On the TV.
Mei sensed that Tesla was about to come out.
She immediately slipped back to the entrance quietly, composed her emotions, wiped away the tear stains from her face, and walked in again.
Tesla said in surprise: "Eh, Mei, you're back?"
Mei nodded lightly: "Yes, I just got back. I was worried it would be dangerous in the city, so I escorted Sora part of the way. It took a little time on the road. Is Kiana still in the infirmary?"
Tesla replied: "Yes, we just did another checkup. The situation… is still the same as before… Let her rest well. The Hyperion will arrive soon, and we can leave here right away."
Mei said: "Kiana hasn't eaten anything since waking up. She must be hungry. I'll go to the kitchen and see what I can make."
"Mei, wait a moment." Tesla called out to her.
"What is it?" Mei turned back to ask.
Tesla said: "…That chicken-head is too serious. She always states facts and reasons logically. As a researcher, that's a good thing, but in daily life, it can be a bit rigid. Don't take what she said to heart—"
Mei knew she was worried about her.
So she said: "It's okay, Dr. Tesla. I'm fine. I've been with Anti-Entropy for four months, and I know you're all outstanding scientists who will definitely make the most rational judgments. I'm very grateful that you're willing to tell me the truth."
Tesla comforted her: "I know it's hard for you inside… We will work hard to find a solution."
Afterward, Mei made a portion of curry and brought it to the infirmary for Kiana.
Upon seeing Mei, Kiana once again pretended to be relaxed: "Mei, you're back?"
Mei nodded: "Yes. I thought you might be hungry, so I made something to eat."
Kiana's gaze fell on the curry, and she immediately got excited: "Oh oh!! It's Mei's curry!"
Mei said gently: "Fill your stomach with this first. If there's anything else you want to eat, I'll go prepare it."
Kiana sat up straight, hugged the tray, and devoured it ravenously.
"Ah… so, so good! …How can it be this delicious!"
Watching her eat, Mei finally showed a faint smile and said indulgently: "Eat slowly. There's plenty of food. Don't choke."
In no time, the entire plate of curry was swept clean.
Kiana patted her stomach and said: "I'm full!"
Mei smiled: "In the end, after four months, your appetite and eating manners haven't changed at all."
Kiana said: "Don't say that! During this time, I haven't eaten properly at all. It's been so long since I've tasted something so heartwarming and nostalgic…"
"Whew… This refreshing feeling, this perfectly balanced spiciness—sure enough, Mei's cooking is still the one that suits me best!"
"…"
Mei's heart trembled, but she quickly reacted and said: "I'm glad you like it. I was worried earlier that it might be a bit too spicy."
Kiana hurriedly said: "No, no! The spiciness is just right. Eating it makes me sweat, and it feels really good. I like it a lot."
Mei poured her a glass of water: "Here, drink some water so it doesn't irritate your throat."
Kiana downed the water in one gulp and lay back contentedly.
Mei continued: "The doctors said that next, the Hyperion will take you to an Anti-Entropy base for examination. You have to cooperate properly and listen to them. They are all trustworthy people."
Kiana said: "Got it, got it. Don't worry, Mei. There won't be any problems."
"Yes, Kiana, you'll get better. You will… definitely get better." At this moment, Mei had already made up her mind.
Worried that Kiana might notice something, she picked up the tray and walked out: "I'll go wash the dishes. You rest a bit more."
Leaving the infirmary.
Arriving at the kitchen.
She placed the tray in the sink.
Water flowed over Mei's fingertips, falling, shattering, disappearing into the small vortex with a low, choked sound.
She dried the tray and prepared to put it back in the cabinet, but accidentally bumped into the wooden bowl beside it.
A few small things fell to the ground—
They were the bell peppers left over from making the curry.
"…"
Drip, drip… The agreed-upon two hours were almost up.
Mei walked through the kitchen. The corridor was quiet, with no one around, only the light from the infirmary flickering lonely at the end of the hallway.
"…"
"Idiot…"
Mei turned around and walked toward the direction without light: "Bell pepper curry… How could it possibly be spicy…"
At this moment,
all the audience members felt as if they had been struck by lightning.
The sweet scene of eating curry earlier, at this moment, suddenly turned into a knife that stabbed fiercely into their chests.
Everyone felt unbearably distressed, frantically rushing to the official group.
"Fuck your mother, you knifed me to death. Even eating curry can knife me, fuck your mom."
"Aaaaaah!!! Dog director! I'm going to kill you."
"So Kiana has completely lost her sense of taste and pain. She said it was spicy when she saw the peppers because she didn't want Mei to worry?"
"I'm really convinced. Even a meal can knife me, huh?"
"Dog bastard director, you're really inhuman. It hurts! It knifes me so much!"
