Mei was the first to speak: "Dr. Einstein, you have something to tell me…?"
Einstein said: "Mei, you should have already learned about Kiana's physical condition from Dr. Tesla."
Mei nodded: "I know. The situation is far from optimistic… She doesn't have much time left… Doctor, please tell me what I can do to save her?"
"…"
Einstein was silent for a moment before saying: "Mei, I believe you have the right to know everything. So I will tell you the full truth without hiding anything."
"After discussion, we recommend immediately transferring Kiana to the Baffin Bay base near the Arctic Ocean and implementing strict safety measures."
"Anti-Entropy will protect her from danger, prevent the situation from worsening further, and… keep the risk to a minimum."
"Risk?" Mei caught the key word: "I don't understand what you mean…"
Einstein said: "Mei… listen to me calmly. Kiana's condition is very serious. The Herrscher core is continuously eroding her body. We suspect that the consciousness of Sirin still lingers within those cores. To stop the situation from deteriorating further, she must be completely eliminated."
"…But no one except Kiana herself can interfere with this process."
Mei asked in confusion: "What do you mean…"
Einstein said it directly: "It means… we cannot change the current situation. Dr. Tesla and I have considered many plans. We thought about forcibly stripping the cores from her body with external force or using neutralizing serum to clear the Honkai energy inside her…"
"But in the end, all those plans were abandoned. They cannot solve the problem at its root."
"To put it more bluntly, we have no way to cure her, not even… to alleviate her symptoms."
"How could this be…!" Mei could not believe it: "Does that mean… we can only stand by and watch her…"
She pleaded urgently: "Dr. Einstein, please think of something again. I'll do anything… even if it's just to buy her a little more time, I'm willing to do anything…!"
But all she received was Einstein's silence.
Mei's voice grew weaker: "Is there really… no way at all?"
"I'm sorry, Mei." Einstein also felt guilty: "Kiana is fighting against the erosion herself. We can only believe in her while doing our utmost to find a way to treat her."
"But if things develop in the worst possible direction… we must also prepare for the most pessimistic outcome."
Mei asked: "…The most pessimistic outcome… what does that mean?"
Einstein did not answer, because she knew Mei understood.
Mei also realized: "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked that question. I… I understand…"
A ring sounded, and the ship's communication interrupted at the worst possible moment, breaking the silence in the room.
It was Tesla: "Mei, someone is looking for you outside. It's that refugee girl. Why don't… you go see what she needs first?"
"I understand." Mei silently left the room without making a sound.
The room fell silent again, a silence that was frightening.
Tesla's tone was low: "This is… too cruel for her."
Einstein said: "Take a deep breath and adjust yourself. You're not in good shape either. Next, we still have to face Kiana herself."
The TV perspective followed Mei outside.
It was Sora who came looking for her, telling her that the teacher had returned and would take them away from here.
So she sneaked out to share this good news with Mei and say goodbye.
Mei was worried about her returning alone and unsafe, so she escorted her back to the nest, where she happened to run into Raven.
Raven sighed: "She really likes you. That child kept talking about wanting to say goodbye to you. The moment I wasn't paying attention, she slipped out."
Mei immediately questioned: "Where are you planning to send the children?"
Raven said: "Don't give me that suspicious look. Rest assured, it's a very safe place. I've always wanted to get them out, and this time I finally seized the opportunity… Ah, speaking of which, I still have to thank you."
"They used to be afraid of the outside world, afraid of people's stares, afraid of unfamiliar environments. But you changed their minds. You let the children know that there is also warmth and kindness from strangers in this world."
"You filled… the void that the Herrscher left in their hearts."
"I hope they never learn the truth."
Raven sighed again, then looked at Mei and returned to a lighter tone: "Back to the point. Seeing that depressed look, you must have fully understood Kiana's current situation."
"I didn't lie, did I? Anti-Entropy will indeed try every possible way to treat her, but in the end, it's all in vain. What do you plan to use to save her—ideals? Hope? Or the bonds between people?"
"Shut up…!" Mei could no longer hold back. She would not allow anyone to speak of Kiana that way.
Raven shrugged: "Ah… my apologies. Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to mock you, nor do I have any interest in fighting you again. I just thought… there are some things you might want to know."
She leaned close to Mei's ear and whispered in a soft yet sharp voice: "Raiden Mei, World Serpent wants to make a deal with you… Don't you want to save that girl? Schicksal can't do it, Anti-Entropy can't do it… but World Serpent can."
