Raiden Ryoma sat in his solitary confinement cell, contemplating life.

As an acting representative of Anti-Entropy, his seniority far exceeded Cocolia’s. He had joined Anti-Entropy even before the Second Honkai Eruption.

Being a man of both considerable experience and capability, Raiden Ryoma had, almost as a matter of course, been entrusted with significant responsibilities. With the technological backing of Anti-Entropy’s scientists, he established the multinational conglomerate ME Corp, providing Anti-Entropy with substantial financial resources. He also set up numerous underground factories to research and manufacture mecha.

Without a doubt, Raiden Ryoma, with ME Corp supporting him, was an exceedingly crucial figure within Anti-Entropy, his influence surpassing that of most veteran members.

And then, Cocolia had set her sights on him.

On November 16th, 2013, ME Corp was suddenly hit with a scandal involving alleged economic fraud. Raiden Ryoma was accused of fraudulently acquiring approximately 3.4 billion US dollars under the pretext of raising funds for the development of “ultra-high frequency electromagnetic field confinement.” Not only was he dismissed from his position as CEO by the board of directors, but he also faced imprisonment.

“Has it been two and a half months already?”

In a solitary cell within Nagazora City Prison, the handsome man sat at a desk, gazing at the calendar on the wall, his expression tinged with a hint of gloom. The man who had once built the multinational ME Corp stood up and walked towards the window, looking out at the scenery beyond the tempered glass.

PS: Japanese regulations regarding cell dimensions state that, excluding the toilet, washbasin, and cabinet, a single-person cell is approximately 6 to 7.5 square meters and is equipped with a window.

Raiden Ryoma’s mood was somewhat agitated.

Two and a half months had passed since he was framed. If no one intervened, that madwoman Cocolia would undoubtedly devour all of his influence and assets. If that madwoman managed to amass enough power, God only knew what kind of trouble she would stir up.

“Click.”

Without any warning, the sound of a key entering a lock and turning to open the door echoed.

Raiden Ryoma, who had been engrossed in thought, frowned and looked towards the door.

The person who came was a tall, thin man—the very prison guard in charge of Raiden Ryoma’s section.

“Mr. Raiden, your family is here to visit you.”

Someone to visit him?

Raiden Ryoma’s already furrowed brows tightened further. Today wasn’t supposed to be a visitation day.

“Could you tell me what the person visiting me looks like?”

Sensing that something was amiss, Raiden Ryoma looked at the prison guard and asked.

If it wasn’t a visitation day, then the person visiting him couldn’t possibly be Raiden Mei. Raiden Mei was currently just a student and lacked the power to interfere with an institution like a prison. The visitor had to be someone else. For instance, one of Cocolia’s subordinates, or perhaps a rescuer sent by the Anti-Entropy Conservative Faction.

“Mr. Raiden, your family is here to visit you.”

The prison guard continued to repeat the same words.

Like a wind-up machine set into motion, the guard uttered these words, then beckoned to Raiden Ryoma, signaling him to follow.

Raiden Ryoma looked at the guard’s face, and his expression changed abruptly. The man, who had always been quite spirited in the past, now had a dazed expression and lifeless eyes, as if he were merely an empty shell. He looked exactly like a puppet controlled by strings in a puppet show.

This situation was truly too bizarre, deeply unsettling.

Was Cocolia behind this?

In this somewhat eerie situation, Raiden Ryoma’s muscles tensed, his entire being radiating the sharp aura peculiar to a martial artist. As Raiden Mei’s father and kendo instructor, Raiden Ryoma possessed extremely high martial arts proficiency.

“Are you really not going to come?”

Just as Raiden Ryoma was warily watching the open door and the corridor beyond, a remarkably clear voice sounded from behind him.

Since when?!

Was it an assassin sent by Cocolia?

Completely failing to notice anyone appearing behind him, Raiden Ryoma felt a chill run down his spine. He spun around, lashing out with a fierce straight punch towards his rear.

As a martial artist, Raiden Ryoma was undoubtedly exceptional. A single punch from him was enough to send a burly giant to the morgue.

However, against certain ‘irregulars,’ this was insufficient.

A fair, almost unnaturally pale hand had effortlessly caught his fist.

“Is Miss Mei’s father such a violent person?”

The light words, spoken by the youth who had caught his fist, left Raiden Ryoma stunned.

He… he had just mentioned his daughter’s name, hadn’t he?

Realizing that the situation might be somewhat unusual, Raiden Ryoma took a step back, then narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the individual who had appeared so suddenly.

It was a male who looked remarkably young, probably not much older than his own daughter. His slightly long hair possessed a faint luster like black jade, his skin was an almost unhealthily pale white, and his vivid red eyes held an almost demonic beauty.

However, these were not Raiden Ryoma’s primary focus. He wasn’t gay, after all, so there was no need for him to pay attention to features that women would typically notice. What truly captivated his attention was the totem-like insignia on the back of the youth’s hand.

“Natural Stigmata.”

Raiden Ryoma exhaled, uttering the words.

“You’ve been staring for quite a while. Is that all you have to say?”

The youth—who had already instructed Bronya to hack the entire prison’s surveillance system and had then used a familiar to control the prison guard—watched the handsome, middle-aged man stare at him for a long moment only to focus on the Command Spell, and sighed.

“Who… exactly are you?”

Uncertain of the other party’s identity, Raiden Ryoma’s expression remained cautious. He wasn’t about to let his guard down simply because a stranger had mentioned his daughter’s name.

“The one who’s here to rescue you.”

The youth, who was counting on getting contact information for Theresa, Tesla, or even Welt from Raiden Ryoma, stated his purpose directly.

Raiden Ryoma frowned.

Excluding the Three Great Families of Schicksal, the number of individuals possessing Natural Stigmata was pitifully small; even the entirety of Anti-Entropy couldn’t boast many. Raiden Ryoma knew most of them, and it was clear that the young man before him was not among them.

Was he someone new who had joined Anti-Entropy during his absence? Or was he from another organization, aiming to seize his research findings by capturing him?

Raiden Ryoma’s mind raced, contemplating the youth’s origins.

“Who sent you?”

The man, who would never betray the Welt II he deeply respected, maintained his distance from the youth opposite him and asked.

“I came of my own accord.”

Li Zihan spoke the truth.

Evidently, this truth was not what Raiden Ryoma wanted to hear.

He frowned and continued to press.

“Your reason?”

“Does rescuing my esteemed father-in-law require a reason?”

The handsome youth smiled. He spoke slowly, and for a doting father—a ‘daughter-complex’ case—these words, echoing in the confined space, were certainly not what one would call friendly.

Raiden Ryoma froze.

The martial artist’s sharpness, the dignitary’s air of authority, the researcher’s caution—all of it vanished from him.

He stiffly took a step forward, asking as if selectively deaf.

“What… what did you just say? I don’t think I heard you clearly.”

“Esteemed Father-in-law, I have arrived late. Please forgive me.”

The youth, who in reality had only known Raiden Mei for a single day, spoke with impeccable politeness.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep