Ragna did not want to get involved in anything related to Theresa, as anyone with a bit of common sense would know what kind of attitude Otto had towards her.
"Although I've heard there have been some friction between Theresa and Otto, to be honest, Otto still quite dotes on Theresa."
"What bad luck that this crappy job came my way right during the holidays."
Ragna felt like cursing.
"I think your attitude of doing your job well even though you clearly don't want to is truly admirable, Captain..."
Himeko complained.
"Well, well, that's in the past now, the Bishop took that person away, so from now on it's not our business."
"That's right, that's fine, I hope so."
"That is, generally speaking, if someone raises a flag like this, they will surely be involved in something later on, won't they?"
"Could you say something auspicious, Mr. Tian Shi?"
...
Two years later, in 2010, in France, at an orphanage.
"Goodbye, Professor Ragna!"
"You must come back when the flowers you taught us to grow bloom!"
"We will be waiting for you!"
The children waved to Ragna, who had finished her volunteer work.
"So, Captain, you really do a good job."
Himeko was sitting alone in the transport ship, observing Ragna, who was reluctant to part with the children, with a half-smile.
"Himeko, if you don't have to talk, you don't have to."
Ragna said goodbye to the children while giving Himeko a pat on the head.
"Mmm~ I actually still miss the time when you were at the maid café."
Himeko shrugged.
"Speaking of which, is it just my imagination? I think I saw a familiar face among those children."
"You mean Bianca, right?"
"Who is she? Mmm... I don't remember her at all."
Himeko pondered for a moment and then shook her head.
"Two years ago, Krostenn, Kiana Kaslana."
"Ugh... cough, cough, cough!"
Himeko almost choked on her own saliva.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, how is Kiana similar to that blonde girl?"
"Her current name is Bianca Ataegina; if you call her by another name and someone hears it, it will cause trouble; specifically, her face, or more specifically, her facial features... Himeko, you're not one to not recognize someone just because they change their hairstyle, are you?"
Ragna looked at Himeko suspiciously.
Tian Shi was also surprised.
"Do maids have too good a memory?"
"You had run into Bianca at Schicksal at least ten times before?"
"Bianca has changed almost everything about her appearance, except her face."
"After all, I was the one who rescued her back then, so what's wrong with having a slightly deeper impression of her?"
Ragna sneered.
"By the way, what are the orders from above this time?"
"The pursuit of Siegfried from two years ago... intelligence indicates that he did not enter Anti-Entropy... or rather, did not completely enter Anti-Entropy's range of control."
Himeko handed the tablet to Ragna.
"We are flying to Siberia for regrouping; several transport ships have been sent to pick us up. That Bishop is in quite a hurry."
Ragna glanced at it, and her expression became somewhat disgusted.
"What kind of tragic fate is this...?"
She had just served as a volunteer counselor for the other woman's daughter for a long time, and now she was going to arrest her father.
This feeling is truly strange.
"What is the main objective? Arresting Siegfried or recovering K423?"
Although Ragna was somewhat annoyed, military orders were paramount.
"The details are in your hands; the worst-case scenario was not mentioned in them."
"If this continues, I'm really going to have to apply for retirement."
Ragna put the tablet aside.
"What does Mr. Tian think?"
"If you want my advice, I would undoubtedly run, I have contacts with Anti-Entropy, so you can flee whenever you want."
This should be considered a key plot point, right?
In the original timeline, the entire assault team was annihilated here, encountering K423 in her Herrscher of the Void state... who is now Kiana, which resulted in the death of everyone except Himeko.
However, Ragna did have the opportunity to retreat.
Ragna died because she hesitated when she saw Kiana's childlike face while she was attacking her, which led to her death.
Of course, apart from Ragna, everyone else was there basically to feed the enemy...
"Oh! So you've finally revealed your true thoughts?"
Ragna joked with a smile.
"While your suggestion is somewhat tempting, desertion is not something that can be decided with just a few words."
After all, factors like family members have to be taken into account, and Ragna does not have the right to make decisions for her players.
"I simply think you have no hope; forgive me for being so blunt, but the only way to deal with Siegfried is probably to kidnap K423."
