Welt and Anti-Entropy

If the girl had not been so unskilled in wielding that power, and if she had not held back so much, Shi Hen would probably have been beaten into triggering his Revival Armor on the spot.

What a terrifying opponent.

Whenever Shi Hen thought of Durandal's incredibly heavy fists, he still felt a lingering sense of dread. She had been far too ruthless when hitting people.

Over the course of that battle, at least twenty or thirty bones in his body had been broken.

Without using Revival Armor to reset his condition, he would have had to stay in bed for at least ten days to half a month.

Of course, Durandal had not fared much better in the end. Even with the Kaslana family's monstrous physique, she would need at least a week to recover.

At that very moment, Shi Hen still had no idea that someone had acquired divine equipment and was sharpening her spear, ready to abduct him back to Schicksal as the team's anchor... Ah, no, that muscle-brained girl only wanted to fight people. The future awaiting him was most likely that of a tireless human punching bag working 007 without a single day off.

"Next time..." Looking at the youth before her, who still resembled a big child, Raven's thin lips moved slightly. The reprimand already at her lips was swallowed again. In the end, she could not bring herself to say anything harsh, merely letting out a helpless sigh. "From now on, don't be so reckless again."

When Rita had stopped her from advancing, she had truly thought she was about to lose Shi Hen.

"Okay, okay... I understand, Sister Natasha."

Sensing the deep concern in Raven's voice, Shi Hen hurriedly nodded.

The Mercenary Queen who ruled the underworld had never been someone who openly displayed her emotions. Iron-blooded indifference was her usual state.

Yet now, she cared for him like an older sister next door. She was only one step away from telling him through teary eyes how worried she had been. How could Shi Hen possibly remain unmoved?

Of course, if it truly came to that, it was hard to say whether he could resist hiding in a corner and lying low.

"Right, how are we supposed to write the mission report this time?"

Shi Hen suddenly asked as though he had just remembered.

Even if World Serpent was a bona fide villain organization, they still had to write mission reports.

"How else can we write it?" Raven's willow-like brows rose, her youthful face full of fury. "The intelligence department did not even figure out that retrieving the relic would cause such a huge disturbance. They even got us surrounded by Schicksal's Valkyrie forces. We can't just let this slide!"

"..."

Shi Hen was instantly dumbfounded.

He admitted that he had been a little reckless at the time.

Although the Blade of Immortality's warship had been right in front of him, if he had wanted to run, there was no way they could have stopped him.

But he had Revival Armor!

Even if Ancestor Kevin in his prime had charged right at him, Shi Hen would have dared to go all in, much less an underdeveloped Durandal.

So Shi Hen had charged straight in.

And then... his Revival Armor was gone.

Shi Hen had thought he would be punished, but after hearing Raven's explanation, he understood.

"So?"

Shi Hen looked expectant.

"We have to tell Gray Serpent that this matter..." Raven slammed both hands onto the table, her eyes filled with unquestionable authority. "Costs extra!"

Welt and Anti-Entropy

The next day, when Schicksal announced Durandal's promotion to an S-rank Valkyrie, Gray Serpent's mission payment was also deposited into Shi Hen's account.

A full hundred million, and in euros.

"Gasp~ Is World Serpent really this generous?"

Shi Hen sucked in a breath with no dignity whatsoever, making an indelible contribution to global warming.

"This is the price of inviting someone with strength comparable to an S-rank Valkyrie to join us."

Raven exposed the truth in a single sentence.

It was worth mentioning that her mission payment had been settled separately from Shi Hen's, so she had received only two million.

"I see."

Shi Hen nodded.

It was not difficult to understand, really.

After all, they had finally found a monstrous genius capable of matching Schicksal's ace. If they did not properly win him over, then Gray Serpent would be a complete failure as an HR manager.

Moreover, when Gray Serpent sent the money, he had not even mentioned Raymond's relic, clearly leaving it entirely to Shi Hen's disposal.

Shi Hen even felt that, given his current record of fighting Durandal to a draw, if he demanded that Gray Serpent make Raven his personal maid, it would not be impossi... No, Gray Serpent would most likely confront Raven directly, and then Shi Hen would get thoroughly beaten up.

Heh, women only slowed down the speed at which he swung a baseball bat.

Shi Hen immediately attained the serenity of a saint.

Still, even though Gray Serpent had not brought up the relic, Shi Hen had no intention of keeping it for himself.

That would look far too ugly.

This had been something the organization requested in the first place, and they had already paid the mission reward in full. What did it mean for him to keep it without handing it over?

Besides, the Moonlight Throne was basically just a toy in his hands.

Although the attack Shi Hen launched before leaving had wiped out nearly a thousand Honkai Beasts in one go, that was because he himself was strong enough. The Moonlight Throne's only contribution was providing light and heat.

Yes, light and heat in the literal sense.

In someone else's hands, it would probably only have the effect of a flashbang. The Moonlight Throne had never been designed as a weapon. Not everyone could wield a powerful flashlight like a Jedi lightsaber.

The Moonlight Throne: Imaginary-Embedded Pulse Annihilation Generator's true value was its ability to help the organization's researchers further understand Previous Civilization technology and deepen their knowledge of Honkai.

