While the Big Three showed curious expressions, the Herrscher of Sentience waved her hand and said:
"Forget it, it's nothing—let's not get into those minor details."
"You should have more important things to ask, right?"
Kiana said: "Uh… yeah, that's true."
Mei also spoke up: "Alright then, Herrscher of Sentience—let's put your issue aside for now."
"It's an honor to meet you, Dr. MEI—now I finally understand where that guidance came from."
"In that patch of the Sea of Quanta, you had already preset beacons in advance."
"And to prevent the monsters from swarming in along those beacons, they were designed to be detectable only by specific ways of thinking."
"In other words, the method that Mei and the Herrscher of Sentience used to find the path."
Facing Mei's deduction, MEI nodded: "A very fair assessment."
"We had long known that the so-called world we inhabited was merely a bubble that could burst completely at any unknown moment."
"To escape that predetermined ending."
"As you've seen, beyond resisting the influence of Honkai, we also incorporated a small uncertain region of the Sea of Quanta into the world bubble itself."
"I once opened gaps there and dispatched all kinds of probes to search for hope on my behalf."
"The guidance you discovered is precisely one part of those arrangements."
Bronya asked: "But there was a second kind of guidance as well, right?"
MEI showed a faint smile: "Yes. Applying psychological suggestion… that was undoubtedly the Herrscher of Sentience's ability."
"But to be honest… even I was very surprised that such cooperation was possible."
"After all, we aren't from the same world."
"Even though it was our first meeting, Fu Hua was willing to use her power according to my suggestion."
"For that, I am deeply grateful."
Mei noticed the blind spot: "…Fu Hua?"
The Herrscher of Sentience said angrily: "Hey, you…"
"I've told you how many times—don't call me by that outdated name."
MEI asked puzzledly: "Hm? Did you say that…?"
"Alright then, I'll stick to your own habit and call you Little Sentience?"
Kiana couldn't help saying: "…Little Sentience?"
The Herrscher of Sentience flushed with anger: "You… I…"
"What habit of mine—I never referred to myself that way!"
67
Bronya glanced at the Herrscher of Sentience but said nothing.
As for outside the television.
"Herrscher of Sentience-sama is number one in the world… Little Sentience actually sounds kinda cute?"
"Sentience-chan, hehe—my Sentience-chan, completely different from that old fossil!"
"Seeing this Little Sentience really makes me miss the momentum Sentience-chan had when she first appeared."
"Punching Otto, kicking Kevin—my Little Sentience can do anything!"
"And then she got quickly grounded? Her coolness meter plummeted all the way down?"
"…"
Compared to the serious and rigid Crimson Phoenix Immortal, people seemed to prefer the young, lively, and energetic Herrscher of Sentience.
But of course, the ways people liked her varied widely.
In any case, Fu Hua in the company didn't dare glance at the group chat at all.
It really would give her goosebumps all over.
Mm, with things having come to this, better to just watch the television.
On screen, MEI said: "Alright, let's continue our previous topic."
"You already have a basic understanding of the situation."
"So, regarding my proposal… how have you considered it?"
"As I mentioned earlier… the transaction I once made has already ended."
"For both sides at the time, that was the last good opportunity."
Bronya spoke: "But what makes us unable to fully trust you right now is precisely the transaction you just mentioned."
"According to you, after realizing you were in a world bubble, you agreed to the conditions offered by the successor of the Previous Era's Fire Moth."
"In other words, the organization we know as World Serpent."
"At the cost of the entire world bubble becoming a tool, allowing it to be sealed and preserved by them."
She had explained the reason for the world bubble's stasis—even that MEI herself was the culprit behind those living corpses.
But MEI herself had no intention of denying it; she simply nodded: "That can be understood that way."
Mei spoke at this point: "But if that's the case… then I'm afraid you'll need to seriously explain the part I still can't understand."
"Such harsh conditions—what possible benefit could there be for you and the people you led?"
MEI answered: "Time."
"I believe every problem has its solution; but at that time, I truly hadn't found any answer."
