Arrival in Tokyo-3

Even in my previous life, nothing had thrilled me as much as being here.

"Humanity's incredible creativity really is staggering." Huang Zhetian looked up and down, astonishment written all over his face.

He had thought NERV's Beijing branch in China was impressive enough, but Headquarters was even more breathtaking. Nothing else was needed-the base built underground within the Black Moon alone was enough to amaze him. Watching the anime in his previous life had never given him quite this feeling; at most, he had marveled at the artists' skill. Now, this world's technology and industrial capabilities left him more awestruck than ever.

The electric railcar glided downward. He looked at the buildings suspended overhead at varying heights, then at Headquarters below, surrounded by forest.

Headquarters was the same as the other branches: a triangular pyramid. He had seen the branch in Nevada in the United States, and there had been little worth looking at. Its buildings stood in the desert, forming something like a small city amid the surrounding structures. None of it was as striking as the Beijing branch in China. At least NERV's Beijing headquarters was a building in the sky.

"When Miss Misato first brought me here, I was just as surprised and amazed as you are. I couldn't believe what humanity could create," Shinji told Huang Zhetian with a smile.

"I know exactly how you feel. By the way, is Commander Ikari at NERV Headquarters your father?" Huang Zhetian asked Shinji, his tone envious.

"Uh... yes. He's very busy..." Shinji's eyes dimmed at the question, and he fell silent halfway through.

"Did I ask something I shouldn't have? If so, let me apologize now, Shinji." Huang Zhetian bowed slightly. It seemed Commander Ikari's influence over Shinji was anything but small.

Shinji regarded Commander Ikari with admiration and awe, and with the scripted ending he could never escape, he was an out-and-out pawn. He had always lived in Commander Ikari's shadow, firmly under his control.

"No... I just remembered something else and got distracted, Zhetian. I'm the one who should apologize..." Shinji replied with an awkward chuckle.

"Well, I underestimated you, idiot Shinji. Who knew your father was the commander of NERV Headquarters? Hmph. Now I'm starting to question how you got your position as Unit-01's pilot." Asuka narrowed her eyes at him from the side, her mockery dripping with sarcasm.

"All right, enough! Let's head to the base at Headquarters and report to Commander Ikari first. Then we'll arrange somewhere for you two to stay. And keep your CD cards safe." Misato interrupted their conversation, took out two CD cards, and handed them to Huang Zhetian and Asuka.

"Misato, after I finish reporting in, I'm going to buy some daily necessities. Text me the address of where I'll be staying when you get it. Here's my new number." Huang Zhetian still wasn't sure whether he would be staying at Misato's place, but he decided to sound her out first.

"Shinji, want to come along?" After exchanging phone numbers with Misato, Huang Zhetian hooked an arm around Shinji's neck and asked.

The sudden physical contact made Shinji blush furiously. "S-sure... But could you let go of my neck?" he stammered.

"Tch-a boy, getting so... hmph." At the sight, Asuka tossed her orange hair, turned away, and followed Misato.

Huang Zhetian followed Misato to the electric rail lift with Shinji, but his gaze was fixed on the virtual panel before him-

Fish Angel killed. Earned 3,000 points.

Bonus reward: A.T. Field myriad transformation method.

Lottery unlocked.

Practice System quest issued: What teenager hasn't had a friend of the opposite sex!? Earn Asuka's affection. If possible, take that affection a step further (ಡωಡ)

Quest reward: White Sword Hilt

Note: The key to unlocking the Black Sword Hilt. Fusing them will produce unexpected results.

Looking at the rewards and quest the system had given him, Huang Zhetian wore the expression of that old-man-on-the-subway-looking-at-his-phone meme.

Holy crap. Sure, I, Huang Zhetian, want to date Asuka. But she's only fourteen right now! I'd have a spot on the scumbag rankings-wouldn't that make me even worse than Kuangmo Bro? But the reward is so tempting. To uncover the Black Sword Hilt's secret, I'll just have to reluctantly take action. Sigh... I'm being forced into this. It's not what I want. Forgive my sins, forgive my sins (ಡωಡ). First, I need to earn Asuka's affection. She won't be that easy to win over, after all. A pilot with an A.T. Field must have a very strong wall of the heart...

But on second thought... Commander Ikari is a tough one to deal with. He's basically an all-rounder with maxed-out stats. Both his intelligence and his combat strength are a problem; he could outsmart you to death. Dying without even knowing why would be the scariest part. Jet Alone going out of control was definitely no accident. As for strength, he's already gotten his hands on Adam's embryo and has an A.T. Field. Could an ordinary human body beat someone who's half Angel? What a joke...

Huang Zhetian was beginning to wonder how most of the protagonists in the Evangelion fanfiction he had read in his previous life had slaughtered Angels and Commander Ikari so effortlessly. How could it possibly be that simple? If it were, Hideaki Anno wouldn't have left Eva fans baffled at first, only for everything to click at the end. Although Huang Zhetian knew where the plot was headed, that didn't rule out other variables.

Hideaki Anno's works were always hard to understand. Watching them several times was an absolute must. If he had hidden some foreshadowing in there, wouldn't Huang Zhetian's calculations fall apart? The system was only an aid. Whether he could achieve the perfect ending he envisioned still depended mainly on himself. The system had also given him an Easter egg: after the TV series ended, he would go to Rebuild of Evangelion.

Looks like I have a long, hard road ahead... This is going to be tricky. I really don't understand how those protagonists managed it. I ought to get them here and make them try. Were we even playing the same dungeon? It's probably a problem with the system...

System: SO? Should I leave, then?

"We're here. You should meet Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki first." Misato reached the main doors and turned to address Asuka, Huang Zhetian, and the others.

Kozo Fuyutsuki was a match for Gendo Ikari. Together, the two of them had run circles around SEELE. Without putting up anything themselves, they had gotten SEELE to supply them with funds, materials, and other resources for their construction. To sum up SEELE in one sentence: they had done all the work for Gendo Ikari's benefit. All for nothing... SEELE really had been a bunch of suckers in the story. In any case, by the end, their original objective could only be called half achieved.

Let me, Huang Zhetian, take a look at Neon Genesis Evangelion's most easily overlooked wise man and hidden mastermind-Kozo Fuyutsuki.