Night time on that day would arrive as the trio would step out as it was time to head back out and check out some ware houses that had been reported has having puppet sightings.

Alex and Mei would turn back to at the bar as Raven closed the door and locked it for potentially the last time.

After a lengthy walk, the three would enter the warehouse from an upper floor as they'd look down below and saw puppeteered mechs.

"This is the third warehouse in the report." Said Raven.

"Doesn't seem to be much different compared to the other two." Said Alex.

"Well, all the warehouses in this area seem to look the same after all." Said Mei.

"Anyways, those out of control mechs are throwing quite the bash down there. You two know what to do. Calm them down but don't tear the place up." Stated Raven.

"That's odd to hear. How come?" Asked Mei.

"I promised an old friend who owns the neighborhood. I can here to confirm something with me." Explained Raven.

"You certainly have some solid connections teach." Said Alex.

"We just help scratch each other's backs. Nothing more than that. Well then, you two go on. I have some intel to acquire."

Alex and Mei nodded as they started making their way through the warehouse.

They'd take on the mechs and just like the ones back in the Theater, these were also controlled by a core.

Thankfully these enemies weren't as strong like they were in the Theater.

The two would continue going through this lower floor until reaching an elevator as they'd get surrounded by some puppeteered Honkai Zombies.

Before they could attack, Alex saw something faintly glow out of the corner of his eye.

"Get down." He said to Mei as the ducked.

Right as they did, the zombies would be shot down and defeated as the two looked up to see Raven at a vantage point with her firearms.

"You certainly got done fast." Said Alex.

"Didn't feel like wasting time after getting the intel. Is the whole place still intact?" She asked.

"The place is fine." Said Mei as Raven would jump down to where they were.

"So this intel, what's it about?" Asked the boy.

"Is it about the puppet?" Added Mei as Raven nodded.

"I learned something quite interesting. Remember how Gray Serpent said that it was a weird one? It doesn't act alone." Said Raven.

This information shocked Mei though Alex already knew this after seeing it first hand, though he couldn't admit that since they'd obviously question how he came across all of this info.

"There are other puppets helping?" Asked Mei.

"Not quite. More like, actual humans. I've pinpointed the next crime scene. The culprit works at night meaning we have plenty of time to prepare for tommorow. With that being the case, let's book a place to stay for the night. I got something special to take you two tommorow morning." Said Raven.

The two nodded, leaving the warehouse and calling it a night.

[The Next Morning]

Paradise.

That was the word that could perfectly describe where the two were as they stood in a gorgeous forest on a private island that was guarded, though upon seeing Raven they'd ease up and let them pass through.

'Is this, the new place sensei sent the kids to? This is, amazing......' Thought Alex.

Not too long after the three had walked in, they were spotted by Sora who ran up to them in joy.

"Sensei! Mei! Alex!" She happily said.

"Hello Sora. You saw us a mile off, didn't you?" Said Raven as she hugged the girl and ruffled her hair. "Sorry I came late. Thanks for taking care of everyone while I was away. How do you like it here?"

"It's great! The beds are soft, the living room is big, and we have hot water around the clock! Everyone's happy!" She excitedly said before stopping to think for a moment. "Though, the curry here isn't as good as Mei's!"

Mei chuckled a bit as Raven frowned.

"So, you miss her more than me huh? I'm hurt." She said.

"N-No! We miss you too! We miss you everyday!"

As Raven and Sora chatted, Mei turned to see Alex staring off into the distance as she noticed a house in that direction. One that was big, classy, and fancy.

Though with guards stationed there, it was clear that it didn't allow the outside world in.

"Something catch your eye?" Asked Mei.

"After spending two years with these kids, they became family. I never would've thought they'd end up in an amazing place like this. I'm proud of them for having put up with Nagazora. They deserve rest like this. A place where they're cut off from the Honkai." Said Alex as he pulled back the sleeve on his left arm and looked at his infection. "Where they can live normal lives unlike some people."

Before Mei could respond, she tapped Alex's shoulder as Sora ran up to them.

Alex immediately pulled his sleeve back down aa the girl approached them.

"Hey hey Alex, Mei! Wanna come see the kids!?" She asked.

Before Mei answered, she looked at Alex and noticed that he didn't really look to be in the mood but didn't have the heart to say no so Mei did.

"Sorry Sora. There's something else we need to do. Don't worry though, we'll come back another day. Want a gift? I can bring you one." Said Mei as Sora shook her head no.

"It's okay! I don't need a gift. Seeing you two is good enough!" She said.

"Alright, it's a deal. Now don't keep your sensei waiting. She missed you so much that she was even practicing on what to say on the way here." Said Mei with a smirk.

"Zip it." Said an annoyed Raven as she took Sora's hand and went to the house.

Mei would look to see Alex had sat down on a nearby log, watching a small stream of water flow by as the girl accompanied him.

The two sat their in silence, enjoying the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling.

After a moment, Mei decided now was finally the time to have some questions of hers answered.

"Hey."

"What?"

".....................back in your room, care to explain?" She asked, clearly referring to the gun.

Alex remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I'd have to back track a bit to explain that."

"Go ahead. I'm all ears."

"Truth be told, I know a lot of things of this Herrscher. Even before the Serpent started to get the ball rolling."

"How'd you come across it's existence?"

"Sensei assigned me to a missing person's case. I'd come across one of the puppet's in the missing person's hotel room. Alongside it was a theater ticket with the name Theater of Domination on it."

"Theater of Domination?"

"As it turns out, it wasn't fake. This Herrscher has it's own domain and that how it functions. 1000 individuals act as 1, making it a scary foe. There's one last thing that makes it formidable."

"What is it?"

"Unlike prior Herrschers, this one doesn't use brute force. It just mind games. Manipulation. It targets a person's insecurities, makes them feel hopeless and lost. Once that's done, it takes over their psyche, making them kill themselves in order to join their cause." Explained Alex.

Mei remained silent as she now realized that her hunch was correct.

"So..............this Herrscher targeted your insecurities?" She asked as Alex nodded. "Mind if I ask what they were?"

Alex again remained silent, trying to collect his thoughts before speaking.

"It kept stating how I didn't belong. How I was never meant to be in the position I'm supposed to be in. That I kept swinging way above my pay grade and honestly, maybe they're right. I mean, we have Herrschers battling Herrschers and yet here I am, just an ordinary boy. A part of feels like maybe I was better off just thinking to simple mercenary work like back then. Drift away as a nameless gray face amongst the masses. I'm not all that special honestly. Maybe y'all's story is better off without me. I mean, who do I really benefit anyways? I have no purpose here. I'm just being dragged along, kinda like an unwanted plus one ya know?" Said Alex, attempting to laugh it off.

Mei remained quiet.

For as stoic and plain Alex seemed, she never could've guessed that he had insecurities about not believing he had a purpose, that he didn't belong, and that he saw no benefit in himself to anyone.

All in all, he viewed himself as a hindrance. Someone who could and in his mind should be casted away.

The girl reached an arm around and place her hand on the back of Alex's hand.

"Hm?"

Before the boy could question it, Mei would bring him in, putting his head to her chest as she gave him a hug and patting his head as she softly spoke.

"You benefit me."

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Chapter 29: Complete