For some reason, a person who was trying to lower his presence was sending a strong [Hope] towards another person who was also lowering her presence.
Bianka suddenly perked up and turned to look decisively in Shu's direction.
Shu, who had long been familiar with the Kaslana's reaction speed to such gazes from his time with Kiana, successfully retracted his gaze before Bianka's terrifying reaction speed kicked in.
Bianka didn't find the source of the gaze and scratched her head in confusion. Then she suddenly remembered "Kevin's" terrifying combat power.
"Um... Rita." Compared to the possibility of being dealt with by Rita, it was clearly more important to explain "Kevin's" situation.
But Bianka was still a little scared, so under Shu's gaze, she sidled up to Rita like a wilting little gosling.
"What is it, Lady Bianka?" Rita smiled at Bianka, who was beside her. Although she didn't show it, Shu felt that her words were full of a "knowingly asking" vibe.
Otto must have already taken care of it...
Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Otto had indeed "taken care of" Rita, but he had only mentioned it in passing. It wasn't even a reminder tonight, but something he had mentioned when he had assigned Rita the mission.
Shu had unconsciously become a nepotism case with a reserved spot. Regardless of whether Shu had performed today or not, Rita would have found a reason for him to pass.
In fact, no one would have been eliminated today. Each of them had a necessary reason to join the team.
Including Azhar.
"Actually, I was just..." Bianka leaned close to Rita's ear and whispered the entire process of her battle with Shu.
Although Bianka hadn't had a formal education, with Otto's guidance, she could still recount the events smoothly.
She could even mention some of her more subtle feelings.
For example...
"I feel... Mr. 'Kevin' and I are a bit... no, we're very similar!" Bianka hesitated for a moment, then made a very firm judgment.
"The ability Mr. 'Kevin' uses is definitely the same as mine!"
Rita's expression changed slightly. Bianka didn't know who "Kevin" was, but she knew very well.
Lord Shu and Lady Bianka use the same power?
Is it MANTIS?
No... the battle scene Bianka had just recounted could completely rule out this possibility, because she had emphasized that Shu was intentionally guiding her to use another power, different from that of a MANTIS.
That power was probably the true power that Lord Shu was using...
But Rita had never heard of anyone in Fire Moth whose abilities were similar to or originated from the same source as Shu's. She had never even heard of similar claims.
If something were widespread enough, it would be impossible for there to be no rumors.
Especially for someone like Shu, who was revered as a god in the entire Fire Moth. Everything about him had been thoroughly investigated.
After all, the Fire Moth handbook that was being privately circulated now had another version of Shu's "past."
In the past announced by Fire Moth, Shu was the ultimate means cultivated by Fire Moth to fight against the Honkai.
And in another version proposed by everyone, Shu was a "chosen one" with magical powers who had suddenly appeared after the Great Honkai.
And Fire Moth was a new organization temporarily founded by this "chosen one" after the Great Honkai.
A bold idea, but flawless.
But no matter which version, it emphasized that Shu was "unique." But now, Bianka was saying that her and Shu's abilities were likely from the same source?
Same source...
Almost instantly, Rita's thoughts turned to Bianka's origins.
Rita had not investigated Bianka's true origins in detail, but she understood that Bianka's origins were by no means normal.
Lack of common sense, fragile mind... all of these were characteristics of being "fast-tracked."
Coupled with her identity as a MANTIS, her extraordinary talent, and the fear of experiments and medicine that she herself was unaware of in her words...
The answer was already on the surface.
An "artificial human."
This "artificial human" was not a completely artificial human born from a culture tank, but the kind of person for whom even the "father and mother types" had to be chosen from the very beginning.
The family marriages that pursued genetic superiority were the most representative "artificial humans."
This was very reasonable. The Honkai was an enemy so powerful that its limits were unseen. Humanity had limited means, so creating artificial humans who could fight against the Honkai was almost an inevitable measure.
And Fire Moth had never shied away from this choice, because in the background they had announced for Shu, Shu was the first such existence.
Then Bianka was the same as Shu...
Rita blinked unnaturally and let out a silent, long breath.
The loop was now complete. The relationship between Shu and Bianka was definitely beyond anything she had ever imagined.
A simple senior and junior?
Even if Bianka were Shu's last disciple, completely taught by Shu, it still wouldn't be right!
Bianka had told her that she had "accidentally" discovered that power, and she hadn't been able to control it until tonight!
So this ability could be said to be "innate" to Bianka. And the source of Shu's ability was also unknown, but Rita also leaned towards him being "innate."
Then what situation would allow two people to be "born" with the same ability? It was so hard to guess...
Rita almost jokingly went through the reasoning process in her head, and then came to the answer that had appeared even before the reasoning process.
"Lady Bianka..." Rita glanced in Shu's direction. After confirming that Shu didn't seem to be eavesdropping, she deliberately lowered her voice.
"Do you have any relatives?"
Bianka: "?"
Rita's question was like a glass rod stirring a solvent, creating a vortex in Bianka's mind.
"Relatives...?" Bianka murmured unconsciously. Suddenly, she realized something.
"No, no, that's not my relative. Everything I said is true. He's really strong!" Bianka explained eagerly.
Shu's ears immediately perked up. Bianka was indeed a little agitated. It seemed that things had taken a certain turn.
And not a good one.
Rita knew that Bianka had misunderstood. And... were they really not related?
"I believe that everything Lady Bianka said is true. Team Member 'Kevin' is an indispensable member of our team," Rita said, giving Bianka and the eavesdropping Shu a shot of reassurance first.
"But, Lady Bianka... perhaps you really do... have relatives?"