Dudu Raven Is Being Utterly Useless

"Yes, I heard from Sister Edison that there is a lack of energy. Although there are temporary substitutes, they are still quite insufficient." Mei nodded. "As for the substitutes... Brother Liu Bai should know more about them than I do."

"Replace... oh, you mean that interferometer?"

In Liu Bai's memory, there is only one thing that can replace the energy of the Moonlight Throne.

"That thing seems to involve something like higher dimensions... tsk, I don't really understand things related to higher dimensions."

After the Moonlight Throne failed to activate for the first time in the original world line, Edison used an interferometer to push a Honkai Energy cluster sphere of tens of millions of watts out to sea.

Once again, HW stands for HOMU, a unique unit in Honkai 3rd.

"According to Edison, that thing seems to be related to eleven-dimensional space. It doesn't belong to the Honkai or to humanity... In short, it's a very mysterious thing. It feels a bit strange to use that thing as an energy source."

After all, if it were to transcend the Honkai, it would either be Edison's misjudgment or a huge pitfall.

"If I had the chance, I would be very willing to see that kind of thing."

Mei nodded. "Speaking of which... Rita seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit."

"It's just to avoid suspicion... Do you think these earrings look good?"

Rita came out of the jewelry store and showed everyone the wine-red earrings on her ears.

"It suits you perfectly, both in terms of appearance and demeanor," Liu Bai praised sincerely.

"To hear such praise from Liu Bai, it seems that the money was well Abyss Flower."

Rita smiled sweetly.

Mei: "..."

Mei: "..."

"How about we leave the topic of Anti-Entropy here, Mei?"

"That suits me perfectly."

Damn it! Why is Rita so completely absorbed in the date atmosphere?!

Do you look down on the two of them?

"I want to go to a lingerie store."

"I want to go to the kitchenware store."

Mei and Mei both expressed their thoughts at the same time.

Mei then glanced at Mei silently.

You're going on a date to a kitchenware store? Are you trying to cause trouble?

"But I really need to change my kitchen utensils..." Mei said weakly.

"I really need to change my underwear—no, rather than underwear, I need to change my entire outfit."

Mei feels she urgently needs a fresh new look.

"After all, this outfit is, in some ways, an antique from 50,000 years ago."

"..."

This is a very good and powerful reason.

The reason of antiques is simply irrefutable.

"That's true. By the way, Liu Bai, what kind of person do you like?" Rita echoed the two of them, then turned to Liu Bai and asked.

"How could I possibly know anything about underwear?"

Liu Bai was very dissatisfied with Rita's question. Did he look like the kind of pervert who knew everything about underwear?

"But when it comes to the factors I like, the most important one is definitely S..."

"Cough cough cough!!!"

Mei coughed heavily, interrupting Liu Bai's statement.

"So... well, I don't think I have the decisive set in my wardrobe yet."

Rita nodded solemnly, resting her chin on her hand.

"How about buying some easily tearable clothes while you're at it? I think the black bodysuit Raven is wearing is pretty easy to tear."

No, that's just because you have a strong grip, right? The suit he's wearing is at least combat-grade, isn't it?

But...

"Agreed."

"Please shut up, teacher." Mei pushed up her glasses mercilessly. "I've decided, we're going to the kitchenware store."

"Decisive victory" and "easy to tear apart"—it's unbelievable that this woman could even utter those words!

"I think it would be better to listen to Liu Bai's opinion~" Rita said with a light laugh, looking at the timid Mei.

"Wouldn't it be much easier to just go to the kitchenware store first, then the lingerie store?"

Kitchenware, underwear— Liu Bai declared, "I want them all!"

Mei and Mei's companions exchanged a silent glance.

Since that's the case... should they buy a set of the so-called "decisive set" too?

Chapter 170 The Dodo Raven Makes a Big Flop

"... So, why are you guys here?"

Inside the kitchenware store, Liu Bai and his group discovered an unexpected creature.

"I should say, Miss Shiora, why are you here? This is clearly working hours, isn't it?"

Rita looked at Shiora, who was dressed in casual clothes, with a hint of curiosity.

Because the other person was also wearing casual clothes, Rita thoughtfully changed her name to Shiora.

"Are you slacking off at work?"

"Slacking off? No, I'm making money."

Raven glanced at Rita with little interest.

"Selling your labor and time in exchange for money is called earning money through labor, isn't it?"

Anyone who can say something like that is obviously a seasoned slacker.

"Besides, World Serpent has been incredibly idle lately, and I'm not the kind of person who sits in an office."

