Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Old Yang was numb after receiving news of the internal explosion at North American Anti-Entropy HQ. He never imagined Anti-Entropy would erupt into such chaos over internal resource allocation. First, the distribution of benefits descended into disarray, then Dr. Tesla unleashed a mental shockwave upon the researchers.

Many researchers idolized Tesla, aiming to wield Honkai energy through "technology" just like her, becoming Herrschers themselves to further advance technology and "benefit humanity."

Tesla's rise to prominence as a representative figure in Academy City, her every move influencing the lifeblood of both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, and this dramatic shift in status from researcher to world leader, made countless others green with envy.

Did they truly want to "benefit humanity"? Old Yang couldn't say for sure. When benefiting humanity became intertwined with immense profit, it became difficult to discern true intentions.

Compared to such complex matters as benefiting humanity, Old Yang had more basic concerns…

He wondered how women would use public restrooms now. How would they distinguish between men and women?

As he predicted, conflict erupted in Academy City, originating, as expected, in the public restrooms. Since the issue revolved around gender transformation, it naturally began with matters related to… below the belt.

A group of women gathered at the entrance of the Anti-Entropy research facility, brandishing a banner:

[Protect the rights of cisgender women! Keep transformers out of women's spaces!]

The banner was undeniably provocative, instantly escalating the tension.

Old Yang silently observed the facility's response, but they were clearly prepared to escalate further.

They assembled a group of men with their own banner:

[Not happy? You can become men too!]

Both sides were locked in a standoff, exchanging insults and accusations. Normally, Old Yang would intervene, mediating between the two groups to quell the disturbance.

But that was impossible because…

The protesting women were all Valkyries.

How am I supposed to handle this?

Schicksal and Anti-Entropy were on the verge of a brawl, though Overseer Otto wasn't directly involved this time. He was too busy experimenting with the effects of female transformation.

To be fair, Old Yang had to admit Otto's taste was impeccable, but if possible, he wished Otto hadn't embraced this new era so readily.

"Hahaha, my dear Leader. Look, without Honkai, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy are fighting over this!"

Otto, now a blonde socialite, watched the spectacle with amusement. A mere transformation couldn't shake the Overseer's resolve.

Old Yang was clearly not as mature and composed. If he'd also lived for five hundred years, he'd probably be used to this chaos by now.

Susannah stood among the Valkyries, joining the standoff against the opposing side. She didn't fully grasp the situation, but her seniors had explained it to her.

Essentially, if men could easily transform into women, perverts could freely enter women's restrooms, leaving them vulnerable to voyeurism.

Susannah agreed with her seniors, joining the chorus of condemnation against the research facility responsible for this gender liberation.

"Tesla! You traitor to womanhood! Do you realize the harm you're inflicting on women?! Come out here!"

The Valkyrie at the front, wielding a megaphone, unleashed a torrent of accusations at the research facility.

But Tesla had already left, returning home to continue her research. She was preoccupied with cloning and multiplying the transformation organ, which required Noldrei's guidance.

So, Tesla was unavailable, but she had her loyal followers.

The Valkyries, clamoring for a showdown with the Anti-Entropy "menace," issued a challenge at the Kengan Association.

Most of the Anti-Entropy personnel were researchers, not fighters. They weren't piloting mechs; the Kengan Association was a brutal, hand-to-hand combat arena. Their best strategy was to stall, preventing the Valkyries from exploiting Academy City's regulations.

"Not happy? You can do research too! You can turn women into men! Can you? No, you can't! Why wasn't this a problem when there were only a few transgender individuals?"

"Because they couldn't become Valkyries, couldn't affect you, right? Didn't expect to be cheaply replaced, did you? Hahaha! Are you fighting for Valkyrie rights or women's rights? Hmmm… hard to say!"

"So what if men become women? It's to increase your fighting force! It's to expand your ranks, to reduce casualties against Honkai! Don't be ungrateful!"

The words from the megaphone resonated with Susannah. Suddenly, she felt the Anti-Entropy side had a point.

The naive young Valkyrie was confused, unsure who to believe. She felt the Anti-Entropy arguments seemed… reasonable. And her Valkyrie seniors didn't seem to be fighting for women's rights.

The Valkyries, momentarily shaken, wavered. They had been indoctrinated with the paramount importance of fighting Honkai. Compared to that, gender issues seemed trivial.

Just as Susannah watched her side crumble, a beautiful girl with long, black hair stepped forward, seizing the megaphone.

"Don't try to deflect! If this is about fighting Honkai, Stigmata armor already fulfills our personnel needs. This has nothing to do with suddenly introducing gender transformation! You're using Honkai as an excuse to disregard women's legitimate concerns!"

Susannah gasped, now finding the black-haired girl's argument compelling.

The naive Valkyrie was thoroughly bewildered, unsure which side to support.

Miyuki Shirogane raised an eyebrow, observing the girl across from him. He sensed something more was at play.

He picked up the megaphone, compelled to defend his research facility.

"Who are you? I don't talk to nameless nobodies!"

Miyuki felt increasingly out of place. He envied Hachiman, who spent his days patrolling with his seniors at the Public Safety academy, instead of dealing with this mess.

I should have never joined the research facility! This is a disaster! And where's my good buddy, the Public Safety cadet? What use are you all?

But Miyuki knew even Hachiman couldn't handle this. Even actual riot police would be overwhelmed by these Valkyries.

The black-haired girl, her red eyes cold, glared at the research assistant who called her a "nobody."

She raised the megaphone, announcing her name: "Kaguya Shinomiya!"

A disgraced heiress, expelled from her family and sent to Academy City for Valkyrie training.

Here, the conflict remained relatively restrained, monitored by the media and onlookers.

Elsewhere, however, things were escalating…