Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

Kiana couldn't help but ask.

"what why?"

Yae Sakura tilted her head in confusion.

"Why would you do such a thing, why..."

As she spoke, Kiana's breathing suddenly became rapid, as if something was choking her and she couldn't breathe.

"This is an order from an adult."

She explained calmly, glancing at the boy with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

Miss Kiana, the real mastermind behind all this is right beside you...

Seeing the white fluffy ball's completely unacceptable expression, Yae Sakura couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"why?

You're so beautiful and gentle, why did you listen to that bastard?!

Kiana questioned loudly, tears welling up in her eyes.

When she saw the Seven Lightning Bolts of Purification on the Moon Throne, she thought that Yae Sakura had also been poisoned by [Walter White], and she was saddened for a long time because of it.

But the result...

Looking at Yae Sakura in front of her, dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, with the same gentle and graceful demeanor as when they first met, Kiana felt a heartache so intense that she could hardly breathe.

"..."

Hearing the white fluffy ball's question, Yae Sakura couldn't help but show confusion in her eyes.

Is there any connection between these two things you mentioned?

Suppressing the urge to ask, Yae Sakura lowered her eyes and said softly, "I just had reasons why I had to do it."

Although you cannot understand it now, these are the necessary prices to pay for saving the world.

According to the established setting, she should be a complex character whose body submits to [Walter White], but whose heart does not agree with him.

"What price, what saving the world... I don't understand!"

All I know is that we will never hand Wendy over to you!

Gently pressing down on the white fluffy ball that was still trying to argue, Shihen said righteously.

"Are you planning to disobey the orders of the Bishop of Destiny?"

Raising her eyes, Yae Sakura spoke softly, her tone carrying a heavy, oppressive quality.

This is the aura of a Herrscher, and also the profound power passed down through the millennia of the Church of Destiny.

Undeterred by this overwhelming power, Shihen, piloting the battered Apollo, stood tall and proud, his red eyes gleaming, and said, "I have no idea what the Bishop of Destiny said."

All I know is an old saying in China.

"A general in the field may disobey some of the emperor's orders!"

“That’s right!” Himeko agreed loudly over the communication channel. “I can’t remember the orders from headquarters either.”

Besides, New Zealand just experienced its fourth collapse, so communication disruptions are to be expected, right?

Although she knew that Wendy was the Fourth Herrscher and the culprit behind the destruction of the Oceania branch, Himeko still couldn't bring herself to give her away like an object.

Moreover, she had witnessed Wendy's battle with Hen and the others on the Hyperion, realizing that this girl had the same potential as Mei.

Most importantly, St. Freya never used a child as a sacrifice in exchange for a brief period of peace!

“That’s it, Miss Sakura.” Shihen said, spreading his hands, his tone full of calm and leisure. “We have never received any orders to hand over the Fourth Herrscher.”

Whether what you said is true or false, we will verify it ourselves after the matter is resolved.

"How naive! Do you think you can protect this girl like this?"

Seeing this, Yae Sakura couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

"Whether it's possible or not, you'll only know after you try, right?"

Shihen said with a smile, and a faint white light shone on the red mecha again.

With Gundarf's abilities, combined with Timemark's own Honkai energy control, he is fully capable of temporarily reinforcing the mecha, allowing it to unleash even greater power.

In the eyes of Theresa and Einstein, this was the unique Stigmata ability of the boy [Time Mark].

"Miss Sakura, we are very grateful for your help when you were in St. Freya."

But if you want to take Miss Wendy away, you'll have to get past us first!

Mei placed one hand on the hilt of her katana, assuming a drawing-and-slash stance, and said in a deep voice.

“Since it concerns me, I won’t stand idly by.”

Wendy also stepped forward and spoke up.

Although she still didn't quite understand what had happened, the only thing she could understand was that the beautiful woman in the shrine maiden's outfit was the enemy, and that Shihen and the others were fighting to protect her.

"Sister Shrine Maiden!" Kiana cried out, wiping away tears from her eyes, her expression hardening. "I will stop you!"

Even though she secretly admired this beautiful shrine maiden who would treat her to delicious food, Kiana understood right and wrong.

But in response to Shihen and the others' statements, Yae Sakura simply shook her head and said, "Since you don't intend to obey the orders of the Bishop of Destiny, what about Miss Theresa's words?"

"what do you mean!?"

Upon hearing this, Wendy's pupils dilated in shock, and she quickly questioned him sharply.

Without arguing with the girl, Yae Sakura simply tapped a crimson bracelet on her wrist, and a light blue projection screen immediately appeared.

And soon, a familiar scene appeared on the screen—Theresa's office.

"Sakura?" Theresa's face showed a moment of confusion upon receiving the sudden call, but then she saw Shihen and the others, and her expression immediately changed. "Kiana? How did you end up with the World Serpents?!"

Even among all the members of World Serpent, Yae Sakura is considered one of the kinder and gentler ones.

But there's no denying that the other side is still quite dangerous!

“Miss Theresa, I request that condition be applied.” Without giving Kiana and the others a chance to reply, Yae Sakura immediately said, “I hope you can order Miss Kiana and the others not to be my enemies.”

"Auntie! What's going on?!"

