Honkai Simulator: Start with Confessing to The Herrscher of Finality

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While Rita and Xia Chen were exploring the Dominion Theater, Wendy, along with Yoseph disguised as her accomplice, were handling matters related to the Oceanic Branch.

As they reviewed recent intelligence on the branch, they stumbled upon a shocking revelation:

Corruption.

Of course, ordinary corruption wasn't surprising; wherever there is profit, corruption tends to follow, something Wendy had mentally prepared herself for.

However, when vast sums of money were embezzled and funneled directly to Anti-Entropy, it became intolerable for Wendy.

Moreover, the selection of Wendy as a test subject for the Gem of Desire experiments was orchestrated by an infiltrator from Anti-Entropy, aiming to incapacitate her. Such tactics were outrageously cruel.

After all, Anti-Entropy once claimed to be an organization dedicated to combating Honkai, but now...

If not for her mission at hand, Wendy would have already stormed America.

Despite this, she struggled to contain her fury.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you informing me about these matters..." Wendy expressed deep gratitude towards the member from that special squad.

The person shook their head, "It's nothing; it's what we're supposed to do."

Pausing briefly, they added, "Soon, others will notice something is amiss with me. You'll need to take care of them discreetly."

"Don't worry." Wendy's eyes chilled slightly.

Before long, trouble arrived in the form of an intruder.

At this point, the Oceanic Branch had yet to realize Yoseph had been replaced. A merchant hurried over and, upon seeing Wendy, sensed something was off.

Instantly, Wendy subdued him.

"I've gathered evidence of your actions. Prepare for your trial." Wendy's voice carried no emotion, except for the unhidden anger.

Unaware how he had offended Wendy, the merchant turned pale-faced and hastily pleaded, "It wasn't me, it wasn't... It was Yoseph who made me do it. I didn't really participate, honest!"

After Wendy used the merchant's testimony to arrest numerous individuals, the entire Oceanic Branch fell into a state of fear and trepidation.

The number of people directly involved was relatively small, but most were aware of the situation. They didn't know what Wendy would do or how far she might go. However, no one dared to plead for leniency; even attempts to contact Gretel were met with immediate dismissal as she hung up the communication link.

Gretel, being astute, naturally understood what actions were appropriate and which were not. Moreover, she didn't view this incident as particularly significant. In her mind, the nobles would eventually surrender to Schicksal, and the Oceanic Branch would remain intact.

Such incidents had occurred before. Not long after the Oceanic Branch was established, certain nobles tested Headquarters' limits, seeking personal gain through illicit means.

That period was marked by bloodshed and turmoil within the branch, although Gretel herself hadn't been part of it at the time, only hearing about it later.

Many felt that this situation was similar to those past instances.

After all, knowledge of the Herrscher of Dominance existed among only a select few.

Fear gripped many, including the Valkyries stationed at the branch, who were also influenced by the merchant's schemes.

Meanwhile, within the Dominion Theater,

Xia Chen and Rita cleared wave after wave of enemies. Although these adversaries were easily dispatched, it still proved tiresome.

"From observing the Herrscher of Dominance, it's clear that humanity's utilization of energy is remarkably low," Xia Chen couldn't help but remark sarcastically. "Why are we still dealing with such insignificant foes even after so much time?"

With his Herrscher Authority, he could discern the specific aspect of physics influenced by the Herrscher of Dominance. It became evident why this Herrscher was indeed weak.

As Rita navigated through the Dominion Theater, she asked curiously, "Does this imply that the strength of human civilization reflects back from the Herrschers?"

"In a way, yes. The more advanced humans become in understanding certain aspects of physics, the stronger the corresponding Herrscher will be."

"I suppose I should count myself as quite weak then, since human knowledge of fluid dynamics is limited to theoretical concepts," Xia Chen expressed some frustration.

Compared to Wendy from another parallel world, he felt significantly inferior. This gap wasn't something that mere study could bridge; it reflected the disparity in technological advancement between their worlds. Moreover, in the other parallel universe, they had long since liberated themselves from the Imaginary Tree, allowing Herrschers unrestricted growth.

Rita pondered thoughtfully, "Then does it mean that by restricting the development of civilization, Herrschers might not emerge?"

"Yes, but such constraints are meaningless." Xia Chen paused before continuing, "The absence of Herrschers doesn't guarantee freedom from other forms of Honkai disasters. If human civilization is likened to a horse, then Honkai is the whip, constantly driving the horse forward."

"Either the horse will be worked to death or manage to escape far beyond the reach of the whip."

This encapsulated the current relationship between civilization and Honkai.

