Hessian looked at the youth and said, "My friend, heroes do exist in this world."
These words reached Kosma's ears, and his eyes instantly lit up.
The others looked at Hessian suspiciously.
Heroes?
This world had no dangers, no Honkai—where would heroes come from?
Was he about to talk about soldiers guarding the borders, those who sacrificed for the country...
Saying something like that now felt completely out of place.
SAKURA tugged at Hessian's clothes, signaling him not to say nonsense—it could easily shatter the boy's dreams.
She even gave Elysia a few glances, hoping she'd help persuade him.
But she found Elysia simply smiling, seemingly unconcerned about her husband going off-script—or rather... she was already used to his antics.
Kosma asked excitedly, "Are there really heroes? Where?"
Hessian pointed at Kevin beside him: "As you can see—right here."
"Huh?"
"Ah!!"
SAKURA and Kevin both jumped in shock.
Elysia covered her mouth and laughed. As expected! Her husband never disappointed—he knew exactly what she loved most.
Kevin pointed at himself in confusion: "Me? Director He? Are you sure you didn't misspeak?"
Hessian patted his shoulder: "My friend, how could I be wrong? Trust me—you will become a true hero."
Before Kevin could speak,
Kosma shouted excitedly: "I knew it! Kevin, you're a hero! They all say World Serpent are villains, that Kevin's gone mad—but I think you're the hero, the true hero saving the world!"
"I... am really a hero?" This made Kevin doubt himself a bit.
Half a month ago, he was just a programmer who loved slurping noodles—how did he suddenly become a hero?
Hessian said: "You know, those who become heroes don't start out aspiring to be one. Under the tide of the era, coerced by crisis, they stand up, resist, struggle, even sacrifice their lives—and only then are they praised as heroes!"
"My friend, trust me—you are that hero."
Kevin nodded hesitantly: "I... I understand."
Hearing this, Kosma grew even more excited: "What about me? Can I become a hero? If I kill you, the big villain—would I become a hero?"
"..."
SAKURA and Elysia both laughed.
Hessian was momentarily speechless. What was wrong with these people? One by one coming with ideas of killing him?
Having Kalpas in the company was already troublesome—if this kid started plotting daily ambushes, there'd be no peace at work.
After thinking it over,
he said: "That's not how it works. If you want to become a hero, follow Kevin and learn properly."
"I..." Kevin was about to refuse.
Kosma excitedly agreed: "Okay!"
Hessian didn't give Kevin a chance to refuse: "This kid has talent—I'm leaving him to you to train."
"..."
In that moment, Kevin knew his days of casually slurping noodles were gone forever. He'd have to maintain his drama persona at the company now. He regretted checking the group messages earlier.
Kosma quickly asked: "Does that mean I can join the company?"
Hessian directly denied: "No. Our company doesn't hire people who assault the director. This is just a chance for you to learn from Kevin."
Kosma was stunned: "But Brother Kalpas..."
Hessian said seriously: "If it were for other reasons—if you still harbor thoughts of assaulting me—you can leave now. Kevin won't see you again either."
"I... I don't—I won't anymore." Kosma panicked.
Only then did Hessian say: "Then learn properly from Kevin. If you perform well, I'll consider hiring you."
"Yes... I understand."
...
After dealing with Kosma, Hessian and Elysia headed straight back to the Golden Court.
While Elysia showered, he opened his phone to check online topics about Honkai Impact 3rd.
Swear to kill the director, dog Otto must die
All hate—no need to look.
Kevin vs Durandal—who's stronger? Previous Era's strongest vs Current Era's strongest
High discussion—no need to look.
Fanatic fan replicates Kalpas's actions to join Fire Moth company, rejected by director with permanent ban
This one!
Hessian clicked in.
As expected!
Just as he thought—ever since recruiting Kalpas, many wanting to act in Honkai Impact 3rd had planned to replicate his actions, lurking in countless places to stab him once.
This time, Kosma was one of them—though mostly just a chuunibyou kid.
But because he refused the boy's hiring, and under Kevin's guidance, the news spread quickly online, hitting hot search and deterring more fans from the idea.
Hessian skimmed the comments—mostly regretting not acting sooner, what a pity losing a good method, thanks to Kosma for testing it doesn't work...
After reading,
Elysia still wasn't done showering.
