Claud gazed at the imposing schematic that was floating in the middle of the table, and then at the Red Moon of Strife, who was the person who had produced this schematic.

  “This is?” Schizel asked, a polite inquiry in his words.

  “The All-Heaven Net,” the Red Moon replied. “This, when set up, will track down all forms of otherworldly power, including that of the Distortions, the Omen and those heretics.”

  Claud noted down the interesting term and set it aside, before gazing at the huge net that that hovered above the table. While it was just a projection of what the actual thing looked like, he knew that this thing was probably key to the Red Moon’s plan of putting an end to the threat he posed to the existing order.

  The Red Moon paused, and smaller projections of the golden mesh floated over to the other divinities and gods. In fact, Claud felt a bit alarmed at how the Red Moon didn’t take issue with giving Lesser Half and his elder sister these projections either; it spoke volumes about how much the Moons wanted him dead.

  To be fair, the Thief of Time was personally responsible for downing two of their Bearers of Destiny, but still…

  It went without saying that Claud and the others received no such thing, but it wasn’t as if they could understand the inner workings of the construct to begin with.

  “Before we continue,” Percuti noted, “let us invite the…people that will be helping us with this grand undertaking to protect Destiny.”

  Lights blazed, and a projection of Emperor Grandis appeared in the air, a shimmering face that was as large as a family portrait. He was swiftly joined by Supreme Saran and First Lady Cecily, and Claud felt his hackles rise.

  They were in full battle regalia, the exact same attire he’d seen when they had appeared during the Trial of Aeons, despite not being in person. Was this a declaration of their intent? Or was this just them being very formal?

  Claud didn’t know, but he didn’t want to risk anything either.

  “Thank you for coming.” The Red Moon of Strife shimmered with a red, deadly light.

  The three sovereigns nodded curtly, but they didn’t say anything else. The Red Moon paused for a moment, and then said, “Now then. Lesser…Half. Schizel. The All-Heaven Net is a grand undertaking, meant to sweep the entire world. We will provide the necessary materials needed to construct it. Grandis, Saran and Cecily, handle the actual construction at the designated areas.”

  “In return,” Schizel continued, “We will lift the restrictions on your mana circuits fully.”

  The three figures shivered in unison, and tension seemed to fill the air. Claud could tell that they were thinking through the whole thing, the trade-offs involved in this order, and his fingers tightened around Lily’s own. There were a lot of things he wanted to know. For instance, what were the sovereigns’ main considerations when they ran through this proposal? How did they intend to treat this project? How would they deal with the aftermath of a completely constructed, super-surveillance artefact?

  Claud didn’t know, but…this All-Heaven Net was definitely bad news for him.

  He glanced at Lily once, who flashed a frown at him, and then turned back to the divinities.

  “I accept,” Emperor Grandis said, precipitating the others to agree a moment later. The Red Moon hummed with some satisfaction, and then said, “Very well. We thank you for your cooperation.”

  “It is not a cooperation,” Emperor Grandis replied. “It is an equivalent exchange by two equal entities.”

  The tension in the air, which had weakened drastically from Emperor Grandis’ earlier words, returned in full force. Faint, popping crackles could be heard in the room itself as the Red Moon spun to look at Emperor Grandis’ projection, and Claud felt a heavy pressure on his shoulders.

  If he found this pressure heavy, the others definitely didn’t have the wherewithal to withstand it either. Thankfully, Lily’s mana, which had enveloped Farah and Schwarz, had not been withdrawn from the incident earlier, preventing them from collapsing on the spot.

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  As for Dia, Risti, Nero and Kemata…

  Well, they were quite fine, so Claud only placed half of his attention on them. In the event one of the divinities or gods turned mad, he would be in a good place to retrieve them all and save their lives. Besides, their current states only made them look a tiny bit more miserable than what Claud felt, so they were probably fine.

  The sharp, painful tension lasted for a little while more, before the Red Moon released a snort. “Very well. Equals, then.”

  “I thank my ally,” Emperor Grandis replied. “We will begin construction as soon as possible, then, upon receipt of the materials required and the desired location.”

  Supreme Saran let out a snort. “This is blackmail, is it not. But I will bite. You know me, Moons, Dark. I hope you are ready for my strike when the winds of fortune dictate it so.”

  First Lady Cecily nodded once. “We are also willing to help, in this regard.”

