The World Serpent's conference room was perpetually a few shades darker than Raven's mood.
Raven propped her chin, her fingertips idly tapping the cold metal tabletop, her gaze fixed on a crack in the opposite wall—left there the last time Jackal's experimental subject went berserk.
Ever since the Elysian Realm vanished without a trace, the entire organization was like a disturbed hornet's nest, specifically one where the royal jelly had been stolen.
Gray Serpent, or rather, his mechanical bodies scattered across various locations, had entered a visibly "high-energy consumption" state.
(He must be so worried, definitely worried.)
Raven silently narrated an internal monologue for her superior.
(After all, losing the Paradise is like losing the Honored Lord. Looking at how even the metallic sheen on his head has dulled recently, he's probably experiencing computational overload with internal fans whirring madly, or in short, 'smoking at the top.')
"Hey, Jackal."
Raven lazily spoke, looking at the woman sitting at the other end of the long table, idly fiddling with a miniature holographic projector.
Her wolf-head mask looked somewhat menacing in the dim light, but Raven was long immune to it.
"Do you know what this emergency summons is about again? New instructions from the Honored Lord? Or has Gray Serpent finally decided to expand the search to Mars?"
Jackal didn't even lift her head, letting out an impatient scoff from behind her mask: "Hmph. Who knows which logic circuit those lumps of iron have miswired this time. The message came suddenly, and the tone was as 'mystical' as ever. Just wait, it's either catching new experimental subjects or some kind of 'devotion to the Serpent' mobilization."
Her tone was full of disdain.
Raven shrugged. She had been transmigrated to this world for many years, from initial shock and bewilderment, to struggling to disguise herself and survive, and now to becoming a veteran "wage slave" of the World Serpent. She considered herself to have seen many storms.
But the complete disappearance of the Paradise still exceeded her comprehension.
Was this in the original plot? No!
She remembered clearly that the Paradise had disappeared after Mei's "graduation," when the Herrscher of Corruption triggered an internal crisis, leading to its eventual dissipation.
This kind of "moving" disappearance, leaving not even a speck behind, was as absurd as someone erasing the words "Elysian Realm" from the timeline with an eraser.
(Could it be that I really transmigrated into a hybrid version of Honkai Impact 3rd?)
She shivered at the thought and quickly shook her head.
Just then, the heavy blast-proof door of the conference room slid smoothly to the side, accompanied by the hiss of air pressure release.
First to enter was Gray Serpent.
Still in his signature attire, holding an umbrella, his electronic prosthetic eye emitting a calm red glow.
But whether it was psychological, Raven felt that today's "Gray Serpent's" footsteps seemed to have a hint of fluidity beyond their usual mechanical nature?
As if what was controlling him wasn't a program, but something more vibrant.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the figure who walked in behind Gray Serpent.
With just one glance, Raven's fingers, tapping the table, abruptly froze, as if instantly solidified.
Ash-gray, shoulder-length hair, not particularly neatly styled, but with a familiar casualness.
Golden eyes... just lacking highlights, like a sunset veiled in mist.
The outfit, strikingly similar to a certain Galactic Baseballer, seemed casually put together yet surprisingly pleasing to the eye—
(Stelle???)
Raven's brain felt like it had been violently struck by an ice axe, buzzing as it spun idly for a moment.
Her hand under the table clenched suddenly, her nails almost digging into her palm, relying on an instinct honed by her mercenary life, she forced herself to quickly relax, maintaining a calm expression.
(What kind of cosmic joke is this?!)
(Why is Stelle, the Trailblazer from the Astral Express in honkai: star rail, appearing in the World Serpent conference room in Honkai Impact 3rd?!)
(Wrong set, big shot! This is the Honkai Impact 3rd set, where we fight Honkai, battle Herrschers daily, and everyone has deep psychological trauma! It's not the honkai: star rail set where they ride the Astral Express looking for fun across the universe!)
(I've been transmigrated for so many years, I know the script by heart, and this wasn't in it! Is it the butterfly effect? Should I not have saved that child back then? Or should I not have saved that money and bought Schicksal stock?)
Her heart was already in turmoil, but Raven's expression merely showed a slight contraction of her pupils before returning to normal.
But her mind was thoroughly boiling, countless question marks and Commentary on bullet screens (Tucao Danmu/commentary bullet screens) scrolling wildly.
"Raven, Jackal."
Gray Serpent (controlled by the Black Herta) walked to the head of the table, his electronic voice steady, betraying no abnormalities.
"This is a new member; you may call her 'Stelle'."
Stelle, who had been named, took half a step forward and nodded calmly.
Her gaze swept over Raven and Jackal, showing no extra emotion.
(New member? Stelle?! Joining the World Serpent?!)
Raven felt the muscles at the corner of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
(This plot is even more absurd than the Elysian Realm just up and leaving! From which dimensional talent market did Gray Serpent recruit her? Did her resume say 'proficient in galactic trailblazing, trash can connoisseurship, and Envoy-level trouble attraction physique'?)
The Black Curtain Puppet continued to introduce in his modified tone: "Stelle's strength is extraordinary and will be an important asset in dealing with our current predicament. Her joining has been approved by the Honored Lord."
(Approved by the Honored Lord? Kevin, the ancestor, approved a 'Trailblazer' who clearly has a different art style and seems to have jumped from another set?)
Raven couldn't help but frantically rub her forehead mentally.
(Has the ancestor been in the Sea of Quanta for too long and connected to some strange cosmic signal?)
Jackal, however, was examining Stelle with interest, her gaze behind the mask filled with novel curiosity.
"Oh? A new face. Looks... quite sturdy. Any special abilities? How is her Honkai Energy adaptability?"
She had already begun her professional questioning.
Stelle looked at Jackal, silent for two seconds, then spoke, her voice flat: "Can use a baseball bat, and... a Flame Lance. Adaptability, unknown, but can be tested."
She specifically added, "Dissection for research is not recommended."
"Specific abilities will be demonstrated during missions."
The Black Curtain Puppet interrupted Jackal's potential continued "academic discussion" and brought the topic back on track.
"I have summoned you precisely because new clues and an action plan have emerged. The disappearance of the Elysian Realm is a trampling of the World Serpent's dignity, and we must make the thief pay the price."
(Here it comes, the classic blame-shifting segment.)
Raven rolled her eyes internally.
(Although everyone knows that the 'thief' who could move the entire Paradise without anyone noticing is probably beyond conventional understanding. But for now, there needs to be a target to vent anger and demonstrate initiative.)
"After intelligence analysis,"
the Black Curtain Puppet's electronic eyes flickered red slightly, "all indications point to—Schicksal. They have coveted the knowledge and power of the Previous Era for a long time, and this action was very likely a despicable sneak attack orchestrated by Otto."
(Schicksal? Otto?)
Raven almost couldn't help but snort.
(This blame-shifting is truly grand and perfectly round. That Bishop likes to stir up trouble, but he doesn't have that capability; rather, he's still in unrequited love.)
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!