"Just call me Gwen...
After all, we were finally meeting in person after an online relationship."
"Cough..."
Raiden Mei, whose nose had been stinging slightly from the emotion in her heart, was immediately caught off guard and coughed twice. Facing the handsome young man's silent smile, she did not refute Gwen's words and instead asked:
"Still, Gwen... your identity probably isn't as simple as that of an ordinary dispatched employee, is it?"
"Oh?"
Gwen raised his brows and asked:
"What makes you say that?"
"From the information you showed me, although Anti-Entropy is loosely organized, and people even resort to framing their colleagues in their struggle for power and profit, it is still ultimately an organization that fights Honkai.
When facing someone like Cocolia, whose behavior is erratic, whose motives are unclear, and who may even trigger a major Honkai eruption, Anti-Entropy surely wouldn't send only an ordinary field employee, would it?"
Looking at her calm face with its faint smile, Gwen suddenly had the illusion that Raiden Mei had been possessed by Dr. Mei—
Well, she had left the kitchen, so there was no need to cook anymore. Her intelligence had reclaimed the high ground.
"But in reality, Anti-Entropy's conservative faction hadn't sent anyone at all..."
Muttering to himself, Gwen still needed the identity of someone sent by Raiden Ryoma's allied faction to grow closer to Raiden Mei, so he did not reveal his true identity. Instead, he smiled and said:
"It seems Mei really is quite smart."
"How? Do I look that stupid?"
Hearing Gwen's praise, Raiden Mei, whose mood had improved considerably, made a small joke.
"Of course not. Mei looks exactly like the kind of smart, model student."
Gwen smiled and waved his hand, tossing out a few compliments. He did not say that she might even evolve further if she could not cook, and instead said:
"As for my identity...
I am hardly worthy of the title, but aside from those warriors who have already passed on, I can barely be counted among the strongest living human fighters."
"..."
Although she had vaguely guessed as much, hearing Gwen say it in such a casual tone still made Raiden Mei's eyes widen in disbelief—
Raiden Mei truly found it hard to believe that this young man, who looked about the same age as her, had already reached the pinnacle of human combat power.
As for doubting him, although Gwen had said it quite casually, when Raiden Mei met those bright eyes, she instinctively believed that it was true.
In fact, Gwen was not wrong—
After the Second Honkai Eruption ended, both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy had suffered devastating losses. The former had lost the entire Snow Wolf Squad, including Cecilia, and its only remaining high-level combatants were Li Sushang, who was asleep, and Otto himself, neither of whom would normally take action.
As for the latter, Anti-Entropy's Welt Yang was half-dead and living off Theresa's salary.
World Serpent had only Raven as a combatant worth mentioning for the time being. It was still uncertain whether she had undergone Mobius's surgery and reached the level of a standard S-class fighter like Rita. Considering World Serpent's current dormant state, it would not come out to stir up trouble either.
Therefore, Gwen, who had publicly reached A-rank, truly stood among humanity's strongest at present.
Seeing Raiden Mei's astonished expression, Gwen smiled and added:
"Of course, that's only out in the open. As for what old monsters the various factions might be hiding in the shadows, I have no idea."
"Even so, that's already amazing,"
Perhaps because of Far Eastern traditional thinking, Raiden Mei had already imagined a whole series of growth stories in her head. The way she looked at Gwen changed slightly:
"To reach this level at your age, Gwen, you must have put in a great deal of effort, right?"
"I won't deny that, but I only reached this level through a series of fortunate coincidences as well."
After casually explaining, Gwen, unaware of how much more room for imagination he had given Raiden Mei, continued:
"Still, there is something you need to understand. Because of ideological differences, Anti-Entropy does not have many powerful human combatants—
Other than its leader, who has not been seen for many years, and the exception that is me, Anti-Entropy has no other human fighters worth mentioning.
Anti-Entropy's main combat force, those Titan Mechs, are simply too conspicuous. Once they approach the Far East, Cocolia will notice them, and that may cause her to lash out in desperation. That is why I am the only one taking part in this operation."
"Huh?
Gwen, are you going to resolve this crisis by yourself?"
Raiden Mei asked in surprise.
"That is what it looks like for now."
Gwen nodded.
"Still, it is not as difficult as you imagine.
Although Cocolia has used the money and resources your father raised to manufacture a large number of Titan Mechs and greatly increase her strength, her ultimate target is still the Gem of Conquest that your father hid away.
As long as we can find that treasured item and take it out of Changkong City, even if Cocolia triggers an artificial Honkai eruption, she will have a hard time creating a Herrscher.
And if she cannot defeat a Herrscher and obtain a Herrscher Core, then Cocolia will lack enough deterrence to intimidate both external enemies and Anti-Entropy's reformist faction, whose unity is only superficial—
At the end of the day, Cocolia is still just a warlord who rose from below, not an Anti-Entropy executor who defeated a Herrscher."
"In that case, it does sound highly feasible."
As someone from the Far East, Raiden Mei was naturally familiar with the Far Eastern tradition of rising from below. She could also understand the deadlock Cocolia faced, so she had a little more faith in Gwen's plan.
"Only...
Do you have any clues about the Gem of Conquest, Gwen?
I will do everything I can to help you find it."
During their call a few days ago, Gwen had already explained that Cocolia using Raiden Mei as an experimental subject was only one possibility. Now that she knew of the Gem of Conquest's existence, Raiden Mei did not immediately assume that it was inside her, which was why she said this.
As for why she had said she would help—
After learning about Gwen's level of strength, Raiden Mei, who had thought that her years of swordsmanship training might be able to offer some assistance, had already placed herself in the category of people who would succeed simply by not getting in the way.
"Perhaps... that is something I need to ask you, Mei."
