Humans are in chaos, despicable outsiders.

Enraged by being blatantly ignored, Raiden Mei grabbed Ciora by the collar and shook her violently, creating a wave of waves.

Not long ago, Gray Serpent brought news that Kiana had appeared in Changkong City. In addition to Raven Siola, who was going to Changkong City to take care of and replenish the children's resources, there was also a Third Herrscher who was about to enter the Paradise for training.

"boss?!"

Claudia, who was being held by Raiden Mei and continuously subjected to her sonic attacks, was acting as the World Serpent's tank. She had never encountered such a situation before, and immediately used an even louder voice to call out to Imotek.

"Why are you looking for Kiana now...? Just to cause her trouble?!"

Looking at the two women beside him, each with an even louder voice, Imotek's face twisted into a grimace...

"I...I just want to see her!"

Knowing full well that she had little to say, and even though she might have made a mistake in some trial world, Raiden Mei's voice didn't fall behind in the slightest, perfectly demonstrating the classic argument that whoever shouts loudest is right.

"So? After seeing it, what do I do—just look and not go in?"

However, Imotek, sitting in the very center, wasn't buying it at all. The girl didn't even look up as she flipped through the progress report on the plan transmitted by the jackal, and nodded with some satisfaction.

"Grey Snake, tell the Jackal to continue advancing at the current pace..."

The masked man nodded and fled the scene as if escaping.

"Why are you suddenly silent? What do you want to do after you see Kiana?"

Imotek, who had been engrossed in revising the document, finally looked up after not receiving a response from Raiden Mei for a while.

"..."

"Say something!"

The white-haired girl tapped the desk in front of her with her ballpoint pen, sounding somewhat impatient.

"So you just want to look but not go in?!"

"Yes, I just want to take a look but not go in!"

Before Imotek could finish speaking, Raiden Mei's response floated over as if climbing a pole...

"????"

Imotek, dwelling in the clam shell, looked at Raiden Mei before her and uttered a question that seemed to pierce her very soul—

When you say that... do you even believe it yourself?

"Of course I don't believe it—"

The response was remarkably straightforward, exceeding everyone's expectations...

"...and you--?!"

"But just because I don't believe it doesn't mean you can't!"

"What kind of rogue logic is this???"

With Raiden Mei grabbing her by the collar, Siola stared at the Herrscher of Thunder in front of her, her face full of question marks.

"You two! There are only two ways to fund World Serpent this month—one is for everyone to eat and drink well and for nothing to happen!"

"The other circuit is the entire base's electrical system; all the equipment is under short-circuit maintenance! All of you here will be starving this month!"

"..."

"That's it? Then go ahead and tear the house down!"

Imotek gave a disdainful look and shrugged indifferently.

"Remember to go to Paradise Park for a discount after you're done dismantling it."

She then lowered her head and continued to be engrossed in the approval document, completely absorbed... Knowing that something had occurred to her, Night Owl nudged her with his elbow...

"Sir... our budget this month is not exactly generous... it's even a bit tight."

What happened to the huge sum of money that was transferred from Swiss banks months ago?

Imotek, who had little concept of organizational assets, expenditures, and income, raised an eyebrow and glared at the owl who had reminded him.

"That... sir, the 'Divine Blood' reagent project that you had Jackal promote globally... the expenses were considerable..."

"Although the results were very good... the speed at which money was burned was truly 'burning' money in a physical sense."

Night Owl wiped away his cold sweat, looked down at Raiden Mei who had a confident expression, then turned to look at Imotek who had an unpredictable expression, and began to silently pray that World Serpent's activity budget for this month would survive.

"Tch, there won't be a next time, Raiden Mei—"

Imotek, who had been pursing her lips, finally gave in... but before the Third Herrscher could even show a victorious smile, she was met with a similar kind of annoyance...

"However, you'll have to explain things to Mr. Su and Ms. Himeko Murata yourself—they are the real guides and companions for your trial."

"Those two are probably ready now—"

Imotek, sitting behind his desk, gave him a look that said, "You're still too green to mess with me," and ignored Raiden Mei, who was looking on in shock below.

"Himeko-sensei???! What's she doing at your World Serpent's base?"

.....

"Hey, hey, hey! Let's go. It's just that I missed those two for a few days—they're both pretty easy to talk to, you can just explain it to them and it'll be over... And when are you going to let me go?! I still need to prepare supplies and gifts for the children!"

Hiola slapped Raiden Mei's hand, which was holding her, signaling the latter to let go and not delay her from doing her business.

"Ah...okay—no! Himeko is...."

"Who is that red-haired, alcoholic, older single woman?"

