Looking at her aloof expression, Raven had more than once wondered whether she was the problem.
It seemed like there really was nothing wrong with what she had said...
How could an amnesiac remember her own name?
Raven fell into self-doubt.
"Fine. My name is Raven, and you can call me that from now on. Usually, I handle fieldwork and more action-oriented assignments."
Raven crossed one arm over her chest and lightly waved her left hand.
"The one in the lab is called Jackal. She's a research-oriented executive. There's something wrong with her head, but under normal circumstances, we coordinate with her quite often."
Raven curled her lip. In her eyes, Jackal and Cocolia were not all that different at their core; they were just crazy in different ways.
In short, Raven did not think Jackal was much better than Cocolia.
It was only because Jackal was still very useful to World Serpent.
From Raven's perspective, Yomi would most likely end up like her in the future, constantly being sent out on field assignments.
"She also handles some of the regular weapons logistics and medical logistics. Of course, if she ever wants you to test something for her, it's best not to agree. We're the same rank, so she can't do anything to you."
Raven complained.
Normally, World Serpent's executives each had their own duties and rarely worked closely together.
After all, every one of them was talented. Basically, none of them thought much of the others.
"Come on. Since Grey Serpent said so, I'll take you in to meet her."
Raven beckoned. After their identities were verified, the laboratory door opened.
"Jackal, there's a newcomer. Come meet her."
After entering the laboratory, Raven's gaze became noticeably guarded.
Even though they were colleagues, who knew what kind of bizarre crap Jackal was researching?
Raven had handled quite a few of Jackal's experimental accidents and knew exactly what she was like.
"Oh? A newcomer?"
A woman with brown-black hair, golden eyes, and dark gray skin walked over, giving the violet-black-haired girl behind Raven an appraising look.
"Not bad quality."
At first sight of the girl, Jackal praised her.
"Is there really any need to bring so many weapons into a laboratory?"
Jackal noticed the two blades at her waist and spoke.
"What's your name?"
"Yomi. Sorry, but I have reasons why I must carry them with me."
Faced with Jackal's faintly targeted remarks, Yomi gently shook her head.
"Give it a rest, Jackal. What's wrong with Yomi bringing weapons in? If she really wanted to cut you down, it wouldn't matter what she used."
Hearing Raven's unusually high opinion of Yomi, Jackal became interested.
"It seems our new colleague has earned quite your admiration..."
As fellow World Serpent executives, Jackal knew Raven's combat strength very well, and she also knew what kind of people could earn such high praise from her.
"Heh... Want her to give you a demonstration? Using those shoddy test subjects of yours, perhaps..."
When Raven began exposing her secrets, Jackal narrowed her eyes.
"Those are not test subjects. They are pioneers of our plan. Their deaths have meaning. Every one of them has brought us one step closer to defeating Honkai..."
Listening to Jackal's mad ravings, Raven could only tilt her head and helplessly curl her lip.
World Serpent's goal was the Stigmata Project, and before the Stigmata Project could be carried out, many experiments were still needed.
Although Raven looked down on those experiments, she knew she could not stop them. All she could do was keep herself clean.
She was just working for money anyway. Once she had enough, she would find a chance to retire.
Compared to Cocolia, Jackal was really only different in her objective.
"You don't understand at all..."
As Jackal and Raven began arguing, Yomi turned her gaze toward the medical pod at the center of the laboratory.
Perhaps noticing Yomi's gaze, Cocolia inside the medical pod looked toward her as well.
But this time, they only met each other's eyes for a moment before looking away.
The threads of fate connecting them had already been severed.
"Hmph. I hope the newcomer has more sense than you."
There was no end to disputes between office staff and military officers. In theory, Raven could not outargue Jackal; physically, Jackal could not persuade Raven. In the end, both could only take a step back.
That was how World Serpent's executives, aside from Grey Serpent, got along.
After looking around, Yomi lightly shook her head.
So far, aside from Cocolia, who felt vaguely familiar, the entirety of World Serpent felt foreign to her.
Clearly, World Serpent had little to do with her memories.
"Your eyes are very beautiful..."
Jackal commented as she looked into Yomi's eyes.
Everything about Yomi, inside and out, radiated an extraordinary air. If possible, Jackal really wanted to study her.
When humans of this generation awakened Stigmata, there would always be something about their bodies that surpassed ordinary people. Jackal had seen plenty of such things, but she had never seen eyes of such exceptional quality.
