As someone determined to become the ultimate boss, Shi Hen did not care about such trivial details.
Whether he was merciful or ruthless, such labels meant nothing to him.
Shi Hen was merely walking a path that belonged to him alone.
Seeing how utterly unconcerned the youth looked, Raven knew that he had his own set of values.
Trying to change Shi Hen's mind with just a few words would be far too disrespectful to him.
And judging by Shi Hen's display of strength, he truly had the right to be willful.
"Once we get past the blockade, we won't run into any more danger along the way.
The transport ship will linger outside for a while longer and won't return until we've completely shaken off Schicksal's eyes." Raven did not try to persuade him further. She merely straightened the youth's collar and said softly, "Go get some rest early. I'll call you when we arrive."
Once they returned to World Serpent's base, things would no longer be as peaceful as they were now.
Schicksal HQ, Floating Island.
"Bishop Sir, that Welt survived."
Lowering her head slightly toward the blond man enjoying his lunch, Amber reported respectfully.
"Is that so? What a surprise." As though he had heard something extremely amusing, Otto paused with his steak knife, a brilliant smile slowly spreading across his face. "Was he alone?"
"According to the reports from the Valkyries at the scene, the first nuclear missile was stopped by a mercenary named Raven, who used a Sniper Rifle capable of firing electromagnetic bullets.
The remaining three were all intercepted by that Welt alone.
It is said that thunder roared continuously at the scene, and in the end, a white baseball bat several thousand meters long even appeared in the sky.
Aside from a few casualties caused by fighting Honkai Beasts, none of our personnel were injured or killed. Even the Valkyries taken away by that Welt were released afterward."
Amber delivered her report calmly.
"The sound of thunder... Could it have been the Third Divine Key?"
Otto could not help falling into thought.
After all, there were not many weapons capable of confronting nuclear missiles, and the Divine Key series was undoubtedly among the most conspicuous.
Unfortunately, the Previous Civilization records collected by Schicksal contained few accounts of the Divine Keys. Since he had not been present himself, he could not make a more accurate judgment.
"You mentioned that Welt also took away some Valkyries?"
Otto asked with a smile.
"Yes." Amber nodded lightly. "While that Welt was responsible for stopping the nuclear missiles, his companion apparently abducted nine Far East Branch Valkyries who had been fighting the Honkai Beast Ganesha, seemingly out of concern and retaliation.
Only after that Welt returned safely, and their Hover Battleship had crossed the Far East Branch's blockade, were those Valkyries finally released."
"Sounds like our Welt is quite the gentleman?"
Otto's smile grew even brighter.
Even if he truly was with Anti-Entropy, perhaps only those who shared the current Welt's ideals would possess such grace.
From that perspective, this impostor had not disgraced the name Welt.
Pressing her lips together, Amber offered no opinion on the matter.
"What about those Valkyries? Did they bring back any message?"
Taking a sip of the red wine beside him, Otto asked.
"..." At the question, Amber's expression changed slightly, as though she did not know how to phrase it. After a long while, she finally said, "That Welt told Lady Durandal to train hard, and said... he was already three eras ahead of Durandal."
"Ha ha ha..." Otto could not help laughing aloud. "This Welt is truly an interesting fellow."
After a long while, the bishop finally stopped laughing and asked, "Nothing else?"
"No, that was all."
Amber shook her head.
"I see..." Otto stroked his chin as though pondering something, then spoke again after quite some time. "Announce to the public that... this Honkai incident was caused by Anti-Entropy, and that those Valkyries were heroes who faced Welt directly and foiled Anti-Entropy's plot.
Then raise our bounty to one billion as well."
Anti-Entropy was being so enthusiastic; Schicksal could not afford to fall behind.
And more importantly, Schicksal was very rich.
"Yes."
Amber lowered her head slightly and answered respectfully.
"Oh, right, Anti-Entropy's Welt hasn't appeared for a long time, has he?"
As though he had suddenly remembered, Otto asked with a smile.
"Since three years ago, Schicksal has received no further information regarding the Herrscher of Reason."
Amber answered seriously.
"Hmm..." Otto lightly tapped his fingers on the dining table. "Hasn't that Welt always said he would become Anti-Entropy's next leader?
If that's the case, we'll lend him a hand.
Amber, release the news. Say that Welt has already become Anti-Entropy's new leader."
He was very curious whether the other man could still sit still if the entire world believed the Anti-Entropy Leader was dead.
Surely, the development of things would be extremely interesting.
Thinking this, Otto's smile grew increasingly brilliant.
World Serpent Is a Justice-Seeking Organization That Saves the World
At World Serpent's base, Shi Hen looked at his freshly issued one-billion bounty notice without the slightest ripple in his heart. He even felt like laughing.
Heh, rotten Schicksal. Countless resources had all become sacrifices to satisfy that bishop's selfish desires.
But what did changing his identity to Anti-Entropy Leader even mean? The real Welt was still hiding out at St. Freya!
Scratching his head, Shi Hen decided to put the matter aside when he could not figure it out.
He had already decided to temporarily seal away the identity of Welt anyway. Even if they raised the bounty to ten billion, it would have nothing to do with him.
