Manhattan Battlefield, at the ground entrance to BPRD's headquarters.

In the distance, the sound of artillery roaring is constantly coming, although you can't directly see the battlefield here, but just listening to the sound and the distant firelight is enough to make people feel how cruel this war is.

It was in such a scene that a man sat at the entrance of the ground, drinking very leisurely.

The man's name was William Olom, and he was known as the "Emperor of the Desert", but now he didn't have any imperial breath at all, just sitting here cross-legged.

"Drinking here, William?" said Pierre Padogan from the entrance behind William, "It's not like you, how can you drink here alone?"

"It's just boring. William hiccuped, "It's so boring right now, I can't lift my spirits at all." ”

"But you've done a lot of things, haven't you?" Pierre sat down beside William, "for example, saving Ender's little imp is completely beyond my and Miller's expectations." ”

"I owe that little ghost. William put down the bottle, "Or rather, I owe it to the little ghost teacher, I just did what I could." ”

"What?" said Pierre, who laughed all at once, "do you still feel guilty? I thought you didn't care about that." ”

"You talk so much nonsense. William glared at Pierre, "You already know the situation on the front, it looks like it's completely bad." ”

"Ah, I already know it all. Pierre said nonchalantly, "The strength of the Hell Legion has suddenly more than doubled, and Matthew is about to run out of his hand, and now the headquarters is completely using the last hole cards." ”

"Even Ander can't stop it at all. William took another sip of his wine, "I can feel two very powerful forces, one of which is obviously Astaroth, and I don't know who the other is. ”

"I feel that stuff too. Pierre agreed, "Is it possible that the new power is far above Astaroth?"

"Impossible. William concluded without even thinking about it, "It can't be Mephistopheles, that guy won't go out easily, and a guy like him, even if he comes, can't just hide his strength like this." ”

"If it weren't for him, I wouldn't really have guessed who it was. Pierre spread his hands and said, "After all, there are more than one or two guys in Mephistopheles in hell, and there is no way to tell who it is." ”

"It doesn't matter, whoever he is, he'll show up soon. William didn't worry too much about this, "His goal is very clear, which is to attack the headquarters and completely destroy the most powerful defense mechanism of mankind." ”

"Then will you strike then?" asked Pierre, "if the line of defense collapses completely, then the enemy will soon attack the headquarters, and at that point we will have to make a choice." ”

"That's what the old man called us for. William poured the last drop of the bottle down his throat, then wiped his mouth and continued. "At that time, if we don't do it, then humanity will really perish. ”

"Then you're going to make a move. Pierre already knew what William was thinking, "If that's the case, then it seems that I should move a little bit at that time, otherwise it will be really boring." ”

"Did you reach a consensus so soon?" a voice came from behind the two of them, and the two who had been waiting for a long time only smiled back.

"It's not too late, Miller. Pierre smiled and said, "But that's what you're used to, and we're used to it anyway." ”

"Looks like you thought I'd come. Miller Leaf said a little lazily, "We really know each other too well." ”

"Now that the three of us are together, it's time to talk about something. William said straight to the point, "After all, there is no longer any time to drag it out." ”

"I see. Pierre stood up, "You want to talk about the terrifying force that has suddenly appeared in the headquarters, and now that the situation seems to have become so serious, it is necessary to talk about it." ”

"That power surpassed the three of us. "I hate to admit it, but it seems that this is exactly what it is." ”

"And that's not even the most terrifying part. Pierre continued, "Now that there are many people in the headquarters who have faintly revealed the existence of this power, I am thinking that the root of this power may have completely penetrated every corner of us." ”

"Things have come to this point that the old man doesn't feel it at all?" said Miller, "and it looks like he's really old, and he can't even feel the abnormalities that are happening in the headquarters." ”

"It's not that I can't feel it, but it's deliberately blocked. William told the truth, "It's hard to believe, but this force does block the senses of the others, only the three of us are not blocked." ”

"What do you mean by that?" said Pierre, who immediately realized that something was so wrong, "if that's what you say, is that force wanting?"

