Honkai, But Spirit Simulator

"Open it up and take a look, this is what you'll need later—memorize it for me."

Welt took out the contents of the folder—a passport, along with documents including proof of employment at the Empire Research Institute, and an exit-entry guarantee, ensuring Welt wouldn't be detained when leaving the country.

"Welt Joyce?"

Welt looked at the name on the passport with some surprise.

Familiar, but not completely.

"Ah, the surname Joyce comes from a writer." The Finn controlled the steering wheel with one hand, and pushed up his glasses with the other, "Do you know Ulysses?"

"Ulysses? Is that Odysseus in Latin?"

Welt's knowledge was truly subtle.

"No, it's Ulysses, hailed as the greatest novel of the 20th century. You can't not know that."

The Finn shook his head at Welt like a nonchalant teacher.

"Could someone please focus on driving? I don't want to get into a car accident on the way." Tesla interrupted their conversation.

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Anyway, just remember the name that guy gave you. You'll be responsible if you slip up in front of customs."

That must have been Senior Liu Bai.

Welt didn't think the two behind him had the time to come up with a name for him.

Wait… what did Dr. Tesla just say?

"Slip up?"

After hearing Tesla's words, Welt felt uneasy, and his gaze towards the pile of documents in his hand became strange.

"Don't tell me these documents… are forged?"

"How should I put it?" Tesla yawned, "If you have to say it, it's like 'official documents issued privately by civilians'?"

"What kind of explanation is that…"

Tesla's words had too many points to criticize, and Welt didn't know where to start.

"Relax, there's nothing wrong with the documents themselves, just remember the name."

The Finn patted Welt on the shoulder… he really hoped this guy could focus on driving.

"Oh right." Tesla suddenly remembered something, "Finn, what about your son?"

"I've already called the school. Joachim has encountered this kind of thing before, so it's not a problem… Speaking of which, Welt, why do you look so surprised?"

The Finn looked at Welt, who seemed to be in a daze, with some confusion.

"...No, it's nothing."

He couldn't say that the Finn didn't look like someone with a family at all with his frivolous appearance, right?

The Finn's wife, Heine Riete Yang, a beautiful woman of mixed Chinese and German descent, is a promising archaeologist.

An archaeologist paired with an ancient linguist can be considered a good match.

"Enough about me." The Finn pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, "Has 'that one' from your lab come out too?"

"No."

"That's a pity. I wanted to meet that 'hidden third party'."

"It's Liu…"

Welt was about to speak when he received a chop to the back of his head.

The Finn just smiled at the sight. He was a very perceptive person—but also a man of discretion.

Perhaps he already knew something, but he never thought of asking.

Warned by Tesla, Welt couldn't help but shut his mouth.

"Speaking of which, have you two considered the hotel situation?" The Finn said seemingly casually, "We have to transfer twice on this trip, so we might have to rest for a night."

"Uh…"

"Double room."

Einstein said expressionlessly, "Me, Dr. Tesla."

"Oh dear, you didn't fall for it." The Finn revealed a knowing smile, "It seems that that gentleman really didn't come. I really envy that gentleman for being able to capture the hearts of two great talented women at once."

As a veteran in love, the Finn could naturally see the thoughts of the two young women in the back seat—well, 21-year-old Tesla should actually be called a young woman.

Young people… the Finn sighed in his heart.

Afterwards, he thought of something he vaguely noticed.

…Better to keep it to himself.

"I'll pass on what you just said to Dr. Yang, Finn."

"Ahaha… Th-That won't be necessary, right?"

However, Einstein didn't seem to mind that her thoughts were seen through, while Tesla blushed, but stammered, making it hard to tell what she was feeling.

After all, a double room... is pretty fair.

"–If Dr. Tesla would put on some clothes after drinking and showering."

Einstein added with an unchanged expression.

"..."

"..."

Everyone present fell silent.

Tesla after drinking could be said to have maxed out her attack and defense, with no taboos... but mainly, she was just rowdy.

"Oh, stop it..."

Someone wanted to play cute and muddle through.

"How could that ever happen... Ahahaha..."

New York International Airport.

Spanning five time zones, nearly eight hours of flight, the plane landed here.

Next, they still had to transfer to Chicago, and then transfer once more from Chicago to reach Billings.

