On the way out with Siegfried, Mei discovered that there were far more enemies than she had imagined.
They had been split into two groups.
One group had come to her doorstep to capture her, while the other was ambushed at the elevator entrance downstairs.
It was only thanks to this uncle that these people were easily taken down before they could cause any trouble.
*Kiana's dad is this strong?*
*Then wait, such a powerful uncle... why did he lose an arm?*
After leading Mei out of the apartment, Siegfried let out a deep, turbid breath.
In fact, just a moment ago, he had been hesitating whether to knock Mei unconscious right then and there.
After all, although Mei seemed emotionally stable now, no one could guarantee that the Herrscher wouldn't awaken later.
But after some thought, Siegfried realized his deliberation was pointless.
Even after all he had been through, Siegfried could never bring himself to be ruthless with a friend's daughter.
It might be naive, but Siegfried felt that this was a good thing.
If he were to one day truly become a 'machine' dominated by reason, existing solely to fight the Honkai, he figured he might as well be dead.
For now, Mei was temporarily fine, so the only option was to get her out of Nagazora City.
In that case...
Even if Mei awakened, as long as the Third Eruption she caused didn't break out in a densely populated place like Nagazora City, it would at least save the several million people living there.
*And if we get to a more desolate area, I can also prepare to fight the Herrscher.*
*My strength is far from what it used to be. If we fight in a city, I can't guarantee I can defeat her before she causes widespread destruction.*
"Uncle, before we leave, there's something I want to ask you."
Looking at Siegfried who had already started his motorcycle, Raiden Mei asked him in a low voice.
"Kiana has been looking for you. She's in this city right now."
"Are you... not going to see her?"
"That girl Kiana... Ha, of course I want to see her."
Starting the motorcycle, Siegfried replied to Mei with a helpless tone.
"But now is not the time."
"That fellow Ryoma got set up, and I don't know when he'll be able to get out. As his friend, I have to at least ensure your safety."
"Otherwise, if he gets out and finds something has happened to you, I'll have no face to see him."
"...Thank you, Uncle."
"Don't mention it. I'm doing this of my own free will."
*And thinking about it now, Otto gave me intelligence and prepared a vehicle for me. Does he... really just want me to stay away from Kiana, not interfere with his plans, and save Mei as a side-task?*
*Damn it, how could that bastard be so kind?*
*His sending me to rescue Mei was, to put it bluntly, a calculated move, banking on the high probability of her awakening as a Herrscher.*
*The Herrscher of Thunder is an enemy of Schicksal, and Siegfried Kaslana is an enemy of Schicksal. If the two of us fight, who would be in the best position to swoop in as the 'oriole' and reap the benefits?*
*Otto.*
*It could only be that bastard, who is always perfectly prepared and schemes with everyone as his pawns.*
*Damn it, with such a good brain, he doesn't use it to fight the Honkai, but instead always focuses on persecuting humanity.*
Looking at his empty sleeve, Siegfried truly wished he could just storm Schicksal HQ and cut down that bastard.
"Uncle?"
"Let's go. Hold on to my shoulders."
*Forget it. I'll think about these things after we leave Nagazora City.*
*Once I get Mei away, most of the problems will be solved.*
*I'll leave the rest to the two doctors.*
*And Kiana...*
At the thought of his own daughter operating under Schicksal's surveillance, Siegfried felt utterly powerless.
So many years had passed, and yet... nothing had really changed.
*No matter what, can I only act as a puppet on Otto's strings, moving according to his will?*
*And, he must already be preparing other ways to scheme against me.*
*My intuition tells me that, from the very beginning...*
*—there's been someone watching me from not too far away.*
.....
Nagazora City. Somewhere
On the rooftop of a certain building in Nagazora City, a woman dressed in black put away her special weapon.
At the same time, she saw the communication terminal in her hands begin to vibrate incessantly.
"Gray Serpent, it's me."
"Raven, what's the situation now?"
"The situation... To be honest, that woman Cocolia can't be relied upon."
Recalling the intelligence she'd seen through the sniper mode of her Seven Thunders of Retribution, Raven stated impassively.
"Right now in Nagazora City, both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal are holding back and haven't engaged in all-out war."
"But I don't think Cocolia's strategic objective can be achieved for the time being."
"Otto's side is watching her like a hawk, and he used some unknown means to persuade Siegfried, that Schicksal traitor, to work for him."
"Now, Raiden Mei, who was implanted with the Gem of Conquest, has been taken away by Siegfried."
"Although this means Anti-Entropy's reputation won't be tarnished, it's clearly not in Cocolia's best interest."
On the other end of the communication terminal, Gray Serpent fell silent for a moment before speaking to Raven.
"I understand. Continue to observe the situation."
"If things go south, retreat immediately."
"You are an important executive of our World Serpent. There's no need for you to be in danger because of Cocolia's mistake."
"...Ha, I understand."
Hanging up the communication, Raven listened to Gray Serpent's seemingly concerned words and shook her head with a sneer.
[Raven] Natasha Cioara was one of the executives of the mysterious organization, World Serpent.
Moreover, she was an executive personally trained by World Serpent's founder, [Gray Serpent].
It was for this very reason that Cioara knew very well that her mentor, Gray Serpent, couldn't possibly genuinely care about a high-level tool like her.
That sentence just now actually had another meaning.
[The Divine Key is very important. If you see things going wrong, bring the Divine Key back to me. Don't let it be lost.]
As for Cioara's life or death... he couldn't be bothered to care.
It was the same in the past, and it was the same now. If Cioara were to die out there, Gray Serpent would only think that this useless person was only capable of so much, and then lament the death of a useful tool.
"But, this is fine too. We were using each other from the start. Not investing too much emotion is a good thing."
Setting up the Seven Thunders of Retribution again, Cioara took a deep breath and continued to mutter to herself.
"Soon, it'll be soon."
"Just a few more years, a few more major orders concerning my fate, and my reserve funds will be enough."
"Then, after buying an island, I'll definitely build a beautiful villa."
"Once everything is done, I can retire in peace."
...