Someone Finally Realizes Something Is Wrong

"Children?" Rita's face showed a thoughtful expression. "Is this the reason why you, Miss Shiora, have gone to such lengths to want the island?"

"Um."

Shiora didn't try to hide it, after all, it wasn't a secret among the World Serpent.

"They used to be in ChangKong City, since that area is considered Anti-Entropy's private territory. Although there are occasional accidents, it is generally safe."

As she spoke, Shiora glanced at Mei, who was picking out kitchen Mei with Mei.

ChangKong City is the territory of ME Corp.

Because Mei smoothly obtained the power of the Herrscher, the Great Honkai has not occurred in ChangKong City.

"I saw that things had settled down here recently, so I brought them over—I should have done it a long time ago, but I just couldn't get away to do it."

"Your words make it sound like my presence allows you to slack off as much as you want."

Liu Bai complained.

However, in a way, it's not wrong. If it weren't for Liu Bai, Raven would probably still be running around dealing with all sorts of people and helping the Jackal with his experiments.

Even without the Stigmata Project, Shiora should continue to work as an assassin and mercenary to earn money for the next island.

But after Liu Bai came out, everything was fine.

With the Stigmata Project terminated, most of the original hypothetical enemies have become allies— Shiora says, "Can you believe you were able to become sworn sisters with Durandal, the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, last night?"

The small island and such were also created by Gray Serpent.

On the spot, Shiora went from a hard-working employee who never dared to rest for a moment to an idle person who did nothing but slack off.

Two weeks ago, if Shiora were out of contact for ten minutes, her communicator would be bombarded with calls. Now, she's turned off her communicator for a whole day, and Gray Serpent seems unaware of it, not mentioning it at all after seeing her.

Shiora seriously suspected that she could already add Gray Serpent to her phone's blacklist—but for the sake of Kojima, Shiora didn't do so.

What? You mean Jackal?

Shouldn't that guy have been blacklisted on the very first day after the breakup?

"I wouldn't call it slacking off... but it was definitely just doing nothing."

With her own boss present, Shiora felt it best to keep a low profile.

Although she would occasionally wistfully reminisce about her past hardships, but...

Who wouldn't like being paid to slack off?

I can get full attendance even if I don't clock in for a month. It's so awesome!

If it weren't for the fact that it's not very good and the difficulty is quite high, Shiora said she would even like to earn another salary in Unfading Blade.

With her strength, she could easily earn the salary of an S-Rank Valkyrie, right?

The annual salary and benefits of Schicksal S-Rank Valkyrie amount to nearly ten million euros—equivalent to nearly seventy million RMB per year.

So a strange phenomenon occurred— Shiora, who had the least connection to Liu Bai and had a grudge against Rita, was just as supportive of Liu Bai as Gray Serpent.

Could you please arrange something so I can receive an extra salary?

A-level positions are fine too! Even a proper government job can cost a million euros!

... Wait, so you mean...?

Shiora looked at Rita with intense resentment towards the rich.

"?"

"... Rita, um, just wondering, you're not exactly rich, are you?"

"Money? Hmm... While I wouldn't call myself super rich, I can still manage to have several hundred million euros in savings. After all, I don't have any major expenses, and His Holiness the Bishop isn't stingy with bonuses," Rita said with a smile.

The bonus was just a euphemism. After all, Rita had to do some dirty work in addition to her regular job, so the money she had was much higher than her regular salary—after all, she had only been S-Rank Valkyrie for about four years.

But these words took on a different meaning when they reached Shiora's ears.

Listen to this, listen to this, is this even human language?

Not Too Rich?

The world's most luxurious island costs $56.5 million.

Rita's savings are enough to buy one of the world's most luxurious islands, and the remaining money will be enough to cover the island's maintenance for a long time...

Damn it, this "Schicksal" is so good it makes her want to defect to the enemy.

"... It's amazing that you can fool your bishops so easily now."

"Money is not meaningless to us Valkyrie ... but its significance is limited." Rita shook her head.

Otto is hard to judge, but those who can become Valkyrie are indeed mostly noble individuals.

Moreover, this is a profession where most people don't live past thirty... no, it's difficult to even reach twenty-five. It's also selective in its applicants, and these wages might become an inheritance at any time.

