The real world.
The second episode of Honkai Impact 3rd had sparked widespread discussion online and generated astonishing popularity.
Such massive attention naturally drew the notice of certain authorities.
Combined with the unusual nature of Honkai Impact 3rd's video content, those authorities had no choice but to take it seriously.
After all, if the video was merely its creator using a gimmick to chase traffic, that would be one thing. But what if it was real...
To verify this suspicion, the relevant authorities had even invited numerous renowned scientists and researchers from around the world to authenticate the video's content.
Among them were the famous biologist Mobius, Genius Club member #83, "Miss Herta," and others...
Yet despite putting so much effort into verifying the video's contents, the results were still disappointing.
Other than the locations and people mentioned in the video truly existing in the real world, there was not the slightest clue about anything else.
As for this "Honkai," there was even less to say.
Just as the authorities were preparing to order the abandonment of this research proposal, Genius Club member #83, "Miss Herta," put forward a different view.
"For most ordinary people, having no problems is a good thing. But for geniuses like us, having no problems is the biggest problem of all."
"A video that suddenly went viral online should not, logically speaking, have been able to gather us all here. Yet it did."
"And what concerns me the most is the company behind this video's creator—miHoYo."
"Originally, I thought it was just an ordinary company. But as I dug deeper, I was surprised to discover that this company called miHoYo had, over the past few years, invested in nearly every technology company around the world, large and small. That included my Herta Space Station..."
Upon hearing this, an unnamed male researcher raised an objection. "Miss Herta, what you just said can only prove that this company has an impressive background. It cannot prove that the video's contents are real."
Normally, having her words interrupted and her viewpoint questioned would have made anyone else pull a long face. Yet Herta did not appear angry in the slightest.
Perhaps that was simply Herta's personality, or perhaps it had something to do with her field of work.
After all, the most important quality needed to achieve something in science was "the courage to question authority."
Herta smiled faintly. "Indeed, as this gentleman said, what I just said cannot prove the video's authenticity..."
Hearing Herta acknowledge his viewpoint, the male researcher's face lit up with wild delight.
Because just now, he had successfully questioned Genius Club member #83, "Miss Herta"!
As long as Herta could not answer his challenge, he would most likely be featured in the next issue of a scientific journal.
If nothing unexpected happened, he was about to become famous!
However, whenever someone said nothing unexpected would happen, something unexpected was bound to happen.
Herta changed tack and continued, "But I never intended those words to prove anything. I merely provided a way of 'solving the problem.' For top students, giving them a fish is worse than teaching them how to fish. But for poor students, only by personally handing them the answer can they understand any of this."
At that, Herta paused and glanced to the side. Her meaning was naturally obvious.
The male researcher who had been called a poor student was just about to lose his temper, but this time, Herta gave him no chance to speak.
"I would like to ask all the geniuses and leading figures in your fields here: search your hearts. Who among you can invest as precisely and flawlessly as miHoYo?"
Herta's words were like a heavy hammer, awakening everyone present.
That was right!
Logically speaking, not even the world's most famous investment masters could ensure that every investment paid off. Yet miHoYo could.
That alone proved this company was far from ordinary!
And would such an extraordinary company really go to such lengths just to release a video meant to chase traffic?
Seeing the looks of sudden realization on everyone's faces, Herta smiled brightly and concluded, "Although we cannot currently find even the slightest trace of this company through our own abilities, I believe that as time passes and this video called Honkai Impact 3rd continues to update, more and more clues will be exposed before our eyes."
By then, some quick-minded people had already left early, and Mobius was among them.
Naturally, this earned her some teasing from an acquaintance. "Mobius, weren't you always completely devoted to researching biological evolution? What, thinking of changing research directions?"
"Boring."
Mobius clicked her tongue, ignored the teasing, and strode out of the meeting room.
However, after leaving the meeting room, Mobius took out her phone with a grave expression and made a call.
The call was quickly answered.
Mobius got straight to the point. "Blanca, notify everyone in the laboratory. We can begin the research I proposed before... Oh, and remember to bring along that little girl who recently joined the lab..."
After giving her instructions, Mobius entered the elevator.
As she watched the bright lights inside the elevator, Mobius's expression grew increasingly grim.
"So those fragments I dreamed of... were real."
Meanwhile, inside the meeting room.
Inspired by Herta, most of the people in the meeting room had already left, though some still chose to remain.
For them, rather than pursuing some vague and intangible research, it was better to exchange insights with renowned peers.
After all, scientific research was not just about fighting and killing. It also involved social connections.
After politely declining the thirteenth person who wanted to work on a research project with her, Herta gracefully walked toward a corner of the meeting room.
There stood a male researcher radiating the word "dejected" from head to toe.
More precisely, he was the researcher who had just questioned Herta.
Seeing Herta's movements, everyone present wore expressions of eager anticipation.
As Herta approached, the male researcher grew increasingly nervous.
At that moment, he felt nothing but regret—overwhelming regret.
But as the saying went, high returns often came with high risks.
Since he had chosen this path, he naturally had to bear the consequences himself.
With that thought, the researcher had already begun preparing to change careers.
However, things did not unfold as he had expected.
She neither humiliated him nor used her credentials to suppress him.
Herta merely smiled and said, "No matter your motive, I admire your courage to question authority. But do you know what your only problem is?"
The male researcher shook his head helplessly.
Looking at the male researcher, drenched in sweat, Herta smiled like a flower. "You should not call me Miss Herta. You should call me the unparalleled, incomparably brilliant, beauty who puts fish to shame and makes geese fall... Miss Herta."
P.S.: Somehow, even my lazy 0+0 Big Herta can carry single-target Abyss. Miss Herta truly is unmatched under heaven!
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