Honkai Impact, I'm not a Ditto!

Sikong didn't refuse; he took on the honorable task of washing dishes and carried a pile of plates into the kitchen.

"How long has it been since I last washed dishes?"

Standing in front of the sink, Sikong was momentarily dazed, as if he hadn't washed dishes since graduating from university and working alone in another city.

They usually rely on takeout to get by.

Cooking in a rented apartment?

I don't have the time, and the rented room doesn't have a gas stove, so I have to buy an induction cooker myself if I want to cook.

One to two to go.

Sikong was even less inclined to wash dishes. His memories of washing dishes were from junior and senior high school, when he helped his family wash dishes. Those days were truly peaceful.

There's no pressure, and it's not exciting at all.

If Sikong were given the chance to choose again...

"I don't want to go back. It's fine here."

Sikong was very quick at washing the dishes. He added water and dish soap, then scrubbed vigorously with a rag. Since there were quite a few dishes, it would probably take a few more minutes.

Noisy sounds came from the living room.

Himeko Murata seemed to be talking nonsense while drunk, and Kiana and Bronya started playing a two-player online game, shouting and yelling.

Raiden Mei did not make a sound.

They might be watching Kiana and Bronya play a game.

Just as Sikong was thinking about this.

Raiden Mei appeared at the kitchen doorway.

"Sikong, do you need any help?" After walking a little closer, the cook saw a pile of dishes and chopsticks. "I didn't expect you to wash them so quickly."

"That's right, I've always been a hard worker since I was a child."

"From childhood?"

Raiden Mei seems to have discovered something.

Sikong suddenly realized his amnesiac persona, so he chuckled and prepared to change the subject. If they continued chatting like this, even the cook would probably suspect that he had something to hide.

"Mei, what are you doing in the kitchen? I can wash the dishes by myself. Go play with Kiana and the others."

Sikong had no intention of giving up the water tank for Raiden Mei.

He stood in the middle of the two sinks, washing with dish soap on one side and clean water on the other.

"Actually... I don't really like playing games. I'm just killing time anyway, so I might as well come and help out."

Raiden Mei missed the two words "from childhood" that Sikong had mentioned.

Hearing that the other party was unwilling to leave.

Sikong didn't care; he had only changed the subject anyway.

"Move aside, and I'll take care of clearing the dishes."

Raiden Mei walked over, and Sikong had no choice but to make way for her.

Without much further ado, the two of them took turns washing the dishes, and the speed was much faster than before.

soon......

All the dishes were washed clean.

As Raiden Mei put the plates into the cupboard, she said, "Sikong, has something been going on lately? I've noticed you're always spacing out."

"If anything happens, you can tell everyone. After all, we are comrades who escaped from Changkong City together."

Raiden Mei spoke gently.

Sikong thought for a moment. He definitely couldn't talk about the World Serpent. The only thing he could tell the cook was what the Red Kite Immortal had told him that morning.

Noticing that Sikong had fallen silent, Raiden Mei did not press him for answers.

"If you don't want to tell me, then forget it. You can tell me when you're ready."

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Operation Begins

"Actually, it's like this, Mei." Sikong hesitated for a moment, but still decided to tell me the truth. "Squad Leader Fu Hua told me not long ago that Schicksal headquarters plans to transplant the Tranquility Gem into my body."

"The Tranquility Gem? Why? That's not something a C-rank Valkyrie can touch."

Raiden Mei was startled.

She also has a gem inside her body, something called the Conquest Gem.

It was precisely because of that thing that the third collapse of Changkong City occurred, resulting in the deaths of countless people. Sometimes, even the cook would secretly blame herself.

Sikong said, "After research, the Heavenly Mandate Headquarters discovered that my body is very suitable for transplanting the Tranquility Gem."

"No, please don't transplant the Tranquility Gem, if you don't want to end up like me..."

A hint of sadness appeared on Raiden Mei's face.

