Chapter 151

[The defenses of Schicksal are extremely tight, and finding a breach is no easy task, let alone deploying Tactical Mech. Fortunately, we finally found a hole in the eggshell. In short, you won't be disappointed, Ms. Theresa. Oh, and Miss Himeko too, thank you for your hard work. Leave the rest to me.]

The languid voice sounded like she could fall asleep at any moment, but the calm tone reassured Himeko and Theresa. Himeko breathed a sigh of relief and put down her greatsword, while the Thunder God Mech behind her stepped forward. She could finally get some rest.

Perfect timing, it's also a good opportunity to appreciate how Anti-Entropy deals with Honkai.

[I have led the ballista squadron to rendezvous with friendly forces and will now assist them in eliminating enemies along the flight path. Thunder God Mech units, prepare for battle.]

The white mech was clearly a command unit, and Einstein's voice came from within it. She calmly issued combat commands, and with her order, the Thunder God Mech on the deck deployed their mortars. Unlike Schicksal's use of Valkyrie combat units to fight the Honkai, Anti-Entropy relied more on the firepower coverage of its mech units.

[Deployment complete. 240mm Anti-Armor Explosive Shell, loaded, firing.]

A mechanical female voice rang out. Before the mechs and Honkai Beast could even make contact, a volley of mortars covered the combat zone in front of them. Missiles roared, and the gusts of wind caused by the explosions made Himeko involuntarily close her eyes. Even she, a veteran of countless battles, couldn't help but widen her eyes at the sight of such a battle. Was this the firepower of the Anti-Entropy combat force? It had to be said, it was truly powerful. All fear stemmed from insufficient firepower. With such firepower, who was afraid of whom?

[Wow, that's amazing! They wiped out the Honkai Beast in one hit! With this kind of firepower, we can definitely storm Schicksal!]

As expected of an organization that breeds traitors, Theresa, the dutiful daughter, immediately became excited upon seeing the mecha firepower prepared by Einstein. Her first thought was that with such firepower, they could definitely contend with her grandfather Otto. The reinforcements had such strong capabilities, which was a great thing for them.

[Ms. Theresa, I would love to show you more of the new weapons we've prepared for this operation, but unfortunately, the enemy seems to be struggling.]

Einstein piloted her mechs, clearing out the remaining enemies on the deck. Seeing how effective her mechs were, she was quite pleased. She had finally returned to Schicksal, and in such a way and with such methods. Even she couldn't help but feel a little happy.

[Hey, Chicken Coop Head, stop talking nonsense and get this over with. Do you even have a plan? We need to land quickly. The satellite just detected Shen Gonglin's whereabouts; he's probably been taken to Schicksal Headquarters. We need to get there right away!]

Just then, a new communication came in, and the fiery voice sounded very familiar to Himeko. Tesla, she had come too! And she had even found out about Shen Gonglin's whereabouts. How did he end up at headquarters? They actually took him away from the Helios. Did they really think there were no adults at home?

[Dr. Tesla, I understand that at your age, finally finding someone you like makes you a little restless and eager to show off in front of him. But you need to learn to relax and let your guard down. Women should maintain a bit of reserve. When facing this kind of adversary, my usual plan is: no plan.]

Her voice remained calm, but both Theresa and Himeko detected a hint of mockery in her tone. They fell silent instantly. Having reinforcements was indeed a good thing, but why did it suddenly feel like... we had let a wolf into the house?

This must be an illusion. After all, they came to help them attack Schicksal, so they probably don't have any other intentions.

Chapter Ninety-Three: Ex-Girlfriend or Traitor

As we all know, the Second-hand Scientist of Anti-Entropy are all rather reckless types. Tesla with his Red-haired Twin Tails is one such example. Now, Himeko feels that the relatively calm Dr. Einstein seems to be just like him. An unplanned battle plan? Although it feels a bit chaotic, it has to be said that this plan is very much to her liking.

With the help of the Anti-Entropy Mecha, neither the Honkai Beast nor the Schicksal's defensive mech forces were a problem. After getting a rare rest, Himeko leaned against the wall, panting slightly, hoping that her body could hold on a little longer so that she could at least finish her work.

