"Chicken Coop Head! Look at this Gothic Lolita style dress. If this guy's face were a bit younger, with some makeup and a wig, he'd definitely be very photogenic!"
"Hmm, this photo isn't bad either. A maid outfit, a teacher's outfit, these are all fine. Really, why didn't you change into a swimsuit? I specifically picked one with a swim skirt for you."
"No! Never! I have my limits! Even if I agree to wear women's clothing, I will absolutely not wear a skirt!"
What was supposed to be Inaba Tsukiyo's punishment, Tesla and Einstein seemed to get addicted while picking clothes for Welt, pulling out all sorts of outfits for Welt to try on.
At first, Welt was, of course, extremely unwilling, but under Inaba Tsukiyo's slight (threatening) smile, Welt humiliatingly put on women's clothing.
Although there were some less-than-ideal aspects, as long as he put on over-the-knee socks, some of the more 'eye-searing' parts could be covered up.
Plus, the mall thoughtfully sold wigs, making this photoshoot trip not so boring.
Tesla and Einstein, who had always been immersed in experiments, seemed to have awakened something, causing Welt great pain, and he eventually gave up struggling.
Now, Welt, Tesla, and Einstein came to Inaba Tsukiyo's gathering place, where they were organizing the photos they had just taken, occasionally bursting into laughter.
As for Welt, the person in question, he looked as if his body had been hollowed out, sprawled on the living room sofa, with a completely burnt-out expression.
"I'm sorry, Teacher Welt. I think I made you lose something very important."
Inaba Tsukiyo stood beside Welt, looking at Welt, who was exuding the aura of a salted fish, and said with three parts apology and seven parts schadenfreude.
"Heh heh~ Whatever, it doesn't matter anymore. The moment the first photo was taken, I knew I couldn't escape. Since I can't avoid it, why should I resist?"
Welt chuckled. As the saying goes, if you can't resist, then learn to enjoy it.
Of course, enjoyment was out of the question. Anyway, this was just this one time. Next time, even if it meant death! Welt would absolutely not wear women's clothing!
"But I'm curious, Classmate Inaba. Who exactly is Tratt, whom you've been mentioning since earlier? We don't have anyone by that name here."
"Eh? No? But the last time I met Tratt, she told me her name was Nicholas Tratt."
Facing Welt's question, Inaba Tsukiyo recounted the story of her first meeting with Tesla.
Tesla, who was originally talking with Einstein, suddenly fell silent, large drops of sweat continuously sliding down her face.
She could feel several gazes focusing on her as Inaba Tsukiyo recounted what happened that night.
"Alright, I understand, Classmate Inaba. Since it's come to this, I'll tell you the truth. Actually, the 'Nicholas Tratt' thing was a lie. Her real name is Frederica Nikola Tesla."
"..."
Inaba Tsukiyo was silent for a moment, her gaze slowly turning to Tesla.
In Tesla's sight, Inaba Tsukiyo's face completely darkened, leaving only her crimson pupils slowly opening, while the mikazuki munechika in her hand was slowly being drawn.
"Is that so? So... so you were lying to me from the very beginning? Yes, at that time, when the academy was invaded by Anti-Entropy, how could you, appearing in the bushes, be from the academy? Tratt... so your name is Tesla."
"Wait! Wait! Let me explain! Tsukiyo! I can explain it clearly, please listen to me!"
Well, seeing Inaba Tsukiyo drawing her sword, Tesla completely panicked.
She turned to ask Einstein for help, but Einstein had, at some point, gone to Yae Sakura and was calmly drinking the tea Yae Sakura had brewed for her.
Not only Einstein, but even Welt, who was lying on the sofa, merely glanced over, then turned away, not looking at the scene.
'A bunch of traitors!'
These guys, do they know why she had to lie about her name? Wasn't it to prevent her information from being leaked?
Who knew she would tell Inaba Tsukiyo her identity later? What should she do about this? What on earth should she do?
"Clearly... clearly, I finally made a friend I could talk to about anything. It should have been a happy thing? Why did it turn out like this?"
"I... I know I was wrong. This is all my fault, please don't be like this, Tsukiyo. Even if I did lie to you before, we can still be good friends, can't we? Not as Nicholas Tratt, but as Frederica Nikola Tesla. Calm down, okay? I came to meet you this time, not to argue."
"..."
Tesla had already said so much; not giving her face now would be a bit too much.
Moreover, she already knew the name Tratt was fake; she just deliberately didn't say it so she could seize the opportunity now.
"Then, what is your reason for coming to see me this time? Miss Tesla, a member of Anti-Entropy."
