Ryoma Raiden had watched Raiden Mei grow up bit by bit. Therefore, when he saw the change in Mei's eyes and expression when she spoke of Ren Amamiya, this old father had already recognized the cruel reality: his beloved daughter's heart had been stolen by an outsider.
Though deeply pained by this, it was also undeniable that Ren Amamiya had helped... or rather, completely saved Raiden Mei's life and future. Ryoma Raiden was a reasonable man. Not only should he not hold any grudges against Ren, but he should also be grateful—theoretically.
And Ryoma did indeed act that way on the surface. However, a part of him still couldn't let go, finding it hard to believe that his perfect and obedient daughter already had someone she fancied, and had even lived with Ren for a period.
With a cold face, Ryoma escorted Ren and Bronya into the Raiden residence's living room, showing little desire for further conversation. Welt Yang, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, along with the two accompanying Anti-Entropy doctors, Tesla and Einstein, had been waiting there for some time.
The moment he entered the living room, Ren's gaze shot towards Raiden Mei at the other end. Only after their eyes met, receiving a reassuring look from her, and observing no signs of battle on Mei, did Ren relax slightly. He then calmly continued to assess the other three strangers in the room.
"You must be the leader of the Phantom Thieves, Joker... Mr. Ren Amamiya. The people I saw in my dream earlier were indeed Mr. Amamiya and Miss Bronya." Upon seeing Ren enter, Welt Yang, who had been sitting on the sofa, slowly stood up. He glanced at Ren and Bronya, and then a blue luminescence suddenly appeared in his hand.
When the blue light faded, a square sheet of drawing paper materialized in Welt's hand. Sketched on it was Ren Amamiya in his Phantom Thief attire within the blue-gray labyrinthine corridor, and Bronya beside him, operating Project Bunny.
However, compared to a normal original drawing, this picture, instantly created by Welt using the authority of the Herrscher of Reason, appeared somewhat blurry, as if covered by a dreamlike filter. This was only because Welt had actively taken naps and entered the dream state multiple times to observe; otherwise, like Siegfried, he would only remember a black-clad figure with a white mask appearing in his dream after waking up.
"So, you're the true Sovereign of Anti-Entropy?" Cocolia, who had been holed up in her room since her heart was changed, was now forced to appear in the living room due to the circumstances.
However, facing the true Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, this acting Sovereign, who had committed grave sins by abusing her power, looked terrified like a turtle hiding in its shell, keeping her head bowed on the sofa, trying her best to shrink and minimize her presence. From Cocolia's attitude towards Welt, Ren deduced the true identity of this intellectual and gentle-looking, brown-haired middle-aged man.
"My name is Welt Yang. Mr. Joker can simply call me Welt." Welt bowed slightly to Ren with a steady motion. While introducing himself, he slowly explained their purpose for coming. "We are here primarily to handle the aftermath Cocolia left in Nagazora City, and to inquire about your Phantom Thieves' methods of reforming others in the other world, and... I hope you will cease your 'theft' in my 'Palace'."
"Theft in your Palace? Are you saying that the Mementos layer Bronya and I were exploring just now is actually your Palace?" Ren frowned slightly. Under the gaze of Welt Yang, the Anti-Entropy Sovereign, he slowly walked to his familiar sofa spot and sat down, facing Welt, who had also returned to his seat.
Before today, Ren was certain he had never met Welt Yang, nor had he ever planned to enter Welt's Palace of the Mind to steal Treasure. But since Welt claimed so, and had even created a drawing of him and Bronya in that blue-gray labyrinth... then the special Mementos layer Ren explored today might indeed be Welt's Palace of the Mind.
"Indeed. I can feel the stolen portion of my power residing within Miss Bronya's body. Could I trouble you to return that power to me?" Welt's eyes held a hint of appreciation for this successor as he looked at Ren, who, despite knowing his identity, showed no wavering in his speech or actions, maintaining an incredibly calm and composed demeanor.
Though still young, Ren possessed such extraordinary composure, coupled with his powerful abilities and methods. If things went smoothly, the Phantom Thieves organization Ren created might soon rise to prominence, becoming the third powerful anti-Honkai organization worldwide, following Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.
Ren Amamiya had stolen over two hundred Herrscher of Reason Core fragments from the Herrscher's Palace. As the second Herrscher of Reason, Welt Yang could clearly feel the stolen fragments from his own body currently residing within Bronya, who was beside Ren.
Unlike Welt Yang, an ordinary human male, Bronya, an orphan raised by Cocolia, possessed excellent Honkai energy resistance. Despite absorbing over two hundred Herrscher Core fragments, Bronya clearly felt no discomfort. In fact, her strength had significantly increased as a result, and she had even obtained a portion of the Herrscher of Reason's authority.
"...If those Treasures truly belong to you, it's not impossible for us to return them as they were. However, I need proof." After a moment of silence, Ren slowly raised a finger towards Welt.
If those Treasure fragments were indeed Welt's, and Welt himself, though his desires were distorted, hadn't committed any major sins, then even if it was reluctant, Ren was willing to return the fragments to Welt. However, Welt needed to provide sufficient proof.
"I encountered a blue-haired youth in that Palace. Although he didn't state his identity, I could sense his special status within the Palace... If that place is a Palace, then he seemed more like its ruler than you do."
Upon hearing Ren's words, at the corner of the living room dining table, Einstein, who had been expressionlessly nibbling on dark chocolate she found in the refrigerator, quietly paused her chewing. Before Welt himself could react, Dr. Tesla, sitting with Einstein, widened her eyes and stared at Ren in disbelief, as if she had seen a ghost.
"A blue-haired youth—Hey, hey, you brat! Don't tell me you saw Joyce in the Palace?!" To be able to appear within the Herrscher of Reason's Core space, and even hold a special status there... The blue-haired youth Ren mentioned undoubtedly pointed to the long-sacrificed first Herrscher of Reason, the true First Herrscher, Welt Joyce!!
"This is insane! Did Joyce just watch you guys steal the Herrscher of Reason's Core without stopping you at all? Or did you ruffians beat Joyce down and forcibly take his authority fragments?!"