Once he let go of the thought, Shi Hen immediately felt relaxed all over. Even the dinner before him seemed a little more delicious.
Ever since returning to the base, Shi Hen had resumed his previous life of having clothes brought to him and... Well, not that. World Serpent's treatment of high-ranking personnel was generous, but not luxurious enough to provide personal maids.
In short, Shi Hen's days at the base were quite pleasant. Raven, on the other hand, had become so busy that she was nowhere to be seen again.
Still, they occasionally ran into each other at the base, so Shi Hen did not care what this World Serpent executive was busy with.
After all, he was merely an idle member. He was neither involved in the base's operations and management, nor did anyone come to tell Shi Hen about World Serpent's grand plans.
Come to think of it, had he really joined a villain organization? Why had no one come to preach the great will of the Serpent to him?
In the base cafeteria, Shi Hen ate curry rice carefully prepared by the chef and could not help sinking into deep thought.
This World Serpent seemed rather lazy when it came to training newcomers.
"Mr. Shi Hen, may I sit here?"
A hoarse voice rang out, pulling Shi Hen from his thoughts.
"Of course." Answering without hesitation, Shi Hen raised his head and, as expected, saw a familiar figure. "It really has been a long time, Mr. Gray Serpent."
A black hoodie, a metal mask, electronic prosthetic eyes, and a large black umbrella that he carried wherever he went—this was undoubtedly World Serpent's current helmsman, Gray Serpent.
"Yes, it has been over a month since we last met. I am pleased to see that Mr. Shi Hen is well."
Gray Serpent pulled out the chair across from Shi Hen slightly and sat down opposite the youth.
"I am also glad to see that Mr. Gray Serpent is doing well." With a bright, sunny smile, Shi Hen glanced at the empty table before Gray Serpent. "Mr. Gray Serpent, aren't you having anything?"
As he spoke, the youth's gaze drifted toward the mask that seemed to have grown onto Gray Serpent's face.
He was curious whether Gray Serpent would take it off when he ate.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Shi Hen, but I am not human and have no need to eat."
Shaking his head, Gray Serpent calmly revealed a secret that was no longer much of a secret among the organization's executives.
"I see." Shi Hen sighed as though feeling sentimental. "Enjoying good food can improve one's mood too."
As a cyborg, Gray Serpent possessed a certain degree of biological structure and was capable of eating.
But capable did not mean necessary.
It seemed that he was clearly a life-form who had transcended base pleasures and did not care about satisfying his appetite.
"Unfortunately, I cannot perceive the taste of food."
Gray Serpent spoke in an even tone.
"What a pity."
Shi Hen sighed softly, picked up a piece of chicken, put it into his mouth, and chewed it carefully.
The aroma was rich, and the texture was neither dry nor tough. World Serpent's chefs were genuinely quite skilled.
"I heard that several days ago, Mr. Shi Hen had a minor disagreement in principles with Miss Jackal."
Gray Serpent asked as though casually.
"Which one are you referring to?"
Shi Hen asked in return.
In his eyes, Jackal was quite easy to get along with, and reason could be discussed with her.
Therefore, he did not think he had any disagreement with Jackal, because he could always convince her.
"The matter concerning those Schicksal Valkyries."
Gray Serpent stated it directly.
"Oh, those people." Shi Hen suddenly understood. "They were some insignificant little characters. I didn't really care what happened to them.
But they had just danced for me, so I couldn't immediately turn hostile afterward.
Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Gray Serpent?"
Gray Serpent looked deeply at Shi Hen, as if trying to discern something from his words. Only after a long time did he nod. "...Yes, Miss Jackal did go too far."
World Serpent cared only about benefits, not right or wrong.
And compared to Jackal, Shi Hen better served World Serpent's interests at the moment.
"I knew Mr. Gray Serpent would understand me."
Shi Hen smiled and nodded slightly.
Looking at the black-haired youth's sincere smile, Gray Serpent could not tell for a moment whether he was truly innocent or had already seen through everything.
"Over this period of time, I assume Mr. Shi Hen has gained some understanding of the truth of this world?"
Straightening up with his hands resting on his knees, Gray Serpent asked in a somewhat solemn tone.
"Mm." Shi Hen nodded as he ate his curry. "Honestly, this world is far worse than I imagined."
"Oh? What did Mr. Shi Hen originally think the world was like?"
Gray Serpent asked with apparent curiosity.
"When I first encountered Honkai, I thought there were merely a few rats in the house.
But now I realize that human civilization itself is built atop a nest of snakes and rats."
Shi Hen sighed deeply.
Even in this era, cities were still destroyed by Honkai every year. Countless people vanished in the darkness, becoming mere casualty statistics from infectious diseases, terrorist attacks, or all kinds of natural disasters.
"Hehe, a nest of snakes and rats... What an interesting metaphor." Gray Serpent laughed as well. "Then, has Mr. Shi Hen ever considered letting us save this world?"
"..."
Shi Hen blinked, and even his chewing came to a halt.
Wait, what kind of question was that? Weren't we a villain organization? How had this suddenly turned into saving the world?
Before you continue