On how PhDs become human evil

Section 182, Chapter 4: Flower Mom's Imminent Arrival at the Battlefield

Inside Rhodes Island's control center, Bai Jie sat in his seat, slumped over the control panel like a salted fish, and sighed.

Seeing Bai Jie's embarrassing state, Swire, who was on duty, said irritably, "Cheer up, Doctor. You're sighing and groaning like an old man all day long."

"I am indeed an old man in terms of age... well, I'm just too surprised by the changes at Rhodes Island."

Along the way, Bai Jie finally realized that Rhodes Island now was a completely different place from the Rhodes Island in his memory. Not only were the internal facilities different, but the operators were also very different from what Bai Jie remembered.

Putting others aside, the reserve team members alone have all grown to the point where they can stand on their own. Or rather, Rhodes Island's reserve team no longer exists. Fang, Hibiscus, Melantha, Koko, Lava... each of them has grown considerably. If they were still fighting in Terra when Bai Jie and others were still there, they would definitely be incredibly reliable combat forces.

"While I'm pleased with the growth of the operators, how should I put it... there's a slight sense of loss."

This might not be the most accurate way to put it, but Bai Jie is like an old father who feels gratified but also a little lonely as he watches his operatives grow up. After all, his daughters or sons won't be able to rely on their fathers anymore once they grow up.

This is how Bai Jie feels right now.

Swire was slightly taken aback when she heard Bai Jie say that. She had thought that Bai Jie's sense of belonging to Rhodes Island would have diminished a bit since he hadn't returned for so long, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Well, that's good. I was worried about Rhodes Island and that you guys might get bullied in Gensokyo, so I came back. Now I'm relieved."

As Bai Jie said this, a look of relief appeared on his face. Even though he hadn't returned for decades, Rhodes Island was always in Bai Jie's heart. He didn't belong to many places: Lungmen at first, then Rhodes Island, and then Schicksal. Among them, Rhodes Island was the one Bai Jie was most worried about.

Lungmen is the core of trade in the Terra world, and the Lungmen Coin it issues plays an important role in the recovery of the world economy. In addition, it seems to have intricate ties with the Yan Kingdom, so few organizations in the Terra world dare to touch it.

Needless to say, Destiny is one of the two strongest organizations in the Honkai world. There's nothing to fear about the World Serpent lurking in the shadows. In fact, because Bai Jie has set up all sorts of traps in the Quantum Sea, the World Serpent is doomed if it dares to enter the Quantum Sea.

(P.S.: Since the Honkai Impact ended in 2000, Cocolia did not join Anti-Entropy, and naturally, the subsequent events did not occur. Seele also did not enter the Sea of ​​Quanta—although I think readers can deduce this without me saying it.)

However, Rhodes Island is different. It is just a pharmaceutical company. In the unfamiliar world of Gensokyo, it is bound to encounter some unforeseen events. In addition, it is unclear about the level of power in Gensokyo. Therefore, Bai Jie has always been very worried about the safety of Rhodes Island.

Fortunately, Rhodes Island seems to be in a pretty good situation right now. Just now, Bai Jie saw quite a few people from Gensokyo walking around inside Rhodes Island, such as Fujiwara no Mokou from Rhine Lab, Yagokoro Eirin from the medical department, and the kappa in the manufacturing station...

Swire smiled at Bai Jie's concerns: "The initial period was indeed very difficult. Monsters came to Rhodes Island every day, which seriously hindered the daily operations of Rhodes Island. Fortunately, Kal'tsit and Yakumo Yukari completed the negotiations, and we gradually got better."

"Yukari Yakumo... It seems I should find some time to pay her a visit."

"Hmm? I think I heard the guy calling me. Is there something you need?"

As soon as Bai Jie finished speaking, a gap opened up on Bai Jie's stomach, and Yakumo Yukari's head peeked out from inside.

From a third-person perspective, it looked like Bai Jie had a head of Yakumo Yukari growing on his stomach, making for a rather bizarre scene.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, Bai Jie laughed and said, "Yukoku Yukari, your joke has really gone a bit too far."

"What does it matter? Life is all about excitement."

"That's not excitement, that's horrifying! You almost scared my heart out!"

"Oh dear, I don't believe that a catastrophe so closely related to human history could result in cardiac arrest," Yukari Yakumo laughed. "By the way, what did you call me for, little brother? I think I just heard you mention my name."

“Ah... well, you seem to have taken good care of Rhodes Island, so I wanted to find some time to visit you and express my gratitude,” Bai Jie said. “Although I don’t know your reasons for accepting Rhodes Island, you have ultimately helped my companions settle down here. As a Doctor of Rhodes Island, I thank you.”

