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Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: The Arrival of Cocolia

Anti-Entropy's base is in the Americas, unlike Schicksal's headquarters in Europe. Anti-Entropy's headquarters are very secretive, and even Schicksal cannot accurately locate its exact position.

Moreover, Anti-Entropy is a super-large organization formed by countless enterprises and organizations, most of whom don't even know they are working for Anti-Entropy.

It is precisely for this reason that Anti-Entropy is extremely well-hidden. Even if Schicksal tries to eliminate Anti-Entropy, each time it only eliminates a small branch.

Inaba Tsukiyo arrived at Anti-Entropy headquarters under the guidance of Tesla and Einstein, in the capacity of a captured Valkyrie from Schicksal.

As for Welt, he had no intention of returning to Anti-Entropy, instead planning to remain undercover at St. Freya Academy to continue his teaching duties.

Although he no longer needed to worry about his body, he could also obtain some information about Schicksal at St. Freya Academy, and most importantly, understand Theresa's upcoming preparations.

Inaba Tsukiyo, having arrived at Anti-Entropy, stayed in her room for several days, as if in an observation period, leisurely passing her time there.

Besides her, even Kiana and Yae Sakura stayed in different rooms. Although Higanbana's ability could instantly hack the doors of these rooms.

It was better not to court death, after all, this was not a job interview where you could hack the company's system in front of its senior executives and still become an employee.

Although she didn't know how many more days she would be confined, Einstein and Tesla must already be working to get her and the others out of their rooms as soon as possible.

Just as Inaba Tsukiyo was still sitting in her room, staring blankly like a statue and chatting with the Herrscher personality inside her, the room door opened.

A tall woman wearing a military overcoat entered Inaba Tsukiyo's room.

Her eyes immediately fell upon Inaba Tsukiyo, who was sitting on the bed, and a complex emotion flickered in her gaze as she walked towards Inaba Tsukiyo.

Just as she was about to reach Inaba Tsukiyo, the woman suddenly stopped, her body stiffening as she saw Inaba Tsukiyo suddenly standing before her.

One moment she was sitting on the bed, and in less than a blink of an eye, she was standing in front of her, an index finger pressed against her throat.

"I thought it would take you a while longer to come see me. I didn't expect you to be so impatient, Cocolia."

The woman who had suddenly entered her room was Cocolia, the one who had caused Seele to become quantumized and to be in her current state.

"You don't seem to welcome me, Tsukiyo. Actually, I was quite surprised when I learned you wanted to join Anti-Entropy, but this means we can reach a consensus..."

"I will never reach a consensus with you, Cocolia. When I arrived, I already learned about the internal situation of your Anti-Entropy from Tesla, one of the executives of the Reform Faction. I am on Tesla's side, a member of the Conservative Faction. I will never be a subordinate to a witch like you who experiments on her own children."

"Oh, I forgot. Those girls have no blood relation to you. Your purpose in adopting them was simply to use them for your experiments. Wasn't it? Did the experimental data from Seele and Bronya help you research a lot about quantumization? Did it help you save more people?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. The large-scale Honkai in Changkong City was caused by you, the mastermind behind the deaths of millions in Changkong City, Cocolia! Tell me! What exactly have you done to save this world!"

Regarding Cocolia, Inaba Tsukiyo could find almost nothing that would make her feel any goodwill towards Cocolia.

Although she didn't care about the deaths of those people in Changkong City, she was disgusted by Cocolia's sanctimonious attitude.

"You... in the end, are nothing more than a part of humanity, and the most disgusting kind at that."

Cocolia did not refute Inaba Tsukiyo's words from beginning to end. Even as Inaba Tsukiyo's index finger drew blood from her neck, her eyes showed no change.

She had been listening to Inaba Tsukiyo's confession, much like a parent listening to their child.

"Why aren't you speaking? Convince me with your theories. Apply your theories to Changkong City and the failed large-scale Honkai outbreak in Russia. Aren't you usually so eloquent? Why are you silent now?"

"...Because I know my words can't convince you. I know you blame me. You blame me for Seele's death, for Bronya losing her legs, for her losing a part of her brain, for her losing the ability to smile."

Cocolia sighed. Unlike when she faced other Anti-Entropy members, she couldn't maintain her facade when facing Inaba Tsukiyo.

Before she arrived, Cocolia had already ordered Anti-Entropy personnel to turn off the surveillance of Inaba Tsukiyo and forbade them from monitoring her again.

Although they didn't know why Cocolia gave such an order, the Anti-Entropy members still carried it out.

Otherwise, Inaba Tsukiyo's act of pressing her index finger against Cocolia's neck would have already brought Anti-Entropy security guards here.