As Siola straightened her clothes after being brought back to the ground, she subconsciously asked Raiden Mei a question after hearing her mutterings—

"Himeko is my teacher???"

"Oh—then good luck to you. Maybe you'll skip class to tell everyone you're going to see your girlfriend or something... Anyway, you figure it out!"

"The transport plane is leaving at 1 PM today, and there's about an hour left. You'd better hurry up and convince your teacher to give you a leave of absence so you can go out and flirt with girls—"

Hiola greeted Mei, who was standing there in a daze, and then disappeared into a corner of the hall... leaving the Third Herrscher alone, conflicted.

"Never mind... I hope Mr. Su is an easy person to talk to... As for Teacher Himeko—bringing up Kiana should make things easier, since she's always been quite concerned about Kiana... I guess?"

Having made her decision, Raiden Mei headed towards Paradise, intending to greet the two people Imotek had mentioned...

Chapter 289 Himeko, Your Dear Big Sister

"It's alright. Since there are things you feel you have to do, then do them... Raiden Mei, everything is impermanent. If you've made up your mind, don't leave yourself with regrets."

Having learned about Raiden Mei's origins, Su was leaning against a Bodhi tree, squinting in meditation. When he heard Raiden Mei's request, he simply nodded without saying anything more, only offering a word of advice.

"That Himeko-sensei...that one who's been drinking and ruining her health?"

Having received a nod from Su, who was the most agreeable person, Raiden Mei glanced at the red-haired Valkyrie gulping down her beer. The innate pressure from the Valkyrie instructor, St. Freya, made Mei, who had already fully accepted the power of the Herrscher, once again place herself in the role of a student.

"Hmm... Ah? This little bit of alcohol won't hurt, it'll be fine—"

Himeko, still clutching the bottle, waved her hand, but ultimately accepted her student's suggestion and put the bottle aside...

"Hmm... Mei's grown up too—"

Himeko put down the wine bottle and carefully examined Raiden Mei in front of her, nodding with some satisfaction.

"Himeko-sensei...."

"Girl, don't set your expectations too high. Great people have their own awareness, and ordinary people have their own lives."

"This has nothing to do with power, nor with status."

Himeko looked at the somewhat subdued Raiden Mei in front of her and waved her hand helplessly.

"None of you kids give me any peace of mind—Raiden Mei, my student, think it over carefully, really think it over, why did you accept the power you've always feared and rejected?"

"What force is driving you forward? My student, think about it carefully—what is it that keeps pushing you forward?"

"Is it a belief, a wish, or simply for one person?"

Himeko Murata looked gently at the student in front of her, waiting for her reply.

"Himeko, I..."

"It's okay... There's nothing to be ashamed of saying it out loud, Mei. You should learn to face your own feelings."

Seemingly noticing the student's predicament, Himeko comforted her, patted her shoulder, and pulled Raiden Mei into her arms.

"If you're too shy to say it loudly, you can tell the teacher quietly—"

"Himeko-sensei... all I want is to see Kiana again. I want her to be smiling happily every day, instead of always frowning and worrying..."

"I understand grand principles like saving the world... but—"

"This won't do, Mei."

As the student poured out his heart, Himeko Murata's smile faded and her expression turned serious.

"Yes, great figures have great ambitions, and small fry have small wishes, but Mei, do you know what? At the end of the battle at Schicksal Headquarters, I saw Kiana's eyes—"

"Those are the eyes of someone with great ideals and beliefs... Without a doubt, I no longer need to worry about this child's future; she has already embarked on her own path."

“I can say with certainty that that child is destined to become a very important person in the future. But Kiana’s growth makes me worry about someone else.”

"That's you, Mei—my student. Have you really adjusted your mindset?"

"Kiana is destined to become a heroic figure, that will never change, Mei."

"If you want to follow her... having this kind of thinking will only push you further away from her, hurting yourself while also hurting her."

Himeko shook her head, looked at the silent girl in front of her, stood up, and ruffled her hair...

“It’s really useless to just talk about it here. Even if you’re trying to comfort someone, they need to agree with you first… So I agree—go to Changkong City and find your Kiana. Let’s have a proper talk.”

"Make her understand you, and make you understand her too—really, she's already such a grown woman, taller than me, how can she still be so petty."

Himeko patted Raiden Mei's shoulder hard, offering her her best wishes for the journey.

"Mei, you have to believe in your bond with her. I won't say anything else, but I remember that girl named Raven said the transport plane is taking off in half an hour?"

Let's get going!

Gently pushing the student, whose expression had softened and was no longer so confused and hesitant, out of the gate leading into the Paradise, Himeko Murata let out a deep sigh—

"I haven't even found a boyfriend myself... and now I have to be a relationship and life counselor for my students? What kind of nonsense is this?!"