Wendy was pulled up by Chen Ran.
"How is it, does it hurt?"
The boy asked with concern: "Do you want some iodine?"
"I don't want that."
Wendy pouted.
Then, she noticed the intimate gesture of the boy pressing her palm, her cheeks slightly flushed as she said, "It's not just me here, there are others watching."
Chen Ran was slightly taken aback: "Others?"
He looked up.
And saw outside the world membrane, Herrscher Sirin opening a spatial passage.
As a Herrscher capable of connecting four-dimensional space and the imaginary realm, the Herrscher of the Void could traverse this place with little effort.
Then, Chen Ran saw three Herrschers descending from the sky.
Raiden Mei, who stabilized her body after jumping down.
And a caterpillar that almost face-planted.
Along with Herrscher Sirin, who looked at him with a complex expression.
After a moment of silence, Chen Ran's first action was to input a Trojan virus into the Babylon Tower, blacking out all surveillance.
Although this was only a temporary fix, the current situation could not be known to Otto immediately.
Otherwise, Otto would fly here and drag them back five hundred years.
"I can understand why Kiana and Sirin are here, but why is Raiden Mei also here?"
Raiden Mei's voice was indifferent: "Because in the future I am in, Kiana is missing."
"Ugh, fine, it's my fault."
Chen Ran sighed and said: "It seems that Herrschers should be a higher-dimensional life form than four-dimensional beings. Even if the flow of time affects the body, it does not affect the consciousness and memory."
After the first simulated scene ended, Wendy still remembered him.
And even before his unilateral decision, Wendy retained her memory of him.
So there was a possibility: although the fate determined by the system could influence the future, even forcibly change it.
Every future that the Herrscher's consciousness participated in would retain the corresponding memories.
Of course, it could also be because Wendy received the favor of a higher-dimensional life form, such as the Will of Honkai.
Every change at the nodes of fate would be fully captured by consciousness.
He did not intend to delve into these matters.
Subject 666 was already conducting experiments related to projecting the future, which might fail or succeed. There was no point in thinking about it.
"However, since you all came here, you must have seen the Babylon Tower."
Chen Ran paused and said: "As you can see, due to some special reasons, I have to assume a corresponding identity in each time I arrive, in order to carry out relevant activities."
"I am searching for a way to counter the Herrscher of Finality, and if this affects your future, I apologize, but I am afraid I cannot change it."
He would apologize for his actions.
But all he could do was apologize.
Speaking of which, this is somewhat like some politicians in the Far East,
Every time something happens, they hold private meetings and refuse to change.
Raiden Mei's eyes flickered with coldness.
"I don't want to hear about the consequences, but you must take responsibility for Kiana."
Among the four people on this trip, perhaps only she was the most devoted to Kiana.
Even Kiana herself had tacitly accepted the current situation. Because she had no confidence that she could equate her life with thirty million others.
Although in the trolley problem, the lives of five children and one child are equal.
Sacrificing the 'minority' to save the 'majority' is criticized and looked down upon.
Kiana had done nothing wrong, so why should she sacrifice?
However, on the other end of the scale of Kiana's life, there were the lives of thirty million people, as well as Cecilia, and the fate of the real Kiana.
In the trolley problem, the comparison of one person to five was a dilemma,
So, is sacrificing one person to save thirty million still a dilemma?
Thus, Kiana hesitated.
Whether due to the absolute disparity in the number of lives or the web of lies she had woven in her real life, Kiana instinctively retreated.
The growth she had undergone had not yet allowed her to accept such a reality.
"Mei."
Before Chen Ran could speak, Kiana spoke first: "Let's forget it, I'm actually fine like this."
"Although I don't have a body, I don't have to worry about tomorrow's exam, and I don't need to fight against Honkai Beasts."
"Stinky old dad has a complete family and a daughter he can be proud of. The real Kiana will also receive more goodwill because of this."
"I'm actually okay."
She forced herself to say that she was indifferent, and before Raiden Mei could say anything, Kiana looked at Chen Ran: "I want to follow you to that era."
"Fifty thousand years ago?"
"Yes."
The girl took a deep breath and said firmly: "My life in this era is a mess, maybe it will be better in that era."
Raiden Mei was slightly stunned.
She could understand Kiana's choice because the cold reality had indeed made Kiana a mess.
But if Kiana wanted to go fifty thousand years ago, what should she do?
Her father was still in the present; did she have to abandon everything to rush into the past?
Wendy, who was beside her, also fell into a heavy silence.
She was not familiar with Kiana, but her twisted fate had made her feel a hint of sympathy for Kiana.
Instead, it was Herrscher Sirin who spoke: "What foolish and ignorant humans. Do you naively think that this person will only change time this once?"
"He can manipulate Kiana's fate, and naturally, there will be others."
Herrscher Sirin suddenly revealed a mocking smile: "The moment we appeared here, everyone has already been unable to return☆"
"Whether it is my vessel, my half, or myself."
Herrscher Sirin coldly looked at Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Wendy.
