I am a hero of the former civilization.

"Yes, our efforts are disproportionate. According to my education, there is no such thing as one-sided giving in this world, but your attitude is giving me a headache." Sakura became serious and spoke out all her recent insights.

"In terms of strength, I am far inferior to you. Even if I become a fusion warrior, I am probably no match for you. In terms of power, I am just an assassin. Even if Velvey is more valuable than me."

She said a lot, which could be considered a heart-to-heart talk, because assassins wouldn't say these things; they would only observe quietly.

“Yeah, so what do I want from you?” Ryan propped his head up and glanced sideways at the girl sitting cross-legged, her loose neckline revealing her delicate collarbone, her unadorned face appearing pure and refined.

Am I investing in the future, in order to latch onto the coattails of the hero [Moment]?

This idea, which was once very realistic, now seems ridiculous. Putting aside the difference in strength between the two sides, what Ryan is doing now is equivalent to having a powerful backer. He doesn't need Alicia; the Thirteen Heroes are slowly taking shape in his hands.

Even without the plum, the fire-chasing moth is transforming things according to his ideas, and many things have become unrecognizable.

"So, Sakura, do you want to repay me?"

"At least I can have some peace of mind. You can make any request." Sakura took a deep breath. Even if Ryan ordered her to take off her clothes, aside from disdain, at least she could return to the common sense of the past.

Moreover, this is highly likely. After observing for a long time, she discovered that the man's biggest flaw was his 'lust'.

Ryan looked the girl up and down, his gaze sweeping over her long pink hair, her rosy lips, her delicate collarbone, and the slight bulge in her T-shirt. Her fair, slender legs were also very attractive.

After a long silence, he finally spoke softly, "Then pour me a cup of tea."

"What did you say?" Sakura seemed not to have heard clearly. The other party had done so much, just for this little thing.

“Pour the tea, pour it carefully, and we'll be even,” Ryan repeated.

"That's all?"

"What else can I do?"

I thought you were going to...

"Hold on, I already told you I'm an artist and scientist who specializes in satisfying people's dark and profound fantasies. Are you going to underestimate me?"

Sakura certainly wouldn't underestimate Ryan, but she just couldn't quite understand him. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out, picked up the teapot, and poured the emerald green tea into the cup.

Her movements were gentle and light, as if she had undergone rigorous training, and every move she made was full of elegance.

The teacup is half full, its surface like a green pool, adorned with a single pink petal, giving it a unique charm.

Ryan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and found that in addition to the tea's richness and bitterness, there was also a hint of sweet floral fragrance. The two flavors blended together, making him close his eyes comfortably.

"Good tea. You've made this tea with these flowers before, haven't you?"

“I’ll use cherry blossoms from my hometown to pickle them. The flavor will be even more unique, and it will make Rin like drinking tea too. Wait, you haven’t answered my question yet.”

“I’ve already answered.” Ryan pointed to the teacup and smiled gently. “I treated you with sincerity, and you treated me with sincerity. Our gains and losses are equal, and neither of us is at a disadvantage.”

"But......"

Sakura wanted to say that she was just pouring a cup of tea, but Ryan had arranged everything for Rin perfectly, without a single flaw. However, as a naturally intelligent person, she understood what Ryan was talking about.

Ignoring the inherent value of things, as long as everyone interacts sincerely, there is no distinction between superior and inferior.

“Ryan, you really are a strange person, but if I say any more, I’ll seem pretentious. How about this, even if our interests clash one day, I will try my best to stand by your side.” Sakura took a breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Don't worry, our interests will always be aligned. Of course, I don't object to a little personal feeling mixed in. I always feel like I've won against Alicia." Ryan smiled, raised his teacup, and took a leisurely sip.

I thought to myself that I was like a more powerful version of Alicia, lacking the passion and emotion of Alicia, but possessing a more cold rationality.

Sakura didn't question it. She made Ryan another cup of tea, walked barefoot into the house, and returned shortly afterward with a laptop in her arms.

"I thought you didn't like discussing work from home."

“I don’t like it, but this is also to thank you. A cup of tea can’t make up for it, don’t think I’m a fool.” Sakura smiled, sat down next to Ryan, turned on the computer, and plugged in a data disk.

