"..."
Stripped bare, Bronya clenched her teeth in silence, unable to respond to Mei's provocation.
The girl wasn't stupid. She hadn't been able to contact Project Bunny for this long, which meant Fuli and the others must have done something to her body while she was unconscious.
She cursed inwardly. These despicable bastards only succeeded because she was unconscious.
If she were awake, given the quantum entanglement-level bond and connection between her and Project Bunny, even an A-Rank skill would have a hard time producing a similar effect.
The lights flickered erratically under the occasional sparks from Mei, and the atmospheric pressure in the spacious living room was terrifyingly low.
Among those present, the one most uncomfortable with this scene was, contrary to expectations, Fuli.
In his memory, the relationship between Raiden Mei and Bronya Zaychik could be perfectly described by the phrase "sisterly affection and respect."
Once, during a drunken chat, the latter had even drunkenly leaned on Fuli's back and whispered in his ear, "It was Sister Mei who saved the Bronya of the past."
That's right, drunk.
For Bronya, who hailed from a great northern nation, minors are not allowed to drink? What kind of Slavic joke was that?
When she was dead drunk, she only spoke the truth.
If it weren't for a childhood friend with a split personality appearing out of nowhere later on, plus the emergence of acquaintances like the Alin sisters, the ambidextrous Bronya might have even competed with Kiana for Mei.
Well, the past was the past, and now is now.
Pulling his mind free from memories of the past, Fuli quickly patted Kiana, who was covering his eyes. "You take Mei to the next room to cool down. I'll handle the interrogation here for now."
His sudden action made the girl jump, but the information conveyed in his words made her chuckle. "Messed up, didn't you?"
Loyalty that isn't absolute is absolute disloyalty!
Trying to have it all, juggling between Bronya and Mei... You're still far from it, my little Fuli!
"Go, go."
Fuli impatiently poked her in the kidney.
"Hmph."
Kiana huffed lightly, then cooed to Mei, "Mei, could you please put some clothes on that little shrimp first? My arms are getting sore from covering Ah-Li's eyes!"
Of course, her arms weren't sore. She was just giving the two of them an out.
Mei, realizing what was happening, nodded cooperatively and started to dress the clean little duck.
Seeing this, Kiana leaned in and whispered in Fuli's ear, "After she's dressed, I'll find an excuse to take Mei to the balcony for some fresh air. Don't you dare lay a hand on that little girl during that time."
Fuli immediately spat at her. "Pah! With her as flat as a board, you think I'd make a move on her? I'm not a lolicon!"
"Who knows? Aren't boys your age good at researching the preservation methods of double-stranded DNA in cellulose and raw wood pulp with a pioneering and innovative spirit? Not to mention, the one in front of us is a top-quality, drop-dead gorgeous little mecha girl."
Kiana's words were quite honest. Bronya's looks were top-tier; her light gray hair and pale silver eyes were a high-quality attribute that even made her a little tempted to take action.
"Hey, your drool is dripping on my face!"
Fuli was truly speechless with this simpleton. You really have no scruples, do you?
"Oh, just wipe it with a tissue."
The girl said nonchalantly.
Everyone present was at least C-Rank, and the living room was only thirty to forty square meters. Their so-called whispers couldn't be hidden from the other two.
Little Duck didn't understand what Fuli meant by "flat as a board" at first, but after mulling it over for a while, she became furious.
Who are you calling flat?
Go to SPA, bastard! ("Spa" is a pun on "Go to hell" in Russian, "Иди спать" - Idi spat', meaning "go to sleep," but when said angrily, it sounds like a curse)
"Don't move," came Mei's slightly cold voice.
"Oh."
The girl lay down again.
It wasn't that she was scared; she just had to show some respect to the dagger resting on her neck.
After a while, Mei walked over with the stripped-off nano-armor. "Done."
As she spoke, she gave Fuli a thoughtful look. The nano-armor was worn closest to Bronya's skin, and Fuli had said earlier that he had already removed the EMP generator and personal terminal from the armor. Didn't that mean...
Thinking of this, Mei shook her head slightly but didn't say anything.