In most cases, the outcome was the horse collapsing, leading to the collapse of civilization.

Rita couldn't help but reflect deeply, "But this time could be an exception, like you... or perhaps another Herrscher."

"Indeed, who knows if this is actually a blessing?" Xia Chen himself didn't fully understand why the Herrschers of this era possessed absolute self-will, almost as if they had activated cheat codes.

"Bishop Otto may have a clearer understanding on this matter than I do," he suggested.

Rita's eyes narrowed slightly, "I see."

Their casual conversation came to an end.

Following their search, the Dominion Theater was thoroughly examined from top to bottom. Apart from monsters controlled by the Virtual Cores appearing occasionally, nothing else was found, as if the Herrscher of Dominance had already been dealt with.

Deep down, they both knew this was impossible.

The Herrschers' ability to engage indirectly in combat clearly indicated intelligence, and with control over the Dominion Theater...

Rita calmly stated, "I understand now; they've hidden themselves, waiting for us to leave."

"It's evident that even if not unique, the number of Dominion Theaters controlled by the Herrscher of Dominance is limited," Xia Chen observed, impressed by Rita's quick wit.

"So what do you suggest we do?"

"Staying here would only waste time; there's no need to linger."

She hadn't forgotten her objective.

Finding the Herrschers wasn't crucial; what mattered most was assisting Durandal in solidifying her position.

After confirming there was no additional information to be gleaned, Rita and Xia Chen departed from the Dominion Theater—the exit leading back to the outside world seemed intentionally left open.

Upon emerging, they discovered the sky had grown dark.

Rita pondered, "So, even time itself has become chaotic?"

Xia Chen nodded, "In Virtual Space, chaotic time is quite normal. In fact, these realms often lack any concept of time, similar to the Sea of Quanta."

"I recall Vice-Captain Rita once visited the Sea of Quanta, entering another world bubble."

"Yes, it was indeed a vivid and memorable journey," Rita nodded.

By the time they returned to the Oceanic Branch, the sky had turned completely dark.

However, both sensed an impending crisis.

Rita's expression grew grim. "I've detected Titan traces."

The Titans were the smallest unit machines commonly used by Anti-Entropy for combat operations.

Despite their high manufacturing cost, they could replace Valkyries in many hazardous tasks and were once the primary adversaries of the Valkyries.

After the Second Honkai Eruption, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy experienced a brief collaboration, leading to a semblance of peace between them. At least on the surface.

Recently, Otto believed Kiana had been misled by Anti-Entropy, reigniting hostilities against them. Although short-lived, this shattered the fragile peace.

If not for the 'Fu Hua' incident, both sides might have already engaged each other at sea.

Yet, Rita did not anticipate that Anti-Entropy would launch an attack on the Oceanic Branch at this moment.

In the distance, artillery fire began to thunder towards the branch as if the Titans had effortlessly bypassed New Zealand and Australia's defenses, appearing out of thin air.

Wendy observed several Valkyries resisting, but likely due to their lack of training, their efforts barely scratched the Titan army.

Without Wendy holding the line at the forefront, the Valkyries would have been overwhelmed long ago.

However, even for Wendy, it was no easy task. Her dual pistols offered little advantage against Titans, especially with all enemy fire concentrated on her.

Being an S-rank Valkyrie did not make one invincible; quite the contrary, there were plenty of instances where they faltered. Additionally, physical endurance wasn't Wendy's strong suit.

She had already persevered here for over two hours.

Earlier today, while apprehending suspects alongside 'Yoseph,' someone attempted to obstruct her.

Although Wendy was known for her patience, she wouldn't back down now. However, she didn't anticipate encountering someone with extraordinary power. From their brief skirmish, she learned this individual hailed from Anti-Entropy and went by the name Sin Mal.

When did Anti-Entropy infiltrate the Oceanic Branch?

Wendy aimed to capture Sin Mal, but this opponent proved quite peculiar. She could briefly manipulate time and even resurrect after being defeated. Wendy couldn't comprehend the nature of such abilities, but they instilled a chilling sense of dread.

Then, she witnessed the emergence of a massive Titan army.

"So many Titans..."

In that moment, despair nearly overwhelmed her.

Dealing with a single Titan wasn't challenging for Wendy, but these machines were targeting the entire branch simultaneously. Forced to abandon her pursuit of Sin, she switched to dismantling Titans barehanded.

But there were simply too many, seemingly endless.

After two hours, Wendy accumulated numerous cuts and bruises. Although the Titans' firepower appeared weak, it continually drained her stamina.

