I Want It All!

"... A business trip?" Bronya came up with a very cliché reason.

But...

"It is indeed very useful."

Liu Bai said listlessly.

"That's the reason we'll use. We can come up with a new one later."

Chapter 155 I Want Them All!

"X-10..."

After returning home, Liu Bai, whose mind had gradually calmed down, suddenly began to think about the X-10 experiment.

Well... although there are some flaws, it doesn't seem like they're irreparable?

His Honkai theory is at level 7. Although it has nothing to do with biology, this level is enough to support Liu Bai in conducting some research.

And biology and stuff like that... you can totally study it.

Back when he was in Lab 42, it only took him about a month to go from an idiot college student to a top-notch physicist, okay?

Even if there is no top-level Anti-Entropy

"If the goal is specialized security... well, if we do it this way..."

The next day

"Reanna, do we have any good biologists in our family?"

"Biologist?"

Reanna was a little confused, but she still answered honestly, "There are definitely biologists, even many, but there aren't any like Dr. Einstein. Ah... but speaking of this... excuse me, Lord Alliance Leader, please excuse me for a moment."

Suddenly remembering something, Reanna turned and ran away hastily.

About half an hour later, Reanna returned with a document. Inside the document was a copy of an email.

"If you're looking for a top scientist in the field of biology, the person in this photocopy should fit your requirements."

"Who?"

Liu Bai opened the envelope with a slight look of doubt and looked at the contents.

"This is... a letter of defection?"

"That's right, Dr. Maki, the chief scientist of the Third Research Institute of Schicksal." Reanna nodded solemnly. "According to what's said above, Dr. Maki's granddaughter died during human research on the Serenity Gem. Therefore, Dr. Maki secretly contacted Cocolia. His bargaining chips are the research data on the Serenity Gem, and also... Honkai Energy Neutralizer. He is definitely the kind of scientist who can meet your requirements, Alliance Leader."

Liu Bai glanced at Reanna.

The fact that Reanna specifically emphasized the Honkai Energy Neutralizer means that Reanna has realized why Liu Bai suddenly asked this question.

"What is his current situation?"

"We told him to calm down for now and wait for our follow-up response. This matter has not been finalized because, firstly, we cannot fully confirm its authenticity, and secondly... the Third Research Institute of Schicksal is not easy to contact, after all, it is the heartland of Schicksal."

Where is the Third Research Institute?

"The border between Germany and Denmark is not far from the Schicksal Headquarters. If something happens, both sides can send troops to support us. Moreover, the research institute's armed forces are not bad. After all, as a research institute that studies Honkai, there are Valkyrie squadrons stationed there all year round. Strictly speaking, I am quite familiar with that place."

Reanna sighed.

She was Germany, and used to be a regular at the lab, the Third Research Institute, and so on. She was very familiar with it—at least sixty years ago.

"Oh, that's quite difficult, but we should still give it a try."

Liu Bai's tone was as if he were asking, "What should we eat for lunch?"

"The Valkyrie Squad shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"

"It's not difficult. The value of the Valkyrie of Schicksal has dropped significantly in recent years. Many of them are greenhorns who haven't seen much combat. In recent years, apart from my old friend who is a perennial A-rank, there are only two young girls who have caught my eye... Hmm, one of them might be stronger than me in the future."

Without a doubt, the two "little girls" that Reanna mentioned were Bianka and Rita.

As for that old friend of the A-rank Valkyrie...

Here's a joke: During the Second Honkai, Schicksal had a total of six A-rank Valkyrie. After the Second Honkai, only one A-rank Valkyrie was surviving on the surface.

Yes, that A-rank Valkyrie is named Fu Hua.

Yes, it's rather counterintuitive that Fu Hua became A-rank Valkyrie because she lost most of her memories and powers after the Second Honkai; she was A-rank Valkyrie before the Second Honkai.

However, this is understandable, A-rank Valkyrie are obviously better at concealing their identities than S-Rank Valkyrie.

—But this thing is a nobody, a mere A-rank Valkyrie!

As for why only Fu Hua is said to have survived... Shigure Kira inherited something that appeared to be an alien life form from her comrade-in-arms, "Spawn of Chaos" Shub Nicholas, and fell into the World Bubble in the Sea of Quanta. Although she was recorded as dead, she actually survived.

"But you're still stronger right now, aren't you?"

"Pretty much, but the speed at which these young people are progressing might surprise me." Reanna nodded uncertainly. "To use a more trendy term, it's like witnessing the rise of a powerful figure who could potentially dominate an era."

"Excuse me, where did you learn that phrase from?"

"Shenzhou's online novels".

"I guess so... but that makes sense."

Liu Bai couldn't help but chuckle when he thought of Bianka.

Although Theresa's assessment of Bianka was that "the other two (who became S-class Valkyrie) relied on their exceptional talent, only she relied on her exceptional effort."

But in reality, Bianka's ability to reap rewards through hard work is an unparalleled talent.

Effort is not scary; what is scary is the idea that effort will always bring rewards. Although it sounds strange, the idea that effort will always bring rewards is more common in games than in reality.

"However, suppressing an era might be quite difficult for Bianka. These days, a big boss might appear out of nowhere, and we might all become someone else's stepping stone at any time."

