The Unknown Price

Mei pondered the meaning these two words could represent, then looked at Su Qing'an and asked:

"The Finality?"

Su Qing'an responded:

"You can think of her as the final enemy calculated from another world. If the thirteen Herrscher are like thirteen different difficulty levels of selection mechanisms, then the Finality is the final gatekeeper."

"To completely overcome the process of Honkai, defeating the opponent is an essential step."

The boy didn't intend to explain the details.

There are many ways to tell the truth without lying. For example, our world's scientist Raiden Mei used the super artificial intelligence she created, Bronya, to calculate in advance the total number of Herrscher and the final enemy— the Finality.

This explanation might be quite convincing, since this is exactly the process that Mei actually observed the Finality not long afterward, but it also has a very absurd feel to it.

Since the other party doesn't pursue the idea of another world, there's no need for me to explain it to them.

This trust is the foundation upon which the two have been able to cooperate to this day.

The reason for revealing the existence of the Finality now is that Su Qing'an is still unaware of the good relationship between Seele and Mei. In his eyes, the reason why Seele's personal safety and freedom have been maintained to this extent is because Mei is considering her feelings.

To alleviate the other party's concerns, one should appropriately increase the weight on the scales, making the selection process more convincing, and stating the existence of the Finality becomes the most direct approach.

Su Qing'an initially didn't intend to speak out because she didn't want to put unnecessary pressure on him and felt that speaking out wouldn't make much of a difference, but the situation is different now.

Even if we don't talk about it now, Mei, who is already using Prometheus to calculate and deduce data, will soon get the same answer.

Mei wasn't particularly surprised by what she heard; in fact, what Su Qing'an said almost perfectly matched her own suspicions.

Even though the final enemy, whose existence was truly confirmed and who was given a codename, still left Mei with some mixed feelings.

She said:

"Does this mean He believes that even if we manage to turn all thirteen Herrscher against us, it's all meaningless as long as the Finality exists?"

"Whether this is the arrogance of a god or simply an objective fact, the scale of the Finality and all the Herrscher is probably beyond the reach of being measured on a single level."

A hint of melancholy flickered across the girl's delicate expression as she whispered:

"Thirteen checkpoints..."

Will humanity truly live to see the end?

No one can say for sure whether the power level of Herrscher with later Sequence Number will increase exponentially.

The Sixth Herrscher did not reveal her terrifying power; her Honkai Energy fluctuations were almost completely contained. Therefore, the girl could not yet determine how much stronger she was than the previous Herrscher. Further research and observation should provide a conclusion.

Hopefully... we won't come to any terrible conclusions.

Mei couldn't help but feel the pressure of this heavy reality, but she quickly composed herself and said:

"We can discuss those later. Right now, the key issue is the changes that have occurred to Seele Fulei."

"I need you to confirm whether she still has a link with the Honkai Consciousness. Although according to current information, her link with the Honkai Consciousness is most likely severed or weak, this does not mean there is no possibility of other risks or even conspiracies."

Mei recalled the girl's dark red eyes, looked at the boy's face, and instructed him:

"Barring unforeseen circumstances, a faint Honkai link still exists within her. I know you will choose to sever it, but please keep the price to a certain limit."

She adjusted her glasses, which had slipped down her nose, and continued:

"If your personality continues to suffer significant deficiencies, leading to distortions and changes in your behavioral logic, then our cooperation will be very difficult to continue successfully."

Su Qing'an was silent for a moment, then he responded:

"No, as long as you exercise self-restraint beforehand, the Soul Scale will not be affected in this way."

Mei nodded to indicate that she understood. She knew that Su Qing'an always had his own sense of propriety, but it was always hard not to lecture him about his attitude towards her.

Moreover, given that it involves a small number of important people, it's understandable that a young person might lose their temper and make a wrong judgment.

However, this topic can only be touched upon superficially.

Soul Scale?

It is a power that is impossible to observe yet strange, like... the devil in mythology that lures people into hell.

Legend has it that the purer and nobler a soul is, the more favored it is by the devil, and they can exchange their wealth or power for something that ordinary people can only dream of in a lifetime through a deal with the devil.

The price is the loss of one's initial purity and nobility, becoming tainted by the filth and desires of the world, utterly sinking into self-destruction, and falling into the deepest hell from which there is no escape.

She pulled herself out of her thoughts, not dwelling on these matters, but instead said softly:

"Although I think it's an unnecessary reminder, Seele's mental state is very poor right now, so it's best to be careful how you handle her."

"I'll be careful, thank you."

Su Qing'an remained silent.

From the moment he saw her, he already knew the answer.

The girl's snow-white face was very cute. She blinked her deep blue eyes, and her long, curled eyelashes looked like butterflies perched on them.

Before the lifeless sea was completely plunged into darkness, in the brief moment that the final conclusion took hold in the mind.

The boy gazed at the faint, almost imperceptible link, and in a daze, he chose the price he would have to pay.

Immediately, the Soul Scale were tipped.

