I Told You There Was Someone Behind You

A little earlier.

Anti-Entropy, North American Base.

Inside the meeting room, Tesla and Einstein sit opposite each other in silence, making the atmosphere awkward.

"The Sovereign sent back the information after confirming with Ms. Fu Hua. It's indeed true. He has left it to us to decide whether to contact him." Einstein breaks the silence, stating some dry facts.

"My opinion is that we should try to make contact. After all, as a 'Nagazora City resident,' his attitude towards Anti-Entropy is already quite friendly."

"Huh? You believe him so easily?" Tesla seems to have a conditioned reflex towards the mention of 'Nagazora City' and immediately retorts.

"How do you know his identity is real? What if that guy is hiding a malicious intent? You know how chaotic the organization is right now, Mophead! There's so much evidence that suggests we've been infiltrated deeply by unknown forces over the years. We can't even conduct an internal investigation properly! Not to mention that reckless and self-righteous Cocolia!"

Tesla becomes more agitated as she speaks. Then, realizing that she's losing control, she stops, takes a few deep breaths, and sighs. Her tone becomes weaker, filled with dissatisfaction. "You also know about Joachim. We even have to conceal his whereabouts and protect him… Things are already so difficult, do we really need to create more trouble for ourselves?"

"Isn't it trouble that comes looking for you? Besides, the organization is already chaotic. It can't get any worse." Einstein brushes her messy hair with her hand, her voice as calm as if she's talking about someone else.

"Moreover, Ms. Fu Hua has already confirmed the information. We can still trust her, right?"

"..."

Her words make Tesla hesitant. After all, she clearly remembers the help Fu Hua once gave to Anti-Entropy in its hour of need.

But…

Tesla recalls the feathers she saw that day, the Cocolia who was oblivious of what had happened,

The annoying way that guy spoke, and his arrogant attitude that made her want to burst with anger;

She also recalls how Otto maliciously stole Raiden Ryouma's body, how he used their trust to launch the most despicable attack, leaving Anti-Entropy with wounds that wouldn't heal;

And the Second Honkai Eruption in Siberia, that despicable, malicious, shameless thief!

…

All of this makes Tesla wary of anything related to Otto. So, even with Fu Hua's guarantee, she's unwilling to let her guard down.

"Fu Hua has been working for Otto for years. If this is all Otto's conspiracy, then who knows how credible that woman's words are!"

"Sigh…" Einstein sighs silently. "Then what are you planning to do?"

Tesla suddenly stands up. She paces back and forth, her expression changing. Her footsteps become faster.

Einstein watches as the anxious and struggling Tesla walks in front of her. She remains silent, not wanting to disturb her. She knows that the Lobster Doctor just needs time to think and make a decision.

As expected, after a moment, Tesla suddenly stops walking as if having made a decision.

She grits her teeth and says viciously, "That guy who calls himself Lin Wei is waiting for us to contact him, right? Okay, let's make it happen!"

Tesla walks quickly to the operating console, operating the keyboard. "I'm going to contact Siegfried and have him be in charge of making contact this time! When it comes to their hatred of Otto, and knowledge of him, no one is better than him!"

Isn't this a bit impulsive? Einstein frowns and reminds her. "If what you said is true and this is another one of Otto's plots, aren't you putting Siegfried in danger?"

"Then let Siegfried be captured by him!" Tesla stops her operation and turns to look at Einstein. "If that happens, we'll attack that damned St. Freya, tell that poor girl all the truths about Siegfried, about herself, and awaken the Herrscher of the Void ahead of schedule. We'll destroy Otto's damned experiment at all costs!"

Tesla's voice is calm, but Einstein, who knows her well, understands that her old friend is on the verge of an eruption.

"I've put up with it again and again and again! I've had enough!!"

"It's just flipping the table, right? Everyone can do it!"

...

Japan, Nagazora City.

After leaving ME Corp., Lin Wei first goes back to the location of Chiba Academy, uses it as a reference point to identify directions, and then uses the map of Nagazora City he copied from ME Corp's system to easily locate his destination.

"I never thought I'd return here..."

He is now back in the same house that he sold at a loss. The interior is nearly the same as when he left, just now covered in dust and decay, looking dilapidated.

Lin Wei walks around. He has a strange feeling. He had escaped from here, then was reborn at Chiba Academy.

Now, he used the path from Chiba Academy to return here, as if he was back where he started, in a different world. It's very strange.

"Now I just have to wait for Anti-Entropy's reply. I'll stay here for a few days." Lin Wei smiles and checks the time. It's almost midnight. He should get some rest.

Having just dealt with the Honkai Emperor and the ME Corp. incidents, Lin Wei feels exhausted. So he opens the windows, letting the stale air out. Then, he cleans up the bedroom a bit and lies down, making do for the night.

He doesn't worry about getting sick. He has the Stigmata to protect him.

"...Honestly, ever since I transmigrated, I haven't slept on such a terrible bed," Lin Wei mutters half-awake. Although his survival environment has always been harsh and he always teeters on the edge of danger, he has never mistreated himself in terms of material comforts—

The only time his sleep quality was worse was that night when Raven kidnapped him and tied him to a chair.

So, when he wakes up the next morning, Lin Wei, who couldn't tolerate it anymore, decides to clean the place.

Yae Sakura is helpless with Lin Wei's eccentric habits. It's just a temporary stop, after all.

"It's not only about the aesthetics of life, but also about leaving a good impression for the guests that will soon come!"