[Hey, Chicken Coop Head, my mech unit is in position and currently infiltrating Schicksal's Third Spaceport. We need a place to land this little wrecked ship. We've mobilized almost 70% of our combat mechs for this operation. I'm a little worried that Cocolia, that Vixen, might take this opportunity to do something.]

Without any hesitation, Tesla broadcast these words on the public channel. She didn't care at all that Theresa and others, who were former enemies but now allies, were revealing this situation. Anyway, everyone was now a traitor to Schicksal, so they were all in cahoots. As long as it could cause trouble for Schicksal, she would definitely help them out!

[Dr. Tesla, wasn't this what you requested? To rescue His Highness riding a dragon... oh, no, riding a mech. You've probably been thinking about this all along, haven't you? We originally only planned to deploy 50% of our combat mechs, but you insisted on deploying 70%. I hope the mechs are alright, otherwise Anti-Entropy will be on the verge of bankruptcy this time. No matter what, we must stop Otto's plan and prevent the Honkai from happening again.]

Einstein's calm voice carried a resolute tone. After receiving Theresa's intelligence, she and Tesla immediately made a decision: Otto was simply a madman. The frequent Honkai had already caused immense suffering to the world, and this guy wanted to trigger the appearance of a collective Honkai. Whatever his plan was, they had to stop him. Sleeping Beauty was waiting for their rescue.

[Fifty percent of the mechs isn't enough. Although Schicksal's defenses are just a bunch of junk, deploying seventy percent of the mech force is the bare minimum... Also, if you sneak into my room and peek again, I'll tear you apart. The Third Airport is almost cleared out, preparing for landing... Hey, another batch went to your area. Hurry up and deal with them and regroup. Seriously, first that woman, then Shen Gonglin. Is capturing people a Schicksal tradition? If you don't get here soon, I'll go rescue them myself.]

Tesla's tone always seemed to carry a hint of hostility. Her personality was the complete opposite of Einstein's. After working with her for so many years, Einstein had gotten used to it. He was used to it.

[Alright, but Dr. Tesla, please don't act rashly. We already have enough people to save; adding one more would only cause trouble. Dr. Tesla, as the commander, you should stay in the rear. As for the fighting, we have professionals. Don't you agree, Miss Himeko?]

Although Tesla does possess some combat capabilities, being known as the Iron Man: Anti-Entropy Branch, her flashy but ineffective skills are no match for a professional Valkyrie. The radar has already detected the Schicksal Force she mentioned earlier, the mortars still need charging and reloading, and Himeko is ready to go.

"Received. These things are yours to handle... Heh, it seems I won't have to lift a finger. They've finally arrived, Hyperion."

Himeko raised her greatsword, ready to act, but several laser beams instantly annihilated the attacking Schicksal forces. Himeko looked up and saw a huge white warship slowly hovering in the air. A smile appeared on her perfect face. With it there, she didn't have to worry about these insect-like defensive forces. Unlike the Helios, which was built for transport, the Hyperion was a pure combat ship. Now it had even undergone modifications, integrating the thing from the Moonlight Throne into its engine. It truly lived up to its reputation as her ship.

However, we absolutely cannot let Shen Gonglin know. That guy loves to make trouble. He insisted that the Moonlight Throne belonged to him. If he finds out that the Hyperion has merged the Moonlight Throne engine, he will definitely cheat and say that the Hyperion belongs to him. Himeko believes that Shen Gonglin is capable of doing such a thing!

"Hey, ex-girlfriend, where are you trying to take me? Say something, or I'm not leaving."

With everything pitch black, Shen Gonglin could only be led forward by Fu Hua, who was holding her hand. Fu Hua hadn't spoken since the beginning, ignoring Shen Gonglin no matter what she said. Shen Gonglin was already terrible with directions, and now that she had lost her sight, she had no sense of direction at all. Who knew where Fu Hua was planning to take her? Was she planning to take her somewhere to be tortured?

