"Hey, you're going to deal with Sa all by yourself?"
Dark Seele frowned. "It's already come to this, don't tell me you're still planning to go alone out of some macho pride?"
"That's why I came back, to assign tasks to you all."
Jun An naturally wouldn't just recklessly charge in alone. "Later, I'll create a sufficient commotion at the edge of the solar system. Help me notify Kiana, just ask her to help fire a shot."
"Then let Seele go with you too."
Dark Seele said, "I also have the powers of a Tower Sage; I should be enough here alone. Besides, I don't trust that woman going with you alone."
"You don't trust me, or you don't trust Vita?"
"Neither!"
Dark Seele looked at Vita's obedient appearance with disgust. "Someone like her can nonchalantly hide the fact that an entire world bubble is being destroyed while shamelessly cozying up. Even though she might obey you now for benefits, who knows what she'll do later?"
The Herrscher of Sentience also nodded. "Seele has a point. You're the type who yields to softness but not hardness; she might completely bewitch you. At the very least, a representative should go along."
Prometheus: "Mm, I strongly agree with this point."
White Seele also had a serious expression. "Captain's strength is less than a tenth of what it was now, he needs protection even more!"
"Me, me!"
Kira Shigure also eagerly raised her hand. "My situation is quite urgent! If Sa isn't dealt with, I'll be completely homeless!"
Kira had even secretly borrowed the Sugar Silver Key from the Candy House; she had to rack up some achievements somehow!
She looked pleadingly at Jun An. "Captain, we're both fans of Lady Cecilia! How about I trade you Lady Cecilia's autographed photo?"
What would I do with my mother-in-law's autographed photo?
Jun An looked at Kira Shigure with disdain. "If it were your photo album, I might consider it."
"My photo album... eh?"
Kira instantly blushed, surprised he was interested in her!
"Let's stick with Lady Cecilia's... My figure isn't as good as Lady Cecilia's..."
"Then forget it."
Jun An admitted Cecilia was very beautiful, as beautiful as Misteln, but while Jun An could lust after Misteln, he couldn't lust after his mother-in-law's body.
Jun An really couldn't get interested in people who were already taken.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Kira immediately grabbed Jun An. "I don't have my own photo album, but if you want one, I can just take pictures for you later!"
"No, Seele should go!"
Seele stepped forward, blocking Kira. "If Gege wants photo albums, then both Seele and I can give them to you!"
Where did this woman come from, trying to compete with me?
Seele continued to make her case. "Besides, in terms of combat power, Seele has also become much stronger. I can better protect Jun An Gege!"
In terms of combat power, Seele was likely ranked third or second among those present, below Jun An. Considering fighting ability, Seele was indeed the most suitable.
"Well said, Seele! If anyone disagrees, just fight it out!"
The Herrscher of Sentience, also ranked third or second, fanned the flames, not wanting to miss the drama. "Come on, fight! Whoever wins gets to go with the Captain. We don't need weaklings on the team going to subjugate Sa!"
"Eh, this kind of decision should still be made by the Captain."
Prometheus interrupted the argument, as she couldn't just watch them actually fight. "The Captain knows the most about Sa, and his choices haven't been wrong."
Thus, everyone's gaze focused on Jun An.
Dark Seele urged Jun An to choose White Seele, White Seele recommended herself, the Herrscher of Sentience suggested Jun An prioritize strength, and Kira Shigure presented Cecilia's photo as a bribe.
Prometheus also watched with great curiosity. "I'm very curious, whom will you choose under these circumstances? And what is the reason?"
Looking at the four of them, Jun An directly shook his head.
"Seeles, both of you are Tower Sages. For the good of Salt Snow Holy City's residents, hurry up and produce supplies. After all, we don't know when the Tower Sage powers will disappear, and this concerns the resources for an entire world bubble."
Jun An then looked towards the Herrscher of Sentience. "Herrscher of Sentience, or rather, I wouldn't recommend any Herrscher participate this time. After all, Sa operates based on a system imitating the Cocoon of Finality. Although her scale is much smaller, there's no guarantee you won't be controlled, especially since you are the purest form of Herrscher."
