Honkai Impact 3rd: Starting to Save the Pre-Civilization with Hand-Crafted Black Tech

"Don't worry about that guy," Ai Yue shook his head, but still got into the transport vehicle. "In fact, things would be more troublesome if he didn't have an outburst."

Before coming, Ai Yue had actually instructed Kalpas that if necessary, he could show his anger, as long as it wasn't excessive.

After all, if Kalpas didn't have an outburst, he would just seem like a taciturn oddity. If he faced the Moth to Fire's assessment in that state, he might not receive the treatment he deserved.

Then, the "endless war" Ai Yue had promised him could easily fall through.

"Speaking of which, Pardo," Ai Yue said casually on the transport vehicle, which only had the two of them, bringing up the earlier matter. "Have you decided? Are you going to join Moth to Fire?"

"You know, once you enter here, you have to follow all sorts of rules, and you might even have to undertake dangerous missions. You won't be able to live the easy, carefree life you used to."

"I know, Brother Yue, that's why I'm struggling," Pardofelis said, her tone quite troubled. "But those important people just now said they really need talent like me. In my life, it feels like no one has ever needed me before."

"So, I suddenly want to give it a try."

Chapter 12: Yeah, Let's Pull His Hair

Pardofelis's words surprised Ai Yue.

In his impression, she should have still been the type to sleep in, bask in the sun, and just drift through life with an "take it one day at a time" attitude.

He hadn't expected the girl he'd always seen as a stray cat to say something like that.

"I thought you valued freedom more," Ai Yue didn't have much to say since Pardofelis had made her choice. "Did Elysia say a lot to you?"

He remembered Elysia whispering to Pardofelis on the plane.

"Huh? Oh, it's not really related to Sister Elisia," Pardofelis blinked, then looked a bit embarrassed. "How should I put it, it's actually because of you, Brother Yue."

"Huh?"

Ai Yue was surprised the reason involved him. "Why?"

Pardofelis turned her face away. "I won't tell you."

She had once been a free and unfettered stray cat, her days filled with basking in the sun and sleeping. When she was hungry, she'd go out to forage. If she stole too much, she'd trade it for supplies for the children at the orphanage. She lived carefree, without a thought for the future, without caring about others, and certainly without contemplating the "continuation of civilization."

But after she took Ai Yue in, things changed.

This strange guy, who couldn't even feed himself at first, was always rambling about "changing the future" and "saving the world." It made Pardofelis worry if he could even survive on his own.

However, as time went on, Ai Yue's actions surprised Pardofelis more and more. He not only settled down quickly in Twilight Street but also scavenged for various strange inventions. Later, he even created something like a "Honkai Energy Absorber," which alleviated the suffering of the patients at the orphanage.

This made Pardofelis realize for the first time that some things could change. Patients didn't have to suffer, children didn't have to go hungry. Even while living in a poor settlement, they could speak freely and express their hopes for the future.

It was the children's words that made Pardofelis start considering the concept of "future."

What should she do in the future? While being an honorable thief forever didn't seem bad, what would Brother Yue say?

Pardofelis hadn't figured out the answer to this question, but she wasn't in a hurry. She had plenty of time, and perhaps one day she would understand.

It wasn't until a few nights ago, when Ai Yue said he was leaving Twilight Street, that the girl realized they were standing at a crossroads.

When Elysia and Ai Yue were discussing why Pardofelis hadn't been brought along, the subject of their conversation was actually hiding behind a broken wall, eavesdropping.

Pardofelis understood that Ai Yue was completely right. She was indeed unambitious, only wanting to muddle through life, hating constraints and dogma, and loving a free and easy existence.

Honestly, she found it hard to imagine life without that kind of freedom.

But when this kind of life and "being with Ai Yue" were placed on opposite ends of a scale, Pardofelis suddenly felt that freedom wasn't that necessary.

Later, when she saw the box full of various items Ai Yue had specifically left for her, Pardofelis finally realized something.

She thought she was a stray cat, and even Ai Yue thought so.

But in reality, she was already a cat with a home.

"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't," Ai Yue didn't pry into Pardofelis's thoughts. "But don't force yourself. There are plenty of fallback options. Even if you do nothing, I can still support you."

"I know," Pardofelis said with a smile. "I won't force myself."

Compared to a Fused Warrior, the transport vehicle was indeed too slow.

By the time Ai Yue and Pardofelis arrived at the scene, it was already swarming with all sorts of people. However, apart from the sounds of discussion and conversation, there was no other movement from within.

It seemed the matter was already over.

"Brother Yue, I'll slip in and take a look first!" Pardofelis fully utilized her skills as an honorable thief. Such a crowded scene was exactly where she could shine. "You wait here for a bit. I'll be back soon!"

With that, her slender figure nimbly squeezed through the gaps in the crowd, and Ai Yue lost sight of her in an instant.