Gwen's voice grew somewhat low as he looked at the puzzled Raiden Mei and continued the script he had fabricated by reasoning backward from the result—
"According to the information I received, after the Gem of Conquest was handed over to your father in 2005, it vanished without a trace.
As for where it was hidden, Mei, you will need to think carefully."
"2005?"
Turning that year over in her mind, Raiden Mei could not help falling into thought.
Nine years ago, Raiden Mei had only been a little girl. Many of her memories were truly unclear, and she needed to recall them carefully...
Across from Raiden Mei, Gwen did not disturb her and gave her plenty of time to think—
Since the story of Honkai Impact 3rd officially began several years later, and Mei being implanted with the Gem of Conquest had been an early setting from Honkai Impact 2nd, when Honkai had been nothing more than a little game about pretty girls fighting zombies, many of its settings had become disconnected from Honkai Impact 3rd's official story.
Therefore, Gwen did not know what Raiden Ryoma had been thinking when he implanted the Gem of Conquest into his daughter in this world, nor did he intend to say anything about it. He was simply focused on the present—raising Raiden Mei's affection for him so he could conveniently lure her away.
Under Gwen's gaze, Raiden Mei gradually furrowed her brows and gently kneaded her temple with one hand, as if she were experiencing some sort of pain.
Seeing this, Gwen muttered to himself, I never heard that Anti-Entropy had anything like the Feather of Dust to alter memories. He stood up, moved behind Raiden Mei, and used a little of the technique he had learned from Rita to gently massage her as he said softly:
"All right, Mei. Don't force yourself. You mustn't hurt that smart little head of yours."
Hearing this, Raiden Mei, who had looked quite troubled, could not help smiling. Feeling the warmth of Gwen's hands and the perfectly measured pressure, her pretty face reddened slightly, but she still said:
"Don't worry, Gwen. I'm fine. I just suddenly realized that I have a very vague memory, and I can't recall it for the moment."
Raiden Mei: Affection UP
The facts proved that although Anti-Entropy was rather unreliable, it still had some tricks up its sleeve—
At the very least, Raiden Mei's memory, which had been blurred by some unknown method, was not something the current Raiden Mei could figure out.
After their attempts yielded no results, Gwen persuaded Raiden Mei to give up for the time being and stop forcing herself. Instead, he recorded every scrap of information she had barely managed to recall as a basis for deducing the truth.
"I'm sorry. Mei is still too useless."
Watching Gwen stare thoughtfully at the screen full of fragmented clues, Raiden Mei spoke with guilt in her voice.
"No, don't say that. Mei, you have already tried very hard."
Gwen turned to look at Raiden Mei, whose face was somewhat pale, and comforted her softly:
"Human memory involves the brain, an organ that still holds many mysteries even now. It is right to be cautious, so Mei, do not force yourself."
"Mm..."
Raiden Mei nodded lightly and said nothing more.
Seeing her like this, Gwen, whose goal had basically been achieved, glanced at the time on his terminal and said:
"Mei, it is about time. Let's find somewhere to have lunch."
"Hm?"
Raiden Mei's mind had been left dazed by the flood of information that morning. Hearing that, she suddenly felt the emptiness in her stomach and nodded along with Gwen's words:
"Ah, all right."
"Then let us ask Miss Mei to make another effort for the sake of filling our stomachs and choose an excellent restaurant."
Gwen said with a smile:
"Although Anti-Entropy does not have the rigorous salary standards for frontline combat personnel that Schicksal does, my income is still quite considerable—
At the very least, treating us to a full meal is no burden to me."
"Then I won't hold back."
Influenced by the relaxed atmosphere Gwen had created, Raiden Mei smiled as well.
"Come to think of it, I haven't had a proper meal in a long time."
After opening an app on her phone and searching for a while, Raiden Mei asked Gwen about his dietary restrictions and chose a restaurant she had once liked quite a bit, intending to let Gwen try some Neon cuisine—
"Mm... want to try this?
The flavor is very traditional, most people can accept it, and it is very characteristic of Neon cuisine."
"Since Mei recommends it, how could I not try it?
Let's go."
With that, the two rose from their seats and left the small private room.
However, after walking out of the room, Raiden Mei thought for a moment, then quickened her pace and moved a little closer to Gwen, playing the role of a girl captivated by a young man from another country.
Perhaps worried that Gwen would misunderstand and think she was the sort of girl without restraint, Raiden Mei did not forget to explain in a low voice:
"It's all for the plan...
It is normal for a girl whose family has fallen into ruin and who has suffered bullying to develop a stronger affection for a gentle and considerate member of the opposite sex, right?
And we do not have that much time to delay—we do not know how prepared they are or when they will make their move."
"...Mm."
Looking at the girl whose face grew redder the more she explained, Gwen responded softly. Then, just as Raiden Mei was about to sigh in relief, he took her small, restless hand and smiled.
"Let's go, my girlfriend."
"Ugh..."
Raiden Mei wanted to say something, but Gwen had already pulled her outside. She could only swallow the words of refusal that she herself did not know how sincere they were. Her face reddened again, and in the eyes of the surrounding customers, she looked exactly like a young girl who had just gotten a boyfriend.
After that, the American youth who did not treat yen as money hailed a notoriously expensive Japanese taxi.
After calming down throughout the ride, Raiden Mei had settled somewhat by the time they got out of the taxi, and her expression had become much more natural.
However, after getting out amid the beaming driver's "Please visit again," Raiden Mei saw a white-haired girl standing inside the restaurant she knew so well, and her steps immediately froze.
"What is it?"
Gwen, who had paid and gotten out a step later, asked casually. Following Raiden Mei's gaze, he also saw the white-haired girl busy inside the restaurant.
"Kiana?"
"Hm?"
Before you continue