Is There Still Time to Save Senior Sister's Dignity?

"Reasonable my foot! Didn't you and that guy Mobius do the Hypermutation Surgery together? And is it possible for tests to fail!?"

"...Hua, I think you really should get your blood tested," Liu Bai suddenly said.

"Eh? Teacher Liu, you too...!?"

"Don't look at me like that. I just... well, I sensed wisdom and rationality in what you just said, so I think it would be better to have it tested."

Shibao actually refuted Mei with reason and evidence?

What a joke! Give me back my not-so-bright Shibao!

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What would you like to see as the next object to be simulated?

1. Himeko

2. Bronya

3. Mei

Chapter 145 Is there any chance to salvage Senior Sister's dignity?

"Just kidding, one normal syringe is enough." Mei put away the oversized syringe with considerable disappointment and took out the normal blood-drawing equipment.

"... What's with that disappointed look on your face?"

Shibao couldn't help but retort, "I'm your senior sister!"

"So it was a joke."

"The look of disappointment on your face doesn't look like a joke at all!"

Today, Shibao seems to have become extra intelligent under the threat of death.

This is really...

"Please extend your arm."

"Tsk."

Although Shibao made a rather displeased sound, he still obediently rolled up his sleeves and let Mei draw a vial of blood.

(Indeed, the stability is quite high. Is it because Teacher Liu is by my side? Or because I inherited my senior sister's memories and emotions... or perhaps both?)

Mei was somewhat surprised by the stability of Shibao.

The current civilization is different from the Previous Era. In the current civilization, at least three Herrscher were effectively controlled before the Shibao, and the First Herrscher even clearly stood on the side of humanity—something that the Previous Era would never have dared to imagine.

(Reason...)

This part seemed to touch on Mei's somewhat hazy memories, causing Mei to frown.

This feeling of chaos is hardly a good thing for a rational scientist.

"What's wrong?" Shibao looked at Mei, who was frowning, with a puzzled expression.

Although that joke was a bit scary, to Shibao, Mei is still her junior sister... even though she no longer has the authority of a senior sister.

"Senior sister, do you still remember what happened back then?"

"Back then? What back then?" Shibao tilted his head in confusion.

"... Are there any unclear or ambiguous parts in your memory?" Mei stated the question directly to avoid the Herrscher of Sentience from misunderstanding.

"Chaos... Hmm, if you put it that way, there are quite a few things I can't remember."

Shibao only has a general impression of Hua's experiences; if he wants to know the details, Shibao still has to look it up on the spot.

"But it's been so long, it's normal not to remember."

Shibao, on the other hand, took it quite lightly.

In some ways, Mei really envies such naive guys.

"Memory is something that needs to be recalled slowly; you can't force it," Liu Bai said, stopping Mei when she seemed to want to study this aspect.

After all, this mechanism originated from him, and studying it further would only be a waste of time.

"That's true. I wasn't planning to delve into this matter. In my opinion, this should be a side effect of the hibernation pod... I just remembered something that I vaguely recall, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Mei rubbed her temples.

"Compared to this matter, it is more important to confirm how many people choose to continue living after the end of civilization."

"That's really hard to confirm, isn't it?" Shibao complained. "Back then, we weren't a united front. We were only able to stick together because we shared the common goal of protecting civilization. After that goal disappeared... tsk."

Shibao made a sound of displeasure.

Mei glanced at Shibao with surprise; he hadn't expected Shibao to be able to see through things so clearly.

No, it's okay to see through things, the key is to speak out... Only bystanders would directly say such things.

However, Shibao's statement is not entirely wrong.

Every Flame-Chasers has some unruly members, and the most obvious one in this case is Mobius.

Although I don't remember the specifics, because of her involvement in human experimentation, she was incompatible with almost everyone, and her relationship with some people was even quite hostile. Mei thinks that her image in other people's eyes might not be much different from Mobius's, and in terms of rational and ruthless decision-making, Mei is far superior to Mobius.

Moreover, interpersonal relationships are always two-way; even the most cared-for little Gretel is afraid of Kalpas —even if Kalpas treats Gretel like an ordinary child.

So although they are listed as Flame-Chasers, their relationship is not as unbreakable as that of a heroic team in an epic novel.

"... I can't remember what happened back then, but no matter what, I still hope that more people can hold on until now."

"That's true. It would be quite nice to see old friends in this civilization."

Shibao nodded in agreement, then stretched.

"But when it comes to this kind of thing, there's no rush, right? Anyway, we still have time."

Is there still time...?

Mei glanced at the Shibao. Although the appearance of the current civilization's Herrscher was a bit chaotic, the Herrscher of Sentience had already appeared, so how far behind could the rest be?

... That being said, the reason why the appearances of the Herrscher in the current civilization have become somewhat chaotic is still due to Mei.

