Honkai Simulator: Not for Kidnapping Herrschers!

Chen Ran really wished he could hand-craft a Divine Key if possible.

However, he didn't have the necessary knowledge.

"I learned from Mobius before that the Flame-Chaser conducted brief experiments integrating Herrscher Cores into humans, but the results were unsatisfactory. So, the plan was shelved."

He continued, "But I want to try again."

MEI's eyes narrowed slightly.

She didn't readily agree, nor did she refuse.

For her, at this moment, any type of experiment, as long as it involved Honkai, was worth reconsidering.

MEI quickly grasped the design concept for integrating Herrscher Cores.

It was simple: allow the human subject to retain their self-awareness while stealing the Herrscher's authority.

The experimental concept and design weren't complicated; the issue lay with the raw materials.

Chen Ran had mentioned that the Flame-Chaser had tried integrating with various Subjects, but all ultimately failed. This meant the problem had to be with the Herrscher Cores themselves.

During the Pre-Civilization Era, there was no systematic classification of Herrschers, and the Honkai Will hadn't even been observed. Naturally, the conditions for becoming a Herrscher were unknown.

MEI was undoubtedly a bold individual.

"Even without data, the failure in all cases was the erosion from the Herrscher Core. Therefore, we need something unique that can both contain the Herrscher Core and establish a connection between the human and the Core."

Chen Ran blurted out, "Soul Steel."

"Exactly, that's what I was thinking too."

Soul Steel was a nano-level metallic material with memory functions, capable of suppressing Honkai Energy erosion.

By using Soul Steel to encase the Herrscher Core and establishing a link between the human and the Core, the human could then wield the Herrscher's power...

So, wasn't this essentially a Divine Key?

Chen Ran suddenly realized that collaborating with MEI might not be entirely appropriate.

MEI's thought process was leaps and bounds ahead, and she wouldn't necessarily follow his experimental approach.

Conversely, his kind of "trying the impossible" experiment would just be a waste of resources.

Chen Ran had to admit that MEI's design approach was the safer one.

Neither of them rushed into experimentation. Instead, under protection, they proceeded to observe the Herrscher Core.

This Herrscher Core, placed deep within the Flame-Chaser's underground facility, had an astonishing Honkai Energy concentration of 6300 hw.

It was a disaster born from the world.

Yet, it was also currently humanity's shortcut to approaching godhood.

Even from a distance, Chen Ran and MEI could feel a suffocating pressure.

"It seems the full picture of Honkai isn't as simple as we thought," MEI remarked. "This might not just be a disaster, but more like a driving force."

"A driving force for civilization's progress."

Chapter Nineteen: The Divine Right Plan Unfolds

Although MEI proposed using Soul Steel to mitigate the Honkai Energy's corrosiveness and then encasing the Herrscher Core for contact experiments, Chen Ran still rejected it.

The reason for his rejection was simple.

Soul Steel was expensive!

Even for the Flame-Chaser, with the support of various nations, Soul Steel was a resource accessible only to a select few.

At this time, MEI hadn't yet acquired the vast resources she would have three years later. Chen Ran, too, was merely an external staff member of the First Research Institute.

The fact that they were even allowed to observe the Herrscher Core was already a pleasant surprise, let alone conduct experiments.

However, MEI had her own methods.

"My father sent me a gift from the Mu Continent."

To Chen Ran's surprise, a small, delicate girl slowly took shape.

"This is..."

"Durandal, the latest product from the Mu Continent. It should be the first supercomputer capable of self-learning," MEI explained without reservation. "The Mu Continent has made profound advancements in computation, and I acquired this computer through my father."

She paused and commanded, "Durandal, observe the core data and then copy it."

"Understood."

The supercomputer before them was not the seasoned veteran from the story.

Durandal needed continuous learning and growth; it had clearly only recently been created.

Chen Ran felt both surprised and delighted.

"This is great, I was just worrying about my poor math skills."

"Math is practically humanity's natural enemy. With a computer's help, it can save a lot of time." He paused, looking at Durandal, and said, "Little Yu, this experiment was a success. Big brother will take you to see pretty girls."

"?"

Durandal clearly didn't understand what he meant.

Although she had both language and comprehension modules, the information hadn't been processed yet.