“I hacked into the Mobile Branch’s terminal using the decoder given to me by Velvet, and after comparing it with the information given by Dr. Mei, I confirmed that the Judgment-class Honkai Beast that escaped from the Azure Sea is nearby. Here is its data.”

"Shesa?" Ryan also remembered what Kalis had told him: when they defeated the Third Herrscher, her companion beast actually got healthy.

"Yes, apart from occasionally attacking villages along the Australian coast, it has been hiding on a deserted island, and the Fire Moth has failed to capture it on several occasions."

That sounds cunning.

Ryan knows that Herrschers and high-ranking Honkai Beasts are inhuman and there is no possibility of them 'abandoning darkness for light,' but that doesn't mean they lack intelligence.

Sakura scrolled the mouse wheel, and the observation and analysis report flashed by quickly, accompanied by some blurry pictures. Ryan couldn't help but adjust his glasses and lean closer to the screen.

It was a giant, pitch-black serpent, like a monster from mythology, with lightning floating around its body and black mud and other such things churning around it.

'Judgment-level, snake... could this be material for Mebius?'

Ryan scratched his face. He could foresee many things, but he couldn't remember which Honkai Beast each hero used because those names were too hard to remember. He was only responsible for collecting the materials, and once Mebius took them for gene matching, they could find suitable candidates. But this snake did actually look somewhat familiar.

"Let's start with it. As the companion beast of the Third Herrscher, its abilities should be related to electromagnetic force, which I am quite familiar with."

More than just familiar, what's the difference between you and the Third Herrscher?

Sakura glanced at Ryan furtively, but she wasn't as curious as Mebius. She stretched out her slender finger and tapped the screen: "When [Shesa] was observed for the fifth time, the detector showed a peak in the collapse concentration."

Ryan immediately perked up and took a closer look at the suddenly rising parabola.

"2200HW? A Judgment-class Honkai Beast can reach this level? Are you sure it's not a Herrscher descending?" Ryan raised an eyebrow. In fact, even a Judgment-class Honkai Beast's energy is weaker than a Herrscher's. According to the classification of the Fire Moth, 2000HW is the limit for a Herrscher.

"Because it dissipated too quickly, and apart from one squadron being swept away, it didn't cause much damage. If it were a Herrscher, the surrounding port cities would have been completely wiped out." Sakura didn't quite understand either, and just read from the document:

"The Moth of Fire only determined that the energy source was two carriers, and speculated that it was two high-level Honkai Beasts gathered together, which caused the detection error."

Gathering together?

Ryan fell silent. This contradicted the previous research of the Fire Moth. High-ranking Honkai Beasts all acted alone, and human social structures could not be applied to these strange creatures.

Even though they are both companion beasts of the Herrscher, they do not show any affection or have any subordinate relationship.

Otherwise, there's no need for Herrschers. As long as there's someone who can unite all the Honkai Beasts in the world to cause trouble, the Firemoth will be overwhelmed.

"The intelligence department of the Fire Moth is investigating, but there's already a precedent. Take a look at this intelligence report." Sakura typed rapidly on the keyboard, and some pictures and secret documents popped up.

The third campaign against the Norse Kings confirmed that two Emperor-class Honkai Beasts were acting together, one luring the enemy and the other ambushing them. The casualties are...

Ryan read it aloud slowly, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. He blurted out, "Search all available information and find out when this anomaly occurred."

"I've already checked."

"When?"

Sakura slowly turned her head and answered in a strange tone.

"After the Third Herrscher was defeated."

Chapter 104 Crimson Sky and Cold Cherry Blossoms

After the Third Herrscher was defeated, the Honkai Beasts exhibited some unusual behavior.

Over the next few days, Ryan kept repeating this phrase, and some ominous premonitions came true, though the change was so subtle that it was hard to detect.

He showed no emotion on his face, and every day he still cooked, chatted, tutored Ling with her homework, and told her bedtime stories, as if he had forgotten about the Honkai and was determined to live an ordinary life with the two sisters.

In the morning, I take Ling to school, then stroll in the park, sipping cherry blossom tea brewed by Sakura herself, and leisurely reading the newspaper while watching the hardworking girl scrub the floor until it shines.