In the Previous Era, Mei developed the technology to seal the Honkai, and used this technology to successfully seal some of the Honkai's powers on the far side of the moon. In the present civilization, these powers were transformed into four gems: Conquest (Lightning), Desire (Storm), Tranquility (Death), and Plague (Flame).

These correspond to the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh Herrscher, respectively.

(So the next one will most likely be either the Herrscher of Ice or the Herrscher of Earth.)

Mei's thoughts began to wander.

This is the most reliable intelligence Mei obtained after integrating the information provided by Gray Serpent.

Of course, there are more reliable options available—but we'll have to wait until Prometheus resumes his work.

However, when it comes to the Herrscher of Earth... that's a true mortal enemy.

The sinking of the Previous Era Mu Continent destroyed the most technologically advanced part of the entire civilization, leaving no possibility of recovery. At the same time, a group of valuable scientists were also sacrificed. It can be said that this directly severed a section of the Previous Era's path.

This kind of hatred ranks among the top three of all Herrscher hatreds.

(However, we cannot deny that the order might change.)

Of course, this change is a trivial matter compared to the previous issues.

"Alright, I'm going back to sleep. Jackal, you can do the analysis here. Record the data carefully, and I'll check it when I wake up."

After handing the blood sample to the respectful Jackal, Mei rubbed her face and looked sleepy.

"Yes, Dr. Mei." The once proud and arrogant Jackal was now as docile as a puppy in front of Mei.

"You bastard..."

Shibao's eyes twitched. Although the other party hadn't ignored him, he unexpectedly felt like he was being ignored.

However... I'll let it go since the other party seems to be working late into the night.

"You've barely crawled out and you're already working yourself to the bone? You've got some serious skills, Mei." Liu Bai remarked, half-scoldingly.

"I'm sorry, after all, we need to integrate a lot of intelligence and make future predictions..."

Mei answered while yawning.

"But I didn't expect to be so sleepy after just one night of staying up... I used to be fine even if I didn't sleep for a week."

To some extent, it's a sign of old age.

Liu Bai thought with a hint of sarcasm, but this should just be because his body functions haven't fully recovered. He should just eat and drink normally and rest for a while.

"I feel like I have absolutely no dignity as a senior sister..."

After watching Mei leave, Shibao couldn't help but complain.

I was fully prepared, but the result was completely different from what I imagined... Did the other party take the initiative and win?

Shibao thought with a slight sense of frustration—but no one seemed to care about this at all.

Are you kidding me? Did Liu Bai really expect Shibao to establish the image of the senior sister?

Forget it, it's just an excuse to distract the child.

Rather, it would be a huge problem if Shibao actually created this character... well, a problem on the scale of world destruction.

However, out of consideration for their relationship, Liu Bai still tried to appease him:

"A persona cannot be established overnight; it requires gradual effort."

"...Too."

Shibao thought about it for a moment, and although he felt something was a little strange, he still nodded.

—What Teacher Liu said is absolutely right. If you doubt it, then you're the one with a problem.

"Next, I'll take you to see your friends."

"Friend?"

Shibao tilted his head in confusion, then followed Liu Bai in the elevator to the basement of Shencheng Pharmaceuticals.

—It's not the basement Sun-Eating Shadow imprisoned, it's just an ordinary underground training ground.

As soon as Shibao entered, he heard a very rhythmic gunshot.

"Hmm... this is..."

"Kiana, are you there? I brought your class monitor back."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The gunfire stopped, Kiana walked out of the simulation training room.

"Um... Good morning, class monitor?"

Although Liu Bai had reminded Kiana, the host, last night, Kiana still felt a little uncomfortable when she saw the Shibao face.

Fortunately, Kiana is no longer the straightforward and impulsive girl she used to be. Even under these circumstances, Kiana was still able to calm herself down and greet Shibao.

"Hey, good morning, Kiana. It's been a long time since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"

However, Shibao was completely unaware of this and greeted Kiana in a very casual manner.

"Your pupils have become heterochromatic compared to before, and they're quite pretty."

"Shibao" refers to Kiana's pupil that turned golden due to the power of the Herrscher.

"If I had a choice, I'd rather not be this pretty... But it has been quite a long time since I've seen you, class monitor, hasn't it?"

Kiana replied with a slightly strange expression.

This Herrscher class leader is definitely a completely different person from a normal class leader; she's actually focusing her attention on her own eyes and such.

Fu Hua was part of the Feather of the Wind faction, did not comment on this—this was also Liu Bai's request of her: to listen more, observe more, and try to understand what kind of person this Herrscher really was.

Parents who are autocratic and domineering are not welcome.

"It's been three or four months." Shibao shrugged, then looked somewhat curious. "By the way, do you have a piece of Feather of the Wind on you?"

Fu Hua's consciousness was bound to Kiana's only after she was shot by Otto, so this memory is not among the memories that Shibao possesses.