Undercurrents

"Gray Serpent, are you hiding something from me?"

Jackal demanded an explanation from the other party.

"Just some remnants of a bygone era. But now it's time for them to function again, to reopen the door to another dimension."

Gray Serpent didn't mind Jackal's dissatisfaction. After all, Jackal wasn't a survivor from the Previous Era. But he didn't intend to explain it too clearly either. When the time came, she would see everything with her own eyes.

"Heh… after a long silence, what kind of earth-shattering sound will it be? Truly something to look forward to, isn't it?"

"Hmph! Gray Serpent, I have no interest in listening to your pointless riddles."

Jackal, always straightforward and quick to answer, couldn't stand Gray Serpent's riddle-loving style. Listening to his cryptic way of speaking only made her blood pressure soar.

"I'm not like you, I only have one body, so please don't waste my precious time. Get to the point, Gray Serpent, what are you planning to do?"

"The long winter is not over yet, the serpent should continue its hibernation, awaiting the coming of high summer."

Gray Serpent still spoke unhurriedly,

"But don't worry, our friends in Anti-Entropy will complete all of this for us. We just need to provide her with a tiny piece of information… and coincidentally, our friend is in great need of this information."

As Gray Serpent spoke, he raised a hand, fully covered in gloves, and gestured "small" towards the moon, half-obscured by dark clouds in the sky, his tone as steady as ever.

"The rest is just to keep observing and waiting. After all, what is destined to happen will eventually happen… Like the sun rising and the moon setting, twilight dying and morning being born."

"Hehehe… So you're saying, this matter ends here? And we leave it to that self-righteous idiot? An outsider?"

Jackal was infuriated, chuckling coldly.

"Didn't realize, you Gray Serpents are actually a bunch of pacifists? Truly astonishing! When the Lord returns in the future, I will truthfully report this delightful surprise to him."

Jackal had a fanatical loyalty and faith in World Serpent and its Lord. Combined with her own almost arrogant self-esteem, Gray Serpent's "inaction" made her increasingly angry.

"Anger is the most worthless emotion. It can't make a beast's muscles stronger or its actions more agile, it only turns a person into a beast."

Gray Serpent chuckled, his tone still unhurried,

"Moreover, you and I both understand that your dissatisfaction with me isn't because of this matter, but has been brewing for a long time. Like poisoned wine, the longer it's aged, the more corrosive and bone-deep its toxicity becomes…"

"Hmph, you're being honest for once…"

Now that he'd brought it up, Jackal calmed down instead, smoothing back her wind-blown hair, frowning as she asked,

"That Lin Wei, what exactly are you planning? You've stopped me twice already, Gray Serpent. Don't tell me you're planning to stop me a third time?"

Gray Serpent didn't speak, knowing Jackal wasn't finished yet.

Sure enough, Jackal's voice suddenly became agitated and high-pitched.

"Gray Serpent, my patience is limited! That guy… that arrogant, impudent bastard, that jerk who once humiliated me to my face! Heh… Gray Serpent, don't think I don't know what your other bodies have been up to. Uprooting weeds, punishing arrogance… what a show of ruthless efficiency! Why, when it comes to this man, do you become so soft-hearted? I wasn't aware that guy became one of us at any point!"

Jackal had been obsessing over Lin Wei's existence, still harboring resentment. She'd barely suppressed her thoughts before, but ever since learning that the Coral Island incident was also related to him, the flames of resentment, covetousness, and greed mixed together could no longer be contained.

She felt she'd been considering the big picture for too long. If the Lord himself decreed that she should let it go, then she would naturally obediently dismiss all thoughts of him. But you, Gray Serpent…

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became!

Once is a fluke, twice is chance, but three times is pushing it! Today, Jackal was going to use this as an excuse!

"No, Jackal. This time I don't plan to stop you. On the contrary, I approve of all your plans, just like your previous plans against Schicksal."

Gray Serpent's tone was always muffled, unhurried.

But Gray Serpent's reply made Jackal pause, then become even more furious.

"Huh? This time you're not saying it's the Lord's will?"

"This is exactly the Lord's will, Jackal. The Lord's greatness needs no words, and his will is never in doubt: death and rebirth, destruction and salvation, in the Serpent's eyes, they have always been the same thing."

"Speak human language!"

Jackal was so irritated she was about to explode, feeling she had never hated riddle-makers as much as today. Couldn't he be like her, answering every question directly?

