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Last Embryo Volume 8 Chapter 5 Part 3

Instead of Connla, Misha shook hands with Homura, and Homura, was finding it difficult to form the right words to reply her with due to how sudden that friendly greeting of hers was, but then he suddenly remembered something important that he absolutely had to ask her about.

「It’s reassuring to have the two of you join us, but Misha, are you not the Navigator, but a Player participating in the War as well?」

「Yes, that’s right. Actually, I was supposed to bring a Navigator from WHO for you, but he couldn’t leave Rome, and so the Navigator for the second round of the War was suddenly changed.」

「What?」

Said Edward as his complexion changed. There are only a limited number of people who can act as Navigators in the second round, so Edward immediately stood up from his seat as he was overcome by an increasingly bad feeling, but Misha grabbed him by the collar to keep him from escaping.

「Yes, yes, please don’t run away now, Mr. Edward. You owe us a big debt with this, and besides, this time it’s an imperial order from the War’s Organizational Committee, so you’re not allowed to run away even if you wanted to.」

「… Tch. This is exactly why I don’t want to be indebted to the Medici family in any way.」

「Oh, rather than that, you should feel honored, since the Medici family’s proposition is to save the world with human power alone.」

The Medici family… Homura clenched his fists and gave a fist pump as soon as the name was mentioned.

Once again, his guess was correct.

It is said that the Medici family has approached various organizations with offers of their support, while pretending to have been gone from the pages of history.

The bloodline of one of the world’s leading millionaires is still going on to this day, and they are confronting the predicament that the Outer World is currently in.

「Now, Homura. The Medici have identified you as the last hope for Star Particle Bodies research. You know what I mean by that?」

「That the Medici family will provide all the assistance necessary for future plans and projects?」

「It’s not just about the money. You’ll have information about all projects, such as construction plans for an Environmental Control Tower, at your disposal. Whatever you’re going to need to save the world, the Medici shall provide it to you.」

Homura flinched slightly after being presented with such overwhelming support. Now that the Medici family decided that he’s the key to saving mankind and decided to seriously begun to support him, there is nothing to worry about in terms of funding.

「However, before we start supporting you…」

「You want us to break through the second round of the War. Is that what you wanted to say?」

Misha affirms Homura’s words with a thumbs up saying 「YES♪」.

「Understood. From what I’ve heard, the next stage is going to be in Rome, right?」

「Yes. Rome will soon have a Conclave… oh, do you know what a Conclave is?」

「I can understand that. You’re talking about the papal elections held by the Roman Catholic Church, right? But… huh?」

Suddenly, Homura felt a disturbing chill on his back, because he remembered that the Pope is selected for life.

Without overlooking that subtlety, Chief Edward smiled in a disgusting way.

「Assassination. The current Pope is going be assassinated. That’s one of the victory conditions this time.」

Everyone couldn’t believe their ears at Edward’s remarks.

Edward, who was sitting on the sofa looking unmotivated, continued his words as if it were only natural.

「If my words shock you, then you clearly haven’t noticed it yet. The crown this time is the 「Triple Crown」, the symbol of the Pope.

「Wha… So, does that mean the current Pope will be assassinated for the sake of the 2nd War for the Sun’s Authority?!」

「That’s not true. The assassination of the current Pope will be a Paradigm Shift, the turning point in human history. If we decide to change it, then our undertaking of saving humanity fifteen years in the future would be greatly hindered.」

「Are you going to interfere with the Environmental Control tower Project then?」

Misha can’t stand it and raised her voice. Homura’s confusion has reached its peak here.

If the current Pope is assassinated, believers around the world will fall into chaos. If the believers, who are more than 1 billion people in the world, are disturbed in such a way, there would be no point in saving the world.

「Perhaps? Or maybe the Conclave itself has some hidden meaning to it?」

「The Conclave itself?」

「Yes. Alternatively, it is possible that the current Pope might be against Star Particle Bodies research. In this case, as long as the current pope remains in charge, the Church cannot express its support for our research, throwing your plan of getting the Pope’s support out the window…」

Realizing something just now, Chief Edward covered his face with a bitter smile.

「Or maybe…the current Pope may have learned something about the human experimentation for Star Particle Bodies research.」

「…..!!!」

Homura and Misha affirmed Edward’s consideration by deeply biting their thumb nails into their palms. An outcome like that is quite possible.

Rome is the capital of Italy, a country prone to earthquakes. It is entirely possible that Italian authorities have some important information about future catastrophic eruptions that might occur.

In the past, there might have been an organization that offered to cooperate with the current Pope, and it may have inflicted the Pope’s wrath on that occasion.

In that case, the current Pope would be nothing more than a huge obstacle for Star Particle Bodies Research, and his assassination might really be a paradigm Shift needed to advance Star Particle Bodies research.

「… Homura-kun. What do you want to do?」

「Who, me?」

「Yes. We are ordered to support you this time. In other words, you have to make the final decision.」

「What she said. It’s too difficult of a problem for someone like me, who can only wield a spear.」

Homura, who was entrusted with the final call, was confused.

A Paradigm Shift is a turning point in human history. Replacing the Pope may be an effective means of avoiding future Star Particle Bodies research issues and the destruction of mankind.

But something like that…

… Isn’t that contradictory to the philosophy that Saigo Homura has upheld all his life?

His father, Saigo Toya, wanted to create a utopia, an ideal world exactly like it should be for all of humanity.

Homura’s feelings haven’t changed since that day when he said he believed in his brother’s sincerity and in the research conducted by his father.

And in that case, there is only one thing left to do.

「… Misha. Connla.」

「Yes?」

「What is it?」

「As soon as we meet up with Lady Ayato, we will also head to Rome. And… stop the assassination of the current Pope!」

People should not be killed on the grounds of a causing a Paradigm Shift.

Misha gave a thumbs up in support of that decision, and Connla just shrugged his shoulders.

Chief Edward, who had been sitting on the sofa until now, asked with a disgusting smile.

「That’s a contradiction, Saigo Homura. Didn’t you yourself come to the conclusion that your help was essential for Star Particle Bodies research? And yet, you’re going to ruin all of it with your own hands?」

「It might seem like that to you, but I’m just going to act according to the principles of action I’ve had so far. I can make up for the lack of knowledge by strengthening the facilities, and I can make up for the lack of wisdom with the number of people. To do so, we have no choice but to fight with a lot of effort and sincerity. I believe that it is vital for modern researchers to follow the path of mutual prosperity for themselves and others for the sake of world peace.」

Because he believes that lives lost in human experiments and lives lost in shortening the years are equally worth the same life.

「If the current Pope is going to be against Star Particle Bodies research, I will persuade him. I’ll show you. That’s why I have to go to Rome……!」

Erasing his smile, Chief Edward narrowed his eyes and finally asked:

「…is that your stubbornness as a scientist?」

「No. It’s my own pride as a human being.」

「I see… well, yeah. You were that kind of guy after all.」
Chief Edward stood up while suppressing his laughter and started walking as if to lead them.

「Very good. I’m getting a little excited myself. Let this Edward Grimnir here take care of getting you to Rome then.」

「OK! Now that we have all the pieces of the puzzle together, let’s go guard the Pope!」

Homura, Misha, and Connla headed to Rome following Chief Edward’s orders, all the while the second round of the 2nd War for the Sun’s Authority was getting closer with every passing minute.