Inside a spacious room filled with a sense of high technology, several electronic screens suspended in mid-air. A woman with purple eyes and blonde hair sat back in her office chair, listening to a subordinate's report. She possessed both the delicate,
refined beauty of a doll and the tall, elegant figure of a mature woman. As the current president of ME Corp, she did not show the slightest hint of alarm regarding the news that the weapons research lab at the Nagazora Branch had been compromised.
"The Nagazora Branch? The company hasn't assigned any major projects to Nagazora City. They don't even have Titans stationed there for defense. How could it have been intruded upon? Check what project the weapons research lab was originally working on."
A dozen seconds later, the voice of the ME Corp executive on the other end of the call became somewhat flustered.
"My deepest apologies, President. With my clearance level, I am unable to view that project."
"Hm?"
The woman let out a sound of surprise and sat up straight in her chair. She began to operate her terminal, utilizing her authority as the current president of ME Corp to enter the Nagazora Branch's database, but
"Insufficient clearance?!"
Within ME Corp, there actually existed a project that even the president could not view. The woman, who originally hadn't cared much about the intrusion and had assumed it was merely the work of a competitor, now furrowed her brows.
As a world-renowned enterprise, ME Corp remained a behemoth even after its former president was imprisoned and its reputation was damaged. However, very few people knew that there was an even larger organization behind the company Anti-Entropy.
As one of the highest-ranking members of Anti-Entropy, Enforcer Cocolia had previously used certain schemes to land the former president, Ryoma Raiden, in prison. By doing so, she brought ME Corp under her control to bolster her own power.
She knew that as a fellow Enforcer of Anti-Entropy, Ryoma Raiden could not be kept in prison forever over minor financial disputes; Cocolia had simply wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make her move.
However, the accident at the Nagazora Branch made Cocolia realize that things were not developing exactly according to her plan.
Even a project personally authorized by Ryoma Raiden shouldn't be inaccessible to her now. A clearance level higher than an Enforcer could only belong to...
"Was the project authorized by The Sovereign himself? What weapon was commissioned for secret research? But Ryoma Raiden couldn't have been so overwhelmed that he forgot such an important project.
If there really was something left behind in the weapons research lab, it should have been a failure. Still, the possibility that the other side was momentarily careless cannot be ruled out."
After frowning and talking to herself for a while, Cocolia re-established communication with the executive in Nagazora. All traces of emotion vanished from her face, leaving her expressionless.
"Transmit the photos of the door you said was destroyed by force."
"Yes, ma'am."
Soon, the screen changed.
Looking at the image of the door one that was originally incredibly sturdy and capable of stopping handgun rounds and its current wretched state, Cocolia pondered for a moment before asking.
"Are the analysis results out?"
"Yes. Based on our investigation of the stress points on the alloy door and some minor traces, the intruder is human or tentatively classified as human. That individual kicked the door open with a single strike. That level of strength..."
"Don't look so incredulous. That degree of power undoubtedly breaks the common sense of ordinary people, but those are ordinary people. You are a member of our company; in reality, an A-Rank Valkyrie equipped with armor could easily achieve this."
"Does the President mean the intruder was a Schicksal Valkyrie?"
Cocolia did not give an answer. As a superior, she had no obligation to resolve her subordinate's confusion.
"I heard reports earlier that Theresa visited Nagazora City. Is that intel accurate?"
"My subordinates have confirmed it. She did indeed come to Nagazora. Although the Nagazora management department refused to let us browse the relevant records, some of the cameras we installed at the branch building captured her silhouette."
"Can you find out who she contacted during that time or which locations she visited?"
"I am truly sorry! Because we could only install cameras within the office building, we..."
"Fine, I understand. You don't need to worry about the rest. Proceed as usual."
Cocolia's words caused the executive on the other end to beam with unhideable joy. She had originally thought that after such a major incident, she would at least face a demotion. Instead, everything was to proceed as usual.
In her state of ecstasy, she decided there was no longer any need to carry out the various plans she had devised to deal with the negligent security captain. Status quo was for the best!
After closing the communication, Cocolia closed her eyes and leaned against the back of her chair, lost in thought. She found it difficult to link a secret project of The Sovereign with Theresa, the principal of St. Freya Academy. However, it was undeniable that a variable had appeared in Nagazora, one that might directly affect Cocolia's plans.
The Selene (Moonlight Throne), a battleship with the potential to change the current status of the Honkai ravaging the world. To make it operational, it required a sufficiently powerful source of Honkai energy.
Currently, the only things capable of providing that level of power were Herrscher Cores, and it required more than one. Therefore, Mei Raiden the daughter of Ryoma Raiden who possessed the [Gem of Conquest] extracted from the core of the previous Second Herrscher must become a Herrscher. The Third Herrscher.
It was time to start plotting and determine a time for a definitive Honkai eruption.
Cocolia reopened her eyes and initiated a new communication, which was connected almost instantly.
"Mother Cocolia?"
A girl's voice came through. It was pleasant to the ear but lacked any emotional fluctuation.
"Go to Nagazora City. Go in your capacity as my adopted daughter, under the pretext of inspecting the Nagazora Branch following the violent incident. During your stay, make contact with the girl named Mei Raiden who attends Senba Academy. Monitor her condition. She is a potential Third Herrscher. Watch out for your own safety."
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