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

"That's already the fastest plane in the Far East branch."

"I'm annoyed," Theresa said, glancing at Wendy, who was covered in blood, behind her, and a look of pity flashed in her eyes.

But knowing that now was not the time for reminiscing, Theresa simply sighed inwardly and turned her attention back to Yae Sakura. The huge cross unfolded to both sides like a sword box, revealing a total of twelve golden spears.

Looking at the Judah spear that still gleamed with a chilling light even without sunlight, Yae Sakura couldn't help but sigh softly and said, "Miss Theresa, you shouldn't have come here."

"Should I just sit in my office and watch you hurt my students, and pretend nothing happened?!"

Theresa retorted with a cold laugh, a hint of chill creeping into her eyes.

"I never intended to hurt anyone."

Faced with the nun's almost palpable anger, Yae Sakura simply shook her head gently.

"Are you still going to say that you didn't do any of this?!"

Pointing to the boy who was still unconscious, Theresa felt that the anger in her chest was about to become uncontrollable.

"Before we set off today, Bai made a bet with me." Yae Sakura explained softly as she slowly sheathed her crimson demon sword, "He thought it was impossible for me to bring the Fourth Herrscher back."

"Hmph! At least that guy has some self-awareness."

Upon hearing this, Kiana immediately puffed out her chest proudly.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Bronya's eyes as she couldn't help but scold, "Idiot Kiana, that's not how you use that word!"

Moreover, compared to the Snake Organization's failed attempt to take Wendy away, the current situation is obviously more troublesome, isn't it?

In other words, Yae Sakura was originally a pawn in the plan of that [Walter White].

Even so, the other side forced the Far East Branch to reveal all its trump cards, and only the intimidation brought by Theresa's intervention made the priestess stop slightly.

"What do you mean!?" Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Theresa frowned. "Even if that masked man comes in person, I won't be afraid!"

She spoke forcefully, but her voice clearly lacked confidence.

As the leader of the Far East branch, she knew slightly more than Himeko and the others.

For example, the major battle that took place in Singapore two years ago.

Facing [Walter White] in that state, let alone winning, there are very few people in the world who can even slow him down.

"Bai won't come; he seems to have another plan in mind."

Yae Sakura shook her head.

"That's good..." Theresa breathed a sigh of relief, but then realized that this made it seem like she was afraid of the other party, and her expression immediately turned serious. "Hmph! Even if that guy really comes, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

Yaezakura: “…”

At a time like this, can you stop being so stubborn?

Not only Yae Sakura, but also Himeko, Mei, and the others couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

But since Theresa was the headmistress, the group politely remained silent.

“Miss Theresa, I’ll ask one last time, are you really unwilling to hand Miss Wendy over to me?”

With her gaze fixed on the nun's face, which seemed almost identical to the one in her memory, Yae Sakura asked in a slightly serious tone.

No matter how many times you ask, my answer will always be the same.

St. Freya would never profit by betraying her students!

Without hesitation, Theresa said that although her eyes were filled with grief, there was not a shred of wavering in her heart.

Placing Himeko and Wendy's lives on opposite ends of the scale, she might not be able to make a decisive decision immediately, but she wouldn't consider sacrificing one to save the other.

Moreover, she believed that Himeko would never accept what she had done.

Therefore, even knowing the consequences of doing so, Theresa could only convince herself to accept it all.

This is her sense of duty.

"It seems that Miss Theresa does not yet understand what this choice truly means."

Seeing this, Yae Sakura couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"Enough talk! I'm not handing Wendy over to you!"

With a solemn voice, Theresa immediately grabbed a Judah spear and charged towards Yae Sakura with all her might.

Without any intention of entanglement with the fellow nun, Yae Sakura simply tapped the tip of her unsheathed demon sword lightly on the spear, and her figure instantly receded like a cherry blossom drifting in the wind, leaving only her gentle yet affectionate words echoing in the distance:

"Bai once said that he believed that love between people could create miracles and turn the impossible into the possible."

Being able to do this means that you have already qualified to enter his field of vision.

Miss Theresa, please be more careful from now on. What happened today is just the beginning.

When all four keys are gathered, the world will enter the countdown to its true destruction.

By the way, one more thing.

"Miss Mei, please don't draw that sword, no matter what, if... you still want to live as a human."

"and many more!"

Subconsciously, Theresa watched the cherry blossom-colored figure disappear in an instant. She had just gotten up to chase after it, but the next second she involuntarily stopped.

Blinking in confusion, Himeko looked at Theresa with an even more bewildered expression and asked, "That priestess just left like that?"

Is their school principal really that useful?

Although it's clear that Yae Sakura's condition has declined after a series of battles, it's not impossible for her opponent to take Wendy away.

Her retreat so easily makes one wonder if the priestess has ulterior motives.

No, considering what the other party said at the end, Yae Sakura undoubtedly had ulterior motives.

"How would I know what that guy is up to!?" Theresa rolled her eyes at Himeko, then turned her gaze to the clearly worried girl with long, straight black hair. "Mei, don't overthink it. There'll always be a way to deal with the Seven Thunders of Purification."

Even she didn't know what to do with the sword.

A person as extremely dangerous as Walter White is enough to make one feel uneasy just by looking at him.

Not to mention, the other side seems to have a whole host of evil plans.

"Yes, I understand, Headmaster."

Mei nodded slightly, forcing a smile, but her heart grew heavier.

