As a multinational corporation, ME Corp naturally had a rather magnificent building. Towering over the shorter surrounding structures, the ME Corp headquarters was like a majestic giant, as conspicuous as could be.
Therefore, finding the place was actually a very simple matter.
"Looks pretty impressive."
Li Zihan got out of the taxi and looked at the tall building not far away, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"After all, this is Anti-Entropy's largest source of income."
Subsequently, a girl hugging a very strange-looking yellow doll also got out of the taxi. Following closely behind Li Zihan, she looked at the building with a somewhat complicated expression.
Not long ago, Cocolia had been here, plotting the Nagazora City plan, in complete control of the situation.
Then, the Sovereign, who had been missing for years and was once thought to be GG, suddenly reappeared and, with a backhanded move, sent Cocolia to Nagazora Prison.
Seeing this building now, Miss Banya's mood was truly a bit complex.
"Bronya will wait for you here."
After a long moment, Bronya floated a step forward to Li Zihan's side and said.
As just an ordinary person, she wouldn't be of much help if she went up.
Besides, in this building, aside from Welt, there was also Raiden Ryoma.
Considering the extremely poor relationship between Raiden Ryoma and Cocolia, if she were to follow Li Zihan, she might even cause trouble for him.
"If you're worried about Raiden Ryoma, there's no need."
Li Zihan said, seeming to have sensed Bronya's concern.
He had contacted Welt before this and could confirm that Raiden Ryoma was currently in the underground arsenal, calculating the losses incurred after Cocolia took over.
This was also why he dared to bring Miss Banya to ME Corp.
If he brought Miss Banya inside and was seen by Raiden Ryoma, who had always regarded him as Raiden Mei's boyfriend, it would lead to some very unpleasant developments.
"Raiden Ryoma is not here," Li Zihan explained.
So, Raiden Ryoma isn't here?
Feeling slightly more at ease, Bronya then looked at her boss, who had extended a hand to her after speaking, her expression somewhat suspicious.
"Boss, what are you doing?"
She didn't quite understand what Li Zihan meant by reaching out his hand to her.
"Preparing to space-jump. Teleporting a person or object that I have physical contact with costs much less magical energy than teleporting an object without a medium."
The young man, who was highly skilled in spatial magecraft, said seriously.
Is that how it works?
Without much hesitation, Miss Banya placed her small hand in Li Zihan's.
She had no understanding of so-called "magecraft." She could only believe whatever Li Zihan said.
Subsequently, a fluctuation of magical energy flowed, and the spatial transfer was completed.
When her vision cleared, her surroundings had already changed to a very luxurious office.
A man wearing a khaki coat, a beige sweater, and a white shirt, with an orange ribbon tied at his collar, sat at the desk, his expression somewhat astonished.
Clearly, he hadn't expected the person he had arranged to meet to appear via teleportation, especially not while holding a girl's hand.
Moreover, the girl whose hand was being held seemed to be Cocolia's daughter.
Welt, who had a slight impression of Bronya, frowned.
Wasn't this kid the boyfriend of Raiden Ryoma's daughter? How did he suddenly end up holding the hand of Cocolia's daughter?
Recalling how a certain someone had previously inquired about Raiden Ryoma's whereabouts, Welt's gaze toward Li Zihan turned peculiar.
Do young people these days play around so much?
"Long time no see, Lord Welt."
Even while being stared at with such a strange look, Li Zihan still smiled brightly.
Unlike Li Zihan, whose skin was thick enough to make Gilgamesh draw Ea, Bronya, whose skin was still quite thin, felt Welt's strange gaze and grew very uncomfortable.
She felt that the Sovereign's gaze was very strange, a bit like... a gossiping auntie buying vegetables on the street.
Fortunately, although Welt could be a bit gossipy at times, his primary role was, after all, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, not a vegetable-selling auntie. He was a very rational person.
"Long time no see, Mr. Li."
Welt, who had a prior arrangement with Li Zihan, focused his gaze on the young man before him and asked.
"Have you decided on the time to awaken the Herrscher of Erosion?"
"Mm, it has indeed been decided."
Li Zihan, who planned to awaken the whimpering donkey-fox tomorrow, replied.
"However, what I've come to talk to you about now isn't about the Herrscher of Erosion."
"Is it about Cocolia?"
Welt, who had noticed the girl behind Li Zihan was Cocolia's daughter, frowned.
Don't tell me this guy was seduced by a beautiful girl and is now shamelessly going to ask for Cocolia?
"I have a pile of important things to do. I'm in no mood to save some old woman."
Li Zihan said casually, uttering words that, if they reached Cocolia's ears, would probably make her fly into an impotent rage.
"Then, is what you want to talk about related to this child?"
Welt's gaze then fell upon Miss Banya's face. Different from his earlier gossipy look, his eyes were now filled with scrutiny.
"It is indeed related to her."
Li Zihan spoke.
"Her younger sister has fallen into the Sea of Quanta and needs rescuing. For various reasons, I plan to lend her a hand."
"But, your own abilities are not sufficient?"
Welt spoke, having vaguely guessed why a certain someone had come to find him.
"Entering the Sea of Quanta without letting Kevin Kaslana discover the coordinates to reality is a very troublesome matter."
The young man's tone was calm as he intentionally or unintentionally revealed a name.
Kevin Kaslana?
Is there some connection to the Schicksal Knight family?
Instantly picking up on the hidden information in Li Zihan's words, Welt's frown deepened.
His intuition told him that there was likely a terrifying piece of history hidden within this.
"In one month, I will need laboratory support."
Li Zihan looked at Welt, who had clearly taken note of the name Kevin, and smiled as he continued.
"Lord Welt, would you be willing to let me use the Okhotsk Submarine X-10 Laboratory just once?"
A specific laboratory?
Welt's thoughts were instantly pulled away from the name Kevin Kaslana, and his attention shifted to the "Okhotsk Submarine X-10 Laboratory."
Vaguely remembering that this laboratory belonged to the former Executor, Cocolia, Welt narrowed his eyes.
Humans are social animals. Living in this world, they will inevitably interact with others and leave traces.
This was even more true for those who wielded abnormal power and held high positions.
But the fellow before him was an exception. He could easily speak of private information concerning Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, yet he had left no trace whatsoever, as if this person simply didn't exist before.
And a laboratory that could be singled out by this mysterious figure must have something special about it.
"My friend, I believe that to conduct an experiment, one doesn't need to specify a particular laboratory."
Thinking this, Welt spoke slowly.
"You don't need to be so vigilant. After all, the only reason I'm conducting that experiment is because I think it's a pity for a certain child to be lost in the Sea of Quanta."
Seemingly sensing Welt's wariness, Li Zihan spoke, revealing a part of his reason for going to the Sea of Quanta.
"If you are not at ease, I can hand over the entire plan to be operated by your subordinates."
Li Zihan smiled as he continued.
"I will only enter the laboratory at the final moment as the test subject. If you are worried I'll pull something, you can actually supervise from the side."
Only enter at the final moment as the test subject?
Feeling the sincerity in Li Zihan's words, Welt could be mostly certain that his purpose was probably, genuinely, to go to the Sea of Quanta.
Welt continued to ponder, quite sure that after Li Zihan went to the Sea of Quanta, there would likely be follow-up actions.
But if a mysterious person like this was truly determined to go to the Sea of Quanta, even if he refused, he would just find other collaborators.
Since that was the case, he might as well grant him a favor.
"Alright," Welt said, agreeing.