"Undeniably true."
Ragna nodded with a wry smile.
There were two reasons why she was able to pursue Siegfried two years ago.
First, Siegfried was fleeing, and if he dared to look at her, he would undoubtedly be unable to escape.
Second, the stealth fighter Siegfried stole was no match for the heavy fighter Ragna was traveling in.
The RPC-6626 overrides any sophisticated tricks.
Does he even understand the value of a Honkai Beast fighter?
Stealth fighters are so fragile that they don't even have the right to face the RPC-6626.
So it would be strange if Siegfried hadn't been shot down back then.
"Is there any other kind of support?"
"I would love to have one too," Ragna said with resignation.
"I can probably only apply for an RPC-6626."
"..."
What's the point...?
That thing can only intimidate short-armed S-class Valkyries; Siegfried is clearly not short-armed.
On the other hand, Tian Shi went through his memories and realized that Rita seemed to have the shortest arms among the S-class characters.
Bianca can throw spears, Theresa may be short-armed but she can throw the light spear of Judah, and Li Sushang possesses the ancestral mystical strike technique of Mount Taixu.
It seems Rita doesn't have any clear ranged ability... which is truly unexpected.
Ragna probably also perceived Tian Shi's thoughts.
"It's not that we are the only Valkyries in Schicksal... Mr. Tian, you should already be used to being the vanguard, right?"
Ragna remained completely impassive.
Once they find Siegfried, a large contingent will naturally proceed with his arrest.
"I'm afraid you will be instantly annihilated."
Tian Shi glanced at his current compatibility with Himeko.
[Current Compatibility: 207%]
Himeko, with the triple strength effect for ten seconds... well, let's just forget it.
Although there is a possibility of a direct confrontation, this is undoubtedly not the outcome Tian Shi desires.
"The idea of dying instantly is truly terrifying..."
Ragna handed the tablet back.
"Don't worry, I will act cautiously once the operation begins; if any problem arises, I hope Mr. Tian can point it out in time."
Ragna spoke sincerely, but Himeko's expression began to cloud over.
Compared to Ragna, who didn't know much about Tian Shi, Himeko started to have a bad feeling halfway through the conversation.
What does Tian Shi mean by this? Does it mean that their own team will die instantly if they carry out this mission?
"You better ask for reinforcements!"
"Let Sister Reanna and that First Herrscher whom I don't know come!"
"Don't worry, I've already thought about it," Tian Shi replied.
"Go back to the private chat channel."
"I had already sent her the message privately through the tablet; I just wanted to see if I could persuade Ragna; if I succeeded in making the team flee, it would save me a lot of trouble."
After all, no one can guarantee that there will be no casualties if a real fight breaks out.
However, it is clear that, under various restrictions, persuading Ragna with words is not an easy task, even if Tian Shi's persuasion skills are already quite high.
Persuasion skills are not hypnosis or charm...
(How long will it take for her to arrive?)
Himeko typed on the tablet.
"I don't know; Siegfried and Anti-Entropy are in a rather delicate situation; at most, we roughly know where Siegfried is living in seclusion, but finding him would be quite difficult."
Tian Shi is also quite worried.
Although Edison is in command, some things really haven't changed.
Admittedly, although Edison was a strong woman, she had exceptionally high moral standards.
Because Bianca's situation can basically be considered a death sentence; after all, falling from a thousand meters and being hit in the head by the ship's wreckage is practically like saying: "this character has no choice but to die."
From that perspective, it becomes easier to understand her reasoning.
A father had just lost his only daughter, who had been left to him by his late wife, and Anti-Entropy should bear roughly 30% of the blame for this.
In this situation, it is difficult to offer advice or suggestions to anyone, especially since Edison's parents also passed away young, so there is inevitably some empathy involved.
If we talk about someone capable of advising others regardless of the environment, then Otto is the only one.
But Otto managed to appease Siegfried after blowing up Cecilia mainly thanks to Bianca.
"This matter has caused quite a stir..."
Tian Shi sighed.
"I will do my best to cheer them up."
"..."
Ragna looked at Himeko typing on her tablet and Tian Shi suddenly falling silent, and she felt a sense of unease.