He could only stand by the side, trying to piece together the truth of what happened from the snippets of conversation from the onlookers.

"What happened? Was it another experimental weapon explosion?"

"It wasn't a weapons test. I heard a very dangerous newcomer came here today, and it might be something they tinkered with?"

"Very dangerous? How dangerous?"

"I don't know the specifics, but the person in charge here is Boss Kevin."

"Holy crap, that's too dangerous then?"

"I found out. They say the newcomer punched Boss Kevin straight into the wall!"

"Are you kidding me? You believe something that ridiculous? They couldn't have possibly recruited a Herrscher, could they?"

"The information I received says the newcomer wanted to challenge Boss Kevin, and Boss Kevin just couldn't hold back and burned him to ashes."

"The credibility of that statement isn't very high. Boss Kevin never brings the Divine Fire Penance around the base; you can only get that thing when you're on a mission."

While Ai Yue was still eavesdropping for gossip, Pardofelis squeezed back out of the crowd. "Bad news, Brother Yue! Kalpas, Kalpas has been frozen!"

"Alright," Ai Yue nodded. "I have a rough idea of what's going on."

Although the things he'd heard were all a bit outlandish, one thing was certain: Kevin and Kalpas had indeed clashed.

And based on Pardofelis's words, he could imagine Kalpas's outcome.

All in all, Ai Yue wasn't surprised. What he cared more about was the resolution of this matter.

Before long, the onlookers began to be dispersed, and Ai Yue and Pardofelis could finally head inside. They then saw Elysia and Sakura.

"How's the situation?" Ai Yue asked proactively. "Is Kalpas okay?"

"He's fine. He's just... might catch a cold?" Elysia said uncertainly. "Since you're here, shall we all go in and take a look?"

Naturally, Ai Yue had no reason to refuse.

The white building in front of them now had a hole blasted in its wall, so several of them skipped the trouble of going around to the main entrance and walked straight in through the gap.

What greeted their eyes was Kevin standing in the open space, and not far from him, Kalpas sitting on the ground.

Besides that, the spacious training ground was covered in traces left by their battle. The ground was full of cracks and un-melted frost, enough to imagine what a fierce fight it had been.

"You're here?" Kevin turned his head and saw Elysia and her group. He nodded at Elysia first, then looked at Ai Yue. "Your companion is indeed quite formidable."

"To hear Kevin say that, could it be that Kalpas wasn't using his full strength before?" Elysia immediately focused her gaze on Kalpas. "But Kevin, you defeated Kalpas without using a weapon. Are you showing off in this way?"

"Stop joking, Elysia," Kevin shook his head, looking slightly helpless. "Things have become a bit troublesome... Those people said Kalpas is too dangerous and want to send him to 'The Deepest Place'."

"Eh? Why would they do that?" Elysia was clearly surprised. "Is it that serious?"

"A person who is hot-tempered, difficult to control, yet possesses terrifying strength would naturally frighten them," Kevin continued. "I've already informed Mei about this, and there might be a turn of events. However, until a solution is found, this is probably how it has to be handled for now."

"May I ask," Ai Yue raised his hand at the opportune moment, acting as if he knew nothing, "what is 'The Deepest Place'?"

"You can think of it as a prison, or a place of exile," Sakura explained simply. "Criminals who have committed serious offenses and are difficult to manage are thrown into The Deepest Place to prevent them from escaping and threatening society. In short, it's mostly filled with cruel criminals."

"The most crucial thing is that once you're locked up in The Deepest Place, it's not easy to get out," Elysia continued. "Although with Kalpas's strength, we don't need to worry about his safety, this outcome is probably not what anyone wants to see, right?"

"I don't care," Kalpas said simply. "Actually, it sounds like a place that suits me."

He then looked at Kevin. "Hey, are the people in that place... it's okay if they're killed?"

"Probably," Kevin rubbed his temples with a headache. "In short, we need Mei to figure something out."

"Don't worry, Kalpas," Ai Yue walked up to Kalpas at this moment. "What I promised you, you will definitely receive."

"Oh," Kalpas responded indifferently. However, when he saw Ai Yue deliberately using his body to block the view of others, he subtly extended the fist he had been clenching.

Hidden within it was a strand of silver-white hair.

Ai Yue also subtly extended his hand, pretending to help Kalpas up, and took the strand of hair. Then, he casually stood aside.

This was something he had previously instructed Kalpas about. The reason this battle had to happen today also had a bit of Ai Yue's personal agenda behind it.

With Kevin's hair tissue, not only could the principles of the "Fusion Warrior" surgery be reverse-engineered, but it could also be used as material for specialized scientific research.

Ai Yue knew very well that joining Moth to Fire didn't mean smooth sailing. The intricate power struggles within such a large organization were often the most dangerous.

Although he had temporarily gotten acquainted with Dr. Mei and Kevin through Elysia's connection, this level of relationship was clearly not enough.

