Chapter 97: The Final Fireworks—A Grand Reunion!

Chapter 97: The Final Fireworks—A Grand Reunion!

“Exclusive Protocol No. 3? Doctor, how could you let Caroline install something so inhumane?”

“Inhumane?” the Doctor replied. “Tendou, this is an exclusive protocol that almost every Machina Type Starbearer has. Without something like this, no one would ever feel at ease letting a Machina Type Starbearer stay by their side.”

“But the Machina aren’t real machines. They’re people too,” Tendou said. “I don’t think a program like this is a good thing for Caroline.”

Hearing Tendou’s words, the Doctor didn’t seem particularly bothered.

After all, so-called exclusive protocol programs required the Machina Type Starbearer’s own consent. If they did not agree, no outsider could implant such an almost bottom-level “protocol program” deep within their mind.

“Tendou, if you think there’s something wrong with this program, you can have Caroline delete it herself,” the Doctor said.

“After all, the content of this protocol is that, once activated, she can only act according to your commands.”

“And those commands naturally include ordering her to delete this very protocol.”

“However, before you do that, I think it would be best to ask Caroline what she herself thinks. Some things can’t just be decided because you think they’re right—you also have to respect the wishes of the person involved.”

“Alright, I understand.”

. . .

“What the hell, Caroline? This kind of brain-dead program that lets other people control you—and you’re still insisting on keeping it? Have you turned stupid or something?!”

Tendou stared at Caroline, who steadfastly refused to delete Exclusive Protocol No. 3, completely dumbfounded.

He had thought that as long as he explained things to her, she would definitely agree to delete this “idiotic program.”

But to his surprise, not only did Caroline refuse with absolute firmness, she also stated that this was an exclusive agreement between her and him.

She would not allow anyone to touch it—not even Tendou himself.

This left Tendou utterly speechless.

He genuinely couldn’t understand how foolish someone had to be to deliberately leave such a fatal weakness in the hands of others.

Caroline, however, clearly saw through what Tendou was thinking and immediately asked in return:

“Tendou, would you ever harm me in the future?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Tendou answered, “Why would I harm you?”

“Then isn’t that enough?”

“???”

Looking at Tendou’s utterly confused expression, Caroline smiled and said,

“Tendou, perhaps in your eyes, that so-called Exclusive Protocol No. 3 is an invisible shackle placed upon me.”

“But to me, it isn’t a shackle at all. Instead, it’s an invisible bond.”

“Because I can’t guarantee that I’ll always perfectly understand your thoughts, but I hope I can always cooperate with you in doing what is right.”

“And that is precisely the meaning of Exclusive Protocol No. 3’s existence.”

“It guarantees that I will always stand on your side, and that I will never do anything that could possibly harm you.”

“For me, those two points alone are enough.”

“Besides, as long as you don’t use it, what difference does it make whether the program is deleted or not?”

“……”

Looking at the foolishly earnest Caroline, Tendou let out a sigh, then pointed at her and said,

“Just you wait, Caroline. Just you wait—you’ll regret this someday.”

With that, Tendou stormed off in a huff.

As she watched Tendou’s retreating figure, Caroline not only wasn’t angry—she smiled even more brightly.

“Regret it? Tendou… I believe I will never regret it.”

“Besides, even if I do regret it, it won’t be because you were wrong—it’ll just be because, for the moment, I couldn’t understand your way of thinking.”

“Because I believe you would never harm me.”

Once, Caroline believed she would never regret that choice she had made.

She also believed she would never question any decision Tendou made in the future.

But now, she had to admit it.

She regretted it.

And at the very moment when even a mere holographic projection was enough to trigger the “Exclusive Protocol No. 3” buried deep within her mind, Caroline immediately understood one thing.

That was—Tendou had not only foreseen this future long ago, he had also made thorough preparations to ensure that this future would arrive as planned.

Those preparations included secretly activating Exclusive Protocol No. 3 once beforehand, without her knowledge, and pre-setting a condition that would allow the protocol to be triggered even by a holographic projection.

Otherwise, a hologram alone would never have been able to activate Exclusive Protocol No. 3 so easily.

Looking at Caroline, whose personality had switched to her Machina persona due to 【Exclusive Protocol No. 3】, “Tendou” spoke with guilt in his voice.

“I’m sorry, Caroline.”

“We clearly agreed that I would never use this program, but in the end, I still broke my promise.”

“If I didn’t use it, I couldn’t guarantee that a version of me that exists only as a hologram would be able to make you understand—and willingly accept—the arrangements I’m about to make.”

At this point, “Tendou” took a deep breath, then, with an extremely solemn expression, gave Caroline a firm assurance.

“Don’t worry, Caroline. I never do things without confidence, and I never do things that would make you sad.”

“Although I don’t know what the situation with my real body is like right now, I believe there is still room for things to turn around.”

“Because besides seeing that ‘perfect’ future, I also saw a faint yet dazzling light.”

“A light called… ‘miracle.’”

“It’s just that I always prepare for the worst. So until I’m certain I’ve truly grasped that ‘light,’ please forgive my selfishness.”

