Nagazora City, at Lucius's home.
Lucius and Kiana gathered around the table, looking at a helmet-like object placed on it.
"By the way, Lucius, what is this?"
Kiana leaned closer to the item and tapped it with her finger. This thing reminded her of the virtual helmet Lucius had used to show her the Lunar Battle some time ago.
Lucius didn't hide anything and told Kiana where this thing came from.
"Something sent by another friend of mine. I asked her to make it before, but didn't expect her to be so fast."
"What's it for? A virtual helmet?"
"No, this thing is for creating mental illness. It can split the user's personality and carve out a new personality."
Lucius picked up the helmet and looked at Kiana, his face showing an unkind smile.
"Good brother, want to try it? The split personality could be called 'Sirin' or something."
Looking at the smile on Lucius's face, Kiana shivered and shifted her position, immediately distancing herself from Lucius.
She crossed her hands in front of her chest, making an 'X', signaling Lucius not to approach her.
"Please absolutely don't. I don't want to become mentally ill yet."
She didn't know if Lucius was joking, but the last time he showed this weird smile, she had said goodbye to her little brother...
Seeing Kiana's nervous appearance, Lucius put the helmet into the system's built-in inventory.
"Don't worry, good brother. This thing isn't for you."
Kiana had long since gotten used to Lucius's ability to make objects disappear and appear at will, so she wasn't surprised. Seeing Lucius put away the helmet, she shifted position again, scooting closer to Lucius.
"By the way, can that thing really split personalities?" After knowing it wouldn't be used on herself, Kiana expressed curiosity.
"Of course, this is the masterpiece of this era's greatest inventor."
"You know such an amazing person?"
"Don't underestimate my network!"
Kiana thought about it and it seemed true. After all, as a reborn person, it was normal to befriend some powerful figures with foreknowledge, right?
But soon, after learning that Lucius planned to use it himself, Kiana expressed worry. She couldn't understand why Lucius would give up being normal to make himself mentally ill.
"So, Lucius, why do you want to split your personality?"
Looking at the worry showing on Kiana's face, Lucius rarely became serious, showing a compassionate expression.
"Good brother, as you know, Honkai is pressing in step by step. Our world is in dire straits."
"To save this fragile world, to fight against Honkai, someone must constantly sacrifice their lives."
Hearing Lucius's words and thinking of the tragic future he had told her about, solemnity rose on Kiana's face.
For everything she loved, she had long been prepared to load her life into the gun barrel.
But she soon heard Lucius say: "And this time, it's my turn to sacrifice my life."
Kiana's expression showed great alarm as she hurriedly grabbed Lucius. "Lucius, you're going to die?!"
Lucius looked at her strangely and said: "Why would I die? I only have one life. If I die, there's no possibility of witnessing this world's perfect ending."
"But you said you'd sacrifice your life..."
"Hehe!" Looking at his good brother's worried face, Lucius smiled. "Sacrificing one life doesn't equal dying. Who doesn't know how to do sit-ups!"
"As long as I can split out a personality, doesn't that mean I have an extra life?"
"Don't underestimate my world-shocking wisdom!"
"...What incomprehensible thing are you talking about?"
Looking at the confusion on Kiana's face, Lucius pressed his hand on her shoulder and sighed: "Ah, good brother, I've done too much for this world. You must not let me down!"
Hearing this, Kiana lowered her head, saw her quite substantial chest, and said with resentful eyes: "Brother, I think I've sacrificed more than you..."
Lucius smiled without speaking.
He checked the time and found it was almost evening.
So he looked at Kiana and said: "Good brother, aren't you going home?"
Hearing this, Kiana's body leaned back onto the sofa behind her, her whole person seeming to sink into it.
She waved her hand, her tone weary: "So tired. Home is too far. Why not stay at your place for the night? You have spare rooms anyway. If not, I can sleep in the living room..."
"No way~" Lucius refused.
"Why?" Kiana was puzzled, seemingly not expecting Lucius to refuse. Her face showed considerable grievance. "Aren't we good brothers? You never refused to let me stay over before. I even cooked noodles for you..."
Lucius ignored the grievance on Kiana's face, sighed, grabbed her wrist to pull her up, then pushed her shoulders to push her out the door.
"Times are different now, good brother. Although I treat you as a brother, I can't control others' gossiping mouths."
"You've been running to my house repeatedly during this period. There's already quite a bit of gossip. I assume you don't want scandals about you spreading around school, right?"
Hearing Lucius's words, Kiana's ears turned red.
However, she thought that if she didn't stay at Lucius's house, if Mei called later to invite her to dinner and she didn't have a suitable reason to refuse...
Kiana shivered and forcefully gripped the door crack.
"I don't mind, let me in!"
"No, I mind. Bang!"
Looking at the closed door dividing the world in two, Kiana felt like there was already a thick barrier between her and Lucius.
Like being covered by a dark cloud, Kiana's whole person became gloomy.
So, looking at the closed door, Kiana sighed and ultimately left.
"No need to be too nervous. Maybe Mei is busy today and won't call me to eat?"
Walking on the road, Kiana secretly encouraged herself.
Just then, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Oh? Isn't this my niece?"
Kiana stiffly turned around and found a black Maybach stopping beside her. The window opened, and sitting inside was actually Mei's father, Ryoma!
The moment she saw Ryoma, Kiana's lingering hope finally died.
"You... why are you here?"
Ryoma smiled brightly, signaling the driver to open the car door.
"Just happened to be discussing business nearby. What a coincidence."
"Niece, get in quickly. Come eat at my house. Mei should have already finished cooking. It's a good chance for you two to bond."
"Bonding twenty-eight days a month is too extreme, and bonding with Mei's cooking—aren't you trying to murder me?!" Kiana complained fiercely in her heart.
However, as an elder and her father's good friend, she simply couldn't say words of refusal. Her good upbringing only allowed her to hold these words in her heart.
Kiana's face showed a smile uglier than crying.
"Okay... okay..."
Watching Kiana get into the Maybach with a bitter face, Lucius felt gratified on his face while laughing inside.
He looked at the system panel.
[Crystal Balance: 2990]
Only one meal away from gathering 3000 crystals.
As good brothers, how could he let her lie in his house slacking off? Come suffer together with him!
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