The situation was critical during wartime; she understood that much.
Kiana, however, didn't think too much. She removed her hands from Fuli's eyes and waved a small hand at the armor Mei handed over. "We might run into danger later, so you should wear this, Ah-Li!"
"It won't fit."
Fuli shook his head and refused. "First, this equipment is custom-made for one person. At nearly 1.8 meters tall, I can't wear it. Second, would Miss Kiana behind me please release your arms from around my neck while saying that? I'm not the kind of pervert who likes to wear clothes previously worn by women."
It was quite comfortable, though. Kiana wasn't exactly a flat board to rest one's head on.
"Eh? So does that mean Mei and I can't wear it either?"
"It's a long shot for Mei, but you can try."
Kiana's height was around 163cm, while Bronya's was 147cm.
Compared to the tall Mei at 172cm, she was more likely to be able to wear it.
"Fine, then I'll go try."
After saying that, Kiana grabbed Mei's hand. "Mei, come with me~"
As she walked, she winked at Fuli, as if to say, I'm taking her away now, you handle things here.
"Kiana! Slow, slow down!"
Mei, being pulled along, seemed to have reverted to that gentle and considerate young lady.
Her crimson-purple eyes glanced at the two left behind, but in the end, she let Kiana drag her away.
Once the girls' figures disappeared around the corner leading to the underground entertainment area, Fuli withdrew his gaze and focused on Bronya.
"Now it's just the two of us."
"Isn't this what you wanted? Mr. Oppai-con!"
The girl sneered repeatedly, clearly holding a grudge.
"Indeed."
Snap!
With a snap of his fingers, the Trailing Shadow Sword handcuffs binding Bronya's wrists and ankles disintegrated with the wind.
She rubbed her wrists but didn't stand up.
The X-10 experiment in the Sea of Okhotsk had given the girl Stigmata-level Honkai energy adaptability, but it had also destroyed her ability to walk upright.
Usually, she could rely on Project Bunny and her leg armor for support, but now she could only crawl on the ground.
Even so, she didn't fall behind in her contest of presence against Fuli.
"Bronya advises you to be rational and give up on Raiden Mei."
She said faintly, "Anti-Entropy's goal from the beginning has only been Raiden Mei. As long as you are willing to stop protecting her, Bronya can be held as a hostage in your hands until you have safely left the Far East."
"Sounds good, but I like young girls like you, you know?"
Fuli deliberately put on a drooling expression. "Aren't you afraid I'll do something naughty to you during this time?"
"..."
Duckie didn't speak, a trace of disdain on her angelic, lovely little face.
As if to say, You C-rank weakling, just try it. See if Bronya won't take the opportunity to bite off your little bird and crush your dog head!
"Whoa, that expression looks really scary!"
Fuli was just joking to lighten the tense atmosphere. This little one was the legendary mercenary, the Silver Wolf of Ural, raised by a military organization since she was a child. The Super Stockings Killer who could strangle thirteen soldiers in a row with a pair of stockings. If he really let his little brother do the thinking, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.
"So what if I don't give up on protecting Raiden Mei?"
He brought the conversation back on track.
"If you insist on being stubborn, you will all die."
Staring into Fuli's eyes, Bronya said, "Right now, Mother Cocolia—Enforcer Cocolia is just unable to mobilize all her troops for certain reasons. Once the time is right, not only Raiden Mei, but you who shelter her will also perish in the endless artillery fire that can take down a hundred-meter-class Honkai Beast!"
She spoke slowly and methodically, because this was already a foregone conclusion.
The reason Cocolia was temporarily unable to deal with them was entirely because her act of [actively triggering the Third Eruption] was too shocking, earning her the silence of the reformist faction and the sanctions of the conservatives.
Once she regained power, let alone Fuli and Kiana, two small fries who had ruined her plans, even Schicksal's S-Rank Valkyries would have to weigh their chances of escaping under the full-scale attack of an aerial carrier battle group.
However, to Bronya's surprise, Fuli wasn't moved by her threat. Instead, he asked in an incredulous tone, "What did you just say about Cocolia? Did you add a 'mom' after her name?!"
