K424 of the Collapse World

"Devil! You are absolutely a devil! Eh? Wait...how do you know that my soda tastes like bitter melon?"

"...Because I have good eyesight, I saw it from far away. What's the problem?"

"No no... no problem! It's totally fine~"

Hearing Rosalia's voice, Xing turned around with a satisfied smile, facing the girls behind her. At this moment, no one could see the solemnity that flashed across her eyes.

But soon, Xing's expression softened again.

Those incomprehensible phenomena might just be illusions, or they might be caused by the changes in the stigmata... But no matter what, the time stop was indeed lifted in an instant without causing any impact.

So, don't worry about it.

Xing turned around and looked at her companions. A bright smile bloomed on the face of this pink-haired girl...

"By the way... I'm planning on going to the store again. Is there anything you guys would like?"

715 The Snake Ready to Move

At 17:30 that afternoon, ordinary staff members of the Far East Branch of the Mandate of Heaven began to leave work one after another, heading to the restaurant or returning to their dormitories and apartments. The working hours of non-Valkyrie members also followed the local rules of the Far East, and basically worked from to .

However, in a certain archive room in a certain section of the base, the lights were still on in the empty room.

In the corner of the office, the slender figure of the silver-haired girl was still sitting in front of the terminal, with no intention of leaving.

Like many official Valkyries, Kiana took on some clerical work in the organization during her spare time, and used this as an excuse to delay her return home in the afternoon.

But in fact, as is happening now, clerical work that ends at 5 p.m. does not take up too much time, and when Kiana returns to the apartment, it is almost midnight.

As for the reason, it all started with the World Snake invasion two weeks ago. However, the key point was not the battle, but after the battle, a new member of the Far East Branch arrived...

—Cecilia Shaniat.

As her relationship with Shirley deepens, Kiana gradually focuses on the present, no longer caring about her past as she once did, and even a little rejects it...

She didn't need those painful memories.

Just when the girl's life was beginning to get on track, something unexpected happened.

His biological mother, Cecilia Shaniat, had undoubtedly died on the battlefield of the Second Honkai. Then who was the woman who appeared in front of him at this moment? If she was a clone, why did his father accept her so easily...

Soul? This kind of thing that has not yet been proven to exist cannot be used as an argument to convince others. At least for Kiana, this does not work.

Thinking of the day she met "Cecilia" some time ago, Qiana couldn't help but feel upset. But she didn't know why, when she saw that familiar yet strange face, she always felt her heartbeat and breathing speed up slightly, as if affected by something, like excitement, worry and fear.

But no matter what the reaction was, the girl was still not ready to face that woman...

If she is indeed her mother, but I heard that she has no memory of the past; and I have also forgotten everything about the past, and we have both forgotten that we are each other's mother and daughter, what will it matter even if we meet again?

It’s annoying...very annoying...When I think about this, even my mind, which has been deliberately cleared, will become entangled again and I can’t calm down to do anything.

At this moment, a short figure tiptoed into the data management area of ​​the Far East Branch, gently lay down beside the open door frame, and looked around inside.

Kiana's eyes moved, and she raised her hand to turn off the terminal screen in front of her.

"Master, please do not sneak around in key areas. If you conceal your presence even a little bit, I will find it hard to guarantee that I will not attack you as a spy."

As she spoke, the girl stood up from her chair and turned her head to look at a small tuft of white hair sticking out from the door frame.

“Eh? You can even figure this out? You are indeed my Theresa’s niece…”

The uninvited guest who was discovered was forced to walk out. She pinched the hem of her nun's uniform awkwardly and bowed like a lady, then looked up at Kiana who had an unchanged expression.

"I've been so busy with the branch's affairs lately that I haven't had a chance to come and see you for many days."

"So, what's the matter, Principal?"

The silver-haired girl's polite address was as subtle and distant as usual. However, Theresa had already liked this girl's personality and continued to look at Kiana with a smile.

"Can't you come and see my good niece if you have nothing to do~? Shirley and Diana haven't been to the government for many years.

I can only take a break from my busy schedule to come and see little Qiana."

Seeing Theresa walking towards her carelessly, Kiana unconsciously took a small step back.

"Master Principal... I still have work to do."

"But it's time to get off work now, Kiana. My Far East branch is not an unscrupulous company that exploits its employees."

"I also need to review the report card, which I volunteered to do overtime."

"Even so, part-time workers are not eligible for selection as model employees."

As she spoke, Theresa came forward and gently grabbed Kiana's hand.

"Besides, what does it mean that you keep calling me 'School Principal'? Can't you just call me Auntie... Ugh, that doesn't count. Can't you just call me Sister Theresa?"

"But this is a workplace, and your identity is indeed the school principal. Any other title is not in line with etiquette at this time."

"So, you can call me whenever you're at home, right?"

"..."

"Okay, okay, it's just a joke... I don't know who you learned this serious attitude from."

Theresa also realized that as an elder, she shouldn't be so careless, so she quickly coughed twice and spoke seriously.

"Actually, I do have something to talk to you about today."

"please say."

Kiana shook her right arm lightly and responded somewhat helplessly. Until now, Theresa still held Kiana's hand, as if she was afraid that the girl would run away.

"For the past week, you have always stayed at the base until very late before going home... Kiana, how long has it been since you last visited Siegfried?"

"Not long, just a week as you said."

"Guests will definitely not stay overnight in the dormitory apartment. As long as they go back late enough, they can avoid certain situations... Is that what you think?"

Without any warning, Theresa let go of the girl's hand and turned to sit on an empty chair next to her.

"Cecilia saw Diana this morning."

"..."

"She is really happy. When I went to see her just now, she was smiling like a teenager and kept asking me about Diana and you... She also wanted to meet you."

