"So the Meilong Republic wants to join the Eden Union?"

Pauline was on a private video call with President Palma, who seemed rather irritated by the satisfied smile on the lips of the Queen of Prettania. "Queen Mackenzie, with all due respect, by the time I formally submitted the application, you should already know my intentions. Why this call?"

"I just wanted to know what she convinced you to change course" Pauline replied.

Palma bit his lip. "It was going too far. In order to prevent any other nation from abandoning the NMWA, those madmen have decided to finance the dictatorships. It wouldn't take long before one of them proposed dropping the nuclear bombs". The president shook his head. "I was willing to use them against animals, but I will not accept that they are used against humans. With two superpowers united against them, the NMWA will think twice before pulling the trigger"

"In that case I have to thank you. You may have saved the world"

"I want to hope that this is the case, and that my decision convinces those madmen to lower the crest. And anyway, if I have to be honest, I've been thinking about it for a while. I have read the requirements and measures you have taken in Eden Union and I can confidently say that this organization will foster a much more democratic, free and united world than the old NMWA. I have had several surveys carried out in the previous weeks and I know that the people of my country are very much in favor of joining the Eden Union, so I don't regret my choice"

"It was the right choice. When will you join the Eden Union?"

"In a couple of months, the time it takes to change those few parts of our Constitution that do not meet the requirements to become part of the Eden Union. We also won't come alone. Many other nations think like me, especially democracies. I predict that within a year at most at least a quarter of the nations of this world will have joined the Eden Union"

"It would be a wonderful scenario"

"I know it. However, don't make the mistake of believing that this will make those madmen retreat. The emperor of Almagna is already ready to press the button to release the nuclear weapons and only the other two superpowers are holding him back. I want to hope that this story will end without bloodshed, but my advice is not to let your guard down"

"We know it. Thank you, president Palma, we will gladly welcome his nation to the Eden Union"

"Thank you, queen Mackenzie. You were right from the start: there was another way"

With those last words, Palma turned off the communication. Pauline relaxed in her chair. She felt as exhausted as ever in her life.

Finally the news that you had been waiting for so long had arrived: another superpower had sided with them. Now only three remained. She doubted that it was possible to change the mind of the Emperor of Almagna or the president of Gardarikian, but there was still the possibility that the Confederate States of Vinland would join them.

While she was relaxing the computer chirped again and the symbol for a new video call appeared on the screen. She opened it and Jocelyne's face appeared on the screen. "President Jersey, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Regina Mackenzie, Lord Sobek has contacted me, and you have no idea what news he brings..."

*******

"What!? Can you repeat!?" Pauline exclaimed without believing what she was hearing.

Sobek almost laughed at the woman's exclamation. "You heard me right. I found a way to completely resolve the risks associated with nuclear bombs"

Pauline was completely stunned. Immediately after contacting her, Jocelyne went to her studio window and opened it to allow Sobek to be framed by the computer camera. From the very first moments Pauline was surprised, because Sobek was physically very changed and therefore it was clear that he had evolved further; however, the news he brought was beyond the definition of extraordinary.

"How is it possible?" Pauline asked.

Sobek shook his head. "I can't tell you now: we could be heard and someone could intercept the call. It is enough for you to know that your citizens are no longer at risk. All the bombs will be able to do, if they fall, will be a large crater, but no one will be killed and no waste will poison the air. The only ones that will be affected will be the buildings, but those can be rebuilt"

Pauline clearly wanted to know more, but she restrained her curiosity about her: Sobek's arguments were more than solid, there was really the risk that someone would listen to them. Better to keep such information safe. She wasn't afraid that Sobek was lying to her: she had never done that before. "Okay, I'll be content to breathe a sigh of relief. How many know this?"

"For now, just the three of us, plus a few of my loyalists" Sobek explained. "I propose to keep the secret for now. The fewer people know, the better. I told you because I didn't want you to continue living in fear"

Pauline thanked Sobek in her mind. In fact, since she had seen the cloud mushroom rise in the middle of the desert, she had not slept soundly. Even if they had done everything to avert nuclear war, it was still a real danger. "Thank you"

"No need to thank me. Saving the world from nuclear conflict is also in my interest," Sobek replied. "Anyway, I have a request for you... or rather, for your scientists"

"And what would it be?"

"I would like them to map my entire genome"

The request shocked the two women not a little. "Map your genome?" Jocelyne repeated.

"Yes. Again, I can't explain why due to the danger of being intercepted, but know that it will be useful if a conflict should break out"

Sobek actually wasn't sure this would be helpful. Unfortunately, however, he had no other ideas on how to unlock the [Mutations system]. After mulling it over for a long time, he had come to the conclusion that since the icon above the locked boxes was a DNA molecule, it was necessary that he could see his DNA to unlock them.

This was beyond his area of expertise, since even with the present sight of him he could not make out the tiny strands of DNA contained in the nuclei of the cells. However, humans could come to his aid. Humans had the means to be able to see the invisible.

Sobek knew that mapping the entire genome of a living thing was a titanic undertaking, but he hoped that even a patched-up mapping would be enough to unlock the [Mutations system] boxes.

Queen Mackenzie looked somewhat confused, but she finally nodded. "Okay. I'll talk to Darius and ask him to do it"

"I'll do the same with my scientists too" Jocelyne said, then added, "Can I ask for Blue's participation? Her help would be invaluable"

Sobek had already thought of that. "I have already contacted Blue and explained what she had to do. She has already set to work and she assured me that she will gladly accept the help of your scientists"

"In that case, we will do our best to help you"

"Good. Thank you"

Sobek cut the communication, sighing heavily. He hoped that his idea of him turned out to be right. If even that wasn't enough to map the [Mutation system], he wouldn't know how else he could do it.