"...No, I didn't."
The girl was silent for a moment, then flatly denied it.
"It's true?! My Luo Tianyi..."
As everyone knows, if the person denies it, it's half true.
This was truly shocking to the friendly nations.
...
Question 1: Does a normal person frequently use "My mom is XXX" as a catchphrase?
Answer: No.
Li Qiming, who shouted "My dad is Li Gang," ended up treading a sewing machine for six years, and his father was transferred from his original post and his whereabouts are unknown.
Question 2: As an Anti-Entropy spy joining St. Freya Academy, would a girl openly reveal her true identity?
Answer: No.
When a spy can't even keep her own identity a secret, she has one foot in the grave.
Question 3: Facing Fuli, a survivor of the Third Eruption, as an accomplice in the extremely evil event of [Cocolia actively triggering the Third Eruption], even if he knows nothing about it, would Bronya tell him the whole truth?
Answer: Maybe.
The girl who became the Herrscher of Truth and completely untied the knots in her heart might muster the courage to face everything. Unfortunately, the Fuli of the previous timeline didn't last that long.
All of the above combined created the current shock and astonishment.
Thanks to Fuli's extensive experience and having seen a lot, he recovered from the state of "shocked my mom" after a short while.
"I see. That explains your set of equipment."
He sat cross-legged on the floor facing Bronya, muttering to himself with one hand on his chin, "The good daughter of the leader of the Anti-Entropy Reformist faction—"
"No blood relation," the girl emphasized.
"Still a daughter," Fuli said.
Bronya didn't refute this time. She struggled to support her small body, leaning against the coffee table with a calm expression. "Now you know what a big mess you've gotten yourselves into. Bronya still stands by her previous statement: as long as you are willing to hand over Raiden Mei, Bronya can make the decision to let you go."
Fuli didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "What is your status in your mother's heart?"
"Very high."
The little girl was very serious. She never doubted Mother Cocolia's love for her.
"High enough that if we really hand over Mei and she still insists on attacking us, you can persuade her to stop?"
"..."
The girl wanted to say yes, but considering Cocolia's consistently strong personality, she could only remain silent.
This was not without precedent. Seele, who went missing in the X-10 experiment at the beginning of the year, was the best proof.
Cocolia did treat everyone in the orphanage as her own daughters, but to her, Bronya and the others were also soldiers destined for the front lines.
Loving soldiers like sons, using them like mud—this was a necessary prerequisite for a qualified general.
Her heartfelt love for the girls on a daily basis did not prevent her from decisively abandoning them in times of war.
Because the two were not contradictory.
Looking at the silent girl, Fuli shrugged.
Giving up on Mei was of course impossible. It would never be possible in this lifetime.
He was just trying to persuade Bronya to give up from a different angle. Judging by her reaction, was there an unexpected surprise?
"It seems Cocolia's status in your heart is also very complex."
He clapped his hands, his thoughts slipping out. "But that's true, her reputation was never good to begin with—no, rather than not good, it was downright terrible."
Leaders with radical styles are only popular among teenagers. Cocolia, as a Slav, was filled with the desire to expand her territory to her very bones.
Other countries and organizations deeply disliked such an unpredictable factor that could start a war at any moment.
Plus, she was imprisoned two years later. Even knowing the possibility was slim, Fuli still tried to make Bronya change her mind and live happily ever after with a potential stock like him.
"..."
Glancing at Fuli, who was endlessly feeding her bad words about Mother Cocolia, Bronya, a gaming otaku also known as [Metal Gear Bronya], suddenly remembered a dark joke she saw online:
The joke came from a Fate/Zero fanfiction, where the穿越者 protagonist tried to persuade Saber to give up her obsession with re-selecting the king by talking about the glory of the British Empire, how Great Britain was now one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and so on.
At first glance, it doesn't seem like much, but when you think about it...
The native people of England were bullied by the Anglo-Saxons to such an extent. Are you sure persuading her like that isn't adding fuel to the fire?
Right now, Bronya was Saber, and Fuli was the time traveler protagonist from that wise author's pen.
Or rather, right now, Bronya was the fire, and Fuli was the pot of oil being poured onto it.
