In Honkai, But Integrated Strategies Activated

Even though Rita often carried out shady missions as Otto's "white glove," she'd never encountered a situation like this, where she came over just to witness a public display of affection.

It wasn't enough to just eat it all up; she also had to write down her thoughts about it... Rita felt like she was becoming a superfan of these two.

Thinking about Durandal at the Schicksal branch far away... Tsk, she decided not to think about it. The more she thought, the more she felt Durandal was like a block of wood.

She clicked her tongue in displeasure and stood up, preparing to leave. Today was the last day of her observation period. After this, she would report back to Otto.

She'd decided. After returning, she would take Durandal shopping. To vent her frustration from being force-fed so much "dog food," Rita decided she'd go show off her own affection to others.

However, before that, she still needed to report back...

One day later, Schicksal Headquarters.

"Hmm..." Otto flipped through the mission report Rita had submitted, nodding approvingly with a smile from time to time.

"Good work, Rita. You completed your mission excellently."

After turning the last page, Otto looked up and praised her.

"Lord Bishop is too kind. I was merely doing my duty," Rita replied with a respectful nod.

"So, Lord Bishop, have you reached a conclusion?"

"While there are still some minor details that don't quite add up, they're basically inconsequential."

"I'm basically certain that this Highmore is definitely not a Pseudo-Herrscher. And her true situation... might be closely related to Wendy."

"Then, who exactly is this Miss Highmore...?"

"Hmm... Listen to my analysis, and you'll naturally make a guess. Rita, you too. This matter might be handed over to you for follow-up."

"Being mentally prepared beforehand will also make it easier for you to continue your work later."

Chapter 36: Highmore: Yes, yes, that's exactly what I thought

Otto reopened the files and gestured for them to come closer.

"Look, according to the intelligence Rita brought back, after Honkai occurred in Oceania and a Pseudo-Herrscher was born, the Honkai Energy concentration and Honkai Beast activity remained almost unchanged for several days before and after."

"This is abnormal. Pseudo-Herrschers are not like normal Herrschers. A naturally formed Herrscher Core is already a crystal of highly concentrated Honkai Energy."

"Even if this Pseudo-Herrscher's strength was only Rank A, it shouldn't have had no impact on the local Honkai Energy ecosystem, whether positive or negative."

"Furthermore, look here. After the Honkai outbreak, this girl claimed she couldn't control the Honkai Beasts."

"This is even more impossible. Even a Pseudo-Herrscher naturally possesses the ability to control Honkai Beasts. Moreover, there weren't many powerful Honkai Beasts present at the time; they were basically all lower-ranked ones. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been quickly dealt with by a few Valkyrie squads on vacation."

"Based on these two points alone, we can basically rule out her being a Pseudo-Herrscher."

"Then what is she? Could someone be impersonating a Pseudo-Herrscher to sneak into the Oceania branch?" Rita proposed a possibility.

"No. Putting aside the motive for doing so, Highmore's physical examination report wouldn't lie. Although her Honkai Energy reserves aren't high, her Honkai Energy adaptability, physical strength, and recovery abilities are all genuinely Herrscher-level. To fake such physical data, she would first have to be a genius on Durandal's level."

"For a genius of that caliber to risk danger and infiltrate the Oceania branch... I can't think of any organization with that kind of audacity."

"Returning to the previous question, after confirming she's not a Pseudo-Herrscher, Rita's observation report becomes very intriguing."

Otto spread out the page recording Highmore and Wendy, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

"According to this report, it's very clear that Highmore's attitude towards Wendy and others is different."

"So, what do you think is the most special thing about Wendy?"

"The Desire Gem," Rita said without hesitation. "So, did she come for the Desire Gem?"

"No, I said before that she doesn't belong to any faction." Otto shook his head and added, "However, saying that the Desire Gem on Wendy attracted Highmore isn't entirely wrong."

"Suppose there is now a creature," Otto deliberately emphasized the word "creature." "From the moment it was born, it had a natural affinity for someone with a Herrscher Core. What do you think this creature is most likely to be?"

"Lord Bishop means... a companion Honkai Beast?" Rita finally understood. "But how could a Honkai Beast possibly..."

"No, Lady Rita, companion Honkai Beasts can possess intelligence." Amber had already retrieved Benares's data from the Second Honkai Outbreak database.

"Since you didn't participate in the Second Honkai Outbreak, you might not be aware. Benares, as the companion Honkai Beast of the Second Herrscher, possessed self-awareness. Furthermore, based on this, she could even transform into human form and even fought Schicksal once in that form."

"So, Lord Bishop is saying you believe Highmore might be Wendy's companion Honkai Beast as the Fourth Herrscher?"

"That's right. Although every Herrscher in the previous civilization had a clear companion Honkai Beast, this century, only the Second Herrscher's companion Honkai Beast has appeared so far."

