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"What leads you to say that, Miss Rita?" Jeanne replied composedly. Ultimately, she believed there were no decisive flaws in her guise. Otto's plans were typically meticulous and reliable, and Rita likely wouldn't find any concrete evidence against her.
In other words, Jeanne felt secure and undaunted.
"You may have hidden exceptionally well, but it seems you've forgotten something crucial," Rita said slowly. "While you became intimately familiar with me, with us, we also grew equally acquainted with you."
"I indeed don't possess solid evidence, but my intuition tells me—you are Ana."
"Miss Rita, without evidence, this is merely baseless accusation." Jeanne spread her hands, sounding somewhat exasperated.
She had anticipated that Rita might uncover some detail or find tangible proof, but never did she expect Rita to resort to such an unsubstantiated approach.
At this point, Jeanne was indeed at a loss for how to proceed.
After all, she couldn't convince Rita that she wasn't Ana without incriminating herself further. Any attempt to prove her innocence would only entangle her deeper in the so-called self-incrimination trap, playing right into Rita's hands.
"Evidence, you ask? Naturally, I have some. But before presenting it, Miss Ana, shouldn't you explain your actions first?" Rita continued with a smile, her demeanor making it impossible to discern her true intentions.
"What do I need to explain? Your conjectures cannot be considered facts, and thus, there is nothing for me to clarify," Jeanne replied calmly.
"Miss Rita, instead of trying to extract information from me, why not present your evidence? If you intend to pass this test through such means, then, Miss Rita, please accept my apologies."
As Jeanne spoke, her aura grew stronger, and her Binding Domain expanded around her.
If her guess was correct, Rita likely didn't possess any solid proof. After all, they had witnessed Ana's death firsthand; who could anticipate her phoenix-like rebirth in such a manner?
Proving that someone completely deceased is actually alive is even more challenging than faking one's own death to deceive everyone.
"Oh dear, don't rush! Since you require evidence, I shall provide it."
Rita smiled faintly; indeed, she had some evidence, but none of it was decisive. She always believed that Ana wouldn't leave so easily and must have found a way to escape, continuing her plans.
Thus, behind the scenes, she conducted extensive investigations and gathered certain information.
"As far as I know, Ana previously established several enterprises, and rather than collapsing with her disappearance, they continued to thrive and grow significantly."
"Is that so?" Jeanne squinted, smiling mildly.
These developments were all due to Bai Zhi's actions. As merely a new clone, these matters had no connection to Jeanne herself, and thus, she remained unperturbed.
Moreover, this couldn't serve as convincing evidence. Just recently, she had arranged for Gray Serpent to take over these businesses, integrating them into the New Stigma Project.
"Well, that sounds like good news. If they truly exist, I won't hesitate to claim them."
"...," Rita observed Jeanne's composed demeanor, slightly frowning. This reaction seemed different from what she anticipated. Essentially, she still lacked any definitive proof, and the clues she had collected were ambiguous and inconclusive.
Some clues supported her theory, but others presented contradictions.
Moreover, based on Schicksal's records, Jeanne indeed appeared to be Ana's clone. If Jeanne truly was Ana, then who could be responsible for certain other events?
For a moment, Rita felt somewhat bewildered.
Naturally, the mastermind behind all this deception was Ana herself.
She had anticipated the possibility of exposure long ago, which led her to create multiple clones. Attempting to deduce through scattered evidence would reveal intricate connections between several individuals and Ana.
If one were to definitively identify any single person as Ana, inconsistencies would arise.
Who could imagine that these various individuals, these clones, were actually fragments of Ana? Her method of controlling these clones drew inspiration from ancient mythology novels she read in her previous life, making it virtually flawless.
It can only be said that unless Rita concludes that all clones are aspects of Ana and provides proof, her investigation remains futile.
However, achieving such certainty is beyond anyone's capabilities.
In reality, Ana's avatars extend far beyond the few known on the surface. Even among Anti-Entropy's researchers and wanderers within the Sea of Quanta, there are her avatars.
"Alright, I can admit it - she is indeed a part of me, but she isn't me, nor am I her."
Seeing Rita visibly troubled, Jeanne pondered briefly before deliberately showing a resigned expression.
It wasn't yet time to reveal everything; doing so now would inadvertently drag them into another battlefield.
Yes, although the plot hasn't reached its intended point, Ana has already decided to strike first against Sa, aiming for preemptive action.
Moreover, Ana's target isn't merely Sa on the Imaginary Tree but directly at Sa within the Sea of Quanta. The plan is to eradicate Sa completely, seizing this opportunity to achieve her own transcendence and fully separate from the divine self.
One can only say that the divine self's ambition is immense, fueled by confidence derived from power. As the Lord of Finality, capable of creating the Herrscher of Finality, annihilating Sa entirely does not seem impossible.
After all, even Sa had to flee far from the Herrscher of Finality's presence. Naturally, this allowed Ana to delve deep into the Sea of Quanta and launch a counterattack against Sa's true form.
These events, however, were too distant for those currently on Earth, still grappling with their Finality trials.
Moreover, Ana would ultimately return. In her departure towards the future, only her divine self left behind.
But before returning, Ana wanted to have a bit more fun.
"Miss Rita, my condolences," Jeanne said softly. "The departed are gone; what remains here are mere echoes of past existence."
"Discussing these matters of the past holds no meaning for us," she continued, raising her hand as golden radiance surged forth. Intending to gently sweep Rita away from the square, yet before the light could reach Rita,
another beam descended from the sky. A figure emerged swiftly - it was none other than Durandal...
