In the surreal world filled with mist, Kaiser and Cao Cao stood facing each other from a distance.
Both held spears—spears that bore a striking resemblance to each other, radiating a divine aura.
Though their sacred energies had yet to clash, their gazes had already collided, sparking an invisible confrontation.
"You intend to join us, is that right?" Cao Cao continued resting his spear on his shoulder. "Can I hear your reason?"
Clearly, he too found Kaiser's sudden decision to join the Hero Faction a bit abrupt.
Like Siegfried, Cao Cao had his doubts. However, unlike Siegfried, his skepticism wasn't as strong.
More than suspicion, Cao Cao was curious.
He wanted to hear what kind of explanation Kaiser would give.
To this, Kaiser simply responded with one sentence:
"The reason is simple—it's just the result of an elimination process."
His answer left everyone, including Cao Cao, momentarily stunned.
"Elimination process?" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through him. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." Kaiser ignored the penetrating gaze and replied casually, "Do you think someone like me, a Longinus wielder, can continue aimlessly wandering as I did before?"
"Of course not." Cao Cao answered without hesitation. "Every major mythological faction keeps a close watch on Sacred Gear users, especially the three major factions—Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels. They have always monitored Sacred Gear wielders."
"They hold a complicated attitude toward Sacred Gears, constantly questioning why God left such weapons to humanity."
"Especially Longinus—artifacts powerful enough to threaten both Gods and Maous. The three factions have never understood why God would grant humans weapons that could even endanger Him."
"That's why, whenever a Longinus wielder appears, the three factions will inevitably take action. They will either recruit them… or eliminate them. There's no way they would let you roam freely after your Sacred Gear has already gone out of control once."
The only reason Kaiser had been left alone so far was that the factions hadn't yet identified what Sacred Gear resided within him.
But the moment they did, they would take action.
There was no way they would allow the strongest Longinus wielder to wander unchecked.
Especially the Church and Heaven. To them, the True Longinus held an unparalleled significance—they would never ignore its wielder.
"So, if I keep going as I am, my future boils down to two choices."
"I either get recruited by one of the three factions—Devils, Angels, or Fallen Angels."
"Or I get branded as an extreme threat and eliminated on sight."
Kaiser pointed this out calmly, then looked at Cao Cao.
"And since I neither want to be eliminated nor recruited, I must find a true place to belong."
His words seemed to resonate with several members of the Hero Faction.
It was clear—many of them had suffered similar experiences.
For many, joining Khaos Brigade had likely been their only choice.
"I see." Cao Cao tapped his spear against his shoulder with an amused expression. "So the Hero Faction is the place you've chosen as your sanctuary?"
"More or less." Kaiser didn't deny it. "Although joining a terrorist group might be a bit extreme… it's still preferable to aligning with the three factions."
"And why is that?" Cao Cao asked with interest. "With your status as the wielder of the True Longinus, you'd be treated with the highest regard if you joined any of them, wouldn't you?"
There was no doubt.
If Kaiser chose to join the Church or Heaven, they would worship him as their most prized warrior.
As the wielder of the strongest Longinus, he would be a highly sought-after asset wherever he went.
However, rather than answering directly, Kaiser simply cast a glance at Siegfried.
"That guy over there—your so-called 'Demonic Sword User'—was once the Church's most elite warrior. The Sacred Gear he holds may just be a mutated Twice Critical, but it's a rare variant. On top of that, he's already achieved Balance Breaker, allowing him to wield multiple demonic swords—including Gram, the strongest among them."
"A warrior like him—no matter where he went—should have been treated with the utmost respect."
"But in reality? Do you think he was ever truly valued?"
The moment he spoke, Siegfried's face darkened.
Even the other members who had ties to the Church fell silent.
"If the treatment was really that good, then why would he leave and join a terrorist organization?" Kaiser continued flatly. "I've spent time in the Church before—I know exactly what kind of people exist there."
The Church was filled with zealots.
And even more people who abused their faith for their own gain.
Kaiser himself had nearly become a test subject before his Sacred Gear even awakened—targeted by Church researchers who saw him as nothing more than raw material.
Unlike Cao Cao, Siegfried wasn't a natural inheritor of a heroic bloodline.
He was artificially manufactured in the Sigured Institute—his white hair was proof of that.
And anyone could imagine what kind of environment such warriors were created in.
How could he possibly not leave the Church?
Moreover, he wasn't just an elite warrior—he was a cursed swordsman, wielding multiple demonic swords, each bringing their own heavy tolls and afflictions.
Yet, even while carrying such burdens, Siegfried had been bestowed the title Demonic Sword User within the Church.
It was proof that, for the Church, he was nothing more than a disposable weapon.
His well-being? Irrelevant.
And that made it clear how he had been treated there.
"The Devils are no different," Kaiser suddenly shifted the topic.
"While many Devils aren't as wicked as myths depict them, their society is still incredibly feudal."
"No matter how talented a human is, if they choose to align with the Devils, it means one thing—they will become a servant to a High-Class or Ultimate-Class Devil."
"In the eyes of Devils, reincarnated Devils are nothing but servants. Even a Longinus wielder would have to start as a pawn, completely under the control of their master."
"Pureblood Devils especially look down on reincarnated Devils. Most of them don't even consider their servants as people."
"To them, a servant is nothing more than a resource—a tool that can be replaced."
Rias Gremory was an exception.
She genuinely cared for her peerage, and a few other Pureblood Devils also valued their servants.
But at the end of the day, they were still servants.
And most of the Underworld's nobles shared a completely different perspective.
As for the Fallen Angels…
"Fallen Angels were once Angels—cast out of Heaven due to their desires."
"I'm not going to claim they're all evil—in fact, out of the three factions, the Fallen Angels probably have the least internal issues."
"Their current leader is incredibly capable—his ideas and methods are progressive."
"But precisely because of that, he's also the one most obsessed with Sacred Gears."
"He understands the threat of Longinus more than anyone else. And that's why he's the most proactive when it comes to securing or eliminating Longinus wielders."
Unconsciously, Kaiser rested his spear on his shoulder, tapping it lightly, mirroring Cao Cao's stance.
"Ultimately, as the wielder of the True Longinus, I won't find satisfaction in any of those factions."
"So if I have to choose—"
"The Hero Faction is the best option."
"At the very least, it gives me freedom."
Of course, that was only part of the truth.
The deeper reason?
Kaiser had already decided that, if he wanted his time in this world to be truly interesting, then joining the three factions wouldn't do.
He'd either become a servant, be looked down upon, or be hunted.
That kind of life? Dull.
Remaining an independent rogue? Possible.
But difficult.
So instead, he chose Khaos Brigade.
Yes, it was a terrorist group.
Yes, it was dangerous.
But it was also one of the most pivotal forces shaping the world's future.
And it wasn't just filled with villains—many members were simply misfits.
Even one of the deuteragonists of the original story would join them later.
For now, this was the best move.
"Does that answer your question?"
Kaiser smiled at Cao Cao.
Cao Cao chuckled.
"Welcome to the team."
With those words, Kaiser's fate was sealed.
He had officially joined Khaos Brigade—as an honored… terrorist.
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