"Holding my cornbread in hand, not a drop of oil in this bland dish..."
"Zeke, I'm having such a rough time here! QvQ!"
On the screen, within the black bars, Kiana's eyes shimmered like pure sapphires, feigning tears as she held up a round ball of white dough—actually a meat-filled bun that Raiden Mei had just delivered; thin-skinned with ample filling, bursting with rich juices at every bite.
Additionally, near the bars, since Raiden Mei hadn't properly closed it upon leaving after delivering food, the unsecured prison door now stood slightly ajar, allowing free entry and exit. Zeke also noticed a bottle of eye drops peeking out from under Kiana's seat, accidentally exposed.
"Sigh..."
Outside the screen, Zeke picked up his teacup with one hand and sighed deeply. What to do? For a moment, he couldn't decide whether to be more upset about her deliberate pity play or mourn for her lack of intelligence.
After some thought, Zeke raised his other hand and snapped his fingers towards the projection screen.
At that moment, as Kiana pretended to wipe away tears, countless black specks materialized before her eyes and coalesced into a hand roughly the same size as Zeke's. While she blinked innocently, it flicked her forehead.
"Smack!"
"Ow!" Rubbing her brow, Kiana pouted, her fair complexion flushed like milk. But under Zeke's deadpan gaze, which seemed to see through everything, her sulking quickly deflated. After a beat, she took a gentle bite of her bun, carefully savoring its savory juices with a look of pure delight.
With Kiana's antics concluded, Bronya sat on the red sofa just beyond the screen's frame, her slender legs elegantly crossed, a faint smile gracing her delicate face.
"That's what happened from start to finish. Considering the urgency, Bronya initiated the emergency contact channel. Zeke, do you have any instructions?"
"You've done well; thank you for your hard work," replied Zeke. The hand within the screen then floated over to Bronya's head, gently patting her small crown.
The corners of Bronya's lips curved up slightly more as her eyes narrowed gently—she knew she was still the smartest among them. By going with the flow, she seized this opportunity to openly contact Zeke and meet him face-to-face. This move truly achieved two birds with one stone!
As Zeke watched Bronya on the screen, his cold demeanor gradually softened. Naturally, he could see her subtle satisfaction and understood her intentions, but decided to let it slide—it wasn't causing any harm.
Next, Zeke turned his attention to Kiana, who was intently munching on a steamed bun.
"You forged my signature, yet deliberately avoided mimicking my handwriting or using our organizations' official systems. Considering Durandal would likely be lenient towards you, this incident can be seen as a harmless prank, easily brushed aside. Should I commend you for maintaining some respect?"
"Well, y'know...I wouldn't want to cause you trouble..." With her small lips glistening from the oil after finishing the bun, Kiana bashfully intertwined her fingers, offering a pleasing smile.
In truth, she couldn't be sure if Zeke would get angry, so she remained quite timid.
Zeke set down his cup as Fu Hua silently refilled it for him and continued with some reproach, "Still, it was foolish."
"Huh?"
"Since you were going to do it, you should have gone all the way—forged my signature and had Bronya use my authority to complete every step of the process. That way, Theresa's so-called 'Sky Base Defense Mechanism Test Operation Plan' could be included, making it a legitimate mission. And considering Siegfried's prior experience infiltrating Schicksal Headquarters, he could've been vaguely justified as a consultant hired by either you or Theresa. Afterward, the three of you could simply dust off your hands and leave, with any disciplinary actions negotiated privately between us."
"But wouldn't that seem...a bit too flippant? Isn't it wrong?"
"You already joined them in their mischief; why worry about being flippant now? Ultimately, whether it seems trivial depends on Otto's and my attitudes. I'd at least take care not to embarrass you publicly, while Otto would gladly turn disciplining Theresa into a personal matter. With our approval, it becomes a proper operation plan—how is that flippant?"
Zeke glanced sidelong at Kiana, speaking softly.
Kiana blinked, bewildered. After a long moment, she slowly smacked her palm with realization.
"Who knew you could pull something like this off?"
"At least for now, it's not a problem. You'll just have to stay within the Inner City and avoid drawing attention. Theresa will likely face some mockery for a while, and Siegfried—his treatment depends entirely on Otto's mood. In any case, all of you need to lie low until I ascend to power and issue a general amnesty decree; then we can turn the page on this incident."
"Oh..." Kiana nodded weakly.
Causing trouble at Schicksal during such a pivotal moment in world affairs was undoubtedly ill-advised, leaving Kiana feeling quite guilty. That's why she had voluntarily requested confinement, bracing herself for Zeke's potential harsh punishment.
