Sky City — The Abandoned High-Rise
Zzz—
Zzz—
Still nothing.
Rita lowered her communicator with a sigh.
They had completely jammed the city's signal.
She had no choice but to retreat deeper into the abandoned building, where the remains of her Valkyrie squad were hiding.
After narrowly escaping Jackal's trap, Rita's first instinct had been to contact Destiny headquarters for reinforcement—
but every attempt failed.
Someone had sealed Sky City off completely.
"Alvette, how is everyone?"
Rita approached the dim room where the remaining squad members rested.
Third Squad's technician—Alvette—hurried over.
"Vice— ah, Rita… please rest assured. Everyone is stable for now.
But that strange gas is still affecting them.
Most can't use more than a fraction of their combat strength."
"Good work." Rita exhaled softly.
"And just Rita is fine."
But despite her calm tone, guilt twisted inside her.
If she'd been sharper, if she'd caught the signs at Shencheng Pharmaceutics earlier…
Her squad wouldn't be like this.
And what exactly was Shencheng hiding?
Human experimentation?
Theresa's earlier question gnawed at her.
"L-Lady Rita…?"
Rita suddenly stared at Alvette with a stern, steady gaze.
"Protect everyone.
I'm going out."
"Alone?! Rita, the outside is—"
"I know it's dangerous." Rita cut her off, voice gentle yet firm.
"But staying here while waiting for the enemy to finish whatever they're planning is even more dangerous.
Destiny headquarters will notice we've gone silent, but that could take time we don't have."
She clenched her fist.
"And Theresa… she must still be in the city.
She won't abandon us.
Even if we fought earlier, she is still a Valkyrie at heart."
Alvette bit her lip, then bowed deeply.
"…I understand.
Please be safe."
Rita nodded once—
and slipped into the night.
"Ice… Ice cream?"
Wendy stood in the corridor of an abandoned building, licking an ice cream cone.
Jiuxiao nearly choked.
She had prepared a speech—something like "demon, your tricks won't work on the great Savior!"—
and the Fourth Herrscher instead asked if they had ice cream.
She reevaluated her entire existence.
No. No no no.
Obviously this Herrscher is trying to trick the great Jiuxiao!
Yes—lower my guard, then backstab!
Classic evil!
But then she noticed—
Wendy really was eating ice cream.
Jiuxiao's brain short-circuited.
From behind her, Theresa's startled cry echoed:
"Fourth Herrscher?!"
Theresa rushed forward with Judah.
"Jiuxiao—be careful. She's not an ordinary Herrscher."
Why now?!
Of all times—why must SHE appear now?!
If the Fourth Herrscher wanted Kiana, they were doomed.
Theresa's panic rose.
Wendy frowned impatiently.
"So? Do you have ice cream or not?
If not, Wendy won't help you."
Theresa blinked.
Help… us?
Had she misheard?
No. The words were perfectly clear.
But they came from the Herrscher who had single-handedly defeated Fu Hua and Durandal.
This was absurd.
Then she noticed Wendy's hand—
Ice cream.
Real. Melting slightly.
…She's actually eating it.
And suddenly—
she remembered.
The first time she met Wendy in Canghai City, the Herrscher had casually tossed a Valkyrie aside and asked:
"Where can Wendy buy ice cream?"
At the time, Theresa had assumed it was mockery.
Now she wasn't so sure.
"Theresa, don't listen!" Jiuxiao grabbed her shoulders in alarm.
"This is how demons deceive mortals! But don't worry—Lady Jiuxiao can never be fooled!"
Theresa rubbed her forehead.
"Jiuxiao, calm down.
I want to… talk to her."
She stepped forward.
"Um… Miss Wendy—"
"I said don't call me 'Herrscher.' Call me Wendy~"
"…Miss Wendy," Theresa corrected.
"So… are you saying that if we get you ice cream… Will you help us?"
"Yeah. Obviously." Wendy huffed.
"I've looked everywhere in this city. There's no ice cream anywhere.
Super annoying."
Theresa's mind dissolved into fog.
A Herrscher.
A destroyer of armies.
A girl who shrugged off Moonlight Throne and God's Grace—
Was bribable with dairy dessert.
Einstein arrived from the basement—only to freeze on the spot.
A Herrscher.
In their room.
Asking for ice cream.
"Einstein," Theresa whispered, "can you make ice cream?"
Einstein stared at her like she'd spoken in Sumerian.
"…If we have the raw ingredients, it's relatively simple," she answered automatically.
"Good! Wendy wants ice cream. If we give her some, she'll help us."
Einstein:
"???"
Her rational brain violently rejected this reality.
Wendy pointed her spoon at Einstein.
"Is yours better than store-bought?"
Einstein adjusted her glasses.
"Store ice cream often contains artificial thickeners and preservatives.
Mine would use fresh ingredients.
Scientifically, the taste should be superior."
Wendy's eyes sparkled.
"…Okay. Wendy will try it first.
If it's good, Wendy will help you.
If it's bad… I'll feel cheated."
Theresa nodded quickly.
"No problem!"
Before they could discuss further—
Bronya rushed in.
"Principal Theresa!
I found data in Shencheng's system.
It concerns Miss Rita."
Theresa stiffened.
"Wendy, we're going downstairs. Follow us, please."
Wendy shrugged and floated along behind them.
Downstairs, watching the surveillance footage of Jackal's ambush on Rita—
Theresa's expression hardened.
Things were worse than she thought.
She straightened.
"Then our goals are clear:
Find Rita.
Find ice cream or ingredients.
And with Wendy's help—
take down the World Serpent."
Wendy licked her spoon, utterly unbothered.
"Just remember:
I only help after I taste the ice cream~"
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