Then, her golden eyes turned to Chen Ran, flashing with complexity: "Fate has already twisted into a mess, tied together with this man☆"
"Unless, you kill him now."
"Impossible!"
As Herrscher Sirin finished her last sentence, Wendy immediately stood in front of Chen Ran: "I absolutely will not allow anyone to harm him."
Although Wendy sympathized with Kiana's fate, when it came to Chen Ran, she naturally would not back down.
"What a dilemma, my half☆"
Despite saying she would take action, Herrscher Sirin had no intention of doing so.
When she saw the real Sirin playing around with Bella, the malice that Sirin held towards the world dissipated much of her hostility.
She was, after all, an avenger inheriting Sirin's will.
But if Sirin could find happiness because of this, there was naturally no need for her to be aggressive.
Wendy exclaimed, "When did I become your other half?"
"Oh? As a Valkyrie of Schicksal, you can't possibly be unaware that you and Raiden Mei's Herrscher Core were both brought down from the moon by the Herrscher of the Void."
"You are all my other halves."
Chen Ran: "..."
Strange, why does it feel like my head is a bit heavy?
Wendy took a deep breath and looked at Chen Ran: "This is also why I brought Raiden Mei here."
"If Sirin hadn't become the Herrscher of the Void and Kiana disappeared, that would make sense. Then the Herrscher Core in Mei and I wouldn't have disappeared..."
Wendy and Mei were both eager to find answers.
However, Mei was looking for Kiana, while Wendy was trying to uncover the truth.
Chen Ran sighed: "The most likely scenario is that at the same time, another Herrscher of the Void appeared, then maximally repeated Sirin's fate."
"This is a self-correction of fate, and its inertia is more terrifying than most people think."
"Then why did Kiana still disappear?" Raiden Mei couldn't help but ask, "If it's the inertia of fate, there should still be..."
Chen Ran interrupted, "Because Kiana's body has Sirin's genes, and the current Sirin will not become a Herrscher in the foreseeable future."
He said, "According to the inertia of fate, there is a high probability that a clone similar to Kiana will exist. Of course, it is also possible that it won't."
"From a higher perspective, the disappearance of one Kiana and the displacement of thirty million people in Siberia are merely slight deviations under the usual workings of fate. They are not worth forcibly correcting."
"Even if it leads to the destruction of an entire civilization, it is just like the sound of waves rising and falling in the sea."
"Sirin is actually right about one thing: killing me is the best solution."
Chen Ran took a deep breath and said, "However, even if you kill me here, I will still be reborn in a time long before this and continue to come here. I have already died once when I rescued Wendy."
Wendy's eyes widened in shock: "Was it that assassin?"
"Yes."
He paused and said, "My actions will ultimately lead to the destruction of this era, turning it into a new age. The trolley problem may be a dilemma for you, but it is not for me."
"What I want to change is the past of this time, the future of the time I stand in."
"Not your future."
"In simple terms, if I were to miraculously find a way to defeat Finality, you might be born, or you might not. Because that civilization will continue, but it could also be destroyed by some natural disaster."
"This is fate, always operating in a way that mocks and ridicules people."
At this point, Chen Ran did not hide: "I have already tried to create a terminal in that era, and Wendy's genetic data is preserved in the terminal. There is a chance that the terminal will project into the future, allowing Wendy to be born."
"This probability is very small, but if the inertia of fate is strong enough, then that small probability is essentially equivalent to 100%, and Wendy will definitely exist."
"Similarly, whether it is Raiden Mei or Sirin, they can also appear in this way. But only Kiana..."
"Your birth has too many coincidences, and such coincidences are not something I can control."
Whether it is k423 or the real Kiana, he actually cannot control their birth.
Because the Schariac bloodline in them is a result of some mutation of the Stigmata genes of this era.
This mutation is not under human control.
Chen Ran said this with a bit of a headache: "But just as you all arrived, Otto gave me the genetic data of Kaslana and Schariac."
"My understanding of their utility is also quite limited; I hope for a good outcome."
After talking for so long, he still had not given Kiana any answers.
Nor could he shoulder any responsibility for Kiana.
Chen Ran could neither guarantee Kiana's future appearance nor could he bring her to fifty thousand years ago.
The helplessness of small characters in the torrent of time was vividly displayed at this moment.
Unless he could receive help from a higher-dimensional existence.
Thinking of this, Chen Ran subconsciously looked at Herrscher Sirin.
Currently, the only people standing here who had spoken with 'God' were Sirin and him.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Dr. Chen, I think I should talk to you about Sirin..."
Cecilia pushed the door open and then froze.
Chen Ran: "Should I tell a cold joke to lighten the mood?"
...
...
Cecilia came to discuss matters regarding Sirin.
In simple terms, she was here to take Sirin away.
Sirin's mathematical talent was indeed not very ideal, yet she had an inexplicable desire to become a Valkyrie.
Thus, Cecilia thought to take Sirin and Bella back to Schicksal Headquarters for gradual teaching. Even if she couldn't become a Valkyrie, living normally under Cecilia's protection would not be a problem.
