[Furina]: "But… the real issue isn't that. Why won't Fu Hua believe Kevin?"
[Nahida]: "Not believing him is normal, isn't it? He's so cold, and everything he does seems shady."
[Zhongli]: "Perhaps this misunderstanding stems from events long past."
[Venti]: "Look—the scene's changing."
Sure enough, all eyes turned skyward.
The vision shifted—from Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Knowledge traveling toward Taixu Mountain…
Back to the World Serpent's base.
Under Kevin's orders, Yatta had already departed for Taixu Mountain.
Meanwhile, due to the sudden communication outage, Mei Yi and Raven determined it was a base incident and rushed back. After hearing the Jackal's report, Mei Yi sought out Kevin.
In the Dim Hall
Mei Yi (coldly): "I read every record about the World Serpent's search in the Herrscher Gem archive. Word for word."
Kevin: "…"
Mei Yi: "But all the conclusions shown were inconclusive."
Kevin: "Correct."
Her voice wavered: "Impossible. Even if she fell into Imaginary Space, the Herrscher core would leave traces—it cannot vanish entirely."
Kevin: "Neither would she."
He saw through her.
Kevin: "The Herrscher Gem is part of Sirin. I cannot let it fall into anyone's hands."
Mei Yi pressed her forehead: "Maybe I missed something… If you still—"
Kevin (cutting in, flat): "She's dead."
Her lips paled. Her body trembled.
Kevin: "I know you weren't searching for the gem."
Her breath quickened.
Kevin: "She cannot survive in Imaginary Space. The World Serpent found nothing."
Silence. She searched for a flaw in his words—but his tone carried the weight of iron.
Kevin: "It's fact."
Mei Yi (voice breaking): "I can't accept that. I'll investigate myself—at least I have that right!"
She fled the hall.
Kevin watched her go, knowing she'd dig deeper—only to find a crueler, emptier answer. Slowly, he closed his eyes…
Memory – Fire Moth Base
Two figures walked a long corridor—Kevin and Fu Hua.
Kevin: "You performed well in the 11th Herrscher battle."
Fu Hua (flat): "Thank you."
Kevin: "Mei is transferring you to the Far East. Did you know?"
Fu Hua: "No. I don't care."
Kevin: "It's unavoidable. Herrscher births are accelerating—we're critically understaffed. For strategic reasons, the Fusion Warrior units are disbanding and reassigning."
"It was the Doctor's decision. Hua, I hope you understand."
Fu Hua: "I will obey."
Kevin: "Hua…"
Fu Hua: "It makes no difference. Here, Far East, Salt Lake—it's all against Honkai. Honkai never stops. With us, those cities might suffer fewer casualties, fewer ordinary soldiers lost."
Kevin sighed inwardly: "You're still hung up on it."
Fu Hua: "Yes."
She continued: "You always expect me to understand Doctor Mei. What's the point? Will she revise her plans because I don't understand? No."
"I didn't understand why we had to execute Captain Himeko. Did Doctor Mei let her go? She was my benefactor, your comrade…"
"Even then, she recognized me. She smiled, spoke in her own voice—was that a Herrscher? Yet you still killed her. With your own hands."
Kevin's heart stirred—that scene was unforgettable.
Kevin: "She became the Herrscher of Fire, Hua. You know that. I had no choice."
Fu Hua: "Doctor's orders. I know. So I obey—but I don't understand. At least that right is mine."
She locked eyes with him: "Kevin, don't tie the Doctor to yourself. Don't ask for my understanding on her behalf—she doesn't need it."
"She should answer to the warriors who gasped on the transformation platforms, to those twisted by hypervariable factors, to those who died wielding the 10th Herrscher's Key. They didn't understand her."
Crossroads
They walked in silence for a moment. Then Kevin spoke: "I'll stay in Central."
Fu Hua: "Of course."
Kevin: "Hua, I didn't do this for her. I ask for your understanding because you are my comrade—we should share a common will. Honkai's offensive grows fiercer. We Fusion Warriors are destined to fight forever."
"Defeat is unacceptable—only victory. Hua, I hope you truly understand me. The fate of all mankind rests on our shoulders."
They reached a fork. Kevin nodded: "I'm going to find Sakura—this way."
Fu Hua: "Goodbye."
The memory faded.
Teyvat's Realization
Silence reigned—then the chat exploded.
[Nahida]: "SO THAT'S WHY! Fu Hua couldn't trust Kevin—he killed her captain with his own hands!"
[Shenhe]: "I understand. If someone killed my master, I'd never trust them either."
[Cloud Retainer]: "No one shall kill me!"
[Ganyu]: "What happened in the Previous Era? Must they kill every Herrscher?"
[Nahida]: "Could it be… Kevin's so obsessed with recruiting Herrschers for World Serpent because he killed too many in the past?"
[Venti]: "Highly likely~"
[Paimon]: "I don't blame Fu Hua. After something like that, would you think Kevin's trying to help her with the Herrscher of Knowledge?"