"The new boss is coming today. I wonder what'll happen to miHoYo now?" "I'll stay with everyone till the end." "At least someone invested in our studio. Keeping miHoYo running is good news, right?" "Not 'invested'—'acquired.' I confirmed it with Theresa."
Rita's words plunged the room into silence.
After years working together, the team had grown deeply attached to miHoYo.
Click—
The studio door swung open at that exact moment.
Hokuto strode in, expression stern.
Just as he'd imagined: a workspace bustling with women, pleasing to the eye, the air lightly scented with freshener.
But!
Something was completely unexpected.
"Kiana? Mei? Rita? HIMEKO??"
What the—
Hokuto froze.
Had he transmigrated again?
Given the choice, he'd never pick the Honkai-ravaged world. Way too dangerous.
He'd rather stay in this world as a debt-ridden loser. At least here, he could dig himself out of the hole.
Instinctively, he retreated, shutting the door behind him.
Outside, he stared at the company plaque:
[miHoYo Studio]
Through the corridor window, the city hummed peacefully—even a giant penguin logo (their competitor's) stood visible in the distance.
No signs of Honkai apocalypse.
"This is definitely Earth," Hokuto muttered. "Did I hallucinate from transmigration stress?"
Steeling himself, he reopened the door—
—and locked eyes with Rita, now standing at the entrance in her secretary OL attire, black stockings impeccably clad.
The conclusion was inescapable: Honkai characters were real. And they'd founded miHoYo.
"You must be Mr. Hokuto?" Rita offered a flawless professional smile, though her gaze—partially hidden by her fringe—sharpened with scrutiny.
"Yes, Miss Rita."
"You know my name?"
"..."
Quick-thinking, Hokuto lied: "I reviewed the studio's member profiles beforehand."
Truth was, he'd only skimmed their games, planning to fire deadweight staff.
But now? Plans had changed.
Not because he'd caught his predecessor's simping disease—but because making Honkai Impact 3rd with actual Valkyries? That was gold.
Besides, in this world's hyper-strict copyright climate (even doujins needed licenses), using their likenesses without consent was illegal.
So, letting them go? Impossible.
And a Honkai game without Kiana, Bronya, or Rita? Blasphemy.
"Shall I take you to Manager Theresa?" Rita asked.
"No need." Hokuto shook his head. "Gather everyone in the conference room. We're starting immediately."
Curiosity about their backstories could wait. Business came first.
Rita exchanged a glance with Himeko.
"I'll fetch Theresa. You lead the new boss and the others."
"Understood."
——
As Rita left, she entered the manager's office—
—just in time to see the petite, loli-like Theresa hastily stashing a HOMU manga.
"Reading comics during work hours? Even with the company in crisis, you've got spare leisure, I see."
"Ahem." Theresa coughed. "Precisely because times are tough, we need stress relief. Don't you agree?"
"I agree that flustered Theresa is adorable." Rita smirked.
"??"
"Wha— Why'd you— Ugh, I ought to bonk you with Judah— Wait, what's 'Judah'?"
Flustered into nonsense, Theresa blinked at her own inexplicable words.
Having teased her fill, Rita switched to business: "The new boss wants everyone in the conference room."
"He's here already?"
Theresa hopped off her chair, attempting a dignified stride (despite her height).
"What's your impression of him?"
"Favorable."
"Oh?"
"He seemed… genuinely pleased to see us." Rita guided her toward the meeting. "Not that it's odd—our studio's uniqueness tends to elicit that reaction from men."
"Then why the high marks?"
"It felt like… reuniting with an old friend? Like he knew us. And—" Rita's voice lowered, "—I think miHoYo's fortune might be turning."
"That's… oddly mystical of you."
——
Twenty minutes later.
miHoYo's largest conference room.
Standing at the podium, Hokuto surveyed the tense team before cutting to the chase:
"Before coming, I reviewed your games."
The projector behind him displayed miHoYo's portfolio.
The team perked up, hopeful for praise—
—only to crash moments later.
"Frankly? Only the blind would pay for these."
The air turned glacial.
Unfazed, Hokuto continued:
"That said, while the writing and concepts are garbage, the gameplay's smooth and art's decent. There's some potential."
"What's wrong with the writing?!"
Mei—not Kiana (the actual writer)—was the first to snap. "Our hit Wacky Brave Adventure's script was Kiana's work!"
"One success doesn't guarantee others." Hokuto countered. "Your later games prove that."
Mei opened her mouth—then deflated. He wasn't wrong.
"I'm not here to intimidate you. Quite the opposite—I believe in your potential. You just lack direction."
"And you can provide that?" Theresa interjected.
"Exactly."
Hokuto tapped the projector.
A massive logo flashed on-screen:
HONKAI IMPACT 3RD
"This is our company's future—our new project!"