There were no other subordinates here, and she didn't need to maintain her image as a strong woman. Her purpose in coming here was simply to have a good talk with Inaba Tsukiyo.

If the intelligence from Anti-Entropy's spies was correct, and if that video was indeed sent by Inaba Tsukiyo, then Inaba Tsukiyo... might truly be connected to her.

Recalling the long purple-haired figure in the video, Cocolia's pupils flickered.

"...Are you saying you want me to thank you for Bronya surviving?"

"No, I just... I just don't want you to blame me. Perhaps in your eyes, I am the murderer who caused millions of deaths. But my goal has always been only one: to eradicate Honkai."

"To complete the moonlight throne, I must obtain the power of a Herrscher. I must obtain a herrscher core."

As long as the moonlight throne could be realized, as long as it could be driven, then humanity could conquer Honkai.

Inaba Tsukiyo didn't know what the moonlight throne Cocolia spoke of was, and she had no interest in knowing.

She opened her eyes, gave Cocolia a cold glance, then turned and went back to sit on the bed.

"Leave. This is Anti-Entropy territory. If you, an Executor, were found dead in my room, it would be a huge problem. I don't want you to be hunted by both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal. Please leave."

If Sirin's consciousness hadn't stopped her, Inaba Tsukiyo would have probably made a move.

Sirin would usually obey Inaba Tsukiyo's commands in everything, but Sirin didn't want to see Inaba Tsukiyo harm Cocolia.

However, Sirin also had no intention of forgiving Cocolia. During the time she needed Cocolia the most, Cocolia wasn't there.

Her adoptive mother, who had taken care of her, had been dead for so long, yet Cocolia's figure was never seen. Cocolia didn't appear until Schicksal personnel took her to Babylon Laboratory.

Cocolia looked at Inaba Tsukiyo with some surprise. She touched her neck, which had just been poked by an index finger, and found that the skin wasn't even broken, only slightly red.

Then, Cocolia realized the reason for Inaba Tsukiyo's change, and couldn't help but smile. Instead of leaving the room as Inaba Tsukiyo had said, she stood up and walked over to Inaba Tsukiyo.

"You, you weren't supposed to..."

Feeling Cocolia sit beside her, Inaba Tsukiyo was about to get angry when she felt herself being embraced.

The person who suddenly hugged her was Cocolia.

Inaba Tsukiyo had not expected Cocolia to hug her. Her mind seemed to short-circuit, and her previous anger vanished instantly.

She even had a fleeting thought of not wanting to leave, but she quickly cast it aside.

She easily pushed Cocolia away. Cocolia probably anticipated Inaba Tsukiyo's struggle, so she hadn't used much strength in her embrace.

"You, you're being a bit too presumptuous, aren't you? Do you think that during my time at Cocolia Orphanage, I regarded you as a mother like everyone else?"

"I know. Your behavior at Cocolia Orphanage has always been observed by me. Besides Seele and Bronya, you don't care about anything else. You only care about the people you care about. However, can you tell me..."

"Those videos, did you upload them?"

Cocolia looked at Inaba Tsukiyo. This time, even if Inaba Tsukiyo held a weapon to her neck, she wouldn't leave.

Ever since that video was uploaded, Cocolia had been constantly searching for the uploader.

If... if her guess was correct, then Inaba Tsukiyo... Inaba Tsukiyo could let her see her daughter who had died fourteen years ago.

Inaba Tsukiyo also fell silent. She knew why Cocolia was asking this question.

"Don't ask me any other unnecessary things. I... won't tell you. Cocolia, Executor of the Reform Faction."

"Then, if I'm willing to give you better treatment than the Conservative Faction, treatment that can fill the familial affection you lack, would you be willing to tell me? Even if... even if it might just be one of the personalities you possess, can you let me see that child?"

"...As expected, you found out, Cocolia. However, do you think I'll thank you for what you've said? Don't you know what you did fourteen years ago?"

Inaba Tsukiyo smiled, her smile mocking, as if scoffing at Cocolia.

Whether it was Cocolia's actions or her past abandonment of Sirin to become an Anti-Entropy Executor.

Even if she entrusted Sirin to relatives, Cocolia didn't appear when Sirin needed her most. This was Cocolia's biggest problem.

Just then, the headquarters' alarm suddenly blared. It wasn't an intrusion alarm, but a Honkai Energy warning.

Cocolia looked up at the ceiling, somewhat confused as to why there was a Honkai Energy warning at this time. Had the base been invaded by Honkai Beasts?

Suddenly, Cocolia felt a terrifying aura. She turned around and found that Inaba Tsukiyo, who had been sitting beside her, had opened her eyes at some point.

But the color of her pupils was neither the usual crimson nor the terrifying azure that she feared.

Instead... they were golden pupils.

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