That was the proper way to use a relic.

If he truly wanted weapons or equipment, Shi Hen could simply apply to the organization. He believed Gray Serpent would not hold him back over something like that.

One could even say that Gray Serpent was currently waiting for him to name his terms.

After all, anyone could throw money around, but World Serpent's stockpile of high-end equipment was available nowhere else.

Compared with Shi Hen, who had leapt to S-rank strength and could thrive anywhere, Gray Serpent was more eager to draw the two of them closer.

If Shi Hen had not still been in Sicily, Gray Serpent would have dragged him into the organization's warehouse on the spot and told him to take whatever he wanted.

Of course, among all organizations and factions worldwide, Shi Hen first had to rule out Schicksal, because he had just received a massive bounty from them.

"Six hundred and fifty million. Schicksal really is rich."

Looking at the long string of zeroes on the wanted poster, Shi Hen could not help sighing.

It was merely a fake identity, yet Schicksal was genuinely willing to throw money around. He had not even done anything outrageous enough to earn the wrath of gods and men.

Shi Hen seriously suspected that Otto was simply showing off his own S-rank Valkyrie.

After all, if he was worth six hundred and fifty million, then Durandal, who could fight him to a draw, was naturally worth the same amount.

It truly was obscenely extravagant.

"They control two-thirds of the world's countries and regions."

Raven's tone was also full of envy.

Now that was a real sugar daddy.

Unfortunately, they did not have much need for mercenaries, or she would definitely go find herself a side job.

Even if Schicksal remembered the Raven account and put a bounty on it, she still had alternate accounts.

She refused to believe that Schicksal could put bounties on every single one of her accounts.

What was somewhat heartbreaking was that Raven's bounty was only five million, not even ten million. As an organization executive, it was rather embarrassing.

Even Welt Yang was her underling.

"Sister Natasha, if I turn myself in, do you think Schicksal will pay up?"

Shi Hen was tempted.

His Revival Armor was ready again.

If he could trade one Revival Armor for six hundred and fifty million, Shi Hen felt it would be well worth it.

"Then remember to have them transfer the money into my account."

Raven offered her suggestion.

"Then will you come save me afterward?"

Shi Hen asked, blinking.

If he truly entered Schicksal HQ, one Revival Armor probably would not be enough.

"No." Raven decisively shook her head. "I can arrange a more luxurious funeral for you. Even the coffin will be made of pure gold."

Shi Hen: "..."

He could only give up on the six hundred and fifty million through tears.

What a pity.

Shi Hen's heart ached so badly that he could barely breathe.

But when his gaze shifted to the long string of numbers Gray Serpent had transferred into his bank account, his mood instantly improved again.

Gray Serpent was still the best. He could transfer money to him at the drop of a hat.

From this day onward, World Serpent would be Shi Hen's second hometown!

At the same time, in another country across the ocean, someone was not in as good a mood as Shi Hen.

Because Shi Hen's wanted poster listed Anti-Entropy as his affiliated faction.

Within Ark Space, the separate dimension exclusive to Anti-Entropy, enforcers from all over the world had gathered for an endless argument.

"Slander! This is blatant slander!"

Tesla, with her red twin-tails, was the first to cry out. Her pretty face twisted slightly from excessive rage.

She had never seen anyone so shameless!

That bastard Otto had not only put some inexplicable person on the wanted list, but also claimed that he was a terrorist dispatched by Anti-Entropy. He had even specifically sent the legal department to demand one billion US dollars in compensation.

A full billion!

Why did that old bastard not just rob them!?

No, this was clearly outright robbery!

"Dr. Tesla, please calm down. I think everyone should understand that this matter absolutely has nothing to do with Anti-Entropy."

The blue-haired girl beside her, whose expression was so calm it was nearly blank, spoke up to console her.

Since red and blue had always made a perfect pairing, the speaker was naturally Tesla's close girlfriend, Einstein.

"Really?"

Someone asked, displaying a complete lack of tact.

Glancing at the person who had just slapped her in the face, Einstein immediately understood.

This was an enforcer from the radical faction.

As Anti-Entropy continued to grow, the number of enforcers had increased, and two distinct camps—the radicals and the conservatives—had gradually formed.

Unlike the conservatives, who favored moderate methods, the radicals had always pursued radical demands. They advocated using every means available to eliminate the enemies standing in Anti-Entropy's way.

In short, this group was nothing but a bunch of lunatics.

As one of Anti-Entropy's founders and a leader of the conservative faction, Einstein disliked their views greatly, but Anti-Entropy's development could not do without their support.

If Anti-Entropy relied solely on the conservatives, Schicksal would have wiped it out long ago.

Yet the organization's resources were limited. When everyone's demands conflicted with one another, clashes were inevitable.

When the Anti-Entropy Leader was still active, the disputes between the two factions had not been so intense.

But as Welt had remained absent for so long, Anti-Entropy's internal conflicts had become increasingly impossible to resolve.

Just like now, the other party was merely a minor radical enforcer who had been an enforcer for less than a year, yet he already dared to publicly slap her in the face.