In fact, in the original storyline, the Herrscher of Sentience had followed the scent to cause trouble for Sa and was subsequently controlled by Her. Fortunately, Sa's main body wasn't in Salt Snow Holy City, allowing the Herrscher of Sentience to escape from under Sa's nose.
"Of course, control is a minor issue. If your powers also fall into Sa's hands, then I'll really have no way to play."
Although Jun An wasn't afraid of mental battles, the Herrscher of Sentience's power in terms of sheer endurance was almost unmatched. In the original story, even Kevin of Finality was held up by the Herrscher of Sentience for a significant amount of time.
If Sa's two hundred million years of mental power were combined with the Herrscher of Sentience's abilities, Jun An's only option would be to call Kiana.
"So the best comrade is naturally me, right?"
Kira Shigure stepped forward confidently. "As expected, you have good judgment!"
"Ah no, you're not suitable either. Just one life, too fragile."
Jun An said, "We're going to fight Sa, after all. Who knows if She has Judgment-class companion beasts? Auntie Kira Shigure, can you take on a Judgment-class?"
Of course, Jun An didn't actually know if She did, but facing a potentially enhanced enemy, Jun An felt it was better to be cautious.
Naturally, a more important reason was that Jun An didn't know if he would need to use Vita along the way, and he couldn't let others witness that kind of scene.
"This..."
Kira Shigure was instantly speechless. Seventeen or eighteen years ago, fighting a Benares wiped out her entire squad. Even after more than ten years of training at the Candy House and traveling through various world bubbles, her chances of defeating a Judgment-class Honkai Beast single-handedly weren't high.
"So this trip is that dangerous? And stop calling me Auntie! Don't you know idols are forever seventeen!"
"Alright, alright."
Jun An didn't argue further. Still, Kira was in her late thirties, the same generation as Himeko, yet in over a decade, only her chest seemed to have grown. If Theresa found out, she'd probably cry herself to death.
"So, you choose to take none of them?" Prometheus suddenly felt disappointed.
However, Jun An's gaze was fixed firmly on Prometheus. "Someone who won't die easily, possesses some mob-clearing combat power, and isn't part of the Honkai system... isn't there one right here?"
Prometheus: Damn it, he's after me!
Having made his decision, Jun An immediately prepared to slip away.
"I'll give you two hours for handover. Prometheus, explain everything necessary and print out a checklist."
"Dark Seele, remember to help me grab a year's worth of snacks and some board games for the road. I'm taking White Seele with me for now, I need to talk to her."
Prometheus: "You wait right there!"
Prometheus tried to grab Jun An but was intercepted by Seele first.
Seele: "Miss Prometheus, I think we need to have a good chat. For example, about the topic of stealing someone's home base ."
Jun An immediately leaped down from the tower. Although it was a hundred meters high, for a MANTIS like Jun An, flying wasn't actually difficult.
As for Prometheus, letting her understand the sinister side of humanity was probably for the best.
Jun An had just landed on the ground when he saw Vita "running" towards him, her face flushed.
Her steps were somewhat labored, advancing with difficulty as if suffering from a stomach ache. The only difference from before was that she wasn't wearing her "Agent" outfit now, but had changed into the white dress she wore in Salt Snow Holy City.
Jun An watched Vita run towards him as if in a daze, then collapse limply onto Jun An, who was smaller than her. Jun An could only support her.
"Hey, are you okay?"
However, Vita's response was to bury her head in his chest, her body trembling violently against him. Catching a glimpse of her expression, he saw her tongue lolling out exhaustedly, her pupils rolled upwards.
"..."
Jun An glanced back at the water stains around the tower's base and finally understood why she had changed into the short-haired Vita's dress. With that much water, it wouldn't be noticeable when it leaked.
"T-tenth... lap."
Vita reported to Jun An with all her remaining strength, "I... finished running..."
What could Jun An say at this moment? Naturally, what was truly on his mind: "You actually ran?"