Is this really reliable?
Instant death... No, it shouldn't have gone that far...
No, if they encountered an Emperor-level Honkai Beast, their team members could indeed die instantly.
Does Tian Shi mean that this time they might face an opponent at least at the level of an Emperor-class Honkai Beast?
How could...?
No, now is not the time to consider that.
The most important thing now is: what if their opponent was actually an Emperor-level Honkai Beast?
Even the so-called heavy fighters are nothing more than toys in the hands of super-powerful enemies like Emperor-class Honkai Beasts.
The most outstanding achievement of the RPC-6626 was temporarily resisting half the body of the Emperor-class Honkai Beast Ashva, the Son of Dawn.
Do they call this the guidance of a Guardian Angel?
Ragna smiled bitterly to herself; she couldn't accept the idea of her entire team being annihilated at all.
But... this matter cannot be avoided.
Military orders are absolute, and it's no joke.
Furthermore, most of them have family, and some have even brought them to live with them.
Although she has great charisma, she is powerless in this matter.
Besides... she actually feels a lot for Schicksal; of course Schicksal is not the same as Otto.
For example, the aunt who serves the food in the cafeteria, the slightly mentally troubled AI in the training room, and oh, and that little girl, Rita.
Besides, Ragna was not the type of person who was afraid of death.
"Mr. Tian, are our enemies Honkai Beasts?"
Ragna tried to get more information from Tian Shi.
If it's a Honkai Beast, Ragna doesn't care.
Even if it's an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, if sacrificing her can help them hold out until the main force arrives and defeats it, then it's a worthy death.
Countless predecessors have done it, so there's no reason for them to back down.
It is absolutely impossible for Tian Shi to use this to coerce them into deserting.
"No, your enemies are Siegfried and K423."
"That is the worst possible answer," Ragna thought to herself.
Pointing a sword at your own people is not honorable, especially when the other party—Siegfried—is a hero of the Second Honkai War, not to mention he is the husband of the martyr Cecilia.
Cecilia is almost an idol for the Valkyries of her generation.
What a shame!
Ragna sighed internally.
"Do it your way."
Tian Shi suddenly intervened.
"Although it may sound a little childish, I really have no right to use alarmist rhetoric to insult a soldier dedicated to her duty."
"Huh?"
Even Himeko was surprised this time.
But Tian Shi hadn't finished speaking.
"But on the other hand, there are things I want to do... Miss Ragna, can you understand?"
"..."
This time, Ragna was a little confused.
"You mean..."
"Can I ask for leave for Himeko?"
Tian Shi asked.
"I remember Himeko still has days off this year, right?"
"Sure."
Ragna hesitated for an instant before nodding.
"I'll give it to you right away..."
"No need, I've already approved it."
Tian Shi showed the leave request that had been approved by Ragna on the tablet.
"..."
Seeing this, Ragna's lips twitched slightly.
"Alright, let's make a temporary landing."
"What do you want to do?"
Ragna was also a little confused at that moment.
"Nothing special, Captain Ragna, just do what you think is best, we'll take care of the rest."
The transport ship gradually descended.
"Let's go, Himeko."
Tian Shi forcibly pulled Himeko out of the transport ship.
"Tian Shi, if you don't give me a good reason, don't blame me for turning against you."
"The reason is that I am better equipped to work with Anti-Entropy than with the Stormtroopers."
Tian Shi just understood why he insisted on leaving Ragna.
Being with Ragna is like holding two pairs in your hand; you can only rely on the help of others.
But if you go back to Anti-Entropy, you'll have a Royal Flush in your hand and can do whatever you want with it.
If Edison can't do it, let her! Don't forget that he is the true leader of Anti-Entropy!
It is important to keep the initiative in your own hands.
"I already sent a message to Welt; we are very close to Siberia, and someone will come to pick us up soon."
"Okay, whatever you say."
Himeko's face showed a thoughtful expression, but then it became strange.
"Speaking of which, I always have the feeling that you don't actually want to go back to Anti-Entropy right now; is it just my imagination?"
"Because if I suddenly return... I have a feeling it will cause a huge chaos in Anti-Entropy."
"..."