And that was… the women of this world… "are all so pretty!"
---------------------------
"However, the ordinary people of this world truly don't know about the Honkai… it feels a little unbelievable." Taking a sip of milk tea, March 7th said.
"It's actually a good thing that ordinary people don't know."
After traveling through Herta Space Station, Jarilo-VI, and the Xianzhou Luofu, Stelle's reaction to ordinary people was really… helpless mixed with speechless.
If it were only fear, that'd still be fine, but most ordinary people would only cause trouble in the face of disaster, becoming a hindrance instead of help.
The fact that the leaders of this world have the ability to keep ordinary people away from such secrets is, in a sense, a blessing.
Hearing Stelle's words, March 7th nodded in agreement.
That does make sense. Suddenly, March 7th noticed something was off and looked at Stelle with disbelief.
"How do you even know all this?!!" With a proud smile, Stelle said smugly: "Back on Jarilo-VI, I often chatted with Cocolia."
And as it turns out, the more you chat, the more the conversation veers into strange little corners.
This is the truth of the world!
...
That night, in a hotel under Schicksal's name.
After wandering around all day, the two came to this luxurious hotel arranged by Otto.
At the bar, perhaps because it was so late, there was no one around except Stelle, sipping sparkling water.
As for March 7th, this hotel has hot springs!
Just then, a golden figure slowly approached the bar. Wearing a pristine white waiter's uniform, with an elegant, handsome face carrying an eternal smile.
Bowing slightly, Otto spoke softly: "Miss, may I ask if you are satisfied with our hotel's service?"
"...???" Stelle tilted her head curiously, confused.
"What's with this getup?"
"Sometimes, experiencing a different kind of life is its own kind of joy."
Otto chuckled lightly, his gaze falling straight on Stelle.
This threw Stelle off completely.
"Uh, y-you drink."
Reluctantly pushing the sparkling water over, Stelle resolutely avoided looking at him again.
"... Cough, cough, I'm not thirsty."
Pushing it back gently, Otto began to get a feel for this little gray-haired girl's personality.
Free-spirited, and perhaps also fearless. Even after 500 years of leading Schicksal, Otto rarely encountered such a presence.
To still have the heart of a child at her age, that was rare. Perhaps only Theresa could compare.
"Did you come to find me for something?" Stirring the sparkling water, Stelle asked curiously.
Although she didn't understand many of this world's secrets, one thing she was sure of, people who sought her out definitely had their reasons.
Clearly, this golden-haired man must want something. Don't underestimate her for being only two years old, she's also smart!
"Miss Stelle is truly straightforward. If I were to hide my purpose now, it would make me seem small-minded."
Otto smiled lightly and said: "My only reason for coming is this: the massive energy source inside your body, where does it come from? Please don't misunderstand, I have no malicious intent, I'm simply very interested in it."
Hearing Otto's question about the Stellaron, Stelle's finger twirling her hair suddenly stopped.
"You mean the Stellaron?"
"Stellaron?"
"Mm, a Stellaron is something that brings disaster. Many worlds have been destroyed by them. On our journeys, we've run into many Stellaron-related crises, but we resolved them all!"
As she spoke, Stelle put her hands on her hips, raised her head, brimming with pride.
Click.
Otto turned off the chandelier.
"Sorry, it was a bit dazzling."
"So, many worlds have been destroyed by Stellarons… that means these energy sources aren't actually that rare in the universe?" Otto asked.
Stelle wanted to say Stellarons were rare, but…
Herta Space Station, one appeared (well, that time was her fault).
Jarilo-VI, one appeared.
Xianzhou Luofu, one appeared.
Penacony, one appeared.
Hmm… is this thing really that rare? Blinking in confusion, Stelle's eyes went blank.
Everyone said Stellarons were rare, but somehow she ran into one every time she visited a new place.
Thinking about it that way, something felt off.
Otto's gaze deepened as he watched the little gray-haired girl ponder.
That power, even he could feel it shake his very core.
And more importantly, it existed inside a human body.
For such a fragile vessel to contain such immense energy, the world truly is mysterious.
"Are there many people like you, who can hold this kind of power?" Otto continued, always asking directly.
He knew with straightforward people, the best way to talk was to exchange honesty.
After all, she didn't know what his true aims were. Honesty for honesty wasn't a loss.
Shaking her head, Stelle replied:
"I don't know, but from what everyone's said, I'm the first."