MEI said helplessly, "Don't waste time."

Given their current conditions, the integration experiment could only be conducted via computer.

However, the application of Herrscher Cores wasn't limited to the Divine Right Plan.

MEI's thoughts were deep and complex, clearly calculating more.

Chen Ran didn't care either way.

Now that he had Durandal, he could observe the Herrscher Cores more meticulously.

What needed to be done next was to observe Wendy's Herrscher Core in a simulated environment.

For the next period, Chen Ran was very busy.

He not only had to cooperate with MEI in observing the Third Herrscher Core but also had to observe Wendy's Herrscher Core, which was more difficult than the former.

The Divine Right Plan experiment was halted, but Chen Ran didn't tell Wendy immediately.

After re-entering the simulation, he excitedly said to Wendy, "The experiment is almost successful. The person in charge said that all your current experiments will be handed over to me, and I already have a plan."

Wendy's eyes blinked, as if confirming the good news.

After a long moment, she smiled sweetly, "Really?"

"Of course, it's true."

Chen Ran took a deep breath, trying not to reveal anything. "Don't let my flippant attitude fool you. I'm actually full of talent. The person in charge just tested me a little before eagerly handing over the position to me."

"You're just bragging."

Wendy was still smiling, but her voice was a little weak.

Chen Ran blinked and said, "Alright, alright, you can say I'm bragging. After all, people are always reluctant to believe the truth from a genius. But from now on, you have to listen to me."

He said seriously, "I need your cooperation. Are you willing to trust me?"

The young man's gaze was firm and bright. Wendy looked into his eyes, as if confirming something.

"If I say no..."

"Then I'll pester you, bother you, until you agree."

Chen Ran blurted it out.

What a joke. Wendy was tied to his reward, so how could he give up halfway? Otherwise, what was the point of all his simulations here?

Wendy chuckled, "Is this how you are with all girls?"

"Ah, currently, I'm only like this with you."

Who knew if the people he'd meet later would be in a similar situation to Wendy? So, he couldn't make absolute statements.

He said, "Since I was a child, I've been taught three secrets to success."

"First, persistence; second, shamelessness."

"Third, persistent shamelessness."

Wendy was amused, her eyes curving.

"Okay, I'll cooperate with you."

Although the Oceanic Branch had suspended support and work related to the Divine Right Plan, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because they had no other arrangements for Chen Ran for the time being.

Chen Ran was still tacitly assigned to take care of Wendy, and the branch did not stop his salary.

However, no one envied him.

Because of the experiment, most people here knew that Wendy had the Gem of Desire within her, and that the two of them had also been targeted by assassins.

It could be said that Wendy was currently a bomb waiting to explode.

Someone suggested retrieving the Herrscher Gem from Wendy. However, because its rejection reaction had disappeared, the Gem and Wendy had actually fused together, making it difficult to remove.

Unless they were willing to risk the Gem exploding.

It could be said that if the experiment were to continue, they would be taking the most crucial step of the Divine Right Plan.

But no one knew why the experiment was suddenly halted. They silently followed the orders from their superiors.

All data from the Divine Right Plan began to be archived.

Chen Ran could only resort to his last resort.

[Communicating with the Far East Branch.]

That evening, Chen Ran sent Wendy back to her room.

The young man chuckled habitually, saying he would definitely complete the experiment, then bid her farewell.

Wendy knew it was a lie.

After Chen Ran was called in by the head supervisor, another person contacted her.

The Divine Right Plan had been canceled.

The reason was its predictable failure.

Wendy didn't understand what "predictable" meant, but she knew she probably wouldn't be able to stand up again.

Schicksal's orders were strict; if they decided not to invest resources, they would follow through.

But the young man still chuckled when he saw her, his face beaming with joy as he announced he had taken full control of the Divine Right Plan.

Wendy knew he was lying.

But what did it matter?

Even a dream that could shatter with a single touch was beautiful in that moment.

She wasn't in the mood to read any books, nor did she want to go to the training grounds.

Chen Ran also became increasingly busy, and as if by unspoken agreement, he reduced the frequency of their meetings.

He became less fond of joking, a perpetual worry etched between his brows, and he spoke to her less and less.