Shen Gonglin isn't exactly a tough guy; he won't just stand there and not confess anything. But the key is, he doesn't know anything to begin with. No, he can't go with Fu Hua anymore. Who knows where this traitor is trying to take him? Right now, Shen Gonglin doesn't mind speculating about Fu Hua with the utmost malice.

"Don't call me your ex-girlfriend, Shen Gonglin. Just stay with me and I won't hand you over to Durandal, don't worry."

Every time Shen Gonglin heard the name Fu Hua, her eyebrows would twitch. This guy is toxic! Why does he have to call his ex-girlfriend that? She had already decided not to say anything, but he kept calling her that, so Fu Hua couldn't help but speak up. That name really hurts. Shen Gonglin is definitely doing it on purpose.

Fu Hua couldn't hand Shen Gonglin over to Durandal, nor did she want to return him to Theresa and the others. What she wanted to do now was find a safe place to settle Shen Gonglin. After all, it was too dangerous for Shen Gonglin to be on the battlefield like this. She couldn't even see what he was up to. She should just stay there and wait for the war to end.

"Oh, so you want to interrogate me alone, you traitor? Let me tell you, I have no idea about Theresa and the others' attack route. Asking me is pointless; I won't say anything."

Shen Gonglin stubbornly tried to be assertive; after all, she was the protagonist, and she deserved what she was entitled to.

"...Just call me my ex-girlfriend. Don't worry, I don't intend to ask you these things. Just come with me."

Fu Hua remained silent for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out these words. What was he thinking, assuming that she wanted to ask him something like this? Knowing him as she did, was it possible that he would know such a thing? He was really being dramatic.

Chapter Ninety-Four

"Why should I follow you? Let me go. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. I'm going to find Theresa. I'm going to find Kiana."

Shen Gonglin was unwilling to cooperate with Fu Hua. He came to headquarters to save Kiana, and if he were locked up somewhere by Fu Hua now, wouldn't his trip have been in vain? Even now, Shen Gonglin hadn't forgotten to save Kiana. Kiana's current condition must be worse than his own. If he hadn't hesitated to break the illusion in time, things wouldn't have turned out this way. He felt responsible for this and had to make amends.

"Calm down. You're not doing anything right now. This is the Schicksal Headquarters. There are so many traps here. You'll be in danger no matter what you touch. Just stay put."

Fu Hua's eyebrows twitched. Why did Shen Gonglin seem like one of those brainless female protagonists in a romance drama who kept refusing to listen? She was only doing this for his own good. He didn't need to participate in this battle; he just needed to stay in a safe place.

"I don't want to!"

Shen Gonglin struggled to escape Fu Hua's control. He lacked emotional intelligence but his IQ was still top-notch. Judging from Fu Hua's attitude, Kiana was clearly at a critical moment, so he had to hurry to her side. She must be very sad and helpless right now. It had been almost a day since she was captured. She had suffered such a huge blow in the illusion. How could he not be there to comfort her?

I'm starting to wonder if I'm spoiling Kiana a little too much. Oh well, I'll spoil her then. She's always been good to me, so what's wrong with me spoiling her a little?

"Tsk, shut up, or I'll hang you on the top of the tower and melt down all your in-game items!"

Shen Gonglin kept making a scene, and even Fu Hua couldn't do anything about it. Honestly, she didn't want to threaten Shen Gonglin like this. She was already his ex-girlfriend, and if she provoked him any further, who knew if her status would drop even lower? But she had no choice. Shen Gonglin struggled harder and harder, and if she didn't threaten him like this, Fu Hua really didn't know how to make him obey.

"Hiss... You really are inhuman. You don't plan to do anything even remotely human. Fu Hua, I really misjudged you. You're not even human."

Indeed startled by Fu Hua, Shen Gonglin immediately became calm. He gasped in shock, his dark purple eyes filled with disbelief. Could a human say such a thing? Shen Gonglin certainly couldn't. This was the legendary act of killing someone by destroying their spirit. Hanging in the air was killing someone, but fusing equipment with someone else was destroying their spirit. If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, Shen Gonglin would never have imagined that such words would come from Fu Hua's mouth.

He clearly tasted Fu Hua's mouth before, and it wasn't this toxic.

