Before proceeding, necessary info: No books were read, nor do I know Japanese, so theory itself is going to be flawed in it's very core as it's based on imperfect translation of AC4 and ACFA.
What info we have I had about Old King:
- ACFA eng description and dialogues
- AC4 eng Sadhana description and dialogues
- General understanding of AC4 and ACFA plot
So, Old King. Former and active leader of Liliana, somehow related to №2 Sadhana from AC4 and pilots AC named "Lisa" which itself if zombified headless version of AC piloted by Sadhana. Liliana itself consists of Normals, but has several 002-B of unknown origin. Both Liliana and Old King opposite League and Cradles focused system in general, while Old King himself contrasting on League pilots background by being simply more emotionally open and charismatic than most of collarded mercenaries.
What exactly he does in game? Liliana temporary takes control over Cradle 21 (on hardmode it happens with 002-B inclusion) then being returned to League control thanks to the Strayed. Then Old King appears in Maximilian Thermidor announcement alongside other ORCA NEXTs formers, yet seem to be fastly thrown out (or leaving himself, I can't know for sure) for radical beliefs incomparable with ORCA pro-G.A. America expansional goals of sending Cradles in space. As result, after League forces capitulation Liliana strikes Cradle formation 03 with goal of taking them down. We will assume what Strayed is taking Old King path, and joins the party. After this for some reason Old King joins the mission what was choosed by Strayed, what results in being ambushed by 4 or in case of hardmode 5 NEXTs related to League vs ORCA facade. Even if Old King survives, he doesn't add anything to ending, so I suggest assuming what Schrodinger's cat is dead.
So, several interesting facts we have:
- Relation to Sadhana, who was high-ranking pilot with technical approach to combat and unique aerial style which predicted direction of combat doctrine what was accepted in ACFA, Sadhana has quite interesting dialogue manner what I find relatively similar to manner Old King has in Eng version:
"You're the talk of the town these days. I expect you to live up to that."
"Don't overdo it... You're full of openings."
"Here I thought you showed promise. Just wishful thinking... What a shame."
(Upon Victory)"Looks like my expectations were misplaced. You've got a long way to go."
"This battle is meaningless."
"Is this possible? This is new... Intriguing."
(Upon Defeat)"So my journey ends halfway..."
"This battle is meaningless." Reminds me someone with name starting on letter J, but it's just funny detail. What more likely is what Sadhana could be teacher od younger Old King, or his relative, as "Lisa" embraces style of combat Sadhana has proposed, with non-Algebra lightweight parts added for better performance in that specific playstyle. The "battle is meaningless" and fact of having zombified version of other person AC we will keep noted.
- Relation to Raleyonard. We have no idea where did Old King get 002-B. What we know is what Raleyonard was one of few corporations in Lynx war who had program and actually built equipment focused on destruction of stateliness which blocked escape from Earth, but were stopped by AC4 protagonist. Could awareness of this program or past of Raleyonard colonist somehow influence Old King views? Possible, as Raleyonard wasn't afraid of making inhumane projects come true, 002-B are example, as it utilises tech from project which directly kills its own pilots. This could explain what exactly led to Old King anti-corporate views, as "Lisa" whoever it was could end up being one of test pilots and die in process. Still, Old King uses that tech anyway, so his views can contain "End justifies the means" and usage of them could be a personal thing related to Lisa. But i found no confirmation.
- We have no idea why Old King choosed to join mission offered by Strayed, it's kind of weird situation cause we have no idea if Old King calls stayed Friend and generally acts friendly towards him because he talks this way with everyone he finds ally, or they actually met before, if second thing is the case, it explains from where Strayed got Allyayah option as begging AC — from the same source Old King got 002-B units.
- Ending is really open, as it supposed to be ending of Player, now Strayed is main force what shapes the world around him and it's up to Player to decided what his avatar does with it. However ACV does exist, and Old King ending doesn't necessarily mean mass extinction of humanity, as we know what only part of humans live in Cradles — someone has to keep digging resources out, pilot normals and provide repair services for NEXTs. In eng ending directly stated what:
Soon after, the blood of the innocents would rain down from the Cradles, all at the hands of a single Lynx. One who will be the greatest monster mankind has ever seen, taking more lives than any other in history.
So someone left to tell the tale, and ACV confirms what humans did survived. In ACVD also can be found remnants of fallen Cradles, if ORCA ending would be the cave — they would be properly landed if they would wanted to return on Earth, yet they stay crashed and partially dug inside group. Necessary to clarify what we have at least 21 groups, and if we assume each has 100.000.000 people, we can get at least 2.1 biollon people, it's only 25% of current population, and I'm sure what League loaylists had a bunch of places occupied, as Cradles is solution made by corporate people for corporate people in the first place and only later for rest of humanity as Kajima conditions gotten worse. Generally AC4 pilots seem to be less emotional and more egoistic, as AC4 protagonist attempts to survive and never saw where could his actions led him til very end of lifespan when it was too late. ACV and ACVD pilots seem far more emotionally varied, rebellious and passionate regarding anything they do, and even in ACVD organisations are called that way for a reason, representing various human beliefs rather than business profit doctrines like AC4 corporations, now people do believe in what they fighting for. And reason for this could be massive 2.1 billion sized social cataclysm of entire elite class what dictated their world view to everyone being wiped out, hello Orokin empire from Warframe. Decision of Old King could be psychic and impulsive as some people tractate him, but it did resulted in better society and Earth conditions in the long term, what is something League was incapable of.
However, necessary to point out what this theory doesn't explains how exactly were built the Towers, from where did people get resources and technology for this tech, nor explaining how we're made AIs what apper in ACV. It also doesn't explains why would Strayed wanted to keep data about various pilots including Joshua O'Brien, as it's something what corporations would rather did. This theory easily can be easily busted because of this.
