Chapter 2217: Chapter 2217

"But even if I were an ordinary person, someone would surely come to stop you, right?"

Jenkins voiced his thoughts aloud.

"I'm rather glad it's you standing here. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have the chance to discuss these things with me. Williamette, you're the only one in this world who truly understands me. I can feel it. Your appearance is a gift to me from the world."

Not long ago, someone else had said that Jenkins's appearance was a gift from the world to everyone.

"Still, your question is interesting. I've also wondered what would have happened if I had remained an ordinary person after coming to this world."

Jenkins stood sideways by the window, most of his body cloaked in the darkness beside it. Backlit as he was, his face seemed shrouded in shadow. Even the cat cradled in his arm couldn't make out his expression.

"Would I have been like that tower keeper from before? Yearning for the extraordinary, unwilling to be trapped in one place."

The gear-man glanced at the diamond in Jenkins's hand.

"Or would you have enjoyed the tranquility, willing to live a quiet life in this extraordinary era, watching it all unfold as a bystander?"

"You are a very ambitious person," the gear-man assessed.

"Of course. I've always been quite ambitious. You understand me well, too. After all, most people around me think I'm the type to be detached from fame and fortune, a person of simple desires."

"They simply failed to see the far greater desires hidden in your heart."

Besides Alexia, the Difference Engine was the first to recognize this on its own.

"That is precisely why I have repeatedly asked if you would join me. You are different from these humans. Your perspective of the world is like mine, a view from above it all. These mortals see only what is right in front of them. Perhaps you still don't agree with my philosophy, but that doesn't matter. Whether you defeat me or I defeat you, you will slowly come to understand. Compared to your power, you are far too young. You haven't seen enough, and your understanding of the world is still incomplete."

Jenkins couldn't argue with that. The Difference Engine was right; he wasn't truly mature. Compared to its eons of experience spanning countless epochs, even with all the books he had read in his former world, Jenkins couldn't be considered seasoned.

"However, you don't seem entirely certain you can defeat me, do you? I noticed you used a hypothetical just now. What about your calculations? Why not run the numbers on your odds of winning? Or is it that you can't give a definite answer because you're unsure how much longer you can stall me?"

"First, nothing in existence has a one-hundred-percent probability. Therefore, even if my chances of victory reached ninety-nine-point-nine percent, I would never assume I was guaranteed to win."

A certain cat let out a soft cry.

"Second, your guess is correct. I am indeed waiting for time to pass. We are at a critical moment now. I don't mind telling you that within the next half hour, I can complete the final fusion at any moment."

"So, if I just toss this diamond to you and complete this Mysterious Realm, I'll get to face you before you've finished merging?"

Jenkins tossed the diamond in his hand lightly.

"No. After you give me the diamond, I will break the rules, much like the hosts you encountered while climbing the tower, and I will not declare the Mysterious Realm complete. Therefore, you will still have to defeat this body of mine first, in something akin to a duel."

The gear-man pointed to itself, then elaborated, "You've defeated many of my bodies in the past, but I can assure you, this is the strongest humanoid shell I have ever created. It certainly won't disappoint you."

"And if I defeat you, I'll be able to see your true core?"

Although the sentence was a bit convoluted, Jenkins was sure it understood his meaning.

"No. Defeating this body only means the Mysterious Realm has ended. You could, of course, choose to leave, but you won't. You came here looking for me. When the Mysterious Realm ends, the massive body I have lying dormant in this phantom Nolan City will be unbound, and you will need to defeat that combat form."

"I know I already defeated one in the last Mysterious Realm, but that body was merely a tool to test the upper limits of your power, to determine your condition when you finally met me. The one here is the concentrated essence."

"So, if I defeat your massive body, I'll get to see your true core?" Jenkins asked again.

"Yes. That will be the final battle."

"I see. Two transformations, three phases. I should have known the final boss of this Mysterious Realm would come in threes."

The gear-man naturally didn't understand the reference, but it also didn't understand why Jenkins hadn't immediately thrown the diamond over.

"You don't mind that I'm stalling?"

"Of course not. Chatting with you is very interesting," Jenkins replied, his expression still unreadable. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire.net

"Savior Williamette, what is your trump card? That spiral sword? I anticipated you would acquire it. Or is it some new power you gained while climbing the tower? Or perhaps you have unshakable confidence in the power of the World Tree? Or do you believe you will surely triumph in a contest of mechanical abilities?"

"That's hard to say. Feel free to let your imagination run wild."

"Are you waiting for your teacher, Oliver? He's right below the tower now, holding a very interesting numbered item, but I don't believe he can interfere with our duel... That key? The Evolution Key? You intend to use it to further unlock the World Tree's evolution?"

Theoretically, this was possible. Jenkins had already used the power of the Evolution Key when nurturing the World Tree with the Four Seasons ritual. The key's power was not limited to that; it could support the next stage of evolution as well. But doing so meant Jenkins might permanently lose his human form, along with his powers over death and machinery. Before he could achieve a perfect balance, the reckless growth of the World Tree would have a profound impact on his very essence.

Seeing Jenkins remain silent, the gear-man speculated again, "Are you waiting for help from the people in the material world? There is a minuscule probability that your friends could arrive here through something close to a miracle. I have considered such a low-probability event, but I don't believe you are one to gamble on odds. Or... during the two times you left this tower, did you find a way to increase the probability of your friends entering this Mysterious Realm?"