"Go ahead and curse me. You've already used the most insulting words on me, so this is nothing."

Seeing that Shen Gonglin had calmed down, Fu Hua finally found the way to subdue him. This guy was useless with ordinary methods; she had to find the right solution. This was exactly what he cared about. Simply locking him up was useless; she had to hang him high up. Although it was a bit excessive, it was the best way. She had other tasks to do, Shen Gonglin just needed to stay here obediently.

"What? When did I ever insult you? Is being a traitor considered an insult?"

Shen Gonglin has always been different from normal people when it comes to what he cares about. He considers himself a fairly polite person. Even though Fu Hua treated him like that, he didn't curse her out. How could she slander him like that? Why? Just because she has a flat chest?

Thankfully, he didn't say that, otherwise Fu Hua would have thought it was a real insult.

"You called me your ex-girlfriend, isn't that an insult? Alright, Shen Gonglin, don't try to distract me. Just stay here and behave yourself. Once this is over, I'll apologize to you properly. How I apologize is up to you."

What I said before was just a joke. How could Fu Hua bear to hang Shen Gonglin high up? This guy's fear of heights is no joke. Besides, given his current state, there's no need for that. However, tying him up is still necessary, and it can't be done carelessly. After all, this is Shen Gonglin, the legendary lock-picking master. If you tie him up casually, he can definitely break free.

Thank goodness I understand Shen Gonglin! Otherwise, something would have definitely gone wrong if someone else had come. Thinking this, Fu Hua suddenly felt a little proud. She was probably the one who understood Shen Gonglin the most in the world. No one else could compare!

Calling her ex-girlfriend is an insult? Then calling her current girlfriend is a compliment? Why is Fu Hua's thought process so strange? I can't understand it at all. Well, Fu Hua isn't a normal person to begin with. How could a normal person do something like this, suddenly pulling out a rope to tie someone up or something... Wait a minute, is she tying herself up? Is she serious?

"Wait a minute, you, you're serious? I'm the one tying you up... Fu Hua, stop! Let's talk this out! Where did you learn this from?!"

Suddenly he was pinned to the ground. In terms of strength, Shen Gonglin was no match for Bronya, so how could he possibly be Fu Hua? His arms were already tied up, and then his other arms were tied up too. Where did Fu Hua learn this kind of binding? Was she Rope Art Master? Even he himself couldn't untie this kind of binding.

"I taught myself. I thought it might come in handy back then. Shen Gonglin, just stay here. This will be over soon. Kiana... I'll be right back. You're safe here."

Fu Hua carefully bound Shen Gonglin, putting a lot of effort into his hands. Shen Gonglin couldn't use any other powers right now, and his lock-picking skills all came from his hands. As long as his hands were firmly bound, he was helpless. She wrapped the rope around Shen Gonglin's body, using a Caterpillar Binding Method, which was the most secure. After doing all this, Fu Hua carried Shen Gonglin and placed him in the corner. She would let Shen Gonglin get through the whole incident in this state. She couldn't do anything else, but protecting his safety was the only thing she could do.

"I don't feel safe at all. Let me go! Let's talk this out. Even if you're my ex-girlfriend, you shouldn't treat me like this. Let me go! I still need to save Kiana!"

Shen Gonglin struggled like a maggot, but Fu Hua shook her head. She took out some tape and stuck it over Shen Gonglin's mouth. If she made him talk again, she might soften her heart, so this was the best way.

"I'll come pick you up after everything's over, Shen Gonglin. Get some sleep. When you wake up, everything will be over."

Chapter Ninety-Five: Elderly Second-hand Scientist

"Landing successful. Hmph, Schicksal is truly trash. After all these years, their defenses are still at this level. If I wanted to, I could infiltrate in five minutes... no, two minutes. Give me some time. Scientists need a quiet environment to work. If you dare to make a sound, I'll start cursing. You're utterly useless. Is the Far East Branch's defense really this poor? You even managed to lose someone on a ship. In Anti-Entropy, someone like that would definitely be relegated to handing out leaflets on the street!"

