Watching Kiana resolve a serving of takoyaki in short order, still licking her lips with an unsatisfied expression, Kael's sense of absurdity grew heavier.
He simply couldn't connect the young girl in front of him, whose thought process was infuriatingly simple and direct, with the "important target" Otto had mentioned, one who needed "close observation" and might be connected to both Bianca and Sirin.
Was this mission... really necessary?
Kael even began to suspect that Otto had deliberately given him the safest, most nonsensical task to keep him busy, purely to prevent him from delving into the truth of his own "sacrifice" and the current situation of Theresa and the others.
"Uh... Kael, right?"
Kiana, her hunger satisfied and in high spirits, looked at him with sparkling blue eyes, "Thank you for treating me to takoyaki! You're really a good person!"
Kael: "..." He had inexplicably received a 'good person' card.
"But," Kiana's tone shifted, a hint of distress and indignation appearing on her face, "relying on others to treat me isn't a long-term solution... This Young Miss still needs to keep searching for that bastard dad! When I find him, I'll definitely make him cough up all the living expenses and emotional damages from all these years!"
"Bastard dad?"
Kael asked, following her lead, but his heart stirred. This might be a breakthrough to understand her background.
"That's right!"
Kiana put her hands on her hips, pouting, "A super irresponsible dad! He abandoned me and ran off somewhere, I don't know where! It made This Young Miss have to wander around, sleeping rough..."
She began to vividly describe her "miserable" wandering experiences, such as her black card being stolen (or perhaps she lost it herself), and how she only ate one meal a day to save money... Kael listened patiently, catching the information in her words.
A young girl searching for an irresponsible father... This story sounded ordinary, but placed on a girl named "kaslana" who bore a striking resemblance to Bianca and Sirin, it seemed highly unusual.
"Your father... what's his name?" Kael asked casually, but his heart involuntarily sped up.
He had a premonition that this name might uncover more mysteries.
Kiana pouted, clearly annoyed at having to mention the name, but still said it: "Siegfried! Siegfried Kaslana! I heard he's quite a famous guy, but to me, he's a complete and utter bastard!"
This name was like a third bolt of lightning, striking Kael's head squarely and freezing him for that instant.
Siegfried?!
That unrestrained and chivalrous Siegfried, who cherished Cecilia and Kiana more than his own life?!
That Siegfried who, before his "sacrifice," almost fought the Third Empire over his daughter's blonde hair?!
When... when did he level up an alt account?!
And so irresponsibly abandon his "alt account" to fend for itself?!
No, that's not right!
Kael quickly calmed down.
The timing doesn't match! If this Kiana was truly Siegfried's daughter, according to her age, when she was born, Siegfried should have been with Cecilia, immersed in the pain of losing "Kiana," or actively investigating the truth and protecting Bianca.
How could he have the inclination and energy to have another child, and then abandon her?
Moreover, although Siegfried's personality was unconventional, he was absolutely a person of deep affection, loyalty, and extreme devotion to his family.
He would never do something like abandoning his own daughter!
So, is this "Siegfried Kaslana" the real Siegfried? Or... is it just a namesake? Or, is Otto behind this?
Countless questions enveloped Kael like a fog. He felt that this seemingly simple young girl was entangled in far more complex mysteries than he had imagined.
He looked at Kiana's face, flushed with anger at the mention of her "bastard dad," and in her clear blue eyes, besides indignation, there was a hint of... loss and longing that was hard to detect.
Perhaps she wasn't as carefree as she appeared on the surface; at least when it came to the matter of her "father," she cared.
Kael was silent for a moment.
Otto's mission was "observation," but the current situation clearly meant that remote observation was no longer sufficient.
This young girl had some unknown connection to Siegfried, to Bianca, and perhaps even to Sirin; he had to find out.
An idea formed in his mind.
Since contact was already inevitable, why not make the observation more thorough?
Keeping her by his side was undoubtedly the best way to understand her, and at the same time, to protect her to a certain extent.