She did not believe those bright violet-pink eyes, as though they carried their own halo of light, were natural.
"Thank you."
Yomi did not think much of Jackal's intrigued words. She simply assumed Jackal was complimenting her.
Raven merely puffed out her cheeks at that.
She had already warned Jackal. If Jackal planned to make a move against Yomi, it would not be Raven getting beaten up anyway.
At the same time, a gray-black cat swayed its tail as it stepped elegantly off the experiment table.
"A cat?"
The moment Raven saw the cat, she sensed that something was wrong. Then, seeing the slight upturn at Jackal's lips, she realized what was going on.
"Meow. (A threatening growl.)"
The gray-black kitten raised its red eyes as it padded forward, looking dangerously at the violet-black-haired girl.
"A cat?"
Yomi only glanced at it before it charged at her. It was very fast, and Yomi instinctively held her sword hilt across her body.
"Duang!"
Just before transforming, Stan slammed into the black-red sheath. A soul-staining terror instantly cleared Stan's little feline head.
As an ultimate life-form, Stan's senses were tens of thousands of times sharper than an ordinary cat's, making it extremely sensitive to danger signals.
So, it chose the wisest strategy.
"Meow, meow!"
Raven looked at the little cat rolling over and exposing its belly before Yomi, then at Jackal's awkward expression.
"Is this a new pet you're raising?"
"N-No... It's a stray cat that wandered in from somewhere..."
Looking at the disgraceful Stan, Jackal felt that all her experiments had been for nothing.
She had spent so many reagents and so much Honkai energy, only to create something that could do nothing but act cute?!
"Foolish human!"
Faced with Jackal's questioning gaze, Stan merely shot her a disdainful look.
Only creatures that adapted to their environment could survive. Sharp instincts and relentless effort were what had brought Stan this far.
Out of so many cats, only Stan had mutated into a Honkai Beast after the experiment and could shift between forms.
"A stray cat? Can I keep it?"
Yomi picked up the little creature that kept showing off its belly and acting cute, then looked at Jackal with some confusion.
At that moment, Jackal and Stan stared directly at each other. Even from several meters away, Jackal could sense Stan's contempt for her and its docility in Yomi's arms.
"Y-You can."
Although Stan was one of the few mature test subjects, Jackal felt there was little difference between it and a failure.
"Everyone's here?"
Grey Serpent's mechanical voice sounded.
"Night Owl has another mission. Schicksal has already discovered that the Second Divine Key is in London. We need to stop them according to plan."
As soon as he finished speaking, Grey Serpent's gaze settled on Yomi, who was holding Stan.
"Yomi, once this mission is over, please visit the Trial Grounds."
When facing the violet-black-haired girl, Grey Serpent's voice noticeably lowered, and his manner carried a trace of respect.
Raven noticed that detail as well, while Jackal had her mind entirely on stopping Schicksal and did not notice it.
After they finalized the operation, Grey Serpent softly reminded Raven as he passed by her.
"It's time to pick a side..."
Raven's eyes flickered when she heard Grey Serpent's whisper. This was the first time she had seen him behave this way.
Pick a side? What side?
Ever since Grey Serpent met Yomi, he had seemed strange. This operation to stop Schicksal from obtaining the Second Divine Key was clearly crucial, yet Grey Serpent had glossed over it as though something else was weighing on his mind.
Only then did Raven realize that she had always suspected Yomi might be from Schicksal or Anti-Entropy, but now it seemed she...
Could possibly be one of World Serpent's people?
Originally, Raven had intended to bring in a fighter. Now, it seemed she would still have to be the fighter...
Not long after the meeting ended, Raven found Grey Serpent alone. Looking at his back, she felt as though he had become much more high-spirited.
"What's going on?"
Raven had a good relationship with Grey Serpent. After all, he was the one who had brought her in back then, so she belonged to his faction.
"Yomi... she isn't the same kind of person as us..."
Grey Serpent spoke slowly.
"Then what kind of person could she be?"
Raven shrugged, unable to understand.
"She is the same kind of person as the Sovereign and the others."
Grey Serpent's words made Raven stiffen.
She had only wanted to find Grey Serpent and see whether he could reveal a little information.
"Have you still not figured out what the weapon in her hand is?"
Grey Serpent was extremely perceptive. Ever since Yomi had entered the World Serpent base, he had noticed it.
"Mm... Is it that special?"
Raven had not expected that casually bringing someone into World Serpent would provoke such a huge reaction from Grey Serpent.
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