Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Southeast Asia, Singapore, a certain residence.

"You bastard, you've fooled us at Anti-Entropy, yet you're hiding here playing house?" Tesla, who broke the door in her rage, points to the computer screen behind Lin Wei.

"You're actually here playing games?!"

Lin Wei throws the controller casually on the table, pushes with his foot, and turns his chair towards the red-haired doctor who's barged in. Instead of replying directly, he gestures at the clearly dented door behind her, "You're doing this again… What, are you planning to get me a new house again?"

Lin Wei says sarcastically. "It seems Anti-Entropy has a lot of money to waste."

Unless he has a need for them, Lin Wei never tolerates rudeness.

"Lin Wei, don't push your luck!" This time, Tesla doesn't burst with anger. Instead, she replies with her unique voice, which always seems to imply a lack of patience, "Don't think we don't know that the house in Nagazora City is no longer under your name!"

If she could, she'd use the fist that broke the door on that irritating face.

Don't do this again and again. Stop trying to scam us!

"Is that so? But, I became a patient because of you." Lin Wei spreads out his hands, ending that topic. "Let's get to the point. Your attitude doesn't look like you're visiting a patient."

This guy is flushed and energetic. And he's telling me he's a patient?

You're trying to fool someone!

Explain that big cup of iced cola next to your computer!

Tesla is annoyed. She throws a large bag of paper documents at Lin Wei. "The information you wanted is all here. Personal information, history, and all kinds of documents are inside. You can look at it yourself."

Creating this set of documents isn't difficult for Anti-Entropy. It only took them three or five days.

A few days ago, while eagerly waiting at the American base, she had received a message from Siegfried. When she answered, she saw Lin Wei's face, which immediately shocked her. "Why is it you? Where is Siegfried?"

Damn it, are we really going to implement the final plan? Tesla thinks with reluctance, knowing what it usually means when a communication device falls into someone else's hand.

"You guys can talk." Lin Wei throws the communicator back to Siegfried. He's in too much pain right now to argue with Tesla.

Siegfried silently takes it, awkwardly explaining the situation to Tesla.

Actually, Lin Wei's body is fine. After all, the Judgement of Shamash wasn't completely drawn, and Pandora and the projected key of blankness absorbed a considerable amount of pressure. A mere two or three seconds weren't enough to cause him any serious harm.

If Dr. Mei could wear the key of blankness, wielding the Judgement of Shamash and slaughtering everything in sight, then surely I can put on a little act with it.

"Tch, still being reckless." Lin Wei holds his chest and sits to one side. The pain he felt when drawing the sword was real.

"Pandora is still the best. No side effects and very obedient..." Lin Wei grins, looking at the twin pistols that Siegfried is holding carefully at his waist.

Meanwhile, Siegfried is reporting the situation to Tesla. He's being scolded and doesn't dare to respond since he's at fault. He can only laugh awkwardly as he endures her anger.

Tesla's done venting. She has vented all her anger. She then has Siegfried give the communicator to Lin Wei—This guy is too unreliable! It seems that I have to do it myself!

Tesla thinks angrily.

But after saying a few words, she gets angry again and scolds Siegfried.

Lin Wei immediately demands compensation, for the house and the medical fees. Who can tolerate that?

Is this extortion?

But there's clear proof. Even though Tesla knows she's being scammed, she can only accept it with gritted teeth.

She can't lose face!

Thus, in such a ridiculous situation, Lin Wei and Anti-Entropy's first round of communication is officially completed, with both sides having reached a basic agreement to cooperate.

Then, Lin Wei directly travels to Singapore and buys a property and starts living like a reclusive otaku. All paid by Anti-Entropy.

…

Looking at Lin Wei, who is carefully reading his "life story," Tesla opens and closes her mouth. After struggling with her feelings for a while, she asks in a muffled voice, "I'm asking, is your body really okay?"

Siegfried wanted Lin Wei to return to the American base for treatment. But Tesla and Lin Wei refused in unison.

Tesla was worried about letting the enemy in, since he has the Key of Corruption.

