A Herrscher... a Herrscher Transformation Device?

"In short, this box is Pandora's Box in the parlance of this era. Although it is a good thing, if you open it now, Seele, you will only be devoured by the power inside, and you will not be able to inherit the technology and knowledge inside."

Seele looked at the box in front of her and couldn't help but move back a little.

Could this seemingly ordinary box really be so dangerous?

However, Seele then remembered something else.

Another version of myself just said that the things in here "were not prepared for myself"?

"Who... is this prepared for?"

"How would I know—though I'd like to say that, I have a pretty good idea of who it's for."

Dark Seele's expression was somewhat puzzling.

"If I'm not mistaken, it might be... my older brother?"

"Brother Alliance Leader?" Seele's face showed uncertainty.

"It's just a guess." Dark Seele's face showed a slightly strange expression. "What does my brother say... the name Liu Bai seems to be recorded in the Stigmata."

"Record?"

"Ah, it has nothing to do with me. My memories are the same as yours. This record comes from the memories of the Stigmata itself—although they are similar to my memories—those are memories that have flowed in human genes for tens of thousands of years since birth."

Dark Seele scratched his face, trying hard to recall.

"It seems that... it was Dr. Dr. Mei, the creator of the Stigmata, who mentioned this name? My memories of the Stigmata are actually quite vague, but I do have some recollection of my brother's name."

"...?"

Seele looked completely bewildered.

After all, Dark Seele didn't tell Seele about the Previous Era in order to save trouble.

"Well, in short, the most likely person to inherit the contents of the box right now is probably my brother." Dark Seele thought for a moment, "After all, after my brother came out, the activity level of the Stigmata itself increased by three levels, which is why I was able to communicate with you so easily. Moreover, this box, which used to be lifeless, is now actively absorbing Honkai Energy."

"At present?"

"... No, it's better to stay forever. Isn't my brother the best?" Dark Seele revealed a slightly yandere smile.

"Waaah..."

Seele blushed a little at Dark Seele's blunt words and immediately changed the subject.

"Then, on that note, how can we get my brother to open this box?"

"Hmm... well, that's a question..."

Dark Seele sat up straight, staring at the box in front of her with a thoughtful expression.

"... How about trying to have some close contact with my older brother?"

"Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh?"

Seele was startled, and her face quickly turned red.

"Hmm~?" Dark Seele's lips curled up slightly. "It seems that Seele is indeed a naughty child. She even knows what negative contact means."

"No, no!"

"Could it be that you, Seele, are the kind of person who secretly flips through health and wellness books under the covers while I'm asleep...?"

"No, no! I... I wouldn't read... read that kind of book!"

In a rare display of agility, Seele leaped forward, her tearful inner power erupting as she pinned Dark Seele down.

"... You're supposed to have a strong grip, aren't you?"

It took Dark Seele a bit of effort to break free from Seele's grasp.

"I have a feeling that Seele, you might be the type who will apologize with a look of regret and then kill the person."

Dark Seele complained from the bottom of her heart.

"Who, who told you to say those things!" Seele retorted, her neck shrinking and her face flushed.

"But your reaction proves I wasn't wrong, right?" Dark Seele's face revealed a teasing expression. "Tsk tsk, does Seele fantasize every night..."

"No, I didn't! Stop saying that... Waaah~~"

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Dark Seele smacked his lips in a teasing manner, only stopping when Seele made another move to pounce.

"Hey, don't worry, it's just the two of us here. You know it, I know it, and even God can't hear us—besides, in a way, this is the first time we've had the same goal, right?"

"I... I don't have any goals..."

"Hmm~ Never mind, let's get back to the main topic."

Dark Seele waved her hand, "The negative contact I'm talking about doesn't necessarily mean reproductive behavior... If it's just negative contact, then the throat... Hey, Seele, why are you blushing again?"

"... It's nothing, um, please continue."

"It's inexplicable... Anyway, I'm not talking about simple close contact, but something deeper—finding a way to get my brother into our Stigmata Space, and then handing the box over to him to open."

"What's the solution?"

"No, so you have to think about it."

"..."

Looking at Dark Seele's matter-of-fact expression, Seele was speechless.

"Hey, these things can be left to the professionals. If mental contact doesn't work, isn't this a perfect excuse to make physical contact?"

"... But Brother Ke is a ghost? Sister Reanna also has a Soul Steel body."

"..."

It seems... that really is?