He decided to check the company group.
Opening it, he saw all those earlier messages—everyone plotting to kick him while he was "attacked."
How could he tolerate this? He had to make sure they couldn't sleep either!
He immediately messaged Kiana: "Heard you want to sneak a few kicks at me? Perfect—I'm plotting the next episode script. How about letting Mei kick you a few times?"
Kiana, mid-game, saw the message, rubbed her eyes, looked again—it was real?
She hugged her phone and replied: "Waaah... nooo, Director He—you can't do this! How can you make my beloved Mei kick me? My body can't take it, and Mei wouldn't bear to!"
Hessian replied instantly: "Oh~ your beloved Mei? Then next episode, let Mei part ways with you and join World Serpent."
Kiana was stunned: "Ah? Director He, you're serious?"
Mei was shocked too: "Director He, you're joking, right? You can't write the script like that."
Other actors seeing the messages popped up.
Theresa: "Director He, are you serious? I can't imagine gentle, obedient Mei joining World Serpent—fans would be unhappy."
Durandal: "Mei joining World Serpent? Impossible, right?"
Kiana: "Exactly! Help persuade Director He not to be so petty. I didn't even kick him—he's just retaliating. Maybe jealous of me and Elysia—he's jealous of me!"
Hessian: "Oh~ you're brave. Then I'll write you watching helplessly as Mei joins World Serpent—you try to stop her, get beaten up by Mei, and watch her leave."
Tesla: "Holy crap! Director He, that's too ruthless."
Himeko: "Simply inhuman—worse than when you stabbed me."
Rita: "Bishop, is this really appropriate? Such a huge change—won't fans be furious?"
Durandal: "Rita, do you think our Bishop cares? Which fan isn't furious now?"
Fu Hua: "Can this really work? Why would they fall out? Just because Kiana wanted to kick the director?"
Kiana: "Hessian, Director He, I was wrong o(╥﹏╥)o Don't make me fight Mei."
Mei: "Hessian, Director He—you must be joking, right? Why would you write it like that?"
But no matter what they said, Hessian didn't reply again.
Simple reason: Elysia was done showering—he was heading to paradise...
That night,
Hessian slept very comfortably.
That night,
the company's employees struggled to fall asleep.
That night,
countless viewers seethed with anger, waking up furious even with eyes closed.
The next day,
Hessian arrived at the company glowing and energetic.
He saw everyone with dark circles under their eyes, listless and drained.
He teased: "What? All out thieving last night? Or secret party drinking, deliberately excluding me?"
Hearing this,
several present panicked.
Durandal quickly said: "No! I absolutely didn't exclude you!"
Himeko shouted: "I didn't drink last night."
Rita also shouted: "I would never exclude the Bishop!"
Hessian puzzled: "Just a joke—why so worked up?"
"..."
They didn't say it, but thought: Yesterday Kiana said she wanted to kick you in the group—and you threatened to mess up the plot with betrayal. If we said excluding you—who knows how miserable our characters would get.
Even Himeko feared being dragged out for repeated whipping...
Finally, they forced smiles: "Nothing—we just didn't want Director He to misunderstand."
Just then, Kiana and Mei arrived with dark circles too.
Seeing Hessian, they felt somewhat resentful.
All his fault!
If not for his group messages last night—how could they worry and lose sleep?
"Good morning, Director He~"
"Morning, Director He~"
After greeting, they headed to the pantry for coffee to wake up.
Hessian called them: "Here—the script. Familiarize yourselves soon."
Hearing "script,"
they rushed over, snatching it and flipping frantically to the end—to see what happened to Mei.
Seeing the later content, both froze.
Their hearts, suspended all night, died completely.
Kiana wailed: "Waaah... dog director—you really make me fight Mei! I hate you!"
Mei also said: "I... have to personally beat Kiana so badly... and join World Serpent?"
Hearing this,
everyone around was shocked again.
They thought Hessian was just talking in the group.
Who knew it was real!
He actually did it!
Everyone crowded over, taking the script from them and flipping to the end...
Indeed!
It was true.
Hessian smiled and asked: "How is it? Script pretty good, right?"
"..."
Everyone was speechless—they'd only looked at the end, not the front at all...
