Hi3rd: Achievement Hunter

It was destined to be a sleepless night. The things that happened in the span of ten or so minutes caused tens of millions of casualties. By the time it was midnight, the casualty count was over sixty-five million. The property damages numbered in trillions. The global economy that took heavy hits consecutively is shown to not be able to recover in the next few decades or so.

Food prices went through the roof, and the regulation of firearms and other weapons became looser. 

Most importantly, Fire MOTH's credibility this time took a big hit.

'These guys couldn't sit still.'

Mei recalled earlier reports from Vill-V. More than ten thousand accounts calling out Fire MOTH's high-level MANTISes added salt to the injury. These accounts were all linked together by numerous networks. Ordinary technicians wouldn't be able to see their origins, but Vill-V wasn't one of them.

In the end, their tracks led to a subsidiary digital security company that just so happened to be funded by one of the current councilors.

'Should we… no. It is better to wait for good timing.'

Mei and the rest weren't oblivious as to which councilors betrayed them. As early as two and a half months ago, they already have a comprehensive list of the councilors who have acted strangely. 

Three such councilors stood out when it came to making trouble. They tried their best to influence the five institutes using their hidden cards, creating some deliberate accidents or data leaks every now and then.

Of course, they only touched the surface. The core projects of each institute are only accessible to a select trusted individuals. Nevertheless, the seemingly superficial trouble turned into a huge loss when three out of the five Herrschers in the major eruption today turned out to be Fire MOTH researchers.

'If we can catch them cooperating with one or two Herrschers… Vill-V's invention should be done soon.'

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Mei tapped her crossed shoulder in a rhythmic pattern. She was deep in thought until someone walked beside her. His tall height made her look up at him, though the gap wasn't that big with her high heels.

Aleph handed her a glass tumbler filled with hot coffee. White steam came off when Mei unlocked the small lid. They were at the rooftop of the Mu Continent branch. The two overlooked the entire city below.

Mei placed the tumbler on her eye level and saw it was only three-fourths full. Considering Aleph's habits, he always makes sure to fill an entire tumbler with coffee.

In short, he drank some of it already.

A teasing smile was formed on her lips. Aleph saw it and jolted slightly. He knew she was up to something.

"W-what? We've shared drinks with this tumbler more than a dozen times."

"It's nothing."

Mei did not mind and drank directly from it. She glanced at Aleph and saw he wasn't deep in his thoughts compared to before.

"Do you regret it?" She asked.

"That we hadn't taken action against those councilors? Slightly."

Aleph has a cheat called elemental sight. As long as something existed in this world, their very traces would be left on the 'information dimension'. Even the Sea of Quanta was no exception. 

He previously thought that the 'information dimension' was limited to the place where this ability originated, but he was wrong. It was a 'dimension' present even in this world filled with honkai.

Elemental Sight allowed him to see the traces left by the Sixth Herrscher. It served two things: confirmation on which councilors defected as well as the Herrscher's high-level of intelligence.

One time, Aleph tried to ambush her in a random city. It wasn't even a second when she disappeared to the Sea of Quanta with the unknown means she mastered—emphasis on unknown.

It was then did they decide to let her be. Until Vill-V finishes the device that locks space, or if a Herrscher shows up on a councilor, Aleph will not make any moves.

Never did he imagine it would end up with sixty-five million casualties.

"I'm planning to take it back with interest. My current speed and strength should be able to deal with most of the honkai beasts that appear now."

"..."

Hearing such an absurd plan, Mei simply nodded. It sounds ridiculous when it comes from others, but if it was Aleph, he could do just that.

The last three months involved him either conducting core projects or killing honkai beasts. It was extreme to the point that no emperor-class honkai beasts were present prior to the seventh eruption. That included the ones on the sea.

For a time, only templar-classes and below remained living.

"The readings from before reached 3,000 HW. They're becoming stronger." Mei commented. "I think you should leave more to the others. It's better for them to be more independent."

"Alright.

Just as their topic halted, Mei brought up something else.

"Oh, that's right. How was the girl whom you bought an entire hospital for?"

"Miss Aponia? Well, she's fine. Remember that one ELF based on me? I stationed it there."

Aleph tried his best to remain calm outwardly. Her probing questions made him feel like there was something else.

"Come to think of it, she also had that girl as a bodyguard. It's just unexpected. Her results as a high-level MANTIS was subpar combat-wise."

"She's more suited to logistics. But then, I'm already working with Vill-V to fix the logistics issue."

"Vill-V."

The mention of Vill-V's name made him laugh a bit.

"We didn't expect this, did we? We're relying on her more than we thought." 

Aleph stated, to which Mei agreed.

"She has the talent. I believe in it." She paused for a while before adding, "Vill-V might be more talented than us Mobius in terms of intellect."

Unlike Mobius who spent years inside Fire MOTH, Vill-V had only been a researcher for less than three years. Later on, she stated how she was self-taught. Nobody could imagine how a self-taught girl ended up creating Honkai Weapons, PRI-ARMs (Enhanced and Customized Honkai Weapons), Divine Keys, each being more terrifying than the last.

Mei did not continue talking. Seemingly dissatisfied with having two other women as their topics, she placed the tumbler atop her breasts. Due to the large base, the tumbler was as secured as it could ever be.

Her fingers circled on each other as she playfully looked at Aleph. The latter's calm look was broken with a tinge of red.

"So? Do you want to rest in my office?"

*****

A/N: I uploaded the wrong chapter yesterday. This is the missing chapter 168. These events predate the 169 (the experimentation on the training space). This should also be the chapter of the day, though I'll try and see whether I could write a bonus chapter today.

Once again, I'm sorry for the mistake.