Honkai: Withered White Camellia

It wasn't until he actually started the job that Welt realized it wasn't as easy as he had expected.

Tesla, on the other hand, always had a particular routine. She would get completely drunk at night, then stagger upstairs, reeking of alcohol. Haphazardly, she'd put a vinyl record on the player.

Half-asleep, she'd collapse onto her pillow, letting the loud music lull her into unconsciousness. The next morning, it would likely be the same story.

Go to the park... seems a bit too ordinary.

Go to an amusement park? Wouldn't that be a little too childish?

A music bar? Although those places are usually well-managed, so there wouldn't be any trouble, but if Dr. Tesla gets drunk...

Chess and card clubs didn't seem like something Tesla would enjoy at all, and most clubs in London were members-only. He'd only been here for less than a month, so there was no way he could get a membership card.

"Ah... I've already flipped through it all, but there really isn't anything that could be called interesting."

Joyce set down the London Tourist Guide with a bit of a headache. The attractions in this not-so-thin book had already been thoroughly explored by Tesla and Einstein, so nothing could spark their interest.

"How about we go to the library? Maybe there's a city living guide or something that could help."

After stretching slightly, Joyce slowly stood up from the sofa and walked to the coffee pot. He poured the brewed Blue Mountain coffee into his white porcelain cup and took a small sip of the still-warm, fragrant coffee. Although there was no sugar or milk, he could still feel a unique sensation within the bitterness.

Having lived with her for so many years, he had unknowingly developed the same habit of drinking unsweetened coffee.

After finishing the slightly bitter coffee, Joyce gently put down the white porcelain cup and wiped a bit of coffee from the corner of his lips with a napkin. He grasped the door handle, unlocked the door, and walked towards the library.

The 42nd Lab wasn't far from the library, so Joyce didn't take too long to reach the library building. He inserted the password tube representing the head of the 42nd Lab into the smart lock, and the door automatically opened. He pressed the button for the second floor at the elevator and, after a ding, Welt stepped into the elevator.

Stepping out of the elevator, Joyce walked towards the information desk. A man with light blonde hair and glasses was reading Critique of Pure Reason. Joyce hesitated for a moment, then gently extended his hand.

"Excuse me, are there any books about London living guides around here? I'm having some trouble and need to borrow a few."

The man gently put down the book, adjusted his glasses, and looked at Joyce. "Yes, but do you have a library card, sir?"

Only then did he remember that he hadn't gotten a library card. Last time, Einstein had borrowed a book for him. Joyce looked a bit embarrassed. "Um, I just arrived at the 42nd Lab, so I don't have a library card yet. Is it possible to..."

"Wait, did you say you just arrived at the 42nd Lab? Are you the new head of the 42nd Lab, Welt Joyce?"

Joyce nodded, slightly surprised. The man gently pushed his glasses up, revealing a gentle smile. "Then you don't need a library card. After all, the original purpose of this library was to collect enough information for the 42nd Lab."

"Hmm... I still feel a bit confused, but thank you. Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

"Elias, Elias Nokianvitanen."

"Nokianvitanen... A Finn?"

The librarian gave a self-deprecating smile. "That name is a bit too long, so Dr. Einstein and Dr. Tesla usually just call me the Finn. If you think the name is too long, you can call me that too."

"Then... thank you. I'll go find the books I need."

Joyce secretly memorized the name and followed the library signs towards the living section of the library. He stopped in front of a bookshelf labeled "Travel Guides," gently pressed the spine of a thicker book, and slowly wiggled it out. However, before he could even flip through it, a sudden phone ring interrupted him.

The Finn picked up the receiver, said something to the person on the other end, and then hung up. He came out from behind the information desk, walked to Joyce's side, and gently patted the lab head on the shoulder. "Mr. Joyce, there's an emergency mission. All the researchers at the 42nd Lab need to go to North America."

"To North America? So soon? When do we leave?"

Thinking about how one of his tasks was to monitor the North American branch, Welt suddenly felt a lot of pressure. The Finn glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's 9:25 now. The special plane will arrive at 10:15, so we have 40 minutes."