"Therefore, we know nothing about the formation mechanism and circumstances of companion Honkai Beasts."

"However, at present, I believe the possibility of Highmore being a Honkai Beast is much greater than her being a Pseudo-Herrscher. At least, apart from her strength, she basically corresponds to Benares's situation, and the strength part can be explained by Wendy not having fully awakened yet."

"But if she were a Pseudo-Herrscher, she would be fundamentally different from the Pseudo-Herrschers I know."

"So, Amber, Rita, from now on, include the experimental progress on the Desire Gem in Oceania as one of the monthly routine tasks," Otto instructed. "Keep a close eye on Wendy and Highmore's situation. Compile a report for me once a month. If you can obtain Highmore's bodily tissues, that would be even better. If not, don't force it."

"Yes, Lord Bishop."

"Initially, this step in Oceania was just a move on the chessboard, serving only as a control group for the Herrscher of the Void... Now it seems Miss Wendy has truly given me a surprise."

"I'm even curious... if Wendy eventually succeeds in her Herrscher evolution, what kind of changes will this suspected companion Honkai Beast, Highmore, bring to her..."

"So, you're sure Rita's gone?"

In the Elysian Realm's reception hall, a round table was projected in front of the original sofa. Xia Ling, Flame Willow, and Highmore sat around it.

Oh, and Elysia too. Even though this mascot girl Elysia could only emit fixed greeting voice lines, Xia Ling insisted on including her as a member of their daily discussions.

"Mhm, after this past week, I used familiarizing myself with the branch environment as an excuse to have Wendy take me around the branch several times."

"Plus, I cultivated an image of someone who likes small animals. Now, in the Oceania branch, whether it's cats, dogs, birds nesting nearby, or even the kangaroos outside the base, I've fed them all a little Sea Creatures' cell."

"Under my deliberate control, I haven't let them fully transform into Sea Creatures, but they're more than enough to act as my eyes and ears."

"Based on the observations of these animal friends and my tracking of Honkai Energy, I can basically confirm that Rita has left the Oceania branch."

"Good heavens," Flame Willow exclaimed, impressed. "Isn't the ecological environment of the Oceania branch pretty terrible now?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Think about it, when Highmore introduces the branch's animals to people in the future," Flame Willow mimicked a certain region's accent from Schicksal. "Sea Creatures with cheese, crawling Sea Creatures with cheese, flying Sea Creatures with cheese..."

"Putting aside the issue of Oceania turning into a Sea Creatures' nest..." Xia Ling cleared her throat. "During this time, Schicksal headquarters hasn't made any other moves. It looks like Highmore has managed to get by."

"I just don't know what Otto's situation is. Did he mistake Highmore for a Pseudo-Herrscher, or did he discover her true nature as a Honkai Beast?"

"I think Otto isn't stupid. At least, in Rita's observations, she must have written about the unusually close relationship between Wendy and me," Highmore speculated. "With Otto's intelligence, he should be able to connect Wendy to the Desire Gem."

"Hooray, the Oceania matter is finally over," Flame Willow stretched. "Can we relax for a while again?"

"Good question. Can you beat Durandal?"

"I can guarantee I won't be killed," Flame Willow raised her hand.

"I can guarantee someone will avenge me if I die," Highmore shrugged.

"Exactly! We still have to go to London this autumn to find the Second Divine Key!" Xia Ling slammed the table. "If we can't beat Durandal, what's the point of going? Get training immediately!"

Chapter 37: Preparations Before the Great Honkai Outbreak

As May arrived, the temperature at St. Freya also steadily rose.

Although it wasn't fully summer yet, the students' attire on campus had become noticeably more revealing.

"Kiana!" Xia Ling, wearing a form-fitting one-piece swimsuit, ran out of the fitting room with a flushed face. "You brat, what kind of swimsuits did you pick out for me!"

"Wait, Sister Xia Ling, please calm down! I tailored these specifically to your figure! Ow ow ow—"

"Tailored, huh? Tempting style, right?!" Dark energy seemed to emanate from Xia Ling. Before Kiana could run far, a hand suddenly reached out from behind her and fiercely grabbed the back of her collar.

Then, Xia Ling materialized from thin air, her expression displeased as she held up the tag she had just removed from the swimsuit. On the tag, the words "Golden Lingerie Swimsuit" seemed to glow, drawing everyone's attention.

Kiana's eyes widened instantly. "Bronya, you sold me out!"

Bronya silently shifted her gaze. "Sold out? Bronya doesn't know~ Bronya was just following Kiana's instructions to replace the swimsuits in the wardrobe."

"Didn't you say you'd remove the tag..."

Before Kiana could finish speaking, Xia Ling's strong little hand had already grabbed Kiana's fate by the scruff of her neck.

