Cocolia's Orphanage, inside the director's office.
Fu Li looked at Sin Mal, who stood to the side, biting her lip with her head lowered, as he recounted the day's events to Cocolia.
"That's what happened. However, Director, I would advise against using corporal punishment or similar methods."
Seeing Cocolia's grim expression, Fu Li continued persuasively, "Her actions were indeed excessive, but methods like corporal punishment won't make a child truly realize their mistake."
"I know this may be difficult, and Sin Mal's behavior was indeed malicious, but the rifts between children can never be mended through scolding and beatings. Therefore, I propose this:"
"Let Sin Mal and I be assigned to cleaning duty for one month as punishment. Additionally, I will supervise her to ensure she gives Bronya a serious and sincere apology."
"Sigh…" Listening to Fu Li's voice, which was as gentle as a singer's, Cocolia calmed down slightly. She sighed, "Fine. We'll do it your way."
"Understood. Then we'll take our leave." Fu Li nodded, then frowned slightly as he looked at Sin Mal, who was visibly relieved.
Stepping out of the office, Fu Li looked at the silent Sin Mal, his tone turning a bit cold. "This is the best outcome I could arrange for you, Sin Mal. I hope you can genuinely recognize your mistake."
"Hah, I don't need your help, you hypocrite," Sin Mal hissed through gritted teeth, looking utterly resentful.
"Whether you need my help or not is none of my concern. But you should know that if there is a next time, I will not be lenient."
Fu Li's expression was cold. He had no fondness for troublesome kids like her. He had only intervened because his past life's experience told him that corporal punishment would only create greater conflict. And no matter what, Bronya still deeply cared for everyone here, so much so that in the original story, she didn't even report Sin Mal after being pushed down the stairs.
"Go to your room and reflect on your actions. Remember to bring your tools to the small auditorium this afternoon."
Sin Mal bit her lip and walked down the hallway without another word.
Fu Li, however, did not leave. After standing silently for a moment, he knocked on the office door again.
"Come in. Hm? Why is it you?"
Seeing Fu Li enter, Cocolia was a little puzzled. Hadn't he just left?
"Hello, Director." Fu Li nodded, walking fearlessly to her desk. He said in a low voice, "I want to know what the X-10 experiment is."
"Oh?"
At the mention of the X-10 experiment, Cocolia's expression soured, but she still answered.
"Did that Bronya girl let it slip…? Never mind. You all were bound to find out eventually."
"You should know that the Honkai energy that overflows during an Eruption corrodes a normal human body. Those children, however, possess a resistance to it and can even control it to some extent."
"But that resistance is ultimately limited. In the end, their bodies will still be destroyed by the ever-mutating Honkai energy."
"Therefore, this experiment was put on the agenda. Its ultimate goal is to find a way to allow the human body to adapt to Honkai energy. If it succeeds, they will all live."
Looking at Cocolia, Fu Li stated directly, "Your experiment will fail. And when it fails, they will die."
"But their deaths will be meaningful. Bronya and the others have very high Honkai energy adaptability. Even in failure, they will provide sufficient data."
Hearing this, Fu Li fell silent.
He had no way of proving to Cocolia that she was wrong. Making the human body fully adapt to Honkai energy was something even the Previous Era had failed to achieve.
"So, this matter is not up for discussion?"
"No."
"I understand. Goodbye."
Fu Li turned and pulled the door open, leaving one last sentence hanging in the air.
"You truly are an 'outstanding' mother."
Since reasoning with her was impossible, he would have to resort to another method—one that would allow both Seele and Bronya to gain power without being separated.
---o---
[You returned to your room, took out a pen and paper, and began calculating an alternative algorithm related to Imaginary Space.]
[With the help of this algorithm, you will be able to help Seele master the power to traverse the Sea of Quanta and help Bronya obtain Project Bunny 19C.]
[You have learned that the X-10 experiment will be held in seven days. The test subjects are Bronya and Sin Mal.]
[For reasons unknown, Seele also learned about the X-10 experiment. After revealing her Stigmata, she volunteered to take Bronya's place.]
[Time flew by. One night, you noticed Cocolia and the others taking Seele and Sin Mal away from the orphanage in a helicopter.]
[Your gaze lowered. You knew this was not the time to act. Power was truly the only thing one could rely on in this world.]
The next day, on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia.
"Mother, where is this?"
"The Sea of Okhotsk. We built the laboratory underwater. The seawater can prevent Honkai energy from leaking out and keep us from being observed by Schicksal."
At this, Cocolia paused for a moment before saying, "It's time to go, Seele."
"Okay."
Looking at the beautiful sandy beach, Seele's breathing grew a little heavier.
Is this the beach that Seele and Big Sister Bronya promised to visit together? What a pity…
"The experiment is proceeding smoothly. This child's adaptability to Honkai energy is abnormally high."
"She can already use Honkai energy to manipulate matter at the atomic level. If we continue the injections, it's possible she could manipulate matter at the subatomic, or even the quantum level."
Hearing the researcher's excited voice, Cocolia clenched her jaw. In the end, her ambition triumphed over her reason.
"Continue the experiment. Inject another… 3ml."
"Yes, understood!"
At the same time, Seele's mind was enduring a new kind of torment.
So much pain… it hurts… so hot… I feel like I'm melting…
Something is continuously entering my body… What is happening to Seele…?
In a daze, the extreme pain slowly began to recede. Seele had momentarily pushed through it. She seemed to see a familiar figure, walking further and further away from her.
"Big Sister Bronya? It's Big Sister Bronya!" Seele called out with a hint of excitement. "Seele… Seele is here!"
As she called out, she suddenly realized the figure wasn't stopping. It walked up to a box and opened it.
As the figure slowly closed the lid, an unprecedented sense of terror enveloped her.
"Big Sister Bronya? Why are you ignoring me? Big Sister Bronya?!"
Seele ran with all her might, wanting to catch up to the figure, to open the box.
However, just as her hand was about to touch the lock, a pitch-black, demonic hand seized her wrist.
"Stop!" the demon's voice boomed. "Do not go any further, Seele."
"What is inside that box (the Stigmata)… is not something you can control."