Perhaps because both of them were wearing casual clothes, although the communication was still a bit annoying, Raven's tone wasn't very aggressive.

"Also, good morning, Dr. Mei, and... Raiden Mei?" Raven glanced at the group. "Is the master here too?"

"Exist."

"I knew it." Raven's eyelids twitched.

Is this considered being caught slacking off by your own boss?

"Speaking of which, what's this guy doing here? I remember you two were fighting like crazy just now."

Shiora pointed at Mei.

"I even tied Miss Shiora to a chair once," Rita chuckled. "I suppose this is what they mean by the capriciousness of fate?"

"Tsk, that was basically washed away by a flood... Oh, okay, I get it, as expected of an adult."

What do you know?

Liu Bai looked at the enlightenment on Raven's face and twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Um... you've heard of me? And good morning, Miss Shiora." Mei greeted her, mimicking Rita's way of addressing her.

"It doesn't matter whether I know them or not, I just want to spend some leisurely time slacking off."

The Raven waved its hand, looking lazy and indifferent.

But... why would Raven appear in a kitchenware store?

"Miss Shiora is very good at cooking?"

As Rita picked out a kitchen knife, she casually asked Raven.

"Aren't you a little too curious?" Raven was slightly annoyed by Rita's inquisitiveness. "But your cooking skills... are definitely improving."

"So you mean it's terrible?"

"... You might as well show some of the emotional intelligence you would have as a maid."

"It seems that you have great potential in cooking, Miss Shiora."

"I don't know why, but hearing you say that still makes me angry."

Raven, no longer wearing that pitch-black combat uniform, now looked much more cheerful—and, of course, a bit more relaxed.

"Is something wrong?" Liu Bai asked, leaning over the unopened kitchen knife.

"... You startled me. Please don't make a sound in such a public place, sir. It's very troublesome—in every sense of the word."

Shiora, who was about to take the kitchen knife to take a look, withdrew her hand while complaining.

"But speaking of problems... you truly live up to your reputation, sir."

In other words, Shiora admitted that he did have some problems.

"After all, the Shiora I remember was a bit lazy, but not this... listless."

Liu Bai thought of a very suitable adjective to describe the current state of Shiora.

"This adjective really has a kind of Shenzhou- style dynamism... But, was my performance that obvious?"

Shiora patted her face.

"But it's not really a big deal... It's just that yesterday, I accidentally burned the kitchen down, um, that's all."

"... Are you guys just hopeless when it comes to cooking?"

Liu Bai complained.

Are you all obsessed with the kitchen? Every now and then someone comes up with a topic related to cooking... Okay, I have to admit, this time it was Liu Bai who started it.

"I think burning down the kitchen is more than just something that can be glossed over, isn't it?"

Rita said quietly, her expression subtle.

"It's hard to imagine what a normal adult woman would do to cause a kitchen fire, and I seem to recall Mr. Gray Serpent mentioning that Miss Shiora had experience in the catering industry? — You didn't use the Purging Thunder as a spatula, did you?"

"Even if you gave me two lives, I wouldn't dare use that ancestor as a spatula," Shiora retorted. "Besides, does running a tavern count as part of the food service industry? I don't think so."

"Okay, even so, I still really can't understand why you would burn down the kitchen."

"Not everyone is a perfect maid like you who can do everything."

Shiora complained that, after all, Rita's usual performance made people subconsciously think that Rita was a very good cook, even if they didn't say it.

"I'm just an ordinary person, an ordinary person, you understand?"

"Miss Shiora, please have a clear understanding of yourself. The word 'ordinary person' is probably the least applicable adjective to you."

"... Tsk, that really hurts, you wretched maid." These words dealt a critical blow to the reclusive and secluded Shiora.

"Miss Shiora, please don't forget, although Liu Bai doesn't really care, you're currently an apprentice maid~"

Rita said with a smile.

"However, it seems that you do not possess any of the skills a maid should have."

"Sorry, I have absolutely no interest in that kind of vague stuff." Shiora smirked. "By the way, do you have any kitchenware recommendations? Preferably something durable, nothing else really matters."

"In my memory, traditional Shenzhou kitchen knives are quite durable—provided they don't burn down the kitchen."

Rita glanced at Shiora.

If you burn down the kitchen every day, no kitchen knife will work properly—unless one day the Purging Thunder suddenly turn into a kitchen knife.

"My advice is not to force yourself if you can't do it. You might as well try ordering takeout—as the saying goes, taking a step back opens up a whole new world."

"We can't let those kids eat takeout every day..." Shiora said somewhat dejectedly.