Having captured the third airport, Helios and Hyperion finally had a place to dock. The Far East Branch members and the two scientists from Anti-Entropy also reunited. Upon meeting, the hot-tempered Tesla launched into a tirade, his red twin tails bouncing up and down. How could he not be angry? He thought he would finally see Shen Gonglin, but she was nowhere to be found. Were Theresa and the others giving him a hands-off approach? Weren't they supposed to be blind and deaf to him? Why were they still letting him act alone?

The Second-hand Scientist stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at Theresa and the others. These people were completely unreliable. Schicksal was terrible, and even though they had betrayed Schicksal now, they were still terrible!

"This... According to intelligence, Shen Gonglin has been taken to Schicksal Headquarters. Once you complete the infiltration, Doctor, you should be able to get the specific details. I'm counting on you for everything, Dr. Tesla."

"Being criticized like this... there's nothing I can do about it," Theresa said somewhat awkwardly, scratching her face. After all, she couldn't refute what Tesla said. Anyone would worry if Shen Gonglin were lost in that state. Tesla's current behavior was just to vent her inner anxiety. She hadn't even managed to save Kiana but had lost Shen Gonglin. Was this a double loss?

"Snort!"

Tesla shook his head and focused all his attention on the intrusion. These people were unreliable; he had to do it himself. Just wait, he would find the intelligence soon, and then... then he would let them rescue him. After all, he was just an engineer, not a combatant.

Mei and Bronya also lowered their heads. It was their responsibility to look after Shen Gonglin. Although it was an accident, Shen Gonglin was still missing. Now that Tesla had said that, the two little Valkyrie's moods immediately plummeted. How could such a thing have happened?

"It's alright. Don't you know Shen Gonglin's personality? He'll be fine. Maybe he's waiting for us to come and rescue him somewhere right now. Don't worry too much."

As a teacher, Himeko keenly sensed the feelings of her two students. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Bronya's shoulder, patting her comfortingly. She knew that Bronya would definitely blame herself, but an accident is called an accident precisely because of its unpredictable nature. No one would have thought that the Honkai Beast would attack Helios's medical pod. Shen Gonglin is definitely alright now.

"That's just Dr. Tesla's personality; you don't need to take her words to heart."

A calm voice came from inside the mecha. Dr. Einstein, piloting the mecha, was also comforting Mei and Bronya. Himeko, however, looked up at the mecha in surprise. It was a rare time to rest, so why was this Second-hand Scientist still in the mecha? Didn't he come out for some fresh air?

"Dr. Einstein, why don't you go help Dr. Tesla? And why stay inside the mecha all the time? Why don't you come out and relax?"

Looking at Tesla busy in front of the computer, and then at Einstein who was lazily staying in the mecha, Himeko couldn't help but ask, "It can't be comfortable in that mecha, can it? And Einstein has been staying in the mecha ever since she greeted everyone at the beginning. She doesn't seem like someone with social anxiety."

"No need. Hacking is Dr. Tesla's specialty. She doesn't like to be disturbed when she's working, so I won't go up and join in. As for resting... well, it's more comfortable in here. There's air conditioning and soft cushions. I even put a small refrigerator inside, so there will always be a cold drink. Would you like one?"

Stretching inside the mecha, Dr. Einstein made a sound like a cat stretching, confirming his status as an elderly scientist. This is life; even in battle, relaxation and enjoyment are essential and should not be compromised.

"...Well, I'll pass. I can't let my guard down during a battle."

Himeko was speechless. The work environment of Anti-Entropy seemed somewhat incompatible with her usual work habits. The people of Anti-Entropy were all so strange. There was the popular Tesla, and Einstein, who seemed ready to retire at any moment. Compared to them, Himeko felt that Theresa and Mei were more normal.

"Well, I was just saying that to be polite. I'm planning to keep all the drinks for myself."

Einstein's next response made Himeko's lips twitch. This personality of hers... she should be taught a lesson by Shen Gonglin. If Shen Gonglin were here, she didn't believe that Einstein could be so nonchalant. If it were him, he would definitely squeeze in with her to enjoy the air-conditioned drinks. As for herself, this wasn't her field of expertise.