She already knew that Walter White had sent the Seven Lightning Bolts with ill intentions, and now Yae Sakura's words confirmed this.

However... since that [Walter White] dared to send out the Seven Thunders of Purification, he would inevitably create a situation that would force her to draw her sword.

Mei glanced at the unconscious boy in Kiana and Seele's arms and couldn't help but clench her fists.

She almost, just a hair's breadth away, from losing someone important to her again...

She never wanted to experience that feeling again—being able to watch helplessly as the people she cared about fought desperately, while she could do nothing about it!

On the other side, seeing Mei's obviously forced smile, Theresa didn't know how to comfort her for a moment, and could only smile helplessly. Her gaze finally fell on the green-haired girl who had been extremely sullen since earlier.

As Theresa's gaze swept over the girl's disheveled body, especially her pair of slender, completely naked feet, worn and bloodied by the sand and gravel, there was even more pity in her heart.

She still remembers how radiant Wendy was during her time at St. Freya.

But now...

Despite the deep pain in her heart, Theresa forced a gentle smile and said, "Wendy, don't worry, it's all over. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

“Teacher Theresa…” Wendy called softly, slowly raising her head, her blue eyes instantly brightening. “Do you really think it’s all over?”

Asking in a soft voice, the girl's body suddenly transformed into a whirlwind and flashed in front of Theresa, her palm, glowing with azure light, striking the nun's chest heavily.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Beyond Hatred

"Wendy!"

"Miss Wendy!"

Upon seeing this, Himeko, Mei, and the others panicked.

We finally managed to drive Yae Sakura away, and things could finally be over, but you betrayed us!?

In an instant, Himeko raised her greatsword, Mei gripped the hilt of her katana, Kiana and Bronya raised their weapons, and even Seele summoned her Heavy Bunny again.

"Wendy?"

Seeing the utterly unfamiliar expression of resentment on her student's face so close to hers, and feeling the immense Honkai energy contained in the hand pressed against her chest, Theresa was so shocked that she could hardly speak.

She never imagined that the greatest threat she faced today would not come from Yae Sakura or Walter White, but from Wendy.

"Three years ago, they made me participate in the experiment on the desire for gems, and then ignored me completely."

"Now that you see my value, have you suddenly remembered that you're a teacher?"

Seeing the nun's surprised expression, Wendy coldly questioned her, each word clear and chilling, carrying a hellish coldness.

For a girl whose ideals and beliefs were shattered, the three years she lost the ability to walk because of her desire for gems were indeed hellish torment.

The fact that Wendy was able to endure for three years before unleashing the power of the gem to shatter the prison that was the Oceania branch is already proof of her incredible resilience.

"No, I never thought that way, I just..."

As she spoke, Theresa suddenly fell silent.

When recommending Wendy to participate in the Gem of Desire experiment, she was certainly aware of the dangers of the experiment.

But it was precisely because she understood the dangers of this experiment and knew how many Valkyries had died because of it that she added Wendy's name to the list of recommendations.

As the girl's former teacher, she believed Wendy had the talent to tame the gems.

If even Wendy couldn't do this, it only proves that the experiment was fundamentally flawed.

And just as she had predicted, while the other Valkyries craved the Gem so intensely that they would die if they touched it, Wendy perfectly embraced it with her own body.

However... the price was that the girl could no longer walk and completely lost the possibility of becoming a Valkyrie.

After learning about this, she contacted Wendy several times to inquire about the girl's situation, and each time she received a very positive response.

So she gradually calmed down and believed that Wendy had emerged from the shadow of the failed experiment.

Looking back now, those answers were undoubtedly Wendy's feigned strength.

Even the response from the Oceania branch seemed to be a perfunctory one.

But... she believed it anyway.

As a teacher, she didn't see through Wendy's disguise.

As the leader of the Far East branch, she also failed to see through the Oceania branch's concealment.

What right does she have to defend herself?

With a deep sigh, Theresa's spear of Judah, which she hadn't had time to put away, fell to the ground and dissipated into countless points of light.

"What? You have nothing to say now!?"

The questioning voice grew louder, and Wendy's hand pressed against the nun's chest became even more forceful. Wisps of wind blew out, easily tearing through Theresa's fine nun's habit like blades, revealing patches of snow-white skin.

"Theresa! You need to explain to Wendy right now that things aren't what she thinks!"

Himeko shouted angrily.

What time is it? Are you still playing the self-sacrifice card?

"Yes, Miss Wendy, please calm down. The headmistress is definitely not that kind of person!"

Mei couldn't help but offer her advice.

Having been freeloaded on meals for so many years, she knew very well that Theresa was not the kind of person who would use everything as a bargaining chip for personal gain.

“It’s no longer necessary. I’ve never been a competent teacher.” Shaking her head slightly, feeling the raging wind in her chest that could easily tear her heart apart, Theresa’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Wendy, whether you believe it or not, I have always been proud to have a student like you.”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of confusion crossed Wendy's eyes, and her icy expression softened slightly. However, she quickly regained her resolve and shouted, "Even if you beg for mercy now, don't think I'll let you off so easily!"

For three years, after losing the ability to walk due to her desire for the gem, she had been struggling to survive by relying on her memories of her time living in St. Freya.

She always believed that her kind and gentle teacher, Theresa, would never abandon her.

But as the other party expressed hesitation in the communication, Wendy felt that her perseverance over the past three years had been a complete joke.

Even Theresa is no different from those swindlers in the Oceania branch.