Lin Wei also instinctively refused, which made her see it as a sign of his sincerity and changed her impression of him a little—

He was hateful before. Now, he's just "annoying."

"Oh, it's fine. I'm much better now. Thanks for asking." Lin Wei looks up at her. To prove he's not lying, he takes a big gulp from the iced cola next to him.

"..."

This guy! Tesla feels her fist clenching. Weren't you just claiming you're a "patient?"

"Oh, right. Siegfried isn't going to run around, is he?" Lin Wei asks, still reading the documents.

"What do you mean by that?" Tesla feels that Lin Wei is changing the subject.

Lin Wei smiles, "No real meaning, but the Judgement of Shamash is quite powerful. You should keep him from running around, especially near the Japan. You wouldn't want him to be discovered by Schicksal."

"Isn't that your fault?" Tesla's anger flares. It was this guy who used the Judgement of Shamash. Now he's acting like it's not his fault?

Actually, after that incident, Tesla basically believes Lin Wei isn't Otto anymore, but she still needs to observe him.

After all, Lin Wei has too many secrets,

Like that fox-eared girl that Siegfried mentioned, who appeared and disappeared suddenly. Who is she?

There isn't anyone in Schicksal's Valkyrie registry who fits her description. She is too mysterious.

But she's never seen her before, and Lin Wei hasn't mentioned her, so she won't ask.

Tesla understands that as Lin Wei's way of guarding himself against Anti-Entropy.

Putting herself in his shoes, this reserved and cautious attitude makes her feel that Lin Wei is more trustworthy.

"My fault? Siegfried was going to do it himself. I just returned the favor," Lin Wei deflects the blame.

"Besides, it wouldn't hurt to let him stay at your Anti-Entropy base and recover for a while. It's better than him running around with his damaged body, right? In my opinion, that only wastes valuable treatment time, and there is no point in it."

Lin Wei can't understand why he has to wander around when he can't break into St. Freya Academy to save anyone and he can't turn the situation around if something important happens. What's the point?

If he remembers correctly, in the original story, Siegfried's injuries had already worsened when Kiana became a Herrscher.

"...Heh, you know quite a lot, don't you?" Tesla crosses her arms and stares at Lin Wei.

"You said you were a survivor of the Third Honkai?" Would an ordinary person know all of these things?

"Hehe, did you forget? I possess the Key of Corruption. Getting some basic information isn't difficult for me, but that's about it." Lin Wei says, changing the subject.

Lying. Tesla purses her lips but doesn't intend to press the issue. They are in a cautious alliance after all. "I hope you don't do anything unnecessary." Tesla warns him seriously.

Lin Wei shrugs and gestures to the game screen on his computer without explaining further.

He understands what Tesla means.

The situation is special right now. Everyone is holding their breath, focusing on St. Freya Academy, and they are all trying to keep their claws hidden. No one wants anything to escalate.

The reawakening of the Herrscher of the Void is inevitable. Before that happens, everyone is racing against the clock to complete their plans and take the initiative when that great event finally unfolds.

For example, Anti-Entropy has been working overtime to continue their research on the Moonlight Throne. Even Cocolia understands the importance of this.

The fact that even that madwoman is being quiet shows how well the different sides are working together!

And Lin Wei knows even more than Anti-Entropy.

Tesla only knows about Anti-Entropy and Schicksal. But she doesn't know there's a hidden snake, watching coldly, not only at St. Freya Academy but also at Anti-Entropy and Schicksal!

And of course, at him.

"That's for the best." Tesla nods.

Although she is saying that the situation is stable, the Honkai is unpredictable.

In the face of such an unpredictable disaster, it's always better to have one more ally...

Thinking that, she can't help but look back at Lin Wei. Her anger surges once again.

We're busy running around, but you're here enjoying life?

Just as she's gritting her teeth, she sees Lin Wei suddenly look up at her, looking serious, as if about to say something.

Is something wrong? Tesla's heart clenches.