Opening her parasol to shield her smiling face, Yukari Yakumo said, "Young man, you're too kind. Xiaoxi and I are best friends. Helping her is just a small favor. Besides, Rhodes Island has indeed made a lot of contributions to the development of Gensokyo."

As Yukari Yakumo said, as a price to pay for settling down in Gensokyo, Rhodes Island helped Gensokyo solve a series of problems, such as the mental health issues of the Scarlet Devil Mansion's second daughter, the security of the Human Village, and the occasional anomalies.

Yukari Yakumo only decided to let Rhodes Island stay because of their abilities, and of course, there was definitely some affection between her and Nozomi involved... wait—

"Yukari Yakumo, who is Xiao hope?" Bai Jie asked, as he didn't remember anyone on Rhodes Island named Xiao Xi.

"Oh, it's Kal'tsit! We're best friends, so of course we should call each other more affectionately."

Kal'tsit?!

Bai Jie really couldn't believe that the serious and cold Kal'tsit would actually accept such a childish nickname as "Little Kal'tsit." It wasn't exactly a case of unexpected cuteness!

"Well, putting aside the issue of address, the reason I'm here is to tell you something—a rather troublesome woman has her eye on you."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jie raised an eyebrow: "Targeting me? Who?"

Bai Jie had only been in Gensokyo for half a day, and the only Gensokyo natives he had come into contact with were Reimu Hakurei and Yukari Yakumo. At most, he could count Eirin Yagokoro, whom he had greeted. Apart from these people, he didn't know anyone. Just which stranger had his eye on him?

With a slight smile, Yukari Yakumo said, "I've already mentioned her name to you, and I roughly know why she's targeting you."

"Yuka Kazami, that's the name of the person who's been eyeing you."

P.S.: I'm so tired I'm lying in bed, I don't want to move. I spent the whole morning cleaning the entire warehouse for my mom, it exhausted me, and I still don't have the energy.

P.S.: I've been rewatching Food Wars! lately and have become obsessed with making culinary disasters. Tonight I'm recreating peanut butter squid legs.

Section 183.5. Author: I'm experiencing writer's block.

As for Yuuka Kazami, Bai Jie would occasionally hear about this youkai who lived in the sunflower field from various operators.

The first person to mention her was Lappland. After settling down in Gensokyo, she wanted to get along well with her neighbors, so she went to the sunflower field to find Yuuka Kazami to fight. As expected, she was beaten up. Fortunately, Yukari Yakumo was visiting Yuuka Kazami at the time, and Yuuka Kazami unusually held back and did not kill Lappland.

According to Lappland, Yuuka Kazami's very existence is absolute violence; her mere aura is enough to suppress her and render her immobile. In a real fight, Lappland has no ability to even defend herself.

Later, Bai Jie heard about Kazami Yuuka from Kal'tsit, but Kal'tsit didn't have much interaction with her. Instead, it was Chūmaru who was on good terms with Kazami Yuuka, perhaps because Chūmaru was very good at flower arranging.

[A very powerful flower fairy], that's Bai Jie's understanding of Kazami Yuuka. Other than that, Bai Jie didn't know much more about her.

Right now, Bai Jie is sitting in the reception room preparing to meet this great demon, but what puzzles him is the person who is currently in the reception room.

SilverAsh, Saria, Hoshiguma, Shining, Skadi... this is practically the strongest lineup Rhodes Island could field.

"Hey everyone, this is just a meeting, why do you all seem so wary?" Bai Jie asked.

Shaking his head, SilverAsh said, "My ally, Kazami Yuuka, is someone who absolutely cannot be viewed by common sense. Her understanding is completely different from ours."

“For her, this meeting might just be a fight,” Hoshiguma added, her ever-present Hannya ready to transform into a fan.

"Doctor, Yuuka Kazami is no benevolent person. I will intervene if necessary. All of this is for your safety." As Shining spoke, a sharp glint flashed in his slightly narrowed eyes.

Skadi, on the other hand, sat directly next to Bai Jie, acting as his personal bodyguard.

Seeing that everyone showed varying degrees of apprehension towards Yuuka Kazami, Bai Jie became even more curious about what kind of person Yuuka Kazami was, that she could make Rhodes Island's top combatant so wary.

After waiting in the meeting room for about ten minutes, someone finally walked in from outside.

The girl who arrived was short, curly green hair and red eyes; she was quite tall for a woman.