The accident in the X-10 experiment had severely damaged the girl's emotional circuits, making it impossible for her to convey the surging anger in her heart through facial expressions.
She said with a blank face, "Bronya is not interested in Mother Cocolia's reputation. You can shut up now, you perverted lolicon!!!"
No matter what, Cocolia had saved Bronya from the terrorist organization that had raised her.
For that reason alone, as long as she didn't betray her, Bronya would always follow her.
Fuli, who had been retorted, was stunned. He looked at the girl's eyes, which were almost spewing fire, and realized he had been a bit too hasty.
Who could blame him? Bronya was still a small girl two years later. Fuli subconsciously always saw her as a younger sister.
Anyone with a younger sister knows that even if you bicker and cause chaos at home, you still don't want her to suffer outside.
He coughed lightly and raised a Gallic military salute to indicate surrender. "I feel like even if I ask you questions about Mei, you won't answer."
"That's right."
"What about Cocolia?"
Fuli asked, "With an Enforcer personally present, what are you busy with?"
"Guess."
"You duck head are really stubborn."
"That depends on the person."
"Heh! Now we're doing a crosstalk routine, are we?"
"Who told you to look so much like a clown?"
"Personal attacks are not advisable!"
"You were the one who spoke ill of Mother Cocolia first!"
"Speaking ill means recounting the things she's done?"
"...Verbal interrogation is useless. You can use torture on Bronya."
"I can't bear to do that."
Fuli, who had gained the upper hand, sneered, stood up, and walked towards the stairs leading to the basement.
Bronya couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"
"Switching people, switching people. I'm too kind-hearted to be ruthless in interrogation. We need someone without a sense of proportion."
Fuli waved his hand, then suddenly turned back halfway.
He took out his phone with ill intent, opened a video, and placed it in front of Bronya.
"Before that, let me torture your spirit first~"
Then he turned and ran away without a trace.
At first, Bronya didn't know what he meant, until a person's face flashed on the screen.
"Hello, national producers. I am individual trainee Ai Kun, who has been training for two and a half years. I like to sing, dance, rap, and play basketball."
Center-parted hair, bib pants.
One side of his body turned, chest puffed out.
But the other side was abnormally flat.
Androgynous.
"Music!"
TA snapped their fingers, tossing their jacket aside.
An inexplicable little tune started playing. TA caught a basketball thrown by someone else and gave Bronya a wicked smile from outside the screen.
"Because you're so beautiful~ Oh, Baby! Because you're so beautiful~ You walking towards me makes my heart flutter!" ("只因尼太美" is a famous internet meme in China. The original lyrics are "只因你太美," but the singer's pronunciation sounded like "只因," which is a homophone for "chicken" (鸡).)
Guh, kill me!
Bronya, whose body was fixed by the Trailing Shadow Swords, watched in despair as the individual trainee on the screen occasionally sent her a loving air kiss. Even when she closed her eyes, the enchanting and beautiful dance moves still looped endlessly in her brain.
This torture of spirit and body was far more hardcore than a few bad words about Cocolia.
But Fuli would definitely not admit this. In his view, what girl doesn't like a big boy who can sing, dance, rap, and play basketball (laughs)?
...
Fuli, who left Bronya alone to appreciate the Ai Kun boy, went down the stairs. Due to the dampness of the basement, many people used this floor as an entertainment area for pleasure.
The house they were temporarily staying in was no exception. As soon as Fuli went downstairs, he saw Kiana holding a guitar, singing and talking, looking incredibly flashy.
"...Mei, you must know, there is an old saying in Shenzhou: when sisters are of one mind, their sharpness can cut even chickens!" ("其利断金," qi li duan jin, "sharpness can cut metal," is the original idiom. Kiana replaces "金" jin with "只因" zhi yin.)
He walked expressionlessly behind the girl and pulled the conspicuous ahoge (cowlick) on her head. "Miss Kiana, can we please not butcher the famous proverbs of my great Shenzhou?"
"Where did I butcher it? How come this Young Lady doesn't know?"