"I have a question for you. From what I know, many countries in Southeast Asia are supposed to be neutral and refuse both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal from entering, like Singapore, where we are now." Lin Wei's question is unexpected.

"But, why are Valkyrie teams stationed in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia? That's not what I knew before."

"...Is that what you're worried about?" Tesla is speechless. So this guy is focused on the "neutral" countries. Is he that desperate to slack off?

Lin Wei looks at Tesla, seemingly wanting to learn more, hoping for an explanation.

"The concept of 'neutral' countries exists. After all, Anti-Entropy and Schicksal have been fighting fiercely over the years… Hey, what are you looking at like that?" Tesla can feel the doubts in Lin Wei's eyes when she mentions the fighting. She's immediately annoyed.

"Nothing, you can continue," Lin Wei hides the "You guys actually fight?" kind of thoughts in his mind. He thinks that it might not be impossible.

After all, Schicksal's top combat strength is just a few people: Durandal and Rita, two S-rank Valkyries who suddenly rose to prominence in the past two to three years.

Before that, their top forces were limited to Theresa and Siegfried.

And one of them has betrayed them and the other is...

(ノへ￣,)

Thinking this way, Lin Wei suddenly feels a pang in his teeth. He looks up at the ceiling.

So you two have been fighting as weaklings for more than ten years?

No wonder a random William could be so arrogant.

"Hey! Are you even listening!?" Tesla slams her hand on the table and shouts. She feels like Lin Wei is thinking about something very rude.

"Ahem, sorry, I got distracted. You were saying... you were saying..." Lin Wei is embarrassed. Are Schicksal getting stronger and Anti-Entropy getting weaker these past few years? That's why they've reached a stalemate.

"...In short, it's not really relevant to the power struggle between the two organizations. Some governments don't want to be involved. It's normal for them to want to be neutral, especially in a place like Southeast Asia, which is at the intersection of the East and the West." Tesla says vaguely, "But the Honkai don't care about nationality, so your understanding of 'neutral' isn't real. At most, they'll just try not to interfere with the local political situation."

Then, Tesla shrugs helplessly, "Anti-Entropy's mech forces are too visible, so Schicksal's Valkyries have an easier time. Those guys have used a lot of loopholes."

I see, Lin Wei says as if he has an epiphany.

Understood. Principles are principles, and business is business.

One eye open and one eye closed.

"So I guess you Anti-Entropy people have been selling a lot of weapons to these countries secretly, right?" Lin Wei says with a tsk. Don't try to portray Anti-Entropy as the wronged party.

"Hey, you!" Tesla's eyebrows furrow. She wants to scold Lin Wei for that accusation, but she can't. She sits down, defeated. "Sigh, you're not wrong. Cocolia was very interested in being an arms dealer… Although I hate this, I have to admit that Cocolia… she did contribute to the organization's resource acquisition."

Tesla's expression is pained, as if she was ashamed to admit this.

Lin Wei looks at her impassively, not offering any comment.

For a scientist, who is obsessed with technology, accepting politics and profit, such dirty things, is difficult.

Especially for Tesla. Putting it nicely, she's someone who follows her heart; putting it bluntly, she's stubborn.

"It's good to pay more attention to Southeast Asia." Lin Wei says, his words having a double meaning.

Tesla looks up at him, unable to tell if he is comforting, mocking, or has another meaning. "What do you mean by that?"

"Don't misunderstand, I don't mean anything. Like you said, the Honkai doesn't care about nationality, and the people of Southeast Asia need to be protected too."

…

After chatting for a while, Lin Wei sends Tesla away. Before leaving, she reminds him to fix the door, which causes her to glare back at him.

Lin Wei sits back down in front of the computer, picks up the controller, and leans against the back of the chair, mumbling to himself, "Principles are principles, and business is business…"

Lin Wei glances at the computer screen. It's Steam, which he hasn't opened for a long time. It feels familiar and strange at the same time.

In his friends list, an ID called "MetalGearWolfFang" shows that he's "in-game".

"Sakura, tell me, should I be a little selfish too?"