In 1955, Schicksal Overseer Otto Apocalypse invited his pen pal, the First Herrscher, Welt Joyce, to take over as Schicksal Overseer.
However, Welt Joyce, whose soul carried the benevolent will of those who died in the First Great Honkai Eruption, clearly could not accept the ideals instilled in him by a certain paranoid green-hatted man who regarded human life as worthless.
When drinking with a true friend, a thousand cups are too few; when conversation doesn't flow, half a sentence is too much.
Due to their conflicting ideals, the friendship forged between Welt Joyce and Otto Apocalypse through letter writing (Otto boasting about Kallen) completely fractured.
Otto, the pinnacle of intelligence but the bedrock of emotional intelligence in the Honkai world, clearly could not tolerate being rejected by the first Welt.
With the mentality of "if I can't have it, I'll destroy it," Otto, using the body of the strongest Valkyrie at the time, Reanna (modified by Soul Steel, it was Otto's spare body), launched an attack on Joyce.
The battle between the First Herrscher and the First Green Hat thus unfolded in New York in 1955.
The final outcome was the defeat of the First Green Hat and the severe injury of the First Herrscher.
Otto, unable to play fair, revived in his body at Schicksal HQ and subsequently launched Honkai Fission Bombs at New York.
To protect New York, the already heavily injured Welt unleashed his power to its maximum, creating a defensive net that enveloped the entire city, dying from exhaustion.
Subsequently, a still young Joachim received Welt Joyce's gift and became the new Welt.
Joachim, having become the new Welt, left with a large number of scientists from Schicksal's North American branch and, in accordance with the first Welt's wishes, established Anti-Entropy.
Given this background of its establishment, one can imagine how atrocious the relationship between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal was.
And now, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy was actually hiding in one of Schicksal's branches?
"Are you, are you serious?"
Theresa, completely unaware that her own academy was being used as a recuperation spot by the Anti-Entropy Sovereign, felt her eye twitch slightly.
The head of an enemy faction hiding in her own home—this sounded too outrageous!
"Although it sounds outrageous, this is the truth."
"Of course."
Said the young man who had just leaked Anti-Entropy's confidential information.
Old Yang, the champion of the World Sit-up Championship, as long as he wasn't called to Nagazora City by the Anti-Entropy scientists, was definitely at Saint Freya Academy.
"Then, what do you intend to achieve by telling us your Sovereign's information?"
Miss Murata, who had fallen silent upon hearing the words "Anti-Entropy Sovereign," looked at the young man who was receiving her and Theresa on behalf of Anti-Entropy's agent, Raiden Ryoma, and spoke slowly.
Unlike her usual頹廢 (tuífèi - decadent/dispirited) demeanor, and different from the gentleness she showed Kiana, her gaze at this moment was as sharp as a blade. Merely staring at someone could make them feel as if a knife was pointed at their brow.
Under such a gaze, the few people around couldn't help but quiet down.
Murata Himeko at this moment was truly a bit terrifying.
As Welt's student during his time at the California Institute of Technology, she was an old acquaintance of Welt.
If not for the accident in 2005, she might even have become a member of Anti-Entropy.
Unfortunately, there were no "ifs" in this world.
In that accident, she lost her father and could no longer continue discussing alien stories with her beloved Professor Welt.
"I think, telling us Professor Welt's whereabouts is unlikely to be Raiden Ryoma's order, right?"
As soon as her voice fell, Murata Himeko fixed an almost scrutinizing, icy gaze on the person who was clearly somewhat off.
Kiana and Raiden Mei, sitting beside Li Zihan, couldn't help but feel their pupils constrict sharply.
When a person who had fought on battlefields for years lost control of their emotions and released killing intent, the pressure it carried was truly somewhat terrifying for those who hadn't seen much bloodshed.
Kiana, who had also received combat training while living with Siegfried and sometimes even exchanged the corpses of Honkai Beasts and Dead Ones for bounty money to cover travel expenses, fared slightly better under the pressure of that aura.
But Raiden Mei, who had been well-protected by Raiden Ryoma and had rarely encountered major risks, felt her entire body turn cold.
Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder, and a warm current flowed down from her shoulder, carrying a reassuring magic.
Raiden Mei turned her head slightly and saw the young man's profile, his expression calm.
He didn't look panicked in the slightest, even a little lazy.
Perhaps infected by Li Zihan's calm demeanor, Raiden Mei's mood gradually settled down.
This guy, he's as calm as ever.
Raiden Mei muttered in her heart.
"Of course, it's not Esteemed Father-in-Law's order."
The young man, watched by Murata Himeko's somewhat fierce gaze, showed no discomfort and spoke in his usual voice.
Murata Himeko's gaze did indeed look a bit scary, but for Li Zihan, who had lived in the Spirit Tomb for many years, it wasn't truly terrifying.
In the depths of Spirit Tomb Albion, between 10 to 40 kilometers down, various Fantastical Species close to the Age of Gods had long resided, such as Chimeras, giant earthworms with demon eyes, and Hydras.
The gazes of those Fantastical Species, which had lived for hundreds or thousands of years and had torn apart and devoured numerous explorers and their own kind, were far more terrifying than this.
Perhaps an armored Murata Himeko was indeed stronger than those deformed Fantastical Species.
However, in terms of sheer terrifying aura, Miss Murata, when compared to those Fantastical Species that could actually be called monsters, was so gentle that one wanted to call her "Great Aunt."
"Saying such a thing is merely my own initiative."
Li Zihan shrugged and said.
His expectation of contacting Welt through Anti-Entropy's conservative faction was far lower than finding Welt through Theresa.
His actions, such as rescuing Raiden Ryoma and contacting Anti-Entropy's conservative faction, were more to show his goodwill towards Anti-Entropy.
Murata Himeko looked at the two girls whose expressions were slightly fearful and realized her gaffe.
She took a deep breath, calmed her mood, retracted her killing intent, and looked at Li Zihan again.
If she still hadn't realized by now that the other party had a purpose in bringing Kiana to contact them, then she would be a fool.
Murata Himeko, who was not a fool and, on the contrary, possessed a high level of education and intelligence, then asked.
"Can you tell us what you want to do?"
"I simply hope you can verify whether Lord Welt is still at Saint Freya Academy."
The young man, not quite sure if Tesla and the others had relayed his suggestion, spoke slowly.
"Your reason for wanting to contact him is?"
Theresa, finally coming online, frowned and asked.
"The sleeping Herrscher of Erosion is about to awaken."
Said the young man who would awaken Higokumaru next.