"Please, I've told you everything. Can you let me go now? Please, I'm begging you."
"Hey, hey, I understand. Don't be afraid."
In the hallway, Fu Li knelt on the ground, looking at the disheveled woman. He couldn't help but sigh as he reached out and lifted her chin.
The woman didn't speak, but her golden eyes were filled with terror.
"Such beautiful eyes," Fu Li praised, his voice still gentle.
"I only have one question for you. Have you ever considered what would happen to the people you kidnap?"
"I…" The woman opened her mouth, wanting to say she didn't know, but in the end, she was at a loss for words.
She closed her mouth, because the boy's slowly rising hand had already given her the answer.
"Be a good person in your next life… if you have one."
A gunshot rang out, taking her life with it.
"Alright, you can come out now, little ones. It's all over."
Fu Li wiped the blood from his face and turned to look at the small figures who had snuck out.
Bronya, Seele, Sin Mal, Rozaliya, and Liliya.
"Didn't I tell you not to come out until I came back?" Fu Li's tone carried a hint of reprimand.
Bronya promptly stepped forward, shielding the others. "Sorry, Brother Amon. We were worried something happened to you, so we…"
"Forget it. Don't let it happen again. It's safe now. Seele, you don't need to be afraid." Fu Li's gaze softened as he looked at the trembling girl.
"Brother Amon… y-you… there was a demon behind you just now," Seele's voice quivered, clearly terrified.
"Seele, don't say that! Brother Amon protected us!"
"No, there really was a demon behind him just now."
A demon?
The corner of Fu Li's mouth twitched. He knew Seele wasn't talking about him, but about her other personality—or perhaps, the consciousness of the Previous Era's Herrscher of Death.
"Never mind. Bronya, it's alright. Take the children to rest. They've had a fright. As for me…"
Fu Li glanced impassively at the bodies on the floor. "I have some things to take care of. Don't worry."
"Okay. I'll watch them this time."
Bronya nodded. As a former mercenary, she was well aware of Fu Li's strength and wasn't overly concerned. However…
"When will you be back?"
"Hm? By the time you've made a steaming bowl of beetroot soup, I should be back."
Fu Li waved and headed outside, adding a final instruction, "Remember not to touch these bodies. I'll come back to clean them up."
"Yes, I know."
---o---
[You destroyed the organization that attempted to kidnap Seele, unlocking the achievement: 'Cutting the Weeds and Pulling Out the Roots'.]
[Life at the orphanage quickly returned to its peaceful routine. As always, the children here lived a simple yet warm life.]
[Sometime later, Cocolia suddenly arrived with a group of researchers in white lab coats and began teaching the children how to use Honkai energy.]
[Two years later…]
August 2013.
"Use your imagination, Seele. You can control it."
Inside the classroom, Cocolia watched as a sphere of mercury, suspended in the air before Seele, constantly changed its shape.
Fu Li could see that Seele was trying her best to form it into a scythe, but the final result was far from satisfactory.
"I… I'm sorry, Mother. I can't do it…"
Looking at Seele's guilt-ridden face, Cocolia shook her head. "It's fine, don't worry. This was just a test. Next, Sin Mal."
"Hmph, Seele is such a useless idiot. Watch the great me!"
Sin Mal, flicking her short, pinkish-blue hair, walked confidently to the mercury. She raised her hands, and the mercury immediately began to flow, forming the shape of a clock hand.
"Wow, that clock hand is so pretty!"
"Sin Mal is amazing! So cool!"
Hearing the numerous envious compliments, Sin Mal placed her hands on her hips and said proudly, "Hmph! For someone from the Mal family like me, this is a piece of cake! Did you see that, you idiot Seele? Can Bronya do that?"
Since Seele was involved, Bronya was naturally not one to back down. She took the initiative and proposed to Cocolia, "Mother, let Bronya go next."
"Of course."
Cocolia was naturally pleased to see the children competing. After all, in her view, a competitive spirit could stimulate their potential, so she was happy to see it happen.
And Bronya did not disappoint. With her already outstanding talent, she could manipulate the mercury with ease. Under her careful guidance, the liquid metal gradually transformed into an adorable Homu.
At this sight, the young children were instantly captivated. Seele was the happiest of all, hugging Bronya from behind.
"It's so cute! Big Sister Bronya is the best!"
"Heh, is that so? I'm glad you like it, Seele."
Standing to the side, Fu Li watched the joyful scene, his gaze falling on Sin Mal, who was standing in a corner.
Unlike the cheerful crowd, she watched Bronya and Seele's closeness with her fists clenched, her expression sullen.
So, what's meant to happen will happen regardless, huh?
Seeing this, Fu Li's mood soured, but he still fulfilled his duty, patiently recording their scores.
That afternoon, after the tests were over.
As soon as free time began, most of the children ran outside to play, while a smaller number pursued quieter interests like reading or playing chess.
Frankly, compared to the children at the Tower of Babylon, the children here were clearly much happier, but conflict still existed.
Just like right now.
In a corner of the room, Fu Li watched as a solitary Bronya was approached by Sin Mal, who was clearly harboring malicious intent.
"Hey, Bronya," Sin Mal called out, her face dark.
"Is something wrong?" Bronya turned around, her expression unreadable.
Always… always like this…
Sin Mal gritted her teeth, her face growing even darker as she questioned, "You… you don't happen to like Seele, do you?"
Bronya nodded and admitted without hesitation, "Yes. Bronya will always be with Seele."
"Tch… how disgusting…"
"If there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave."
Watching Bronya turn and walk away without a second thought, the strange emotion in Sin Mal's heart grew stronger, and a malicious thought took root.
However, just as she was about to reach out and push Bronya down the stairs, a hand firmly gripped her wrist.
"Sin Mal! What do you think you're doing?!"
Fu Li's tone was stern. Caught red-handed, Sin Mal panicked.
"I-it's none of your business what I'm doing!" she retorted stubbornly, then violently shook off Fu Li's arm and ran down the corridor.
"Sin! You—!"
Fu Li started to give chase but stopped when he saw Bronya. He sighed, a headache forming. "Forget it. Bronya, you need to be more careful. Don't leave your back exposed to others so easily."
"As for Sin Mal, just leave it to me. I'll handle it."