章節 86: The Eos Arrives
After confirming that Kiana's resolve had been reignited, Ren turned his focus to other pressing matters.
Meanwhile, Otto, dissatisfied with Rita's earlier failure, assigned her a new mission. This time, she was tasked with investigating the World Serpent members suspected of hiding in ARC City. Initially, Otto had planned to leave the organization alone. However, two consecutive failures forced him to take them more seriously.
The unknown whereabouts of the Herrscher of the Void added to his concerns, as it was highly likely tied to the World Serpent. Furthermore, the recent Honkai outbreaks had caught Otto's attention. He suspected the organization might be conducting dangerous experiments.
As dusk fell, a massive transport ship came to a halt beneath the heavy, brooding clouds. Below it stretched a desolate suburb that stirred unpleasant memories for Rita.
"Alvitr," Rita addressed her trusted subordinate, "take the Immortal Blades members and investigate the recent Honkai incidents. I'll handle the liaison with Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical. If you find anything unusual—especially signs of World Serpent—report to me immediately."
After issuing her orders, Rita took a deep breath. Then, without hesitation, she leaped from the sky.
The Argent Knight: Artemis armor activated, releasing streams of cold particles that slowed her descent. She landed gracefully, her figure poised against the bleak backdrop of the deserted suburb.
Rita's arrival coincided with the delivery of medical supplies requested by Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical. According to the records, the organization had been providing free treatment to civilians affected by disasters worldwide. As one of the main forces combating the Honkai, Schicksal had offered them substantial support, frequently sending batches of inhibitors and other critical medicines.
However, a troubling pattern had emerged. The demand for medical supplies had grown inexplicably, while the number of Honkai infections showed no significant decline. During her earlier investigation, Rita noticed strange irregularities in the damages reported by Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical.
After being deceived by World Serpent in the past, she couldn't shake the suspicion that there might be a connection between the two entities. This mission would be her chance to uncover the truth.
Originally, the plan was for the Eos to dock at the ARC City transport airport, with Rita entering under escort. But Rita had a different strategy in mind. She deliberately chose to operate in secret, hoping to catch the "rats" lurking in the shadows.
Returning to Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical, Rita noticed that the industrial district, which had been destroyed some time ago, seemed to have been mostly repaired. A large number of engineering robots were working to restore the areas damaged in the disaster.
The bodies of the zombies had been cleared away, but traces of the Honkai infection remained, along with several used syringes.
"This is...?" Rita's brow furrowed as she examined one of the syringes. If her memory served her correctly, this was the standard model used by Schicksal. It was meant for treating Honkai infections, so why was it found at the site of an outbreak?
In addition to the syringes, there were also some laboratory supplies. While most had been cleared, a few remained—items that shouldn't have been in a pharmaceutical facility.
"What exactly are they researching?" With these troubling questions in mind, Rita began to infiltrate the facility. But before she could make any further moves, she was spotted.
"Is this the attitude of a Schicksal Valkyrie? Preparing to enter private property without permission?" A large number of mechas quickly surrounded her.
Rita remained calm. Her current role was that of a liaison from Schicksal. As long as she didn't make the first move, the people from Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical would never dare to act against her.
Rita turned her head and saw a woman wearing a dog(jackal) mask. The woman had brown skin and thick brown hair, making her ethnicity easy to identify. She stood at the entrance of Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical, holding a cane with a carved dog's head. Her dark golden eyes locked onto Rita.
"I'm deeply saddened by the Honkai disaster that Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical has suffered," Rita said calmly. After shifting from warrior to liaison, her demeanor returned to that of a gentle, composed woman. "Perhaps Schicksal could offer some resources for post-disaster reconstruction."
She paused and added, "May I ask who you are?"
The woman, Jackal, let out a grunt. She observed Rita, noting how her attitude had shifted so effortlessly. This liaison mission was supposed to be Raven's responsibility, but Raven had abandoned her post after clashing with the Schicksal Valkyrie. As a result, the mission fell to Jackal.
Jackal, still injured and unable to walk without a cane, pushed through the pain for the sake of World Serpent's plans.
"I am Cleo, the chief researcher at Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical," the woman replied, her voice steady. "I'm in charge of this liaison matter with Schicksal."
"Clio?" Rita asked. "If I remember correctly, the one scheduled to handle the reception was supposed to be Ms. Natasha Cioara, the advisor for Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical."
"Yes, but Ms. Cioara had to participate in the rescue efforts due to the Honkai disaster," Cleo explained. "She's unable to leave at this time, so I'm here in her place. Ms. Rita, please don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
Cleo removed her dog mask and gestured to the surrounding guards. The mechas that had been surrounding Rita immediately dispersed.
Rita didn't press the matter further. She had no concrete evidence to act on. Even if she suspected something, she needed proof before she could make any moves. For now, she decided to follow Cleo's arrangements.
Meanwhile, the liaison staff quickly began transferring supplies, while the Immortal Blades members, who had been waiting on the Eos, used the cover of night to quietly infiltrate the city.
Soon, with the cooperation of the staff and robots, 30,000 Honkai suppression agents were delivered to the industrial district of Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical.
Rita's eyes flickered as she focused on the underground structures beneath the district
"Would Ms. Cleo permit me to take a look around the industrial district?" Rita asked. "After all, these Honkai suppression agents are no small matter. Schicksal needs to know where they are."
"Of course," Cleo replied. "But the industrial district suffered some damage during the previous disaster, and I'm still quite injured. It's inconvenient for me to move around." She paused, then added, "If you don't mind, I'll have a guide robot accompany you during your visit."
Cleo leaned heavily on her cane, supporting her weight. Though her fractured leg was healing after treatment, her injury was genuine, and even Rita couldn't argue with that.
Following the guide robot, Rita finally made her way into the underground levels of the industrial district.
At first, nothing seemed out of place. The work areas were all meticulously organized, and break rooms had been set up for the workers. However, due to the recent Honkai disaster, many people hadn't returned to work yet, leaving the entire basement feeling eerily empty.
「Honkai outbreaks are occurring all over the world, and Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical has set up branch companies in various locations, to provide medical assistance to those in need.」
「In order to transport the agents locally, similar industrial zones have been built.」
"Oh? Just for transporting agents?"
「Of course. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to take a look around.」
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