Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

After giving Otto a piece of his mind, Shu fell into deep thought.

It had to be said, Otto's method was truly… outlandish.

How to put it… if Shu could actually execute every detail of the plan Otto laid out, he couldn't imagine what other tricks or trump cards the enemy could pull out to win.

But that was if Shu could execute every detail…

The more intricate a machine, the more prone it is to errors. Otto's plan wasn't some vague, simplistic plan used to coax children.

It wasn't divided into first and second steps, only previous and next steps, detailed to the point of telling him when, with how much force, and which button to press.

Admittedly, the plan was perfect, but it was hard on Shu…

He didn't want to be looked at by Otto with that "I gave you the chance, but you're useless" look.

Compared to before, however, Shu felt much more at ease.

After all, having no way to achieve a goal and "the method to achieve the goal is difficult, but doable" were two entirely different concepts and pressures.

"Since you understand the plan, get some rest." Otto sighed. This time, he didn't retaliate against Shu's jab, but patted him on the shoulder and prepared to leave.

"The Herrscher will come looking for you soon enough. You don't have much time to practice."

Reaching the door, Otto opened it and said to Shu, "And your reserves of [Hope] aren't enough to provide you with sufficient margin for error. I still need to make some preparations for you…"

Shu leaned against the bed and nodded silently.

He looked at the densely written notes in his hand. He had never been so focused on something before, nor had anything prompted him to make such detailed notes.

"Otto."

As Otto closed the door, Shu suddenly called out.

Otto paused, his hand on the door, and looked back at Shu.

Shu lowered his eyes, not looking at Otto. "Do you have any way to lessen the side effects of returning (by Dead)?"

Otto didn't answer immediately. After a long look at Shu, he gave his answer calmly.

"Shu, strengthening your body is something you should have been doing from the beginning… yet your physical condition continues to steadily decline."

Otto didn't offer any advice but stated a fact. Then, he closed the door and left.

Shu looked down at his palms.

Yes… strengthening his body, he had been doing it, but [Wish] was always temporary, he'd known that since the first time he used it…

He'd known it since the time he scaled that wall with the wish Kiana granted him…

Wasn't he, too, just an ordinary person who had built a fortress?

…

The fourth floor housed a large cafeteria. At this moment, over two hundred people were having lunch.

The adults and children had become somewhat acquainted. Sitting in this extremely spacious cafeteria, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people dining simultaneously, made the place seem somewhat empty.

However, this place was far too luxurious compared to their situation over the past month, especially for the hundred or so people Shu and the others had brought from Shanghai.

Just a week ago, they were starving in a basement.

Now, they were eating hot meals in a secure underground base!

It was pure bliss!

Fire Moth was awesome!

"Did you hear? Those big leaders and strategists from Fire Moth are planning to requisition this place as a temporary base!" A bespectacled physical education student stuffed a large mouthful of rice into his mouth and said to his companion.

"I heard that too!" Little Chen nodded repeatedly. "This place is so great, it'd be a waste not to use it as a base!"

"I can't believe Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical could build something like this underground. They really are a branch of Fire Moth…" Another university student looked around in awe.

"It's f***ing awesome!" The last student's eyes lit up as he looked at a few people at a table not far from them.

Theresa, Fu Hua, and the others were sitting at that table. His gaze lingered on the Fire Moth insignia on Himeko's shoulder for a long time before he reluctantly looked away, filled with envy.

"Do you think I could touch those Titan mechs if I joined Fire Moth?"

"Dream on! You have to go through so many assessments to qualify to pilot a Titan. Even if they lower the bar, it won't be our turn, right…?" The bespectacled student immediately retorted.

"Sigh… I'd be grateful just to sit in a Titan mech once in my life…" Another closed his eyes, savoring the memory of riding in a Titan.

Little Chen ate her meal in silence.

Although she also thought the Titan mechs were cool, she knew her limitations.

Perhaps even if she joined Fire Moth, she would spend her life serving in a logistics position… After all, the incident in Shanghai, where she volunteered to scout ahead for everyone, had already drained all her courage…

Logistics was more suitable for her.

Not far from them, Kiana propped her head up with one hand, mechanically chewing on a chicken leg, her mind wandering gloomily.

Two empty bowls sat beside her. She had only eaten two bowls of rice this meal, a clear indication of her low spirits.

"Kiana, Shu will be alright…" Mei, still wearing her chef's uniform, had just been helping in the kitchen.

Asking a cook accustomed to small, East Asian portions to prepare meals on a large scale was a bit too much.

Fortunately, Natasha was used to cooking for large groups, and with many people volunteering to help, they were able to provide enough food for these two hundred people.

"Trust Grandpa and Mr. Ethics." Theresa also put down her chopsticks, offering comfort.

"Sigh~" Kiana let out a long sigh, her face crumpling. "Of course, I trust them… but…"

But Shu collapsed in front of me… and stopped breathing in front of me…

If it weren't for being in the infirmary at the time, with all sorts of emergency equipment readily available, along with Natasha and Bronya, who had spent a long time with Vakh, Shu might really have…

…not even lasted until Mr. Ethics arrived…

If it weren't for the clear signs of improvement in Shu's condition, probably no one would be sitting here eating now.

"What did Shu go through at Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical to end up like that…?" Kiana took the chicken bone out of her mouth and threw it in the trash, then cupped her head in her hands, her face still crumpled.

"If you're really curious, why not ask that Mr. Ethics?" Himeko, having finished her meal, stretched.

"Speaking of which, I still need to check on the remaining Titan mechs."