Honkai, But I Have Too Many Mods

Natasha's claw attack responded to Rita.

Anti-Entropy isn't the problem.

Although Titan Mechs were weapons created by Anti-Entropy to replace Valkyries, apart from a few special mechs, the combat power of normal Titans was probably inferior to a B-rank rookie.

The investment in training a B-rank Valkyrie was far higher than producing a Titan Mech, and humanity's growth cycle meant that Valkyries were "non-renewable" in the short term.

—With the production volume of mass-produced machines like Titans, if their average individual combat power could match that of a B-rank Valkyrie, Schicksal would have fallen long ago, and the steel torrent would have already swept the world.

Rita didn't consider Anti-Entropy's mech units a threat, nor did she consider those things a threat.

The problem was why Anti-Entropy kidnapped Liu Bai—well, perhaps their own Honored Master didn't think that far ahead.

Mobius's intention was likely that you've reached too far into places you shouldn't, and if you dare touch my little white mouse, I'll chop off your claws.

Well, that meant Natasha brought the Deathless with the intention of silencing them.

If Rita learned anything related to Liu Bai when she contacted Anti-Entropy, it would be even worse.

"Miss Natasha, I hope Mr. Liu Bai doesn't lose his only sister tonight." Rita, somewhat annoyed, directly started calling Natasha by name, while also trying to disrupt the opponent's rhythm using Liu Bai.

Well, the result of her current contact with Liu Bai was that she no longer had to use the broad term "Serpent" to refer to Natasha.

"I'd be more than happy to eliminate pests who approach my brother with ill intentions."

Natasha also understood this; the longer they delayed, the more dangerous Liu Bai's situation would become.

But she couldn't show any weakness right now.

...She still had to play the role of a yandere sister obsessed with her brother.

Annoying.

"Raven, target has returned home, withdraw."

Just as Raven was preparing to continue the fight, Gray Serpent's hoarse voice sounded in her earpiece.

"...?"

What the hell?

That brat Liu Bai already went home?

Then what the hell am I fighting to the death here for!

Gray Serpent wouldn't lie on World Serpent's communication channel.

How did that brat Liu Bai manage it? Or was this whole encounter with Anti-Entropy a misunderstanding?

Looking at the scythe before her, Natasha felt a sharp pain in her heart and immediately leaped back, breaking free from Rita's attack range.

"Tsk, forget it, we'll stop here. Consider yourself lucky."

"...?"

Not fighting anymore?

She just finished her tough talk and now she's stopping?

"My brother asked me to come home for dinner. This is up to you now."

Casually making up an excuse, Natasha no longer paid attention to the Deathless being suppressed by the Undying Blade and left.

She left Rita standing there, completely bewildered.

"...What exactly did she come here for?"

Rita muttered, but the corners of her mouth soon curled up slightly.

"Hmm, as expected, his weakness is Mr. Liu Bai~"

Chapter 52: Connecting the Clues

"So you guys counter-killed Anti-Entropy? That makes sense... If the Titans were controlled, the two of them wouldn't be much of a threat."

After Natasha summoned Liu Bai and Guinaifen from the pot, she learned the detailed process of what happened.

If Natasha were to deal with all those Dormant Spirit Deathless, it would take her quite some time, let alone having Liu Bai giving orders.

Then Natasha saw Liu Bai's organized information.

"Anti-Entropy... the target wasn't you, are you sure?"

"Not sure, but I can only say that if I were the target, their entire method and attitude would have been too gentle."

His movement route was known to the other party, and they had endless means—of course, Himeko couldn't have imagined he could summon Honkai Deathless.

But Liu Bai could sense the hastiness of this kidnapping, with no backup plan. If their current move was broken, they could only run.

"..."

Natasha wore a thoughtful expression.

("There are rumors that the boss of the Inazuma Group is seriously ill.")

("Anti-Entropy has also been looking for doctors recently.")

("The best doctor in the world right now should be your Serpent Master.")

("My Honored Master hasn't been a doctor for a long time.")

("It's not that he can't be.")

The scene where she'd exchanged information with Yelan flashed through Natasha's mind.

Inazuma, Anti-Entropy, their Honored Master… this connection…

"Thinking about something?" Liu Bai asked, noticing Natasha's expression.

"...The target might really not be you."

Natasha said, frowning.

"Yesterday afternoon, when Yelan arrived..."

Natasha recounted her conversation with Yelan to Liu Bai.

"You mean they kidnapped me to find a doctor?" Yesterday, this would have sounded like nonsense.

But now, it all connected.

"Are they crazy? Who taught them to look for doctors like this? Can't they negotiate?" Liu Bai asked with a strange expression.

"The problem is they can't find our Honored Master."

Natasha said something that left Liu Bai speechless.

"You know our Honored Master lives deep underground in Shencheng Pharmaceuticals and rarely comes out, but to them, our Honored Master is a mad scientist who's never seen, only heard of. If you weren't an alien, you'd never be able to meet him."

"..."