Feeling a little uncomfortable dealing with Einstein, Himeko went to Mei's side again. Bronya and Theresa went to the Hyperion's infirmary; she was still very weak, and the Hyperion's infirmary was well-equipped, so she needed to prepare for the upcoming battle. But why was Mei still here? Shouldn't she be with Bronya?

"Teacher Himeko, I have a request, and I hope you will grant it."

Before Himeko could speak, Mei raised her head. The girl's purple eyes were filled with determination. After witnessing a real battle, she finally realized the weakness of her own power. She didn't know how the battle would proceed, but with her current fighting strength, Mei was not confident that she could find Shen Gonglin and rescue Kiana. Therefore, this choice was necessary.

"Please remove the bomb placed in my heart. It is necessary for the battle to come."

Mei earnestly pleaded with Himeko. This was the means to restrict the Herrscher Persona within her, but now, the restriction had to be lifted. In order to gain the power to protect others, some things had to be done!

"I understand, I will tell Theresa."

However, Himeko's reaction was beyond Mei's expectations. She immediately agreed to her request. Seeing the girl's astonishment, Himeko smiled faintly. At this point, she was already prepared to do something reckless, so how could she possibly stop someone else?

Chapter Ninety-Six: Scientists Are Not Cute at All

"Found it! The clue you were looking for has been found. A few hours ago, a spaceship entered the Hymir Research Laboratory at headquarters. That's no safe place. You know what Otto might do to her. Hurry up and prepare a countermeasure. As for Shen Gonglin, we don't know where she is right now."

As expected of Tesla, she hacked into Schicksal's equipment in a short time. According to intelligence and time calculations, it was that spaceship that sent Kiana to the Hymir Research Laboratory. Occupying the spaceport is not their goal. Their top priority now is to rescue Kiana. Otto is a complete madman. We can't let his plan succeed.

"The Hymir Research Laboratory... I'm afraid we need to hurry."

Upon hearing Tesla's information, Theresa's face darkened. Even she didn't know the specific details of the Hymir Research Laboratory, but the defenses there were no joke. How could her grandfather be there? No one could understand his thoughts.

"What should we do? Just barge in?"

Former assault team member Murata Himeko is ready, Mei is preparing to defuse the bomb, Theresa needs to coordinate the overall situation, and since the two doctors are not combat personnel, this mission can only be carried out by herself.

"It might not be that easy. The Hymir research lab has a massive Defense Barrier, and with our current firepower, it will be difficult to break through it in a short time. It would be better if it dragged on..."

Theresa bit her fingernails with some difficulty; for them now, time was the most precious thing.

"We don't have that much time, Theresa, another way."

Himeko also understood the current situation. Forcing a breakthrough was not the best option. If she made too much noise, it would definitely draw away the Valkyrie combat force, which would make things even more difficult.

"Yes, we have to use other methods. We need to shut down the large Honkai Furnace in this area to cut off the barrier's energy source. That way, we can break through directly with our firepower."

"This plan is good. Let me go. You all stay here. Once the Hyperion Honkai Furnace down, immediately pilot the Hyperion to break through the barrier. I will arrive afterward."

Theresa made a decision as soon as Himeko finished speaking. As expected of Theresa, this method is very feasible. The reason why this defensive shield is difficult to deal with is because the Honkai Furnace is constantly providing it with energy. As long as the Honkai Furnace is turned off, everything will be fine.

"But what will you do? If you shut down the Honkai Furnace, their reinforcements will immediately surround you."

Theresa was conflicted. Although this was a solution, if Himeko went, they would definitely be surrounded. If something happened to her... In the end, the Far East Branch had too few combat personnel. It was too hasty for them to attack the Schicksal Headquarters.

"No problem, I'm a former SA member. Breaking through encirclements is my specialty. Trust me, Theresa."

No matter what she does, Himeko made her decision very quickly. This is the best way right now, and the greatest contribution she can make. She swears on the honor of being a former assault team member that she will complete this mission and do the most useful thing with her current body. Rather than calling it a mission, it is more like Himeko's wish.