Seeing Otto about to speak, she quickly added: "I don't know how I did it either. When I first opened my eyes, they just told me there was something inside me."
Even Otto found himself stunned. Born… with such a object already inside?
And yet, looking into Stelle's eyes, Otto could only convince himself to believe her.
Because, her eyes carried not a trace of falsehood. That's the benefit of dealing with the pure-hearted.
You don't need to overthink complicated schemes; just persuade them, and you may gain more than you imagined.
"If I may ask, Miss Stelle, your age is?"
"Uh, exactly speaking… about two years old?"
"... " Not entirely incomprehensible. Theresa's case was somewhat similar.
"If you intend to use a Stellaron, you can't. That thing is far too dangerous."
Suddenly, Stelle's little face tightened, her tone turning serious.
Smiling in silence for a moment, Otto spoke.
"What if I were to say that Stellaron energy is something I must use?"
"Then I'll stop you!" Stelle declared firmly.
"You've never seen a world corrupted by a Stellaron, so you don't understand how terrifying they are. But I've seen it with my own eyes, it's a true hell on earth. No matter what, I won't allow you to touch a Stellaron!"
Her tone was unwavering, leaving no room for argument.
Otto fell silent. Not because her words moved him, but because such determination on Stelle's face felt strangely… out of place.
After all, in no way did she look like someone who should carry such weight.
But, never mind.
Shaking his head slightly, Otto spoke again.
"I already know the dangers of Stellarons. And you may rest assured, I have no intention of recklessly using them to bring calamity to the world."
"That much, I can guarantee." Glancing at him suspiciously, Stelle muttered inwardly.
'This guy should be telling the truth, right?
Cough, cough, even though she didn't understand politics or schemes, she trusted her intuition!
Otto was telling the truth. That much she was certain.
"But I do hope that one day, if the time comes when I truly need to borrow the Stellaron's power, you will lend me your strength, just for a moment."
Looking into Otto's sincere eyes, Stelle thought for a while, then slowly nodded.
"Fine, but I get to watch the whole time."
"Of course. Thank you for your understanding."
Bowing slightly, Otto's smile carried a trace of smile.
After mixing a perfect drink for Stelle, Otto left with his smile still intact.
...
Stepping into the cool night breeze, Otto let out a light breath.
A rare feeling of relief rose from deep within his heart.
How unexpected, this feeling.
"Kallen…" Gazing up at the twinkling stars, Otto murmured.
From beginning to end, every word he had spoken was the truth.
He would not leave behind a broken world for that saint. A world full of warmth and vitality could welcome her arrival.
Otto slightly turned his gaze, looked back in the direction of the little gray-haired one, and slowly closed his eyes.
The opportunity was right in his hands.
...
As Otto left, the bar returned to its previous calm atmosphere.
But not long after, someone's presence broke the stillness.
"It's been a while, my dear. Has your journey aboard the Astral Express been going smoothly?" A beauty walked in gracefully, holding a cup of tea, and elegantly sat down beside Stelle.
Stelle turned his head, tilted it slightly, and blinked.
For a long while, he could only squeeze out one word:
"Eh?"
'Why are you here! Ruan Mei!'
"Surprised? If Herta is here, then my being here shouldn't be strange at all." Ruan Mei chuckled lightly.
Hearing her words, Stelle felt it made sense.
Yes, if Herta's here, then it's perfectly normal for Ruan Mei to be here too.
Nodding, Stelle asked, "Did you hear everything he just said?"
Ruan Mei slightly nodded.
Seeing her response, Stelle frowned.
"Then do you know what he wants to do?"
Ruan Mei gently shook her head.
She had just been pulled into this untouched world, so she could understand many things.
But Otto, truthfully, she couldn't see through him.
This five-hundred-year-old was unlike others. His thoughts were too meticulous, his brilliance extraordinary, and his ability to keep this unstable world running steadily was astonishing.
Such a figure was rare in Ruan Mei's life.
At least, in worlds that hadn't broken free of their universes, the chance of such a person appearing was almost nonexistent.
Not everyone was like Sserkal, who in twenty-nine days pushed the spider civilization's technology forward by thousands of years.
"But, he truly holds no malice. You can rest assured about that."
Looking gently into Stelle's doubtful eyes, Ruan Mei spoke softly.
"Though the Stellaron is dangerous, in this world it does not pose an unstoppable, world-ending crisis. Besides, behind you stands a true master of life. You need not worry, just act freely."