She was dressed in a red and dark red plaid vest and a matching knee-length Scottish kilt with discontinuous openwork trim. She wore a yellow lace scarf at the neckline, a white long-sleeved shirt underneath, and brown Mary Jane shoes and lace-up stockings, the kind often worn by Japanese schoolgirls.

In her hand she was also holding a parasol that bore many similarities to Yukari Yakumo.

The one who came was Kazami Yuuki.

Upon seeing the scene in the reception room, Kazami Yuuka's lips curled up: "I didn't expect to be greeted like this. Should I say I'm flattered?"

“Since the person we’re facing is you, then no amount of security is too much,” Saria said coldly. “What brings you to Rhodes Island, Yuuka Kazami, after leaving your sunflower field?”

Putting away her parasol, Kazami Yuuka sat down quite naturally opposite Bai Jie and said with a smile, "Interested in having a private chat? We're kindred spirits."

Reaching out to stop Hoshiguma from speaking, Bai Jie smiled and said, "My friends all say you're a dangerous person. They wouldn't feel comfortable talking to you alone. Is it alright to talk like this?"

“Danger? Hehehe…” Kazami Yuuka laughed, a refreshing laugh as if she had heard a joke. “If we’re talking about danger, you and I are about equal.”

Upon hearing what Kazami Yuuka said, Bai Jie felt a brief ripple in his heart, but then he saw through the essence of her words from her red eyes.

What manifested in Yuuka Kazami's eyes was something called madness.

(So ​​that's how it is. You're a beast who's lost its mind too, Yuuka Kazami.)

Bai Jie finally understood what Kazami Yuuka meant. She was right. In a sense, Bai Jie and she were the same kind of people.

—Both of them are beasts.

With a slight smile, Bai Jie said, "Everyone, you can all go out first. I want to have a private chat with Kazami Yuuka for a while."

SilverAsh and the others thought they might have misheard. How could Whitebeard say he wanted to be alone with Yuuka Kazami?

"Doctor, are you serious?" Hoshiguma asked with a serious expression. "She's a monster far more terrifying than Yukari Yakumo. Are you sure you want to be alone with her?"

“My ally, this is not the time for fooling around.” SilverAsh frowned.

"Don't worry, everyone, even if we really fight, I don't think I'll lose... probably."

Bai Jie laughed and said this, and then endless black mud flowed out of his sleeves, like black blood, instantly spreading throughout the entire reception room. After occupying the floor, the black mud climbed up the walls and finally covered the entire ceiling.

At this moment, only Bai Jie and Kazami Yuuka remained in the reception room.

Glancing at the reception room shrouded in black mud, Kazami Yuuka said meaningfully, "That's a rather novel method, quite similar to the abilities of that old hag, Yakumo Yukari."

"They may look similar, but they are completely different things in essence."

In the twelve years since the Honkai World became the evil of humanity, Bai Jie, who had some free time, spent his days with Chen Zao and his little man, and also conducted further research on his father’s abilities. For example, he discovered that the black mud with a physical body was actually classified as an imaginary number!

The interior of the black mud can also be regarded as a subspace with a very high degree of similarity to the imaginary space.

"In this space, neither sound nor vibration can affect the outside, and people outside cannot see inside. This fits your definition of a 'two-person space'."

Bai Jie crossed his hands and propped up his chin.

"So, can we get to the point now? What is it that you came all the way to Rhodes Island and insisted on talking to me alone?"

“That’s true.” Yuuka Kazami said as she took something out from behind her.

It was a gleaming golden cup, radiating an immense, breathtaking magic and an awe-inspiring sense of sacredness.

Bai Jie was too familiar with this thing, after all, he had seen it with his own eyes.

"The Holy Grail..."

“So you knew about it, that makes things easier,” Yuuka Kazami said. “A few days ago, I found this broken cup in my flower field. I kept it because I thought it was quite nice to look at, but its light seems to be uncontrollable. It’s so bright every night that I can’t fall asleep.”

“I was going to throw it away, but I sensed a similar aura about you to this cup, so I wondered if it might be yours.”

Upon hearing Yuuka Kazami's words, Bai Jie was momentarily stunned: "Uh... you're actually the kind of person who returns things? My friends all say you're hard to get along with."

"The sunflowers are blooming beautifully lately, and I'm in a good mood. Plus, I wanted to take a rare walk outside." Yuuka Kazami smiled. "I'll leave your things here; make yourself at home."

"But...this cup isn't mine."

"Whose cup it is is none of my business. I'm just here to give you this cup."

P.S.: I'm experiencing writer's block. Honestly, I've been sitting in front of the computer for four hours and haven't written a single thing.