"Making this transaction would allow this world bubble—whose lifespan had already run out—to remain intact until they completed their plan."
"And in doing so, grant me sufficient time to simulate fate."
Mei questioned: "Even while thinking in a state where you couldn't move?"
"Even if it turned the people you led into vegetables?"
At this moment, many viewers drew in sharp breaths, gaining a much deeper understanding of the character MEI.
Indeed, she possessed emotions, was approachable in normal circumstances, and so on…
But at her core, MEI could be called a ruthless person—ruthless toward others, even more ruthless toward herself!
And on top of that foundation, MEI was both a genius and a leader.
On screen, MEI said lightly: "This is still better than having no chance at all, right?"
"At the time, every single one of them agreed to the proposal."
"Of course, I know this isn't a decision people would make under normal circumstances…"
"What I endured might seem to you worse than simply dying."
"But you also cannot deny—that some of the conclusions I ultimately reached through thinking do indeed hold value in helping you."
"If you feel this is just my side of the story…"
"Little Sentience is right here, and it seems she has quite a deep connection with you."
"You can ask her to browse through my mind."
The Herrscher of Sentience snorted lightly and thought: "Acting all proper now, huh…"
"Before I arrived, who knows who was the one radiating that kind of despair…"
At this moment, viewers nationwide gained an even deeper understanding of MEI.
"My god—one person unable to move, forced to think alone for tens of thousands of years…"
"MEI really is ruthless toward herself; her will is also truly firm—at least she didn't turn into a vegetable along with everyone else!"
"A leader like this is really worthy of admiration, but also terrifying, right?"
"Tsk tsk, I don't know what the dog director was thinking—MEI's contrast is way too strong!"
"…"
At the company.
Originally, Kevin had been somewhat dissatisfied with Hessian's portrayal of his character—he himself didn't really mind.
Whether as a madman or an ancestor, Kevin actually didn't care much.
Being able to come to Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company and experience everything in the filming of Honkai Impact 3rd had already been an enormous gain.
But the one thing he would never compromise on was MEI—his sole reverse scale.
However, after MEI herself personally persuaded him, Kevin had reluctantly agreed.
At this moment, looking at MEI from another angle, he couldn't help but admit that he understood her a little better now.
Mobius said thoughtfully: "If MEI were managing the company…"
Hessian said without hesitation: "That would definitely be a disaster—the company can only be entrusted to my dear Mobius for me to feel at ease!"
As soon as these words came out, SAKURA, Aponia, and the others nearby were stunned and instinctively looked toward Elysia.
But Elysia showed no sign of minding at all; instead, she nodded in strong agreement:
"Hubby is absolutely right—with cute Mobius here, that's the only reason I dared pull so many cute girls into the company!"
Seeing Hessian and Elysia perfectly in sync as husband and wife, Mobius snorted coldly and turned her head away, putting on a look of disdain.
But those golden earrings—especially the earlobes—were already flushed red with embarrassment.
Noticing this, even SAKURA's lips curved upward in a faint smile.
Even setting aside her roles as bodyguard or actress, she was still willing to regard this place as her second home besides her actual family.
Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company—rather than a company, it was more like a big family wearing a company skin.
Kalpas stood with arms crossed, seemingly uninterested in all this, silently watching the television.
On screen, the Herrscher of Sentience said reluctantly: "…To be honest, she didn't lie to us."
"Wait—how many times do I have to say it—don't call me that! I'm not some kid!"
MEI spread her hands: "Then… should I go back to calling you Hua instead?"
The Herrscher of Sentience fumed: "You… you… I…"
Seeing the Herrscher of Sentience so angry she couldn't speak, Kiana fell silent for a moment before turning to MEI:
"Alright, since you say it was a transaction…"
"Then you should know better than us what kind of tool that so-called World Serpent plan regarded this place as, right?"
MEI answered: "A place of exile."
"After the Stigmata Project is successfully initiated, those existences that cannot be completely eradicated in a short time—the already-born Herrschers."
