E.L.M-Style Bullying?

After writing her reply, Vil-V suddenly heard what sounded like something outside.

"Why does it sound like ghosts wailing and wolves howling?"

"It's not just like—it's like a ghost wailing and howling."

Liu Bai wore a half-smile on his face.

"Sakura is beating the child."

"Sakura—?" Vil-V hesitated for a moment, "Why?"

"Ling failed her math test last time—you know, Eden isn't very good at math."

During the Honkai 3rd, Rin was always taken care of by Eden, who also tutored her in Eden studies.

"Someone actually failed that?" Vil-V's face showed surprise. "Isn't it easy to get full marks on high school stuff by just writing a few lines?"

"..."

This thing can be quite annoying sometimes. I remember being bothered by it for a while during my student days.

"Hey, never mind, let's not talk about that. Is Sakura beating up that girl?"

Vil-V showed an interested expression.

"I always thought Sakura doted on that girl a bit. Is this the first time Sakura has ever taken action? Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect it was for something like this."

"I think it might actually be a long-standing grudge." Liu Bai stroked his chin, not stopping Vil-V from joining in the fun.

I wonder if Sakura will get carried away and beat up Vil-V along with the fight.

This girl is twenty-four or twenty-five years old, how come she still doesn't understand the principle that a wise person doesn't stand under a dangerous wall?

Okay, maybe it's because Sakura is more reasonable?

Liu Bai shook his head and moved directly to Eden's side.

Eden, who was making clothes, looked at Liu Bai who suddenly appeared beside him. There was no surprise on his face. His expression was calm. "It hasn't been long, but it feels like ELM hasn't been this lively in a long time. Everyone is safe and sound."

"Two or three months—it might really be a long time since we've had something this lively."

Liu Bai returned the smile.

Eden paused his work for a moment. "... I'm actually quite worried about you guys—worried about what would happen if something were to happen to you."

"Haven't you already experienced the first two Honkai?"

"It's different. The first two Honkai didn't really feel real to me. I just knew they were serious."

Eden seemed to drift off into thought as he spoke.

"But this time, Honkai... I can see familiar place names—places where I've performed at least once before, so it feels a little more real."

"And then?" Liu Bai asked softly.

"And then?" Eden chuckled at Liu Bai.

This guy definitely knows what he wants to say, but he's pretending to be stupid.

"And then there's this: I... sometimes I really wish I could fight alongside you on the battlefield."

After learning how serious the Honkai, Eden was actually very worried about Sakura and the others. Although she lacked common sense about the battlefield, she understood that anything could happen and that it was better to be safe than sorry.

Fortunately, everyone returned safely this time.

This also made Eden consider the possibility of going to the battlefield himself.

Don't overthink it.

Liu Bai interrupted Eden's reverie.

"Civilization isn't so desperate as to send a soothing songstress to the battlefield—or rather, your battlefield is somewhere else—it shouldn't be long before the Moth Chasers to Fire sends an invitation to hold a concert. The number of disaster victims sent to Australia this time is just too many; they need a leader."

"..."

Eden fell into a brief moment of thought, then nodded.

"I understand, they really need me—by the way, you probably don't have anywhere to run around this time."

"That's all. If nothing else comes up, I'll probably stay home."

Upon hearing this, Eden smiled faintly.

Time flew by again. After Sakura and Kosma attended Elysia's victory celebration, most people were busy with the intensive post-war reconstruction work. About half a year later, Vil-V, who had finally completed the reorganization of the engineering department on the outskirts of ELM, welcomed an unexpected guest.

"Recommended by Mobius?"

Vil-V looked the aloof girl with purplish-black hair up and down.

Wow, this guy looks kind of cool.

And this aura... how can it be so frightening?

Vil-V isn't really suited to communicating with this guy who looks expressionless and intimidating.

"Let me see... Mei, right? Hmm... why do I feel like I've heard this name before?"

Vil-V rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a while.

"Ah, there was a really good paper on Quantum Mechanics last year, and it was authored by Mei—you?"

"Yes."

The girl with purplish-black hair in front of him nodded indifferently.

"That's amazing! I didn't even think of that paper's approach! I heard you also attended the seminar on the Mu Continent? If my research hadn't been at a critical stage at that time, I would have asked Mobius to get me a pass to go and have some fun."

Vil-V noticed that the girl's expression had improved considerably.

Although she knew Mobius wouldn't send a good-for-nothing to her, sending someone capable of writing that kind of paper—at least, Vil-V felt she had nothing to complain about.

"So, what did Mobius send you to see me for?"

"Please take a look at this proposal, Dr. Vil-V."

Mei took a thick stack of documents out of her bag and placed them on Vil-V's desk.

Oh my god—

When Vil-V saw the thickness of the document, she couldn't help but marvel inwardly— Mobius must have thrown her a huge task.

She's not a newbie, and the other party... although the other party is a newbie, the fact that they've gained Mobius's approval clearly means they're quite capable.

