"Mmm... haa..."
It's been a long time since I've had such a comfortable sleep.
That was Xia Qi's first thought upon opening her eyes. Immediately after, she realized she was lying alone on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket. Himeko was already gone.
On the nearby table, a note was pinned under her phone.
[Mei, I've gone to teach Bronya and the others. If you're awake, remember to wash up. Who knew when you relax and sleep, you occasionally drool just like Kiana?]
"..."
Xia Qi wiped her face, felt a slight dampness, and couldn't help but blush.
But she also couldn't hold back a soft laugh.
She checked the time, confirmed she still had enough, washed the pillowcase dampened by drool, tidied the living room, and then left the dorm.
It was 11:10 AM. Kiana and the others would be out of class in twenty minutes.
I'll go to the library first. Bronya will be out of school soon.
Soon, Xia Qi arrived at the library. She sat quietly, picked a book at random, and read peacefully, waiting for time to pass.
Before long, she heard the school bell ring.
After Bronya arrives, I need to use magnetic field manipulation to temporarily disrupt the operation of the chip in Bronya's mind.
Xia Qi read her book while calmly thinking and waiting.
What comes after that… will be up to Bronya to decide.
It didn't take long. Xia Qi saw Bronya walk into the library alone. A few other Valkyries scattered in to read as well.
"Over here, Bronya."
Xia Qi called out to Bronya. Bronya walked over and looked at her, obediently saying, "Mei."
"Sit down, Bronya."
Xia Qi smiled slightly. Her Herrscher authority took effect, disturbing the magnetic field within a several-meter radius, interfering with the operation of electronic devices.
"Regarding the daily training, Bronya, do you have any other thoughts? For example, improving efficiency, or occasionally taking breaks for relaxation."
She spoke like this while completely blocking signal transmissions in the surrounding area.
"Bronya has no objections." Bronya shook her head gently. She had already noticed Xia Qi's actions but showed no reaction.
"Is that so."
Xia Qi nodded. Then, the smile on her face faded a little.
"Bronya, I'm sorry. The main reason I wanted to talk to you… isn't about this."
"Bronya knows."
Bronya nodded expressionlessly, looking at Xia Qi and speaking softly. "I'm sorry… Mei. Bronya… is actually a spy for Anti-Entropy. But this is not Bronya's true intention."
"Mm, I understand."
Xia Qi gently ruffled Bronya's small head, her expression calm.
"A lot happened in the future. I also learned about the bio-chip Cocolia implanted in your brain. Right now, I can transfer the operational authority of that bio-chip to you."
Taking Cocolia's operational authority wasn't difficult for Xia Qi.
"But, Bronya, I hope… you can make your own decision. Think of the method most suitable for you yourself."
Xia Qi looked at Bronya with gentle eyes as she spoke softly, continuing to gently stroke her head.
"Mei… Bronya…"
A trace of confusion seemed to flicker in Bronya's gaze.
"You can do it, Bronya. Listen to your own heart. This matter… I can't presume to make the full decision for you." Xia Qi encouraged her softly.
"..."
However, Bronya's gaze remained somewhat lost.
Xia Qi watched her with gentle encouragement, softly stroking her forehead, no longer speaking, giving Bronya time to think.
"Bronya… cannot make a decision at this time."
After a moment of thought, Bronya spoke softly like this.
"That's okay, Bronya."
Xia Qi nodded.
She didn't know the specific reason for Bronya's refusal, but she guessed it certainly wasn't because Bronya held onto some lingering, unwilling-to-sever affection for Cocolia, willingly remaining under her control.
"Then, Bronya, I will transfer the operational authority of the bio-chip to you." Xia Qi spoke softly, then added:
"On Anti-Entropy's side, she will still believe she has operational authority over you. But from now on, any instructions she sends you will be just that—instructions. How you act on them will be entirely up to you."
"Mm. Thank you, Mei…"
Bronya nodded obediently.
Looking at her like this, Xia Qi lovingly stroked her small head, continuing to speak as she dissolved the magnetic field interference.
"Rest properly tonight. We can leave the training for later."
"Bronya understands. In terms of combat power, Bronya will not always lag behind idiot Kiana."
Bronya nodded seriously. Simultaneously, she immediately received a diagnostic retrieval command from Anti-Entropy.
Bronya accepted the command expressionlessly. After the diagnostic check completed, she sent a report: Previous disruption due to unknown magnetic field interference, suspected interference from Herrscher of Thunder's ambient magnetic field. Currently restored.
After that, there was no further message.
"Then let's head back. We should stop by the supermarket too, buy some more ingredients. The meat at home is almost gone again."
"Mm."
Xia Qi took Bronya's hand and stood up. After returning the book, the two walked out together.
As they walked, they chatted about everyday things, seemingly engaged in perfectly ordinary conversation.
Xia Qi was certain Cocolia already suspected her.
Suspected that she, this person from the future or a parallel world, knew about the memory chip in Bronya's brain. That this meeting with Bronya and the earlier magnetic interference were not simple.
But it didn't matter.
The operational authority for the bio-chip was now in Bronya's own hands. Let Cocolia be paranoid on her own.
Xia Qi smiled, holding Bronya's hand as they left. Chatting with Bronya, a thought suddenly arose in her heart: It's about time for me to go.
She had done enough for Raiden Mei, Kiana, and the others.
After this, she needed to proceed with the next steps in the form of other people.
Thinking this, Xia Qi silently stopped walking. A dazed, startled expression appeared on her face as she lifted her head to look at the sky.
Bronya also stopped, turned her head, and expressionlessly watched the change in Xia Qi's expression. She followed her gaze to the sky, but there was nothing there.
"Mei?"
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