A Thousand-Person Ruler's Personal Opinion

"I know. When I first sorted all this out, I also found it absurd and comical, as if fate was playing tricks on us. No one wanted this, but we pushed the events in Changkong City forward together."

"Then, remember these regrets, and do better in the future... Speaking of which, you've been with Cocolia for two full weeks. Besides the time I contacted you last, and you sent me information the day before yesterday, you haven't sent me a single message in between."

Welt put on his glasses and said in a low voice, "I know. When I first sorted all this out, I also found it absurd and comical, as if fate was playing tricks on us. No one wanted this, but we pushed the events in Changkong City forward together."

"Then, remember these regrets, and do better in the future... Speaking of which, you've been with Cocolia for two full weeks. Besides the time I contacted you last, and you sent me information the day before yesterday, you haven't sent me a single message in between."

Einstein glanced sideways at Tesla, who was biting her thumb with a gloomy expression, understood Welt's meaning, and changed the subject, saying, "Little Ninti has inherited Joyce's power and potential, and her future is limitless. It's just that she's still very naive and full of confusion about her life. You should also find time to meet her. You are Joyce's successor, and perhaps you can offer her much inspiration."

"Fine, fine, fine. In short, you only care about your Little Ninti now, and you don't care about me. Heh, I've been worried sick about you all day here, fearing you'd have an accident!" Welt said, crossing his arms, looking melancholic and resentful.

Tesla finally came over.

"I'll say it again! Little Ninti was only born not long ago, and you're jealous of a baby? I'm warning you, don't you dare bully Little Ninti behind our backs, or I'll make you pay!"

"...Have I finally become the villain?"

"I'll say it again!"

Tesla, holding the communicator, swore profusely, making Welt repeatedly beg for mercy.

As for how much of that was genuine anger and how much was venting her frustration and depression from the Changkong City incident, only Tesla herself knew.

After a series of outbursts, Tesla finally held the communicator, caressed Welt's face on the screen, and said in a muffled voice, "So, when are you coming home?"

"I was supposed to be back soon. I've investigated Theresa's situation thoroughly and can rest assured. But now that Mei has enrolled again, and it concerns the Herrscher of Thunder, I have to stay and observe and protect her for a while longer."

"Oh, then you can just die out there, goodbye!"

Tesla pouted, and with her slender fingers, she was about to end the communication.

At this moment, she heard Welt's gentle chuckle and a deep, sincere voice: "Tesla, take care of yourself. I miss you, I miss all of you."

"Hmph!"

Tesla let out a charming nasal sound, cut off the communication, then hugged the communicator to her chest, turned her head to look out the window, not wanting Einstein to see the corners of her mouth twitching upwards.

Chapter 50 Yang: Cherish Mother's Love!

Welt was well aware of Anti-Entropy's power in the Far East. Currently, it was very weak, essentially consisting of the faction under Cocolia's command. Therefore, persuading her to remain inactive was an urgent matter.

He didn't want a situation where Cocolia couldn't hold back, led her troops into St. Freya, and then he had to step in as the Leader of Anti-Entropy to mediate – that would be too ridiculous.

So, he quickly found an opportunity for a private meeting with Bronya and directly revealed his identity.

"I am Welt Yang, the First Herrscher, the Leader of Anti-Entropy. I'm currently teaching at St. Freya Academy. The main reason is that I was severely injured during the Second Honkai War and need a quiet place to recuperate. While healing, I also want to contribute my remaining strength – so I came to investigate St. Freya, to see if Theresa has any plots like creating a 'Far East Herrscher Den'."

"Uh, this, uh, um!"

Bronya's small mouth parted slightly, and she nodded dazedly.

The legendary Leader, who was as elusive as a dragon, who could deter all of Schicksal with his might, and who saved the world every day with his glorious radiance, was actually her history teacher.

Although this was a bit hard to accept, seeing Welt casually manifest a pistol, a rocket launcher, and a mini-drone, Bronya could only believe him.

