『 (I didn't expect the spell in the diary to be so useful! What wish should I make next~? But, what happened to that child afterwards? I'm a little concerned. I wonder if the computer here has any records… Ah, what is this?!)
Kiana looked at the record on the computer and read it out loud, "November 2, 1999. Two test subjects with B-grade Honkai resistance died during the experiment."
"To avoid Honkai energy residue, it is recommended that the deceased be incinerated."
"In addition, Subject 51 has shown good adaptability. She has been transferred to a safe house for observation."
"Based on the observation results, arrangements will be made for her to go to other laboratories for further in-depth experiments."
"A forged death notice has been sent to the family of Subject 51, and the family currently has no suspicions."
"Maintain surveillance on them. If necessary, forceful means can be taken." 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: They didn't trick the families of these children into coming here for treatment, did they…?
〘Hanabi〙: Filled with anticipation, hoping that Schicksal could save their child, only to personally send their child into hell.
〘Stelle〙: Now I know why Uncle Yang gets like that whenever Otto is mentioned.
〘March 7th〙: Then Luocha…
〘Luocha〙: This one is truly just a mere merchant.
....
『 Kiana pointed at the computer screen, "Lady Cecilia, look at this!"
Hearing this, Cecilia walked over curiously. After she finished reading the records above, she took a step back in shock.
"Babylon Labs is conducting human experiments under the guise of treatment?!"
"Could it be that the Second Herrscher came here not just because of the Honkai reactor?"
"Cecilia, have you not dealt with the Second Herrscher yet?"
Just as Cecilia was astonished by this horrifying discovery, Bishop Otto's voice came from the communicator at her waist.
"Bishop Otto?!"
"You haven't forgotten that you are fighting a Herrscher, have you?"
"The Honkai energy in Babylon Labs will only make her stronger. The longer this drags on, the lower your chances of winning."
"Of course I remember."
"There is no time for you to waste now. Cecilia, I never fight a battle I cannot win." 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Otto's big hand is at work again. Really, your guidance isn't even a fraction of Lady Hanabi's. It's way too heavy-handed.
〘Stelle〙: Agreed. But can you stop speaking in riddles?
〘Hanabi〙: That is, of course… no way~
....
『 "You had better have a way to eliminate that Herrscher."
"If even you cannot kill her, I will launch a Honkai Fission Bomb to blow up the entire laboratory along with the Herrscher." 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Time to destroy the evidence~
....
『 "What…"
"If you don't want me to do that, then bring me some good news."
After leaving this threatening remark, Otto hung up the communication.
Looking at the disconnected communicator, Cecilia silently lowered her head, "…Yes."
"What… He's going to launch a missile to blow up this lab?" Kiana cried out in shock.
"It's fine, Kiana. We just need to quicken our pace." Cecilia gave Kiana a reassuring smile to comfort her, "I have my own plan to defeat the Second Herrscher. Now, I need you to do me a small favor."
"Please take the elevator from earlier to the underground power room and shut off the main switch there."
"That way, I can open the path to the upper floors."
Kiana's heart, which had been thrown into disarray by Otto's words, was calmed by Cecilia.
She nodded, "Okay."
Afterward, she got into the elevator. As the elevator descended, she recalled Otto's words.
"Why would Schicksal launch a missile at this place? Wait, I remember that voice in my dream before also said…"
"During the battle with the Second Herrscher, because they feared Mom would fail, Schicksal launched a missile at them."
"In the end, Mom and the Second Herrscher perished together…"
"How can that be… Could Mom… No! I absolutely won't let this happen!"
Once the elevator reached the basement and came to a stop, Kiana rushed out immediately to search for the switch. However, she found nothing. To be precise, she only found an IC card along the way, another page of the diary, and a bed with a hole underneath it.
Kiana anxiously slammed the bed.
"Why is there nothing anywhere? Damn it! There's barely any time left…"
"Right! The diary… I wonder if there are any clues about the switch in this page?"
Kiana could only pin her hopes on the items she had found earlier to guide her way.
"Today, the doctor brought me to the underground safe house, saying this will be my new room from now on."
"In two months, I will be sent to another hospital. The doctor told me that Mom went somewhere very, very far away."
"So, for a long time, I won't be able to see Mom."
"Only by receiving treatment properly can I see Mom again. No! He must be lying to me!"
"Mom would never leave me behind and go away. I can't stay here; I have to escape from here! Mom… I miss you so much…" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: It seems she realized something was wrong with this place. But how is a small child supposed to escape?
〘Stelle〙: Through that hole, probably. But I feel like it won't be that simple.
....
『 "Damn it, there's no mention of the switch at all. Besides, this is the safe house?"
Kiana put down the diary page and scanned her surroundings.
"Mom clearly said this was the power room. She couldn't be lying to me… Wait… No way…"
Realizing something, Kiana ran toward the elevator like crazy. Arriving in front of the elevator control panel, she frantically pressed the up button, but no matter how she pressed it, the elevator wouldn't run. 』
『 ....』
〘Siegfried〙: That really is her style…
....
『 "What's going on? Why is the elevator not moving again? Move, hurry up and move!"
"Please forgive me for lying to you, Kiana."
Cecilia's words coming from the communicator confirmed Kiana's bad premonition. Cecilia had intentionally sent her away because she wanted to fight the Second Herrscher alone.
"Lady Cecilia?! Open the elevator quickly!"
"Kiana, stay safe in the safe house. That way, even if the entire lab is destroyed by the missile, you won't be affected."
"I will defeat the Second Herrscher."
"No, I want to fight together with you!" Kiana shouted resolutely.
"Haha, do you lack confidence in me? Don't worry, just wait for me here in peace."
"No, don't! Let me out, Mom!"
Kiana shouted anxiously into the communicator, but Cecilia's gentle voice no longer came from the other side. There was only a cold silence.
"No, the communication was cut off… Damn it!"
"I can't be locked up here. There must be a key to the elevator somewhere here."
"Mom… I will definitely come to save you!" 』
『 ....』