Collapse, harem after the end of the world

"Besides, I also plan to go find the captain together. If I deceive you, you should be able to find out soon." Rita deliberately emphasized her determination and sincerity.

Faced with Rita's words, everyone looked at each other and realized that now they had no choice but to believe Rita. Rita's performance forced them to reconsider their judgment. Perhaps Rita really came here to find Adam.

Finally, Dr. Ein broke the silence, his voice filled with a hint of firmness and determination: "Okay, we believe you. But if you dare to betray us in any way, we will definitely not show mercy!"

Rita smiled and nodded. She knew that she still needed time to win everyone's trust, but at least now they began to believe her.

"So, what should we do now?" Mei asked, her voice revealing her anticipation for the next plan.

"First of all, let's check everyone's memories. If the captain really went to another time and space, he would probably leave some traces in your memories." Rita's voice echoed in the air, attracting everyone's attention.

After hearing Rita's words, everyone began to fall into deep thought. They tried to recall their past memories and look for clues related to Adam. They searched their minds, hoping to find some key fragments.

However, despite searching for a long time, they still couldn't find any trace of Adam. A trace of confusion and helplessness gradually emerged on everyone's faces, as if shrouded by an invisible fog.

At this moment, a flash of inspiration appeared between Kiana's brows. She suddenly seemed to have thought of something and showed an expression of disbelief.

"How is it? Have you found out where the captain is?" Mei asked anxiously, hoping Kiana could bring some good news.

Kiana pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Well, that's right, but why at that time?"

When everyone heard Kiana's answer, they couldn't help but exchange puzzled glances with each other. They didn't understand why Kiana reacted like that, and they didn't know what she had suddenly thought of.

"What time period is it?" Bronya asked Kiana.

Kiana's eyes were filled with mixed emotions as she slowly said, "Yes, before the third collapse."

Chapter 615: Mei's miserable life

At Chiba Academy, Mei walked alone toward the cafeteria. Her youthful glory seemed a faint memory, while the gazes around her now felt cold and piercing. The classmates who once admired her now sneered, loathed, and scorned her, treating her like a ridiculous clown.

She silently endured these gazes, but felt endless pain in her heart. She had once been the beloved eldest daughter of the school, the center of attention, but now she was the target of everyone's criticism. All these changes made her feel helpless, but unable to resist.

Walking along the campus corridor, Mei felt a chill in the air. The once bustling atmosphere had become gloomy and heavy, as if the entire academy were enveloped in a chill. She searched for a glimmer of warmth, but all she saw was the cold stares of those around her. They avoided her, as if she were a forbidden piece of land, destined to be abandoned.

Mei tried her best to maintain a calm expression, facing all the injustice and ridicule. She took a deep breath, but felt the pain in her heart deepen. She had once proudly displayed her talent and charm, but now she could only endure this pain in silence.

Her steps gradually became heavy, as if each step had to bear the weight of the world. She thought of the glory of the past, those warm days seemed to have just happened, but now they have become a distant dream.

Mei walked into the cafeteria, and everyone's gaze followed her. Laughter and disgust filled the air like a poisonous fog. Her heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife, but she maintained a strong face. She didn't want them to see her vulnerability, even though her heart was already broken.

Mei quietly found a corner and sat down, her eyes fixed on the small lunch box. Though ordinary, it was one of her most precious possessions. It was filled with her own homemade bento, simple and unpretentious, like the last bit of warmth in her life.

After her father was falsely imprisoned, Mei's life changed dramatically. Her former luxury vanished overnight, replaced by the crushing weight of debt. Forced to give up expensive luxuries and the material comforts she once prided herself on, she now relies on her own simple bento boxes to feed herself.

Mei gently picked up her chopsticks and gazed at the food in her bento. Despite its simplicity, it embodied her passion for life and her perseverance. She had put so much thought into perfecting each dish, never letting her appetite diminish. She understood that only by maintaining good health could she face the challenges ahead.

Mei gazed at the food and felt a surge of warmth. This ordinary bento not only represented her perseverance in life, but also her care for herself. She no longer relied on the opinions and approval of others, but learned to satisfy herself from within.

She took a careful bite. The flavor of the bento was simple yet delicious, like a savory taste of life. Despite the indifference and ridicule surrounding her, Mei's heart grew stronger. She knew that even if abandoned, she still had her dignity and value.

Mei slowly savored her simple lunch, feeling a surge of inner strength. She told herself that even if the world turned its back on her, she could still keep moving forward. Although her current life was filled with hardship and struggle, she believed that as long as she maintained her inner strength and courage, she would eventually emerge from the darkness and embrace a new dawn.