Kiana, whose ahoge was pulled out, hummed twice, still holding the electric guitar and la-la-la-ing.
This girl's skill was quite decent, but she had a bad habit when playing the guitar: when sitting down, she liked to use the gourd-shaped concave surface to support her chest.
According to her, it was comfortable and didn't pinch. In theory, it was quite ergonomic, but—
Anyway, Fuli, who got an eyeful, didn't lose out.
"Your eyeballs are about to fall out!"
"If your posture were a little more normal, I wouldn't be so unable to resist temptation."
"Blaming me for not being able to control your own eyes?"
Kiana ignored him and continued her previous posture and rhythm. "So Ah-Li's mouth is like shredded ginger mixed with potatoes, you never know when it's going to explode on you!"
When men gather, they will definitely comment on women. When women gather, they will definitely complain about men.
In the time Fuli was gone, the girls had clearly been using him as a topic for a crazy output session.
Unlike the bystander Kiana and the Mei who wished she could eat him alive, Fuli was the only one in the trio who had clearly shown kindness towards Bronya.
It was in line with market principles for Kiana to try to appease Mei from this angle.
But understanding was one thing; facing the girl's slander (not really), Fuli still couldn't help but retort, "You're badmouthing me here because you don't know me well enough."
"Yes, yes, because people who truly know you can't help but want to beat you to death."
Kiana said with a grin, "So, great Lord Ah-Li, could you give this little lady a chance to get to know you completely?"
"That won't do. I quite care about the glorious image I have in Miss Kiana's heart."
"But I really want to get to know Ah-Li's inside and out!"
"Getting to know me by smashing me into a pulp is a 'no thank you.' Also, the guitar belongs to someone else."
"Che."
Kiana put down the guitar she had already swung up.
Faced with the boy and girl's playful banter, Mei couldn't help but smile.
"How is the situation?"
She asked softly, "Did Bronya talk?"
Seeing this, Fuli secretly winked at Kiana:
Good effect, Bug-bug!
Of course! Who do you think this Young Lady is!
The girl blinked her bright and dazzling Kazilan big eyes, smugly strumming her broken guitar again.
Look how capable you are!
Fuli withdrew his gaze and said, "I've dug out the crucial piece of information that she's Cocolia's goddaughter."
Mei nodded. She knew who Cocolia was—the blonde beauty currently in charge of ME Corp.
Considering that the magnetic card that originally belonged to her was now in Bronya's hands, this didn't surprise Mei.
Kiana was excited. "And then? And then?"
"And then? Then it's your turn!"
Fuli slapped her on the back and said righteously, "I can't be the only one interrogating, can I?"
I just didn't ask anything else.
"Oh ho? You're willing?"
"Of course not! That's why I came down, isn't it?"
Fuli was a kind person; he couldn't bear to see others interrogate Bronya.
"You're really a great philanthropist, aren't you!"
Kiana rolled her eyes at him, stood up, and stretched her shoulders.
Cracking her knuckles with a crack-crack sound, she said confidently, "Then let me show you this Young Lady's outstanding interrogation skills!"
The girl strode forward, marching majestically towards the first floor!
She didn't get far before she came back. "Ah-Li, you're not allowed to flirt with Mei while I'm gone!"
My best friend getting stolen by the old Wang next door while I'm working hard... I don't want that!
Fuli didn't say anything, but Mei said with feigned anger, "Kiana!"
"Hee hee~"
The white-haired Tuna stuck out her tongue and ran away without a trace.
Withdrawing his gaze from her back, Fuli, with a spirit of progress, turned and proposed, "Anyway, she's not here. Why don't we really do something behind her back?"
Knocking on the other's door while one of Kiana or Mei is out working... that kind of thing is so exciting!
"Stop it!"
The girl glared at him, shy and angry.
It was unclear whether it was because her favorability hadn't been raised enough, or because she found the boy's words too direct.
On the other side—
Kiana ran upstairs with a pat-pat sound, only to see Bronya leaning against the coffee table with vacant eyes, not saying a word, as if she had been broken.
If you listened closely, you could hear words like "I'm not clean anymore," and "Bronya must kill that bastard Hentai lolicon Fuli, cut off his hands and feet," like a yakuza princess.
