Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Theoretically, Kiana immediately assumed the role of regent upon her return.

Her own Stigma Will had been bored enough to gather everyone in her Stigma Space for some sort of enthronement ceremony, and Kiana figured it had at least done its job seriously.

It's just that the results of this "completed" work were more than a little abstract and unbelievable.

"Tell me, what kind of things has Academy City been up to lately?"

Kiana had no choice but to ask what big news had happened while she was gone. She had already tossed the jumble of Herrscher Cores she'd acquired to Dr. Tesla.

Who knew that her Stigma Will would be so useless? It replied with a blank look, "Nothing much, really. I spent all my energy keeping an eye on the users of the Stigma battlesuits. I have no idea what they've been doing to Academy City. Sakura can vouch for me on that."

Yae Sakura felt like a complete idiot. How did she end up with such a moron for a leader?

Still, Sakura dutifully explained the situation to Kiana.

"That's right, it's just as she said. Rather than hoping she accomplishes something, you're better off hoping she does nothing at all. At least a leader who just sits in her palace playing video games won't cause any disasters."

'So she did absolutely nothing?!'

Kiana was at a loss for what to even roast her about.

Even a slacker like her couldn't hold a candle to the extreme 'lie flat' attitude of the Stigma Will she had created. It was truly on another level.

"You guys... wasn't there any meaningful work to do? I mean, even helping a person or two would have counted."

"Help people?" Kiana's Stigma Will looked confused. "Isn't the medical care in Academy City good enough? Was there anyone who actually needed us to save them?"

"..."

Kiana was left speechless. She had to admit, it was a good point. The hardest thing to treat in Academy City was never physical ailments, but the growing number of people with mental health issues. And without exception, all those psychos chose to join the Kengan Association.

"Ah, you're right... I'd better take a look myself."

She had just returned from the Sea of Quanta and hadn't imagined that Academy City would be at the center of any major news. At least the stand-in she'd left behind seemed to have kept things stable.

But things weren't that simple. The real trouble was never about Kiana herself.

As the ruling center who had passively become the "Mother of Stigmas," she had fulfilled her key role as a "network communication platform." The people who actually carried out the work were the ones who decided the future direction of Academy City.

You never knew what kind of big moves those people were planning.

And sure enough, Schrödinger had just stumbled upon some big news from within Academy City. She had come to Academy City with a curious, academic mindset.

While the various rules and regulations were a bit of a shock, it wasn't enough to faze a veteran doctor like her.

What really rocked her world was Academy City's international press conference.

"...To maintain peace in the Middle East, we have sold Honkai Fission Bombs to both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, allowing them to engage in mutual nuclear deterrence..."

"...As a result, both parties are now preparing to sit down and discuss a peaceful future..."

"...I know the people of the world are deeply moved by Academy City's tireless efforts for world peace. There's no need to thank us specially..."

"...Mutual assured destruction has historically been a remarkably effective method for peace, so we've decided to grant every nation the great blessing of nuclear deterrence. Again, try not to be too moved..."

Just listen to the nonsense Cocolia was spouting. She was actually claiming the world would be at peace if both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had Honkai Fission Bombs? Was this something any sane person would do?

A reporter in the crowd lost it, shouting angrily, "Aren't you in Academy City worried about those Honkai Fission Bombs landing on your own heads?"

Cocolia stared at him in shock. "What nonsense are you talking about? We've gene-locked the humans outside. You're the ones who will die on contact with Honkai Energy. The people of Academy City, however, have already updated their genetic sequences. We have no reason to fear Honkai radiation contamination."

"Furthermore, our Dr. Tesla can monitor any weapon passing through the airspace above Academy City via the electron layer. Dr. Tesla's power can withstand a bombardment from all the world's nuclear warheads. A few measly Honkai Fission Bombs can't even get through her Moonlight Throne's shield."

Cocolia slammed her hand on the table and roared, "Recognize your place! We are the new humanity now. Neither nuclear radiation nor Honkai Energy can break our genetic dominance! Now do your job, you livestock!"

The reporter turned pale from the scolding. He had thought the development of genetic information technology would bring world peace.

Who knew that the first thing it would bring was the swift collapse of nuclear deterrence? The peace maintained by MAD was gone. The era of a single small city blackmailing the entire world had arrived.

The brothers and sisters of the Far East were thrilled. Thinking that most of Academy City's residents were from the Far East, they couldn't help but puff out their chests with pride, as if they were members of the city themselves.

But everyone knew the truth: thanks to their genetic recombination abilities, the people of Academy City had been separated from the rest of the world, becoming an entirely different human species.

Schrödinger never imagined such a world-shaking change could happen in the few years she'd been away.

Herrschers weren't slaughtering humanity anymore; instead, they were helping humans establish a mad, centralized military regime.

Tesla, what's gotten into you? Weren't you supposed to use technology to benefit all of mankind? Is this how you benefit humanity?

All that remained of the press conference was Cocolia's threats to the world. The old hag Empress Cixi's threats were empty, but this old hag, Cocolia, genuinely intended to rule the world.

Raiden Ryoma, sitting to the side, was completely at a loss for words.

Was this what the press conference was supposed to be about from the start? Wasn't the goal to promote Academy City's genetic technology?

Just as everyone was trembling in fear, worried that the world was about to enter a war-torn Season 3...

Who would have thought that Cocolia, so stern and severe just a moment ago, would suddenly switch to a smiling face and say, "Oh, dear, I was just kidding! How could we possibly start a nuclear war? You don't need to worry about that. As everyone knows, the people of the Far East are a peace-loving ethnicity! We will bring a brighter future to the new world!"

The reporters in the audience were struggling to hold it in. They were trembling with fear, but after hearing Cocolia's latest words, they were also trembling with suppressed laughter.

But none of the reporters dared to even breathe a word, because Academy City, goddammit, really wasn't afraid of nuclear war.

Goddammit, how did the world turn into this? What happened to Academy City benefiting the world?