"... It's amazing that you can have such fantasies every night."

"I already said no!"

"Alright, alright... Hmm, my body is almost at its limit in terms of the Honkai Energy hold. I'll probably need to sleep for a while to sort out your body. See you next time, you naughty Seele... another me."

However, when Dark Seele pushed Seele out, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye that something seemed to float out of the box.

"Hey... you don't even know to burp after you've eaten your fill?"

"Are you alright, Seele?"

Reanna carried Seele out of the experimental chamber.

Maki, on the other hand, wore an expression of disbelief.

"She just received an amount of Honkai Energy equivalent to that of a high-level Death Soldier... and yet she shows absolutely no abnormalities."

"Hmm..." Seele opened her eyes sleepily. "Is the experiment over?"

"It's over, everything went smoothly... Wait, what's this in your hand?"

Chapter 157 Law, Herrscher Transformation Device?

"Self-Disciplined Soul Steel Weapon Design Blueprints..."

Since Reanna couldn't understand the script of the Previous Era, Liu Bai translated it word by word.

"Hmm... why does this thing look so vaguely familiar?"

Well, Mei's basic knowledge comes from Liu Bai, Liu Bai's basic knowledge comes from modern civilization, Einstein.

So Liu Bai only glanced at it briefly before understanding what was written on it.

"It doesn't quite resemble a Soulsteel Doll... Hmm, its concept is somewhat like a degraded version of Durandal?"

As we all know, Durandal is a supercomputer disguised as a weapon, and this design blueprint is probably a guide on how to make a high-precision computer disguised as a weapon.

"It's quite useful in a way. I'll give it to Nancy after I finish translating it."

"Did this help our Alliance Leader?"

"Yes, you could even say it was a huge help."

Liu Bai patted Seele's little head.

"But speaking of which, why do you have this thing in your hand?"

Previous Era left behind many things for the present civilization, and many of them are important, but frankly, not many of them are decisive.

For example, the Moonlight Throne —did you think that Anti-Entropy obtained the actual blueprints for the Moonlight Throne?

No, no, no, Anti-Entropy obtained was merely the Honkai Energy conversion formula recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The fact that the Moonlight Throne was named the Moonlight Throne was more of a coincidence of fate.

"It's another version of me..."

Seele gave a detailed and concise retelling of her conversation with Dark Seele.

Um... those who know the details will understand what I mean.

"If that's the case... I don't think it was left for me."

Liu Bai stroked his chin thoughtfully, after all, Mei had already survived in the current timeline.

It's conceivable that Mei, as a top-tier strategist, would have prepared numerous contingency plans for herself, and Seele's Stigmata should be one of them.

Therefore, Liu Bai was not in a hurry to ask Mei about the box that Seele mentioned—he could just ask her when he got back.

"?" Seele tilted her head in confusion.

"Let's talk about this later... Hmm, maybe I can introduce you to a lady you recognize sometime?"

"Does she look familiar?"

You'll find out later.

Liu Bai avoided answering the question—how could Mei's face not look familiar?

Then, Liu Bai looked at Bronya.

"Bronya's next one, are you ready?"

"Um."

Two months later

"Ta-da! The latest masterpiece from Thomas Edison, the king of Edison!"

"Nancy, this way of speaking is so unlike you."

"Can't I even be a little lively on the children's birthdays, Alliance Leader Master?"

Edison glanced unhappily at the HOMU doll who was making sarcastic remarks.

"A talking HOMU?" Ryoma, who was following behind, looked at Liu Bai with surprise.

"Dad, this is the brother who's the Alliance Leader I'm talking about," Mei said helplessly. "Besides, Dad, who always plays the role of the Homu Sword Saint, has no right to say that, right?"

"So this is the one who exposed my disguise... uh, the Alliance Leader?"

After muttering for most of the sentence, Raiden Ryoma belatedly realized what his boss and daughter called the "HOMU" in front of him.

"Young man, do you think that piece of land is perfect for growing potatoes?" Liu Bai floated up and patted Longma's shoulder affectionately.

"... Does it...?"

"Maybe there will be golden potatoes that grow into the shape of three hamsters."

"Is this some kind of novel metaphor?"

"It's just a three-legged toad—how about we try to find a golden potato shaped like a three-legged ground squirrel?"

"You... you're joking, right?"

You clearly want me to dig potatoes here for the rest of my life!

"Yeah?"

"Yes, yes, right? It must be a joke, right?"