With this abrupt halt, Version 5.3's storyline concluded. It was yet another masterful cliffhanger. In the Honkai World, Durandal's presence was unmistakable, while within the game, only a brief description remained.
In the real world, Brother Cake's live stream showcased a rollercoaster of events unfolding.
Jeanne knew her true nature, but others were unaware, including the Captains in the real world. After all, everything so far had been mere speculation.
However, Jeanne's revelation quickly became indisputable reality, pouring cold water on many Captains' expectations.
Jeanne was not Ana; rather, she seemed to be a clone possessing fragments of Ana's memories. This conclusion left the Captains feeling both surprised and unsurprising at the same time.
Otto had tirelessly worked for five centuries to resurrect Kallen, yet ultimately failed to truly bring her back.
And what about Ana?
Ana died before everyone's eyes; there was no easy path for her resurrection, nor would Otto likely assist in that endeavor. Having someone carry on her will proved to be the best possible outcome.
"At least, Jeanne should now be able to join the ship."
"Indeed, at least she can board now. With new armor for Ana, this is a good start."
"It's definitely a positive beginning, but..."
"But why do I feel like crying!"
"Me too!"
"Pfft, you guys are just being overly sentimental!"
"It's just a virtual character; why get so worked up? How amusing!"
"Moderator, ban that user quickly! This is outrageous!"
"Yeah!"
"Hold on, isn't this the person who keeps trolling in the chat all day?"
"Oh man, always trolling, huh? Your mom must be rolling over in her grave."
"Please maintain civility in the chat, Moderator, handle it - thanks!"
In her dormitory, Ana casually sat on a chair with legs crossed, whistling as she typed out those messages.
Ahh, trolling is such fun; there's always someone biting the hook. And the moderators can't touch me—I'm perfectly civil, just sharing my opinion. Why are they getting so defensive?
However...
Ana's eyes flickered, her gaze seemingly transcending time and space to witness the current crumbling Honkai World and the imminent appearance of a pivotal character—Durandal.
Honestly, Rita's reaction caught Ana somewhat off guard.
Initially, Ana expected Rita to forcefully confront Jeanne, adhering to her usual assertive style. Yet surprisingly, Rita chose rationality instead.
If Rita had indeed opted for confrontation, it would have been challenging for Jeanne to handle.
Both psychologically and physically, neither of my avatars could resist Rita. In that scenario, even Jeanne might have ended up fleeing in disarray, as Otto's plan was nearing its conclusion anyway.
"Perhaps this is how the wise become ensnared by their own wisdom?" Ana murmured softly.
On the contrary, if Durandal returns, everything changes significantly, doesn't it? Although at this point, the mission is nearly complete regardless.
It's time to reclaim the Jeanne avatar.
"In a way, this brings things full circle."
With this, the current phase of content in the real-world game was nearing its end, and soon, players would receive a sneak peek at the upcoming update—Brilliance of Order. Undoubtedly, the highlight of this expansion would be Ana's new armor, Brilliance of Order.
While the real-world events could indeed take a temporary pause, in the Honkai World, everything unfolded seamlessly without significant time gaps between chapters.
As a beam of white light sliced through the sky, Jeanne felt her grip on Abyss Flower momentarily falter, indicating it might slip from her grasp.
This was entirely expected; she hadn't performed any ownership binding or left her mark on Abyss Flower. After all, she initially didn't require its power.
Seeing it about to escape, Jeanne wasted no time and promptly released Abyss Flower.
In the heavens above, a knight astride a black warhorse descended swiftly, having just unleashed that powerful attack. Undoubtedly, this was Durandal, the awakened Heavenly Origin being with both bloodline and Stigmata enhancements.
Five-star Commentator MacArthur once said, "If I were to encounter her on the battlefield..." Well, that's a different story.
However, it cannot be denied that Durandal, having reached the Heavenly Origin Realm, is now vastly different from before. If she weren't bound by the limitations of not being a Herrscher, she might indeed have played a significant role in the final battle.
Currently, Durandal has truly earned the right to seek answers.
Jeanne's eyes flickered, filled with contemplation, as she debated whether to reveal certain truths to Durandal. On one hand, observing events unfold without interference wasn't necessarily a bad approach.
While Jeanne pondered, Durandal descended from the sky, mounted on her horse, and gracefully caught Rita, akin to a knight rescuing a princess.
In a sense, though, Durandal herself was the true princess.
As Durandal landed, she gently placed Rita down, dismounting her steed. Clad in pristine white armor, she exuded a sacred and radiant beauty.
"Are you alright, Rita?"
"I'm fine, Lady Durandal." Rita nodded and then turned towards Ana in the distance, a hint of concern in her eyes.
"She..."
"I already know about her situation."
Before Rita could respond, Durandal interjected, causing Jeanne's eyes to flicker with concern. She had overlooked the Kaslana factor amidst all her calculations.
Rita's original body possessed traces of Kaslana bloodline, and she even awakened it later on. Consequently, the Stigma's will was aware of her existence and knew some of her recent activities, although much information abruptly ceased at a certain point.
However—on the Kaslana side, there was also Siegfried!
Siegfried truly faced misfortune. Although Ana's warning prompted him to leave Entropy Headquarters this time, it didn't mean Kevin hadn't noticed him.
In the end, after various twists and turns, Kevin still managed to capture Siegfried and cast him into the stigma space for trials. Perhaps this was his predetermined fate.
Combined, these two sources provided Durandal with significant insights about Ana.
Fortunately, all information related to Ana abruptly ended during the Herrscher of Winter incident. However, based on the data from earlier periods, many conclusions could be drawn.
Now, it was crucial to observe Durandal's reaction and actions.