Even now, she is worried that the Herrscher's power will get out of control. If she hurts her friends again, Raiden Mei will never forgive herself.

"But by transplanting the Tranquil Gem, I can gain immense power. Rank B will no longer be my end point, but my starting point."

Sikong will not die.

Even if the experiment to transplant the Tranquil Gem fails, it won't affect him. He just needs to get the gem out again. Anyway, everyone else will just think that Sikong has great recovery ability.

If successful, Sikong's true form will be able to greatly increase its power ceiling.

"So you want to have the Serenity Gem implanted?"

"Yes."

Hearing the man's reply.

Raiden Mei was silent for a few seconds, then she put down the plate she was holding, her face slightly gloomy.

This was the first time Sikong had ever seen the cook make such an expression.

It's as if Raiden Mei joined World Serpent.

He's turned evil. (crossed out)

"Actually, I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, Sikong, why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger?"

Why should I become stronger?

Sikong was taken aback; he hadn't expected Raiden Mei to ask that question.

As mentioned before.

Sikong's true form has been constantly growing and developing; otherwise, his true form would be like his other forms, unable to improve his strength.

That's where the problem comes in.

If the body continues to develop like this, what will happen when it gets old?

Sikong's special ability allows him to be resurrected, but his original body will inevitably die when it gets old, so he will experience a cycle of dying and coming back to life.

The only way to avoid this is to keep using other forms.

This means that Sikong has lost his original body forever. At that time, he can only live on in other people's bodies for eternity. Therefore, he wants to improve the strength of his original body, preferably to the point of immortality.

This is Sikong's most direct motivation for increasing his physical strength.

but......

Sikong couldn't tell Raiden Mei that.

"The fact that you frequently went to Class Monitor Fu Hua for guidance has spread throughout the class. Some people say you like Class Monitor Fu Hua, and others say you are a masochist."

"Ah... I can explain that. I just wanted Class Monitor Fu Hua to teach me how to fight. Without her help, I wouldn't have been able to pass the Valkyrie exam last time."

Sikong was unaware that such rumors were circulating in the class.

Since most of the students in the class were girls, it was actually quite difficult for Sikong to become friends with them.

They currently have a good relationship.

The only other members in the same group are C-rank and B-rank Valkyries, Fu Hua, Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya.

There were only six people in total.

"I know, but I can't find a reason for you to become stronger. I did it to control the power of the Herrscher within me and to protect my friends. What about you?"

"Me? I'm increasing my strength because I'm unwilling to be weak. I'll never forget what happened in Changkong City, so I need strength, strength so strong that even the Collapse can't affect me."

Upon hearing Sikong's words, Raiden Mei's face flashed with apology.

In a sense.

The events in Changkong City are somewhat related to her.

"I'm sorry about that..."

"Sorry? I don't think Mei has anything to apologize for." Sikong looked at the girl beside him. "In the Changkong City incident, you were just a victim too."

"Moreover, even if the incident in Changkong City hadn't happened, I have another reason to become stronger. My memories and the abnormalities in my body still need to be investigated."

"Thank you for comforting me, Sikong." Raiden Mei didn't intend to say too much about it, she avoided the man's gaze, "If you need any help in the future, feel free to come to me."

"Now that the dishes and chopsticks are washed, Sikong, go and rest in the living room."

Sikong shook his head: "No need, it's getting late, I should go back to my dorm. I have to get up early for class tomorrow. Also, Mei, please keep the matter of the Tranquil Gem a secret for me."

"Okay." The cook paused for a moment. "You can rest here tonight, but you'll have to sleep on the sofa."

Raiden Mei said as she put the remaining plates into the cupboard one by one.

Sikong declined the other party's offer.

He's going to transform into his fancy rat form tonight to steal data, so there's no way he'd stay at Himeko Murata's house.

Say goodbye to Kiana and the others.

Sikong returned to the Valkyrie dormitory under the cover of night. Just like during the day, he did not sense any World Serpent people watching him.