This thought flashed through everyone's mind. Whether it was the still-functioning systems within the ruins or the traces of human activity, every doubt was instantly resolved.
The same thought appeared in Rita's mind. However, Rita had already returned from the Sea of Quantum and had gained far greater knowledge and experience, so she did not immediately accept this speculation born from Gwen's single remark.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Rita tapped her terminal a few times, connected to the exploration robot's speaker, and spoke in her gentle, calm voice, one that instinctively inspired trust:
"Hello, sir.
"My name is Rita Rossweisse, and I belong to Schicksal, an anti-Honkai organization of the Current Civilization.
"We are currently excavating this base left behind by the Previous Civilization, hoping to use the power preserved within it to fight Honkai.
"May I ask who you are, and why you have appeared here...?"
Rita revealed her identity, explained that her organization was excavating the ruins to fight Honkai, then politely asked for the identity of the man who had appeared here for unknown reasons.
Rita truly hoped that he was, as she suspected, a human who had survived from the Previous Civilization until now.
But what if he was not...?
Rita?
Upon hearing Rita's words, an image flashed through Gwen's mind. He became certain that he was currently around the time of the Current Civilization's storyline, though the exact point in time still required confirmation.
As he thought this, Gwen remained outwardly composed. Facing the hidden edge in Rita's words, he lowered his head and muttered as though he were extracting information from what she had said:
"The Current Civilization... fighting Honkai...
"...That makes sense. With technology developed to this extent, it would be strange if Honkai had not appeared."
With that, Gwen sighed, raised his head again, and looked at the robot bearing Schicksal's emblem.
"My name is Gwen. I was a volunteer in Fire Moth's Fusion Warrior project. I was originally supposed to awaken a thousand years ago and participate in building the new civilization.
"But as you can see, geological changes destroyed part of the base. I was nearly buried along with it, and only recently recovered."
Gwen paused, then tilted his head.
"Prometheus, turn on the lights, lift the restrictions, and let them in."
"Authorization confirmed. Basic restrictions lifted."
Prometheus's projection appeared beside Gwen and replied in an electronic synthesized voice with a faint childish quality.
As Prometheus finished speaking, the base, previously pitch-black aside from the main control room where Gwen stood, was instantly illuminated by bright lights. Some mechanisms that had been tightly sealed, mechanisms whose contents might not have been obtainable even through forced demolition, also opened.
"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Gwen."
At the sight of this, Rita's trust in Gwen's identity rose sharply.
As an A-rank Valkyrie, Rita had studied the Previous Civilization before undertaking this mission.
According to the records Rita had seen, the Previous Civilization indeed possessed an artificial intelligence named Prometheus, and it did indeed look like the one on the screen.
And since he had gained the recognition and assistance of an artificial intelligence from the Previous Civilization, Gwen's identity naturally became far more credible.
"It was nothing."
Gwen gently shook his head, a melancholy expression on his face.
"Everything here was prepared to fight Honkai.
"Since your organization was established to fight Honkai, there is no harm in giving it to you."
"Thank you for your understanding and assistance."
Rita nodded lightly and was about to say something when a piercing alarm suddenly rang through the tent.
At the same time, the voice of a Valkyrie responsible for security sounded over the communications channel—
"Alert! A large number of incoming missiles detected! The Shield Generator is preparing to activate! All personnel, prepare for impact!
"Repeat—A large number of incoming missiles detected! The Shield Generator is preparing to activate! All personnel, prepare for impact!"
Rita's smile instantly froze. The next moment, her expression seemed covered in frost, causing everyone nearby who noticed it to instinctively take a step back.
Cocolia's Ambition
Although he could not hear the conversation over Schicksal's communications channel, Gwen could still infer from the piercing alarm and the danger lights flashing on the exploration robot that something serious had happened.
It really was lively...
Muttering inwardly, Gwen had no intention of continuing to watch the show.
"All personnel, follow the emergency plan. Prepare to engage the enemy."
Rita's face was cold, but she did not panic as she calmly issued orders through the communications channel.
"Yes!" ×n
A grim killing intent instantly filled the communications channel.
However, that killing intent was quickly shattered.
"He disappeared?"
The staff member who first spotted Gwen's figure cried out upon seeing him suddenly vanish from the screen.
"Hm?"
Rita looked at the terminal in her hand and discovered that Gwen's figure had indeed disappeared from the screen.
"..."
Rita frowned slightly, a bad premonition rising in her heart.
Could this supposed human survivor from the Previous Civilization merely be a lie created after the robot had been hacked?
After all, everything was far too coincidental.
But before Rita could issue an order warning everyone to be cautious of threats from below, an unfamiliar voice rang out inside the tent. Rita instinctively moved sideways, closer to her weapons case.
"It seems that everyone from Schicksal has run into some trouble?"
As her hand reached toward the weapons case, Rita followed the voice with her gaze and caught sight of its owner.
In a spot of the tent that had previously been empty, a man suddenly appeared. He had black hair, black eyes, resolute features, and wore an unfamiliar combat suit bearing Fire Moth's emblem at the collar.
Using his special energy, Gwen had swiftly traveled from the base's central control room to this tent, which was temporarily serving as a command center. He looked around at the various instruments flashing with alarm lights and asked the people inside—
As a lone wandering soul preserved from the Previous Civilization until now, Gwen should not have known Rita.
