In a clean and tidy room, a handsome man took a book from the shelf.
"Reincarnated as a Raichu, Becoming Stronger by Eating Sunsettia Berries"
A strange title. Before even opening it, the man knew it was most likely a trashy light novel.
But in this place, it was his only form of recreation.
He was Raiden Mei's father, Raiden Ryoma, and his current location was a Schicksal independent prison.
His fingers flipped through the pages, but Ryoma had no mind to read. The act of turning the pages was merely a way to alleviate his inner turmoil.
His expression was somewhat gloomy. Ever since he was imprisoned under the false charge of economic fraud, he hadn't shown a single smile.
Because Raiden Ryoma knew that Cocolia, the one who had him jailed, wasn't primarily targeting him, but his precious daughter, Raiden Mei.
After being imprisoned, he was burning with anxiety, but it was all useless. He could only wait anxiously day after day for his partners from the Conservative faction to come and rescue him.
At first, he harbored the thought of immediately saving his daughter after getting out.
But before long, he went numb.
Raiden Ryoma was taken away through legal means by that S-rank Valkyrie from Schicksal and then thrown into one of Schicksal's independent prisons.
He had just been moved to a different jail.
The difficulty for the Anti-Entropy Conservatives to rescue him had just increased by a massive margin.
When Schicksal took him, Raiden Ryoma was completely stunned. Why had Schicksal suddenly interfered?
Had his identity as an Anti-Entropy executive been exposed?
And if he was taken by Schicksal, would their gaze then fall upon his daughter?
Cocolia was a beast, but Schicksal was a pack of mongrel beasts!
His precious daughter wouldn't fare well in anyone's hands, and it was highly probable she had fallen into Schicksal's.
For Mei to be captured by Schicksal was like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone, never to return. Given her special nature, Schicksal would never let her go.
Raiden Ryoma didn't dare to imagine what Mei might be experiencing in Schicksal's clutches.
He was afraid that if he dwelled on it, he would simply pass out from the stress and get reincarnated himself.
However, Raiden Ryoma was also a little puzzled. He had been in this Schicksal prison for some days now, yet they had never come to interrogate him. It even made him suspect that his memories of being interrogated had been wiped through brainwashing.
The food tasted good, the portions were sufficient, and aside from being cut off from the outside world, all his other living needs were met. It got to the point where Raiden Ryoma noticed he had gained quite a bit of belly fat.
How could he not gain weight, holing up here every day, eating his fill and then just worrying?
I wonder how my girl Mei is doing now.
Raiden Ryoma sighed. His wife had passed away early, making his daughter his entire world. If Mei were gone, even if he managed to escape, there would be nothing left for him to cherish.
He would transform into the HOMU Sword Saint, dedicating the rest of his life solely to revenge.
But the thought of the HOMU Sword Saint made Raiden Ryoma's heart ache. He had always worn a HOMU mask to teach Mei the way of the sword. The moment he was imprisoned, the HOMU Sword Saint vanished.
His precious daughter must have figured out that the HOMU Sword Saint was her own father.
Ughhh, thinking about all the chuunibyou lines he had spouted as the HOMU Sword Saint... if Mei knew it was him who said them, it would be a complete social death!
Recalling past events, a bitter smile formed on his lips.
This was the only way he could find some bitter amusement in his current situation.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed. Raiden Ryoma looked up to see a figure standing at the prison gate—a Valkyrie in a Schicksal uniform.
Hmph, are you finally coming to drag me in for questioning?
Using these comfortable days to wear down my will, then trying to extract information... Schicksal, you've really played your cards well!
But if you think you can make me say a single word about Anti-Entropy, you're dreaming!
I, Raiden Ryoma, am a loyal subject of Anti-Entropy!
However, the cell door was not opened. The Valkyrie bent down and slid an object through the slot at the bottom of the door.
Raiden Ryoma frowned. He saw that it was a tablet computer.
He lunged forward and snatched the tablet. A computer meant a connection to the outside world! If he could just contact Anti-Entropy, they could rescue him!
But, staring at the black screen of the tablet, he contemplated Schicksal's motive for this move.
Do they want me to contact Anti-Entropy, so they can seize the opportunity to gather intelligence and locate them?
A fine scheme indeed, Schicksal.
He still began to turn on the tablet, not to contact Anti-Entropy, but to see what had been happening in the outside world. He had been too isolated from news.
Then, he discovered that no matter what he did, the tablet wouldn't respond. The screen remained black.
What the hell?
So it's broken?
Did Schicksal give me this just to mess with me?
Raiden Ryoma was so disgusted that he almost smashed the device. But just as he was about to, the tablet in his hands suddenly flickered.
Then, the screen lit up.
He didn't notice it at first, until a voice sounded.
"Dad?"
The voice was clear and pleasant, yet tinged with worry and unease.
Why does that sound like Mei's voice? Am I missing her that much?
My precious daughter...
I haven't even seen you get married yet.
Raiden Ryoma once again drifted into his memories.
"Dad?"
The voice came again. This time, Raiden Ryoma finally sensed that something was off. He jerked his head down to look at the tablet in his hands, and on the screen, he saw a familiar face.
It was his own precious daughter, the cutest in the whole world.
"Mei!?"
Raiden Ryoma held the tablet with both hands, his eyes wide with disbelief. The Mei on the screen slowly nodded, her eyes red and glistening with unshed tears, looking as if she could cry at any moment.
"Yes, Dad, it's me."
They had finally met again.
Through the small screen, the father and daughter saw each other once more.
It really was Mei.
Raiden Ryoma's body trembled, and he nearly dropped the tablet, his heart pounding in fear.
If it fell and broke, he wouldn't be able to see his daughter anymore.
Raiden Ryoma took a couple of ragged breaths. Mei looked at her father with a pained expression. The man who had always been so well-groomed now looked haggard, as if he hadn't rested properly in a long time.
"Mei," Ryoma felt a warmth in his eyes. He often dreamt that Mei had been killed by Cocolia or Schicksal. To see his precious daughter safe and sound now was truly a blessing.
"You've gotten thinner."
Ryoma's voice trembled as he spoke. His imprisonment must have been a huge blow to Mei.
"You're the one who's gotten thinner, Dad."
Compared to her, her father was the one who had become much more gaunt.
Mei bit her lip. There were so many things she wanted to say to her father, but seeing him again after so long, the words wouldn't come out.
It felt like a dream, one that would vanish into thin air if she tried to touch it.
But, a mischievous hand was caressing Mei's slender waist.
It was reminding her that this was reality.
And the reality was this—
Mei was lying in Otto's arms while video calling her father.