After saying that, “Tendou” issued a clear command to Caroline.

And that command not only caught Caroline off guard, it also shocked all the interdimensional viewers.

Because the purpose behind Tendou activating Caroline’s Exclusive Protocol No. 3 was to temporarily seal away all memories related to him.

And the method he chose to do so was extremely unusual.

What he did was not to make those memories “disappear.”

Instead, he first sealed the original memories, then used the original storyline involving “Chen Xing” and “Tachibana” to fill the “gaps” in Caroline’s current memories.

Caroline’s primary personality was unwilling to let this happen.

But constrained by the binding force of Exclusive Protocol No. 3, she could only watch helplessly as the days and nights she had fought side by side with Tendou, the moments when they had exchanged smiles with one another, all scattered like sand paintings blown apart by the wind—only to be replaced by unfamiliar scenes, scenes from the original story… scenes where Tendou did not exist.

What was even more excessive was that Tendou felt this still wasn’t enough.

He directly ordered her Machina persona to pick up her phone and begin processing, one by one, all the photos related to Tendou—erasing his traces from her life as thoroughly as possible.

And this time, she had absolutely no way to stop it.

After watching her finish all of this, Tendou knew that even if he said something now, the future Caroline would not remember it for the time being.

Still, he shed the guilty expression he had worn until then.

Not only did his face regain that familiar arrogance, that supreme confidence as if he alone stood above heaven and earth—he also spoke a line that perfectly matched his personality and character setting.

“Caroline, trust me. As long as I’m certain that I’ve grasped that ‘Glimmer,’ then no matter where you are in the future, and no matter how difficult the process may be, I will definitely find you and personally apologize to you.”

“That is the promise I make to you.”

As his words fell, Caroline followed the instructions Tendou had given her earlier.

With an expressionless face, she headed deep underground, toward the quantum transit chamber.

After Caroline’s figure disappeared from the control room, Tendou’s holographic projection unexpectedly spoke again.

And this time, the camera angle of the series shifted in an eerie way, turning directly toward “Tendou’s” face.

From this perspective, it was as if what Tendou was about to say was not meant for himself, nor for Caroline or anyone else within the story—but rather, for the interdimensional viewers watching from beyond the screen.

This made the audience seem to realize something.

“Caroline, miracles may be rare, but I believe I can seize one.”

“Not for any other reason—simply because I’m me.”

“And before that miracle arrives, let me first present this final fireworks display to that group of ill-intentioned bastards.”

“You want to steal the secrets of the stars? Then let’s see whether you have the ability to do so.”

“Once you’ve stretched out your hand, don’t think you can just pull it back so easily.”

With that, Tendou’s holographic projection dispersed into the air.

At the same time, a cold, mechanical voice echoed throughout the underground base.

【Base self-destruction protocol activated】

【05:59 05:58 05:57】

Although the scenes on screen were filled with the sorrow of parting, the reactions of the interdimensional viewers were completely different.

Because after hearing Tendou’s words, not only did they not feel like crying—they actually wanted to laugh, and laugh out loud!

Opening the champagne at halftime?

Not happening!

Because if Tendou were really about to be written off, then all those lines he said would have been completely unnecessary!

So without a doubt, those final words were clearly the production team’s way of forcefully leaking some information in advance—just to fully protect their “family.”

With that conclusion reached, the atmosphere of the live comments instantly underwent a dramatic transformation.

The time for celebration… had begun!

“Everyone stand up! Tendou is playing on a whole different level!”

“So this is the victory declaration after his awakening? Damn, Tendou, you really know how to cook!”

“Hahahaha! I knew it! With how popular and meme-worthy Tendou is, how stupid would the production team have to be to kill him off?”

“Brothers, pop the champagne!”

“Put it away, put it away! Who allowed you guys to hold a funeral for Tendou? Didn’t you see he’s coming back to life later? Bad luck!”

“I don’t care about anything else, brothers—see you next season!”

“Uh… does no one care about Kong? Isn’t he supposed to be the main character?”

Amid the excited expressions of the interdimensional viewers, the camera of the series slowly pulled back to a higher vantage point.

Boom—boom—boom!

Then, amid waves of violent explosions and blazing firelight, the Embers Base—the most important narrative setting of Season One—was transformed into an incomparably brilliant, dazzling “firework,” and completely vanished before the eyes of all interdimensional viewers.

Although Stellaris: Embers still had one final episode yet to be released, everyone knew that the unreleased last episode would, in all likelihood, simply tie up some of the earlier foreshadowing and reveal a few hints related to Season Two.

In other words, the true main storyline of Season One had already come to an end.

As for how well this ending was received, one only needed to look at the dense flood of comments filling the interdimensional screen to know the answer.

Because, just as Tendou had said before, audiences do not like tragedies.

At the same time, a group of Stellaris production staff, stationed in front of their computer screens and watching the live feedback scroll by, quietly wiped the sweat from their brows—and then finally let out long, relieved breaths.

Thankfully… it seemed their “family” had been saved.

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