Do You Know About Honkai?

"Researching the IX mechanism was just a side project. I'm currently researching an energy called Honkai, and I really don't have the time to build Simulated Universe with you guys."

"What is it?"

Herta wanted to clarify things further, but Ruan Mei hung up the communication beforehand, and the projection suddenly disappeared from sight.

"That wretched guy!"

Herta slammed his hand on the table in dissatisfaction, not out of anger at being rejected, but because he was attracted by Ruan Mei's mention of 'Honkai'.

She invited Ruan Mei again and again, of course, because she knew Ruan Mei's abilities very well. If she could join the Simulated Universe project, the project would definitely be launched much faster.

She could guess what Ruan Mei wanted to pursue, and before inviting her, she didn't think Ruan Mei would really refuse her.

But that's exactly what happened.

If you want to participate, you want to participate. Everyone knows what kind of people we are; there's no need to make excuses to fool others.

So she really doesn't have time.

Based on what was just said, it can be deduced that Ruan Mei devoted most of her time and energy to that so-called 'Honkai'.

Something that could fascinate Ruan Mei so much must be something interesting.

This piqued her interest.

Just then, she received some reports from Ruan Mei from other worlds. After a quick glance, she realized they were all about the IX mechanism.

"A byproduct of studying the Honkai?"

What exactly is Ruan Mei researching? What interesting things has she discovered?

Realizing this was merely a byproduct, Herta, who had developed a keen interest in the new energy that Ruan Mei was researching, stroked his chin.

She needs to find some time to go to the planet where Ruan Mei lives in seclusion to find her again.

She insisted on inviting Ruan Mei.

On the other end of the communication, Ruan Mei had just sent the data from her research on nothingness, which she had collected over the past year, to Herta. She sat at the table, took a bite of a pastry, and sipped the tea in her cup.

If this happens once, it will happen again. Herta probably won't give up and will continue to come looking for her.

She doesn't like socializing.

Even a Simulated Universe isn't worth her being forced into social interactions. If it weren't for the boisterous Kiana by her side raising her tolerance threshold, she probably wouldn't have had the patience to say these things to the Herta.

"Simulated Universe...?"

It would be good to be able to join in and get the latest information, but that would mean she would have to temporarily put aside her research on Honkai and not be able to devote herself to it as wholeheartedly as she does now.

She had just made some encouraging new progress in her research on Honkai Beast and was eager to press on with it.

It would have been better if the Herta had been proposed earlier or later.

She took another sip of tea.

At the same time, a new message popped up on her device, catching her attention as she rested.

That was a message from Interastral Peace Corporation, a billing message.

Ruan Mei was stunned for a moment at first glance.

Because the number is too long.

The message from this bill was quite simple: it informed her that the card she had given to Kiana had just been used to make a total expenditure of one hundred million.

"One hundred million."

Ruan Mei took a bite of the pastry in her hand, her brows furrowing slightly before slowly relaxing, as if lost in thought.

Kiana rarely goes shopping.

This trip was not for tourism, but rather a journey to a place closer to nothingness.

This expenditure of 100 million is not normal.

However, she wasn't concerned about where Kiana spent her Credits; instead, she was pondering.

"That card seems to only have a little over 100 million Credits."

Kiana should be on her way back now, and we should be able to see Kiana again in a few days.

"Looks like I need to prepare more pocket money for her."

This was also the payment she made to Kiana.

46

Chapter 46 Do you know about Honkai?

Do you even know what Honkai is?

Sirin, who was waiting for Herta to arrive in the conference room, turned around as if she had seen a ghost. She had thought it was just a decorative doll, but now it had come to life and was asking her what Honkai was.

This absurd scene unfolded before her eyes, making Sirin wonder if the doll had been Honkai by the Honkai.

"Ms. Herta."

Asta stood up to greet them, which also served as a reminder to the guest next to her who had stood up and placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.

The talking puppet is the Herta.

Sirin's eyes flickered, but she didn't lower her guard. "You're the Herta?"

"That's right, I am Herta. You're from the Izumo Trading Company, right? I remember your Izumo Trading Company comes from the Tenhutou Rock System, which is close to the IX mechanism. Have you ever heard of the Honkai?"

Asta hadn't left yet, pretended not to hear anything, politely got up and left the meeting room, leaving it to them.

Still asking about Honkai.

With years of experience in business, Sirin has a deep understanding of this universe. In this world, there exists a supreme Aeon, and mortals can embark on a journey with the Aeon to forge their own destiny and become Pathwalker.

