Although it was hard to understand how Kiana's reckless operation restored the computer to normal, there was no point in dwelling on it. Overanalyzing would only make things feel a bit boring, so Mei chose to forget what had just happened.
Thanks to Kiana, the computer looked worse for wear, at least on the outside. However, it still usable, so there was nothing much to say about it.
Mei turned on the computer, went straight to the point, and typed "Anti-Entropy Organization."
Unfortunately, the search results were all unsatisfactory. The majority of what she found was just an explanation of the concept of anti-entropy.
"Seriously? I'm a top student! Do I really need you to explain the concept of entropy to me?"
"I can't find anything… Ugh." With no clues to the information she wanted, Mei felt a bit exhausted. Not only could she not find the term "Anti-Entropy," but even the terms "Honkai" and "Schicksal," which Kiana had mentioned, were nowhere to be seen.
Most of the results were nonsense from clueless netizens.
However, as Mei thought carefully, she realized how naive she had been. Terms like "Honkai," "Schicksal," and "Anti-Entropy" were hidden from the public eye to stabilize society and prevent chaos.
"Kiana, do you think I'm really stupid?"
She lay her head on the table in frustration.
"Well… No, Mei is much smarter than me." Kiana thought for a moment and encouraged her.
"…Even with your encouragement, I don't know why I can't feel happy."
Looking at Kiana's serious face, Mei managed a bitter smile.
"Forget it; I guess I can't find anything useful through normal channels."
"From that information, it seems my father is also a member of this organization called Anti-Entropy."
Mei glanced at the twilight outside the window and said softly, "Tomorrow, I'll ask for leave to visit my father."
"I hope I can get useful information from him."
---
The next day, Mei took a leave of absence from school and brought Kiana to Nagazora Prison, where Raiden Ryoma was incarcerated. As a family member, she still had the basic right to visit him.
After completing a series of procedures, Mei and Kiana finally met Raiden Ryoma.
"Mei, you're here…"
Seeing his daughter whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Raiden Ryoma was very happy, even though she looked a little disheveled due to prison life. However, after noticing Kiana beside Mei, he frowned. "The girl next to you…"
"Kiana Kaslana; I'm Mei's good friend!" Kiana introduced herself enthusiastically.
"Kiana Kaslana, Kaslana…" Raiden Ryoma muttered the surname in a trance as he looked at Kiana's face.
"What's wrong?" Kiana asked, a bit curious.
"No… Nothing, I just thought of someone I knew when I saw you."
"So, Mei… Do you have anything to ask?" Putting away his nostalgic expression, Raiden Ryoma focused his gaze on Mei.
"Well… Father, how are you…?" Mei was a little surprised; she hadn't even finished her thought.
"You are my daughter after all."
Hearing what Raiden Ryoma said, Mei subconsciously bit her lip.
Sure enough, she still couldn't hide her feelings in front of her father.
"Father, this time we mainly want to learn about Anti-Entropy from you."
As soon as Mei said this, Raiden Ryoma's expression changed instantly.
"How did you know this…?" He glanced at Kiana beside him, "Is it this little girl?"
If it was a Kaslana, that wouldn't be impossible.
"Cocolia."
Upon hearing Mei say this name, Raiden Ryoma's face turned cold instantly.
He looked straight at Mei and asked, "Mei, where did you hear that name?!"
"…From some strange place," Mei replied vaguely, choosing not to mention the existence of the QA space. "The person named Cocolia seems to have set her sights on this city and on me as the third Herrscher."
"She dares!" Raiden Ryoma exploded with fury.
That bastard woman had been attacking his precious daughter. She still hadn't given up?!
However, thinking about his current situation, Raiden Ryoma couldn't help but feel a bit defeated. How could he possibly stop that crazy woman in his current state?
With a loud "bang," Raiden Ryoma punched the wall.
"Damn…"
"…Father, you should know where Cocolia is, right?" Mei asked, getting straight to the point with calm determination.
"You know… you want to stop her?!" Raiden Ryoma reacted instinctively, then quickly focused on the two of them with a serious expression. "No! Absolutely not!"
He didn't even wait for Mei to respond and directly refused her.
"That woman has taken control of ME and can manipulate the Titans. You two kids would just be sending yourselves to your deaths."
"Then are you going to let this person named Cocolia create the Third Eruption?" Kiana exclaimed angrily from the side. "Do you know how many people will die? This city will become a dead zone!"
"…Third Eruption?" Hearing those words, Ryoma raised his eyebrows.
The third Herrscher's body, Third Eruption… These two concepts together…
Wait...
What is that woman trying to do?
As he considered a certain possibility, Ryoma's face instantly turned extremely grim.
How dare that crazy woman attempt this?
"How did you two know her plan?" He questioned, curious about how his precious daughter and the girl from the Kaslana family had come to know Cocolia's crazy scheme.
"Like I said before, from a strange place, Father," Mei explained apologetically. "Through that place, Kiana and I can learn something about the future and the past."
"I'm sorry, Father."
"I'm not a child anymore; I'm qualified to make decisions about my own future."
"For this city, for myself, and for you, who have been wronged…"
"Goodbye, Father."
"I hope… the next time I see you, it will be at home."
After saying that, Mei took Kiana away without waiting for Ryoma to react.
---
Outside the prison...
"Mei, why did we leave so suddenly?" Kiana asked, puzzled.
Didn't they want to ask about Cocolia's whereabouts? They hadn't asked yet—why leave so abruptly?
"Father won't tell me," Mei said, shaking her head slightly. "I know his temperament very well."
"What should we do? We still have to find her…" Kiana complained.
"No… no need. I have a rough idea of where this woman named Cocolia is."
-----