Himeko's Villa
"I must say, Kiana, your performance these past few days hasn't been bad," Himeko said, holding a can of beer as she looked at Kiana, who was sitting on the sofa playing games with Bronya.
Over the last two days, she had heard quite a few teachers praising Kiana. Although she still spaced out and slept in class, she was finally taking things a bit more seriously.
To be honest, this level of performance would be criticized if it were any other student, but alas, this was Kiana.
Even if she spaced out or slept, it was still more than just a little better than before. Himeko felt quite relieved; Kiana was finally willing to change, even if only a little.
"Ah! Auntie Himeko, how come even you are teasing me!" Kiana looked at Himeko with tragic indignation. Was she really that unbearable in the past? Why did everyone feel the need to tease her?
"Oh, don't mind it. I'm just genuinely a bit surprised," Himeko waved her hand. "Anyway, keep working hard. I have high hopes for you. Strive to bring me back a passing grade on the next exam.
"Really, if you can bring me a passing grade, I'll treat all of you to a trip."
"That's a promise, Auntie Himeko," Kiana said, looking at her. "Auntie Himeko, do you dare to swear on it?"
"What does it matter if I swear, as long as you can pass." Himeko nodded, but then her tone instantly shifted from happy to somewhat dangerous. "But dare to call me 'Auntie' one more time and see what happens?"
"Eep!" Kiana immediately sensed the danger hidden in Himeko's words. She hurriedly put down the controller, waving her hands repeatedly in a gesture of mercy. "No, no, Auntie Hime—Sister! I was wrong, I didn't mean it."
"Hmph, that's more like it." Himeko nodded in approval. This kid really would bloom if given a little sunshine; she still needed to be kept in check.
"Oh, by the way, Teacher Himeko, do you know where Teacher Welt went? I heard Teacher Welt took leave?"
"Hm? That I'm not clear about."
Anti-Entropy · Conservative Faction
"Argh, what on earth is this structure?" Tesla scratched her hair in frustration, looking at the analysis report in front of her. "It's a compound I've completely never seen before."
"If we had seen it, it wouldn't be able to achieve this kind of effect, would it?" Einstein wasn't anxious. If this compound were something they had seen before, they would have long since developed a reagent to enhance Honkai Resistance.
"You don't need to tell me that." Tesla rolled her eyes and turned to look at the reagent test tube placed in the overdraft thermal box. "It's a pity. The quantity of the reagent is simply too small.
"We can't do any proper experiments at all. We can only try to study the structure and attempt to replicate it."
"But the effect of the potion is genuine," Welt spoke up from the side. "It can indeed increase Honkai Resistance. Since he could do it, then..."
"Of course we'll figure it out, I don't need you to tell me," Tesla said, rolling her eyes at Welt. They naturally knew how much utility this potion held.
And exactly what it could achieve. Even if it only provided a tiny enhancement to Honkai Resistance, it was worth spending countless funds to mass-produce it.
"Otherwise, why do you think you're here?" Tesla shoved the report in her hand into Welt's hands. "Instead of spouting nonsense here, you'd better hurry up and study it. See if you can use the Herrscher of Reason's ability to replicate the potion."
"I know." Welt nodded, but looking at the report in his hand, he also felt a headache coming on. He wasn't the original Herrscher of Reason; he couldn't just glance at something and replicate it perfectly.
But right now, there was too little of the potion. If he could really use his ability to replicate even a little bit, they could perform some other tests. So, even if it was a tough bone to gnaw, he had to gnaw it.
However, don't expect the potion he created to have any practical utility. The constructs of the Herrscher of Reason were, in the end, built from Honkai energy. Moreover, they would vanish after a period of time.
Back when Joyce was around, they hadn't tried to use the Herrscher of Reason to construct a potion to see what state it would present. Theoretically speaking, as long as the potion exerted its effect, it should be fine.
But after all, this was an enhancer that needed to have a permanent effect. No one could guarantee what would happen after taking a potion constructed by the Herrscher of Reason's ability once the construct disappeared.