However, just as Mei was about to continue enjoying the remaining food, something went against her wishes once again.

"Hey, isn't this our famous Miss Raiden Mei? Why are you eating this kind of poor, junk food here?" Just then, several gorgeously dressed female students approached Mei, their eyes almost overflowing with arrogance.

Mei looked at the people in front of her coldly. They had always been at odds with Mei, but after Mei's family fell into trouble, they started to get even more aggressive.

Now that several people are looking for me, it’s definitely not a good thing.

Mei endured it silently at this moment, not wanting to have any conflict with these people. But it was obvious that these people would not let Mei off easily.

"Haha, it seems that you have really become poor, Mei." The leading female student laughed, her eyes full of pride and contempt.

Mei gritted her teeth, not wanting to let herself get bogged down in the emotional quagmire. She knew the most important thing now was to protect her dignity and self-confidence, and not let their words hurt her anymore.

"What I eat is my business and has nothing to do with you." Mei replied coldly.

"Hmph, you look so miserable now, and you still dare to be stubborn? We are the big names on campus, and you are just a has-been young lady." One of the female students said provocatively.

Mei clenched her hands into fists, she could feel the anger burning in her chest, but she resisted the urge. She knew that if she clashed with these people, she would only get herself into a more difficult situation.

"What do you want?" Mei asked calmly. She decided to put her emotions aside for the time being and see what these people really wanted.

The leading female student smiled proudly, raised her head, and looked even more arrogant.

"We want you to drop out and leave this school," she said sarcastically.

Mei frowned slightly. She knew that these people had always been dissatisfied with her, but she didn't expect them to be so cruel.

"Why?" Mei asked, a hint of helplessness in her voice.

"Because the way you look now no longer represents the style of our school. Your poverty and humbleness disgust us." The leading female student laughed.

Mei's heart was sharply stabbed, and she felt her dignity was trampled upon.

But now she doesn't have the courage to resist these people.

Just as they said, Mei now has nothing.

Mei silently stood up and left the cafeteria, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. She walked around the crowded school and came to a corner, deserted and desolate. Weeds grew thickly, insects buzzed, but Mei paid no attention. She slowly wiped the stool dry and carefully sat down.

The sky above her head was gloomy and powerless, as if echoing Mei's current mood. She stared at the sky quietly, her eyes filled with helplessness and anger.

"Father, what should I do now?" Mei whispered to herself, her voice carried away by the wind, unable to be heard. Memories flooded back, and she thought of everything that had happened at school, a flame ignited in her heart.

However, Mei's hand soon hit down again. What could she do now?

Just when Mei felt that her heart was dead, she heard a slight noise around her?

"Is there anyone over there?" After hearing the noise, Mei walked over curiously. However, at this moment, a person suddenly jumped out from the bushes, scaring Mei.

"Huh, finally got in." Adam said after wiping the sweat from his forehead.

However, at this moment, his eyes met Mei, who was sitting on the ground in fear.

"Ah, I found it." Adam said to Mei with a little surprise.

Chapter 616: Mei and Adam

After finishing his housework in the morning, Adam decided to sneak into Senba Academy today to find out more about Mei's recent situation at school.

Adam stood at the entrance to Qianyu Academy, facing a tall iron gate inlaid with delicate patterns, appearing solemn and elegant. The iron fence in front of the gate was lined with sturdy iron pillars, as if proclaiming the academy's noble status. Adam stared at the door, but a trace of hesitation arose in his heart.

As a private academy for aristocratic women, Qianyu Academy's faculty and students were all women. Adam took a deep breath, trying to conceal his inner uneasiness. He knew that entering the academy openly would be impossible. Furthermore, nearly every inch of the campus was under surveillance. Adam scanned the surroundings and spotted a hidden entrance in a lush garden near the academy.

Although it was a garden, it was quite secluded. It was a place where few people would be. The grass was nearly half a person's height, and there were walls around it that were about four or five meters high. It was practically impossible for an average person to get in. But Adam was no ordinary person.

Facing such a high wall, Adam simply leaped lightly and easily entered the school. He effortlessly crossed the wall, making almost no sound. In stark contrast to the quiet outside, upon entering the academy, Adam immediately felt a vibrant atmosphere.

He quietly advanced along the garden path, avoiding any patrols. This garden was the most secluded area within the academy, rarely visited except by a few gardeners. Adam carefully hid behind a dense bush, observing the situation ahead.

