The next morning.
Sitting at the dining table, Leo Ash could feel the constant gazes from everyone around him, and he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable all over.
Kiana, who should have been wolfing down her food, was acting strangely today. She would take a few bites of rice and then sneak a few glances at him. Her eating speed was probably less than a fifth of her usual pace.
Mei, on the other hand, was the opposite—since this morning, she hadn't dared to meet Leo Ash's eyes.
Yuna and Bronya, the two whose relationship Leo Ash had once worried would sour, were now frantically exchanging some kind of information with their eyes.
And Fu Hua, noticing these developments, shot Leo Ash a few reproachful looks.
Wow, what on earth is going on?
[Aren't you perfectly aware? The reason the white-haired paramecium, the Rice Cooker, and the flat-chested Class Rep are acting this way is obviously because your charm stat is too high!]
...Alright, I can't argue with that.
So why did you have to make me so handsome when I transmigrated?
[Oh, you want to be uglier? The System doesn't have that function. If you want to change your looks, go get plastic surgery.]
That's not what I meant.
Sigh, what a pain.
One move affects the whole board. If it weren't for all the trouble that comes with taking action...
"Oh, right, Leo Ash."
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Cioara took out her terminal, tapped it a few times, and then displayed the intelligence she had just received this morning in front of Leo Ash.
"This is intel from HQ. I've verified it against some of the information I have, and it's highly likely that this information about World Serpent is true."
"...HQ trusts you this much now?"
Looking at the classified information on the screen, Leo Ash was genuinely surprised that it was Raven who was passing it to him.
Although Raven's attitude had indeed been very cooperative, in Leo Ash's eyes, she was still technically half a prisoner of war.
And now... wow, Otto trusts you that much?
"Don't look at me like that."
Sensing Leo Ash's slightly surprised gaze, Cioara said with a light chuckle.
"Lord Bishop Otto is a smart man. After I handed over that intelligence, he determined that I had no way out."
"Under these circumstances, he would naturally accept me as an official member of Schicksal."
"Besides, Schicksal needs more high-level combat power now to fight against both the Honkai and World Serpent."
"With the Seven Thunders of Retribution, I can at least heavily injure a Judgment-class Honkai Beast. He has already ordered me to be ready to use the Divine Key at any moment."
No, no, no, I don't think he trusts you at all. He just thinks you're a useful tool.
Ever since you nearly got Theresa killed, you've been on his kill list.
Sigh, it's just not convenient to say this right now.
I hope you can fend for yourself. Don't get sacrificed by him before I have my falling out with Otto.
"This intel... This is!"
After seeing some information she had been looking for, Bronya's eyes suddenly widened.
"Teacher Cioara, are you sure all of this is true?"
"Ah, of course."
Seeing Bronya's loss of composure, Cioara gently tapped on a piece of intel with her finger, displaying its detailed information for everyone to see.
"Through the actions of the A-rank Valkyrie Wraith from Schicksal's intelligence department, a secret World Serpent base was discovered."
"Inside this abandoned secret base, Schicksal's combat troops found several children whose vital signs were unstable."
"After being discovered, Branch Commander Theresa requested that these children be sent here to the Far East."
"If all goes well, they should be the children Cocolia sent to Gray Serpent."
"After they arrive, they will still need some time for treatment, but according to my estimates—you should be able to speak with them tomorrow or the day after."
Listening to this news, Bronya was completely stunned.
Before this, she had already mentally prepared herself to a certain extent.
After all, when Cocolia used them as subjects for the X-10 Experiment, the casualty rate had never been low.
If Cocolia, who had feelings for them, could be so ruthless, then World Serpent, who had no feelings for them at all, should have had no scruples in dealing with these prospective test subjects.
But now...
Everyone... was still alive.
This is... this is wonderful!
"This is indeed good news, but..."
After reading through the intel, Leo Ash frowned slightly.
"Is there no news about World Serpent's headquarters?"
"Of course not. Do you think Gray Serpent is an idiot?"
Hearing Leo Ash's complaint, Cioara said in annoyance.
"I've said it in the intelligence summary I submitted before: Gray Serpent is a collective."
"In fact, I've always suspected that not all Gray Serpents know all the information that 'Gray Serpent' possesses."
"This group of Gray Serpents has an administrator. Besides it and Jackal, there probably aren't many other World Serpent members who know the location of their main base."
"And putting the administrator Gray Serpent aside, Jackal is fundamentally xenophobic. I only quit the organization once, and she started relentlessly picking fights with me."
"Under these circumstances, I think there are probably very few people in the entire world who know the coordinates of World Serpent's main base."
What a headache.
Although a mole will indeed appear within Gray Serpent in the future, the catalyst for that Gray Serpent to become a mole hasn't appeared yet.
In this situation, trying to find World Serpent's lair is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
I've been a bit too lax lately. I almost forgot that Wendy is still in their hands.
These scumbags are really good at messing with people's minds.
In the original story, Wendy only turned to the dark side more than two years after her legs were paralyzed. If World Serpent relentlessly torments her, it's impossible to predict how much that two-year period will be shortened.
And now, if we assume that 'the Honkai can micromanage,' the problem becomes even more severe.
...
For a moment, I was actually worried about Wendy being taken down by a group of Titans, having her gem dug out, and being thrown into the Eye of the Deep.
It seems I've really been tired lately. I forgot that most people in this timeline have been strengthened.
Wendy's performance in the original story never matched her established power level. If she awakens this time...
Then World Serpent will be the ones in trouble. What am I worrying about?
To be blunt, because Raven became the one to unseal Chiyou, information about World Serpent was exposed ahead of schedule.