This era is truly a chaotic mess of demons and monsters; deus ex machina is nothing new... But even so, Bianka is still among the strongest in the concept of "humanity."

"Stepping stones and such..."

Reanna seemed unconcerned. "But I've seen that child once from afar. She's a very upright person... Wait, why do I feel like you know her, Lord Alliance Leader?"

Would you believe me if I said it was just an illusion?

Do you want me to believe you?

"You want me to let you... Okay, stop for a second, this nested doll thing will never end."

Liu Bai, who had almost gotten caught up in the trap, twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Let's get back to the main topic. How confident are you in launching a surprise attack on the Third Research Institute of Schicksal?"

"Breaking in is not difficult, and intercepting people is not difficult either. I am 100% confident in both of these. The problem is how to retreat."

Reanna sighed, "Sometimes I dream about the scene where Otto dropped the Honkai Fission Bomb on Siberia back then."

"That must have been quite a psychological trauma."

"Yes, it's a real psychological trauma."

Reanna nodded frankly, "Our influence in Europe is limited. If we go all out, retreat will be a problem—especially when I'm in front of Otto. I don't want to be chased by missiles when we retreat."

"Give me a solution."

Although Reanna said it was difficult, Liu Bai still handed the job over to Reanna.

You, a seasoned general who has fought many battles, expect me, someone who only knows how to talk the talk, to come up with a battle plan?

Are you kidding me?

"We'll coordinate an attack from the inside and outside, launch a surprise attack with light equipment, and at the same time, stir up some minor skirmishes outside. As long as we can divert Otto's attention, the Third Research Institute will be like our own backyard to me," Reanna answered decisively. "But if we can't divert his attention or if that bishop realizes what's going on, then we're doomed—of course, there's another possibility: everything is going according to the bishop's plan, and he chooses to let us leave."

"It's a minor issue. Leave the troublesome stuff to Cocolia. As for backup... you and Welt, one of you go. If things really don't work out, you can run away yourself."

Liu Bai said indifferently.

"As for the last possibility... well, we'll just have to deal with it as it comes. Isn't that how we got through it back then?"

When the events of that year were mentioned, Reanna couldn't help but smile.

Yes, Liu Bai is not only the glue that Anti-Entropy, but also the last bit of confidence in the hearts of Anti-Entropy's higher-ups.

"I'll go. I'm quite familiar with the Third Research Institute. I'll be back within a week to report the results. By the way, once everything is ready, please let me be the first one there."

"I know." Liu Bai nodded, then looked at Bronya beside him, "... So, I'm even more greedy and more obsessed with fantasy than Nancy."

Bronya: "?"

One week later.

"Dr. Maki, how are the preparations going?"

"The equipment is working properly, the trial run went smoothly... Lord Alliance Leader, are we really going to proceed?"

The Sea of Okhotsk, underwater laboratory.

The elderly doctor, trembling, asked the question to the HOMU doll in front of him.

"Although all insurance facilities are in place, what if something happens..."

It's hard to imagine that the elderly man in front of me, who is now living in constant fear for his safety, was once a mad scientist who, after sacrificing the lives of five Valkyrie in a single month of experiments, still couldn't wait to report that he needed more test subjects.

—Until his granddaughter volunteered to go to the lab table.

"Wasn't this the moment you used your Honkai Energy Neutralizer? And..."

"And I was the first test subject."

Reanna stepped forward. "Maggie, my fate is in your hands."

"...I see."

Before this, Maggie had completely resisted conducting similar experiments.

After all, he had personally caused the death of his granddaughter. Even now, Dr. Maki can still recall the scene after the experiment failed, when his beloved granddaughter's body was disintegrating and she was banging on the glass wall, crying out in pain and "Save me."

... And then there was Otto, who nonchalantly left while ordering the search for new test subjects.

They all deserved it.

For over forty years at the research institute, under Otto's orders, he sent countless young girls to the experimental table to be transformed into Valkyrie, or sent Valkyrie to the experimental table to become guinea pigs...

This is all retribution.

Maki had nothing to say about this, which is why he developed the Honkai Energy Neutralizer —a drug that, if taken for a long time, can turn Valkyrie back into an ordinary girl and repair the body tissues eroded by Honkai Energy during this period, making it a bug-like drug in a sense.

This is his atonement.

However, at Reanna's urging, Maggie decided to temporarily return to the lab table.

The reason is quite simple.

The old Magi knew of Reanna. Although he had never met her due to his age, he had heard of this Soul Valkyrie Ship of Theseus, codenamed V3, from his seniors.

In terms of credibility and personal charm, Reanna is clearly much better than Otto.

"Everything is ready... Lady Reanna, please go up."

Maggie spoke respectfully to Reanna.

"However, it should be mentioned here that most of the data obtained from your Soul Steel Body test may not be of much reference value."

"But there are still some, right?"

"...Um."

After all, she possesses Otto's most perfect Soul Steel body, and in non-combat situations, Reanna behaves much like an ordinary person.

"That's enough. Extracting the data that's worth referencing from it is your job, Dr. Maki."

Reanna entered the experimental chamber.

"Maggie, be serious."

Suddenly, the huge instrument in front of them spoke up—at some point, the HOMU doll next to them had slumped down and was being held in the arms of the girl next to them again.

"Alliance Leader?"

"Do you think I would treat human life so lightly?"