Unlike the previous black flames fueled by pure hatred, this crimson world of blood descended suddenly, enveloping the two and utterly shattering the already fragile connection.

At this point, the Sixth Herrscher was truly disconnected from the Honkai Consciousness.

Seele covered her forehead, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at Su Qing'an, who was smiling, and asked:

"Elder brother?"

The boy's fingertips, which had just flicked the little girl's forehead, instead gently brushed the tip of her nose. He smiled and said:

"The link between the Honkai Consciousness and you has now been completely severed, so it can't do anything to you anymore. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Seele pursed her lips, suppressing the tears welling in her eyes, and said:

"Sorry."

"This isn't something that can be broken so easily, especially since my brother's health is already very poor."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing'an was about to respond that she hadn't paid much of a price.

However, when trying to recall the memories in the brain, only a subtle blank can be remembered.

Cost...

What price did I pay this time?

The emotions remained unchanged, and the personality remained unchanged.

The perception and generation of emotions remain normal, and logical thinking should also be normal.

Was it to shorten the cost that needed to be paid, that you chose to include the memory of what price you would have to pay as a bargaining chip?

If it were me, it wouldn't be surprising if I did something like that.

That's not important.

It was as if someone was whispering in his ear; both his subconscious and his rational thinking prevented the boy from continuing to explore this blank space.

After marveling at the convenience of the Soul Scale for a while, Su Qing'an decided to go to Mei's place later for a psychological and mental examination.

Even if one's self-perception remains unchanged, the accuracy of that self-perception becomes uncertain after paying an unknown price, making a second confirmation from Mei essential.

Su Qing'an pinched her cheek and comforted her:

"It's alright, the connection between you and Him is already very weak, severing it isn't that difficult."

"Seele has already done a remarkable job; it must have been incredibly tough for her to persevere."

Is it hard work?

Seele tried to trace her distant memories, but could only recall intense pain and despair that crushed her soul. It was like a fragmented dream pieced together into a picture. She could not understand the struggles she had made for this, and could only feel a sense of bewilderment.

It's as if the years in between were forcibly cut off, leaving my mind somewhat confused to this day.

She whispered blankly:

"No, I... I don't remember."

"All I remember Awakened feeling completely confused, and then I found myself transformed into Herrscher."

The boy observed the little girl's unconscious shrinking back and almost palpable inferiority when she mentioned the [Herrscher]. He tried his best to suppress the sorrow in his heart and said with a smile:

"It wasn't Seele's fault that she became Herrscher."

"If someone else had been chosen to become the Sixth Herrscher, something terrible would have happened, or it wouldn't be surprising if a country had been destroyed. You've just taken on a misfortune you shouldn't have had to bear."

"And because of your efforts and restraint, many people have already been saved."

Su Qing'an paused for a moment, observing the girl's soul state. He was somewhat relieved to find that the confusion in her memories had not caused any serious changes.

But almost the next second, an inexplicable wave of sorrow surged in, a dark ocean carrying a heavy despair that overwhelmed his consciousness, making him feel suffocated.

Su Qing'an felt that Seele, who was clearly so close, was at a distance that was impossible for her to reach, as if she were separated by mountains and seas, and there was no trace of her anywhere else she could see.

He held the stunned girl in his arms, as if only then could he be sure that she hadn't truly gone far away.

Su Qing'an rested Seele's little head on his shoulder, not letting her see the uncontrollable sadness and fear on his face.

The boy was silent for a moment, calming the pent-up emotions in his chest. He then gently stroked the soft ends of her hair, as if stroking the fur of a small animal, and whispered:

You did nothing wrong.

Some of the aftereffects of my past personality deficiencies remain. I am now more rational and calm than before, and the current unrestrained surge of emotions is not normal.

Was it the sudden attack of the Honkai Consciousness that seemed to have made him somewhat neurotic, or was it related to the price he had paid before?

Su Qing'an, who had always been indifferent to himself, buried these things in the attic of his memory and ignored them.

Now, all he can do is care about what's in front of him.

The little girl closed her eyes peacefully, inhaling the scent of citrus, grapefruit, and sage mingled with the boy's shirt.

She thought that if it was to put her brother's mind at ease, then perhaps it didn't matter whether the real answer was this or not.

So, Seele murmured softly:

"Um."

Su Qing'an was unwilling for Seele Fulei to have to pay such a price and take such risks to assume this identity.

Even if someone else were to become the Sixth Herrscher, it might lead to countless deaths and injuries, destroy the happiness between countless people, and extinguish the flame of civilization's Honkai over the Honkai.

Most tragedies in the world stem from a chain of actions, and the life of Seele Fulei can be attributed to this.

This kind of unreasonable and incomprehensible misfortune is not the first time it has appeared in the girl's life, as if her existence is meant to be a sacrifice for the continuation of something else.

This shouldn't be happening.

The boy, feeling the excruciating sorrow, repeated this sentence in his heart.

After a long while, Su Qing'an calmed down.

He released his embrace and asked softly:

What would Seele like to eat for dinner?

