be too weak was also part of his plan.
"What?" Adam was baffled. "Are you saying that youâre actually one of the good guys and are just trying to create a strong Phantom?"
Aiden shook his head.
"I donât care what you think of me or what title you give me, Adam. Also, my methods are not up for discussion. Some of the people on the list came to me voluntarily. Others were part of my experiments and plans, like Glara, but you... youâre my only mistake."
Before Adam could answer, Aiden stood up and folded his arms behind his back, looking at the hundreds of portraits. Only a tiny fraction of them werenât marked with a red cross or a yellow triangle.
Nothing was surprising about this. On the contrary, if one compared Aidenâs results with the mission departmentâs statistics, far more Phantoms had survived under Aiden than usual.
He had marked many as failures because he understood they were unlikely to reach the next level, let alone the Second Circle, and become a Second Rank Phantom.
Only Adam and a few others possessed sufficient strength and potential in Aidenâs eyes.
"However, as I said, your results are among the best. In just two years, youâve become a K4-Phantom, and you have only two steps left to become a Second Rank Phantom. This is the result of your will to survive, as well as your talent."
However, something about Aidenâs explanation felt off to Adam. He sensed that Aiden was holding something back or even lying, but he found it hard to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
"Enough. Why do you need to create a new Second Rank Phantom? What are you trying to achieve? I spoke with Wilfred. I know you know better than anyone else how to create Natural Phantoms and how to help them evolve.
"If you wanted to, you could have increased the number of Natural Phantoms several times over, which would have boosted the Citadelâs overall strength! One of them would surely have become a Second Rank Phantom in time!"
Gladius and Xyrea exchanged glances. Natta and Sano were surprised that Adam knew so much.
Aiden, in turn, just nodded. He knew that Adam had had a long conversation with Wilfred.
"Thatâs true. But how long would it take, then?"
"Agh?"
Aidenâs amber eyes grew deeper.
"With a few exceptions, it takes at least fifty years for a person to become a Second Rank Phantom. Thatâs the most common case. For example, of all the heads of the Twelve Branches, only two reached the Second Circle faster than that.
"Weâre talking about people with unlimited resources and the strongest bloodlines. Still, even among them, true talents are rare, especially ones like you and the others on my list."
Step.
Aiden stepped forward, his invisible presence spreading around him, causing Silvana to gulp.
"I donât have that much time, Adam. There are only six years left until the next World Wipe, and by that time... No, sooner than that, I need someone who can become the next Second Rank Phantom."
He held his hand out, slowly clenching his fingers into a fist.
"Moreover, I donât need just any Second Rank Phantom. Each of them possesses great power, but Iâm aiming higher than that. I need someone special, someone who can play a key role in the Zero War."
Adam and Silvanaâs faces were frozen in shock.
"Z-Zero War? What the hell are you talking about?"
This was the first time any of them had heard of it. Neither Wilfred, nor Damien, nor Goen had mentioned it. Even Gladius had never hinted at any war.
Aiden gave them a long look before nodding.
"Itâs a hypothetical war that could happen at the end of this World Wipe. Iâm telling you this, Adam, because youâre one of the few who can reach the level Iâve set. No one except the Second Rank Phantoms should know about this yet."
Even though Aiden had forbidden Silvana from speaking, she couldnât help herself:
"I canât believe this. Whatâs the point of starting a war right before the World Wipe? Whoâs willing to go through with this, and why?"
Aiden gave her a stern look but decided to answer. After all, it was a logical question. There were only six years left until the next World Wipe.
Even if the Zero War were to occur, the participantsâ time would be limited. It was supposed to happen within the next four or five years, not right before the World Wipe.
"As I said, this is just my assumption, but itâs what the Second Rank Phantoms, the Gamma Division, and the entire Citadel are preparing for. There are two main reasons why the Zero War might happen."
Adam and Silvana listened to him intently.
"First: there are those who believe that the next World Wipe could be the last. Thus, the Zero War will happen so that all power is concentrated in a single faction, the victor, who will then use the worldâs full might to prevent the World Wipe and, as a result, save the world."
Adam wanted to say something, but Aiden beat him to it:
"Want to ask why? Because our world is too big, with countless factions and powerful monsters, each with their own agenda. In the remaining four or five years, itâs simply impossible to unite everyone and be sure that everyone will keep their word. But itâs obvious to everyone that this will only lead to endless betrayals and disputes, and everything will devolve into battle."
It was unusual for Adam to think about problems from this perspective. He knew there were many factions in the world, but before, they had all simply been part of his mission. He wasnât well acquainted with any of the factions, only with some of their representatives.
"So..." Silvana bit her lip. "What about the second reason? Maybe the next World Wipe wonât be the last, after all, itâs just a theory."
A glint flashed in Aidenâs eyes.
"Well, itâs all about the Befallen Crown. Theyâre always nothing but trouble."
Adam recalled his journey to the Dark Shore.
"The Befallen Crown? What do they want?"