"1664626…"
Bronya read the note, typing the number into her phone.
She usually handled negotiations, Maxim's health was getting worse. Lately, when he took her on jobs, it was mostly about passing things on.
On the Siberian plains, among the few hundred who'd survived the Second Eruption's first impact, very few could still live normal lives, the most famous exception being Cocolia.
The phone barely rang once before it was picked up.
On the other end, Grey Serpent addressed her directly: "Bronya Zaychik."
He had found Bronya before, but when Misteln, or rather, the other one, had returned, she hadn't warmed to the child either.
Back then, she had only visited Alexandra's grave. After confirming the child was ordinary, she had nodded and asked no further questions, she wasn't ready to connect with a normal kid.
Maybe it was fate, or something even stranger, Bronya and Shiraha had crossed paths.
Grey Serpent didn't know what to say, but…
"I'll transfer the money to your account, and I'm also hiring you and your uncle for a short-term assignment." He paused. "Don't worry, the pay will be generous."
As a show of goodwill, Grey Serpent settled the previous bill first.
Even before World Serpent surfaced, they had plenty of funds, after all, Divine City Pharmaceuticals, which had risen rapidly after the Second Eruption, was theirs.
The money was entirely legal, and in Europe, it was even supported by Schicksal.
"What's the assignment?"
Bronya tallied the money, but still had no idea how to get Maxim proper treatment. Doctors in Siberia were subpar, completely clueless about this thing called Honkai.
"I need you to demonstrate your talent... or your effort." Grey Serpent's voice was calm. "If you pass the final evaluation, we'll have a long-term partnership."
Again Bronya had no Stigmata. She was an ordinary child. If she'd inherited Alexandra's Stigmata, Misteln might have taken her into World Serpent out of affection.
Misteln's existence was unique, she wouldn't actively approach an ordinary girl.
Bronya's mind stalled for a moment. "Th-that's it?"
Her voice carried obvious confusion.
Bronya loved learning, books, anything that gave her a sense of security. Her ability to learn was indeed exceptional.
If Maxime hadn't been alive, her talents would certainly have been noticed by the military, and she would have been turned into a cold-blooded assassin.
Grey Serpent offered no extra kindness. "There will be more tests later, on emotional control."
At the end of the call, he added, "By the way.... I'm not with ME Corp. But in the future, we'll build a relationship more reliable than mere gratitude, a partnership."
"Provided you pass the trials."
World Serpent didn't take in dead weight. The whole organization was lying low, no room for fools. What they needed now was refinement.
And to quietly embed themselves among the various factions.
Bronya was silent for a moment. "Understood."
As for why the boy named Shiraha had given her a contact that wasn't ME Corp's, she didn't care.
Assassins didn't have much of a conscience. Those who did were mostly dead.
Bronya hung up. "Maxime, time to check into the hospital."
As for studying? That was never hard for her.
She muttered a quiet prayer under her breath. "Found a long-term meal ticket, hope the work isn't too heavy."
That was the most she'd spoken in a month.
…
On the other side, snow and ice.
Mei's hand trembled as she raised it, a small knife still in her palm, blood dripping steadily, splashing onto the snow and leaving tiny craters.
Siegfried sighed. "Truly reckless for money."
"Honestly, I'm starting to feel tempted, I could grab you three and cash in on the bounty."
He leaned against the car, hands in his pockets, watching the bodies scattered across the snow.
Shiraha glanced at Siegfried, then looked again.
"Think about it, the four of us have such a high bounty. If I turned you three in, even half the reward would keep me set for life."
Kiana muttered, "Dad's already living comfortably as a bodyguard."
Being a rich man's bodyguard was nice. If Shiraha ever inherited the Raiden family, she'd be his bodyguard. If Mei inherited it, she'd wait until Mei gave Shiraha an allowance, then be his bodyguard anyway.
Siegfried pretended not to hear.
He stayed composed. "Where do you want to go next? I'm fine with anything, these nobodies can't touch you."