"From Tratt to Miss Tesla?"
Tesla said softly. Although she knew Inaba Tsukiyo was angry, hearing Inaba Tsukiyo's clearly more distant address made Tesla feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Actually, the reason I came to see you this time is to invite you to join Anti-Entropy. After all, you have already left Schicksal, and you have people you want to protect. In that case, why not join us? How about we resist Schicksal together?"
"Anti-Entropy... Cocolia that woman is there, right?"
Kiana told her yesterday that even if she planned to join Anti-Entropy, she absolutely must not show any inclination to join at first.
It's best to express resistance first, then she might gain some useful advantages.
"Uh... yes. Cocolia is also one of Anti-Entropy's executives."
"Is that so? Then your Anti-Entropy also conducts human experiments, just like Schicksal, right?"
Yes, human experiments. Inaba Tsukiyo, having stayed at Cocolia Orphanage, knew very well what Anti-Entropy was doing.
Just like the old doctor who escaped from Schicksal, her Granddaughter died after a failed fusion with the gem of serenity.
Cocolia of Anti-Entropy was also conducting human experiments, and it was under the banner of saving humanity.
"...It seems you learned about Cocolia's experiments when you were at Cocolia Orphanage. However, that is the approach of the Reform Faction; it's different from our Conservative Faction. Anti-Entropy's aim is to eliminate Honkai while not harming humanity itself. But the Reform Faction believes such an ideology is too outdated and detrimental to Anti-Entropy's development."
"So, what the Conservative Faction, which is us, has been doing, is researching titans driven by Honkai Energy. Our ideology is different from Schicksal's. As long as you join us, we can change this situation. Moreover, we can also provide a safe residence. After all, you have people around you who need protection, don't you?"
After speaking, Tesla nervously looked at Inaba Tsukiyo, and Einstein and Welt also quietly watched her.
How to answer? Inaba Tsukiyo actually already had the answer.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chatted with Tesla and them for so long here, and even brought them to her temporary residence.
"As a scientist, you have a very good way with words. Tra... no, Miss Tesla. Did you rehearse before meeting me?"
"How did you..."
Tesla's eyes widened. On her way to Changkong City, she had indeed simulated many persuasive arguments for Inaba Tsukiyo.
This was just one set of arguments in her imagination, but in her simulations, such a conversation had never occurred. This made Tesla stunned. How did Inaba Tsukiyo know?
"Heh heh~ I was just asking, I didn't expect you actually did something like that, Miss Tesla. However, you are right, we do need a safe residence now. Anti-Entropy, being opposed to Schicksal, is indeed the best place. And..."
Inaba Tsukiyo opened her eyes, remembering Seele and Bronya. She still wanted to meet Cocolia.
She intended to ask Cocolia about her attitude towards Seele and Bronya: were they truly her daughters, or merely experimental subjects?
"Then... then you agree to join Anti-Entropy?"
"Well, this seems like the best method. After all, we're practically homeless now, so if you're willing to let us join, it's not impossible."
Receiving the desired answer, Tesla excitedly looked at Einstein. She hadn't expected to convince Inaba Tsukiyo so easily.
Einstein nodded, signaling Tesla not to get too excited. Welt, who had been lying on the sofa, sat up, his unfocused gaze becoming firm as he stared directly at Inaba Tsukiyo.
"While I'm glad you're willing to join Anti-Entropy, before that, there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
"Can you tell me, are you... a Herrscher?"
According to known information, only the First Herrscher, Second Herrscher, and Third Herrscher had appeared; there was no information about any other Herrschers.
Yet, the strength Inaba Tsukiyo displayed was far beyond what a human should possess. The only thing Welt could think of was a Herrscher, and an unknown one at that.
"A Herrscher? To some extent, I could be considered a Herrscher, but I also can't be considered a Herrscher."
She indeed possessed a Herrscher personality, but that was just a personality; her primary identity was still human, and this would absolutely not change.
This ambiguous answer caused Welt's eyes to narrow slightly. Although he didn't get the answer he wanted, it allowed the conversation to continue.
"Then... tell me, are you on the side of humanity or the side of the will of honkai?"
Anti-Entropy's founder, Welt Joyce, was the First Herrscher. Although he was a Herrscher, he ultimately sacrificed his life to protect humanity.
Welt inherited Welt Joyce's will to live, carrying on his resolve to fight for the protection of humanity.
Welt needed to know whether Inaba Tsukiyo would choose humanity, like the First Herrscher Welt Joyce, or choose to destroy humanity, like the Second Herrscher Sirin.
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