"What toy?"

Upon hearing the words of the Duke of Sorin, before Ian could respond, Adalbert frowned, took a step forward, and stood in front of Ian: "The world Ian wants to create is one that is equally beautiful for everyone, even the most fragile and powerless ordinary people."

He gazed at the silver-haired man before him, who appeared tired yet solemn—his teacher, his first approver, his benefactor, and... someone almost like a father. He earnestly said, "Your Grace, years ago, I indeed couldn’t answer your question, couldn’t give a ’better answer’."

"But now, Ian, we, the Silverpeak Domain, haven’t we done better than you did back then?"

"What face do you have to rashly call all this a ’toy house’ and call those who follow Ian ’toys’?"

Back then, at the Avak Research Institute, Adalbert expressed his disapproval of the Duke of Sorin’s actions but couldn’t propose a ’better possibility,’ a ’more perfect plan,’ and thus was speechless, only following Ian with doubt.

However, seven years later, having established the Silverpeak Domain with Ian, defending their homeland under the Demonic Army, creating the Heart of Terra, and establishing a comprehensive research system in the Silverpeak Domain, Adalbert now had his own answer.

—Without the Deceased Monarch, he could still accomplish everything!

He already had his own pride and confidence, allowing him to face his former teacher and benefactor directly.

[Adalbert, well done]

The Duke of Sorin turned his head, not a bit angry at Adalbert’s words, but with a tone that was somewhat appreciative: [Over the years, your actions, the many achievements you’ve researched, have far surpassed me]

[You’re right, I was wrong, now I am only proud of you]

[But, why do you think ’toys’ are derogatory?]

Old ginger is spicier; one sentence left Adalbert stuck on the spot, not knowing how to answer, while the Duke of Sorin remarked self-mockingly: [Don’t you understand why at the word of the Silver Summit Great Prophet, I must appear like a summoned demon from the Domain of Void?]

[Don’t you know, I appear because Ian Silverpeak treats my people as toys, not dust, voting machines, annoying things, weeds swaying in the wind on the ground?]

[Adalbert, don’t you know, I would rather have my people become toys in the hands of the Silverpeak Seer, let him place them in his favorite toy house and care for them meticulously, rather than face real destruction?]

"Are you speaking of those people within your duchy?"

Adalbert was a bit puzzled, but after all, he was one of the smartest people in this world, and he quickly grasped the deep meaning behind the Duke of Sorin’s words, though it caught him off guard: "Do you mean Ian wants to ’restore’ those lost souls within your Deceased Monarch?"

He frowned tightly: "Indeed, we had long ago discussed the handling methods. But whether bringing them to the New Continent or first maintaining them in a lost soul state, then attempting to create new bodies similar to ’Eternal Elves’ after normalizing them in the Domain of Void, all those are decisions made after serious consideration, absolutely not treating them arbitrarily as toys!"

[Children who never had a childhood, what do you think toys are?]

The Duke of Sorin shook his head slightly, no longer meeting Adalbert’s eyes but turning his head to look at Ian: [I agree to your terms, if you are entangled or if something unexpected happens and you can’t protect the Silverpeak Domain in a short time, then I’ll do my utmost, even if it means sacrificing my life, to guard your territory]

[The contract continues until after the perpetual motion machine vote, or until you and I die]

"Hmm."

At this moment, Ian nodded slowly, calmly saying: "I will keep my promise to return all the lost souls of the Sorin Duchy to freedom — but as you said, they will all become ’my toys.’

"But as long as they are mine, I will protect them well, assign each their place, and think about their future."

"This is my promise."

[This is why I believe you can become the king of the world]

The Duke of Sorin nodded slightly, and his figure gradually dissipated.

And before dissipating, the silver-haired man looked at Adalbert.

[Adalbert, you have become a strong one] he sighed, not knowing if it was joy or regret: [But your heart is still that of a mortal]

[This is both good and bad. But, learn more from Ian, otherwise... you’ll ultimately not reach the Fifth Energy Level]

The Duke of Sorin left. Or rather, delved into the depths of the Silver Peak Ether Territory.

This Fifth Energy Level Deceased Monarch became the protector of the Silverpeak Domain, granting them a second Fifth Energy Level guardian, and the cost was that Ian had to arrange the destinies of all the souls within the Sorin Duchy that composed the Deceased Monarch.

This was not difficult; rather, it was Ian’s intention all along.

With billions of souls, even placing them into the Heavenly Kingdom of the Heart of Terra was enough for the Heart of Terra to undergo a super-evolution, and subsequently normalizing these lost souls by various methods could also bring a new workforce to the Silverpeak Domain and the New Continent.

Both sides got what they needed.

Only Adalbert seemed a bit lost.

And Ian patted Adalbert on the shoulder.

"I actually don’t think you need to learn from me." He comforted his friend, saying: "You respect every person, every group, their history, and culture too much. This is actually a good thing."