Theresa said earnestly. Now she gave people the feeling of a real elder, without the usual unreliable feeling.

"But I don't remember her, and she certainly doesn't remember me... Besides, there's no need to rush this matter..."

Kiana shook her head, her tone already sounding a little shaken.

She herself knew that procrastination would not solve any problem. However, Kiana did not dare to face that woman, and even did not dare to imagine such a scene...

In Kiana's heart, Shirley always comes first, and she doesn't want anyone to surpass the importance of that girl in her heart. With this thought, the strange mother made her feel a little threatened. Kiana was afraid that if her past memories were revived, how would she deal with these two tangled relationships?

715 The Snake Ready to Move>>

"Master, I am still..."

"But Cecilia really missed you."

Theresa suddenly spoke and extended her hand towards the girl as an invitation.

"To be honest, just a few days ago, I was just like you, holding on to the idea of ​​delaying it for as long as possible, and was hesitant to face my resurrected sister. I was also worried that she might not be herself, but the facts have dispelled my concerns..."

There was a gleam in Theresa's eyes as she said this.

"If the soul really exists, I can guarantee 100 percent that Cecilia's soul exists in her body!"

"..."

"Kiana, if you meet her face to face, you will definitely be able to feel it, and you may even be able to recover your lost memories! Because you are her one and only daughter!"

Hearing this, Kiana hesitated to speak. She looked at Theresa, who was excited, with a complicated expression, and the worry in her heart became heavier.

Before and after losing one's memory, one can be considered two completely different people. If I regain my memory because of Cecilia, then will Kiana Kaslana become the daughter of Cecilia Shaniat? Or the sister of Cilis Kaslana?

"…I'm sorry, Lady Theresa."

"Eh?"

Theresa had already begun to imagine herself holding Kiana's hand to meet Cecilia. But at this moment, the girl's sudden apology made her eyes go blank.

"I think I'm not ready yet... Lady Theresa, please give me a little more time for this matter."

"..."

The undisguised resolute resistance in the silver-haired girl's eyes made Theresa give up the words she was about to say.

Facing Kiana, all she could do was

Persuasion. No matter what, Theresa could not force such an independent-minded and precocious girl.

"Time... Yeah, that's right. After all, this is a big deal for you, so it's necessary to prepare yourself mentally in advance..."

Theresa said embarrassedly, took back her hand that was stretched out in the air, and curled the ends of her hair with her fingers.

"But don't keep us waiting too long... If Cecilia is anxious, she might come to you in person."

"Um......"

Kiana nodded, but was obviously distracted.

"Since you have your own ideas, I don't need to say anything more. See you later, Kiana, I will come again the day after tomorrow~"

Theresa shook her hand and walked out of the office as if nothing had happened. She walked through the corridor and into the elevator. Whenever she recalled the complicated expression of the silver-haired girl, she couldn't help but sigh.

"Perhaps, Shilis is more suitable to do ideological work for her?"

......

On the other side, Kiana, who had been standing there silently since Theresa left and had not yet come to her senses, finally bent her legs and knelt weakly on the ground.

what do I do......

The emotionally unbalanced girl took the initiative to suppress the flow of Honkai energy in her body. She knew that the unstable energy in her body could take advantage of the opportunity to attack her body at any time.

(I won’t become anyone else... I am the only me who stays by Sister Silis’ side...)

"...How did you find me?"

In the personal apartment in the accommodation area, Cocolia clenched her fists, resisting the urge to smash the terminal, and stared at the image on the screen in front of her.

The black mask under the cloak is a dark past that she will never forget...

"The Snake had completely locked you up during your first transaction with us, Ms. Cocolia."

The hoarse voice with the sound of electricity passed through the signal waves of the terminal and rang in Cocolia's headset. She had heard this voice countless times before, but never before had she been more disgusted than today.

"But our cooperation is over, Gray Snake! Destiny and Anti-Entropy have formed an alliance. The complete opposition between the three organizations is a foregone conclusion. At this point, do you think I will still be like a fool and let you manipulate me?"

Cocolia sneered and growled, her cold and mocking eyes just like the "Siberian Witch" - the cold-blooded warlord before the orphanage was built.

"No one can rid the world of the serpent, no one."

Gray Snake's mechanically modified face completely concealed his facial expression, and his hoarse and low voice did not reveal any tone other than indifference.

"We know your background, Kokolia. Although you escaped to the Far East overnight, you didn't have time to move all your important things."

"..."

The blonde woman's pupils suddenly shrank.

"In the inner core area of ​​the Arctic Ocean Base, there are still more than 3 orphans you once adopted. Those children who were implanted with the Pavanti Honkai Factor in the x- experiment can no longer adapt to the normal temperature outside. Do you think it would be interesting if we dug out that base and then sent the whole process of those little guys' death due to temperature imbalance to the Far East Branch's public channel?"

Looking at the pale Cocolia, Gray Snake's tone seemed to have a hint of contempt. As long as you can grasp the weakness of others, you have already secured victory.

"Heh... Do you think you can threaten me to rejoin you with this?"

"Of course not, we will only let the chips play out their reasonable value."

Gray Snake's eyes flashed red, and there seemed to be a hint of disdain. He looked at Cocolia, who looked puzzled, and spoke again.

"We don't need you to betray destiny and anti-entropy, nor do we need you to provide confidential information. After all, the Lord's purpose this time is not to invade."

"What do you mean?"

"We just need you to provide a security system permission, and I can assure you that we will not do anything detrimental to the Far East Branch this time."

"..."

Cocolia's eyes were uncertain, and she was lost in thought. Gray Snake couldn't help but sneer at this.

"There's no point in hesitating, because you can't refuse our offer..."

"Oh? Really~☆?"