"This is so sudden... but, oh well, I'm the head of the 42nd Lab after all. By the way, is there anything we need to prepare?"

The Finn shrugged, looking towards the phone.

"According to Dr. Einstein, we just need to go. No need to bring too much."

Quickly putting down the book he hadn't even opened, Joyce and the Finn left the library building together. The sunlight was already weak, and the cool autumn breeze felt refreshing, giving Joyce a long-lost sense of coolness. It was indeed a rare rain-free day in London, perfect for a trip.

"Hey! Finn, and Whitey... I mean, Director! Get ready to board the plane. We're leaving as soon as everyone's here!"

Tesla, standing on the stairs of the tarmac, waved reluctantly. It was obvious that Einstein had told her to watch for the Finn and Welt. Joyce pressed his fingers to his chest with a helpless expression. "Next time, if you're going to change the way you address me, do it faster. I almost heard 'pretty boy'."

Tesla clenched her fist, her expression clearly displeased. "It's already good enough that I'm changing it! You... you weak pretty boy!"

"Hey, where am I weak? It's clearly you, Tesla, who's too aggressive! Your style is so bold and forceful, you're completely unreasonable..."

"What did you say...!?"

After a loud smack, Welt, just like he had done countless times in the past month, covered his chest, a pained expression on his face. He followed Tesla onto the Schicksal-dedicated NTW-50 Special Transport Aircraft, fastened his seatbelt, and after the Finn took his seat, the transport aircraft shot flames from its tail, and sped towards the runway ahead.

With increasing speed, it soared into the blue sky.

The flight was indeed boring, especially since he hadn't had time to bring any reading material.

The plane had only been flying for a dozen minutes when Tesla, who had a habit of staying up late and drinking the night before, had already leaned back and fallen asleep. The sky outside the window was constantly receding, and the only sound he could hear was the quiet hum of the engine.

This trip to the North American branch probably wouldn't be so peaceful.

At this moment, was she still working all night?

Maybe she would rest for a bit...

If I were there, she might remember to sleep for a while at night, but after I left, there wasn't even anyone she could talk to.

She always said that in those two years when Eleanor and Octavia left her one after the other, she lost all her warmth, but... Joyce always somewhat wishfully believed that at least in front of that 10-year-old child, the white-haired beauty always dressed in dark nun's habit did show a hint of the gentleness of the past.

She stood alone at the highest peak, respected by the world, but no one could truly approach her.

"What are you thinking about?"

It was Einstein's gentle voice that interrupted Joyce's thoughts. She gently put down her Sudoku tool and looked at Joyce. Joyce didn't say anything, just gently lowered his left hand that had been rubbing his temples.

"Don't worry, this should just be a normal academic exchange... Professor Niels Bohr from the Copenhagen Research Center will also be there, so you don't have to worry too much about your position as the head sent from headquarters."

"Mr. Bohr? He's coming too?"

Hearing this news, Joyce couldn't help but be surprised. Although Bohr was no longer very active in the conflict between the Civilization Faction and the Uncontrolled Faction, he was the only Cardinal Secretary among the members of both factions. As one of the nine people with the most power in the Cardinal Court besides the Overseer, Bohr could even represent the Overseer to some extent.

Could it be that... the Overseer and the North American branch had some conflict?

Just as he was about to ask something, a feeling of descent came, and after a few hours of flight, the transport plane finally arrived at New York Airport.

Einstein didn't say anything else, just leaving the words "You'll know when you get there" before leaving her seat, waking up Tesla, and walking off the plane.

Joyce had no choice but to follow, chasing after the two beauties into the waiting hall. A lively voice waved to the three of them. "Hi! Tesla and Einstein, over here!"

Standing next to her was a man in the white robes of a Cardinal. Joyce recognized him as Bohr. Compared to the green-haired beauty's enthusiasm, Bohr seemed much more polite. "The journey must have been tiring, everyone."

Joyce walked to the green-haired beauty, and just as he was about to say something, she extended her hand first.

"Hello, you must be Welt Joyce. I've already heard about you from Niels. I'm Planck, Emma Planck, one of the heads of the North American branch. It's nice to meet you... future, Second Overseer."