For some reason, Seele suddenly recalled the meals she ate when she first met the boy, and she counted them on her fingers earnestly:

"I want braised pork ribs, braised eggs, beef with green peppers, shredded pork with garlic sauce, rice, and finally milk and poria cocos cake."

Su Qing'an smiled and pursed her lips:

"Do you want green peppers with your beef with green peppers?"

The little girl answered firmly:

"Don't want."

Three days have passed in the calm.

The external situation was turbulent, and the confidence and even arrogance that had gradually accumulated from killing several Herrscher meant that the upper echelons' attitude towards taking in the Sixth Herrscher was not as intense as expected.

However, such a precious and important thing as a living Herrscher is difficult for even Mei, who is gradually ascending to the altar, to personally contain and study alone without any objections.

In announcing the method of containing the Sixth Herrscher, besides stating that the Herrscher possessed self-awareness and did not show any tendency to be hostile to humanity, Mei's previous research on the Sixth Herrscher Authority was also compiled into a report, which became part of the details that added to the authenticity of the containment.

Taking public reaction into consideration, the authorities have no immediate plans to make a public announcement. Even if they were to state that humans are capable of imprisoning a Herrscher, the resulting backlash and public opinion would be a matter that must be taken into account.

Recently, the official team has made several attempts to send other researchers to assist in the research project on the Herrscher, but Mei has blocked them all with meaningless reasons.

In fact, Prometheus's existence was sufficient to fill the role of an assistant.

Inside the Soul Steel Prison, at the research institute.

Mei glanced at the report and stated:

"Currently available data and analysis show that your personality is no different from before the Honkai link Honkai."

"What exactly was the price you paid?"

Su Qing'an looked at the medical report for Seele that the other party had sent and replied:

"This intelligence was also exchanged for bargaining chips."

Mei frowned and expressed her opinion:

"Although it's based on Equivalent Exchange, this capability is more convenient and formidable than I anticipated."

This means that as long as the other party is willing to trade through the Soul Scale, they can almost immediately shed unwanted emotions or memories.

This right to freedom is, in essence, the constant whisper of the devil.

The more painful one's life and experiences, the more terrifying the potential risks of this ability become.

If users lack sufficient self-control and willpower, they will sooner or later lose themselves completely beneath the alluring facade of this Equivalent Exchange.

Su Qing'an was not someone with such weak will and conviction, so Mei felt she wasn't qualified to get involved, and simply shook her head.

"The unknown often requires more attention, but oh well."

The girl took a sip of water, stopped lecturing, and continued:

"You were the one who allocated the specific amount of chips, and you had your own considerations at the time, so there won't be any major problems."

Su Qing'an nodded silently, showing no interest in the topic. He pointed to a set of data in the database and asked:

"This should be test data regarding the Herrscher Core within Seele's body; compared to previous data, this is not normal."

Mei looked in the direction his fingertip had lingered, and nodded in response:

"This is very abnormal."

"Currently, research on the Herrscher Core has made several breakthroughs. According to Seele's own account, there is now a clearer understanding of the source of the Herrscher's infinite Honkai Energy. At present, only theoretical concepts have been truly confirmed."

"In short, I have a way to observe the specific permission level of each Herrscher Core linking to the Imaginary Space."

With a wave of her hand, the girl pulled up all the unsimplified data of the top few Herrscher. She compared several sets of data and said:

"Basically, all Herrscher follow the evolution of their Sequence Number, gradually gaining more and more permissions. This allows them to control a much larger amount of Honkai Energy at once, resulting in an exponential increase in their combat power and the limits of their authority output."

"But now both the Third Herrscher and the Sixth Herrscher have broken this fundamental rule."

Su Qing'an replied:

"The issue of the licensing rights for the Third Herrscher is likely due to the Great Honkai."

Mei nodded in agreement:

"Yes, to this day, the world has never seen Honkai outbreak that surpasses that one. The Third Herrscher's uniqueness is understandable, after all, even so, her licensing authority is still below that of the Fifth Herrscher, and in essence, she has not overly trampled on this rule."

"But the Sixth Herrscher is different; she is unexpectedly weak."

"The Honkai Consciousness grants the Sixth Herrscher Core a level of permission that falls between the Fifth and Fourth Herrschers, and the fundamental logic that the Herrscher will only grow stronger breaks down again at this point."

Su Qing'an recalled the frequent appearances of Emperor-class Honkai Beast and the Honkai Energy tidal phenomenon that almost covered the entire world, and he murmured:

"The time was too short, and the energy that should have been used to nourish the Herrscher was too scattered. The Sixth Herrscher created by combining all this Honkai Energy should have lived up to its name, but the current result is simply like a defective product produced through meaningless waste."

Mei did not respond; she has her own views on the matter.

However, it cannot be denied that the factors mentioned by Su Qing'an are indeed one of the reasons that led to this result.

"These are things to keep in mind, but they're not my biggest concern right now."

She looked at the boy and stated:

"Mr. Su, Seele's powers have the potential to prolong your life."