The afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window, elongating Kael's busy figure.
He skillfully placed the marinated ribs into the pan, and as they sizzled and a fragrant aroma rose, he began to stir-fry. On the other side, the steamer was already emitting white steam, and the fresh scent of fish gradually permeated the air.
Kiana, like a small animal waiting to be fed, poked her head around the kitchen doorway, sniffing the aroma with her nose, her blue eyes full of anticipation.
Sirin, meanwhile, sat quietly on the living room sofa, flipping through a seemingly profound star chart she had taken from Kael's bookshelf, but her gaze would occasionally drift towards the kitchen, ensuring Kael was within her line of sight.
"Alright, wash your hands and prepare to eat."
Kael plated the last stir-fried seasonal vegetable dish and placed it on the dining table.
"Yay!" Kiana cheered, rushing to the dining table first and sitting down, her eyes fixed on the plate of bright red sweet and sour ribs.
Sirin also put down her book and elegantly walked to the dining table, sitting in the seat to Kael's left.
Mei helped Kael arrange the bowls and chopsticks, quietly saying, "Thank you, Mr. Kael," and then sat down in the seat opposite Kiana, appearing somewhat reserved.
Lunch began in a relatively harmonious atmosphere.
Kiana focused on the delicious food, devouring it; Sirin ate the fish Kael had picked for her in small, refined bites; Mei ate silently, occasionally thanking Kael in a low voice when he pushed a certain dish closer to her.
"Kael, this afternoon we..." Kiana finished gnawing a rib, contentedly licked the corner of her mouth, and was about to suggest something.
"Brother needs to rest this afternoon."
Sirin calmly interrupted her, wiping the corner of her mouth with a tissue, "And, Brother might still need to handle academy notifications tonight, right?"
She gave Kael a meaningful glance.
Kael remembered the excuse he had used to prevaricate earlier and nodded: "Yes, some equipment data needs to be verified in advance." He indeed needed time to organize his thoughts about Siegfried's appearance and possible countermeasures.
Kiana immediately wilted, muttering, "How can this be... still working on the weekend..."
"Everyone has things they need to do." Sirin's tone was calm, "You can't always cling to Brother."
"Who, who's clinging to him!" Kiana retorted immediately, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "I just... just thought it was boring staying at home!"
"If you're bored, you can read your Haxxor Bunny comics, or continue your 'investigation'."
Sirin pointed it out unceremoniously.
"You!" Kiana was choked with anger but couldn't find a retort, so she could only huffily poke at the rice in her bowl.
Kael watched the renewed tension between the two and intervened helplessly: "Alright, everyone arrange your own afternoon. Kiana, haven't you finished organizing your investigation notes? Mei, if you need any daily necessities, you can tell me or go buy them at the nearby supermarket yourself."
He turned his gaze to Mei, his tone gentle. Mei nodded softly: "Okay, Mr. Kael, I... I don't need anything for now."
After lunch, Kael returned to his bedroom.
He closed the door, but did not immediately rest. Instead, he walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and sharply scanned the street below and the windows of the opposite building.
He needed to confirm if there were any other suspicious eyes monitoring this apartment.
Otto: Ber? You don't trust me that much?
After observing for a moment and finding no abnormalities, Kael finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He sat down at his desk, opened the special terminal, brought up the map of Changkong City, and began to mark the approximate area where Siegfried had appeared, considering his possible hiding places and modes of operation.
Kael frowned slightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desktop.
He understood Siegfried; that rebellious son, though seemingly unruly, would never risk showing himself for no reason.
The turmoil at ME Corp, the internal strife within Anti-Entropy, plus Siegfried... the situation in Changkong City seemed to be developing in an unpredictable direction.
Just as Kael was engrossed in thought, a gentle knock came from the bedroom door.
"Brother?" It was Sirin's voice.
Kael put away the terminal, got up, and opened the door. Sirin stood at the doorway, holding a steaming cup of milk.
"I saw Brother didn't rest at noon, so I warmed up a cup of milk for you."
Sirin handed over the cup, her golden eyes filled with concern.
"Thank you." Kael took the milk, his heart warming. Sirin's thoughtfulness and consideration always managed to accurately touch the softest parts of his heart.
"Brother, are you worried about that... Siegfried's matter?" Sirin walked into the room and asked softly. She had obviously noticed Kael's earlier solemnity.
Kael did not hide it and nodded: "His appearance means increased uncertainty. I'm worried it will affect Kiana, and also... you all."
Sirin was silent for a moment, then walked to Kael's side and looked up at him: "Brother, don't worry too much. I am now an S-Rank Valkyrie; I can protect myself and help you."
Her tone carried a hint of pride and an undeniable firmness, "I won't let anyone disrupt Brother's current life."
Kael looked at her serious expression and couldn't help but smile, ruffling her hair: "I know Sirin is very capable. But there are some things I don't want to involve you in."
