"I only concealed some information that I myself was confused about."
Vill-V took a deep breath. She had indeed hidden quite a few things.
"That's right. I was the one who brought Planck here."
Vill-V knew that bringing Planck from the Previous Era into this world would leave quite a psychological shadow on many people.
She had not expected Planck to completely shatter Dr. Tesla's composure.
Seeing Tesla like this, Vill-V suddenly realized that the girl before her was not actually that old.
She had simply superimposed her image with the original Tesla from the storyline in her mind. In reality, the current Dr. Tesla—who had not yet experienced the sacrifice of Welt—was still far from possessing the mental resilience she would have in the future.
Tesla froze when she heard this, then her expression turned to shock. She had not expected that a casual question would uncover such explosive news. "Well, damn. So it was you, you brat!"
So you're the one who let the wolf in.
Seeing Tesla furiously pull out a brand-new spare pair of gauntlets from behind her back, Vill-V hurriedly waved her hands. "Hey, hey, what's with this infinite-gauntlet production system? Wait! I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Talk!"
Vill-V somehow produced a wooden gavel out of nowhere. She smacked it against the wall and put on an exaggerated storytelling tone.
"Ahem. This begins with the battle between the two of us. At the time, the Herrscher of Reason and I fought all the way to the edge of the cosmos. Planets shattered. Even the great..."
Tesla snatched the gavel from Vill-V's hand. "Keep it short. You're really getting into it, aren't you? Fighting her? I don't believe you have that kind of ability."
Tesla was eager to know how Vill-V and the others had arrived here. She had no interest in listening to Vill-V brag.
Without her gavel, Vill-V instantly lost the enthusiasm to narrate the entire plan.
"Fine. The conclusion is... I don't know how we got here."
Tesla put her hands on her hips. "Huh? After all that, you're telling me you don't know?"
"Mm. I'm not lying. Logically speaking, the intrinsic world shouldn't possibly contain a future world with a forward time arrow. Therefore, there should only be bubble worlds of the past, not bubble worlds of the future. If one exists, then it definitely isn't a normal product. Either it's the doing of the Herrscher of Finality."
In truth, the moment they arrived in this world, the beacon had already lost its function. What Conductor had claimed about still being able to contact the Cosmic Juggernaut through the beacon was merely a delaying tactic to stabilize Id's emotions.
And Id was rather simple-minded. Whatever Conductor said, she believed. They say one grows wiser after hardship, yet even after suffering several times, she was still like this. Conductor genuinely worried that one day Id might sell herself and even help count the money.
Fortunately, Id was not stupid. She was just easily deceived by women.
Mm. Even though she herself was the great swindler...
"Stop, stop, stop..."
Tesla scratched her hair into a mess in irritation. "What are you even talking about? Intrinsic world? Bubble worlds? Time arrow? Herrscher of Finality? I've never even heard of any of that."
Wasn't it you who told me to keep it short?!
Tesla was nothing like Einstein when it came to analysis. With Dr. Einstein absent, even if Vill-V told the truth, Tesla would find it difficult to judge.
At that moment, a chubby little figure came out from the stairwell holding a microphone. "Dr. Tesla, there's a call from someone claiming to be the 'Overseer of Schicksal.'"
"Hang up on him!" Dr. Tesla ordered without hesitation.
"Oh." The chubby kid turned around and walked back while holding the microphone.
Seeing the confusion in Vill-V's eyes, Tesla made a bitter face and said somewhat vexedly, "That guy... Planck used our equipment to wipe out Schicksal's North American Valkyrie headquarters. If not for that, we could've asked Reanna Brigantia to help treat Einstein and the others."
"Then why not explain it to Schicksal?"
"Explain my ass! Otto would definitely take this opportunity to reclaim full control of Schicksal's North American branch. If that happens, there'll be no chance of breaking free from Schicksal in the future."
Mm. Very Otto-style.
"So I directly announced that Anti-Entropy is independent. We'll just compete with Schicksal for talent from now on."
Mm. Very Tesla-style.
Vill-V glanced at the several "mummies" inside the ward and said, "All the people in Anti-Entropy who can make decisions are lying down. So, Dr. Tesla, you're planning to rely on this North American branch base of Schicksal that's already been reduced to ashes to fight against all of Schicksal? Cool."
"Of course. And to face Schicksal's wrath, we'll need your help." Tesla unceremoniously dragged Vill-V in as a tool.
"You're really quick to drag me into this mess."
"The one who started it all doesn't have the right to refuse!" Tesla raised her brand-new iron fist.
Then she crossed her arms confidently. "Besides, according to the 'Emergency Consultation List,' I've now become the acting highest leader of the world's number one superpower..."
"As long as that old hag Planck hasn't picked up the call from the 'Emergency Consultation List.'"
"Tsk. Speaking of that old woman..."
Dr. Tesla suddenly felt a chill crawl up her spine. Her scalp went numb as an icy voice sounded behind her.
"I'm right here."
Clack clack—like the sound of building blocks collapsing, the corridor began to crumble.
The entire villa underwent a tremendous transformation, dismantling and recombining like a giant mechanical apparatus.
"Aaaah! Old hag, you again—"
Before Tesla could finish her protest, her body had already landed on a conveyor belt with mechanical patterns. She was rapidly carried forward and locked into a small dark room.
Vill-V sat atop a floating central apparatus. She did not reach out to help Tesla.
Because her attention had already been drawn to the person before her.
Standing in front of her... was Planck, the Herrscher of Reason from the Previous Era.
Planck stepped into the corridor. The wall behind her automatically piled itself back up, returning to its original state.
"You're here." Planck's gaze settled on Vill-V as if greeting an old acquaintance.
But her actions were far from friendly. In her hand, a radiant revolver instantly materialized. She aimed and fired—
Bang!
Vill-V remained unmoved, her expression calm. The bullet grazed past her sideburns like a shooting star, tearing through the air before exploding behind her into a brilliant golden flame, sealing off her only retreat.
Chains spread out from behind Planck at the same time. They intertwined with the golden fire, forming an isolated golden cell cut off from the outside world.
...
Vill-V glanced at the integrated information processing terminal on her arm. The Honkai-energy equipment was still functioning normally. This was not Judah's sealing barrier. It was merely an ordinary construct of the Herrscher of Reason.
That shot was a probe. Not a probe in terms of combat, but in terms of information...
Vill-V had just lifted her head when Planck suddenly pressed her against the wall.
The distance was so close that Vill-V's thoughts abruptly stalled.
Her chest... it's pressed against mine...
This was the first time Vill-V had bumped chests with another girl.
"At this moment, everything in this room is within my domain. This place is isolated from all external interference. Little kitten, you have nowhere left to run. Not even that train of yours can help you."
Although Planck's tone was cold, Vill-V did not sense any chill or killing intent from her.
And as Planck bared her teeth at Vill-V, she revealed a fierce... yet oddly adorable expression.
Looking at Planck's milk-fierce expression, Vill-V regained her composure and teased, "Is this some kind of Bavarian joke? It seems you don't have much talent for acting."