One-Eyed Monster

”At this moment, not just us, I think the whole world should collaborate!” Igor said. In his eyes, it was a simple matter; just explain the pros and cons to the kings, and they will all support them.

But the reality is not that straightforward. Igor is still a naive person, his understanding of the world is still too simplistic.

”If it were as easy as you say, it would be much simpler,” Tobin Sol said. He is not unfamiliar with this world; he understands many things very well.

People in this world won’t stop their conflicts just because there is a common enemy. Their hatred will continue, and some will even use this common enemy to restrain each other... In the eyes of these people, there are only their interests; they will not consider the feelings of others.

Tobin Sol didn’t mock Igor. After all, for him, these things are normal. Everyone has their own choices; you cannot force someone to believe or not believe in something. Perhaps in Igor’s mind, the world is that simple, and he can’t destroy the world as seen in others’ eyes.

”In any case, our current enemy is still hiding in the shadows, and finding them won’t be that easy,” Igor said, keeping this enemy always in his thoughts.

”Igor is right. The key now is to find the enemy. Once we find them, we can gain more information,” Stim said. Suddenly, he overcame his previous insecurities and was now confident enough to take charge.

”The sunshine is just right today, and this old man is full of energy. Let’s go, Stim, Hustace, we have our tasks to attend to.”

”Yes, Dean, but what should we do with these Spirit Books?”

”These books, since Igor has one, it signifies his destiny with Lord Soron, so I will give all these Spirit Books to Igor. I hope you read them well and do not disappoint my intentions,” Dean Hoffman said, stroking his beard with a smile as he looked at Igor.

”Thank you, Dean. I will certainly read these books carefully. If I find anything new in them, I will be sure to tell everyone as soon as possible, as I’m not a professional,” Igor said, scratching his head. He now had a new understanding of the Spirit Books, different from before.

Dean Hoffman decided to give these Spirit Books to Igor because, on one hand, he thought Igor indeed had a destiny with Lord Soron, and on the other hand, he believed Igor might have a different perspective.

After all, Igor’s perspective is quite different from theirs.

Dean Hoffman hoped that Igor’s unique insight could uncover something new.

”Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, go and focus on your tasks. Now everyone has their goals, so make the best use of the time,” Dean Hoffman continued. Being a senior, his words naturally carried weight.

”Alright then, we’ll part ways here. You do your tasks, and we’ll do ours. If there are any problems, we’ll discuss them together,” Stim suggested.

”Alright!”

”Alright.”

Igor and Sol both responded, ready to embark on their exploration.

Dean Hoffman, along with Hustace and Stim, headed to the library, where they would search for that pattern in the days to come.

Igor and the Sol brothers stood there in silence.

Now only they remained.

Although Stan Sol had a lot to say, he now felt it best to remain silent, fearing that his questions might disrupt Igor’s train of thought. Besides, his personal matters were insignificant at this point, as their urgent task was to find those hidden enemies.

”What should we be doing now?” Igor broke the silence, feeling quite average compared to the Sol Brothers, so he approached them with humility.

”I was going to ask you the same question, Igor,” Tobin Sol said, surprised at Igor’s directness.

”Uh... I thought you all had a plan,” Igor replied, a bit disappointed, as he assumed Sol would have had a plan ready.

”We’re not any better equipped than you to have a plan before you,” Sol said, noticing the disappointment on Igor’s face and elaborating.

”But you’re the leader of the Resistors; you’re incredible in the Border Realm,” Igor insisted, thinking Sol was being modest.

”That was in the Border Realm, this is our world,” Sol smiled.

”Still, you should have good judgment. After all, you have been a leader,” Igor argued, using his flawed reasoning.

”Haha, you’re right, Igor, we shouldn’t put all the pressure on you,” Sol understood that many were waiting expectantly for Igor, himself included. But after a few exchanges with Igor, he realized they shouldn’t be placing all the burden on him.

”Oh, what pressure could I have? I just feel my plans are unreliable,” Igor said.

”Why do you feel that way?” Sol was puzzled by Igor’s reaction.

”Because none of my plans have ever succeeded before,” Igor said. His plans always fell short of his expectations, which is why he felt this way now.

”Not at all, your actions in the Border Realm showed you have a strong sense of planning,” Sol complimented Igor.

”Now that you mention it, I always wondered how you found the Time Standard in the Border Realm. I tried many methods and failed...” Igor suddenly recalled, and it was clear he was still brooding over that aspect.

”That Time Standard, huh?” Sol smiled sheepishly, ”Back then, there was indeed no time reference in the Border Realm, and without the distinction between day and night, it was hard to grasp time.”

”Don’t explain what I already understand, talk about what I don’t comprehend,” Igor nearly shouted, unable to fathom why people always beat around the bush.

”Haha, Igor, you’re as straightforward as ever. My ability to perceive time there was largely thanks to Dean Hoffman.”

”Dean?” Igor was utterly confused, unable to make sense of it.

”You should have experienced that Ice Bed too!” Sol grinned at Igor.

”Ice Bed?”

”Precisely, it was that Ice Bed that allowed me to sense time, providing a point of comparison.”