Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

Late at night, Jackal changed into ordinary casual attire—a shirt and shorts—and donned a baseball cap as he walked along dimly lit streets.

With her curvaceous figure and enticing skin glowing in harmony, each step exuded the allure of youthful beauty, captivating enough to weaken—or perhaps stiffen—any onlooker's legs.

Following the coordinates provided by Gray Serpent, she found the hidden marker and tracked for over ten kilometers before finally spotting Gray Serpent, who hadn't bothered changing his appearance, amidst a masquerade ball event.

"Hey, haven't you considered altering your look? Look at me, stylish yet unrecognizable," Jackal suggested.

"That doesn't matter. Have you finished reviewing the information?" Gray Serpent replied.

Standing in a shadowy corner, they confirmed there were no surveillance cameras or prying eyes nearby before beginning their conversation.

Jackal suppressed his playful demeanor with a cold laugh.

"Done reading. Who would've thought that Otto, who's been building up direct combat forces for five centuries, is actually a staunch advocate of escape? Meanwhile, Welt, indecisive and overly gentle, devised such a bold and ambitious plan. Shouldn't their roles be reversed?"

"The contrast only makes it more believable. It reveals deeper aspects of their personalities. Otto, with his strong leadership and unwavering rationality, understands the insurmountable challenge posed by Honkai better than anyone. The more he studies and battles it, the clearer it becomes—it's akin to climbing an impossible mountain. Thus, devising an escape plan aligns perfectly with his character."

After hearing Gray Serpent's analysis, Jackal nodded thoughtfully. His finely shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly as he followed his reliable old partner's line of reasoning and continued:

"Welt's plan, on the other hand, clearly indicates what a pure idealist he is. Unifying the thoughts of all humanity? Ha, that might be just as daunting as directly defeating Honkai itself. Such romantic idealism... one wonders if it should be seen as charming or delusional?"

As they analyzed further, both felt increasingly convinced of the credibility of this astonishing intelligence.

Could Anti-Entropy really have concocted such an exaggerated yet traceable plan solely to deceive them? If so, why not choose something more plausible? It would have been easier to fool them then!

"Achoo!"

At that moment, miles away, Zeke suddenly felt a tickle in his nose and couldn't help but sneeze. He glanced around but found nothing unusual.

Had he known about World Serpent's conversation, he probably would have burst out laughing.

Gray Serpent had immense confidence in his hacking skills, and rightfully so. However, this very confidence led him to increasingly trust the intelligence he had uncovered.

With this mindset, as they pieced together various fragmented information, their interpretation naturally gravitated towards aligning with the intel Gray Serpent had obtained. The initially vague direction was thus steered by preconceived notions—in simpler terms, they were convincing themselves.

Nevertheless, both individuals were astute, and while initially falling for the trap, they didn't completely believe it yet, still harboring some skepticism.

Jackal pondered for a moment before asking, "Gray Serpent, where did you obtain this intelligence from?"

"From Anti-Entropy's central archive, hidden deep within layers of encryption. Even I almost missed it."

"Anti-Entropy? Haven't they always kept their archives exceptionally secure?"

"Recently, they suddenly came out into the open, even exposing their Headquarters Base, as if abruptly shifting their approach... Upon closer thought, I fear it signifies that their plan has entered a new phase, starting to reconcile with Schicksal... Wait, perhaps from the beginning, both organizations were covertly aligned. It was just for certain aspects of their plans and to attract as much talent as possible that they split into two directions, misleading everyone else," Gray Serpent said gravely.

After brief contemplation, Jackal nodded in agreement.

"Yes, indeed. The simultaneous appearance of Schicksal's Valkyries and Anti-Entropy's mechs, working together to destroy our base, serves as the best evidence. Surely, it couldn't be that Anti-Entropy intended to deceive us, yet Otto found out and casually lent a hand?"

"If that's truly the case, it also demonstrates that the relationship between these two organizations is far from the apparent rivalry on the surface; in reality, they seem quite close."

"Achoo!"

Having just switched bodies, Otto (♀) suddenly sneezed. A pair of exceptionally bouncy snow-white rabbits playfully jiggled with the motion, stirring intense excitement.

"How peculiar, why would I catch a cold? Could it be Zeke talking about me again? Oh dear, it was just a small favor; there's no need to thank me so profusely, really."

Otto (♀) chuckled, her mature and mellifluous voice evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.

"Director Otto, please get dressed; this is quite indecent."

"What does it matter? Haven't you seen all my forms before? Besides, do you find my current appearance unappealing, Amber?"

Otto winked flirtatiously at Amber, attempting to charm her.

"ヾ(???)ノ~~"

"...Please mind your decorum and manners, Director Otto," Amber replied expressionlessly, dragging her robes behind her.

Otto clicked her tongue.

Making Amber smile proved to be an immense challenge, akin to capturing a fully empowered Herrscher alive.

"All right, help me dress. I wonder what expression Zeke will have seeing me like this—it'll surely be amusing. Can't wait!"

After analyzing the situation together, Gray Serpent and Jackal fell silent, their moods somewhat somber.

They never expected that Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, two prominent anti-Honkai organizations, would secretly have their own plans to save the world. Moreover, both schemes were ambitious, rivaling World Serpent's Project Stigma in scale.

How will their Lord perceive this development?

"Gray Serpent, I'll find a way to contact our Lord as soon as possible. The situation has become quite intricate. Regardless of the outcome, it's crucial for our Lord to return swiftly; otherwise, we risk falling into a disadvantageous position. What about you? Any thoughts?" Jackal asked after a moment of silence.

