"..."
The entire ground the case was based on was flawed. However, the people spearheading this were not done.
"Naturally." The man replied, his confidence still strong. "But you and I know that Lord Alexander has no desire for leading, and for good reason.
"Fighting void creatures and putting our universe back together is not the same as leading people." The man was clueless.
"Oh…" Jaseph snickered. "Then tell me this… what will the new leaders you plan on electing do differently? Surely, it's not to create favourable privileges to 'an elite few', are they?"
"Even if you're one of the leaders, you can't make such bold statements. This is what the people want, and that is what we must conform to.
"If we resort to violence due to this, then we are no better than the monsters we fight."
They were hellbent on having their way. The broader universe was up for the taking, and there was no way they'd allow some fossils hold them back.
"Let's check the statistics, shall we?" Jaseph said, causing the man to furrow his brows. "Oh, and we're not going to use the supposed AI king, but the actual one that has been a silent observer."
"I beg your pardon?" The lead man was confused, his heartbeat rising by the second. "Which AI king are you referring to aside from the RT-546 we already know?"
Naturally, they had overruled the software protocols and made some changes for this exact scenario. However, from what Jaseph was saying, there could be something they weren't aware of.
"Oh, just a piece of software that is sentient and alive…" The grin on his face widened, sending a shiver down many people's spine.
"Are you saying we're being spied on?!" Someone raised loudly. "This is a breach of privacy and cannot be tolerated!"
"And how come we are only hearing about it now?!"
Tension was growing as people began to panic. They had believed they were secure and even took precautions to plan in areas with no trace of technology.
"Like I said…" Jaseph's smile grew. "It's sentient… it doesn't have to be bound to technology to observe. It's everywhere and records all that happens — even now."
As the heartbeat of the council continued to rise, Jaseph softly called out to the silent observer.
"Xex…Please make your presence known."
[Grade Two Authority Recognized…]
A male generic voice resounded across the council chamber. Following that, the mana in the room swirled gently as an azure digital body began to take shape before the shocked eyes of everyone.
"What in the…"
Alexander's AI was not gone but had been upgraded to something else entirely. Xex became a living and sentient computer entity, having authority over all systems in the universe — it observed and didn't judge.
Nothing escaped its omnipresent gaze. It never interfered and neither did it try to change things. Xex just lets things play out.
Xex's digital body finally came to life, exuding a presence that made it seem pure and untainted — almost like a god.
Donned in silvery grey armaments that complemented its azure body, Xex felt otherworldly.
The council members — the minority included — stared at the construct before them with wide eyes.
The indifferent look on Xex's face sent shivers down their spine. They knew they were done for.
[Displaying statistics and records of events…]
Without being directed, Xex went ahead and showed the real statistics and the forged ones, revealing the private meetings that took place without the minority's knowledge.
The ones being implicated tried to disrupt the revelations but found out they could not speak.
Conversations and schemes that went on behind the scenes were revealed for all to see;
Promises of awarding entire galaxies and monopoly over its resources, setting up private and independent institutions to raise loyal hunters, eventual plans of splitting apart to become kingdoms, raising several S-Tier powerhouses in secret for a plan B, and many more.
However, that was not the worst of these foolish plans. Funnily enough, they had a bet that should any of the new independent forces manage to convince Alexander to side with them, they'd been seen as the strongest force in the universe.
These plans and many minor ones had been in the works for some time and were expected to slowly manifest in the coming years.
[This concludes the record of events…] Xex said and then disappeared.
"..."
Everyone was left in a state of absolute shock. Even Basso and Jaseph were left speechless. They thought this was only about getting them out of the way…!
"Hahaha….!"
Basso suddenly burst into rowdy laughter, almost making the council members jump out of their seats. The ridiculousness of it all broke his composure completely.
"Hehe."
Jaseph couldn't help but join him in laughing. Those in the council who shared a connection with Alexander joined in on the laughing — it was just too much.
If they knew what they knew, maybe all this wouldn't have happened. At the same time, they also understood that Alex knew about this and said nothing to them.
'Put these silly schemes to rest.' Alexander's voice suddenly echoed in Basso and Jaseph's ears. 'There are bigger things to take care of.'
'Yes.'
The two leaders ended their laughter and exchanged glances, knowing they were right.
"Lord Baltor…" Basso called, bringing an end to the laughs. "Do you still wish to continue? Perhaps implement your plan B right now?"
"..."
The man known as Baltor lowered his head in shame and anger. He couldn't face the rest of the council — he and his little scheming group alike.
He gritted his teeth with so much force that his gum bled. Despite all their plans being revealed, he couldn't accept defeat just like that.
"Why not?" Baltor raised his head with determination on his face. He decided to take the chance.
He knew the risks and was prepared to accept them. This wasn't going to be an easy thing from the start.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the surrounding space trembled and grew heavy as multiple space tears opened in the council chamber.
Seven S-Tiers immediately surrounded the two leaders in a flash while the remaining seven, along with some of the council members surrounded those not on their side.
This was a hostile takeover — whether the leaders liked it or not.