"Let me add something else, you don't think Gray Serpent and I are that well-known, do you? Believe it or not, before today, if I stood in front of Anti-Entropy, they wouldn't have recognized me as a cadre of World Serpent. Not to mention Gray Serpent, his identity is even better hidden. It's only because of various reasons that the Merchant Guild is very familiar with Gray Serpent and me. Even then, they only know a little about our Honored Master, they don't even know his name—don't doubt Gray Serpent's skill in covering his tracks."

Liu Bai thought about it and found himself unable to retort.

That's right, World Serpent isn't an organization that flaunts itself. This seems to be World Serpent's style.

"Yelan knows that the Sky Dome Zone is World Serpent's hometown, the Serpent's Nest, but she absolutely doesn't know that Shencheng Pharmaceuticals belongs to World Serpent. Shencheng Pharmaceuticals is still a good partner of Schicksal to this day. If World Serpent were a naked organization, Yelan would have personally brought people to build bridges long ago."

"...So, Anti-Entropy kidnapped me to get in touch with World Serpent?"

"More than that, it's also about having a bargaining chip—if Yelan really told Anti-Entropy all the information about World Serpent, then Anti-Entropy should have gained some understanding of our Honored Master's preferences... As far as I know, Anti-Entropy currently has nothing that interests our Honored Master."

"...Inazuma Group doesn't have anything either?"

"Please, Liu Bai, have some understanding of our Honored Master's peculiar tastes... Alright, it's because the Honored Master dotes on you so much."

Natasha sighed.

"In short, if given time, they could definitely produce what our Honored Master wants, but if they're truly racing against time... they probably don't have the time to prepare. Plus, they know very little about our Honored Master's personality, so capturing someone like you, who is a 'hard currency,' is a way to deal with any situation."

"The way you put it, I feel like this isn't something they can back down from—but at this stage, as long as Gray Serpent is willing to make contact, negotiations can begin, right?"

Liu Bai realized something. Although the process wasn't pleasant, the foundation for negotiation was there.

But what if Mobius made an outrageous demand and the negotiations fell through…

Well, he would be targeted again.

And this matter would definitely involve Mobius; there was no way Gray Serpent could handle it alone.

Natasha's expression turned a little strange. She met Liu Bai's gaze, and a sense of understanding passed between them.

Mobius… while she had a mature and intellectual side, she also had a willful one.

If nothing else, Mobius was definitely holding a grudge over this incident, and whether she would forgive them, or when, was another matter entirely.

Liu Bai suddenly thought of something.

The Raiden Shogun who might have a death flag… that would be Raiden Makoto, right?

"Sister, what kind of illness requires finding our Honored Master?"

"Of course it's..."

Natasha stopped mid-sentence, realizing the issue herself.

Their Honored Master was a doctor specializing in Honkai diseases!

No, could that Raiden Shogun have contracted a Honkai disease? Wasn't she one of the world's top powerhouses?

"...I think I know why the Inazuma Group isn't showing up."

If that were truly the case, then the other party would be excellent experimental material for their Honored Master!

They couldn't even start talking without achieving results!

If they spoke first, their boss might also be put on the negotiation table as a bargaining chip!

"Ah, but the Honored Master has good medical ethics, right?" Liu Bai remembered that although Mobius was a mad scientist, her medical ethics were good.

"If I had to say, they're actually very good."

Speaking of which, Natasha's face showed a hint of emotion.

"Our Honored Master is… at least, in the past, the only top scientist who treated Honkai patients like people and dared to take them in for treatment despite the risk of infection. Yes… so even though what our Honored Master says about 'human evolution' is a bit hard to understand, I'm willing to believe it—even though Jackal is a pain."

"Were you the one who was saved?" Liu Bai looked at Natasha's expression with some surprise.

Speaking of which, this world couldn't possibly still be that Gray Serpent picked Natasha up, could it?

If that's the case, then Mobius must be in her late forties or early fifties now.

"Hmm... that was a long time ago. Something happened in my family, and then the Honkai infected my hometown. In short, after being displaced and encountering many troublesome things, I met the Venerable Master when I was about to die. And I'm probably the only recovered case? Even though the Venerable Master was collecting data at the time, she did her best."

Natasha looked like she didn't really want to talk about it.

"Forget it, forget it. Anyway, your speculation is quite valuable. I'll tell Gray Serpent, and tomorrow we'll go bother Yelan. Can you and Guinaifen go by yourselves?"

Chapter 53: Please Grit Your Teeth!

"Welcome to the Liyue Merchant Guild... Oh, it's you. You're that..."

Kiana was still standing at the entrance.

Kiana obviously recognized Liu Bai.

Kiana had recognized him last time he came, and she recognized him again this time.

It seemed he had been remembered.

But...

"Uh... you're that... wait a moment, this young lady will definitely remember!"

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, and Kiana frowned, starting to think hard.

"Let me make this clear! This young lady definitely hasn't forgotten your name! I just can't recall it at the moment!"

"My name is Liu Bai, and this is my friend, Guinaifen... Although we've met more than once, we haven't exchanged names yet, Miss Kiana."

Liu Bai helpfully reminded her from the side.

"Huh? We haven't exchanged names? No—then how do you know my name?" Kiana had a blank, cute expression.