And this potion was meant for human consumption. So even if Welt could really learn to construct it, it would only be used for research. After all, their current sample was simply too small.
"Can you understand it?" Einstein walked over to the side, looking at Welt. "Or do you want to finish reading the few pharmaceutical books I gave you first?"
"...I'll try my best." Welt scratched his head, clearly a bit clueless about this field he had never touched before.
While observing the structure, Welt also asked, "Has anything been discovered over at the Eye of the Deep?"
"Temporarily, no." Einstein shook her head. "At least within the area we can observe, we haven't found anything related to 'white'.
"Oh, actually, if those compressed bodies of quantum monsters that appear from time to time count as white, then we have indeed found quite a few."
"Those shouldn't count as dangerous, right?" Welt flipped through the complex structure while comparing it with the books Einstein had compiled for him.
"Indeed, they aren't much trouble." Einstein nodded. "But aside from that, we haven't found anything else related to white."
"Mm, I see." Welt nodded. But he didn't say anything like 'continue scanning'. They absolutely had to make a trip to the Sea of Quanta for research.
After all, this wasn't for some research, but to find a certain Schrödinger who had gone silent and whose whereabouts in the Sea of Quanta remained unknown to this day.
Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, they had to confirm whether Schrödinger was still alive in the Sea of Quanta. They couldn't give up just because of one sentence from Irene.
"Looks like I still have to go take a look." Welt sighed. Now was a rare peaceful period; the Third Eruption had passed, and a fourth Honkai disaster wouldn't erupt in the short term.
Otto wasn't targeting them constantly like in previous years; the oppression had finally eased. His body had also recovered to a rare, good state.
If he didn't go now, finding such a good opportunity again wouldn't be easy. He couldn't wait any longer. His body was now at 80% of his peak; unlike before, he wouldn't cough up blood just by using a little ability.
If there really was any danger, he could just run if he couldn't win. Welt still had that much confidence.
"..." Einstein watched Welt's actions from the side and nodded slightly. She could tell that Welt had made up his mind, so there was no need to persuade him otherwise.
"The window period is next week. According to calculations, the Sea of Quanta should be relatively calm then. Of course, our data has limitations after all; it's hard to say if it's correct."
"That's why we have to go explore, isn't it?" Welt raised his head, looking at Einstein and Tesla. "Anyway, trust me. I will bring the data back."
"You'd better really be able to bring it back." Tesla crossed her arms. "And you'd best deliver it back personally. Those data are very precious, you know."
Welt smiled at Tesla. He naturally heard the concern beneath Tesla's words. However, in the next moment, Welt put away his smile: "Is there still no movement from Cocolia's side?"
"None." Einstein shook her head, her brow furrowed tight. "If anything, Cocolia is scarily quiet right now."
——Snowfield——
An old man, wrapped entirely in white thermal clothing, was running through the snowfield clutching a safe. Behind him, the sound of branches being stepped on rang out constantly, sounding very much intentional.
The overly terrified old man didn't notice a rock buried in the snow, tripped over it, and fell to the ground.
By the time the old man lifted his head, three Valkyries wearing Valkyrie armor were already standing in front of him.
The lead Valkyrie pointed her gun at the old man. "Dr. Magi, please stop running. Your research is very important to us. Please don't be obstinate anymore.
"As long as you return the stolen item, Lord Otto will definitely not hold your actions against you."
"Impossible!" Dr. Magi hugged the safe in his arms with a death grip. "Leaving this kind of thing in Otto's hands will only be more dangerous. I was prepared for this the moment I stole it."
"..." The lead Valkyrie pursed her lips. She knew what kind of research Dr. Magi had conducted. It was important to them too.
But compared to their individual lives... the thing in Magi's hands would cause greater harm. Once it lost control or fell into certain people's hands, it would be a disaster. So...
"If Dr. Magi insists on being obstinate, then we can only apologize." The lead Valkyrie raised her pistol. "We cannot let Dr. Magi take that thing away at will."
