The term Water God didn't shock Mei or Bronya in the least. They didn't believe such a god existed; they chalked it up to one of Furina's personal flourishes. St. Freya Academy had no shortage of chunni-types anyway.
Tatsuki went on, "We're Kiana's friends. We came to help her resolve the Honkai incident here."
"Resolve a Honkai incident? Are you affiliated with some organization?" As a member of Anti-Entropy, Bronya had every reason to suspect the three belonged to another group.
"Nope! They really are just my friends," Kiana cut in, heading off Bronya's interrogation. She turned, urgent: "So how do we fix this Honkai?"
"The outbreak in Changkong City was triggered by a person, so we handle it at the source." Tatsuki waved and dispersed the Honkai energy swirling in his hand.
"A person?" Kiana stared. "You mean someone deliberately created this Honkai?"
"That's right."
Instead of answering outright, Tatsuki narrowed his eyes and looked straight into Bronya's pupils.
Silver Wolf did the same, voice flat. "Someone's watching us through her eyes."
"Huh? Watching us how?" Kiana blinked, lost.
"Bronya?" Mei guessed Bronya might have been fitted with some kind of surveillance device. She never once considered Bronya did it on purpose—wouldn't even think that way.
"..." Bronya tightened her hold on the Homu plush. Mother Cocolia was observing everything from behind the scenes.
Tatsuki's mouth curved. "Yup. The mastermind's staring right at us. I think we should bring her over."
"Silver Wolf, leave the Honkai Beasts and Deadwalkers to you two. That okay?"
"No problem." Silver Wolf flashed an OK.
"Eh? What about me?" Furina pointed at herself.
"My dear Water God Fufu… can you kill a Honkai Beast?"
"..."
Furina's mouth opened—and then stayed that way. It seemed… she really couldn't.
"Then be a good mascot and sit tight."
…
Anti-Entropy Headquarters. In a surveillance room packed with screens—
"Another Bronya?" Cocolia zoomed the image again and again, scrutinizing the details of Silver Wolf's face.
So similar to Bronya—almost identical!
She didn't care who those three suddenly appearing people were.
Gnawing at her thumbnail, eyes flashing with fierce intent. "We must bring that Bronya back too!"
Cocolia was a madwoman. Even after hearing Silver Wolf introduce herself, she still called her Bronya.
"!!!"
The feed shifted—and she saw Tatsuki's meaningful smile, heard Silver Wolf's line.
"They found me?" Cocolia whispered, shocked.
The next second, from Bronya's POV, Tatsuki vanished.
"You're Cocolia, right?"
A hand settled on her shoulder.
Cocolia whirled. One hand slapped a luminous switch on the console; the other ripped up an EM pistol and leveled it forward.
"!!!"
She froze as she registered the man's face.
"How are you here?!" Cocolia demanded, incredulous.
It was Tatsuki. A second ago he'd been standing in front of Bronya!
"I'm here to yank out the mastermind, of course."
He didn't spare the black barrel aimed at his head a second glance. Instead he studied Cocolia, intrigued.
Different surname from the Cocolia he knew, same given name—features extremely similar yet not exactly the same.
This Cocolia had violet eyes and waist-length golden curls, as pretty as a porcelain doll; tall, commanding in a Russian-style uniform with a red-lined white fur stole over her shoulders, violet gem earrings—an aura of power.
But deep in her gaze… a streak of madness. Very like the Cocolia once bewitched by the Stellaron.
"What do you mean?" Cocolia narrowed her eyes.
"To awaken Raiden Mei's power, at St. Freya Academy here in Changkong City, you orchestrated an artificial Honkai and assigned Bronya to recover the awakened Raiden Mei."
Tatsuki's words left Cocolia staring, aghast. "How do you know that?!"
Was she being monitored? Was there a mole? Bronya? No… impossible!
A tangle of thoughts flashed across her mind.
Tatsuki chuckled and continued, "You want a complete Herrscher core to drive the Moonlight Throne."
"..."
Cocolia's face shifted wildly. She couldn't fathom it—how had this total stranger learned of her plan?
"Who dares breach Anti-Entropy?!"
As the two traded a few lines, the surveillance room doors burst open—
Clack—! Clack—!
Mechs stormed in, cannon-muzzles ringed tightly around Tatsuki…
The ones forcing in were Tesla and Einstein, who usually butted heads with Cocolia. Their arrival, however, made Cocolia breathe easier. Truth be told, Tatsuki's sudden appearance had rattled her badly.
"So you're the intruder?"
Tesla. A woman impossible to ignore—voice edged with pride and confidence.
Gorgeous, too: blazing red hair, twin high tails to either side. A hint of upturned corners to her eyes lent a fierce, pressing air, yet the red-rimmed glasses folded in an intellectual balance.
Her red mechanical left arm and the surrounding mechs all sighted down on Tatsuki. Three small bots—red, blue, green—glowed blue-eyed, weapons at the ready.
At her side stood another woman: white shirt, purple tie, pale sweater, black blazer; black-trimmed shorts, black straps on the thighs, black armor on both legs.
Einstein folded her arms, coolly assessing Tatsuki.
"Someone breached Anti-Entropy HQ without triggering a single alarm. How did you do that?"
Tatsuki turned his back on Cocolia without a care and faced Tesla and Einstein head-on.
Einstein's deep-blue eyes and doll-like round face—paired with soft, pale curls—would have made for a classic beauty if not for that disastrous hairstyle. She radiated the vibe of a so-called 'mad scientist.'
Tatsuki glanced to Tesla.
"Frederica Nikola Tesla—former Schicksal Empire Institute Lab 42 scientist; Anti-Entropy cofounder and executive."
Then to Einstein.
"Lieserl Albert Einstein—one of humanity's greatest minds; former Schicksal Empire Institute Lab 42 scientist; Anti-Entropy cofounder and executive."
Whether he was merely stating identities or complimenting their genius, who could say.
Tesla tilted her chin, pride flashing. "Don't think buttering us up gets you off the hook."
Einstein's tone stayed cool. "Intruder, surrender and explain your purpose."
....
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