"Simply put, since you insist so much, then from now on, you can do whatever you want, Jackal. This does not violate the Lord's will. After all, if a seed can't withstand the wind and rain, then instead of letting it waste nutrients, it's better to return it to the earth early, to nourish all living things."

Gray Serpent raised his umbrella, preparing to leave.

"Just a reminder, don't forget: before high summer arrives, the serpent must still lie dormant underground, rather than waste strength in vain. This is something both you and I understand. And whether it's you or me, we are only agents of the Lord's will. So, as for how to grasp the specifics, I believe you will understand the limits."

After speaking, he boarded the elevator and left directly.

"..."

Jackal, left alone on the terrace, narrowed her eyes, watching the closing elevator doors. After a long while, she sneered and turned back to enjoy the night sea view, and the city's dazzling lights.

She wasn't angry at Gray Serpent's words that sounded like "warning" and "disavowal." On the contrary, this was exactly what she wanted. After all, she didn't want World Serpent to bear the terrible power of the Key of Erosion.

But she was a person with clear goals, a person who never gave up, and even more, a woman who held grudges like no other.

She hated Lin Wei, because he had once offended her.

She was wary of Lin Wei, because he was too unrestrained.

She coveted Lin Wei, because he was so unique.

Whether alive or dead, she wanted to obtain him, dissect him, study him.

Just like she yearned to study the Herrschers.

Now, having obtained permission as desired, Jackal's mind calmed down instead, starting to calculate what kind of plan she should formulate to achieve her goal as she wished.

… … … … … …

Night had fallen deep in the Eastern Hemisphere, but Europe was still in twilight, golden sunlight spilling across the land through protective barriers, giving a sense of laziness and leisure.

But this kind of scenery was just everyday for the aerial island high in the clouds. The Valkyries and other Schicksal employees stationed and living here had long since become accustomed to it.

Schicksal HQ • Aerial Island • Central Cathedral.

"Overseer, the samples sent from the Oceania Branch have been analyzed."

Amber reported to the blonde man high above. Countless lines of text and information flowed through her golden monocle.

"According to the analysis report from the Engineering Department, the technology on those semi-biological mechanical bodies and the small Honkai energy core is not the same as Anti-Entropy's. On the contrary, in the details, it has subtle similarities to Schicksal."

Although Amber was puzzled by this, suspecting that those in the Engineering Department had made some mistake in their work, she still truthfully reported to the Overseer, and then inquired,

"Is it necessary for other departments to participate and re-analyze it to prevent errors?"

"No need. I'm very interested in this information. Thank you for your hard work, Amber."

Otto stroked his chin, a smile of interest appearing on his face, his tone pleasant and gentle.

"Is there anything else to report?"

"Hahahaha, hahahahaha…"

In a place no one knew, deep within Otto's consciousness, Void Archives laughed so hard he was doubled over, mocking him in a voice exactly like his own.

"Are they imitating you, or are you imitating them? Otto, oh Otto… you, the greatest thief under heaven, don't others know, but don't you know?"

"Oh? Old friend, it seems you really do know quite a lot?"

Otto wasn't offended, just asked with interest. As expected, Void Archives shut up and stopped talking.

Otto wasn't surprised by this either, and wouldn't be annoyed by its deliberate disregard.

"Ah, yes, Overseer."

Amber didn't know about this interlude happening in Otto. She just continued to do her report seriously, the flow of information in her monocle continuing to move rapidly.

"According to the analysis results from the Titan wreckage recovered from the battle scene, the technology on them is consistent with our intelligence on Anti-Entropy. In addition, the action report submitted by the Snow Lotus Squad can also confirm that these Titan mechs existed to guard that mysterious base."

Speaking of this, Amber paused slightly, to allow Otto to digest the existing information, before continuing.

"Therefore, based on the existing information, we have reason to suspect that the Anti-Entropy organization may have discovered unknown Previous Era ruins without our knowledge, and mastered biological mechanical technology that we haven't yet."

After summarizing the report, Amber raised her head slightly, making a final inquiry.

"Overseer, is it necessary to mobilize intelligence forces to conduct further investigation into the Anti-Entropy organization?"

"Reasonable speculation…"

Otto listened seriously, nodding, smiling in approval, then said,

"Alright, Amber, you may leave."

"Yes."

Amber bowed, and obeyed, leaving.