Sakura is also someone who can't sit still. She cleans and tidies the house from morning till night, or she sits in the living room meditating and practicing swordsmanship.

Ryan's mind never stopped, constantly making assumptions, rejecting them, and then making more assumptions, but he never found an answer.

Honkai is indeed targeted, but that's a strategic matter. For example, the Herrschers' efforts are increasing, and after discovering that even the Seventh Herrscher has failed, they switch to psychological warfare, viral warfare, and espionage. When they discover that the Fusion Warriors are the core of humanity's resistance, they simply send out the Herrscher of Binding to cripple them all.

However, the original world line sample is not a reference. The biggest factor in the change is me. If I remember correctly, the Herrscher of Thunder developed emotions at the last moment. The shock was not even her own emotion.

Ryan flipped through the newspaper faster and faster. The high-ranking Honkai Beasts had formed a group in advance, which seemed like a prediction. But how could the Honkai Beasts possibly make predictions?

"Move your feet."

Just then, Sakura's voice came, and he subconsciously lifted his foot, only to see Sakura lying on the ground wiping the floor.

At first he was a little embarrassed, but he got used to it and revealed his lazy nature, watching the girl wriggle around at his feet.

Sakura wore a yukata, the thin material clinging to her body, her protruding buttocks resembling a plump peach. The V-shaped neckline of the yukata hung down, revealing her curves accentuated by gravity.

It has a perfect shape and a huge size, so it's impossible to hold it in one hand.

After giving it just a quick glance, Sakura turned back to wash the handkerchief in the bucket and wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.

"Is Ling already asleep?"

"Yes, you spent several hours with her in the park today, you must be exhausted. You worked hard during the day."

"Since we have nothing else to do, we might as well take her out to play. Ling is quite cute, and she even made a promise with me to go to the amusement park next time. Of course, you have to come too."

“I promised her a long time ago, but I just haven’t been able to find the time.”

"It's my fault. If I wasn't afraid of the Moth of Fire finding out, you could have had a good rest this time."

Ryan sighed, closed the newspaper, and saw that Sakura showed no resentment, but simply quietly brewed a cup of tea and placed it on the table.

“There’s plenty of time, and I know you’ve been very troubled lately. It’s already quite unexpected that you’ve been able to patiently accompany Rin,” Sakura said calmly. She had witnessed Ryan’s abilities firsthand and knew that the Third Herrscher was related to him.

"Aren't you curious?"

"Curiosity is the assassin's enemy. Everyone has secrets, but I trust your judgment."

If Sakura is sharp as a knife in battle, then she is gentle as water at this moment.

“Sakura, I appreciate your understanding, but I’m sorry, I have to end this comfortable life.” Ryan took a deep breath, feeling an urge to ask Sakura to stay.

“I’m satisfied as long as you feel comfortable.” Sakura smiled as she stood up, brushed aside her long hair that was tied up, and gently shook her head. “I intercepted the communication of the Fire Moth. Shesa has appeared on Parit Island, about 200 kilometers away. Please wait a moment while I go to prepare for the attack.”

Without saying anything more, she left those words behind and walked into the inner room, leaving Ryan stunned for a moment before he smiled and closed the newspaper.

Although I hid it well, I was still seen through. As for why Sakura was so resolute in interrupting the life she loved most?

It's very simple. Ryan hasn't actually done anything these past few days, yet he's made this trade no longer feel like a trade.

What I was anxious about, she was also concerned about; at least I made another friend.

Not long after, footsteps came again, but this time the footsteps were fast and urgent.

Ryan turned his head and saw Sakura's familiar attire: she was wearing leather boots and shorts, with a white over-the-knee sock on her right leg, a blue-black jacket and a white T-shirt on her upper body, and a long sword hanging at her waist.

Her long pink hair was naturally loose, and she wore blue headphones around her neck. Except for not having fox ears, she was basically no different from her Yingjie days.

Her attire was a bit odd, but very capable.

Under Ryan's intense gaze, Sakura slightly shifted her eyes and explained, "This is a painting of 'Forget-Me-Not' by Rin, and I matched it to her image."

"I see. That explains why you were wearing a tight-fitting combat suit when we first met. By the way, you don't need to bring your knife."