After a day of labor, the room is much cleaner. Lin Wei feels satisfied.

After taking a short break, he takes off the mask covering his face and smiles at Yae Sakura. "I can't let them see me as a beggar living in a garbage dump, can I? If we're here to make friends, we have to be presentable."

"...So that's why you specifically changed into clean clothes before wreaking havoc at that big company?" Yae Sakura says emotionlessly. She is used to Lin Wei's "wolf in sheep's clothing" antics.

"Don't make it sound so bad! You have to show your value to attract their attention!" Instead of having a polite and gentle conversation, Lin Wei prefers to take the initiative. As long as the outcome is what he wants, it doesn't matter how he gets there.

"Hehe, I wonder when Anti-Entropy will reply, given their efficiency... If it's World Serpent or Schicksal that comes first, things would be…"

Before he can say, "awkward," Yae Sakura's interruption causes Lin Wei to suddenly freeze. He quickly steps back.

The moment he moves, there's a sudden loud crash. The front door flies off the frame, slamming heavily against the living room wall, completely shattered.

"...I just cleaned this place!" Looking at the mess in front of him, Lin Wei feels his blood pressure rising.

Then he sees a one-armed white-haired man walking in through the gaping hole, making his identity clear, "Siegfried…"

Lin Wei grits his teeth, feeling his blood pressure rise even higher.

He expected Anti-Entropy to send him to contact him. After all, Anti-Entropy doesn't have anyone to spare. Aside from Welt, who's recovering, the half-crippled Siegfried is their only real combat force now.

Even though things are going according to his script, Lin Wei realizes that he was being careless—

Are these white-haired people this single-minded?!

Did Anti-Entropy send you to cause trouble?

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

In reality, Siegfried is indeed here to cause trouble.

He has been traveling between North America and the Japan recently—the injuries he had sustained years ago have been hard to heal. His body is still riddled with wounds, which is why he needs to recover with the advanced medical technology at Anti-Entropy's base in North America.

But he simply can't sit still. Due to his concern for his daughter, he travels to the Japan every time his health improves, looking at the St. Freya Academy from afar, resenting his own weakness.

Then, his health deteriorates again and he has to return to the base to recover in a medical pod. Once he gets better, he can't help but travel to the Japan and look at St. Freya from afar…

Tesla is fed up with his recklessness and directly scolds him, saying that he won't recover even after a million years with his methods!

But it's no use. She can't stop him. He just wants to stay near his daughter, so he can quickly react if anything happens.

Siegfried was in this "active period" when all this happened.

This morning, Siegfried received a call from Tesla. He thought it was just to tell him to return to the base to recover, but when Tesla explained the cause and effect with a serious expression…

Siegfried snapped!

For the first half of Tesla's explanation, Siegfried listened calmly. After all, after so many experiences, he has learned to be more composed.

But when Tesla mentioned that Cocolia had her memory erased by Lin Wei, Siegfried instantly snapped!

Of course, it wasn't because he was angry for Cocolia. He hated that woman.

It was because the act of erasing memories made Siegfried instantly think of Theresa, whose memory had been tampered with...

Who else in the world has the ability to do this, other than Otto?

With that in mind, Siegfried immediately assumes that this "Lin Wei" is Otto using a fake name.

His reason disappears, and his mind has only one thought: Where's Otto? I'm going to kill him!

Tesla's instructions in the message about "be careful not to fall into a trap and to investigate carefully so as not to blame a good person" were all thrown to the back of his mind. With bloodshot eyes, he charged toward the coordinates he had been sent.

Traps? Caution? Don't care!

Good person? Innocent? Otto?

You must be joking!

So, when he arrived at Lin Wei's house, Siegfried unceremoniously kicked open the door—

If I just destroy the whole house, then there won't be a trap, right?

When Lin Wei instantly calls out his name the moment he enters, Siegfried sneers even more, confirming that the guy is related to Otto,

Perhaps he is Otto himself!

Right now, Siegfried has made up his mind. Whether he is Otto or not, whatever his plan, he'll just blow him to pieces with the Judgement of Shamash!

If I destroy you all, then there won't be any conspiracies.

It's safe to say that the Kaslana family's tactics are always so simple and brutal…

On the other hand, Lin Wei sees Siegfried, one arm holding a uniquely shaped pistol, about to make contact with the other gun at his waist. He instantly realizes what he is going to do and panics. "Are you crazy? The energy fluctuations from the Judgement of Shamash are too strong! It will alert Schicksal, and then none of us can escape!"

Lin Wei tries his best to stop him. He doesn't know what this guy is going on about. "And are you trying to die? You'll die!"

"Otto, so you do feel fear?" Siegfried thinks "Otto" is begging for mercy in fear and laughs out loud, his heart feeling quite satisfied.

(ノへ￣,)

The word "Otto" instantly helps Lin Wei understand what's happening.

What is going on?

Lin Wei sighs. He knows that this guy has lost his mind. He won't listen to any explanations. So he has to try a different method.

"Huh? There's someone behind you!" Lin Wei pretends to be surprised, looking behind Siegfried.

"Otto, you're using a child's trick…"

"Thump!"

Before Siegfried can finish his mocking retort, a sudden chop to the neck from behind knocks him out cold.

Before losing consciousness, he vaguely sees a fox-eared girl in a shrine maiden outfit fading into the air.

"Am I hallucinating?"

Lin Wei, having retrieved Yae Sakura, looks at the fallen Siegfried, shaking his head and sighing.

"I told you there was someone behind you, why didn't you listen?"