Additionally, this is not only the hope among the seven virtues but also the hope for our Bureau of Cleansing, and indeed for all of humanity! If we can seize this opportunity successfully during this window period, our future will certainly be full of hope!"

Hope, hope, hope... Why do you keep saying that...

Leon felt speechless by the Bureau director's "aria"-like recitation and slightly inappropriate sentimentality, but considering his indeed tireless contributions, Leon held back his urge to complain and replied seriously:

"Director, I think whether it's the hope of Old Soil or those six million potential Cleaners, we can make an effort to fight for them, but we shouldn't wager the entire present world's next decade, let alone risk the safety of those millions of Old Soil survivors.

The people of Old Soil are human, just as the people of the present world are. Rather than risking massive casualties to seek out Cleaner candidates, it's better to expand recruitment directly in the present world, which might even yield better results.

The present world's total population has already exceeded two billion; there is no shortage of good candidates capable of becoming Cleaners. With gradual expansion, it wouldn't even take ten years, perhaps two to three years, to multiply the number of Cleaners several times over."

At this point, Leon paused slightly, then continued:

"As for the hope among the seven virtues... I think if we can strive for it, we should try. But if it's not feasible, missing out could still be acceptable. Our ancestors equally had no hope in the past, yet they forged their way step by step to where we are now.

Moreover, instead of directly pursuing hope, it may be better to make ample preparations... Believing in hope is possible, but we can't rely on hope alone. Only when we are strong enough will we have the strength to grasp hope when it truly presents itself.

I believe that rather than giving up development altogether, entering a decade-long contraction period, and using the chaos in the present world along with massive resources to pursue the elusive hope of Old Soil, we should focus on the present, attempt expansion, or even actively expand outward.

If we could, like when we conquered the Realm of the Dead before, secure control over other adjacent dimensions surrounding the present world, then there would be no need to seek hope because we would already be on the most hopeful path."

"..."

What... Are you intentionally here to counter me?

With Leon speaking eloquently in a tone similar to his, dismissing all of his plans in a few words, and even sharply expanding the opposite side, the Bureau director's eyes unwittingly showed a hint of displeasure.

While Aquarius is extremely gifted, in matters, there's somewhat of an indiscretion... The Bureau has tried expansion recruitment so many times in the past, yet none have succeeded. What makes you think you can do it?

As long as humanity remains in a state where evil outweighs good in the present world, the result of expansion recruitment is more Cleaners, but more disasters caused by anomalous artifacts; no matter how it's done, it's futile. Only the hope of Old Soil is the sole answer; Old Soil's hope must be introduced for the present world to have hope!

"Blind expansion recruitment is inadvisable; this approach is less reliable than my plan."

After casually concluding with a judgment, the Bureau director had already spoken thoroughly and did not respond to Leon's remarks but instead glanced around and said:

"In any case, given our current situation, we definitely need to take some action. So if no one else has ideas, let's proceed directly to the vote... Whose plan do you favor, Aquarius', or are you more inclined towards mine?"