As a result, World Serpent, which was originally lurking in the shadows, is now in a panic thanks to Otto.
The situation is actually developing steadily in a positive direction. What am I so nervous about?
At this moment, Fu Hua, noticing that Leo Ash was starting to zone out, also frowned slightly.
She had heard from the others recently that the number of times Leo Ash spaced out mid-conversation was increasing.
Moreover, the qualities he was displaying were indeed getting better and better. Could it be...
—The Honkai, it hasn't chosen him, has it?
No, I must first properly check if he has been hearing any strange voices lately.
My condition has improved recently anyway, so using the feathers a couple more times shouldn't be a big problem. In that case...
"Leo Ash, if you don't have any plans today, how about joining me at the training grounds?"
Pushing up the glasses on her nose, Fu Hua ignored the gazes that suddenly focused on her and spoke to Leo Ash with perfect composure.
"It's been a while since we exchanged pointers on martial arts. I'm very curious right now..."
"—just how powerful is the fist that defeated a Herrscher."
Ah, here she goes again.
What technique is she going to teach me this time, or is it...
Whatever, I'm too lazy to guess.
She's here with another purpose. Even if I refuse, she'll just find another opportunity.
Rather than constantly wearing each other down, I might as well accept her invitation now and grant her wish.
"Sure, let's head over after we finish eating."
Watching Leo Ash accept Fu Hua's invitation so naturally, Kiana, who had just been happy for the rescue of Bronya's companions, now found it a little hard to accept.
Wait, hold on, Class Rep, that's a sneak attack!
And Senior—how could you agree so easily!
Da-damn it, I completely forgot about the Class Rep's existence.
She's clearly the biggest threat to me, yet I actually forgot about it!
And now Senior has already accepted the invitation. It's too late for me to interrupt.
Damn it, damn it, why did things turn out this way.
Did I overthink things and make it more complicated than it is?!
If I had known Senior was this easy to ask out, I would have made a move myself long ago (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻.
However, no matter how wild Kiana's thoughts were, in order not to reveal her true intentions, she could only shout, "I'm full!" and leave the dining table.
Noticing the change in Kiana's expression, Bronya immediately said softly to everyone, "I'm going to help Big Sister Kiana with her studies," and also left the table to comfort Kiana and help her strategize.
Although everyone from the orphanage had been rescued, Bronya still felt that since she had made a promise to Yuna, she should help her accomplish what she wanted to do.
But, a harem...
Looking back at the people at the table, Bronya still felt that the difficulty of executing Yuna's idea was simply too high.
Putting others aside, Big Sister Mei has a gentle personality, which is fine, but would a prim and proper person like the Class Rep accept something like Brother Leo Ash having a harem?
Thinking about it carefully, that's obviously impossible.
Big Sister Yuna, what you've decided to do this time is just too difficult.
And right now, I can't help but feel that...
—the probability of you 'blowing up' the dorm is much higher than your probability of success, isn't it?
....
About half an hour later. St. Freya High School Training Room.
After successfully 'hypnotizing' Leo Ash with Fenghuang Down, Fu Hua still coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Phew, although using the 'feather' still makes my body feel unwell, this condition is much better than before, when using it once felt like dying.
As for Leo Ash, upon noticing the blood Fu Hua spat out, he felt that something was off.
The medicine he gave to Su should have been sufficient. Logically, given Su's efficiency of 'immediately tricking Kevin and trying to lock him up the moment he discovers Kevin's schemes,' he should have taken action right after getting the medicine to restore Fu Hua's body to its original state.
But now, Fu Hua's condition of vomiting blood after using Fenghuang Down was a clear sign that her serious injuries had not yet healed.
How strange. Is Su wary of something?
Or is he worried that Fu Hua's acting skills aren't good enough, and that after healing her, many things on Otto's end can no longer be concealed?
"Leo Ash, answer my question seriously."
Looking at Leo Ash's vacant eyes, Fu Hua asked with utmost seriousness.
"Have you been hearing any strange voices lately?"
"Of course not."
[That's right, just like that. The System's voice isn't strange at all, so you're not lying!]
Get lost. At least 50% of your voice qualifies as a 'strange voice'!
[Oh, so there's still fifty percent that's normal? The System is touched.]
To hell with you. Of the remaining fifty percent, forty percent is extremely strange!
Completely unaware of Leo Ash's inner thoughts, Fu Hua breathed a small sigh of relief after hearing the answer she wanted.
Thank goodness. At the very least, this means Leo Ash hasn't been chosen by the Honkai.
If he were to be chosen... although Mei and Yuna did suppress their Herrscher Personalities, it doesn't mean others can do the same.
If possible, I'd rather not see Leo Ash be tormented by a Herrscher Core after being chosen by the Honkai.
"Alright, in that case, Leo Ash, now..."
Looking at the young man before her, to whom she had imparted a divine art, Fu Hua spoke again.
"Let's have a serious spar. It's been so long..."
"—It's time I seriously tested the extent of your mastery over the Edge of Taixu."
"I see. I understand."
Hearing Fu Hua's words, Leo Ash proactively stood up and assumed a combat stance.
"...As I thought, the change is immense."
Looking at Leo Ash's now flawless stance, Fu Hua felt as if she had underestimated him.
In just two months, Leo Ash had transformed from a young man whose stance was riddled with openings into the martial arts expert he was today.
And the aura radiating from the current Leo Ash was also much stronger than his past self.
But the current Fu Hua did not feel happy.
After all, the reason he had become so strong was clearly because...
—his hatred for the Honkai was growing more and more severe.