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

The small shuttle, now carrying three instead of two, flew through the darkening sky.

Lin Wei watched the clouds rush past, his heart heavy.

Even the usually cheerful Lin Wei had his moments of quiet contemplation.

On his way to Nagazora, he'd been too focused on survival, on his desperate gamble, to appreciate the scenery.

Now, with the threat of imminent death lifted, he had the time to admire the world, but all he saw was the night sky.

What a shame, he thought.

This brief flight might be his last moment of peace.

Once they landed, he would step into the next whirlpool, into the harsh reality of this world.

Three months since he'd arrived, three months of meticulously crafting a safe haven, of dancing on the edge of death. Now, he had to actively participate in the game of "Honkai."

He had no choice.

He rubbed his face, a wry smile touching his lips.

But fate had other plans.

Otto had targeted him, he'd provoked World Serpent, and now he was under their watchful gaze.

But he didn't regret it. He'd promised to send Rin home. Sooner or later, he would have to deal with World Serpent.

And he needed them to escape Otto's grasp.

Only they had the power.

As for the consequences of provoking World Serpent…

He sighed. He wasn't some mastermind, manipulating everyone like chess pieces.

He would deal with it as it came.

It couldn't be worse than facing a Herrscher alone, right?

He'd overcome the greatest hurdle. The rest… he would face it head-on.

Why do other transmigrators have it so easy?

He was just an ordinary person, stuck in these high-stakes games.

Guess I'm achieving maximum output with minimum stats, he thought with self-deprecating amusement.

He was tired. He would sleep.

At least he had Fu Hua. He could rest easy.

He closed his eyes and drifted off.

Fu Hua engaged autopilot, covered him with a blanket, then did the same for the sleeping girl.

She glanced at them, returned to the pilot seat, and slowed the shuttle.

Everyone struggled in this world. She understood.

She sighed.

The only sound was the hum of the engine, making the night even quieter.

…

Fu Hua landed the shuttle near the small town and dropped Lin Wei off.

She waved goodbye, closed the hatch, and returned to St. Freya with Yuno.

She sent Theresa a message, reporting their safe return and briefly explaining Yuno's situation. The white-haired chibi immediately assured her that the infirmary was prepared.

Fu Hua thanked her and ended the call.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her communicator.

"Greetings, my old friend. How is the investigation progressing?"

Otto wasted no time on pleasantries.

Looking at his perpetually smiling face, which always made her uncomfortable, Fu Hua felt a surge of double the usual disgust.

She suppressed it, sending him the medical report from the infirmary.

"This man is… unusual. I probed his mind with Fenghuang Down, but he detected my presence."

"Oh?"

Otto's brow twitched in surprise. Detecting Fenghuang Down's illusion required specialized training, often with Fu Hua's direct involvement.

But…

He looked at Lin Wei's absurd medical report, the large "0" under Honkai resistance mocking him. Even a sewer rat had higher resistance!

If it hadn't come from Fu Hua, he would have dismissed it as a joke.

This man was worthless!

His initial disappointment was replaced by a surge of excitement.

How could such a weakling detect Fenghuang Down?

There had to be a secret!

"He knows about Divine Keys, about Fenghuang Down. He used a code to anchor himself to reality."

Fu Hua briefly explained his ingenious method of using a diary to break free from the illusion. Otto chuckled, intrigued.

He knew about Divine Keys?

"He mentioned an organization called 'World Serpent.' He claimed to have received the information about Divine Keys from them."

Fu Hua continued her report, her voice calm and even.

"I couldn't access his complete memories, for reasons you're aware of."

"Yes, of course. There's no need to apologize."

Otto wasn't concerned. This information was enough. He would extract more once he had the man in custody.

But Fu Hua wasn't finished. He needed a report on her trip to Nagazora.

"His condition is… peculiar. His Honkai resistance is extremely low. He was already suffering from Honkai corruption when I found him. I took samples to St. Freya's infirmary. Their equipment and staff are excellent. You've seen the report."

"According to the doctors, he's like a lab rat, raised in a Honkai-free environment. That would explain his low resistance."

Fu Hua relayed the doctor's assessment.

"Ho! A fascinating experiment. Though their motives are unclear, their scientific dedication is… admirable. My apologies, please continue."

He noticed Fu Hua's displeasure at being interrupted and fell silent.

"I won't comment on the validity of their assessment. He has a complete identity and background, easily verifiable. These details are trivial. If you wish to investigate further, please assign someone else to the task."

Fu Hua's tone was subtly defiant. Otto chuckled.

Then, her expression turned strange.

"According to my investigation, he came to St. Freya seeking Schicksal's protection. After being rejected, he settled nearby. As for why he sought protection, what he was running from… I couldn't determine. There's no record of any significant interactions in his recent memories."

A pity, Otto thought.

Two months near St. Freya wasn't a short time. It was understandable that there were no significant leads in his recent memories.

He accepted her explanation, gesturing for her to continue.

Wait, seeking Schicksal's protection?

A strange expression crossed Otto's face.

"He did have information about Nagazora. He was the one who posted the rumors online. He claimed he was trying to save someone."