"...Senior's determination is indeed admirable." Joachim bowed slightly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. "But please rest assured, you will not bear it alone.
"As the proposer of the plan, I will accompany you as the 'contact person' or 'technical support' behind 'Arahato'. The pressure will not be borne by you alone.
"At least, I will do my best to share the pressure from intelligence analysis, route planning, and part of the public opinion guidance... We will face this 'gaze' from the entire Sapphire City together."
Kallen grinned and patted Joachim heavily on the shoulder, with such force that he staggered: "That's more like it! With companions, no pressure is a big deal!"
With the determination of Arahato's line of action, the atmosphere in the conference room underwent a subtle change.
A clear and dangerous dividing line seemed to be drawn: On one side were Kallen and Joachim, who were about to proactively step into the eye of the storm and bear the greatest pressure and risk.
On the other side were the others who needed to use the cover of this storm to quietly fade into the background and execute more secretive missions.
A silent heaviness of imminent parting, mixed with worry about the heavy responsibilities shouldered by companions, quietly permeated the air.
This wasn't a parting of life and death, but a farewell heading to completely different battlefields within the same cruel loop.
Just as this silence and solemnity were about to solidify—
"So," a voice sounded abruptly, breaking the slightly tragic atmosphere.
It was Himeko.
She crossed her arms, with no particular expression on her face, as if discussing tomorrow's weather. "Who is going to 'conquer' Yun Mengxi?"
"..."
A momentary vacuum seemed to appear in the conference room.
Everyone, who was just thinking about how to play the villain, how to guide the capital storm, and how to share the pressure, had their thoughts suddenly pulled by an invisible thread from the grand strategic level to a... um...
A mission that sounded a bit subtle, specific, and even carried a bit of daily life feel.
Wait, how come there's even a Galgame segment?
The huge disparity left everyone a bit stunned, especially Fu Hua.
She was immersed in Joachim's precise and cold plan deduction just now, thinking about the risks and variables of each link, and the possible psychological impact on Yae Rin.
Then Himeko's sentence hit her straight in the face, causing her brain, which was running at high speed filled with Honkai energy models, official behavioral logic, and spacetime loop hypotheses, to crash for a second.
Conquer? Yun Mengxi?
These two words combined in an extremely uncoordinated way, impacting the calm heart lake forged by her years of cultivation.
She blinked, her expression exceptionally dull, her eyes involuntarily looking at Himeko, seeming to confirm if she had heard wrong.
Unfortunately, she didn't hear wrong.
Could it be that... she, the master of the Seven Swords of Taixu, the young master of the Taixu Martial Arts School Fu Hua, the Immortal of Shenzhou in the original plot, was going to... "conquer" a contemporary idol girl?
Hiss...
Is there something wrong with this painting style?
Joachim coughed lightly and took over the conversation in time.
"Ahem... our time window is very short, and Yun Mengxi's 'anomaly'—whether as a potential Herrscher or as a key node of the time loop—
"Its manifestation, according to previous perceptions and model analysis, clearly leans more towards the psychological and spiritual level, rather than a simple power rampage."
He pulled up the model Natasha showed earlier, pointing to the synchronization area of emotional fluctuations and the Honkai energy curve.
"This means that traditional reconnaissance, forceful probing, or long-distance observation are very likely unable to touch the core, and may even be counterproductive, triggering danger in advance.
"We need to understand her inner world, her sources of stress, her obsessions, and the root of her 'rejection' emotion.
"The most direct, and possibly most effective method, is to establish trust, enter her life circle, and make her willing to open her heart."
He paused and summarized in simpler terms.
"Simply put, we need someone who can approach her in a relatively natural way without arousing excessive vigilance, and try to become... at least a 'friend' who can talk and exchange inner thoughts with her.
"Thereby obtaining first-hand information about her psychological state, judging the depth of her connection with the Honkai, and even looking for possibilities to influence or stabilize her."
Wow, there's even a special CG segment!
Fu Hua understood the logic.
But the specific operation of "becoming friends"... was stranger and more difficult for her than deducing a sword formation against an Emperor-class Honkai Beast.
Most of her interpersonal relationships were either master-disciple inheritance, companions fighting side by side, or opponents worthy of respect.
"Conquering" a sensitive young girl in the entertainment industry?
She really didn't know how to do this.
Just as Fu Hua was still trying to digest the specific connotation of this task, and based on her life experience summarized over the years, concluded that she was absolutely unsuitable for this kind of task and was ready to speak up to decline...
"I can't do it." Himeko waved her hand decisively, taking herself out first.
"Asking me to formulate combat plans and lead the charge is no problem... But dealing with these little girls nowadays? Talking about pop songs, idol culture, and those delicate and sensitive little thoughts?"
She showed an expression of declining with thanks, even with a bit of self-mockery. "I'm at the age where I get called 'Auntie.' The generation gap is big enough to fit a Titan. If I go, I'm afraid I'll only scare her, or make the atmosphere freeze over."
Immediately after, Natasha also shrugged and made a helpless sound.
"Same for me.
"My childhood was spent in laboratories and in front of data terminals, and my youth was spent fleeing and wandering with my brother. I lack a normal interpersonal emotional interaction template.
"Don't look at me being good with kids... I can't handle kids in their rebellious phase. Sora is very obedient."
The two were most likely echoing each other, making everyone present focus their gaze on Fu Hua, who hadn't expressed her stance yet.
Fu Hua: "..."
Looking at Himeko's "it's up to you" eyes and Natasha's expression which, although devoid of fluctuation, had "you are the most suitable candidate" written all over her face, she suddenly felt her heartbeat stagnate.
They did it on purpose.
Fu Hua quickly ran through her life resume in her mind, which was basically insulated from "ordinary social interaction."
Gifted since childhood, she practiced swordsmanship behind closed doors in the Taixu Martial Arts School, questioning her heart with the sword and proving her Dao with her heart.
The so-called "Jianghu" was more like a background board reached by her sword edge to her. The so-called "interpersonal relationships" were the teachings of her master, the sparring with fellow disciples, and the subsequent followers of her seven disciples out of respect or awe.
She fought her way up. The title of "Number One Under Heaven" was fought for in reality. Even the Kaslana family, famous for their combat bloodline, failed to stop her from reaching the top.
Her world was sword intent, the Great Dao, responsibility, and the lofty solitude of watching clouds roll and unfurl over a long time.