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"Alright, let's call it quits... I said that's enough, separate... Bronya."
"Yes, sir!"
Bronya, who had quietly positioned herself nearby at some point, responded promptly with a crisp salute upon hearing Zeke's command. A black pistol materialized in her hand, loaded with high-energy rubber bullets.
"Click!"
"Bam! Bam!"
"Huff~"
Blowing gently on the gun barrel, Bronya skillfully spun the pistol and holstered it at her waist before turning around and saluting Zeke once more.
Behind her, the two girls, still entangled in their standoff, now lay sprawled on the floor. Each sported a prominent lump on their heads, appearing quite peaceful despite the situation.
"Mission accomplished, sir!"
"Well done."
Rubbing his temples, Zeke patted Bronya's head appreciatively, feeling slightly relieved.
Forget these troubles for now; let's deal with them later.
The priority right now was addressing the aftermath in the Far East Region.
"In the Boule Chamber's solemn and dignified atmosphere, Zeke tapped on the table, speaking with utmost seriousness: "We have preliminary drafts for compensation, refugee resettlement, regional reconstruction plans, and required resources. These will soon be shared with relevant organizations. With everyone working together, these tasks shouldn't prove too challenging."
"Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Ein. Moving on to the next topic, lands heavily contaminated by Honkai Energy struggle to sustain life. I propose utilizing the previously repaired Fourth Divine Key."
The goddess known as Golden Maiden slumped over the table, appearing boneless. Her antenna-like hair twitched before changing direction to face Zeke. Without lifting her head, she lazily waved her hand and said, "Use it if needed; after all, you were the one who fixed it. Besides, doesn't esteemed Dr. Tesla hold the authorization key for the satellite?"
"...This is a meeting, and we're broadcasting our solutions live to the world. Could you please take it seriously?"
"Oh, my dear friend, although we've both been busy all night dealing with the Major Honkai Eruption, my stamina can't match yours. Plus, while you got a full day of sleep, I haven't closed my eyes for even a second... Please, unless absolutely necessary, don't call me here. Can't you just let me catch some rest?"
With her large, pitiful eyes brimming with moisture, Hera maintained a straight face as she spun her tale.
Outside, oblivious to Hera's true nature, viewers were silently screaming—Let her sleep! Look at how exhausted our goddess is!
Meanwhile, Zeke expressionlessly turned his head away—Busy your ass! I haven't seen you contribute anything throughout this ordeal. Weren't all the manipulations of Schicksal's power handled by Amber?!
Despite his skepticism, Zeke could tell she was indeed weary. Perhaps she had been engrossed in some experiment or scheming yet another plot... Well, never mind; she's just here for appearances anyway. Ignore her.
Only Amber, impassively adjusting her golden eyepatch, reflected a cold glint.
'Kallen's Fantasy'... perhaps it should go bankrupt after all.
Suddenly sensing something ominous, Hera felt a chill run through her. She quickly sat up straighter, feigning full engagement in the meeting.
"???" × 3
Zeke, Einstein, and Fu Hua, puzzled by her behavior, exchanged looks but didn't dwell on it, continuing their discussion instead.
"Then Dr. Tesla will use the Fourth Divine Key to manipulate weather patterns and dissipate residual Honkai Energy, revitalizing the Far East Region."
"Agreed."
"Seconded."
"I have no objections."
After surveying the room, Zeke flipped to the next page of his documents. "Next is the allocation of materials from Pseudo-Herrschers and Honkai Beasts. Based on contributions, Anti-Entropy gets six parts while Schicksal receives four. It's crucial that we maintain strict control; no other organizations can guarantee containment like us. If these resources were to fall into the wrong hands, it could pose unpredictable risks."
"Well... excluding the immortal's contribution, indeed, Anti-Entropy has invested more due to our geographical proximity. Fine, I reluctantly accept my dear friend's proposal... but only for the deceased Herrscher materials. For the twelve living Pseudo-Herrschers, there must be an equal split."
"Agreed. As compensation, the Herrscher of Ice shall be contained by Anti-Entropy."
"Hold on! That's hardly fair compensation!" Hera slapped the table, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Unfazed, Zeke responded calmly, "Containing a Herrscher is no easy task. In some ways, it's actually a burden; we're not gaining any advantage here."
"Schicksal is more than willing to bear this burden; there's no need for Anti-Entropy to take on any further disadvantage—besides, you've already acquired one Herrscher Core and gained another Herrscher. Don't be too greedy!" Hera responded with a pleasant smile.
Their gazes clashed in mid-air, seemingly sparking tension.
