Previous Era, Moth Chasing Fire Headquarters.
"Looks like we've already blended in there. Hehe~ Hua, I never expected you to be even more willing to open up to others there~"
After opening her eyes, Elysia smiled and teased Hua.
Ever since the Fusion Warrior squad had completely disbanded, Hua had kept a long face.
It was as though she had lost all hope for the future. It was truly heartbreaking to see.
"Phew..."
Hua did not respond to Elysia's teasing.
She merely propped herself up on the sofa with both hands and stared at the headquarters' ceiling.
"Elysia, what do you think?"
"Hehe~ If I'm not mistaken, Hua, you're asking what I think of Yae Sakura? She's an especially adorable girl! If possible, I'd really love to introduce her to Sakura. I'm sure they'd have plenty to talk about~"
Elysia lightly clapped her hands, looking eager to give it a try.
Of course, she knew it was impossible. But whenever she imagined two girls who looked almost identical sitting together, holding their little sister's hand, chatting, drinking tea, and eating desserts...
Just thinking about it made a wonderful scene unconsciously appear in her mind~
"That's enough, Elysia. Let's stop joking around."
Hua turned her head and looked at the fairy-like, adorable girl.
"You should understand what consequences there will be if we tell Sakura about our discovery."
"Hua, are you afraid that Ling will... Ling has always been well-behaved in the base. As long as she's alright, Sakura will come back eventually."
Elysia's words seemed meant to convince Hua, but also herself.
Special Honkai energy reactions had indeed been detected inside Ling, but she did not possess a Herrscher's powers and still retained her human consciousness.
However, people terrified of Herrschers had still taken her back to the base and imprisoned her, leaving Dr. Mei to investigate the secrets hidden within Ling.
"Do you believe that yourself?"
"Hehe, Hua~ Don't be so pessimistic. It's bad for your skin, you know."
"Phew... Let's hope so."
Hua said nothing more and quietly listened as Elysia spoke about her thoughts on the people in the Live Stream.
Time slowly passed, and Hua's thoughts gradually drifted as she began analyzing the hidden information in the game Honkai Impact 3rd.
Then, an idea suddenly flashed through her mind, and she noticed something unusual.
"Why do the protagonist Kiana and Theresa have white hair? Everyone else's hair color is perfectly normal. And Kaslana... Kaslana? What kind of family is that?"
Hua felt that she had finally found a crucial clue, yet she could not figure out what connection lay between them.
Perhaps as the game's main story continued, she would obtain the answers she wanted...
Fu Hua thought truthfully.
Ding-ding-ding!!!
Beichen had been sleeping soundly when an alarm abruptly woke him.
"What the hell is making so much noise! I didn't set an alarm!?"
He impatiently fumbled for his phone, but when he turned it on, he discovered that it was not his phone alarm ringing.
It was the communicator Schicksal had installed in the dormitory!
"All employees, get dressed immediately and gather at the spaceport! This is the Bishop's order. Everyone must comply!"
The communicator played Durandal's voice three times before falling silent.
Hearing the announcement, Beichen realized that something major had happened, so he groggily began getting dressed.
Yet as he dressed, he could not help feeling puzzled.
Durandal? Why was she the one notifying us to gather this time?
Where was Rita? Where was that perfect maid, Rita?
Wasn't she usually the one who relayed Archbishop Otto's orders? Did she slack off this time?
"Whatever. It has nothing to do with me whether it's one of them or the other. As long as I'm not late."
After saying that, Beichen pushed open the door and hurried toward the spaceport alongside countless other Schicksal employees who had been woken by the noise...
The Chance to Finally Become a Full-Time Employee?
By the time Beichen reached the gathering point at the spaceport, the place was already packed with employees.
Everyone wore matching uniforms and stood in neat formations like an army ready for battle.
Before them stood a metal platform that had already been erected.
On the platform, Durandal and the Valkyries of the Immortal Blades stood at attention with their hands behind their backs, facing everyone below.
As Valkyries, they possessed outstanding figures and heroic bearing. Each of them had a beauty that made hearts skip a beat.
Quite a few people below began whispering among themselves when they saw them.
"Isn't that Durandal? After what happened last time, the broadcast said she was the strongest Valkyrie here?"
"Isn't that maid Rita usually the one who informs us? Why was she replaced?"
"A gorgeous blonde with blue eyes. Amazing!"
"Hey, buddy. Why do you think she called us here? Could she be telling us temps that we're getting a raise?"