He noticed an exquisite pavilion at the far end of the garden, adorned with a vibrant array of flowers, a scene reminiscent of a sea of blossoms. Adam's mind flickered as he realized his goal: to find out about Mei's recent situation. He knew Mei loved flowers and plants and frequented this spot. Perhaps she was in that pavilion right now.

Just as Adam was about to move on, he suddenly sensed someone's presence. He stopped and looked around warily. When he poked his head out from the bushes, he was startled by what he saw.

Lying on the ground was Mei, looking a little flustered, as if she had encountered some danger. Adam's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected that the first thing he would do upon arriving at the academy would be to find Mei. He quickly approached Mei and said with a look of surprise, "Ah, I found her."

Mei looked at Adam, her eyes still filled with panic and confusion. She clutched her chest tightly, seemingly still recovering from the shock. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Her voice trembled, revealing her doubts and wariness of Adam.

Adam smiled slightly. He understood Mei's reaction. After all, he had suddenly appeared before her as a stranger. Anyone in that situation would have felt intimidated and wary. "Well, I said I was here to mow the garden. Do you believe me?" Adam replied after thinking for a few seconds.

Mei's eyes widened after hearing Adam's explanation, and she blurted out, "If you believe it, there's a problem!" She clearly didn't trust Adam's explanation. Why would someone who claimed to be mowing the garden deliberately hide in the grass? This made Mei very suspicious.

Adam smiled wryly and rubbed the back of his head. He knew his explanation was a bit far-fetched, but he couldn't tell Mei her true purpose. After all, he was here to check on Mei's recent situation at school, and he couldn't let Mei know his true purpose. "It was just a coincidence. I saw you outside and thought I'd come over to say hello," Adam tried to explain.

However, Mei still maintained a doubtful expression, and the vigilance in her eyes made Adam feel helpless. Adam knew that his explanation would not convince Mei, after all, his actions were not what a good person would do.

Adam looked at Mei's eyes, desperate for help, and shook his head. He hadn't wanted to resort to such harsh measures, but now it seemed Mei wouldn't listen to his explanations. At the moment Mei was about to call for help, Adam resolutely reached out and tightly grasped Mei's neck.

Mei felt suffocated. She looked at Adam in horror, but couldn't make a sound. Adam said to Mei in a murderous tone, "Don't make a noise. I've already told you, I have no ill will towards anyone else in this school. You're the only one I'm here for. If you understand, just nod your head."

Under Adam's stern grip, Mei could only nod with a hint of fear. Her instincts told her that the man before her was no match for her. Who was he? Why was he trying to kill her? Was he her father's enemy? Or someone else?

Adam sensed Mei's helplessness and confusion, and he loosened his grip, letting go of her neck. Mei fell to the ground, gasping for breath, staring at Adam with fear in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Who are you? Why are you looking for me?"

Seeing Mei's terrified expression, Adam was momentarily dazed. In Adam's memory, Mei in the future had always been strong, decisive, and elegant. He had never seen her so weak. Mei's behavior reminded Adam that the current Mei was just a young lady who had never experienced anything.

Adam felt heartbroken. He understood that Mei's emotions stemmed from a deep fear of the unknown and her own dread. He gently approached Mei and stroked her hair, trying to offer her some comfort. Adam's fingers softly combed through Mei's long hair, as if washing away her worries.

"As for me, I'm just a friend of your father. I came here just to see how you're doing lately. I didn't expect to encounter something like this." Adam thought for a while and then said this to Mei.

"Father's friend?" Mei's eyes suddenly froze after hearing Adam's words.

Tears continued to fall from Mei's eyes as Adam looked at her in astonishment. Her lips trembled, and her voice was filled with sadness and uneasiness: "Are you...are you my father's friend? Where is he now?"

At this time, Adam did not expect that Mei would cry after hearing the news about her father.

Is this really the Valkyrie I know?

Chapter 617: Destiny and Anti-Entropy

Mei clutched Adam's clothes tightly, tears streaming down her face. Her emotions were growing agitated. Hearing Adam mention her father, her heart felt like it was on fire. She pleaded with Adam in a trembling voice, "Tell me the truth! Was my father really arrested for something like that?"

Adam looked at Mei before him, and he finally understood the pain she felt deep inside. Compared to the breakdown of her family, the indifference of her classmates, and the injustice she faced at school, Mei's pain was clearly due to her father, Raiden Ryoma, being arrested on charges totaling $34 billion.

Mei's mother died when she was young, and she has lived with her father ever since. Mei firmly believes that her father would never be imprisoned for money.

"So, what is the truth?"

Mei asked Adam with a trembling voice.