"Are you... Mr. Gwen?"
After Gwen appeared, Anna immediately raised the lance in her hand, its tip pointed at him. Although there was some confusion on her face, the lance in her hand did not waver in the slightest.
"Please do not make any sudden movements."
"Of course."
Gwen obediently raised both hands, indicating that he meant no harm.
"I came with good intentions. Could you tell me what happened?
"Perhaps I can be of some help?"
Gwen nodded lightly toward the chestnut-haired girl in neat light armor, whose white stockings remained spotless. Then he swept his gaze around and spotted a maid who still carried a faintly seductive air despite wearing a serious uniform.
"Certainly."
Although Rita had already taken a weapon from the case and held a scythe gleaming with cold light, its blade contrasting with the faint sheen of the black stockings wrapped around her long legs, the warm smile on her face instinctively made one overlook the deadly weapon. She stepped gracefully toward Gwen.
"We just detected missiles being launched at us. Although we deployed a Shield Generator, the enemy clearly came prepared.
"If it is convenient, Mr. Gwen, I hope you can assist us with the defense."
"Miss Rita, is it? If possible, please take me to have a look. I will do my best to help without interfering with your operations."
"Then please follow me."
Although Rita had long since become one of Schicksal's outstanding A-rank Valkyries, she naturally led Gwen out of the tent like a professional maid.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries saw the order Rita had left behind in the communications channel.
"For the coming battle, command authority is transferred to B-rank Valkyrie Anna."
Time rewound to an hour earlier, aboard an unremarkable yacht in the waters near the Schicksal archaeological team led by Rita—
"That is the plan. Does everyone understand?"
Inside the yacht, which had been converted into a combat command room, a woman wearing a military greatcoat loudly questioned her subordinates after announcing the plan. She had long golden hair, a rather pretty face, and a fierce air about her.
"Understood!"
Although they felt uneasy, the operatives below still responded loudly, filling the command room with heated energy.
"Then get to your positions and await orders!"
The blonde woman was very satisfied with their response and waved her hand, signaling everyone to prepare for action.
The woman's name was Cocolia. She had originally been just one of countless minor warlords in Siberia.
However, unlike her peers, Cocolia had also joined Anti-Entropy. She had steadily built up her power and had now become a highly sought-after figure within Anti-Entropy's reformist faction, faintly showing signs of becoming its leader.
The attack on Schicksal she had planned today was Cocolia's first step toward proving her strength to the radical faction's members.
After accidentally obtaining information about Schicksal's operation from a spy, Cocolia had plotted for a long time. Not only had she arranged a massive missile barrage, she had even deployed the few Titan Mechs she possessed in this operation.
After finalizing the combat plan, Cocolia returned to her position and asked the gray-haired little girl beside her, whose small face was stiff.
"Bronya, how is the situation?"
Unlike the imposing manner she displayed while addressing her subordinates, Cocolia's voice toward Bronya, while not exactly soft, carried a gentleness completely different from before.
After all, this was her daughter, and a daughter toward whom she felt guilty.
"Everything is normal."
Bronya did not look up at Cocolia. Her expression remained completely calm as she operated the computer before her, like an exquisite doll.
"We have successfully hacked into their local network. We can cut off their energy supply at any time.
"They may be able to recover quickly, but under missile bombardment, they will not have that chance."
"Mm, you have worked hard, Bronya."
A smile appeared on Cocolia's face, and her tone became even gentler.
"Believe me. Seele will return to our side very soon."
"Mm. Bronya believes in Mother Cocolia."
Bronya answered in that manner, but her mechanical voice and completely unchanging expression made the child's words far less convincing.
"Mm..."
Seeing Bronya like this, Cocolia could not help but feel a trace of guilt.
But when Cocolia's gaze fell upon the red dot on the screen marking the location of Schicksal's archaeological team, that guilt was replaced by ambition.
As long as I take down these people from Schicksal, I can successfully claim the reformist faction leader's seat, obtain those things, and bring Seele back...
An hour later, within a forest shrouded by dark clouds, missiles gleaming with cold light and aimed at the sky shot forth after receiving orders from the yacht's combat command room.
Cocolia: Let Them Feel Despair!
"Schicksal has detected the missiles... The Shield Generator has been activated...
"The program is operating normally. We can interfere with the Shield Generator at any time."
Inside the yacht's combat command room, Bronya sat beside Cocolia like an exquisite doll, yet she was responsible for the most crucial task determining whether this operation would succeed.
"Wait a little longer. Just a little longer..."
Listening to Bronya's faintly childish voice, Cocolia stared at the radar display marking the missiles' flight paths, an unusual smile appearing on her face.
"Wait until they believe victory is already in their grasp, then completely shatter their confidence..."
Bronya's calm little face showed no fluctuation in response to Cocolia's chillingly mad words.
At this moment, the only person capable of stirring emotion from this girl, whose emotional center had already been damaged, was the young girl who had fallen into the Sea of Quantum, her fate unknown.
Meanwhile, in the Schicksal archaeological team's camp, Gwen had already followed Rita at a quick pace to the Shield Generator deployed outside the camp.
Although Gwen was still slightly inferior to Rita in pure physical ability while she wore her simple armor.
With the support of special energy and Honkai Energy, however, keeping up with Rita's pace posed no problem for Gwen.
Before you continue