"You're dreaming. How could they announce raises for everyone at once? Just wait. She'll explain once everyone gets here."
After answering a colleague beside him, Beichen said nothing more.
Most of the people whispering were temporary workers like him.
Since they had not officially entered Schicksal's system, they had not even been told what Honkai was or what Valkyries were when they were hired.
The only information they had been told about Honkai was that first line Rita had said about working hard to protect humanity's future.
It was not until Theresa led people in an attack on Schicksal Headquarters some time ago, and Kiana awakened as the Herrscher of the Void, that Schicksal decided to give the temporary workers some explanations.
So... Otto was such a goddamn bastard!
They were doing work that could cost them their lives, and he had not told them in advance?
A black-hearted corporate boss—damn it!
Just as Beichen was inwardly complaining about his boss being a complete asshole, he heard Durandal speak loudly from the platform.
"I called you here today to explain something."
Following the direction of her voice, Beichen saw Durandal standing with her hands behind her back and her chest raised as she faced everyone.
Today, she wore a relatively ordinary Valkyrie Gloria Combat Suit. It resembled a military uniform somewhat; her shapely thighs were wrapped in black stockings, while the combat boots on her feet made her look especially aloof.
However, Durandal's voice was unusually gentle today, making it seem as though... she was embarrassed?
"It concerns what happened not long ago."
As soon as she spoke, everyone below the platform stopped discussing and looked intently at the unfamiliar Valkyrie.
Beichen was among them, quite curious what sort of explanation she intended to give.
Was she going to publicly apologize? Probably not. How could Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie lower herself to apologize? Otto did not seem like the sort of person who would make her do that.
Could they really be planning to raise their pay?
Beichen quietly pondered it, but only after Durandal spoke did he realize that he had been thinking too simply.
"The work we are carrying out concerns humanity's survival, but human society is not yet prepared."
"For that reason, we need to keep it confidential from you."
After Durandal slowly explained why it had been kept secret, she straightforwardly laid out the response plan for the unexpected incident.
"Originally, Schicksal's screening process for recruits was extremely complicated, but since you have already witnessed the emergence of Honkai..."
"The Bishop has decided to assess you."
The moment Beichen heard that, he froze. "An assessment?"
The other temporary workers were equally stunned.
After murmuring among themselves, they began raising objections to the Valkyrie on the platform.
"What kind of assessment is it? What happens if we fail?"
"Yeah, you're not going to just eliminate us, are you?"
Seeing everyone becoming agitated, Durandal raised a hand to signal for them to calm down.
"Those who pass the assessment will become official Schicksal employees, but that also means joining the fight against Honkai."
"As for those who fail, don't worry. We will provide a substantial severance package, though you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement before leaving."
Upon hearing that they would receive a large sum of money after being dismissed, the temporary workers who had been so agitated moments ago all quieted down.
Beichen looked around at those spineless people. Though he felt somewhat disdainful, he could understand them.
After all, everyone just needed a way to make a living. What difference did it make where they worked?
Now that the other side had said they would compensate them, why not take the money, enjoy themselves for a while, then find another job?
Not long after Beichen withdrew his gaze, a particularly observant temporary worker asked the key question.
"Um, well... Durandal, right?"
"Yes. What is your question, sir?"
"I want to know, what happens if someone leaks the secret?"
At those words, all the temporary workers turned their eyes toward the gorgeous blonde atop the platform.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Durandal smiled.
"Hehe. We have certain connections with government officials in various countries. We help them deal with the damage caused by Honkai, and they can help us deal with people who cause trouble."
Everyone below the platform: "..."
Now that she had put it that way, what else was there to say?
A temporary worker trying to go against a global corporation like Schicksal would simply be courting death.
In short, after a brief explanation, everyone was led one by one into a private room in the spaceport for assessment.
The process was quite fast. Each person usually came out after about ten minutes.
So after the people ahead of him finished their assessments, it was soon Beichen's turn.
Guided by an Immortal Blades member, he entered a room with entirely white walls.
Inside the room stood a table and two chairs facing each other.
Durandal sat in the chair closer to the inside. When she saw someone enter, she looked up and smiled.
She pointed at the device placed on the table.
"Please place your hand on the device."
Beichen placed his hand on the semi-elliptical device, and before long, he felt an electric current moving across his palm.
"That will do. Please fill out the form. Once you are done, we will notify you of the preliminary assessment results tomorrow."
After taking the form Durandal handed him, Beichen began filling in the questions on it.
But the very first question made him frown deeply.
Do you believe you are human?
Before you continue