Ironclad Group Chat: Red and Black Lists Engraved with Heroic Epics

[March 7th: Huh? Me?]

[Star: There's no other way, March. You're our train's only causal weapon. Besides, when it comes to being smarter than Zandal... it's not very confident, you know? So we have to switch tracks. As the saying goes... Bronze beats King! You're the most suitable!]

[March 7th: Um... are you saying I'm stupid?]

Within the light screen, Gopher poured out all the darkness hidden in his heart, and once again looked up to the sky and sighed, "Will you forgive me? Mikhail, will you?"

"I will transgress and correct the errors of the gods—I will put the missing pointer (fear) back into the great clock of the stars and show people death."

"I know my sin, and my sin is always before me—but I will never repent."

The galaxy was deeply immersed in the martyrdom of Taiyi and its projected influence, finding it difficult to extricate itself. This also led to a certain degree of change in perception of the Dream Master and the entire Order forces.

[Potio: Never repent... Sigh... You have to admit, this guy has a damn charm. If I had met him right after the disaster, I might have followed him down that dark path too. Who wouldn't want to give this lovely world a good punch? But then again, I've already trusted the Emperor's Bow, haven't I?]

[Yao Guang: He is absolutely unrepentant, and at the same time, he has absolutely no need to repent... or rather, he has left himself no room for repentance. Like Lai Gu Shi, the path to order he envisioned has been clearly severed, but similarly, the "right path" he so desperately sought has reappeared in the world. Even without the light screen letting us know all this beforehand, Pinocchio would still be infused with new vitality. His plan succeeded.]

Mikhail: And the only price... was his martyrdom alone. Phew, old friend, you deemed Taiyi's choice a fallacy of the Star Gods, choosing a more direct, more practical path, but ultimately, the result is the same. Just like your previous choice between power and deception, but this time, what you ultimately gain is justice. I will not pardon you; I have no right to pardon you. Pinocchio doesn't need the trial of a sinner, but the talent to build it.

[Gopher Wood: Hmm...!]

[Tibo: Hmm? What a strange fate!]

Gopher shuddered, and after a long while, he took a deep breath. His brows, which had been as dark as those of a convicted criminal on the verge of trial—except when Xu Zhao was speaking—finally relaxed.

"Indeed. Unconsciously, I have ultimately followed the path sought by the gods. Mikhail... is there still a chance for us to join hands again?"

[Ceredra: Born at the wrong time. Gopher was very unlucky. If he had been born in an era when Taiyi still existed, he would have achieved far more. He didn't meet a wise ruler.]

[Star: So, this battle doesn't even need to be fought, right? Phew~~ I thought that after Fireflies wiped out the Dream of Oak, there would be a fierce battle with Gopherwood.]

Now it seems that avoiding a war is better for both sides, especially given the current trend towards reconciliation between them.

It's quite a coincidence, though. Pinocchio's operation was so large, almost as big as Iron Tomb's, yet both sides suffered zero casualties.

It's practically a human comedy.

"Hiss... comedy?" Xing felt a strange sense of unease when she thought of those two words.

Could that law that transformed into Gopher Wood be setting a trap for Firefly? She had no evidence, but experience told her that they had never really been associated with "smooth sailing."

……

"Using [breeding] to lay the foundation for Eternal Paradise... at that time, he meant..."

Within the light screen, Liu Ying understood everything. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she felt a chill run down her spine at Gopher's plan: "To recreate the global locust plague, using fear to force people... to pray for the return of [Order]?"

Gopher said, "Perhaps, this is why your friend was killed—the Dream Master wants to know how the Grammer Cavalry obtained the power of [reproduction]."

"That's not a power that can be easily controlled." Liu Ying's expression was serious, and her tone became more urgent. "We need to speed things up."

She absolutely could not allow the insect swarm to reappear in the world!

[Fireworks: This has touched a nerve with "Super Powerful Star-Crossing Strike," daring to play with the power of breeding. Firefly Cat immediately bristled.]

[Yanqing: General Jingyuan, wouldn't our grandmaster also... in the future...?]

[Jingyuan: Cough, Yanqing, I noticed you practiced your martial arts today very diligently and seemed eager for more, so I've decided to reward you... double your training time. Go now.]

[Yanqing: ???]

A chilling red light flickered on the platform in the distance, and all sorts of twisted plants grew wildly, while the stones, densely packed together, seemed to have come to life, swarming like insects.

Liu Ying knew exactly what that aura was.

She quickened her pace, rushing forward. As she crossed each platform, Gopher's past emotional journey flashed before her eyes.

"I have created paradise, but people do not recognize it."

"They seek suffering in the most beautiful places."

"Simply because I believe that no one deserves happiness."

"If another global locust plague were to occur, order would surely be restored."

Before the last fork in the road, the two were stopped by the final mechanism.

Gopher Wood said, "Through here, you'll reach the main hall at the end of the Oak Mansion."

"And what lies before us is his final choice—where will he go after deviating from [harmony]?"

Two dolls stand guard at the broken bridgehead, the one on the left pointing towards the shattered, scarlet gate—the gate of reproduction.

The puppet on the right gazes at the purple portal nested within a huge frame—the old road of harmony.

Considering her companions and commentators along the way, Liu Ying asked Gofemu, "Since he wants you to choose again, which side do you want to go on?"

Gophermu, however, said amiably, "Let's proceed according to your judgment. I will take the remaining path."

"...?" Liu Ying blinked in confusion.

"Don't worry, I can't change anything. Even if I suddenly realize my mistake, it will only bring peace of mind to the dreamer."

The shadow of the Gopherwood, formed by the law, said, "He deserves extermination and must be restrained."

"So you still made a different choice." Liu Ying smiled faintly, then said with a determined look, "I will stop him."

"I hope all goes well—let's say goodbye here."

Fireflies turn the mechanism, the long bridge of dreams turns, and a platform for reproduction is built.

The voice left behind by Gopherwood rose from all directions: "Then let [Procreation] once again unleash heavenly fire, to show the lament of [Death]."

After a moment's thought, the firefly did not step on it directly, but instead chose to continue spinning.

The bridge stopped in front of another gate, and Gopher's voice rose as promised: "Then let the lie of [Harmony] be exposed in an instant, and show the sharp knife of [Truth]."