Her daughter was still very young, and as a mother, Cecilia could not stay in the Babylon Tower forever.
This was the most compromise solution.
However, Cecilia never expected to find so many girls in Chen Ran's office.
Moreover, each girl exuded the aura of a Herrscher.
Herrscher Sirin and Kiana looked at Cecilia with complex expressions, while Wendy and Raiden Mei exchanged glances, feeling somewhat at a loss.
At this moment, Chen Ran was already thinking about simply committing suicide to rewind to an hour earlier.
How did Cecilia suddenly come here?
He knew that the appearance of Wendy and the others in the Babylon Tower could not be hidden from everyone, but at least he needed some time to think of an excuse.
Cecilia looked at Chen Ran with suspicion: "Dr. Chen, I want to know the current situation."
"If I say I know nothing, would you believe me?"
Chen Ran's eyes held a hint of innocence.
He really didn't know how to explain to Cecilia.
Whether it was the future Sirin plan, the k-series clones, the past pre-civilization era, or the Second Honkai Eruption that should have occurred, as well as Cecilia's death...
None of these were suitable for Cecilia to know right now.
The situation he faced was already chaotic enough.
It would be better to just rewind time.
However, before Chen Ran could respond, Cecilia suddenly walked up to Kiana, wanting to hug her.
"Kiana... you should be Kiana, right? You come from the future."
Cecilia's tone was filled with certainty.
Kiana's eyes flashed with a hint of panic as she instinctively recoiled: "I... how do you know?"
"As a mother, recognizing her daughter should be an instinct ingrained in the genes, shouldn't it?"
Cecilia's eyes showed a moment of surprise: "Although my daughter is still very young, I feel that when she grows up, she should look just like you."
Meanwhile, Herrscher Sirin's expression grew even more complex.
She had once regarded Cecilia as a mother, but that was only in the dream created in Fenghuang Down.
The current Cecilia should be different from the Cecilia of that time.
She felt a bit choked up.
However, after Cecilia noticed Kiana's timidity and retreat, she turned to look at Sirin.
"The little Sirin of the future hasn't changed at all, hasn't grown taller or older. Clearly, both of you could be called Big Sister by Kiana, yet you look even smaller than Kiana. Just like Theresa."
Herrscher Sirin instinctively panicked.
Then, she stubbornly pouted and said, "Don't... don't underestimate me! I'm just like this because of some accidents! I... I'm not short!"
Herrscher Sirin inherited Sirin's appearance, and she also inherited Sirin's height—only one hundred and fifty-five centimeters.
Cecilia smiled: "Yes, yes, yes, Sirin is not short."
She did not take action because of the Herrscher aura surrounding her; the most important reason was that neither Herrscher Sirin nor Wendy and Cecilia showed any hostility.
Moreover, they were all with their 'daughter.'
Cecilia trusted her daughter.
She looked at Wendy and Raiden Mei: "You two are..."
Raiden Mei quickly said, "Hello, Cecilia, I... in the future, I am a Schicksal B-class Valkyrie, sharing a dormitory with Kiana."
Wendy said lightly, "I am also a Valkyrie of Schicksal, and Theresa is my Teacher."
"Wow, I didn't expect Theresa to become a teacher. That really surprises me; I thought her personality was more suited for battle."
Cecilia paused and said, "Dr. Chen is clearly hiding something from me. Can any of you clarify the current situation?"
Although Cecilia was gentle and kind, she would never willingly become a fool who was deceived.
Wendy instinctively looked at Chen Ran.
Raiden Mei hesitated to speak.
Herrscher Sirin turned her face away and said lightly, "It's nothing much, just an attempt to change fate."
"In the true fate, I killed you."
Herrscher Sirin's nonchalant words left Cecilia slightly taken aback.
Kiana quickly defended, "Mom... no, Cecilia, you have to listen to me, ah, I don't even know how to explain."
"Let me explain."
Chen Ran tugged at the corners of his mouth and said, "At this point, we have to start with a great plan from Bishop Otto. Speaking of which, Cecilia, the information you received at Schicksal Headquarters is actually correct."
"The Babylon Tower was established to recruit orphans, specifically to use orphans as experimental subjects for the fusion of Honkai Energy and humans."
"Due to a lack of necessary information, this experimental process is extremely cruel."
"And Sirin became the Second Herrscher because of this."
"..."
As Chen Ran slowly explained, the secrets of the laboratory known as the Babylon Tower were gradually unveiled.
People at that time believed that Stigmata and Herrscher powers originated from the same source, hoping to nourish the experimental subjects with negative emotions to activate the Stigmata genes within their bodies.
But the experimental process was brutal; even though Chen Ran glossed over it, Cecilia could feel the chill behind it.
Herrscher Sirin remained silent, as if what he was saying had nothing to do with her.
Only when Chen Ran slowly recounted Cecilia's death did the girl's eyes lower slightly.
But this was not the end of the story.
In fact, it was just the beginning.
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