However, Gray Serpent raised a hand and replied, "No rush. We still have one more task to accomplish."

"What is it?"

"Welt is here in this city. Jackal, I need you to go and personally observe what he's doing—to confirm everything conclusively."

"...You're always so cautious." Jackal sighed, resting her forehead on her hand.

Years of collaboration had fostered a deep understanding between them, allowing her to quickly grasp Gray Serpent's intentions.

While Gray Serpent had numerous bodies and didn't fear losses, most were semi-mechanized prosthetics—too conspicuous for approaching someone like Welt.

On the other hand, Jackal's body was that of a beautiful woman. Aside from being overly attention-grabbing, there weren't significant flaws. In fact, her striking appearance could sometimes be advantageous when blending into crowds.

Moreover, Welt had never met her before.

To observe Welt's actions covertly, Jackal was far more suitable than Gray Serpent.

As for enlisting peripheral operatives—aside from their questionable acting skills potentially leading to exposure, their lower status meant they could easily fall for deception. Additionally, using recording equipment posed risks of limitations and discovery.

In summary, without witnessing these details firsthand, Jackal couldn't definitively ascertain their authenticity.

"You're right; it is necessary for me to handle this personally... Prepare backup measures. I don't want any mishaps; we haven't retrieved the Key of Lightning or that little crow yet, and I certainly don't plan on getting eliminated first."

So Jackal reported.

Gray Serpent nodded and vanished into the darkness.

Jackal arrived at Welt's location.

Unexpectedly, this ever-so-kind man wasn't visiting local Anti-Entropy officials, nor was he performing good deeds at orphanages or nursing homes. Instead, he had gone to—a certain establishment with a pink sign.

"So what's up with Welt now? Ha, men!" Jackal adjusted her flat cap and pulled aside her blouse, revealing one smooth shoulder. With two defiant yet alluring red lines painted on her face, she blended perfectly with the decadent atmosphere before striding confidently inside.

"Is it family issues that led you to do this?"

"Hmph! Who would willingly fall into such circumstances unless forced by necessity? Once you step into this abyss, there's no easy way out... By the way, did you spend all this money just to chat with me?"

"What's wrong with that? I think you seem much more relaxed now. If our conversation brings you even a little comfort, it's worth it."

"...You're definitely the strangest man I've ever met."

Jackal had expected a bit of searching, anticipating that Welt might be engaged in some heroic conquest. To her surprise, upon entering the establishment, she found him right away—and the scene unfolding was entirely different from what she'd imagined.

What she witnessed was Welt facing several heavily made-up young women with a gentle smile—without any trace of lust, contempt, or peculiarity.

In this kind of place, how could this man still radiate purity and warmth like sunlight?

For a moment, Jackal felt dazed but quickly regained her composure. She found a corner to sit down quietly, observing from afar.

"I've gathered some understanding: either your circumstances forced you into this life, or you faced unjust treatment—it's indeed a filthy place, but it's not your fault. The true source of corruption here are those heartless scum, right?"

"You're crazy! Lower your voice!"

"Don't worry, they can't hear us. Now, hypothetically speaking—if someone were willing to offer help, what would each of you desire?"

"...I want to go home. Sounds funny, doesn't it? I'm not sure why I'm telling you this. I just long for home, even if it means being alone or barely having enough to eat. Just going home is enough."

"As for me... I want to go back to school. I never want to live this kind of life again."

"I want to find a good man... But where can I find one? Even if they exist, someone like me doesn't deserve them, right?"

As they shared their stories, some began to weep.

This place, originally meant for indulgence and decadence, unexpectedly transformed into an atmosphere reminiscent of a prayer-filled church. They spoke of their hardships and aspirations, while Welt stood amidst them, always looking gently upon them, akin to a compassionate deity forgiving all sins.

Jackal sat there for a long time, listening intently.

Finally, she observed as Welt ventured deeper inside, carrying with him a faint scent of blood. When he emerged again, he told the women: retrieve your belongings, reclaim your lives, for fate is in your own hands; you should not endure oppression and abuse passively.

Welt then departed.

Glancing briefly at the still bewildered women, Jackal quietly followed him.

She witnessed Welt visiting the gang's stronghold, resulting in yet another conversation. Some confessed their sins, even collapsing at his feet in tears, while others would never see the next sunrise.

Eventually, Jackal made eye contact with Welt. Despite her exceptional stealth skills, they held little significance against a being of Herrscher's caliber. In fact, managing to track him this far had already exceeded Jackal's expectations.

"Miss, you've been following me all night. Is there something you need?"

"W-What...what are you doing?"

"I want to understand their pain and aspirations. I wish to know how we can make this world a better place." Welt replied with a smile, the faint scent of blood not diminishing his aura's pure and refreshing quality.

Jackal nodded, stepped back, and departed.

Seeing that Welt had no intention of stopping her, Jackal's expression turned grim once she was far enough away.

"Understanding pain and desires... He's executing that plan! By comprehending the thoughts of the majority, he aims to subdue them, unify them, and achieve consciousness harmony! It's all true!" she muttered resolutely, as if trying to suppress certain emotions within herself.

She couldn't admit it, but for a fleeting moment, she saw echoes of the Lord in Welt—not referring to the terrifying power capable of traversing even the Sea of Quanta, but rather a steadfastness and purity emanating from the depths of his soul.