Read Novel Full Chapter 656: Leverage
Chapter 656: Chapter 656: Leverage
"You believe that avoiding the inevitable will somehow lead to a better outcome," Robert continued, shaking his head slowly.
"But that is nothing more than wishful thinking. The superior beings will arrive eventually, and when they do... they will enslave humanity without hesitation."
Ian frowned deeply, his gaze sharpening into a cold glare. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped. "Do you even hear yourself? With our numbers, we could overwhelm them."
Robert shook his head calmly. "No," he replied, his voice firm.
"That is where you are wrong. Even with humanity’s numbers, at best, you might delay them... perhaps by a hundred years."
He leaned slightly forward, his eyes locking onto Ian’s.
"But after a hundred years... they will return," he continued quietly. "And when they do, their revenge will be far more devastating than anything you can imagine."
Ian’s breathing slowed, though his expression remained tense.
"And that is not all," Robert added. "At that point, they will show no mercy. Humans will not even be treated as slaves... but as something far worse. Less than pets."
A heavy silence fell between them.
’I... will never allow that,’ Ian thought, though the uncertainty creeping into his mind made his chest tighten.
Robert, however, seemed unfazed.
In fact, his gaze carried a strange intensity, as if he had already accepted this future long ago.
Fear had shaped his perspective.
"The superior beings are far beyond us," he continued.
"While humanity struggles to explore even fragments of the universe, they possess technology capable of traversing galaxies... even crossing into different dimensions."
His lips pressed into a thin line. "To say they are smarter, faster, and more powerful than humans is not an exaggeration."
Ian remained silent.
"So their rule over humanity is inevitable," Robert concluded. "And if that is the case... why resist blindly? Why not align ourselves with the inevitable and ensure our survival?"
Ian’s eyes flickered.
"Are you saying..." he began slowly, "...that this is why you joined me so early?"
Robert chuckled softly and nodded. "Exactly."
For a brief moment, Ian felt as if the world around him had shifted.
’So even someone like him... was preparing for this from the very beginning,’ he thought, a strange realization settling in his mind.
Then his expression hardened again.
"If that’s the case," Ian said, narrowing his eyes, "then why are you telling me all of this? Why come to me? Shouldn’t you already be in a position of power, hoarding resources and securing your own survival?"
Robert waved his hand dismissively.
"This apocalypse... while partially influenced by the superior beings, was not entirely their doing," he replied.
"Humanity played its own role. Global warming, environmental destruction, pollution... all of it accelerated the process beyond what even they anticipated."
Ian gave a slow nod, the pieces beginning to connect in his mind.
"They simply adapted to the situation," Robert continued. "They followed the flow."
A faint silence lingered before he added, "And as for why I came to you... It’s simple."
Ian’s gaze sharpened.
"I believe you have the potential to rule," Robert said, his tone steady. "Not just in this apocalypse... but even in a future where the superior beings dominate the world."
Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"This isn’t flattery," Robert continued, shaking his head.
"I’ve observed you closely. I’ve seen your cruelty... your paranoia... your willingness to do whatever it takes."
His gaze hardened.
"While others clung desperately to their comfortable lives, you abandoned everything. You sold your assets, gathered supplies, and prepared for the worst long before it arrived."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"And that," he concluded, "is exactly why I chose you."
It was as if Ian possessed an instinct that went far beyond ordinary judgment, something sharp and predatory that allowed him to grasp opportunities others would overlook.
’This is the kind of man who survives... the kind who rises,’ he thought to himself.
Of course, if Ian had been able to hear Robert’s inner thoughts, he might have laughed coldly.
’Instinct? If I weren’t reborn... I might have been just as blind as the rest,’ Ian would have thought with disdain.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Ian leaned back slightly and spoke in a measured tone.
"Alright... I understand everything you’ve said so far," he began, his voice calm but firm.
"But what I don’t understand is this... how exactly do these so-called superior beings help me deal with Ivy?"
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued,
"Even if we consider joining them and using that alliance to take her down... what guarantee do we have that they won’t discard us once they’ve gained control over humanity?"
A faint smile appeared on Robert’s face, subtle yet filled with approval.
’This... this is exactly why I chose him,’ he thought.
Ian was not blindly ambitious; he was cautious, always thinking beyond the immediate gain and into the consequences that followed.
"The superior beings are already hunting Ivy," Robert replied calmly.
"However, they currently lack the power necessary to take her down directly."
He took a step closer, lowering his voice slightly as if sharing a secret.
"If we can obtain leverage over her... if we can force her into a secluded position and hand her over to them... then the rewards we gain will be beyond anything you can imagine."
Ian inhaled slowly.
"Leverage... her weakness...’ his thoughts turned rapidly, connecting pieces one after another.
"We just need to ensure that whatever the superior beings want from Ivy..." Robert continued, his gaze sharpening, "...is something we already possess."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then Ian’s eyes flashed with sudden realization.
He looked at Robert with disbelief, his voice lowering slightly. "You’re suggesting... we steal Ivy’s power?"
Robert chuckled softly and nodded. "Now you understand."
Ian pressed his lips together, neither agreeing nor rejecting the idea outright.
’If this fails, we die. If it succeeds... we gain everything,’ he thought.
After a long pause, he finally spoke again.