"Pain pain pain!! I'm really going to be knifed to death. It's too hard to bear, too oppressive, it really hurts so much."
"How can this be? My Kiana, my Mei… They can't even eat curry properly anymore."
"Will I dare to eat curry again in the future? Seeing curry will remind me of this. It hurts too much."
The audience was completely stunned by this knife.
No one had expected that something as simple as eating a meal, eating curry, could hide such a massive knife.
It was painful to the point of being unable to breathe, painful to the point of being unable to sleep, painful to the point of wanting the dog director to feel a million times the suffering!
Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
Kalpas suddenly rushed into the lounge.
No one noticed when he had left.
They only saw him now holding a bowl of curry in his hands, glaring furiously at Hessian as he charged straight over.
He scooped a spoonful of curry and shoved it into Hessian's mouth: "I fucking make you eat bell pepper curry, make you eat curry! Eat! Eat it for me! Is it spicy or not!!!"
Hessian was completely dumbfounded by Kalpas.
He quickly grabbed at SAKURA, begging her to save him.
She was his bodyguard, after all!
How could she just watch Kalpas charge over and assault him like this?
SAKURA said calmly: "He doesn't intend to kill you. He's just afraid you're hungry and wants you to eat some curry."
Everyone else looked on with schadenfreude.
Of course!
Kalpas didn't go too far either—he was just venting and forced a few mouthfuls into Hessian.
Seeing that no one was helping him,
how could Hessian let himself suffer a loss?
He immediately swallowed the curry in his mouth and said with a smile: "This refreshing feeling, this perfectly balanced spiciness—sure enough, Kalpas's cooking is still the one that suits me best!"
Pfft…
Kalpas was so angry he nearly spat blood.
Even SAKURA was impressed by Hessian's shamelessness.
The others hadn't expected that, in a moment like this, he could still say something like that—exactly the same words Kiana used when eating Mei's curry.
It was like a slap right to the face!!
Kalpas's brows twitched, veins bulging: "You think I don't dare kill you?!"
Sensing his genuine killing intent,
although SAKURA wanted this death-courting man to learn a lesson,
she still stepped in front of him: "Kalpas, if you make a move, don't blame me for intervening."
Huff~
Huff~
Huff~~~
Kalpas took deep breaths repeatedly to let some of his anger dissipate.
Then he snorted coldly, took the remaining curry, and sat in the farthest corner.
Hessian still didn't let him off, saying to the others: "This curry really has just the right amount of spice. It's very delicious. Why don't we have Kalpas make some for everyone as a late-night snack?"
"…"
Everyone fell silent, all wishing they could beat him to death.
But they didn't dare.
Kalpas was so furious he nearly smashed the plate.
Make him cook curry for everyone?
He wanted to chop Hessian up and make him into curry!
Even Eden was helpless: "Ellie, your husband… aren't you worried something will happen to him?"
Elysia looked at the beautiful girls' expressions and felt a bit helpless for a moment. Her husband was even better at causing trouble than she was.
Hessian also noticed Elysia's expression and said with a smile: "Actually, we could also produce Mei-brand bell pepper curry. I believe it would sell like crazy! We can have Kiana do a live stream to promote it, and Kalpas handle production."
"…"
Everyone knew he was doing it on purpose—to get revenge for Kalpas forcing curry on him earlier.
So they all chose to remain silent and continued watching the TV.
This time, Hessian's level of courting death once again refreshed their understanding.
Soon,
the plot on the TV once again drew everyone's attention.
Mei had already arrived at the location agreed upon with Raven.
"As agreed, I came alone."
Raven said: "It seems I don't need to ask more. You're already prepared—follow me."
She opened the gate to the nest and led Mei deeper into the shanty district.
Looking at the surroundings, Raven couldn't help but sigh: "After the children left, this place has become much quieter. It's almost like the ruins down below—silent, desolate, without a trace of life."
Mei asked: "What will happen to them afterward?"
Raven replied: "They will receive further treatment in advanced, safe facilities: artificially regulated Honkai energy environments, customized programmed care, larger and freer living spaces…"
"Whether in material conditions or spiritual experience, it will be worlds apart from life in the nest. When the final treatment course ends, those children will fully awaken their stigmata. At that time, they can leave the past behind and start a new life."
Mei didn't believe it at all: "World Serpent will let them go? These children are all rare stigma awakeners. I don't think your companions would easily let them leave."
Raven affirmed: "They will, because it is the Lord's command. It is the reward he promised me."
"…Reward?"
Raven smiled and said no more.
After passing through winding alleys, the two finally stopped in front of an iron door.
"We're here. The Lord is behind this door. He wants to see you alone."