Then, she heard Welt's full deduction of the Changkong City incident and Cocolia's intention to eliminate Raiden Mei.

Bronya: "???"

Seeing the girl looking as stunned as a wooden duck, Welt sighed with understanding.

"I understand your surprise. We also found it absurd when we saw the full picture just now. We can only say that we were all deceived by fate, right? Everyone wanted to do good, but in the end, we reaped such bitter fruit. Actually, we can't completely blame Cocolia." Welt said with melancholy and helplessness.

Bronya blinked dazedly, her mind completely in disarray.

'What's going on?' 'Mom didn't want to trigger the Honkai?' 'She just wanted to capture Mei-nee-chan for experiments?' 'We were all manipulated by that "World Serpent"?' 'Did I misunderstand Mama Cocolia?'

Bronya's small head was filled with countless question marks. Even her 180 IQ couldn't sort out these issues that were so contradictory to her understanding.

After a long while, Bronya still hesitantly and uncertainly mumbled, "Although Bronya doesn't know these inside details, Bronya always feels that Mom... were you guys bewitched by her?"

"Bronya!"

Welt's expression turned serious.

Bronya subconsciously straightened her back, her small face instantly tensing under the Leader's imposing presence.

Welt frowned, filled with pity, and said earnestly, "She is your mother. She wanted to save you daughters and has sacrificed so much for you. Yet, you, her daughter, understand and trust her even less than us outsiders. Bronya, do you think this is right?"

"I..."

"Bronya, ask yourself, as a mother, did Cocolia love you?"

"She... did, right?"

Bronya's lips trembled slightly.

She thought of Seele, who was tricked into experiments and then disappeared. She thought of the control chip implanted in her brain, and the tragic and terrifying scene in Changkong City.

But then, she also thought of the simple, old, yet incredibly warm orphanage. She remembered Cocolia celebrating birthdays for the children, often finding ways to buy them affordable sweets and toys, and how she would shed tears for sick children.

Past memories surfaced in Bronya's mind. The days she spent with Cocolia and the sisters, even just recalling them warmed her heart. There was so much she couldn't forget.

Bronya placed her hands on her chest, her gaze flickering with indecision, and murmured to herself:

"Mom must have loved us very much."

Hearing this, Welt's gaze softened with relief.

"It's good that you can understand. She did do some wrong things, but weren't those urgent and extreme actions also born out of her love for you?"

"You might be right."

Bronya blinked in confusion. Although she still vaguely felt something was off, she couldn't pinpoint what it was.

The "truth" of the events, pieced together by Einstein and Welt, was so convincing and clear that even the three elders of Anti-Entropy found it logical and credible. Naturally, Bronya also found it seamless, as if it were a real history she had personally experienced.

Moreover, the Leader and the others had been fighting against Schicksal and Honkai for decades. Their judgment must be more reliable than a little girl's vague understanding, right?

Bronya thought this and gradually became persuaded.

Welt sighed then, lamenting:

"A parent's love is usually the most selfless and greatest in the world. I support you being a child who can distinguish right from wrong, and I support you bravely resisting Cocolia when she is truly wrong, but... for a selfless mother who gave everything for you to be misunderstood and even hated by her own daughter, that's too cruel even for me."

This is unfair to Cocolia!

Welt passionately defended Cocolia.

Bronya's already confused thoughts became even more jumbled.

'Did I... did I really do wrong?'

'Mom Cocolia clearly wanted the best for us, yet I...' 'But she really went too far! Still, she just wanted to save everyone who was sick as much as possible, and she just wanted to find Seele at any cost.'

'Seele, I... what should I do?'

Tears welled up in Bronya's eyes. Her firm resolve to part ways with Cocolia had been shattered by Welt's explanation and persuasion.

"Find some time to have a good talk with her. Clearly state your disagreements, explain your confusion and dissatisfaction, and then, listen carefully to her explanation, listen to her talk about how much she misses you."

"Leader..."

