Wait, hold on!
What did Welt mean by "Zeke entrusted him"? What could Zeke possibly have tasked him with? To chat with her?
Hiss!
Something wasn't right. By openly appearing at Saint Freya Academy, Welt naturally drew her attention and engaged her in conversation for quite some time—all this took precious minutes away from her schedule.
In other words, Zeke didn't want her interfering during this period. Did he have some plan underway?
An operation that Zeke doesn't wish her to disrupt at this moment—is it related to K-423? Or perhaps the other two Herrscher Cores?
"Crack!"
Hera narrowed her eyes as she crushed the teacup handle, causing the cup to shatter audibly onto the floor, tea splashing everywhere.
"Amber, assemble a small team and bring some nearby Soulium. We're heading to Anti-Entropy Headquarters."
"Yes, Director Otto."
Amber retreated to make the necessary arrangements.
Meanwhile, Otto tapped open a screen, observing the vast blind spots in reconnaissance across the Siberian tundra, and pressed his fingers against his temples with a headache.
"I was too careless. Still digesting Gray Serpent's memories when Welt interrupted me—now it's too late. Whatever Zeke intended, he likely achieved it by now. However, we must at least determine what exactly he has been up to."
Otto shook his head; he already had some suspicions but needed confirmation. This time, he made a misstep, overlooking something, yet strangely, it didn't feel entirely unwelcome.
Hera, her thoughts synchronized with Welt from miles away, sighed helplessly and shot him an adorable, yet mildly exasperated glare—though not intentionally so. After five centuries of acting experience, she had instinctively learned to adopt mannerisms fitting for any given form.
"You've been corrupted by Zeke! How dare you team up with him to tease me?"
"Haha, he's both my trusted general and strategic mind; naturally, I would grant his request... Alright, truth be told, when he speaks with that ominous tone, it's hard to refuse." Welt's smile suddenly turned strained.
He recalled their late-night communication, remembering Zeke's emotionless, dead-fish eyes. To be frank, at that moment, he felt certain that if he denied Zeke, he'd likely be crushed to death by a conveniently passing Titan the next day, losing even his Herrscher Core.
Hera also remembered Zeke before the Fusion experiment, his chilling aura akin to one emerging from the Abyss. Her feigned expression faltered slightly, then softened with sympathy:
"...It must have been tough for you too."
"It's alright; just go along with him most of the time. Under normal circumstances, Zeke is quite mild-mannered."
"If you're being coerced, wink at me discreetly," Hera playfully winked, teasing Welt.
Welt chuckled softly, silently deciding to bring this up with Zeke upon his return. Then, without showing any hint of emotion, he said:
"Now, let's discuss some serious matters next."
"Go ahead."
"The anti-Honkai energy inhibitor, as you've seen its effects, remarkably aids in healing damage caused by Honkai Energy and significantly reduces the physical burden on Valkyries. I've already achieved mass production here—each dose costs 75 US dollars, and we can supply four million doses per month. Whether it's expanding the Valkyrie corps' size, prolonging their lifespans, or minimizing harm from various human experiments, it has immense potential."
"75...US dollars?" Hera's eyebrows twitched.
You clueless wastrel! Do you know how much time and resources I spent to perfect the Schariac holy blood?
This inhibitor was clearly a variant serum derived from analyzing perfect holy blood; Zeke merely managed to achieve industrial-scale production.
But at $75 per dose, it's practically giving them away for free!
"What's the catch?" Hera asked with mixed feelings.
The deal would undoubtedly benefit Schicksal greatly, but whether Anti-Entropy could recoup their costs remained uncertain.
Welt may be straightforward and stubborn, but Hera couldn't believe he'd offer such advantages without expecting anything in return.
Welt raised one finger and calmly stated, "Firstly, I wish to save some lives."
"Hmm, that aligns with your character. And second?"
"Secondly, each inhibitor must bear Anti-Entropy's mark, acknowledging its production by our organization."
"Oh? Continue."
"Thirdly, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy formally reconcile, signing and publicly announcing a mutual friendship agreement along with a pact against Honkai."