This thick stack of documents is clearly not a padded paper, and colleagues sometimes speak concisely, reaching a consensus in just a few words.

So this stack of information... is most likely substantial and cannot be reduced to anything substantial.

"This is... your business plan?"

Vil-V felt a little excited—as a qualified scientist, Vil-V was never afraid of being so busy that her feet barely touched the ground, but she was afraid of being idle and growing weeds.

"May I ask what the general content of this is?"

Vil-V took the document and asked questions as she read it.

"It is a proposal to make weapons from the crystals left behind by the Herrscher —items we call Herrscher Core."

"——"

Vil-V's breath hitched, and then she suddenly sped up the speed at which she flipped through the documents—as a genius with multiple personalities in her mind, Vil-V also had certain skills in speed reading.

"... Incredible."

Even an ordinary person would need a day to read a plan, but Vil-V only spent fifteen minutes reading and understanding it.

"Crazy, but... it doesn't seem impossible."

"Yes, it's not impossible— Dr. Mobius said that if anyone could do it at this stage, it would be Dr. Vil-V."

"Ha! That's what she said? That's really not like her style—but what she said is indeed correct. Even Dr. Einstein would probably have some difficulty handling these things. It's more likely that I could do it."

Vil-V made no attempt to hide her arrogance.

Einstein excelled in pure mechanical technology, while Mobius, though skilled in Honkai, was not proficient in mechanics.

If we're talking about someone who excels at combining Honkai and machinery, at present, the only one in the Moth Chasers to Fire Vil-V.

"However, will that guy from Moth Chasers to Fire really agree to this plan? Forgive my bluntness, but while I acknowledge the potential of this plan, it is undeniably a crazy one. An explosion is a minor issue; the worst-case scenario could be that it would bring back the Herrscher."

"That's why we need Dr. Vil-V, not Dr. Mobius."

"Hehe..."

While the other party's answer didn't exactly satisfy Vil-V, it certainly made Vil-V very happy.

It turns out that this seemingly expressionless girl is actually quite eloquent. If Mobius were half as eloquent as her, the two of them wouldn't have become enemies.

"Alright, in that case, as long as the Moth Chasers to Fire delivers the Herrscher Core, we can immediately proceed with your so-called Divine Key Project —I have a feeling that this will definitely change the course of the future war."

A look of excitement appeared on Vil-V's face.

"I think so too, Dr. Vil-V."

Mei nodded, feeling quite satisfied.

It seems that Mobius didn't recommend anyone to him randomly. The fact that the person could understand what he wrote and recognize the potential problems means that their level is roughly the same as his own.

Although if given a choice, Mei would still prefer to hand this task over to her teacher.

"I heard that Dr. Vil-V was the first person to apply Honkai Energy to weapons on a large scale?"

Mei suddenly remembered something and asked with some curiosity.

"Yes, that was indeed me—my previous use of Honkai was all too petty."

Petty?

Mei nodded, agreeing with the statement—despite the Herrscher Core possessing such immense energy, the Moth Chasers to Fire made no attempt to utilize it, not even daring to use it as a power source, but simply sealing it away.

However, ordinary technology alone is completely insufficient to defeat the ever-growing Honkai. If Dr. Vil-V hadn't created this special weapon during the Honkai, the casualties would have been far greater.

While Mei was pondering, Vil-V reviewed the Divine Key Project again.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Vil-V feel like this plan is familiar to me.

Does this feel familiar?

Vil-V thought about the plans that Liu Bai had given her.

Yes, that's right, it does have a bit of a déjà vu feel to it.

Vil-V's gaze towards Mei suddenly became a little strange.

Chapter 365 ELM-style Bullying?

It must be my imagination.

Vil-V looked at the bespectacled girl in front of her who seemed to have a blank expression.

After all, the idea of combining Honkai with machinery ultimately leads to the same goal, so it's not surprising to see some traces of Liu Bai in it.

While trying to comfort herself, Vil-V added Mei to her mental watchlist.

When will the Moth Chasers to Fire deliver the goods?

"It will probably take one or two days. During this time, we can try to build a sufficiently safe laboratory."

Mei pushed up her glasses.

"Dr. Vil-V, is the laboratory where you used to conduct research in this area still there?"

"Of course it's still here. Let's go, this is a good opportunity for you to get familiar with the equipment here."

With Vil-V leading the way, Mei obediently followed, but on the way, Mei's eyes couldn't help but wander to the surrounding buildings.

"Dr. Vil-V, that building over there... is that the legendary ELM?"

"Legend?"

Vil-V was taken aback by the adjective "mei" at first, then nodded.

"Although it can't be called 'legendary,' that is indeed the headquarters of ELM—although it looks quite tall, there aren't many employees besides the cleaning staff."

After Vil-V moved the laboratory out of ELM and started anew, the distinction between the "headquarters building" and the "experimental building" naturally arose here. Recently, due to the friction of the war, the disguised strongholds where the security forces are stationed also seem to be vaguely included in the scope of ELM.