Bab 48: Volume 1, Chapter 48: The Atmosphere at the Ocean Branch
Xia Chen did not anticipate becoming a Herrscher during this simulation.
Lying on his bed, he recalled scenes from the simulated scenario.
After being controlled by the Will of Honkai, he didn't immediately die; instead, a fragment of his consciousness remained. He watched helplessly as his body wielded god-like power, wreaking havoc across New Zealand.
It wasn't that Xia Chen couldn't attempt to regain control; he tried communicating with Rin, instructing her to divert the Herrscher's consciousness away.
However, Rin couldn't achieve it. She could control information carriers but not to the extent seen with the Herrscher of Corruption.
In the end, he could only watch as Theresa reclaimed his body.
The Herrscher's consciousness was too simplistic; despite wielding immense Authority, its sole focus was destruction.
Xia Chen took a deep breath.
Strangely, even after exiting the simulation scenario, he continued to hear that whispered incantation:
"God grants me the power, to command endless storms, bridging near and far, I am the King of Desires."
As if a devout believer kneeling in prayer, Xia Chen silently invoked the gift from 'God'.
For some reason, he recalled an unextracted item stored within the System space:
[Mysterious Wandering Sound.]
Initially hearing this whisper had nearly driven him to collapse, if not for Rin...
Just as Xia Chen attempted to communicate mentally and observe this enigmatic substance, the System issued a reminder:
[The Mysterious Wandering Sound has been used.]
Xia Chen broke out in cold sweat.
"System, what exactly is happening here?
"I clearly haven't used it yet."
[The Player triggered resonance with that voice during this simulation scenario.]
"In other words..."
The whisper he heard earlier originated from this substance.
No wonder there wasn't the usual flood of text junk; he had assumed Rin proactively cleared it for him.
"Has it affected my body?"
[Player can conduct their own inspection.]
Xia Chen remained silent.
Well, aside from simulations, this System was generally unreliable.
Perhaps due to becoming accustomed to dying within simulation scenarios, he didn't experience any adverse symptoms this time. However, as a precaution, he still asked Rin to blur this memory segment, avoiding confusion between simulation experiences and reality.
Taking a deep breath, Xia Chen instinctively wanted to head to the training room.
But then, realizing he was no longer at Headquarters, he couldn't help but sigh.
Early the next morning, Xia Chen arrived at the open training room to continue his exercises.
Having exhausted his three weekly opportunities, he now had to rely solely on this facility to enhance his strength.
By the time the Valkyries entered, Xia Chen had already completed four standard sets of Immortal Blade training, drenched in sweat.
"The new guy is really strong."
"Indeed, full of energy and quite handsome too."
The Valkyries giggled, observing Xia Chen with teasing remarks.
"I wonder how long he'll last," one quipped sarcastically. "Once he realizes there's no chance for combat despite all his training, maybe he'll give up."
"Why don't we bet on it? I think he can persist for at least a month."
"Haha, at the Ocean Branch, a month...? My guess is more like just a week."
Despite being Valkyries, the spirit and demeanor of those at the Ocean Branch differed significantly from those at Headquarters.
As Gretel had mentioned, any capable Valkyries were long transferred away from the Ocean Branch.
Their words held contempt, as if viewing the diligently exercising Xia Chen as foolish, yet also mocking themselves indirectly.
After all, who among the Valkyries doesn't aspire to fight against Honkai?
Regardless of their rank, from B to D, none here had significant combat experience.
One undeniable fact was that among all branches outside Headquarters, the Valkyries at the Ocean Branch idolized Durandal the most.
"But he's quite handsome. Any interest in pursuing him?" A girl concealed her emotions with laughter. "If you don't want him, just let me have a chance. There really aren't enough men in Schicksal."
"Ha ha ha." The group burst into laughter.
After their jesting, they began their training exercises.
Despite everything, basic training remained essential. The Valkyries of the Ocean Branch were not yet so demoralized as to forget how to handle firearms.
Even without active Honkai incidents nearby, it was crucial to maintain their combat instincts. After all, those who join Schicksal do not willingly succumb to complacency.
Even the Valkyrie who joked about chasing Xia Chen focused intently on her training, paying no heed to what he was doing.
After exercising for an hour, Xia Chen felt a desperate hunger gnawing at his stomach.
As his compatibility with Honkai Energy increased, both his physical strength and control over Honkai continuously grew, leading to a rapid increase in appetite.
He instinctively headed towards the training room's food area and grabbed a nutrient solution to consume directly.
The packaging of these nutrient solutions had a slight layer of dust, clearly indicating they hadn't been touched for some time.
However, Schicksal personnel regularly inspected them, ensuring they remained fresh.
After drinking it, Xia Chen felt a significant relief from his hunger.
"Are you adjusting well?"
Xia Chen turned around to see Gretel approaching him.
"It's fine," he smiled. "As you mentioned, this place is indeed quite relaxed."
Due to Rin's hazy memories, Xia Chen had somewhat forgotten about Gretel attempting to 'bribe' him with money during their previous encounter.
Nevertheless, despite the blurred recollection, fragments still lingered in his mind.
With a hint of hesitation, he asked, "Last night, I saw you pushing a wheelchair-bound girl. She must be Wendy, the A-rank Valkyrie prodigy you spoke of, right?"
"Yes." Gretel smiled but quickly changed the subject, "I noticed you didn't seem too comfortable yesterday. My apologies, but that's just the atmosphere at the Ocean Branch; sometimes social gatherings involving alcohol are unavoidable."
This branch had long been dominated by various 'business elites'.
He shook his head, "It's alright, no worries."
Schicksal's ability to maintain its current position was not solely due to Otto's influence; maintaining close ties with various governments and elites also played a crucial role.
While these methods might be considered unrefined, they were indispensable.
Without them, Schicksal could easily suffer a fate similar to what Theresa experienced upon taking over, leading to a drastic decline in status.
In the post-Honkai era depicted in the Book of Honkai, Schicksal merged with Anti-Entropy, becoming independent from any national government control, let alone mobilizing local military forces for exploratory missions.
This highlights just how far Schicksal had fallen by that time.
Although Xia Chen understood these tactics as necessary for Schicksal, it didn't mean he found them acceptable.
He smiled and said, "I haven't encountered such situations often before, but I'll strive to adapt."
"Alright." Gretel paused briefly before asking, "Interested in some sparring?"
"Sure."
They both headed to the training grounds.
Three minutes later, the Ocean Branch Valkyrie was completely defeated.
The girl sighed deeply, "As expected, there's no way to compete against true geniuses." A hint of bitterness flashed in her voice.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone