By the time Ming Yu returned to his quarters at the headquarters after a long day of missions, he was utterly exhausted. Although the God-Driving Armor: Lunar Abyss was complete, it still needed a series of tests and fine-tuning to achieve maximum compatibility with him before it could finally be put into service.
But even in its current state, the Lunar Abyss was enough to satisfy Ming Yu. It was a suit of armor truly comparable to the fourth-generation Godslayer Armor, living up to the name Lunar Abyss.
Although Ming Yu was eager to soak in a bath and rest, he first had to deal with a problem he had been avoiding.
"The winner's reward, not too bad, is it?"
Leaning against the doorframe, Himeko asked Ming Yu with an ambiguous smile on her lips.
Looking at the red-haired Valkyrie in her casual clothes, Ming Yu couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Even though Himeko was smiling, he could still see the disappointment in her eyes.
To be fair, Himeko had treated him very well. Even over the past few days, she had been running around on his behalf, worried that he would be treated unfairly here.
Perhaps in the eyes of those who knew everything, her actions were a bit foolish. But in Ming Yu's heart, there was a persistent warmth.
Even if he didn't say it, Ming Yu kept these things silently in his heart. Himeko had done more than enough for him.
However, gratitude was one thing, but Ming Yu would not abandon his principles because of it.
"It's alright. A new set of armor, God-Driving Armor: Lunar Abyss."
Averting Himeko's burning gaze, Ming Yu replied in a low voice while pulling up the finished image of the Lunar Abyss.
Looking at the silver-white armor on the screen, Himeko's eyebrows couldn't help but raise as she retorted, "Immortal Blades? The Lord Overseer certainly holds you in high regard!"
Indeed, anyone who had seen the armor of the two S-rank Valkyries of the Immortal Blades could easily spot the similarities in appearance with the Lunar Abyss.
Although their functions and attributes were vastly different, in terms of appearance, the Lunar Abyss was at least sixty percent similar to the other two sets. If the prefix "God-Driving Armor" were removed, the name Lunar Abyss would also fit the naming convention of the fourth-generation Godslayer Armor.
And at this sensitive time, for the Lord Overseer to present such a set of armor, his intentions were already crystal clear.
Although he had not yet been granted the title of S-rank Valkyrie, Ming Yu, who had been able to defeat a Kaslana, was, in a sense, already seen by all of Schicksal as the fourth S-rank Valkyrie.
Such a Ming Yu, even if a bit lacking in experience, was more than qualified to be a core member of the Immortal Blades.
"No, Lord Overseer didn't mention transferring me to headquarters. For a long time to come, I will be a member of the Far East Branch. I will not take the initiative to leave until I have repaid my debt to the Far East Branch."
Frowning, Ming Yu understood Himeko's emotions, but he still felt a little uncomfortable.
Otto might have had such intentions, but he had never mentioned them to Ming Yu, and Ming Yu was happy to pretend he didn't understand.
At this point in time, headquarters was still too dangerous for him. If he was constantly under Otto's nose, Ming Yu couldn't guarantee what he might do to him.
Faced with the secrets of a world, he didn't think this mad scientist would have any bottom line. Even when he was in the Far East, hadn't his physical data been leaked?
"Heh heh~"
Hearing Ming Yu's words, Himeko suddenly sneered. In other words, the moment Ming Yu felt he no longer owed the Far East Branch anything, he would leave at any time.
"The Principal's ideas are good, but they're too naive."
Shrugging, Ming Yu said helplessly.
The so-called fight against the Honkai was not some children's game, but a gamble where everything was on the line. Theresa's compassion was certainly a good thing, but when the entire world was plunged into the Honkai, it would only seem ridiculous.
Though he respected Theresa's ideals, he would never follow them.
"Haha~"
Hearing Ming Yu's true thoughts, Himeko laughed in anger. To have something she had always insisted on be negated, and by a junior she had picked up and approved of, there was nothing more ridiculous.
"So, when do you plan to leave the Far East Branch?"
Staring directly into Ming Yu's eyes, Himeko asked without any pretense.
"One year at the earliest, two years at the latest." This time, Ming Yu did not look away, meeting Himeko's gaze head-on. "Those with different paths cannot walk together!"
At this point, there was no need for him to hide anything. He would leave the Far East Branch one day; this was something both Himeko and Theresa knew. He was just the first to bring it out into the open.
"Let's make it two years~"
With a sigh, Himeko's strength seemed to dissipate with her breath, and her body slumped slightly.
With two years, the Far East Branch could accomplish much more. What she had felt most deeply these past few days was that this boy was far from as simple as he looked.
Whether it was the Overseer's inexplicable high regard for him or his victory in the duel against the Kaslana, it all subtly pointed to Ming Yu's mystery and power.
Seeing Himeko say this in an almost pleading tone, Ming Yu bit his lip. After a long while, he managed to force out a single word: "Fine."
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy immediately surfaced in Himeko's heart. But she failed to notice the guilt in Ming Yu's eyes as he said it.
How much credibility could there be in something that even he himself couldn't be sure of?
The crack between him and the Far East Branch had never closed from the very beginning.
…
Anti-Entropy, the Ark Chamber.
This was Anti-Entropy's most secret space, only activated when discussing the organization's most important plans. And those who could appear here were, without exception, the powerful executives of Anti-Entropy.
Men and women of all kinds stood on blue cubes. Among them were girls in their prime, elegant men with thick-rimmed glasses, and a blonde woman in military uniform.
Despite their vast differences in appearance and attire, it was these people who decided the fate of Anti-Entropy.
"Everyone, according to my intelligence, the Third Herrscher is currently being held in St. Freya High School in the Far East. Now is the best opportunity to recapture the Herrscher." The blonde woman standing in the center scanned her surroundings imperiously and announced loudly, "Now, allow me to begin introducing the plan to recapture the Herrscher."
"Wait a minute! Cocolia!" Hearing this, a red-haired girl with twin tails couldn't help but cry out. "Didn't the Sovereign say that all plans related to Herrschers must have his approval?"
The girl's fiery red eyes stared straight at the blonde woman, making no attempt to hide her suspicion.
"The Sovereign? Isn't he right here beside me?"
With a soft laugh, Cocolia pointed her palm at the man sitting next to her.
Looking at the man whose face was hidden under a blue cloak, the red-haired girl frowned and shouted, "Even so, you must prove that he is the real Sovereign!"
"Tesla, are you doubting me?"
Hearing the girl's challenge, the man gently raised his left hand and said unhurriedly.
As soon as the man's voice fell, pitch-black spheres suddenly appeared around him. The immense Honkai Energy distorted the very air, and a terrifying gravitational field swept out, forcing many of the executives to their knees.
This ability... it was indeed the power of the First Herrscher!
Seeing this ability, which had practically become the Sovereign's trademark, the doubts in the executives' hearts instantly vanished.
Seeing the conviction in the executives' eyes, the man snapped his fingers lightly, and the immense force pressing down on everyone dissipated in an instant.
"Then, I'll trouble Cocolia to continue explaining the operational plan."
His gaze shifted to the blonde woman beside him as the man spoke in a relaxed tone.
"As you command, Lord Sovereign~"
Her eyes swept over Tesla and a few other executives, finally resting on the short-haired girl with half-pink, half-purple hair who was still wrapped in bandages. The image of a certain black-haired man couldn't help but surface in her mind, and a cold smile tugged at her lips.
Not only did he ruin my plan to find the Stigmata and the Divine Key, he even almost made me lose another daughter. It's time to settle this score.