LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 186: The Decoy
Even amidst the current global Honkai eruption, not everyone could relocate to major cities, especially in Shenzhou. With its vast mountains and expansive lands, Shenzhou was different. Thanks to Fu Hua's legacy, the tales of the jingwei aka the Phoenix were widely known.
For thousands of years, the people of Shenzhou had been aware of Honkai beasts, though they often referred to them as "yaoshou" (妖兽) [mythical/demonic beasts].
Protecting the populace from these yaoshou was the very purpose of the various sects and clans, their long-standing traditions offering a bulwark against the Honkai's influence, mitigating its impact far more effectively than in other regions.
Thus, in areas near these sects, many rustic villages and towns continued to thrive.
In one such town, a white-haired girl wiped the sweat from her brow, steadying a crate that had nearly tumbled from a delivery cart.
"That was close! Thank you, miss. You saved me half a month's work!" The woman, relieved that her goods were safe, expressed her gratitude profusely, reaching out to take the girl's hand.
The girl, however, instinctively recoiled, gently shaking her head. "It's nothing. I just happened to catch it."
Unfazed by the subtle rejection, the woman simply smiled. Encounters with sect disciples were common in these parts, and they often had their own customs. "You look so delicate, but you have surprising strength."
Turning to her own cart, she retrieved her purse, intending to offer the girl a small reward.
But when she turned back, the girl was gone.
Only the calls of street vendors filled the quiet street.
Doing good deeds without seeking recognition… or did she sense something?
A thoughtful smile played on the woman's lips as she reached up and subtly adjusted the earpiece hidden beneath her long hair. A faint static crackled as the communication channel opened.
"Deputy Captain, the Herrscher of the Void seems to have detected my surveillance."
"Don't worry. The entire town is under Schicksal's watch. She can't escape." Rita, absent from the front lines for some time, watched intently as the screen displayed the white-haired girl moving through a narrow alley.
High above the town, a state-of-the-art Schicksal reconnaissance airship hovered, cloaked in an advanced stealth system. Further concealed by the cloud cover, it was virtually invisible from the ground.
Following the battle in ARC City, Rita had been tasked with tracking the Herrscher of the Void. Though the trail had gone cold for a period, Schicksal's extensive intelligence network had eventually pinpointed the girl's location, recently identifying her patterns of movement.
The seemingly ordinary woman was, in fact, a deep cover agent specifically assigned to make contact with the Herrscher of the Void.
These specially trained operatives, though not Valkyries, were often more effective at gathering intelligence through their disguises. Even Anti-Entropy had suffered setbacks at the hands of these skilled infiltrators.
"Maintain your position. Do not expose yourself." With the order given, Rita closed the communication channel.
Turning to the young Valkyrie beside her, she asked, "Alvitr, something on your mind?"
"Huh?" Alvitr, her thoughts usually plain as day on her face, hadn't realized she'd been noticed. Flustered, she scratched her head. "Deputy Captain, if we've found the Herrscher of the Void, why not just apprehend her? Intel suggests she's severely injured, incapable of resisting."
"For the Overseer, it's not the Herrscher herself he desires, but her power. Remember that terrifying inferno over ARC City?"
"Of course! That was my first time facing a Herrscher's power. I nearly turned into charcoal! Couldn't sleep properly for two days. If it weren't for Durandal-sama protecting us… Captain is truly the strongest. She even defeated a Herrscher like that!"
Alvitr, a devoted admirer of Bianka, nearly forgot her original question in her enthusiastic praise. She blinked, confused. "But… hasn't that Herrscher already been captured by Schicksal? What does that have to do with the Herrscher of the Void?"
"That Herrscher could also achieve the Overseer's goal, but he is far more powerful, and far more unstable, than the Herrscher of the Void. Judging by his actions in ARC City—risking exposure to ensure her escape—they share a close bond."
Rita, seeing Alvitr's continued confusion, patiently explained, "Even Herrschers have emotions, people they care about. As long as the Herrscher of the Void is being pursued, he will remain quiet."
"But… if we capture the Herrscher of the Void, wouldn't we have two Herrschers?"
Even with this explanation, Alvitr still seemed lost. Rita sighed, resorting to a simpler explanation.
"Just understand this: An uncaptured Herrscher of the Void is far more valuable than a captured one. Give a prisoner a glimmer of hope, and he'll willingly submit to control. But if both fall into Schicksal's hands… a desperate Herrscher might unleash a fury far greater than what we witnessed in ARC City."
As they spoke, the reconnaissance airship suddenly lurched violently, as if attacked by a colossal creature.
Instantly, the Immortal Blades squad went on high alert. The intelligence officer reported a massive dragon assaulting the airship—a creature well-documented in Schicksal's database.
Judgment-class Honkai Beast: Bella - Benares.
"Damn it." The sight of Benares confirmed Rita's worst fears. She immediately contacted the ground team.
"Abort the surveillance! Full pursuit of the Herrscher of the Void! She's making her escape!"
…
Inside an empty house in the town, K424, disguised as Kiana, stood emotionless, her eyes glowing with faint golden lines.
The decoy had served its purpose. Otto had been given enough bait. It was time to shift his attention to the real Kiana.
She watched the people outside, their hurried movements betraying the town's supposed tranquility. In just a few days, Schicksal's agents had infiltrated nearly a third of the town's population.
But now…
K424 looked skyward. After attacking the airship, Benares was diving towards the ground.
As the townsfolk cried out in alarm, K424, like a princess in a Western adventure tale, was scooped up in the dragon's claws and carried into the sky.
Below, Rita, clad in her battlesuit, could only watch as Benares soared away. The airship gave chase, but the delay was enough. They had lost K424's trail.