"When it comes to Herrschers, beings capable of shaking civilizations, material benefits are secondary. What matters most is who can securely contain and educate her without fail. In that regard, consider our esteemed Alliance Leader versus Wendy... How does Schicksal even compete with Anti-Entropy?" Zeke calmly stated, presenting undeniable facts hard to refute.
Indeed, having successfully managed two Herrschers before, Anti-Entropy was the recognized authority in handling them. No matter how long Schicksal's history, lacking comparable examples made it difficult to counter Zeke's argument.
Thus, Hera decisively shifted her approach. Lowering her gaze, she spoke deliberately: "Her... surname is Schariac."
"And?"
"And I won't hand her over to anyone."
"Are you threatening me?" Zeke placed the documents back onto the table, crossed his legs, and asked indifferently.
Hera, however, smiled brightly. "Do you know the history of the Schariac family?"
"I know."
"No, you don't. The progenitor of the Schariac bloodline was a young test subject who Director Otto cured during the Black Death plague. Grateful for his kindness and deeply resenting Honkai for taking everything from her, she chose to follow Director Otto, dedicating her life to fighting against it. The first group of girls bearing the name 'Schariac' were similar—lost souls with nothing left but their gratitude towards Director Otto and their hatred for Honkai."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zeke frowned, interrupting Hera's leisurely explanation.
Hera's smile faded, her voice turning cold and emotionless as she continued: "Unlike the naturally gifted Kaslanas, early Schariacs had no inherent resilience to Honkai Energy. However, those initial lost souls, while risking their lives in battle, also volunteered for various human experiments. This practice became a family tradition passed down through generations, leading to today's Schariac bloodline..."
Her matter-of-fact account revealed a blood-soaked history of unwavering loyalty and generation after generation of experimentation, culminating in today's Schariac lineage. Each member represented sacrifice, devotion, steadfastness, bearing the weight of their family's mission while also embodying Director Otto's labor of love.
This was precisely what Hera wanted to emphasize.
"The Schariacs belong not only to Schicksal but especially to Director Otto. As the leader of those wandering souls, I am the sole survivor till this day. With my own eyes, I've witnessed the Schariacs transform from radical fervor to quiet resolve, from prosperity to dwindling numbers... If anyone attempts to take that child away from me, they declare war against me—nothing more."
Was Hera lying?
No, every word she spoke was true.
However, apart from Amber, who remained emotionless, and Fu Hua, who seemed bewildered, both Zeke and Einstein couldn't help but twitch slightly at the corner of their eyes.
Despite treating her family as mere tools, Hera managed to sound genuinely righteous—five hundred years of experience truly showed its weight.
If Zeke persisted further, it might appear unjustified to outsiders. Humans tend to be guided by emotions, and with Hera's impassioned plea, she garnered significant sympathy and admiration points.
However, this alone wasn't enough to make Zeke yield.
Zeke stroked his chin, contemplating that allowing Hera to take Ana would merely add one more formidable combatant to Schicksal's arsenal, not significantly altering the balance—though there could be deeper plans at play. Regardless, Hera rarely displayed such insistence... After all, she had been consistently cooperative over these years, making this request quite unusual. From the perspective of maintaining their amicable status quo, Zeke felt it unwise to refuse.
Between the importance of the Herrscher of Ice and preserving the high level of understanding with Otto, Zeke already knew his answer.
"You can have the Herrscher of Ice, but among the twelve surviving Pseudo-Herrschers, I want eight."
"Deal. Let's move on to the next topic."
"The next topic is the crucial role played by the 'Selene' apparatus during this Major Honkai Eruption. On one hand, it protected most civilians from Honkai Energy corruption, and on the other, it bought valuable time for rescue efforts. Its effectiveness has been proven; therefore, there's a need to intensify its promotion and construction. I require Schicksal's cooperation..."
There were several topics discussed, all closely tied to the Major Honkai Eruption. With both Zeke and Hera actively participating, the discussions proceeded with remarkable efficiency.
The meeting lasted over an hour, finalizing arrangements for the Far East Region and some subsequent plans, which were then confidently made public. The purpose was clear: to unequivocally inform any parties with ulterior motives that Schicksal and Anti-Entropy intended to proceed thusly, daring them to try and obstruct if they dared.
Whenever Schicksal and Anti-Entropy reached decisions, conventional societal powers—be they capital, underground groups, or nations—all had no choice but to yield and comply unconditionally.
Zeke would not indulge fools, nor would the transformed Welt, and Otto's stance went without saying.
Only through such authoritative strength could the world be guided and changed, bringing forth genuine hope.