Kiana walked over calmly.
She turned off the still-looping individual trainee video and sat cross-legged opposite Bronya. "Cut the melodramatic act. I won't misunderstand Ah-Li because of this."
"..."
Her reaction clearly exceeded Bronya's expectations. After a moment of silence, the girl lifted her hand to pull the sleeve that had slipped from her shoulder back up, and wiped the saliva from the corner of her lips with her cuff.
"Use this."
Kiana handed over a pack of tissues.
"Already wiped it."
"Quite fast."
She picked up the remote control. "Want to watch TV?"
Without waiting for Bronya's response, she pressed the power button herself.
"...The aerial fleet has concluded its annual routine multi-faction joint military exercise at 8:00 PM local time. The Belobog aerial carrier is proceeding to the northern skies of the Far East for a ceremonial tour according to the original plan..."
The news was still about the military exercise. It seemed the officials were very concerned about it.
It made sense. This "aerial carrier" was not named by the Far Eastern people who liked to call aircraft carriers aerial carriers. It was a genuine aerial carrier—a war fortress soaring through the sky, at the core of an integrated strategic formation equipped with multiple coordinated combat units.
There were only eleven in all of Anti-Entropy, each capable of rivaling a legendary Judgement-Class Honkai Beast.
For the past half-century, Anti-Entropy had relied on these aerial battle groups to dominate the seas and reap benefits globally with the "S-Rank Restriction Treaty."
With such a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, anyone would have trouble sleeping at night.
"Looks magnificent, doesn't it?"
Kiana rested her chin on her hand, staring boredly at the exercise footage on the screen.
"But very fragile," Bronya said.
"Yeah. Shitting on someone's doorstep, aren't they afraid of getting blown up by the rocket army that is de facto number one in the world?"
After saying that, Kiana turned to look at Bronya. "Just like you now."
Her icy blue eyes showed none of the lively, cunning, and playful charm she had when she was with Fuli. They were as calm as a cold spring.
Raiden Mei undoubtedly wanted to kill Bronya with her own hands. She was only holding back her anger because of Fuli.
Kiana could see this. If her best friend really planned to do it, she would only silently express her support.
The current Kiana Kaslana was not the naive Paramecium who had been spoiled after two years in the warm family of St. Freya. She had just spent four years crossing the Eurasian continent from Northern Europe to the remote Far East.
Raiden Mei was not the gentle and considerate housewife either. Without the daily interactions at St. Freya, to her, Bronya was just the daughter of the enemy who had framed her father.
They were realistic because they had not yet forgotten hardship.
Therefore, in Kiana's eyes, Bronya was just courting death, relying on Fuli's affection.
She didn't understand what had happened between the two of them to make Fuli treat Bronya, an enemy, with an almost doting attitude.
So doting that Kiana couldn't help but feel...
Jealous.
In the past, that was an attitude Fuli reserved only for her.
Many things are like this: you don't appreciate them when you have them, and you only realize how precious they are when you lose them.
That's why Kiana was in a bad mood and felt a dislike for Bronya, who was squandering this affection.
When she looked at her, it was as if she was looking at her past self, who had squandered the boy's feelings.
The warm air from the air conditioner blew, and the TV blared with noise.
The pale gray eyes reflected the white-haired girl who was pretending to be cold. Bronya suddenly curled her lips.
"I don't know him, and I know my actions are asking for trouble."
She spoke slowly, her words filled with malice. "But he pampers me. What does that have to do with you, a loser with a head of prematurely white hair?"
Rarely, the girl did not use her name to refer to herself, but directly used "I."
Bronya was also the type to treat people differently based on who they were.
She really didn't understand why Fuli was so good to her, but she would respond with corresponding etiquette.
For example, using a cute name like "Bronya" to refer to herself, or, if he really did hand over Raiden Mei as she suggested, doing her best to ensure he could leave the Far East safely.
Kindness begets kindness. Bronya thought this was only right.
Kiana was another matter.
Just as her own death would be a simple "oh" to Kiana, if Kiana died, what would it have to do with her?
...