"Can Auntie really borrow that weapon?" Kiana was a bit skeptical. She was now beginning to understand that Abyss Flower was more than just a simple weapon to Schicksal, but to Schicksal, Ming Yu was just an ordinary trainee. Under these circumstances, the outcome seemed all but certain.
It was this feeling of helplessness again! Kiana was filled with frustration. It had been the same when facing the Honkai Beasts in the data space, and it was happening again now. It seemed there was nothing she could do to help.
Whether it was when she was with Siegfried or during her days traveling the world alone, Kiana had always been full of confidence. She was not only battle-hardened but also capable of solving any problem she faced.
But after coming to St. Freya, she finally understood how insignificant she was. Her strength was only considered decent among her peers. Facing a massive organization like Schicksal, she had no say at all.
This feeling of powerlessness was truly agonizing! In the face of an injured comrade, all she could do was ask for help.
Kiana clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving red marks. The stinging pain traveled through her nerves to her brain, but only this could slightly alleviate the turmoil in her heart.
Himeko patted Kiana's shoulder comfortingly and gently pulled her into an embrace. "We'll find a way," she said softly. "Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. You're still just a kid. You can't be expected to handle everything perfectly."
For once, Kiana didn't retort, but the stubborn look in her eyes betrayed her inner frustration.
"Kiana, you idiot. Things haven't reached an irreversible point yet," Bronya said coldly. Although she disapproved of Kiana's actions in the data space, she didn't want to see a dispirited Kiana either.
"There has to be a way. Besides that weapon, there must be other methods," Kiana suddenly remembered how calm Ming Yu had been after discovering his own condition. She was suddenly annoyed at Ming Yu's cunning, but it also helped her pull out of her slump.
A moment later, another communication request came from Theresa. Looking at Theresa on the light screen, Kiana rushed to say, "Auntie, it's okay if you couldn't borrow it. We'll find another way."
Theresa gave Kiana a surprised look and said with a strange expression, "HQ... agreed."
"Huh?" This time it was Himeko who was surprised. "Are you sure you're borrowing Abyss Flower?"
"Yes," Theresa nodded solemnly. "I just explained the general situation, and Grandfather agreed to lend out Abyss Flower."
Everyone present knew who Theresa was talking about. Kiana hadn't yet connected him to the Otto from the data space, but Bronya knew. Hearing that it was Otto who had given permission, Bronya instantly became alert, growing even more certain that there was something going on between Ming Yu and Otto.
"Looks like that Overseer is a good person after all," Kiana said excitedly. With things taking a turn for the better, the weight on her heart could finally be lifted.
*A good person? You couldn't be more wrong,* Theresa thought, sneering internally as she looked at the happy Kiana.
Ending the communication, Theresa leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. Although the problem was solved, she didn't feel happy at all. This whole affair was definitely not that simple. Theresa had a vague sense of unease.
Schicksal HQ.
In a brightly lit dining room, Rita poured a glass of red wine for the man before her and asked, "Lord Overseer, are you sure about sending Abyss Flower over?"
"Of course. You will deliver it personally. I have already informed Durandal; she will make the necessary preparations on her end," Otto swirled the red liquid in his tall glass, his green eyes reflecting the color, giving him a rather sinister look.
He took a light sip of the wine, letting the fragrance spread slowly in his mouth, before continuing, "On this trip to St. Freya, you are to carefully observe K423's condition. Some things are better confirmed in person."
"Oh, right. If possible, pay some attention to that little fellow named Ming Yu. He is quite interesting, you know," Otto added.
"Understood, Lord Overseer," Rita said with a smile, a sharp glint flashing in her slightly narrowed eyes.
...
When Ming Yu woke up again, his vision was once again filled with a field of white. *Why do I always see a white-haired furball when I wake up recently?* he grumbled internally. He coughed a few times to signal that he was awake.
Noticing that Ming Yu was awake, Theresa awkwardly retracted the small hand that had been meddling with his hair.
She hopped onto the large cross standing nearby, using Judah to increase her height, and her expression became serious again. Looking down at him, she asked, "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused this time?"
"Huh?" Ming Yu was confused. *How did I cause trouble? Haven't I just been tutoring Kiana?*
Seeing Ming Yu's confusion, Theresa became displeased. She said huffily, "What you did in the data space cost you at least five years of your life force. Do you know how worried everyone was?!"
Mentioning "everyone" warmed Ming Yu's heart. In this world, he was no longer alone. At least he now had people who would worry about him.
"I know I was wrong, but I had no other choice," Ming Yu said. Although he felt guilty, he still tried to make an excuse.
"No other choice? Couldn't you have retreated?! It was just a data space. The events inside were already predetermined. Was it worth sacrificing five years of your life for it?!" Theresa said angrily. To her, no matter how real a data space was, it was still fake and not as important as her own student. Knowing that Ming Yu had expended five years of his life for a data space truly angered her.
"And on top of that, it was an injury from Black Abyss. There is no cure for it except White Lily! And do you have any idea how difficult it is to get your hands on Abyss Flower?" Theresa continued to shout, her face filled with rage.
"Oh," Ming Yu said calmly. "It's not that big of a deal, really. It's only five years of life force."
Ming Yu truly wasn't too concerned about the loss of life force. In this world, there were plenty of ways to achieve longevity. Losing a bit of life force was nothing. Injecting some Honkai Beast genes, modifying his body with Soulium—what was the big deal? At worst, he could just use any Herrscher Core, become a Herrscher, and gain immortality. Living for a few tens of thousands of years wouldn't be a problem.
So, in Ming Yu's eyes, losing some life force was really not a big deal.
Theresa was instantly infuriated. She had asked that question partly to test Ming Yu. She hadn't expected him not only to be unconcerned about the news of Abyss Flower but also to be nonchalant about losing his life force. Was he genuinely not worried, or did he have a way to make up for it?
"Hmph!" Theresa crossed her arms and turned her face away. "And here I, the Principal, went to borrow Abyss Flower for you. It seems you won't be needing it."