She wasn't puzzled or disappointed at not receiving a definite answer. For her, unconditionally executing all of the Overseer's commands was the meaning of her existence, and she didn't need to have too many opinions or self-will of her own.

After Amber's slender figure gracefully left, the magnificent doors closed silently, shutting out the warm golden sunlight. From then on, the inside of this rather magnificent and spacious cathedral suddenly appeared dim.

Otto called up the Snow Lotus Squad's action report and read it carefully.

He wasn't interested in the Valkyrie's action process, but was very interested in the causes and consequences that led to this unexpected operation.

"Discovered criminal activities specifically targeting Honkai disaster survivors and inhuman human experiments."

The stark black and white words were clearly written at the very beginning of the report. Otto's gaze fixed on this line, and a somewhat mocking smile couldn't help but appear on the corner of his mouth.

"Heh, Anti-Entropy… Could those foolish guys do something like this? If that's really the case, I'd have to look at them in a new light… But, alas! Habits die hard… That's the pathetic and admirable thing about humans, isn't it?"

Otto sighed to himself with great regret, then closed the report.

He had already obtained the information he wanted, and he didn't want to waste any more time on the rest.

Regarding the specific action process of the Valkyries, he didn't care. That was something Amber should be responsible for.

Nothing more than some admirable hero stories. He had seen too much of this kind of thing in the past five hundred years, and really couldn't be interested.

But he wondered, if he read it carefully, could he see other clues from some of the vague parts of the report?

"Yes, habits die hard… It's a wonder you have such self-awareness!"

Void Archives mocked suddenly. Otto's words were both to himself, and spoken for him to hear.

"No wonder they are restrained by you and unable to move. After all, compared to you, other people's weaknesses are too obvious… Heh, it's truly a sad thing!"

"Hahahaha, thank you for the compliment!"

Otto laughed heartily, accepting it as praise with delight.

"By the way, doesn't Anti-Entropy also have a Cocolia? Why don't you suspect her?"

Void Archives asked knowingly.

"My old friend, why would you ask such a pointless question?"

Otto said, fake surprise.

"Don't you know, that self-righteous woman is a fool who, as long as you dangle a carrot in some direction in front of her, will desperately run in that direction? I just release some perfectly timed intelligence at the right moment, and she will proactively complete some things for us that we ourselves aren't convenient to come forward for… Hehehe, saying that, I should thank her instead."

Otto chuckled,

"You see, Anti-Entropy is either full of stubborn fools, or self-proclaimed clever fools. In short, they're all fools. All their actions are as simple and predictable as children. How could you have any unrealistic illusions about them?"

Void Archives fell silent.

"Alright, my old friend, no need to ask these pointless questions anymore. I understand what you mean, you just refuse to tell me some information you know…"

Otto still said with a calm smile.

"Look, it's been five hundred years already. You've refused me so many times over the years, I'm already used to it."

"Look, even if you stubbornly refuse to cooperate with me, I can still achieve my goals time and time again, can't I? In these five hundred years, you should already be used to it too."

"Heh!"

Void Archives let out a cold laugh filled with resentment, and then fell silent, refusing to humiliate himself further.

Otto chuckled softly, shaking his head, not taking this interlude to heart. Then he pressed the communicator button.

"Amber, please contact the governments of various countries involved in the Coral Island project. Tell them that since a malicious incident related to the Honkai has occurred here, then according to the agreement, our Schicksal should also send personnel to participate in the investigation, to prevent local people from suffering more similar harm."

"Yes."

"Tell them, if necessary, Schicksal can station a Valkyrie squad permanently on Coral Island, to provide them with necessary protection."

"Yes."

"Use gentler wording. We Schicksal are saviors and assistants, we shouldn't interfere in this kind of economic project jointly developed by various countries. But after all, it involves the Honkai, so we can only reluctantly offer our help."

"…Yes."

Communication ended. Otto looked at the map with a cold chuckle.

The "Coral Island" project was too eye-catching. Such large-scale economic and technological cooperation, even developing and building such a sci-fi space elevator?

He had never seen governments around the world unite so sincerely before!

If it were real, Otto might not be able to help but laugh out loud three times.

What kind of utopian fantasy world is this?

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Therefore, there must be other hidden reasons behind it.

And coincidentally, this unexpected interference from the Snow Lotus Squad gave him an excellent reason to intervene in the Coral Island project.

"Regardless of whether it's related to that serpent, testing the waters is always a good move."

Otto narrowed his eyes, brewing his next plan in his mind.