By the time Xia Chen arrived, Wendy was barely holding on.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he immediately unleashed the Stigmata's power, freezing the Titans. He had no concerns about the Herrschers stealing his strength; this wasn't the Dominion Theater, and the Stigmata's power was uniquely his own.

As icy snow covered the area, chilling it to the bone, he couldn't help but ask Wendy, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Meanwhile, Rita swiftly dealt with the remaining Titans.

"As expected, those Herrschers again," she muttered, her expression slightly grim.

Clearly, these Herrschers understood the current tensions and were recklessly provoking discord between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal. Rita even suspected similar incidents would unfold at other garrisons.

Not everyone knew about the existence of the Herrscher of Dominance.

Undoubtedly, there would be staged attacks where 'Valkyries of Schicksal' targeted Anti-Entropy members.

The Herrscher of Dominance thrived on inciting chaos and fanning the flames of conflict.

With the situation finally under control, Rita's worried frown remained etched on her face.

"How troublesome."

"Lord Bishop, is this what you desired?" It was evident that Rita possessed more knowledge than most.

As Rita suspected, almost simultaneously, various locations within Schicksal reported attacks by 'Anti-Entropy,' claiming it as retaliation for previous incidents.

At this moment, war was imminent.

The situation escalated further when news arrived from the Far East Branch: Murata Himeko sustained injuries while protecting Saint Freya Academy and now lay unconscious, her condition uncertain. This fueled even greater hostility among all ranks of Schicksal.

By then, uncovering the truth had become secondary.

Rita realized that revealing the true events would inadvertently exonerate Anti-Entropy. There must be individuals within Schicksal influenced by the Herrscher of Dominance, wielding considerable influence.

Their presence undoubtedly fanned the flames of conflict.

Rita, with her keen understanding, knew it wasn't the right time to defy public sentiment. She promptly discussed initiating hostilities against Anti-Entropy with Durandal.

Naturally, the scale of the conflict remained confined to the Pacific Ocean region.

Meanwhile, Xia Chen and Wendy did not immediately return to Headquarters but stayed on standby at the Oceanic Branch.

The Oceanic Branch was effectively crippled.

The issue at the Oceanic Branch wasn't solely due to Anti-Entropy's attack; it had been deteriorating from within for some time. The Herrscher of Dominance's influence ran deep, leading both Valkyries and researchers to adopt a profit-driven mindset.

Self-interest itself isn't inherently wrong. However, prioritizing personal gain over public welfare is unacceptable.

Nevertheless, the Oceanic Branch remained crucial. Beyond other concerns, there was a need for someone to oversee mineral resources and deliver them to Headquarters.

Determining how to discipline individuals while ensuring their continued voluntary service to Schicksal or finding suitable replacements... This became Durandal and Amber's task to investigate.

Meanwhile, Xia Chen and Wendy took on the responsibility of managing the branch operations, despite having no prior experience in such matters.

As they ventured into unfamiliar territory, Anti-Entropy also faced significant setbacks.

Unlike Schicksal, Anti-Entropy was unaware that they were confronting the Herrscher of Dominance but did receive invitations to the Dominion Theater.

Recently, things had not gone smoothly for Anti-Entropy. First, the war with Schicksal escalated, followed by Cocolia's relentless pursuit of maintaining her dominance through coercion.

Additionally, due to the Herrscher of Dominance's actions, one of their bases was largely destroyed.

Without question, this had to be blamed on Schicksal.

Tesla gritted his teeth, cursing Otto vehemently, but Einstein sensed something amiss.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've received new intelligence about Schicksal."

At the Salt Lake Base, Einstein gathered everyone together and shared the information about the Herrscher of Dominance that Rita had sent her.

After a moment, she turned to Theresa, "Principal, what is your assessment of the credibility of this intelligence?"

Before Theresa could respond, Tesla couldn't help but interject, "Blaming Schicksal's actions on a Herrscher? Clever move indeed."

"If so, couldn't Anti-Entropy's attacks on Schicksal also be attributed to the Herrscher?"

Einstein paused briefly before replying, "Dr. Tesla, according to our informant, various Schicksal branches were indeed attacked by Anti-Entropy. Particularly, the Far East Branch suffered greatly; Murata Himeko is now severely injured."

Theresa's face paled involuntarily.

Even Tesla appeared stunned, "No way."

"While it's possible the report is false, Schicksal has no reason to undermine its authority at this time."

Einstein looked at Theresa. "What do you think about the credibility of Rita's claims?"

After a moment, Theresa replied, "When it comes to Rita, I've always found her difficult to read."

"But at this point, I'm willing to trust her."