"Are you sure you want to know the truth? Even if it will bring you endless pain?"

Adam looked at Mei seriously, but what greeted him was Mei's firm gaze.

"Okay, I'll tell you. The so-called truth is just as you know. Your father, Raiden Ryoma, wasn't sentenced to prison for something as trivial as defrauding money."

Hearing Adam's affirmative answer, Mei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. However, when she heard Adam say that swindling $3.4 billion was just a small matter, Mei couldn't help but feel a little concerned. Could such a large sum of money be considered a small matter in the eyes of this man?

"Perhaps you don't know, but in fact, the vast majority of countries and forces in this world are controlled by two organizations. One is called Destiny, and the other is Anti-Entropy. And your father is a member of Anti-Entropy."

"Anti-entropy? Destiny? What exactly is it?" Mei felt her mind beginning to collapse. To her, it was an unbelievable story that these two organizations could actually control the fate of other countries.

"Compared to the Mandate of Heaven, which controls most of Europe, Asia is essentially ruled by Anti-Entropy. Furthermore, the two organizations have always been in a state of hostility. Many famous scientists in history, such as Einstein, Tesla, and Edison, were once members of Anti-Entropy. The wealth controlled by Anti-Entropy is unimaginable. That's why I said that a mere $3.4 billion is nothing to them."

"If that's the case, why would my father join such an organization?" Mei continued to ask.

"As for why Thunder Ryoma joined this organization, I don't know. But your father was imprisoned precisely because he was associated with this organization."

"You mean, my father was framed by Anti-Entropy?" Mei said emotionally.

"To be precise, he was framed by Cocolia, the current ruling faction of Anti-Entropy. Ever since the disappearance of its leader, Anti-Entropy has split into two factions. One is the reformists, represented by Cocolia, and the other is the conservatives, led by two renowned scientists. However, Cocolia is currently trying to seize actual control of Anti-Entropy, and your father, Raiden Ryoma, is a member of the conservative faction. Unfortunately, he was framed by Cocolia."

Mei's eyes were filled with unbearable disappointment and anger. She had always considered her father her hero, an upright and noble man. But now, this terrible truth had completely shattered her world.

"Why? Why did this happen? Why was father dragged into this power struggle?" Mei's voice trembled, and her fingers tightly grasped Adam's sleeves, as if seeking a little comfort and support.

Adam sighed deeply. He could feel the pain and confusion in Mei's heart. He knew that for Mei, who had always been protected by her father's love, this blow was too great.

"Mei, I know this truth is hard for you to accept, but you must face reality. Anti-Entropy is a powerful and mysterious organization that has been secretly manipulating the direction of the world. And your father, as a member of the conservative faction, has been fighting against the Cocolia faction."

Mei was dazed. She looked into Adam's eyes again, trying to find some clue. Countless questions raced through her mind, and she didn't know whether to trust Adam or doubt him. How could this strange man know so much about Anti-Entropy and Destiny? Could he be one of them?

"You know my father so well, are you also a member of Anti-Entropy?" Mei's tone revealed a hint of vigilance when she answered Adam's question.

Adam shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "No, I'm not a member of Anti-Entropy," he answered firmly, then added, "If I had to say, I should be on the side of Destiny, right?"

After hearing Adam's explanation, Mei's mind was filled with questions. She couldn't help but doubt Adam's true identity. If Adam wasn't a member of Anti-Entropy, how did he know so much about her father?

Adam looked at Mei's puzzled expression and understood her confusion. He knew he had to explain it clearly, otherwise Mei wouldn't believe him.

But in fact, Adam didn't know Raiden Ryoma at all. All the things he knew were told to him by Mei and Dr. Ein from the future.

In his time, Thunder Dragon Horse had already died.

"Okay, I know you still have a lot to ask me, but you should be going to class soon." Adam looked at Mei, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety. He knew Mei needed time to accept this cruel truth, but now was not the time to discuss it.

Mei looked up at the clock on the wall and realized it was already afternoon class time. She felt dazed, as if everything had just been a dream. However, Adam and everything that had just happened were so real that she couldn't deny it.

"But..." Mei tried to speak again, but Adam immediately interrupted her.

"Don't worry, we'll meet again." Adam's voice was filled with relief. "Here's my contact information. Just come find me here." He handed Mei a piece of paper covered in numbers and letters.

Mei took the paper, held it tightly, and felt the warmth on it. She knew that this was her only chance to meet Adam again and the key to finding the truth.

Adam looked at Mei's expression and knew she needed time to process her emotions. He took a deep breath, then leaped over the school wall and disappeared into the street.