"What??!" Mei was shocked.
All the actors watching the TV at the company were equally shocked.
Himeko: "So this is the truth? Mei joined World Serpent because of this?"
Bianka: "To think they used this method to recruit her. Director He is truly a genius when it comes to scripts."
Rita: "I see… As long as this condition is offered, Mei has no way to refuse it."
Theresa: "Is this really something the director wrote? Just because Kiana wanted to kick him, he wrote such an amazing script out of revenge?"
Raven: "It's hard to imagine how incredible it would be if he seriously wrote a script."
Eden: "Lately online everyone's been saying Mei might go to World Serpent. I thought it was just a rumor, but now it seems it was all information your husband deliberately leaked."
Elysia said: "Of course. This is all part of my husband's plan."
Mobius unexpectedly spoke up: "Yes. If Kiana hadn't blurted things out in the company group, the plot might not have turned out this way."
Kiana: "…I… I didn't."
Mei: "Sigh… This has nothing to do with me."
Sakura said: "I have to admit, although he likes courting death, his plot design is truly remarkable."
Unlike the people at the company who knew some of the inside story,
the audience, upon learning this information,
were all shouting: "Agree to it! As long as Kiana can be saved, nothing else matters!"
"For Mei in particular, this kind of deal is simply impossible for her to refuse. She will definitely agree."
"World Serpent—that insane World Serpent. I'm really worried Mei will suffer after agreeing."
"No, is there even any need to hesitate? If it were me, I'd agree immediately."
"Exactly! If not, let me make the deal. I'm willing to give anything as long as you save Kiana."
Almost everyone was shouting for Mei to agree.
On the TV, Raven also said: "If you're interested in my proposal, come back here alone in two hours. I still have some private matters to attend to. Excuse me."
"Wait! Explain clearly!" The heavy iron door slammed shut, shutting Mei out.
Only Raven's final words remained: "Treat this as a secret between us. Don't tell anyone—the Lord of World Serpent will be waiting here for your arrival."
Mei could only return to Helios in dejection.
At the same time,
Tesla also entered the sickroom.
"First time meeting you, Kiana. Mei should have mentioned us to you, but let me introduce myself anyway. I am Frederica Nikola Tesla, and this is Liesel Albert Einstein."
"We are both members of Anti-Entropy and are currently in a cooperative relationship with the Far East Branch."
Kiana nodded: "Yes, I know. Mei told me everything that happened over these four months. By the way, Mei didn't come with you… Is she not here?"
Tesla said: "She had something to do and went out. She won't be back for a while."
Hearing this, Kiana also put away her cheerful and relaxed demeanor: "I see. Then… I don't have to hold back anymore."
She sighed, completely like a different person: "My condition isn't good, right?"
Tesla didn't know how to answer.
Kiana said: "No need to hide it from me. I know my own body better than anyone. At first it was just a bit of sluggishness, but gradually I stopped feeling pain. Now mysterious wounds keep appearing on my body… I don't even know where they come from."
Einstein spoke: "Kiana, the Hyperion is heading to Nagazora City. We will immediately transfer you to a safe base. Anti-Entropy will do everything in our power to protect you and buy you more time."
Kiana nodded: "I understand. I trust you. But before that… there's one thing I still need to do."
Tesla immediately asked: "What is it?"
"Nagazora City is facing a crisis." Kiana's expression gradually grew serious: "From the moment I arrived here, I had this feeling. The Honkai energy concentration in the water is frighteningly high, and Honkai beasts are far more active than in other places."
"Two days have passed, the seawater is still rising, and the enemies are increasing… It's as if something major is about to happen."
Einstein said: "Regarding this, Dr. Tesla also mentioned it in her report."
Tesla continued: "Yes. Based on two days of on-site detection, it's confirmed that the Honkai phenomenon in Nagazora City is continuously worsening. This place originally accumulated a large amount of Honkai energy due to the Third Eruption, but now the situation is still deteriorating."
"At first I thought these changes were influenced by the Herrscher of the Void, but it seems… that's not the case."
Kiana stated firmly: "It's not me. Something else is causing the anomaly in Nagazora City. The Honkai energy concentration is still rising and has reached the brink of eruption. If left unchecked, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Einstein said: "You're right. Anti-Entropy has already prepared rescue forces. Once Nagazora City nears eruption, we will take immediate action. Although the Far East is under Schicksal's jurisdiction, we will not sit idly by."