"They will be sealed here until the plan is fully completed."
As MEI's words fell, the girls fell into the expected silence.
Before this, they had already learned the new face of the Stigmata Project from Mei's account.
And thus, they had confirmed their own utterly helpless situation.
MEI spoke to comfort them: "It's fine—I can understand."
"For you, this upheaval came far too suddenly."
"I won't force you to trust a stranger, but in my view…"
"Believing in me is your only way to break the deadlock."
"As long as we join hands—you will be able to return to the original world."
"And my world bubble will also have a chance at redemption because of it."
"…"
Kiana fell silent upon hearing this; even Mei was thinking it over.
Bronya spoke at this point: "In other words, Mei already knows something about her?"
Mei nodded: "Mm. Although the history of the world bubble and the original world may have many discrepancies… that really is Dr. MEI."
"The de facto leader of the Previous Era—even Kevin was only following her genius."
Kiana asked: "Then… does Mei think she can be trusted?"
Mei thought for a moment: "From a human perspective, she should be treatable as an ally."
"But… as far as I know, her rationality often exceeds what ordinary people can accept."
Kiana said thoughtfully: "But… looking at it now, we really have no other options. What does Bronya think?"
Bronya crossed her arms: "Let's hear her proposal first."
"During action, we just need to avoid concentrating too much in one place and leave room to support each other."
Mei agreed: "Mm, that's my view as well."
"But… I still have some doubts that need to be clarified with her."
"For example, exactly where this world bubble came from, and how she became connected to the Stigmata Project."
Kiana scratched her head: "On that front, it looks like we'll have to press her until the pot breaks."
On MEI and the Herrscher of Sentience's side.
After a period of silence, MEI spoke first: "It seems you still haven't figured it out."
"Does that matter really seem so strange to you?"
The Herrscher of Sentience said irritably: "What do you think?"
MEI smiled faintly: "At the end of the day, I'm just an ordinary person."
"Feeling despair in that situation is only natural."
"And moreover… there wasn't another person, or another belief."
"Merely existing was enough to make me believe without thinking that everything still held hope."
"As for why, the moment I sensed your presence, that despair immediately vanished…"
"That is precisely the fundamental reason so many people were willing to accept my leadership."
"What they needed wasn't a leader who never feels despair."
"But an organizer who can immediately climb back up from despair."
The Herrscher of Sentience shrugged: "So what? What does telling me all this do?"
"You really think I'm her or something?"
MEI said gently: "You don't need to be her. I just… wanted to point out the difference between myself and a certain clumsy man."
The Herrscher of Sentience asked: "You mean Kevin?"
MEI smiled: "Who else would it be?"
The Herrscher of Sentience raised an eyebrow: "Let me make this clear—by helping us now, you're basically going against Kevin, you know?"
MEI said: "…And if that doesn't matter at all?"
The Herrscher of Sentience stared: "Huh?"
MEI said slowly: "At least in my view… even if I successfully help you return to the original world."
"That would still be a scenario the plan can tolerate."
"In other words—if he were Kevin, he wouldn't mind."
The Herrscher of Sentience smacked her lips: "You're really overconfident in that regard."
MEI chuckled lightly: "Thank you for the compliment."
The Herrscher of Sentience grew even more annoyed: "Tch, just wait—I'm gonna beat that Kevin outside until he's looking for his teeth on the ground."
MEI said without the slightest concern: "Sure. Being defeated by you… might actually be a good experience for Kevin too."
The Herrscher of Sentience glared: "You…"
"Forget it—arguing with a dying person over something like this just makes me look like the idiot."
"Seriously, you're pissing me off."
Watching MEI and the Herrscher of Sentience chat so happily, Kiana couldn't help scratching her head in some frustration.
"I feel like I can't get a word in at all."
"But what does 'dying person' mean?"
"Could Dr. MEI be…"
Thinking of something, Kiana pursed her lips, her expression turning somewhat complicated.
The urge to interject that she had earlier quietly faded away.