He needed a way to quickly bridge the gap between them, and the simplest method was gift-giving.

Giving gifts that could precisely address the other party's pain points.

Kalpas was soon escorted away by fully armed soldiers. Given his previous performance and Ai Yue's instructions, both sides of the escort were very restrained this time, and no conflict arose.

"You're quite calm," Elysia looked at Ai Yue curiously. "Even though your companion is being sent to a very dangerous place, you're not worried at all?"

"There's nothing to worry about. Instead of worrying about Kalpas, I'd rather worry about those unlucky souls who will be locked up with him," Ai Yue shook his head. "Besides, Dr. Mei will definitely find a way, right?"

"Is your trust in Dr. Mei a bit too firm?" Elysia looked at him strangely. "You've only met once, haven't you?"

Ai Yue's expression remained unchanged. "This is probably the tacit understanding between scholars. You're not a scholar, so you wouldn't understand."

"What? Is saying that a bit like bullying?" Elysia pouted, but couldn't help but be curious. "Why do I feel like even if Dr. Mei has no solution, you'll have your own way?"

"Of course," Ai Yue said ambiguously. "After all, I also said that the ruling class values profit the most. If you offer enough profit, they'll even put a price on their own lives."

After Kalpas's matter was concluded, the group took a transport vehicle back to the main building.

Everyone was silent on the way, except for Ai Yue, who walked up to Kevin sitting in the last row.

He stood in a suitable position and extended his hand towards Kevin. "Hello, Kevin— we didn't even greet each other last time we met."

"Hello, Ai Yue," a hint of surprise flashed across Kevin's face, but he still nodded and extended a hand. "It's nice to meet you."

Although there were still several meters between them, they both swung their arms as if they were actually shaking hands.

"Sakura, look quickly," Elysia nudged the girl beside her. "Is this how men communicate? It's so strange."

"It seems they have some kind of understanding," Sakura glanced over, then withdrew her gaze. "Perhaps it's my imagination, but they do seem to have something in common."

Elysia knelt on her seat and looked back, her eyes blinking as she thought about something.

Upon returning to the main building, Dr. Mei was already waiting at the entrance. However, Aponia was nowhere to be seen beside her.

"I'm very sorry about Kalpas, I promised you I'd get him out... I'll definitely find a way to release him." Seeing Ai Yue and the others approaching, Dr. Mei spoke up proactively, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "As for Miss Aponia... she voluntarily requested to undergo the Fusion Warrior surgery. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her."

Chapter 13: Miss Aponia is Too Powerful

"Fusion Warrior surgery?"

Upon hearing Dr. Mei's words, the biggest reaction didn't come from Ai Yue, but from Elysia. "Why would Aponia request that kind of surgery... No, how did she even know about the Fusion Warrior surgery?"

"I'm sorry, the problem might be with me." Sakura's expression was grim. "The night Dr. Mei went to Twilight Street, Aponia asked me about my ears. Although I didn't directly tell her about the Fusion Warrior Project, I did mention it was a price paid for power... Perhaps she had already made up her mind then."

Dr. Mei and the others looked solemn, as they all knew how low the success rate of the "Fusion Warrior surgery" was. Although Pardofelis didn't understand anything, seeing their expressions, she knew that what the nun had requested was no good thing.

Before the first Fusion Warrior was born, the success rate of this surgery was zero percent. Even now, with four Fusion Warriors having been created, the surgery's success rate was still not impressive.

Under such circumstances, someone voluntarily requesting to undergo Fusion Warrior surgery was no different from suicide.

"I understand." Ai Yue's expression was the most relaxed among them. He simply sighed, "I was wondering why she was so agreeable before, turns out she had already made up her mind."

"Aren't you worried?" Elysia couldn't help but ask. "Aponia might very well die on the operating table!"

"She won't," Ai Yue shook his head. "If she could die that easily, it might be a good thing for her."

Dr. Mei frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Should we perhaps talk somewhere else?" Ai Yue glanced around. Their group had already attracted a lot of attention. "Aponia's matter is not suitable for public discussion yet, is it?"

Dr. Mei also realized this and quickly arranged an unused conference room.

"I believe there's no need to elaborate on 'Judgment,' right?" Ai Yue got straight to the point. "Dr. Mei, you must have already witnessed that ability. What are your thoughts?"

"An ability that can interfere with another's mind. It's rare, but not incomprehensible." Dr. Mei nodded, recalling the scene she witnessed in the interrogation room. Even now, she felt a sense of shock. "But what does this have to do with what you're talking about?"

"It seems Aponia didn't tell the whole truth either. That's understandable, some things are more troublesome if they're spoken aloud." Ai Yue smiled. "However, everyone present is trustworthy, and understanding these things will help our future interactions."

"Simply put, what you know as 'Judgment' is merely one facet of Aponia's true abilities."