"Doctor… I have another way to stop this disaster." Kiana directly interrupted them: "Before the disaster occurs, I can absorb all of Nagazora City's Honkai energy into my body using the power of the Herrscher of the Void."
Both of them were shocked by her words.
Tesla shouted without restraint: "Hey! Do you even realize what you're saying!?"
Einstein also said immediately: "Kiana, we will not let you do that—you must not use the Herrscher's power again. Leave Nagazora City's problem to Anti-Entropy. Please trust us."
Kiana quickly explained: "You've misunderstood me. I also hope everything goes smoothly. The best outcome for everyone is to get through this crisis safely. But if… I'm saying if… things spiral out of control…"
"I hope you will let me do what I'm capable of."
"…"
Both of them saw the firm determination in Kiana's eyes.
But neither wanted things to truly reach that point, nor did they want her to do it.
Einstein directly chose to end the topic: "Let's conclude the discussion on this part here. Once the Hyperion arrives at Nagazora City, I will make a judgment based on the specific situation. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
Kiana said: "I have one final request. After leaving here, I will follow your arrangements—containment, treatment, everything. I will cooperate. I know I'm a bomb, and isolating me in a sparsely populated area is the safest option."
"So I hope… everyone from the Far East Branch can stay away from all of this."
"I hope they do not come near me until the issue with the Herrscher of the Void is completely resolved."
Tesla stepped forward and raised her voice: "You know they will definitely stay by your side!"
Kiana's tone remained firm: "Yes… I know that very well, which is why I'm asking you. I cannot let them put themselves in danger."
She shifted her gaze to an empty corner.
"When I first saw Mei in Arc City, I could hardly believe my eyes… She had changed so much… She looked so worn out. Even though she tried hard to act like everything was fine, I could tell at a glance."
"She had finally found companions at St. Freya, found a place to belong, found the things she had lost but longed for so deeply…"
"She had finally walked out of the shadow of her past… yet I personally destroyed all of it."
"On countless cold nights, in countless nightmares…"
"I watched her chest being torn open bit by bit, watched the blood-stained gem fall into my own hands… watched her lose her breath and slowly collapse into a pool of blood…"
"I… I…"
She could no longer continue. Tears and sorrow had long soaked her cheeks.
Tesla said: "That was all done by the Herrscher of the Void. It wasn't your fault… They have never blamed you."
Kiana took a deep breath: "I know… And precisely because I know, I cannot accept it even more…! Even after something like that happened, they still trust me as they always did. They still see me as a companion. They've been waiting for me to return all this time…"
"So… if I turn into that monster again, they definitely won't abandon me… They will protect me at any cost…"
"By then… how many people who care about me, who cherish me, will I end up killing?"
"I… will never let that happen again!"
"This is something between me and Sirin. I must settle it with her, but I don't want them to be dragged into it again."
"I don't want… to see the people around me get hurt…"
The camera gradually pulled back.
At this moment… the audience finally realized that Mei had already returned and was standing just outside the door, having heard every word Kiana just said.
Her figure was desolate, her face covered in tear stains. Tears flowed uncontrollably, her body trembled, yet she forced herself not to make a single sound. She could not let Kiana know her sadness, could not let her worry.
At this moment,
the audience's hearts completely shattered.
They ached for both Kiana and Mei.
They could not understand why girls so young had to bear all of this.
Was it because they had done something wrong?
No!
They had never done anything wrong. Even becoming Herrschers was not their fault.
The fault lies with this world—this world twisted by Honkai.
The fault lies with… that dog Otto! He is the one who created this tragedy.
The fault lies with… that dog director! He deliberately wrote this kind of script.
That dog director cannot be called a normal person. There must be some mental illness in his heart; otherwise, he absolutely could not write such a heartbreaking plot.
Thinking this way, everyone couldn't help but rush to the official group to curse the director. After watching for the past few weeks, their cursing skills had improved dramatically, the lower limit of their profanity had dropped lower and lower, and even the most refined people, after several weeks of Honkai Impact 3rd, had all started swearing like sailors.
However…
What the audience did not know was…
When Hessian saw the abuse in the official group, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he murmured: "You think this is painful already? You can't take this much? The real pain is still coming~."