Schicksal Headquarters.
A group of people sat around a long table for a meeting. The large electronic screen displayed the recent situation in Nagazora City, including the growth curve of the Honkai concentration.
Otto clasped his hands before his mouth, his expression growing grimmer as he looked at the data. Otto scanned everyone present and said coldly, "Now, can anyone tell us why this is happening? The growth rate of the Honkai concentration is completely off. This rate exceeds our original projections, which means all the quarantine measures we previously implemented in Nagazora City have failed... And once the Great Honkai gets out of control, not only Nagazora City but the entire Far East, and even the entire Asian region, will be affected."
A council member stood up and presented the information he had gathered. "It's Anti-Entropy's doing. They have been continuously conducting Honkai energy radiation experiments within Nagazora City. They intend to birth a Herrscher! Those bastards are planning to use the more than 3 million people of Nagazora City as nutrients for the Herrscher."
The others frowned upon hearing this. Although they were not good people, the lives of over 3 million people still struck fear into them.
"Don't we already know who the Third Herrscher will be? Can't we just take her out..." a council member said in a low voice.
Immediately, another person refuted him: "You also know that she is the chosen Third Herrscher. What's the use of killing her now? It will only give rise to another Third Herrscher that we don't know about. The Herrscher's descent can no longer be stopped. We should evacuate the people of Nagazora City now."
"That's also impossible. Not to mention whether the people of Nagazora City are willing to evacuate, even if they do, where can these 3 million people be settled..."
"So are you going to let them wait there to die! The moment the Great Honkai descends, everyone with insufficient Honkai resistance will turn to ash, or fall into being Honkai Zombies and Honkai Beasts!"
Then, the group started various discussions, talking up a storm, but in the end, they still couldn't find a solution. Nagazora City had been chosen by the Honkai as the place for the Herrscher's descent. The Herrscher would descend there, and even if Raiden Mei was killed, another person would become the Herrscher in her place.
As the council members' discussion was about to escalate into an argument, Otto clapped his hands to signal them to stop.
"Enough. Disseminate emergency evacuation measures to Nagazora City. The 'Honkai' is not yet something the world should know about. Just say there has been a chemical experiment gas leak, and the entire city is in danger. Evacuate as many people as are willing to leave. The Schicksal Corporation and the Schariac Group will take them in and ensure their livelihood. As for the rest who are unwilling to leave, seal them all off in Nagazora City until the Great Honkai is over. We need experimental data... In addition, rescue all those who survive the Great Honkai. They are people with good Honkai resistance; they will become members of Schicksal."
After confirming some other matters, Otto ended the meeting and separately summoned Durandal and Rita.
Otto met with Durandal first, explained the situation, and then said, "Our S-rank Valkyrie, Durandal, although I greatly admire those who continuously sacrifice to fight the Honkai, Anti-Entropy has gone too far this time. Rats should continue to hide in dark corners. Go and break the fangs they have extended. Amber will send you the mission details later."
Durandal nodded without saying much. She would do whatever Otto said. Anyway, if it was something bad... Otto wouldn't have her do it.
Not long after Durandal left, Rita arrived. She knocked on the office door and walked in.
"Lord Overseer, Rita awaits your command." Rita was dressed in her usual maid outfit, as she was, after all, Otto and Durandal's maid.
Otto put down his work, then handed Rita a list that Amber had investigated, saying:
"Rita... you have a mission. I need you to go and eliminate all Anti-Entropy members who have interfered in Nagazora City."
"Rita understands." Rita nodded without saying anything more.
If Durandal was the brightest figure on Schicksal's public front, responsible for fighting the Honkai, then she... Rita, was among the darkest, responsible for hunting people. The vice-captain of the Immortal Blades, the captain of the hunter squad, Rita Rossweisse, was a Valkyrie who specialized in assassination missions.
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Kiana and Mei went to school together. Ryn was now at home alone, exploring his Stigmata. Otto had also sent a copy of the meeting's contents to him and Kika.
He had a huge headache now. He had thought this matter could be easily resolved by him absorbing the Honkai energy of the Great Honkai, but the Stigmata Consciousness told him it wasn't that simple. The Stigmata would absorb the Honkai energy of the Great Honkai the moment it descended, then open a channel to the Sea of Quanta, transferring all the Honkai energy into it. Ryn would also complete his advancement in the Sea of Quanta.
Although it could be done in an instant, the Great Honkai had a prelude. Honkai energy would continuously gather in Nagazora City until it reached the moment of the Herrscher's descent, which would then trigger the Great Honkai. Ryn could not control the Honkai concentration before the Great Honkai, which meant the people of Nagazora City would not live to see its arrival.
Otto had equipped Kika with a warship, carrying the Honkai reactor needed for the Nexus System. With the support of the Nexus System and Kika's exosuit, Sabayon, Kika could kill an incomplete Herrscher with one shot.
But what good would that do? The people of Nagazora City still couldn't be saved. The people were unwilling to evacuate Nagazora City. Even though Schicksal had issued a notice in conjunction with the government, only a few were willing to leave. There were even many who wanted to watch the show, investigate the truth of the poison gas, and those who intended to fish in troubled waters, continuously pouring into the city.
Ryn felt a sense of powerlessness. His sense of justice would not allow these 3 million-plus people to die just like that, but he could do nothing...
He had Cortana do many things, from telecom fraud to lottery winnings for outbound travel, tricking many people out of Nagazora City, but it was just a drop in the bucket.
At night, Ryn decided to tell Mei and Kiana the truth.
Mei and Kiana were silent for a long time after learning about it.
Mei didn't know what to do... Once the Honkai truly descended on Nagazora City, once she really became a Herrscher... then she, Raiden Mei, would become the executioner who slaughtered the 3 million-plus people of Nagazora City.
Mei tightly gripped Kiana's hand, her voice a little hoarse. This matter was too heavy for her. "Was it that time when I was captured... was that when they implanted the Gem of Conquest in my body?"
"Mei... I don't know. But it probably was... We only discovered the Gem of Conquest inside you after we rescued you that time..."
Ryn shook his head at Mei. The Gem of Conquest had been implanted in her body long ago. That experiment only triggered the gem... judging from Raiden Ryoma's words, it was likely he who implanted it. But telling Mei this truth would be too cruel. It was better to let Anti-Entropy take the blame...