"So, you don't have a place to stay right now?"
Kael spoke, his tone still calm, betraying no emotion.
Kiana paused, then scratched her face a bit awkwardly: "Uh... I guess so. My previous temporary residence... well... had a little accident."
Her eyes darted around, clearly implying that the so-called "little accident" probably had something to do with her.
"I have an apartment nearby, living alone for now."
Kael continued, looking at her calmly, "There are a few empty rooms. If you don't have anywhere to go for now, you can stay there for a while."
This was a safe house he had bought with funds provided by Otto, originally to facilitate observation missions, and now it came in handy.
Kiana's eyes instantly widened, looking at Kael in disbelief: "R-really?! You're willing to take in This Young Miss?!"
Happiness came so suddenly that she almost thought she misheard.
"It's only temporary."
Kael emphasized, "Once you find your father, or have a stable income, you'll need to find your own place to live."
He had to make things clear to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"No problem! No problem!"
Kiana nodded her head like a pecking chick, a brilliant smile blossoming on her face, and her ahoge even perked up excitedly, "Kael, you really are a great person! A million times better than that bastard dad! Don't worry! This Young Miss won't stay for free! I'll clean the house! And... and I'll cook delicious food!"
She began to eagerly promote herself, although the "delicious food" part was debatable.
Kael sighed inwardly, looking at her excited demeanor. Was he inviting a "wolf" into his home?
Though this "wolf" seemed to have low intelligence and unknown destructive power.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see the place." Kael turned, motioning for Kiana to follow.
"Alrighty!"
Kiana cheered, trotting behind him, already dreaming of a wonderful life where she wouldn't have to sleep on park benches anymore.
Of course, Kiana wasn't entirely a "grass bug." On the way to the apartment, she still maintained a certain level of vigilance, secretly observing Kael's back and the surrounding environment.
Although Kael didn't seem like a bad person and even treated her to food, she still understood the principle of caution against strangers to some extent.
She secretly decided that once they arrived, she would first check for hidden cameras or strange objects, and make sure to lock the door when she slept at night... And so, the two, each with their own thoughts, entered Kael's temporarily rented apartment, one after the other. The apartment wasn't large, but it was clean, tidy, and well-equipped, making it feel like paradise to Kiana, who had been wandering for a long time.
"You can use this guest room."
Kael pointed to a south-facing room, "The bathroom is over there, and you can use the kitchen, but be careful."
"Wow! So cool!" Kiana rushed into the room, felt the soft bed, and happily rolled around on it, then remembered to maintain her image, quickly sat up, and cleared her throat twice, "Uh... thank you, Kael. This Young Miss will remember your kindness!"
Kael shook his head helplessly, looking at her attempt to act mature while barely containing her excitement.
"You can settle in and get familiar with the environment. I'm going out to buy some daily necessities and groceries."
Kael instructed, then left the apartment.
He needed some time alone to process the massive amount of information he had received today, and also to briefly report the "unexpected" development of the situation to Otto.
In the apartment, only Kiana remained.
After confirming Kael had left, she immediately began her "safety check," scrutinizing the room like a cautious small animal, rummaging through cabinets, touching walls. Only after confirming there was nothing unusual did she let out a sigh of relief and collapse onto the soft bed.
"Phew... finally a decent place to live..." She muttered, staring at the ceiling, "Kael... seems like a good person... but, I still can't completely let my guard down!"
She clenched her fist, cheering herself on, then started to worry again: "Where on earth is that bastard dad... And what about next month's rent and living expenses... I can't just keep eating and staying for free, can I...?"
Meanwhile, Kael, having left the apartment, walked through the streets of Changkong City, looking at the bustling traffic and the scene so different from thirteen years ago, his heart filled with complex emotions.
Siegfried's daughter? K423? Kiana Kaslana?
Otto, what exactly are you planning? Is this seemingly harmless, even somewhat foolish young girl truly an important part of your scheme?
(Tomato has a fan group now)
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