Mobius took the script and skimmed the plot: "The design is solid—no plot collapse if shot like this. Everyone prepare—shooting starts this afternoon."
As company leader, her word carried weight. Though reluctant, they prepared for the afternoon shoot.
And all this fell into Kosma's eyes as he stood in the corner beside Kevin.
He asked Kevin fearfully: "Boss... is Director He that scary? Directly sabotaging roles? I offended him—will I suffer badly too?"
Kevin waved to calm him: "Don't worry—just don't provoke him. Learn from me and you'll be fine."
Then, the company entered filming mode again.
Though initially unhappy with this episode's script, as shooting progressed, everyone immersed themselves and gradually discovered its brilliance.
Of course...
For external viewers, this week was pure rage buildup.
They couldn't imagine Mei, chasing Kiana under the moon, ever bearing to hurt her.
And in this situation,
the latest episode aired.
Since last episode Elysia tasted the joy of being surrounded by beautiful girls watching TV, this time she dragged Eden to the company too—for everyone to watch together.
She even prepared snacks and drinks.
And Hessian... naturally sat in the back with Mobius and SAKURA, sandwiched between them to prevent sneak attacks.
As the Honkai Impact 3rd opening ended,
this episode began.
The TV perspective shifted to Raven's side.
She lay prone on a high ruin point, Sins of the Seven Thunders aimed at the direction Kiana fled: "The Herrscher of the Void is leaving this desert. We're just letting her escape?"
Gray Serpent said: "Give her time. This is the Lord's command. A single grain of wheat—if it dies, remains a single grain. But if it falls to the ground, it can bear many seeds. Her shackles have been removed. Time will prove... whether the power in that body can take root, sprout, and bear fruit."
"Now, let us focus on the more important target."
Raven frowned slightly but concentrated, peering through the Divine Key toward the distant ruins.
Floating light spots rotated and contracted with her gaze, finally projecting a clear scene into her pupils.
In the empty dead city, a golden hemisphere shielded most of the plaza—strikingly conspicuous.
It was the space created by Schicksal Bishop's strange golden fluid. Now, inside the hemisphere were only he and World Serpent's leader.
"I still find it hard to believe the Lord would decide..." Raven paused hesitantly: "to cooperate with Schicksal."
Gray Serpent said: "Raven, I understand your confusion. The Schicksal Bishop is a refined egoist—skilled in worldly affairs, versed in human hearts, adept at using everything to achieve his goals. He is the least suitable for deals."
"...But I assure you—this transaction will complete smoothly."
"Precisely his egoism will make the chips in the Lord's hand worth nearly infinite value. Soon, Schicksal—this obstacle—will vanish completely from the serpent's path."
Raven remained unwilling: "Since it's the Lord's command, I will obey. But you know—many in the organization bear deep grudges against Schicksal."
Gray Serpent said: "No matter what you think—look, they've come. World Serpent cadres gathered in one place—quite a rare sight, no?"
Raven understood: "If negotiations fail, full war with Schicksal here—that's the meaning?"
"Haha... hahahahaha..." Gray Serpent didn't answer, instead emitting a demonic cackle.
The next moment, the TV screen switched.
To inside the golden sphere.
Cage of the Void—a miniature garden. Two men sat facing each other.
Golden light flowed, shifting, reflecting myriad scenes. This domain created by the Divine Key Authority of the Void completely isolated them from the outside.
Otto observed the man before him—those cold eyes empty, devoid of emotion, memory, warmth—nothing a human gaze should hold.
This actually made him nostalgic. Since becoming Bishop, he rarely felt looked down upon.
Yet this man paid no regard to him, to Schicksal, to anything in this world.
But Otto still welcomed him: "Long live World Serpent."
Kevin: "..."
Otto smiled: " ...Haha, a joke—to create a friendly atmosphere for our talk with a warm opening."
"Back to business. Welcome—leader of World Serpent. I knew one day we would meet. I know your name, your identity, I admire your deeds."
"You are the ancestor of the Kaslana bloodline, the hero who led Previous Era humanity to fight until Finality; but also the Lord of World Serpent, executor of the Stigmata Project..."
"Kevin Kaslana—are you here to declare war on me?"
Kevin replied: "You're wrong. World Serpent has no intention of enmity with Schicksal. I came for one purpose—I need you to assist the Stigmata Project."