"To make me wear a lingerie swimsuit, classmate Kiana, you've really gone to great lengths~"

Xia Ling's voice drifted from behind Kiana, "Finding a swimsuit that fits my size must have taken a long time, right? You must have been secretly delighted, thinking, 'Ah~ Sister Xia Ling, who is usually so strict, is now going to wear a lingerie swimsuit on vacation. This contrast is amazing~'"

Mimicking Kiana's voice, Xia Ling's anger visibly increased.

"It wasn't me! I didn't do it! Mei, save me!"

"Sigh..." With a sigh, Mei silently turned her head away, no longer watching Kiana's plight.

The reason for this joyous scene was rooted in the Great Honkai Outbreak in Manila, scheduled for May 22nd.

After setting the goal of resolving Anna's inner turmoil during the Manila Great Honkai Outbreak, Xia Ling began making preparations for the operation.

Although this Honkai outbreak was rarely recorded in the main storyline, it didn't mean its intensity was low. In fact, before the outbreak, Manila had a resident population of thirteen million.

After the outbreak, over two million people died in the Manila region, and nearly three million were infected to varying degrees, showing the disaster's severity.

Facing a Honkai disaster of this magnitude was a first for Xia Ling. Therefore, as a precaution, except for Highmore, who couldn't act in Oceania, Xia Ling and Flame Willow would both be deployed, entering the battlefield from different locations.

Flame Willow, being a free agent, could go whenever she pleased. But Xia Ling was different; as an active employee of Schicksal, she couldn't act arbitrarily.

However, this didn't mean Xia Ling had no opportunities. The Far East Branch wasn't too far from Manila (Manila is in the Philippines). With a Honkai outbreak of this scale, the Far East Branch was obligated to provide aid.

To enter Manila through normal channels, she had to find a way to blend into the aid team. And aid teams were usually composed of combat sequence members on patrol duty that day.

Thus, Xia Ling used the excuse of taking leave to go to the beach with the Big Three, shifting all her rest days to mid-May. The entire latter half of May, when the Honkai outbreak was to occur, became Xia Ling's duty period.

This way, Xia Ling gained a legitimate opportunity to be on duty, a long-awaited beach holiday, and a swimsuit battle with Kiana.

However, after Xia Ling thoroughly "tormented" Kiana, she ultimately chose to wear that extremely revealing swimsuit. After all, it was Kiana's request, and Xia Ling couldn't bear to refuse.

Of course, the shy Xia Ling chose to wear a semi-transparent white jacket over the swimsuit.

Although Kiana later praised that the semi-transparent jacket, which offered glimpses of what was underneath, enhanced the seductive effect.

While Xia Ling was having her blushing, heart-pounding beach trip, Flame Willow was also making preparations to head to Manila.

To be precise, she had already arrived in Manila in advance.

One year after the outbreak of the Third Honkai War, the Honkai Energy concentration in Changkong City had gradually decreased. Although it was still far from safe levels, it was now barely habitable for those who had developed a certain resistance to Honkai Energy due to the disaster.

While these people were not numerous, they still amounted to several thousand given Changkong City's vast population. With the government's assistance, they established a settlement in areas of the city with lower Honkai Energy concentrations.

After the settlement was built, Raven no longer needed to risk the children's lives by having them live outside. Thus, on the day it was completed, Raven brought Flame Willow and her children into the settlement and opened an orphanage – the House of Ciora.

Within the settlement, the children's safety was naturally guaranteed. Flame Willow took this opportunity to request a short break of about half a month.

"What? You're going to be gone for over ten days?"

Raven was completely taken aback by Flame Willow's request. Even as a cadre of World Serpent, she had never heard of such a long vacation.

"Flame Willow, if you were planning to leave, you could have just told me directly..." Raven trailed off, hesitant.

"Why do you always imagine such strange scenarios?" Flame Willow said speechlessly. "I said half a month is the maximum duration because I don't know how long this will take... But don't worry, I'm not running away."

"Because it really does seem like it," Raven stated matter-of-factly. "Look, the children are settled now and can survive stably in Changkong City, and you're asking to leave for half a month right now. Isn't it normal for me to think that way?"

"I say, how can you, who executes month-long missions without a second thought, have the nerve to talk about me taking half a month off..."

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. Raven, I have something else I want to ask you."

"Hm? Go ahead."

"Does your World Serpent still recruit people?"

"You've finally come around? I'll get your onboarding paperwork ready right away," Raven exclaimed, jumping up.

"You're thinking too much, it's not me."

"Oh..." Raven sat back down, her interest waning. "As long as they have enough talent, of course, we recruit... Of course, if their talent is a bit lacking, it's not impossible for me to give them a personal recommendation."

"Okay, then I might be able to find a few good prospects for you. You can have your World Serpent HR take a look and see if they want to accept them."

"So, what exactly are you going to do... and why are you even recruiting people?"