With three fingers held up, Welt outlined his objectives and conditions.
However, Hera flashed a flawless smile and gently queried, "What if I choose to decline this offer?"
If these terms were agreed upon, Anti-Entropy could win over vast numbers of supporters.
Consider this: Why would Anti-Entropy, whose primary fighting force relies on machinery, go to such lengths to develop and sell at low cost a cure for Honkai Energy afflictions? Obviously, it's all to save the tragic fate of the Valkyries!
Once that truth was established, how would people view the smear campaign against Anti-Entropy thus far? Would members of Schicksal begin questioning the archbishop's righteousness? Even if just slightly, any doubt would sow unfavorable seeds.
Welt smiled warmly, responding genuinely and amicably:
"Well then, I'll start by selling to Principal Theresa before approaching each Schicksal branch. If you forbid sales altogether, I can always offer buy-one-get-one-free deals online or through black markets. And as long as those threatened by Honkai Energy corruption can benefit, even selling cheaper or hiring an idol for advertising wouldn't be out of the question. Oh right, in that case, I'd have to remind buyers discreetly—it's a serum banned by the Schicksal Archbishop; use it quietly, don't spread the word—otherwise, I might only charge one-tenth the price."
Hera's expression turned grave.
Drawing upon her five centuries of wisdom, she began strategizing countermeasures—smearing and framing were always viable options. In mere moments, Hera devised nine distinct schemes for damage control, a whole nine!
But reality was stubborn; ultimately, results would speak for themselves.
For Anti-Entropy, enduring slander wasn't new—they could withstand boycotts and vitriol for as long as necessary.
In the long run, this tactic had no easy solution.
"Did Zeke teach you this approach?"
"Not exactly, I came up with it myself."
"You're capable of such cunning?"
"It's not cunning, really—it's quite simple. It's not about you at all. I merely chose to stand with the people, and this plan naturally emerged." Welt spoke calmly, even taking a moment to let Rita refill his tea.
It must be said, her brewing skills were indeed impressive.
Hera fell silent.
Hera fell silent.
Welt continued, "I stand with the masses, while you do not. That's the essence of this situation. Accept it, Hera; there's nothing to lose."
Again, Hera said nothing.
Rejecting the offer would lead only to failure. As soon as one desperate Valkyrie accepted the serum, confirmed its effectiveness, and word spread, mass adoption was inevitable—it was just a matter of time.
Otto could issue strict prohibitions, but he couldn't control everyone. Once Anti-Entropy's serum gained traction, even if Otto wanted to suppress it further, public opinion would force him to compromise.
On the other hand, accepting—well, it might not necessarily cause harm. The smear campaign could be easily dismissed as a strategic move driven by differing stances. She could even shape the narrative around an "archbishop putting aside her pride for the future of the Valkyries and compromising with Anti-Entropy," bolstering her authority instead.
Moreover, extending the Valkyries' lifespans and reducing the loss of test subjects would undoubtedly result in a significant boost to Schicksal's overall strength.
Hera did not let emotions cloud her judgment, so she nodded.
"I understand. I'll discuss this with Otto."
"Thank you for your understanding. Looking forward to our collaboration." Welt raised his cup, seemingly noticing only then that Hera's teacup was empty. With a polite smile, he finished his own tea and stood up.
"Himeko, it's been a long time since we last met. How about taking a stroll around the city together and catching up?"
"All right."
Hera watched them depart, silently stroking Theresa's hair as she comforted the now-recovered girl.
"Was what you said just now true? That potion, that deal... Can it genuinely save many Valkyries?"
"Yes, he doesn't lie."
"That's wonderful... Is there anything I can do to help? Oh right, if it involves Grandpa, I could accompany you to persuade him."
"No need, Otto will agree," Hera replied matter-of-factly, showing no further interest in continuing the conversation.
In just a few short hours, she had been misled by Zeke and pressured by Welt—experiences entirely new to her after five centuries of existence.
Perhaps it was time for her to set aside her arrogance and laziness and take things more seriously?