"I'm already involved."
Sirin grasped Kael's hand, holding it tightly, "From the moment Brother brought me back, I was bound to Brother. No matter what happens, I will stand by Brother's side."
Her gaze was fervent and persistent, making Kael's heart stir.
He clasped her cool hand in return and nodded solemnly: "Yes, we'll face it together."
At this moment, Kiana's loud shouts came from the living room, seemingly discussing a TV program with Mei.
Sirin frowned slightly, clearly a bit impatient with the noise.
Kael smiled: "Let's go out and see, that girl probably can't sit still again."
The two walked out of the bedroom to see Kiana sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding the remote control, gesticulating at the TV screen, while Mei sat beside her, smiling somewhat helplessly.
"Kael! Sirin! You came at just the right time!"
Kiana's spirits lifted when she saw them, "Come quick! This variety show is so funny! This person is learning to dance like Haxxor Bunny, hahaha!"
On the TV screen, a guest dressed as Haxxor Bunny was clumsily imitating the movements from the animation; the scene was indeed a bit comical.
Sirin glanced at it, uninterested: "Childish."
"How is it childish! It's so fun!"
Kiana, indignant, jumped off the sofa and actually started to dance and gesticulate, mimicking the movements on the screen, humming the Haxxor Bunny theme song, though completely off-beat.
Her clumsy yet vibrant appearance, coupled with that silver ahoge swaying wildly with her movements, made her look particularly comical and... cute.
Mei couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Kael looked at Kiana's carefree demeanor, then at Sirin, who looked disgusted but whose eyes seemed to hold a hint of a smile, and finally at Mei, whose expression had finally relaxed. The gloom that had arisen in his heart because of Siegfried seemed to be dispelled somewhat by this boisterous daily life.
He leaned against the doorframe, a smile unconsciously curving his lips.
Perhaps, this was what he wanted to protect.
This noise, this ordinariness, this life full of human warmth.
Kiana danced for a while, then noticed Kael laughing at her, immediately stopped, put her hands on her hips, her face slightly red: "Hey! Kael! What are you laughing at! Is This Young Miss not dancing well?"
Kael cleared his throat, trying hard to suppress his laughter, and evaluated seriously: "Hmm... very energetic, don't dance next time."
"What!"
Kiana pouted and pounced, trying to punch Kael, but he deftly dodged.
"Alright, stop messing around."
Kael reached out and pressed down on her head, preventing her from getting close, "Since you have so much energy, why don't you go take out the kitchen trash."
"Me again?!" Kiana wailed.
"Otherwise? Should I let the guest go?" Kael raised an eyebrow.
Mei quickly waved her hands: "Ah, I don't mind, I can..."
"No."
Kael and Sirin spoke almost simultaneously.
Kiana looked at the two on a "united front," pouted, and resignedly walked towards the kitchen: "Fine, I'll go..."
Watching Kiana's slumped shoulders as she went to get the trash bag, Kael shook his head, but found it somewhat amusing.
However, this ease did not last long. As Kiana, carrying the trash bag, opened the apartment door to go out, she suddenly let out an "oh," bent down, and picked up something from the doormat.
"What is this?" Kiana walked back holding a folded small note, her face full of confusion, "Who put it in?"
Kael and Sirin's eyes instantly sharpened.
Kael quickly stepped forward and took the note from Kiana's hand. The paper was ordinary, and it was folded casually. He carefully opened it; there was only one line of printed, featureless text:
["Snake", shadow, eyes.]
No signature, no date, just this headless warning.
"Snake?" Kiana leaned over to look, her face bewildered, "What snake? Are there snakes in our apartment building?"
Mei also walked over, and seeing the words on the note, her face was also confused.
Sirin walked to Kael's side, her gaze coldly fixed on the note, and asked in a low voice: "Brother, did Siegfried leave it?"
Kael held the note, his brows tightly furrowed.
He wasn't sure.
Siegfried's style was more direct; he would usually leave a clearer message or a Kaslana Family mark.
This anonymous, metaphorical warning didn't seem like his handiwork.
"Snake..." Kael murmured to himself.
Is it Cocolia's people? Have they already noticed this place? Or is it... a warning from another faction?
Kael's heart sank.
His worst fear seemed to be happening.
Beneath the calm daily life, the undercurrents were far more turbulent than imagined.
He looked up at the three girls in front of him—the bewildered Kiana, the cold-eyed Sirin, and the uneasy Mei.
This sudden note, like a warning bell, announced that the brief tranquility might soon end.
"It's nothing, probably a prank."
Kael casually crumpled the note into a ball, put it in his pocket, his face returning to calm, and told Kiana, "Go take out the trash quickly."
He couldn't let them worry, at least not now.
Kiana said "oh" doubtfully and went out with the trash bag.
Sirin looked at Kael, her golden eyes full of questions.
Kael shook his head slightly at her, signaling that they would talk later.