The meeting had dragged on for another exhausting day.
From sunrise until the last rays of evening filtered through the towering stained-glass windows of the Grand Assembly Hall, the three great powers of humanity had once again debated the same issues that had haunted them for over a month.
The Church.
The Authority.
The War Council.
Along with the invited guild masters, retired veterans, nobles, scholars, and observers, they had argued until even the scribes recording every word struggled to keep pace.
Yet despite everything...
Nothing had changed.
The peace treaty remained unsigned.
The future of humanity remained uncertain.
And the assembly hall had once again reached the same conclusion it had reached countless times before.
No decision.
mander Rurik slowly stood from his seat.
His weathered face revealed exhaustion that even a veteran soldier could no longer hide.
"I believe today’s discussion has reached its conclusion."
His voice echoed gently across the silent chamber.
"As there are no further proposals before this council..."
He glanced around the massive circular table.
"...this meeting shall adjourn until tomorrow."
Several representatives sighed in relief.
Others slumped back into their chairs.
Even the observers seated high above released quiet murmurs.
Everyone was tired.
Some had begun carrying blankets into the assembly hall.
Others had stopped bringing prepared speeches because they knew they would never reach the end of them before another interruption occurred.
For over a month, humanity’s greatest minds had debated peace.
And for over a month...
Peace had remained only a word.
The scraping of chairs filled the chamber as delegates prepared to leave.
Then—
A chair moved.
Everyone instinctively turned.
Zero slowly rose from his seat.
The hall gradually fell silent once more.
Some of the invited guests had never heard him speak.
Many of the observers only knew him as the mysterious young man whose invitation granted him equal speaking rights within the assembly.
Several guild masters became curious.
Even William, seated among the observer section, frowned as he watched.
Zero calmly adjusted his suit before speaking.
"I would like to address the assembly."
mander Rurik nodded.
"You have the floor."
Zero stepped away from his chair.
His footsteps echoed quietly throughout the enormous chamber.
Unlike many of the previous speakers, he carried no stack of documents.
No prepared notes.
No thick reports.
Only himself.
He stopped at the center of the hall.
"My name is Zero."
A few representatives smiled faintly.
"I know."
Several light chuckles spread through the chamber.
Zero nodded slightly.
"I’ll introduce myself properly one more time."
"My name is Zero."
"I am the founder of Tech Genesis."
A few observers exchanged surprised looks.
Although Tech Genesis had rapidly bee one of the wealthiest organizations in the Human Domain, very few people knew its founder personally.
Most assumed it had been established by Managing Director Aiden.
Only those involved with the pany knew otherwise.
Zero continued calmly.
"I have attended this assembly since being invited."
"I have listened to every debate."
"I have heard every concern."
He slowly looked around the room.
"The Church fears for humanity."
Several church representatives nodded.
"The Authority wishes to secure humanity’s future."
Members of the Authority acknowledged his words.
"The War Council fears another war."
mander Rurik quietly folded his arms.
"The retired veterans remember the suffering caused by devils."
The elderly SS-rankers remained silent.
"The guilds wish to protect their independence."
The five Diamond Triple-Star Guild Masters nodded.
"No one sitting in this hall wishes to destroy humanity."
That simple sentence quieted the room.
"Your methods differ."
"But your destination is the same."
He paused.
"The problem is..."
"...we have debated possibilities for over a month."
"We have argued over assumptions."
"We have argued over fears."
"We have argued over hopes."
"We have argued over history."
"But there is one thing we have not done."
His gaze became steady.
"We have not listened."
The room became noticeably quieter.
"We have spoken about the Devil King’s successor."
"We have judged her intentions."
"We have questioned her sincerity."
"We have argued whether she deserves trust."
Another pause.
"But..."
"We have never allowed her to speak."
Several people unconsciously looked toward one another.
Zero continued.
"We are attempting to judge someone..."
"...without hearing their own words."
A church elder immediately frowned.
"But she is a devil."
Zero nodded.
"She is."
Another elder spoke.
"That alone is reason enough."
Zero looked toward him.
"Is it?"
The elder opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Zero continued before another argument could begin.
"The decision has already been delayed for over a month."
"Another month may pass."
"Perhaps another year."
"Perhaps even longer."
He slowly looked around the circular chamber.
"And yet..."
"We would still be discussing assumptions."
His voice remained calm.
"I therefore wish to make a proposal."
Everyone’s attention focused pletely on him.
"As per Managing Director Aiden’s statement..."
Several Authority officials immediately looked surprised.
They had received documents from Tech Genesis earlier that week offering logistical assistance if required.
Few had expected the pany to involve itself directly.
Zero continued.
"Tech Genesis will personally bear every expense."
The observers began whispering.
"We will assume all financial responsibility."
"Transportation."
"Security."
"Acmodation."
"Food."
"Diplomatic preparations."
"If necessary..."
"...every single cost."
No one interrupted him.
"If anything should happen during the visit..."
"If any responsibility must be taken..."
"If any consequences arise..."
"I will personally accept them."
Silence.
plete silence.
Then Zero finally revealed the proposal.
"I propose that we formally invite the Devil King’s successor..."
"...to the Human Capital."
"So that she may speak for herself."
"So that she may personally explain the proposed treaty."
"So that every question asked in this hall..."
"...may be answered by the one who wishes to sign it."
He lowered his hands.
"Only then..."
"...should humanity decide."
Silence lingered.
For several long seconds...
No one spoke.
Then—
Clap.
One pair of hands echoed loudly.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon the Authority representatives rose to their feet.
The five Diamond Triple-Star Guild Masters applauded openly.
Several members of the War Council joined them.
Many observers also began clapping enthusiastically.
The applause quickly spread throughout nearly half the chamber.
Finally!
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