In all her years of business, she had never heard of the Honkai from anyone else. Years ago, when the merchant guild was first established, she warned the people on the ship not to tell anyone else about Izumo.

Born into a world swallowed by nothingness.

This is not a good thing.

"I remember that the Ms. Herta from the Genius Club wasn't a doll girl."

Sirin found no signs of Honkai on the Herta, but she remained somewhat wary.

"Is it really that hard to make a few puppets and control them remotely? Don't change the subject, have you even heard of Honkai?"

Herta was getting impatient.

She doesn't have time to waste on pointless questions like asking me to guess.

How many puppets can be created for remote control?

So that's how it is.

Herta said that, Sirin understood. The doll in front of her was not Herta herself, but her 'telephone'.

Thinking about it that way, I'm no longer so wary.

"Before I answer that question, Ms. Herta, can you tell me where you first learned the name 'Honkai'?"

"You actually know about Honkai?"

Herta had only asked casually, not really expecting anything from Sirin, since she herself had only just heard the name from Ruan Mei.

Sirin didn't reply, she just stared at the Herta.

She was waiting for Herta's reply.

She anticipated that achieving her initial goal might be quite simple.

"Does Ruan Mei know? She's a member of the Genius Club, just like me. I just heard it from her."

It doesn't sound like a lie.

Such a genius would hardly stoop to lying to me about something like this.

After a moment of silence, Sirin asked, "May I ask how Ms. Ruan Mei came to know about the Honkai?"

"How would I know? I just got turned away by that guy. But it must have something to do with the IX mechanism. That guy said he's researching Honkai and the IX mechanism on the side."

"IX mechanism?"

Sirin's voice suddenly rose, her expression changed, and she immediately understood why Ms. Ruan Mei knew about the Honkai.

She has probably been to the vicinity of Izumo.

"What are you thinking about? Tell me so I can hear it too."

Herta realized that she had indeed asked the right person.

The woman in front of me, who comes from Tenhutou Rock, has indeed heard of the Honkai.

Sirin remained silent.

That genius, just like Herta, is researching Honkai. She really wants to ask Herta if he could help introduce them.

"I do know about the Honkai."

Sirin's expression returned to normal, and she said, half-jokingly, "Izumo, our former home planet. Now it has become a forbidden zone for humanity, an insurmountable place. It... is filled with lethal concentrations of Honkai energy."

"Oh? You actually know? How so?"

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Herta became interested; the thing that had captivated Ruan Mei was about to be revealed to her.

Is Herta interested in Honkai?

Sirin carefully chose her words, saying, "This energy is dangerous. Our planet was deeply affected by the IX mechanism, and most of us have come into direct or indirect contact with its power."

"Honkai, a force capable of fighting against the shadows. They are waging a fierce battle on Izumo's battlefield."

That's it? That's all?

There's so little information; what can you possibly glean from that?

How about we go for a trip to Tenhutou Rock?

Is this necessary?

Herta hesitated. She was curious, but for now, she was more concerned about the Simulated Universe project she had in her hands.

"Ms. Herta, you invited us here, surely it's for the strange object we possess?"

Sirin didn't know what else to say; Izumo's understanding of the Honkai came entirely from Kiana's account.

Because Izumo simply didn't have the extra time to focus his energy on researching Honkai energy.

Even after a period of time, I couldn't figure anything out.

Later, after they left Izumo, they tried to analyze the principles behind those devices, but unfortunately, they couldn't find anything.

It was very difficult to disassemble them.

The equipment provided by Kiana doesn't seem to be disassembled; it appears that only destruction is an option.

But without a doubt, the improvements brought by equipment and badges are all due to Honkai energy.

"Are the artifacts you possess related to the Honkai?"

Herta raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.

Sirin looked at her without saying a word.

Name your price.

Seeing that things were exactly as he had expected, Herta got excited and, without any intention of haggling, directly asked Sirin to name a price.

As a genius, she has no shortage of Credits. Not to mention that anything she casually throws out is worth an incalculable fortune, and countless people try every means to give her money, just to get on her good side.

Sirin stared at the Herta for a while, but she couldn't discern any confidence in the Herta Puppet.

But the opportunities are right here.

Sirin took a deep breath and made an outrageous demand. "Help us reclaim Izumo."

The Herta Puppet was visibly stunned for a moment, then looked at her as if she were a madwoman. "You want me to save a dead planet from the hands of the IX mechanism? You really dare to dream!"

The effort and the reward are not commensurate.

She had no interest in wasting her time on this.