  The Red Moon of Strife bobbed up and down twice, and the projection of the All-Heaven Net shimmered. It condensed rapidly to form a round pillar with intricate mana circuits, spinning in full view of everyone present. The same pillar appeared in front of the three sovereigns a moment later, and the Red Moon said, “The All-Heaven Net is not hard to set up. What is required is mortal moira and mortal craftsmanship. Create a spire each, and the All-Heaven Net will take form over three days. Once these three days are up, my forces will sweep the world and purge the impure and the foreign.”

  Emperor Grandis peered at the projection. “Only three such spires?”

  “Only three,” the Red Moon replied.

  “Why, then, are we only shown this now?” First Lady Cecily asked. “It does not make sense. There was a period in which no war occurred, and the divinities and gods were united in looking for Tot. Why didn’t you bring it out back then?”

  “Were it so easy,” the Red Moon replied, before rippling and vanishing in a flash of light. The divinity didn’t say anything, but its departure from the meeting marked the end of the whole thing.

  The White God’s silhouette got up and vanished a moment later, while the small, Throne-sized eye that was staring at the black cube faded away. Lesser Half floated around for a second or two, before returning back to Claud and the others.

  “So, the divinities and gods have finally deigned to leave,” Supreme Saran noted. “And there is a traitor in this room, physically…Grandis, have you taken leave of your senses, or has your age rendered you a dullard? The castrator of my son is here, in your palace. Do you not think of this as an affront to me?”

  “She is the Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny, the partner of the Holy Son of the Black God,” Grandis replied. “And it is not like you are freeloading in my palace anyway. We are sovereign. It is not your place to dictate my guests.”

  “Strong words, old man.”

  “I am merely three thousand years older than you,” Emperor Grandis replied. “I am more surprised that you only bore a child recently…and spoiled him thoroughly. Hmph.”

  Supreme Saran glared at the Emperor, and then at Kemata.

  Lily clicked her teeth quietly, and then said, “This Supreme fellow really is a pain, is he not?”

  “A doting parent, at best…and an absolutely crappy one at worst,” Claud replied. “Now, then, Nero seems to be enraged.”

  As those words left his lips, mana flared from Nero, who gathered it effortlessly around his finger and pointed at the projection of Supreme Saran, who immediately noticed his movements.

  “What do you—”

  “Old dotard,” Nero interrupted. “Dare you lay claim on my soulmate? Carry on with this foolishness, and I will end your bloodline myself.”

  Claud felt his blood boil at this bold statement, and Lily had to grab his free hand.

  “What are you doing?” Lily whispered.

  “Just raising my hand to cheer, actually,” Claud whispered back. “Also—”

  “Lowly knave!” Supreme Saran brandished his mace, but since he was just a projection, it only looked a little intimidating. “Do not push your luck, Holy Son!”

  “That’s my line,” Nero replied. “Cease this rudeness at once to my soulmate, and I shall let this pass. Else, be prepared.”

  The two men glared at each other, and First Lady Cecily sighed.

  “Enough, the two of you.” The First Lady shook her head. “Holy Son Nero, it is good to see you again. I am heartened that you have grown up to be a fine gentleman and lover, but please do not spark an international dispute now of all times. Even Supreme Saran needs to have his pride.”

  “Pride?” Nero gazed at the ostensible ruler of his homeland, before snorting. “Fine, First Lady. I’ll let this slide. Just this once.”

  “You, let this slide?” Supreme Saran snorted again. “Ridiculous. I have yet to call your lover to account—”

  “You have an entire harem,” Nero interrupted. “Just get a better son next time.”

  “You!”

  “He has a point there,” Emperor Grandis noted with a chuckle. “I have heard some…flattering remarks about your ex-heir before, Saran. Best you just raise a new one or re-educate the current one very thoroughly instead.”

  “Stop trying to stir the pot,” First Lady Cecily cut in. “What are you, children? There are outsiders here. Please don’t make yourself a laughing stock.”

  She sighed once, and her projection winked out. Supreme Saran glared at Nero once, and then followed suit, before Emperor Grandis laughed heartily. His own projection winked out a moment later, but within seconds, the actual Emperor Grandis had pushed the door open, before making his way to Nero.

  “Excellent job, kid.” Emperor Grandis guffawed as he walked over. “Excellent!”

  Claud looked at the jubilant Grandis for a few seconds, and then began to worry for the Grandis Empire.