However, from his demeanor now, he didn't seem overly angry?
With her head bowed, Kiana's blue eyes occasionally shifted, cautiously stealing glances at Zeke's expression. Gradually, her anxiety eased as her heart settled back down.
Then, she remembered the main purpose of their conversation.
At the same time, Zeke turned fully towards the screen, looking solemnly at Kiana:
"So, did you meet Kiana Kaslana on this trip?"
"Zeke, I was just about to tell you! Yes, I met her!"
Kiana straightened her posture and expression, gathered her thoughts, and recounted her experiences within that mysterious space in detail. This included the girl's immense power capable of even blocking Sirin.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
As Zeke listened intently, he unconsciously lifted his index finger, tapping it lightly against the table, his brow gradually furrowing.
"Unfathomable power, golden chains, messages from the future, and... a mobile game?"
The moment "mobile game" was mentioned, Zeke's pupils contracted slightly.
If referring to games in general, the scope is vast—it could encompass survival, competition, or even the evolution of civilizations, not necessarily pointing towards something extraordinary.
But if specifically mentioning a mobile game—Zeke naturally recalled that in his previous world, this realm manifested as precisely such a game.
Combining the keywords "messages from the future" and "mobile game," Zeke found himself momentarily lost in thought.
This revelation raised new questions. Zeke didn't consider his past life's memories as secrets that must never be disclosed, but neither was he inclined to casually discuss them with anyone.
The only scenario Zeke could envision for sharing this information would be on some idle future night, hanging out with Kiana or Bronya, and bringing it up just to pass the time—something along those lines. As for acquaintances further removed, he wouldn't randomly divulge such deeply personal details without good reason.
So, where did this Young Lady obtain the keyword capable of shaking Zeke so profoundly? Would their connection become significantly strong in the future? Or perhaps she had already grown powerful enough to glimpse the future?
After pondering briefly, Zeke pushed these thoughts aside. Only Kiana Kaslana herself could answer these questions, and speculating now wouldn't yield any certainty. However, given her mention of "mobile game," it indicated considerable credibility to her warning, necessitating careful consideration.
Zeke remained silent for a moment before nodding and saying:
"I understand. I'll be even more cautious when exploring the Will of Honkai. Let's discuss this 'mobile game' term at another time. Right now, what I want to know is: Is Vera doing well?"
"Vera..." Kiana murmured the name and wiped the corner of her mouth. With a long sigh, her delicate face, carrying both timidity and cunning, seemed to shed all traces of childishness, revealing only a gentle smile that blossomed softly.
"She's doing great—grown up, healthy, and beautiful. Although, seeing me might not make her too happy." Kiana spoke tenderly, her voice conveying both relief and sorrow.
In their initial reunion, overwhelmed by surprise, Kiana hadn't fully considered Vera's unusual reaction. But upon reflection, she gradually realized that Vera likely knew the cause behind the Yordle City Honkai Beast incident years ago.
In other words, Vera was aware that her father's death stemmed from Kiana losing control of her Herrscher powers.
Kiana fell silent, unconsciously clenching the hem of her skirt. Despite claiming to have come to terms with it, the scene before her blurred uncontrollably.
Suddenly, Kiana felt a familiar sensation atop her head. Zeke's manifested hand was gently stroking her hair.
She blinked away shimmering tears at the corners of her eyes and smiled.
"I'm fine, Zeke. As long as she can live well, I've made peace with everything else. And don't worry—I won't do anything foolish. I want to stay by your side forever!"
"That's good to hear. Don't fret too much; that child has been well-raised. She's lively, cheerful, kind, and sensible. She won't let it get to her—although perhaps..."
Zeke paused mid-sentence, seeming somewhat hesitant.
Kiana tilted her head, unconsciously pressing him further: "Although what?"
"Although, at most, she might strap high-explosive grenades around herself to take you down together."
"...Zeke!!!" The unexpected twist erased any lingering gloom from Kiana's mood, instantly replaced by indignation.
"Pfft—" Unable to suppress a laugh, she giggled while wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"You jerk, Zeke! Couldn't you have found a better way to cheer me up?"
"That's all I could come up with this time. Next time, I'll switch it up. Speaking of, it seems like there's something happening here."
Zeke's gaze shifted from the screen to a corner near the edge of the deep sea altar.
There, the new Huang Empress Durandal, along with three prime ministers—Rita, Zhuge Kongming, and Kiana—emerged gracefully from the shimmering light of spatial displacement.