But fortunately, the longest leg of the journey was over.

"Dr. Einstein, Dr. Tesla."

Two people stopped them.

"As expected, Otto has already set his sights on them." Liu Bai had already detached from the possessed pen, floating in the air and smiling as he looked at the two.

...No, it should be said he was only looking at the blonde woman in a suit standing beside them like a secretary.

The middle-aged man in charge seemed to be completely ignored by Liu Bai.

--"King Wei admired him greatly, but the man who grabs a knife at the bedside, that is a hero."

Blonde hair, blue eyes, hair up in a bun, wearing a suit... if she didn't have breasts and hips, Liu Bai would even suspect that this was Artoria Pendragon wandering onto the wrong set.

--Reanna Brigantia.

A Valkyrie whose entire body had been modified with Soul Steel, Destiny's chief Valkyrie, "Destiny's Last Trump Card," and the wielder of the Abyss White Flower.

It could be said that this woman who resembled Artoria Pendragon was the strongest of Destiny's Valkyries in this era, and her position in this era was equivalent to Durandal sixty years later.

"What do you want?"

Einstein looked coldly at the middle-aged man blocking their way.

"The old man hopes I can give this to you." The middle-aged man handed a scroll case to the Finn, "You are an expert in ancient writing, right? Then you should recognize this."

"...?" The Finn took out the tattered parchment from the case with a hint of doubt, and translated it with some effort, "Judgment Day's... sacrifice... song?"

A look of shock appeared on the Finn's face.

"This form... cou-could it be the Dead Sea Scrolls!?"

"Hehe... you really do know."

A satisfied but somewhat arrogant expression appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"That's right, this is a part that has not yet been publicly released, and I hope the secrets within can be useful to your research."

"So, what does the Bishop want us to do?" Tesla asked as if unintentionally.

She really looked like a scientist doing her best for Destiny.

"It's nothing, the old man just hopes to lend Lab 42 a hand in the recent research."

"Oh... it seems Bishop is quite looking forward to our research results."

"Of course."

This condescending attitude was really unpleasant.

"Please, by all means, do not let the North American Branch monopolize the research results - I believe the two doctors understand this."

The middle-aged man ignored Tesla and instead took out a box of chocolates from his bag and handed it to Einstein.

"This is a small gift, please accept it with a smile... well then, goodbye."

"...Tch."

Once the two had left, Tesla, who had seemed very quiet before, finally let out the voice of a grumpy old sister.

"Is he warning us? It's really not painful or itchy, to put it bluntly, aren't they just afraid that the new branch will threaten their position? A bunch of petty people!"

Einstein didn't comment on Tesla's statement, but quietly unwrapped a piece of chocolate.

"Hey! Bird's nest head! Did you just get bought off with a box of chocolate!?"

It was clear that Tesla, who had been in a great mood of 90 points or more, had her spirits plummet to 20 points after what just happened.

Young Tesla didn't often use the nickname "bird's nest head" for Einstein.

Therefore, the term "bird's nest head" only came out when Tesla was truly furious... although that fury wasn't directed at Einstein.

"If you don't eat properly, the farmers will be sad."

"...Are you even listening to me?!"

"I always thought that black lace set was quite nice."

On the plane, Liu Bai was chattering in Tesla's ear.

Before boarding, Tesla went on a shopping spree at the mall under the guise of venting her anger, buying... or rather, buying a mountain of clothes for Einstein.

A fluffy shoulder cape like a pet rat, a layered skirt like a cream cake, a string of pearls around the neck, and a small hat on the head—it was a Victorian-era maiden's dress.

It was clear that this outfit successfully ensured that Tesla would be broke again this month.

—That's right, Tesla herself was living paycheck to paycheck.

"I think that black lace set would look great on Professor Planck or Miss Edison."

Her fists hardened.

Wasn't this guy clearly saying that she wasn't in good shape?

She hadn't even bothered to hold him accountable for following them into the lingerie store, and he dared to chatter in her ear like this.

—Liu Bai followed them into the lingerie store only because he couldn't stray too far from them, absolutely not because of any impure thoughts.

"Let's play cards!"

Since she couldn't publicly reprimand the shameless Spirit next to her, Tesla could only try to divert her attention.