Where to go? Mei looked down at her still-trembling hand, then at the motionless figures on the ground.
After steadying herself, she instinctively reached for the map. For Shiraha and Kiana, today might have been nothing special, but for her, Mei felt she'd evolved.
She rubbed her hands furiously, the static sensation was stronger than ever.
"If we're not in a hurry, we should visit that first house you went to, Uncle Siegfried."
Shiraha suggested, "After all, you came here to repay a kindness. I think we should make sure that family's okay."
Siegfried shook his head. "Already contacted them. And kid, don't underestimate them. People in Siberia who help a homeless wanderer with no identity usually have some background."
No need to worry. Siegfried had confirmed it, if any trouble came up later… he'd show them what the modern era's strongest warrior could do.
Shiraha nodded. With no loose ends to worry about, he looked west. "Then let's go see where the Second Eruption first broke out."
"I've talked with Sirin, but I've never seen the place she came from. I can empathize with her words, but I've never truly felt them."
Siegfried was about to say something, why would you empathize with the Second Herrscher?, but the site of the Second Eruption was indeed one of the few places in Siberia worth visiting.
"Let's go." Siegfried patted his pocket, only to find it empty of cigarettes. "No need to worry about the bodies, just toss them to the side. The snow will cover the rest."
It sounded a bit heartless. Mei frowned slightly.
Shiraha handed her a tissue, gently wiping her fingers. "Wipe your hands, Mei-nee. A pretty girl with blood on her hands can be a bit… intimidating."
After all, Mei liked using a blade. Adding blood to the mix would really make people keep their distance. Fortunately, Mei was mentally stable, she showed disgust when she got blood on her hands, rather than covering her mouth with a sinister smile.
Siegfried glanced at the kid again, was it because he'd been raised around women?
How did he just have tissues on him?
Kiana was fine, she just shoved her hands into the snow and rubbed them clean.
She seemed lost in thought. "Sirin…"
The Tower of Babylon, also known as the Tower of Babel. The name itself suggested ambition, Schicksal's researchers had wanted to truly pave a road to the heavens.
And in the end, a god did appear, but it was a little girl named Sirin who climbed that path.
Still, it's worth noting that in the modern Honkai era, Herrschers were the only ones who could reach the top without bloodline advantages, the poor relied on mutation, though many Herrschers weren't poor at all.
On the way to the tower, they ran into a few more small-time thugs, their bounty was so high that it drove people mad with greed.
Each time, Shiraha acted first.
His telekinesis was invisible, before anyone could react, their wrists were broken, their knees shattered, their bodies sent flying. Against people trying to kill them, Shiraha showed no mercy.
Siegfried barely moved. "Your telekinesis is really convenient, kid."
Shiraha said nothing. Though he'd long ago prepared himself for killing, and had spent years mentally conditioning himself, from the early days with his Nee-chan to now, he could keep a straight face.
But still…
Shiraha pressed his lips together, silently withdrawing his hand and shrinking back into his corner.
"Dad~"
Kiana frowned, a note of dissatisfaction in her voice. Shiraha was only so young, how could he ever get used to this kind of thing?
Siegfried: ….
"You're really well-loved, Little Shiraha."
Elysia's tone was wistful.
She knew Shiraha was faking it, but sometimes she saw how innocent the other kids were, and it gave her the illusion that maybe she should act more innocent too. At least pretend to be fooled by Shiraha.
Shiraha looked up. "Youthful emotions are pure like that."
He'd spent his whole life providing emotional support for Mei and Kiana, why shouldn't he get a little care in return?
Elysia expressionlessly rubbed Shiraha's cheeks. Just then, Mei sighed. "Your ghost friend really has no tact. You were clearly just upset, and now she's rubbing your face without a care."
Mei let out a long sigh, but she couldn't see that ghost friend.
If only she had one too! Then her ghost friend could teach Shiraha's ghost friend a lesson!
Hmph.