"I'm afraid that's it. After thinking for a moment, Miller also agreed with William, "That force is testing us, I'm afraid it wants us to join in!"

It's a chilling truth. All three of them understood how terrifying this power was, and even in the face of the three of them who were called "kings", the source of this power was completely unafraid. Or rather, they are not taken into account at all.

"It's not the power of hell. Pierre swallowed, "This force is not demonic, but why would he do such a thing? If he wasn't a force of hell, then he wouldn't need to be involved in this war at all." ”

"You can't think of it that way. William said, "Although on the surface this war is a desperate struggle between humans and hell, but in the shadows, there are many other forces that are ready to move." ”

"Wild hunting, for example. Miller began, "Those guys are already on the move, and while we don't know what they're up to, they're clearly different from us. ”

"Our purpose is not pure. William said this, and suddenly laughed, "For us, this war was a deal from the beginning, and we also participated in it to get what we wanted, didn't we?"

"That's true. "But we're just doing it for a few deals, and there's more to these forces than we think." ”

"So do you have to deal with the Wild Hunt first?" Miller asked, "Their captain Winter is not under us, is it necessary to eliminate them first?"

"There's no need for us to do it. William shook his finger at Miller, "Someone will do this for us, and we don't need to care about this matter at all." ”

"How do you know so much?" asked Pierre, "how much have you been hiding from us, and there is nothing else you want to keep hiding." ”

"I only met that guy once by chance. William replied with an unchanging face, "It was just a coincidence, and I was indeed shocked when I saw him, but then I thought that it should surprise me that the guy sometimes dies like that." ”

"So who is that man?"

"A man who is already considered dead. William said, "There is no need to say anything else, and we should focus more on the forces that are staying in the headquarters now." ”

"And what are you going to do?" Pierre knew that William would not say anything about that man anymore, so in that case, he would simply ask the most pointed question.

"Not my choice. William's eyes swept over Pierre and Millet in turn, "It's our choice." ”

"It's a multiple-choice question. Pierre was clearly frustrated by having to be at the mercy of the palm of his hand. "And there are only two options, either join him or choose to fight him, and I don't want to choose either. ”

"What are the odds of winning if you choose confrontation?" asked the always shrewd Miller directly.

"You should already know that, Miller. William looked at him and said, "Our odds are not completely none, but they are very low, and in that case, we are exposed to very high risks." ”

"And what happens if you opt-in?" asked Pierre.

"None of the three of us know that. William replied, "But at least we can get out of this war, and I can't continue to predict after the war is over." ”

All three were silent, and their minds were now thinking back and forth about what to do? Is it really good to give up their dignity, betray their fellow citizens, and choose to submit to a great force? But if they don't choose this path, then they have to risk their lives against this force.

"I am human. William spoke, "No matter what, my human identity will not change, and although I am a villain in the eyes of others, I would rather guard myself than give in to the unknown one." ”

"Me too. Pierre then spoke, "We are called kings, and our dignity cannot be trampled on because of this, so I choose to fight that fellow." ”

"Have you all made your choice?" said Miller, who had been silent, last, "but that's a bit stupid, don't forget that we're only here to trade, and we should have to make the best choice for our interests." ”

"Do you want to work with that guy?" asked Pierre politely, "Then I'll tell you too, don't forget, as William just said, we are human first and foremost, and this will not change no matter what, so do you still choose to cooperate with him despite this?"

I didn't say I would work with him. Miller retorted, "But I'm not stupid enough to confront him directly, I won't make a choice anyway, and only the winner can be called the real king anyway." ”

Miller left without looking back, leaving William and Pierre to watch his back.

"He's ready to go straight to the winning side. "That means he won't fight the guy in the headquarters, but I'm sure he won't join the other side, because it's still undecided." ”

"Someday he'll understand. William looked at Miller's back with complicated eyes and said, "And when he can understand, he will definitely choose to fight side by side with us." ”