For humanity, burn the stars.

Inside the exhibition room, as Titus opened his mouth, the air seemed to freeze slightly.

The other Villa officials around them maintained a respectful demeanor.

Although they didn't know why the governor made such a statement in this context, they still echoed his sentiments.

Only Oshido stared at the screen, falling silent.

As a comrade-in-arms who had known it for many years, Oshido knew it very well.

Titus never speaks without a purpose.

—The fact that it spoke at this moment means that it had already made some observations and judgments.

Titus has already become wary of Qin Heling...

Titus may have been paying attention to Qin Heling from the moment she first appeared in the exhibition, or perhaps even earlier, when Luke brought back this "exhibit."

Oshido sighed inwardly.

Because it knew that Titus's words were not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a direct address to itself.

It seems that not only Qin Heling, but perhaps his own affair with the Redemption Sect has also been kept secret from them.

However, since the other defeated humans were not made public, Titus continued to ignore them.

However, Qin Heling, who "might cause them trouble," is not so easily allowed to exist.

But Titus still didn't expose him, instead giving himself a choice.

If I continue to help Qin Heling and carry out the plan to prolong hope, then what awaits me will be more than just the end.

The entire family, the other members of the "Redemption" faction, the four veterans underground, and possibly even more...

Everything will be uprooted.

Titus will not tolerate any potential threats.

It has already provided a way out—pretend you don't know anything, and you can maintain the status quo.

If you pretend you don't know, it will all seem like it never happened.

Only one human being will truly become an 'exhibit' in the long years to come.

But if Oshido makes an undignified choice, Titus will help his old friend maintain his dignity.

Oshido remained silent, the light from his fiber optic organ gradually dimming as he struggled with his dilemma.

The two sides of the scale represent humanity on one side and oneself on the other.

In this universe, there is probably no creature whose instinct is not to benefit itself.

Therefore, the outcome of the unequal scales seems to have been predetermined.

However... Oshido quickly made up his mind.

It recalled what it had once said to Qin Heling:

"If you want to close a deal, then demonstrating your sincerity is the most crucial initial step."

In any transaction, it should proceed regardless of the circumstances.

Or perhaps, it doesn't actually pay that much attention to such rules.

It should be fully aware of the significance of the veterans' perseverance over the past century and the weight of that fire.

Even if one side is Prosecutor Vera who once fought in the war, and the other side is a human being who was rescued after the defeat and is still alive.

Perhaps they could be considered friends over all these years.

When faced with so-called choices based on interests, there's really not much to think about.

These penitents are not motivated by human notions of "merit"; they only act when it's a matter of self-preservation.

If one's own interests are discussed when it comes to atonement, can it really be considered atonement?

Oshido's optical fiber rippled slightly, sending a calm message to Titus beside him.

"I need to leave for a moment."

Titus seemed to understand all of this, and did not stop it in public, but his optical organ flashed slightly to indicate that he knew.

Oshido slowly floated out of the exhibition room, the door behind him closing silently, shutting out the cold light of the exhibition hall.

The corridor was empty and quiet, with the flowing blue light bands on the walls illuminating its dark purple body.

It casually stood there, with its back to the wall, without looking at Qin Heling's exhibition through the projection.

Oshido raised his tentacles, hesitated for a second, and then firmly pressed a certain device.

Having done all this, his once strong body, which had fought in the war, leaned against the wall, as if he had lost all his strength.

It will not betray its own kind—never.

But it couldn't bear to watch that hope, passed down through a century and through countless withered hands, be extinguished before its very eyes.

Therefore, it chose a compromise:

It does not harm Vera's interests, but it also leaves a way out for humanity.

The price is—itself.

Because this is atonement, and also a promise.

Even knowing that Qin Heling couldn't hear it, it still muttered to itself.

"...You owe me a favor."

It closed its eyes, awaiting Qin Heling's final fate.

Whether this effort will not be in vain and whether this torch of more than a hundred years can be passed on, let's wait and see.

-----------------

Inside the exhibition hall, Qin Heling was sitting in front of the Starmark's main control console, his fingers smoothly tracing the control interface.

With a gentle, slightly nostalgic smile on his face, which he had practiced countless times, he showed and introduced the Starscar and human history to the Vera.

It was as if he were truly just a retired general immersed in past glories, content with the living conditions provided by the Vera.

Just then, he felt an extremely slight vibration inside his spacesuit—

A certain regular, almost heartbeat-like pulse, three rapid tremors.

Upon receiving that information, Qin Heling's expression froze almost instantly.

In an instant, Qin Heling realized that Oshido was conveying some kind of message to him.

This was an unplanned situation—proving that some unexpected change was happening somewhere he couldn't see.

Oshido was creating one last chance for him in his own way.

Although this means that the inspector may have to pay an unimaginable price.

But Qin Heling had no time to feel sad for Oshido, because he simply didn't have time to hesitate.

After receiving the information, Qin Heling hesitated for only a second before calmly pressing a button on the control panel.

It was as casual as pressing a radio button; he pressed the button effortlessly in front of a million Villars.

then……

"Bang--!!!"

A burst of blazing white fire suddenly erupted from the star's port wing!

The violent shockwave caused the entire spaceship to tilt sharply to the right, and the hull emitted a terrifying tearing sound.

Torn armor plates scattered like meteors, leaving countless scorching trails in the sky above the exhibition hall, and alarms instantly blared in every corner.

The protective barriers surrounding the venue immediately activated, completely blocking all debris aimed at the audience.

Amidst this upheaval, the Veras cried out in alarm, their tendrils pointing upwards.

They are not worried about their own safety, because technology gives them unparalleled confidence.

What shocked the Vera was the "Starmark" which had turned into a fireball and was rolling around in mid-air.

At this moment, Qin Heling's figure on the screen had already been engulfed in thick smoke and flames.