Hearing this, Stelle nodded, patted her chest, and smiled.
"With you saying that, I feel much better."
Seeing that Stelle had taken her words to heart, Ruan Mei couldn't help but smile faintly.
After a while, in a corner Stelle didn't notice, she gazed in the direction Otto had departed.
"That body… it has no breath of life. Similar to that of the Judge of Luofu?"
Ruan Mei had always been sensitive to the aura of life.
Especially after spending time with Godzilla, her ability to sense life had reached a new height.
Thus she easily detected the peculiarity in Otto's aura.
That was also one reason she admitted his brilliance.
To forcefully defy fate with nothing but a mortal body.
And more so, as a mere human without the blessing of any Aeon.
Even so, Otto had lived five hundred years, uncorrupted, his mind sharper than ever.
So then… who really holds the blessing of Abundance?
The more she thought, the stranger it seemed. Ruan Mei felt a rare sense of bewilderment.
Just then, Stelle perked up with curiosity.
"You've been here for a while, have you come across anything interesting?"
"Something interesting…" Ruan Mei recalled.
...
Not long ago.
A gloomy atmosphere pervaded the place. Though it was summer, a chilling cold lingered in the air.
World Serpent.
The organization hiding in the shadows, plotting against Honkai. Normally, except for its members, few could reach this place. Today, however, someone stepped onto its grounds.
"Tap, tap, tap." Each crisp footstep echoed eerily through the empty corridor.
A scholar of life from the cosmos had entered this forbidden place.
Her graceful, gentle face carried its usual serene charm.
Unhindered, she advanced.
"Stop right there."
Slouched like an overworked office worker denied overtime pay, Chen Tianwu yawned and spoke calmly.
"This is World Serpent's turf. If you've lost your way, you can head back, take a left at the exit, and after a while you'll find the highway. As for the distance, well, it's not far for me."
Chen Tianwu, codename Owl, was one of World Serpent's elite, skilled in intelligence gathering and covert operations. He provided global intelligence support and was a cadre of World Serpent.
Yet, yawning again, his eyes were filled with exhaustion. Gathering intelligence worldwide was no easy task!
He still wondered when the organization would assign him a helper, otherwise, at this rate, he might collapse.
He didn't doubt it.
Compared to their godlike leader, the inhuman Gray Serpent, and Raven whose energy flared only when money was involved, he was just a weak, helpless intel officer.
Staying up late all the time, he really couldn't take it.
"I came here to seek World Serpent's leader." Ruan Mei said softly.
After a moment of staring, Chen Tianwu quickly stepped aside and called out:
"Raven, take over." He knew his limits.
While gathering intelligence, he had once glimpsed something astonishing.
This elegant woman casually summoned several enormous, terrifying insects, which devoured a group of newly spawned Honkai beasts.
And she even complained that those beasts seemed to lack any true signs of life.
He didn't know how others would treat her, but one thing was certain, protecting intelligence officers was a rule every organization shared!
Rolling her eyes at Chen Tianwu, Raven grumbled, "You'd better find me a high-paying mission."
Chen Tianwu nodded obediently, watching the two depart, then immediately turned and left.
He needed rest, these last few days of overtime were unbearable.
...
The savior of the Previous Era sat upon his throne, his aura steady.
The flames that could burn everything rested idly at his right side.
He seemed asleep.
Suddenly, his eyes opened.
Led by Raven, a stranger approached.
"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." With that, Raven swiftly slipped away, leaving the two facing each other.
"Outsider," Kevin spoke first.
"You are different from them, yet somewhat like Miss Fu Hua." Ruan Mei didn't answer directly, but shared her feelings instead.
"Hua… so you've met her already."
She nodded gently, her voice soft. "She is a hero worthy of respect."
In Ruan Mei's eyes, no matter what Kevin's plan was, he was fighting for this world. And his plan, to gather all the strongest and most promising individuals across the globe for a decisive battle against Honkai,
It touched her heart in a strange way.
Yes, many would die. But she had seen too many worlds perish. Without intervention, this world would just be another among countless destroyed ones.
Still, from the perspective of her own space-time, this world's destiny was converging in unexpected ways.
"What do you seek to know?" Kevin asked.
"Some truths about Honkai, and technologies of the Previous Era. They may inspire me." Ruan Mei replied.
Truthfully, if possible, she wanted to meet those geniuses of science herself.
To her surprise, this one planet had birthed so many brilliant minds.