"Open it." Mei no longer hesitated.
Raven was somewhat surprised: "Truly astonishing. When we first met, I thought you were just a naive, innocent good child. But in just a few days, your eyes have become completely different. In such a short time, you've undergone a transformation."
"...I hope you get the answers you want. Go on. Good luck."
The iron door slowly opened, leading Mei into a dimly lit square.
In the shadows, the sound of someone's footsteps seemed to be quietly, quietly approaching from the other side—
Cold!
The air turned icy with the man's arrival.
Mei felt as if she were in an ancient ice cellar.
A sense of oppression rose from deep within her body, making it hard for her to move.
"You are…"
"Kevin Kaslana, leader of World Serpent."
A calm voice sounded, and the oppressive feeling suddenly vanished.
Mei looked into those eyes, as if seeing two voids.
In those voids, there seemed to be… a sorrow, a sorrow that time could not erase, a sorrow that seemed impossible to ever heal.
"…Kaslana?" Mei was still puzzled by the name, identical to Kiana's.
Kevin then spoke: "Raiden Mei, you have someone you want to save, but neither Schicksal nor Anti-Entropy can fulfill your wish. I promise you, World Serpent can save that girl."
Mei immediately asked: "What is your condition?"
"You."
Kevin's words were calm and brief, yet carried heavy weight, like laws engraved on ancient stone pillars—impossible to alter, impossible to defy.
But Mei had to face the weight in those words head-on: "…I need to know the specific method, and watch her escape danger. If you really can do it… then I'll do anything."
Kevin said: "The girl named Kiana is already in critical condition. The erosion from the cores has exceeded the limit she can bear. To let her survive, the excess cores must be immediately separated from her body. There is only one method."
"I will make you become the Herrscher of Thunder once again."
"What?!" Mei was shocked.
Kevin continued: "You are a chosen Herrscher. Your body forever retains the gate connected to the Imaginary Tree. When the residual energy from the Third Eruption is absorbed by that gate, you will awaken once more and seize the authority of the Herrscher of Thunder from Kiana."
"A new Herrscher core will condense within you, while the Gem of Conquest will disintegrate and vanish, reducing the number of cores. Her symptoms will then be alleviated."
The cold voice struck Mei, causing her to recall the strange occurrences of the past few days.
Dr. Tesla's diagnosis, the sudden dizziness, and Raven's abrupt change in attitude.
She suddenly understood everything.
"As long as I become a Herrscher, Kiana can be saved?"
"Correct."
Mei immediately said: "…Then there's nothing to hesitate about. Three years ago, she pulled me out of the darkness. Without Kiana, there would be no me today. For her, I'm more than willing to return to that darkness. But if, if I am once again controlled by Honkai, I hope you can…"
Kevin said: "You need not worry. That will not happen. What you should truly be concerned about is what comes after becoming a Herrscher."
"???"
Mei didn't understand what that meant.
Kevin patiently explained: "This time, you can save Kiana. But the next time, she will still put herself in danger. She will definitely use the power of the Herrscher of the Void again and again—for the people around her, for this world."
"As long as Honkai exists, as long as Herrschers are born, she will definitely step forward, continually pushing herself to the edge of death—"
"Until… she sacrifices her own life."
"I have seen countless people like her."
"Even in the face of death and fear, they will still resolutely do what they believe is right, walk the path they believe in."
"…They left, and not one returned."
Kevin's words were like ice spikes, piercing deeply into Mei's heart.
She wanted to refute, but couldn't piece together a single word.
Because that was her deepest pain, because that was a fact she could never change no matter how many sacrifices she made.
"…No… I won't let that happen!"
"You cannot stop her. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here at all." Kevin mercilessly exposed her: "But you have another choice. You can choose to become a member of the Serpent."
"…What are you saying?" Mei didn't understand.
Kevin continued: "Soon, Herrschers will appear one after another. The war between humanity and Honkai will enter its next stage."
"You can choose to walk with World Serpent, eradicate Honkai, capture Herrschers, seal their authorities… so that the Herrscher of the Void can no longer increase her power."
"Only by leaving Kiana's side can you truly protect her from danger."
"And when the Stigmata Project is complete, you and she will be able to return to being human."
A boom resounded, and a pillar of light shattered the sky, causing it to fall like glass.
Seeing this scene, Mei exclaimed in shock: "What happened!?"
"Time is up." Kevin said calmly: "The gate has been opened. Soon, the Imaginary Tree will manifest in this city."
"The dormant Honkai energy will be released from the earth veins. Absorb it, and you can become the Herrscher of Thunder once more, buying her more time."
"But if you want to truly save her life, there is only one path for you to take."
"Whether to believe me, to believe World Serpent—I will give you time to make your decision."