Elysia's smile faded instantly. She continued rubbing Shiraha's cheeks, expressionless.
Mei gave another light huff. Elysia pretended to lunge at her with a fierce pinch, but couldn't reach.
Mmm, well, not worth crying over…
Still, Elysia rubbed her starry eyes until they were misty and full of tears.
"Little Shiraha.... they're all bullying me. Bullying me for having no friends, bullying me for having no one to speak for me, bullying me for—"
Shiraha sighed helplessly, then quietly wiped away his Nee-chan's nonexistent tears. She couldn't actually cry, no tears would come. But her starry eyes stayed glistening, like a clear spring.
He straightened his expression. "Mei-nee, you should respect my Nee-chan."
Mei: ….
She puffed out her cheeks. To a kid, that kind of statement felt like the ultimate betrayal.
Shiraha!
Before Mei's emotions could boil over, Shiraha spoke seriously. "Mei-nee, you've always had so many friends at school, I never said anything."
"At school, I only have my Nee-chan…"
Just then, Kiana looked up, she didn't say anything, but Shiraha quickly corrected himself. "I only have my Nee-chan..... and Kiana, who talks to me once in a while. I've always trusted you, Mei-nee, but just because you're trusted, does that give you the right to mock someone's few friends?"
Mei's flushed face froze mid-expression, looking a little round… It was her good upbringing, she knew how to reason.
Kids' faces were naturally a bit round anyway, even if Mei, at twelve, was starting to lose some of that baby fat.
She took a deep breath, gritting her teeth. "Sorry.... I really shouldn't have mocked your few friends."
"But Shiraha, I was just thinking: ignoring you at school all this time really wasn't right."
She'd gotten used to that life. But now, stepping back and reflecting, she realized she'd been neglecting Shiraha's feelings.
It was true, her little brother, who used to wait until Dad was gone to call her a little princess, had grown distant from her. She was part of the problem.
Kiana looked up again. Mei reached over and pushed her head back down.
"Shiraha, from now on, I'll include you when I hang out."
Mei had never lacked friends, but she realized she'd been too focused on others' feelings while neglecting those closest to her.
Shiraha was her brother, someone whose fate would likely be tied to hers for life.
Shiraha blinked. Elysia suddenly felt like she shouldn't have been so playful and silly, school life was one of the few times she could have Little Shiraha all to herself.
"Little Shiraha!"
She wailed, drawing out her voice. "Quick, use your super brain.... think of a way to refuse!"
Her little kiddo, the one whose rapid growth was already worrying her, was about to have even less kid-time stolen away?
Boo-hoo—this world has no heart!
Shiraha hesitated for a long moment. "How about this, Mei-nee, just keep making fun of my Nee-chan. I really don't want to join those noisy groups, and my Nee-chan doesn't like them either."
Elysia: ?
Just then, Kiana broke free, Mei wasn't stronger than her.
She wasn't paying much attention to the banter. She leaned against the window, gazing at the ruined tower in the distance.
The pull in her heart was unmistakable. She pressed a hand to her chest.
She spoke softly. "This is where Sirin first caused destruction?"
Shiraha added, "It's also where Sirin first escaped, this is one of the sources of her hatred for the world."
Then he naturally shifted the topic.
Mei tugged at him. Shiraha smiled helplessly. "Mei-nee, we're here. Let's talk about school stuff when we get back."
The Honkai energy around the Tower of Babylon was unusually dense, that wasn't normal. It had been ten years since the Second Eruption, someone must have artificially increased the concentration here.
Shiraha looked toward the ruined tower, its upper half collapsed, revealing snow-covered rooms.
A few Honkai beasts were faintly visible.
Their appearance excited Mei, she even forgot what she'd been upset about. This was her first time seeing non-humanoid monsters.
She went along with the shift. "Fine.... we'll talk about school when we get back. And we'll deal with the ghost friend later, let's just put her aside for now."
First, explore the world. Then, dig into relationships.