"You've seen that Mimic Herrscher and still escaped?"
She asked incredulously, seemingly not believing what Yunduo said.
You should know, a Mimic Herrscher isn't something an ordinary Valkyrie can handle; an S-Rank Valkyrie would be needed to kill it.
And in all of Schicksal, in the eyes of ordinary Valkyries, there were only three S-Rank Valkyries in the entire world.
Even escaping from a Herrscher's hands would be enough for them to brag about for a lifetime.
"Just them? They look like C-Rank Valkyries at best."
"Yeah, the leader won't be higher than B-Rank at most. What a boaster."
"Shh, keep it down. They're from the Far East Branch, that 'unique' branch."
"Ah? No wonder. Last time I heard the Far East Branch rumored to have an S-Rank Valkyrie, I almost died laughing. They probably don't even know how many S-Rank Valkyries there are now."
"Don't expose them."
"..."
Yunduo's expression remained calm as she heard the whispering voices from the Valkyrie Squad behind her.
Perhaps to them, S-Rank Valkyries were indeed too distant, almost like high-and-mighty deities, so no one believed her.
Hearing this, Mei and Bronya behind her couldn't help but frown, feeling slightly depressed.
They knew the Far East Branch had a bad reputation, but they didn't expect it to be this bad.
Just because their philosophies were different, did they have to be slandered like this?
"Sister Yunduo, should we leave?" Bronya asked in a low voice.
Before Yunduo could react, the blue-haired leader's attitude suddenly softened as if she had made some sort of decision: "Since you're injured, stay here and rest for now. It won't be too late to go back tomorrow."
Mei and Bronya were surprised; they didn't expect the other's attitude to change so quickly.
"But there's one condition: after you go back, don't tell anyone about the Mimic Herrscher in Changkong City. Just say she's been very quiet and no accidents have occurred. We don't want anyone else coming to disturb us."
"...Hm?"
Yunduo was puzzled. Even Theresa had come to support them, and there was a chance to wipe out this Herrscher once and for all. Why not want to be disturbed?
"You look very confused, so I'll tell you," the blue-haired leader said. "As Valkyries, we naturally have to fight the Honkai. But as consumables, we aren't willing to do so. So, for our squad to be able to rest quietly in Changkong City is a very good thing."
"That Mimic Herrscher only kills those who intrude into Chiba Academy; she's very quiet and won't hurt us. If someone kills her and Changkong City is cleared, we'll be transferred away and forced to head to the front lines at the risk of our lives."
"Though we don't think Schicksal Headquarters would do something without profit, like specifically sending an S-Rank Valkyrie here to kill a Mimic Herrscher."
"Is that so?"
Yunduo understood. They probably didn't know that Theresa had actually detected a strong Honkai Energy reaction and had already headed to Changkong City on her own.
Right now, she should be under Yae Sakura's protection, so there was no need to hurry.
As for these Valkyries, under Schicksal's philosophy, they had completely lost their original hearts as Valkyries.
Looking at the tired Mei and Bronya, Yunduo was in no mood for further conversation.
The group headed into the Nagazora Garrison; the fully automated and mechanized internal facilities had everything.
There were plenty of patrolling robots and guarding mechs.
The safety factor was extremely high, so there was no need to worry about Honkai Beasts intruding.
The blue-haired leader led them in and gave them two rooms. After placing the injured Kiana in one room, Bronya and Mei washed up and went to sleep.
Yunduo slept in the small bedroom next to Kiana's, two people in one suite... Night.
Yunduo tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
It wasn't because she was troubled, but mainly because she was a picky sleeper; she wasn't used to sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.
The rustling sound of swaying leaves came from the window at the head of the bed. The faint moonlight, accompanied by a cold wind, quietly slipped through the window screen, draping the bedroom in a layer of silver-white veil, pure and elegant.
Yunduo opened her eyes, feeling no sleepiness in her mind. She simply got dressed and walked out of the bedroom.
There were patrolling Valkyries inside the base, who looked at Yunduo with some confusion.
"Can't sleep, just out for a walk," Yunduo said, rubbing her aching temples.
"...Nagazora at night isn't that safe. If you die, we won't collect your body," the Valkyrie said coldly.
"It's fine, I don't need you to collect it. By the way, do you have a cigarette?"
"Yes, here."
This Valkyrie's tone was cold, but she was surprisingly generous, giving Yunduo a pack of Huola brand ladies' cigarettes.
A red Homu appeared on the cigarette pack, with a very fierce expression and a scar on its face, its ears looking like burning flames.
Looking at the pack of cigarettes, Yunduo smiled: "Thanks."
When she was a certain red-haired woman, she often suffered from insomnia due to the pain of Honkai erosion in the middle of the night.
Cigarettes and alcohol became her best companions during those long nights.
Later, after the Hyperion was rated as a model of civilization for three consecutive years, she gradually quit.
Looking at it now, it felt both familiar and strange.
Walking out of the base, under the cover of night, Yunduo sat on a chair and tore open the pack of Huola cigarettes, just about to take one out.
Shuhu, she heard light footsteps beside her.
Turning her head, she saw Kiana, wearing a dark black jacket and white jeans, slowly walking to her side.
The black jacket was several sizes too large for her body, and the oversized hood on her head messed up her originally smooth hair, with a few strands sticking out at the corners. Her delicate features were youthful and cute, and her bright eyes were clean yet carried a hint of daze.
"Why did you come out?" Yunduo asked softly.
Kiana blinked at Yunduo's words, her innocent deep blue eyes looking a bit dazed and cute.
Yunduo's scent lingered in the air, like the fragrance of milk with sugar, making Kiana's saliva secrete faster.
"Couldn't sleep. I couldn't find you."
Three seconds later, Kiana shook her head and hesitantly sat down beside Yunduo.
Then, she suddenly thought of something and asked: "What are you doing here?"
She saw Yunduo's eyelids drooping, her flawless cheeks covered in fine night mist. Yunduo picked up a lady's cigarette, lit the tip with an orange flame, and took a puff of smoke with her lips as pink as rose petals.
After the burnt dryness brewed in her throat for a moment, Yunduo tiredly blew it out gently.
There was no milky candy scent now.
"You don't like the smell of smoke, do you?" Yunduo guessed softly.
However, the Kiana in front of her didn't seem to dislike it at all. Instead, the corners of her lips curved up, and her eyes held a mix of hesitation and concern, her movements like a kitten that had discovered a butterfly.
This child, is she sleep-dazed?
This doesn't seem like Kiana.
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