Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Welt sat alone at the bar, his face etched with melancholy. His "foster mother," Dr. Einstein, was trying to console him.

Welt, who never smoked, was now puffing on a cigarette.

"Einstein, tell me, why did this happen? Before Adolf in Germany, I thought the Honkai was largely responsible for war. But after this incident, I'm starting to think that war wasn't necessarily caused by the Honkai corrupting that man."

"Someone who can resist corruption, who can even control Honkai Energy, shouldn't be so easily controlled by the Honkai."

Welt was even beginning to doubt their own historical records. Given North America's long history of rewriting history, it was entirely possible those bastards had just made it all up.

Einstein's face was clouded with worry. As a Jew, she really didn't know how to comfort Welt.

This exceptionally low-bottom-line situation in modern society had also shaken Einstein's spirit to some extent.

Now she felt it too. What Noldrei had said might be true. The crisis that would destroy humanity lay not with the Honkai, but with humanity itself.

"Sovereign, I know this has been a huge blow to you. But please, listen to my advice. You must not give up on upholding human morality. Otherwise, you will lose yourself in the power of a Herrscher."

It wasn't that Welt didn't hear Einstein's plea, but he had already killed so many people with his own hands, and he might have to kill again in the future.

The thought of it made his discussion of upholding human morality seem like a self-deceiving farce, given his position as the representative of Anti-Entropy's interests and a member of humanity's current ruling class.

Welt shook his head with a bitter smile and poured himself another drink. But this time, he didn't intend to drown his sorrows. He just sipped the drink slowly, savoring its taste.

"What is this stuff? It tastes awful."

Welt couldn't help but complain.

"Just regular beer..." Einstein didn't try to stop him, thinking it would be good for Welt to let off some steam.

"I... I borrowed Noldrei's appearance and killed people with my own hands. The feeling... it was truly strange and incomprehensible..."

Welt's gaze passed through the glass, his eyes vacant, focused on nothing.

"Sovereign, I know you are very confused right now. And I know this isn't the time for useless platitudes. I'll just give you a simple analysis of the situation within Anti-Entropy."

Einstein paused for a moment before continuing, "The radical faction that Cocolia took with her will never return. Tesla has given up trying to persuade Noldrei to clean up humanity's political ecosystem. Only a few of Anti-Entropy's old guard are still following our original ideals, and even they are on the verge of wavering."

"Sovereign, what do your actions represent? The First Herrscher personally cleansed humanity's political upper echelon, sweeping through them like a storm and executing them without any resistance."

"Humanity's organizational system is like a blank sheet of paper to you. Fortunately, you were smart enough to borrow Noldrei's face. At least everyone's attention isn't focused on you, Sovereign."

"The impact of this level of political purge is extremely dangerous. This is the conservative faction using the most radical means to achieve their conservative political ideals."

"Do you understand what that means? If you don't return to the ranks of the researchers, the political ecosystem of the researchers will be completely lost in our hands."

"There are no scientists without a political stance, and no Valkyries without a political stance."

Welt listened to Einstein's words, a look of understanding dawning on his face. He looked up and suddenly asked, "Einstein, what do you think Otto would do? We all know that Otto has done many wicked things to revive Kallen. But why is he so willing to follow Noldrei's commands? Their stances are not just different; they are completely opposite."

'Boss, are you trying to make things difficult for me? If we knew what Otto was thinking, would we have lost so badly during the Second Honkai Eruption?'

Einstein recalled the unpleasant past. She didn't want Otto to continue being an enemy of Anti-Entropy. Avenging Joyce was one thing, but protecting Anti-Entropy was another.

"I don't know what Otto is thinking. That man... I can't figure him out."

Einstein shook her head. "But we can guess. If Noldrei himself wants to continue with his plan of summoning Herrschers, then Otto is most likely targeting the ability of a certain Herrscher."

So far, many Herrscher abilities had been revealed. The power that could potentially traverse time and space was likely related to the Herrscher of Gravity.

And to know the order of appearance of the Herrscher abilities...

"Kevin! Kevin from the Previous Era must know what the Herrscher abilities are, and he must know if there is a Herrscher with the power to revive Kallen."

Welt's mind worked quickly. He immediately understood why Otto was supporting Noldrei. Otto knew the order of the Herrschers' appearance and what their powers were.

If Anti-Entropy could obtain what they wanted from the ruins of the Previous Era, then Otto, who had been excavating the Earth for five hundred years, must know even more.

"In that case, wouldn't Noldrei do something about it? He wouldn't just let it happen. But until the Herrscher with the power that would make Otto defect appears, Noldrei will choose to trust Otto. What he's doing now..."

Welt thought about how he had inexplicably obtained a Herrscher Core, and he began to understand why Noldrei trusted Otto.

A Herrscher Core would only respond to someone who was lost, wavering, and filled with human hatred.

Otto was doing an excellent job in this regard. With Cocolia providing cover for him on the outside, Otto could do whatever he wanted with impunity.

Einstein's index finger tapped on the bar. She said softly, "We can't just sit back and wait. But to pull Tesla back to our side, I think we might need a little... 'help'."

Welt seemed to remember something, and an awkward expression appeared on his face.

"I think... we could try asking Theresa for help. How about it? She's screwed us over so many times, she owes us one, right?"

"Ther... Theresa?!" Einstein thought Welt had lost his mind. How could he suggest someone so unreliable?

"I know you're worried that Theresa is unreliable. But it's precisely because she's so unreliable that she's very reliable in her unreliability. I've already figured out how to get Theresa to help us."

Welt patted Einstein's shoulder and said seriously, "This time, it's not for some so-called ideal, and it's not even for Anti-Entropy. Our goal is very clear."

"We need to secure a significant share of authority in the new genetic society."