Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

"According to Sakura's report, only Mikael's body was found in Nagazora. The 3rd Herrscher, and Mikael's… core, are missing."

Himeko's voice was steady, but the gravity of her words weighed heavy in the air. She continued, "Since the 3rd Herrscher can transform into electromagnetic waves and move at light speed, I believe she's still alive. Our top priority is to redeploy our forces globally and prepare for her reappearance."

As Himeko finished speaking, a heavy silence fell upon the war room, blanketing it like a suffocating fog.

Phamas, seated at the head of the table, observed the gathered strategists. Their heads were bowed, their silence betraying a mix of fear and uncertainty. Tapping his fingers lightly on the glass table, he made a subtle yet commanding gesture, breaking the oppressive stillness.

"Since no one objects, then—"

"Wait, Commander Phamas."

The interruption was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. Himeko turned toward the source of the voice, her eyes narrowing slightly.

It came from a young man—almost excessively so—standing near the far end of the room. Blond-haired and green-eyed, he couldn't have been more than twenty.

A quick glance at his insignia identified him as a newly appointed strategist from the United Government. His striking features and air of confidence left little doubt about his lineage.

Another Liechtenstein, huh? Himeko mused, her thoughts tinged with faint irritation. Were all the men in that family so… ridiculously handsome?

"Strategist Lucien, do you have something to say?"

Himeko detected a hint of helplessness, irritation, and… fear in Phamas's voice.

This was unusual. She had witnessed the first two emotions directed at Vashak, but fear? Phamas certainly wasn't afraid of Vashak, so why this young man?

Lucien stepped forward, his voice smooth and magnetic. "While we've confirmed Mr. Mikael is the Herrscher—the 1st Herrscher—he did die fighting for humanity…"

He turned to Himeko, a playful glint in his emerald eyes, his gaze lingering on her fiery red hair. "We shouldn't let those who sacrifice themselves for us freeze in the snow, especially not someone who died such a heroic death. Even if he didn't defeat the 3rd Herrscher, we shouldn't dismiss his contributions. He was a hero…"

The more Lucien spoke, the more puzzled Himeko became. Something about his tone felt off. He was praising Mikael—lavishly, even—which didn't align with her expectations at all.

"Therefore," Lucien continued, his voice dripping with charm, "we must treat his remains with respect. We've lost contact with Squad 3. Only Sakura is still communicating with us from Nagazora. Having a young girl retrieve a hero's body seems… inadequate.

"I mean, it wouldn't take much time, and we're already here. Why don't we go to Nagazora, retrieve Mikael's body—pay our respects—and then return to headquarters? What do you all think?"

As soon as Lucien finished speaking, Vashak exploded out of his chair, his face contorted with barely suppressed disdain.

"Cut the crap! You're just saying all that flowery nonsense to justify snatching the Herrscher's corpse for research! You Liechtensteins are all a bunch of hypocritical, two-faced scumbags! You're even more idiotic than your cousin! You—"

"Oh?" Lucien von Liechtenstein raised an eyebrow, effortlessly cutting through Vashak's tirade. "Vashak, we're civilized people here. If you want to continue your vulgar rant, I can arrange a visit to my sister's zoo. The female monkeys there are quite… enthusiastic. They might appreciate your… company."

"…How dare you insult me?!"

"Vashak, who's insulting whom?"

"…[Censored string of expletives]"

Lucien sighed theatrically, his tone dripping with mock regret. "Oh, I apologize, Mr. Vashak. I shouldn't compare you to a monkey. That's insulting to monkeys. After all, monkeys use various tactics to achieve their goals, while you just bark uselessly."

A ripple of suppressed laughter ran through the room, though no one dared openly react.

Himeko glanced at Phamas, who, at over fifty years old, was now nervously chewing on his fingernails. He watched the exchange with rapt attention, as did the other strategists.

The most surprising of all was Nuwa. Since Mobius, for some reason, had refused to attend, Nuwa was representing her. She was furiously scribbling notes, her pen flying across the paper, presumably to recount this epic clash of wits to Elvin later.

Himeko suppressed a groan as realization dawned. Lucien wasn't just a sharp-tongued strategist. He belonged to that faction—the one that…

Vashak grabbed his hair, pulling out two large clumps.

The sudden pain jolted him back to reality. He realized he'd completely lost his composure. The rollercoaster of events had clearly affected his mental state, dragging him into a pointless argument with this… whippersnapper.

"You just want the Herrscher's corpse for research! Don't try to sugarcoat it! You almost had Captain Himeko thanking you!"

Lucien, unfazed by the accusation, merely shrugged. His calm demeanor was infuriating. He glanced at Himeko, whose glare could have melted steel.

"Oh? So, you object to retrieving the Herrscher's body for research, Vashak?"

"No… you… you called me Vashak! I'm so much older than you, you little…"

Vashak stopped himself mid-sentence, pinching his thigh to regain control. That young, handsome face—so irritatingly reminiscent of his own in his youth—was unbearable. He couldn't help but antagonize Lucien. Their ideologies were diametrically opposed, and every word from the strategist felt like a deliberate provocation.