"Bronya, blood relation is not the deciding factor of a mother's love. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with it at all. Cocolia is undoubtedly a wonderful mother. In this cruel world where death crises are everywhere, having such a mother is incredibly fortunate."

"You... are right."

"So, cherish this mother's love, cherish Cocolia as a mother, rather than regretting it later. Promise me, Bronya, cherish this relationship as if it were a gift from heaven!"

Welt sincerely advised her, guiding her gently, and looking at Bronya with incredibly warm, encouraging eyes.

Bronya tightly hugged the Homonculus Doll in her arms. Gradually, a wave of longing surged within her like never before. She slowly closed her eyes and nodded:

"Yes, Bronya understands. Thank you, Leader."

Bronya was filled with gratitude.

If Welt hadn't specifically counseled her, she might have truly become estranged from Cocolia—when had she not once happily called her mother? Which child would truly want to break ties with the mother they once cherished and depended on?

Bronya opened her eyes, her tear-filled gaze filled with gratitude.

Welt also smiled genuinely. He was very happy to be able to reconcile this mother and daughter, who had been separated by misunderstanding.

"Achoo!"

At a distant snow mountain base, Cocolia, holding Rosaliya in one arm and handling official documents with the other, suddenly sneezed.

She sniffled and tilted her head in confusion.

'I suddenly feel like someone is talking about me. Is it an illusion? Do you guys have any clues?'

'No.'

'It's just an illusion, right?'

'Exactly, exactly! Instead of dwelling on such trivial matters, let's continue working hard! You are the most accomplished person among us right now. For a future of freedom, you must work hard and strive to take down Anti-Entropy as soon as possible!'

'You're right, it must just be an illusion, hahaha!'

'You need to work even harder with Ninti! Let's make a bold assumption: we might be able to get our hands on Welt's Herrscher core!'

'Right, right, for Welt's core, let's go!'

The Anqis cheered and laughed, their ambitious gazes fixed on the kind old gentleman in the distance.

Chapter 51: The Confused Anqis

"Chop, chop, chop!"

Tonight at the Murata household, the kitchen was filled with the usual rapid sound of chopping. A little blonde girl expertly wielded a cold cleaver, striking the cutting board with incredible speed, slicing ingredients into beautiful thin pieces and cubes, even intricate carvings.

"Anqi, your knife skills are amazing..."

Raiden Mei, frying chicken nuggets, held up her chopsticks and exclaimed for what felt like the hundredth time.

Before Anqi arrived, Raiden Mei, who handled all the meals herself, could make dinner taste good, but with only two hands, deliciousness was the limit.

After Anqi came, it was like adding a little kitchen expert. With their combined efforts, the color, aroma, and taste of dinner skyrocketed. Every day, the food on the table was like a work of art.

Raiden Mei gently watched Anqi's small figure standing on the stool, her gaze suddenly darkening.

'Before, she must have also obediently accompanied her mother in the kitchen every day like this, right?'

Anqi tilted her head, catching Raiden Mei's suddenly melancholic expression from her peripheral vision.

'Such clumsy acting.'

'If I didn't deliberately turn a blind eye, Mei's inner thoughts wouldn't be hidden from those around her, would they?'

Anqi's hand paused almost imperceptibly before she continued processing the ingredients, her face a mask of calm indifference.

She couldn't comfort Raiden Mei.

This wasn't just because her hidden identity required it.

More importantly, intellectually, Anqi could understand Raiden Mei's innocence. It was like a hostage, unaware they were tied to a bomb, being placed in a crowd. You couldn't blame the hostage for the disaster. But emotionally, the Anqi of this world had personal pain and couldn't completely let go.

So, for now, this would have to do. Anqi could only manage not to resent Raiden Mei. As for everything else, she would leave it to time.

"Swish!"

Lost in thought, Anqi suddenly moved her wrist, flicking out a chopstick with lightning speed. It landed and stuck beside a white-haired blob's outstretched hand.