But just as the Valkyrie was about to fire, the originally lightweight pistol suddenly became very heavy. Caught off guard, the Valkyrie's attack, which should have been a guaranteed hit, shot into the snow nearby.
"Who is it!" Seeing this, the Valkyrie immediately jumped back, drew another weapon from behind her, and looked around vigilantly.
"That thing belongs to our Anti-Entropy. We can't let you take it back so easily." An arrogant and domineering voice rang out from above the Valkyries.
Hearing this, the Valkyries looked up to see a mysterious man standing on a tree branch, looking down at them condescendingly. Two Valkyries immediately drew their guns and fired.
But the bullets fired from the Water Spirits were mysteriously deflected just as they were about to hit the mysterious man. The man jumped down from the air, paying no mind to the Valkyries behind him who were constantly shooting at him.
Those Valkyries couldn't hit him at all anyway. Those toys were useless.
Looking at the man before him, Dr. Magi wasn't afraid. Instead, he questioned, "Are you Cocolia's man? You're finally here. Why did you come so late?
"Could it be? Is the thing in my arms not important?"
"Of course not." The man looked at Dr. Magi in front of him, took a bite of the apple in his hand, and tossed it behind him. "Am I not here now?"
Hearing Dr. Magi mention Cocolia amidst the gunfire, the Valkyries behind them instantly understood which faction the person before them belonged to.
"Dr. Magi, you actually intend to hand the Gem over to Anti-Entropy?!"
"That's right. Giving it to anyone is fine, certainly better than leaving it with Otto!"
Just as the Valkyrie was preparing to say something more, the sound of crisp applause rang out in the snowfield. "Alright, chat time is over.
"Let me hurry up and deal with these noisy ants first."
——Schicksal HQ · Overseer's Office——
"It failed, huh." Otto looked at Amber and shook his head with some regret. "My, my, I really didn't expect Dr. Magi to do this.
"If I had known earlier, I would have let Rita deploy. However... this shape of injury."
Otto looked at the footage transmitted back, a slight smile tracing his face. "My old friend really cares. Can this be considered a demonstration of sorts?"
"Lord Overseer, what shall we do next?" Amber looked at Otto. "Do we need to deploy Lady Rita or Lord Durandal?"
"No need, no need." Otto waved his hand. "Rita and Durandal have probably been monitored by them for a long time. And there's no guarantee they won't make some special move.
"Besides, this Gem might have other uses, perhaps." Otto looked at the observation record in the far corner. "It's also time to conduct a little test.
"Amber, contact my old friend. It's time to see what stage the experiment has reached."
"Understood." Amber nodded. Just as she was about to issue the mission, Otto suddenly raised his hand to interrupt Amber's movement.
"What is it, Lord Overseer?" Amber turned to look at Otto, but Otto didn't seem prepared to answer.
[Old friend, do you mean to add that Miss Irene in?] Otto listened to the voice of Void Archives coming from his mind.
[Just trying it out.] Void Archives' voice carried a hint of disdain. [If she truly is that Reverie, that Pardofelis, then if you really want to execute some recovery mission, she is absolutely the best choice.]
[Oh? Old friend, if you put it that way, I'm quite interested.] Otto raised an eyebrow, preparing to fish for some information along those lines.
[It's nothing. Pardofelis is simply the best intelligence operative. If you really let her recover something, she can absolutely get her hands on it, that's all.
[But that is on the premise that this time, you really intend for them to recover the Gem.]
Void Archives didn't seem to intend to reveal more. Seeing the situation, Otto didn't ask further. He lifted his head to look at Amber: "Send a message to that Miss Irene as well."
"Very well." Amber nodded. She didn't ask why. Since it was the command of her Lord Overseer, saying it was fine meant it was fine. The Lord Overseer certainly had his own reasons.
Listening to the sound of Amber operating the system beside his ear, Otto looked at the screen in front of him, propped up his chin, and took a light sip of red wine. "Let's just consider it a little bit of anticipation."
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