"Ahem!"

Phamas cleared his throat, the sound sharp and authoritative.

Even amidst the chaos, he still held some authority. With Himeko's Squad 5 stationed outside and Strategic Command's communications cut off, his words carried weight.

For the first time since Fire Moth's expansion, Himeko and her squad had done something he had wanted to do but hadn't dared to…

And yet, he was the one who stood to benefit.

"Alright, then. The Fire Moth One will proceed to Nagazora and retrieve Mikael's remains. Sakura has already rendezvoused with Dr. Mei, so we can bring her back as well."

"As for the fleet in Shanghai, disband immediately. Ato's Squad 1 and the Fire Moth Two, stand by. I need them ready to deploy the moment we locate the 3rd Herrscher. Any questions?"

Lucien's voice cut through the room, the pretense gone completely. "What about the 1st Herrscher's core?" He didn't even bother to use Mikael's name.

Phamas's gaze hardened at the bluntness. "Presumably, the 3rd Herrscher took it. But it doesn't matter. Based on our research on the 2nd Herrscher's core, it only responds to a certain level of Honkai energy input. Even if the 3rd Herrscher has it, she won't be able to use it effectively."

Lucien's eyes narrowed as he tilted his head. "Then, regarding the 1st Herrscher's use of the 2nd Herrscher's power…"

Phamas's frown deepened, his mind racing. How much did Lucien know about Mikael? Could he be the inside man?

"Mobius submitted a private report," Phamas replied cautiously. "The 1st Herrscher is… unique. And using the 2nd Herrscher's powers takes a heavy toll on him."

"But he teleported directly from Shanghai to Nagazora," Lucien pressed. "Even the 2nd Herrscher herself might not be capable of that."

"That's why he's dead," Phamas said bluntly.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the strategists, their voices low and uncertain.

Only Himeko remained silent. Her head was bowed, and her hands clenched and unclenched as if searching for something to hold on to.

She didn't join the conversation, nor did she lift her eyes.

Sakura had broken down. Elysia had fainted. Everyone around her had crumbled in their own way.

And yet, despite her inability to fully accept Mikael's death, Himeko forced herself to. She had no choice.

But the more she tried to accept it, the more helpless she felt, a deep ache settling into her chest like an anchor pulling her into the depths.

Personally, she didn't want Fire Moth to "retrieve" Mikael's body.

It would mean endless dissections, analysis, and experiments.

Especially since Elysia would never be able to cope with it.

But deep down, she knew it was inevitable.

Aside from Vashak's faction, which championed the idea of "pure humanity," there were others who saw the Honkai as more than just a disaster. They believed it was also an opportunity—an opportunity for human advancement.

They advocated for actively studying the Honkai, not just treating it as a monstrous threat.

And then there was Mikael. A Herrscher unlike the others. Of the three that had emerged, he was the only one who hadn't sought to destroy civilization. The only one who had retained his human consciousness.

His powers, though not overtly destructive in battle, were incredibly potent—surpassing even spatial manipulation or electromagnetism. The power to analyze and construct. The power of a creator.

Fire Moth had to study him—preferably alive. His death was a setback, but it also presented an opportunity for more… invasive research.

Himeko couldn't convince them otherwise. She was merely following orders. Rationally, she even understood their reasoning—after all, she used Honkai energy herself to fight. She knew the importance of studying the Honkai to defeat it.

But emotionally… she couldn't accept it.

So, she decided to delay it as long as possible—just long enough to give Elysia a chance to say goodbye.

"Wait, Commander."

Himeko spoke up at last.

"What is it?"

"In the fields of biology and Honkai research, I believe no one is more qualified than Dr. Mobius. I recommend entrusting Mikael's remains to her."

"Ahem!" Lucien cleared his throat. "As far as I know, Dr. SPACY is also an expert in biology and Honkai research. He's the one who developed the cure for Honkai sickness. Dr. Mobius, while renowned, hasn't produced any tangible results…"

He subtly dismissed Mobius's qualifications.

Lucien knew it might be futile. With Squad 5 surrounding the war room, his words didn't hold much weight. But he still needed to apply pressure on Phamas, who was expecting his villas and… companions. Antagonizing him now could jeopardize those rewards.

A smug smile played at the corner of his lips.

But then something unexpected happened.

"No, Mr. Lucien. Your cousin deserves the credit for developing the cure for Honkai sickness, not me. And I'm certainly not as knowledgeable about the Honkai and Herrschers as Dr. Mobius. If she hasn't produced tangible results, it's only because you haven't provided her with sufficient funding."

"!"

Lucien stared at his distant uncle in disbelief.

"SPACY…"

"Enough!" Phamas slammed his hand on the table, his voice sharp.

"Dr. Mobius performed the autopsy on the 2nd Herrscher's body. She will do the same for this one."

Vashak raised an eyebrow at Phamas, almost as if asking, "You've finally grown a spine?"