Seeing this, Kiana was completely bewildered.

Why is Theresa connected to the witch, and why is she siding with her on the Wendy issue?

"..."

Looking at the incredibly familiar face on the screen, Wendy bit her lip, her eyes flashing with a blue light.

"To be your enemy? Kiana?"

Hearing what the others said, Theresa became even more confused.

She was still negotiating with World Serpent about Himeko's potion when she was suddenly dragged into this mess...

and many more!

The conditions of the World Serpent, Wendy and the desire for the gem, are to become enemies with Yae Sakura...

A guess flashed through her mind, and Theresa's face instantly darkened: "Time Mark! Tell me what exactly happened over there!?"

"..."

Shi Hen glanced at the nun, and was about to explain when another voice rang out:

"Theresa, let me explain."

This is Himeko's voice.

Although she couldn't see Shihen and the others clearly, Himeko could tell what had happened just by hearing their voices.

In this situation, she was undoubtedly more suitable to step forward than the boy.

So after only a slight pause, Himeko's voice rang out again: "We just received orders from headquarters to hand over Wendy, who has become the Fourth Herrscher, to World Serpent."

What are your thoughts on this matter?

Himeko spoke calmly, her tone neither too loud nor too soft, but the underlying intent to interrogate her was unmistakable.

Having worked together for nearly six years, she thought that she and Theresa were only one step away from being completely honest with each other, but the other party was secretly having an affair with World Snake behind her back.

"Of course we..."

Theresa was about to refuse when Yae Sakura's "conditions" suddenly flashed through her mind, making the words that were already on the tip of the nun's tongue impossible to utter.

Theresa knew that once she refused Yae Sakura's conditions, World Serpent would never grant her any more.

In other words, she could only watch helplessly as Himeko died in front of her due to Honkai energy corruption.

"Theresa!"

Himeko shouted loudly, her tone suddenly becoming serious.

She simply couldn't understand what the other party was hesitating about at a time like this!

Even Shihen and the others made their choices without hesitation.

Besides, Wendy is still your student!

“Professor Theresa, you really are still the same as before…” Wendy chuckled softly, a wild smile curving her lips. “Just like three years ago, are you going to use me as a sacrifice again?”

As soon as the girl finished speaking, the storm that had just subsided was instantly stirred up again, this time with a power far exceeding that of the battle between Shi Hen and the others.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Boy Sets Up the Stage Amidst the Storm

"temperature--"

During the communication, Theresa couldn't even finish calling out the girl's name when a sudden burst of intense Honkai energy completely blocked the signal.

Shot away by the sudden storm, Shihen glared at Yae Sakura and said hatefully, "Is this your real purpose, Sakura!?"

"..." Hearing the boy's angry question, Yae Sakura was silent for a moment before speaking, "If a monster can't even control its own power, it's better to leave it to us snakes."

At least, we can prevent her from having the opportunity to hurt others.

Miss Wendy is not a monster!

They are human beings, just like us, and like everyone else in the world!

Shihen immediately retorted.

As an absolutely upright person and the future leader of the three families, he certainly could not accept Yae Sakura's statement.

Upon hearing the boy's words, Wendy's eyes flashed, and the surrounding storm seemed to pause for a moment.

But the image of Theresa's hesitant face simultaneously appeared in the girl's mind, and the howling wind eventually overwhelmed everything.

hum-

Without exchanging any pleasantries with Yae Sakura, Wendy waved her hand, and dozens of wind blades, each a meter in size, shot towards the shrine maiden.

But faced with this attack that could easily kill any A-rank Valkyrie, Yae Sakura simply drew her demon sword and slashed forward in a full, round arc with a calm expression.

boom--

In an instant, dozens of wind blades were directly annihilated, and the gale that could easily cut through steel dissipated into countless gentle breezes, which only slightly lifted the shrine maiden's cherry-colored hair tied behind her head, adding a touch of captivating charm to her.

Without any intention of appreciating the beautiful scenery, Wendy slightly opened her slender hand, conjuring a ball of wind blades. Her azure wings suddenly unfurled, propelling the girl's body into a streak of light as she flashed in front of Yae Sakura.

"Die!" Wendy slashed down with her wind blade, her expression growing increasingly crazed. "Theresa deserves to die! You lot deserve to die too!"

Everyone in this world deserves to die!

The scene from three years ago, which felt like the beginning of a nightmare, reappeared, and the girl's heart was instantly engulfed by the surging negative emotions.

With her rationality completely snapped, Wendy was left with only the desire to destroy everything.

"How pathetic, Miss Wendy..."

Waving her demon sword, Yae Sakura easily blocked the girl's attack. Her expression remained calm, even carrying a sense of compassion unique to clergy. "With such weak power, who can you possibly kill?"

Let me tell you, even among our fellow Herrschers, there is a difference in our power.

As she spoke softly, the shrine maiden's peaceful gaze suddenly transformed into the sharp, piercing look of a swordsman, and the demon sword in her hand was no longer merely for defense.

With her crimson demon sword held horizontally in front of her, Yae Sakura deflected Wendy's wind blade. Instead of retreating, she took a half-step forward and unleashed a fierce and unparalleled kasaya slash at the girl in front of her.