Chapter 125: Volume 2, Chapter 57: Bizarre Developments
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When Xia Chen sent these reports to the Far East Branch and Schicksal Headquarters, it caused an uproar throughout the organization.
To Schicksal, Herrschers always took top priority.
And this involved none other than the closely watched Kiana.
Upon receiving the information, Amber promptly notified the Far East Branch and Xia Chen, emphasizing the highest level of secrecy; no unauthorized disclosure was allowed in any form.
She swiftly gathered the data and went straight to Otto.
This unexpected turn of events caught even Otto off guard.
Otto had anticipated Xia Chen's appearance might accelerate their plans, but he never expected it to advance this rapidly.
Even many preparations made afterward would now require adjustments.
However, from the current outcome, it seemed like a fortunate turn of events—at least for now.
"Order the Far East Branch... No, have Durandal personally handle negotiations and bring back the Herrscher of the Void."
"And also..."
"Keep a close eye on Xia Chen, but do not alert him."
Otto never believed in coincidences, and Xia Chen's actions were simply too convenient.
While Otto meticulously responded to the situation, chaos erupted at Saint Freya Academy.
"How could Kiana be a Herrscher?" Theresa was utterly stunned, as this revelation far exceeded her expectations.
Due to Cecilia's influence, the thought of harming Kiana never crossed Theresa's mind.
"Determine Kiana's current state; if she lacks self-awareness, authorize exerting control over her."
"I'm on my way immediately."
Xia Chen received messages from both Amber and Theresa, then glanced down at the unconscious Kiana lying on the ground.
Before Theresa arrived, Kiana woke up first. As she looked at Xia Chen, her expression held a mix of emotions.
"Xia Chen... Teacher."
"You knew I was a Herrscher all along, didn't you?"
Kiana may have been lazy, but she wasn't foolish.
If Xia Chen hadn't known beforehand, how could he have devised such a plan? Moreover, she was aware of what Sirin had told him.
The question remained: How did Xia Chen find out?
Her previous dreams... Could they truly be considered just dreams?
"Yes," Xia Chen acknowledged without hesitation. "Ask any questions you have now; we won't have much time later." He kindly reminded her.
Kiana had numerous doubts she wanted to voice. However, in the end, she asked only one question: "Do my aunt and Mei know about this?"
Currently, within Saint Freya Academy, the two people she trusted most were Principal Theresa and Raiden Mei.
"Neither of them knows," Xia Chen replied mildly. "As you should be aware, Principal Theresa is not adept at lying. If she knew, she wouldn't act as if she didn't. Her intellect isn't that high."
Although it sounded somewhat dismissive, it was true.
"As for Raiden Mei, honestly, I don't know her well. But considering how long you've interacted with her, you should trust her more than me."
Kiana's emotions became increasingly complex at this moment, often feeling her most vulnerable.
She yearned to know the entire truth but also feared uncovering it all.
"I have already informed the Far East Branch and Schicksal Headquarters about your identity as the Herrscher of the Void," he said. "You should understand that it is my duty."
This was the most lenient approach Xia Chen could think of.
"Of course, being at Saint Freya, you must be aware of Schicksal's stance towards Herrschers. If you choose to escape, I won't oppose it."
Xia Chen informing Schicksal had his own motives as well.
The Far East Branch had been infiltrated like a sieve, so if he didn't report to Headquarters, Kiana would still end up there, likely through Fu Hua or someone else's actions.
In such a scenario, the Wars of Schicksal plotline would probably unfold, potentially leading to Himeko's death.
Himeko had treated him well, and he didn't believe her fate deserved to be sealed like that. At least with open negotiations between Schicksal Headquarters and the Far East Branch now possible, the likelihood of Theresa rebelling would significantly decrease.
Of course, if Theresa still rebels... Xia Chen isn't omnipotent; he can't predict everything.
Kiana's emotions became even more conflicted.
Slowly, she asked, "Those dreams... were they real?"
"I dreamed about creating a Major Honkai Eruption at Schicksal Headquarters, only to be stopped by you."
Xia Chen nodded.
"It wasn't just a dream, but a glimpse into the future."
"To be precise, it was one among many possible futures presented through the dream realm. This is my unique ability," he candidly explained. "Without today's intervention, you would have eventually awakened this power yourself, albeit with far greater consequences."
"As for why you're connected to the Herrscher of the Void, I can only say that it involves an experiment."
"However, I was not the mastermind behind it, nor a participant. In fact, you could consider me as someone who disrupted the experiment."
"Principal Theresa will arrive soon. Given her nature, she'll undoubtedly protect you and ensure your safety. However, it also means your freedom will be restricted."
"If you want to learn more, go to this place. You'll find the answers you seek there."
The location he referred to was Saint Freya's basement.
The Far East Branch successfully recovered Kiana Kaslana.
Representing Schicksal Headquarters, Amber negotiated for Kiana's transfer back to HQ, but her request was denied by Principal Theresa.
She called Otto to inform him that Kiana retained her individual consciousness and, due to the Herrscher awakening occurring in Nagazora City, there were no casualties.
Additionally, she stated, "Kiana is Kiana, and the Herrscher of the Void is separate. The past sins of the Herrscher should not be borne by Kiana. I will restrict her actions while guiding her in using this power responsibly."
However, regardless of what Theresa argued, Otto refused to allow Kiana to remain at Saint Freya this time.
He declared that the Immortal Blades would arrive at Saint Freya in three days to retrieve the Herrscher.
Of course, these developments had little impact on Xia Chen.
Nevertheless, he received an order from Amber:
"Assist the Immortal Blades in recovering Kiana and escort her to Schicksal Headquarters. Further instructions will follow."
After Kiana awakened as the Herrscher of the Void, Xia Chen's purpose at Saint Freya diminished significantly. Although still nominally a teacher, the students' well-being held little importance to Otto.
Moreover, Xia Chen noticed that some people's gazes towards him had changed.
The coincidence surrounding his involvement in recovering Kiana was too suspicious, making it hard for others not to suspect foul play on his part.
Additionally, Nagazora City had already been devastated and should theoretically be one of the least likely places for Honkai Energy to appear.
While Theresa could sometimes act childish, she wasn't truly naive.
Although no one directly confronted Xia Chen or restricted his access to the training rooms and Memory Battlefields, the visible signs of growing hostility were evident.
Himeko, unaware of the specifics but being responsible for overseeing this incident, often hesitated when approaching Xia Chen as if wanting to say something.
Raiden Mei also stopped seeking his advice regarding training matters.
As for the other Valkyrie students, they too sensed the shifting atmosphere during this period.
Interestingly, Fu Hua remained unaffected, frequently discussing martial arts with Xia Chen over these past few days, her attitude unchanged as before.