If it's just about greed, who would want to be Valkyrie?

"...Too."

Shiora had to admit that Valkyrie were indeed risking their lives for money, and that the Valkyrie she knew mostly didn't care much about money.

"How about lending me some money, Miss Rita?"

"What?"

"I need to fix the kitchen. I haven't received my salary this month. I paid someone to fix the house a couple of days ago, and now I'm broke."

"You..."

Rita's expression was quite strange; there were really few people like Shiora in this circle.

"Alright, I'll lend it to you later, after all, it's for the children."

"... I thought you were going to tell me to get lost or something."

Shiora looked at Rita with a newfound respect.

"Okay, I have to admit, you don't seem so bad after all."

"The only thing I don't need is for you to change your mind, Miss Shiora," Rita sighed softly. "But since that's the case, how about I come to visit your home?"

"A visit? Of course..."

"Friendly reminder: Rita is a lolicon."

"Please don't slander me, Liu Bai —and aren't you one too?"

Rita flicked the kitchen knife in her hand in dissatisfaction.

Hey, someone used the word "also"!

Shiora: "..."

"Please don't look at me like that. I just like children, I'm not a lolicon," Rita explained with a smile.

Do you think I believe that?

"I swear on the island, I really just like children."

That's right, being a lolicon is just a hobby; Liu Bai is my life.

"..."

Shiora's lips twitched, and after staring at Rita for a while, she turned and left.

I don't believe you for a second!

"...No, I still genuinely want to help you." Rita called out to Shiora, "After all, I don't know what kind of children you've adopted—what if you're into shota?"

"I felt inexplicably insulted."

"Okay, just kidding. In any case, helping children affected by disaster out of empathy is a noble thing."

Rita angrily shook the kitchen knife.

"Although I don't have a very good impression of you, Miss Shiora, I think I'm on your side in this regard."

"Tsk, alright, although it's hard for you to say, I remember you're very good at taking care of children, aren't you?"

"... Nothing special, just practice makes perfect."

"... Sir, your answer is quite unexpected and feels rather subtle."

Shiora's lips twitched.

"I'll wait for you outside. Rita, remember to bring me a set of kitchen utensils—by the way, where are you going later?"

"Hmm... where's the nearest sex toy store?"

"... Why do you think I would know this?"

"Oh my? Didn't you buy that black bodysuit you're wearing there?" Rita asked, feigning surprise and covering her mouth.

"... Rita, you really do want to fight, don't you?"

Chapter 171 Someone finally realized something was wrong

"So, I don't need to go to any lingerie stores anymore..."

Mei breathed a sigh of relief as she left the mall after buying the kitchenware.

After all, buying the final set in front of Liu Bai... that would be too much of a test for a young girl's pure heart.

Mei believes that apart from liking doujinshi, she is still a pure girl.

... Although people in their twenties should actually stay away from the word "girl".

"And I'm actually quite good at taking care of children... after all, I've taken care of Bronya and Seele before."

"I don't think the way you guys get along is at all like caring for someone," Liu Bai complained. "By the way Raven, did you drive?"

"Although I don't know why you're so sure that a poor assassin like me would have a car—well, I do have one, please wait a moment."

Raven sighed, took out his car keys, and turned to walk towards the parking lot.

"Miss Shiora looks unusually down today," Rita chuckled, watching Raven's retreating figure. "But it's a rare glimpse into another side of her."

"I think Rita is the least qualified person to say that today."

Liu Bai possessed the Soul Steel Doll that Mei was carrying and complained.

After all, Rita's casual outfit today, exuding a pure and alluring charm, was a far more surprising and delightful surprise than Shiora's casual attire.

"Or you could say that Rita, you probably have the heaviest burden of your persona? That's why you give people a refreshing feeling."

"A persona baggage? This is the first time I've heard this term. If it refers to maids, it's more accurate to say it's an occupational hazard."

Rita smiled.

"But I personally enjoy it."

"I've always thought that Rita, your ability to greet everyone with a smile is really amazing... or rather, terrifying?" Mei also showed a look of reminiscence when this topic came up.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes, for me personally, the first time I met Miss Rita was probably the best impression I had. After that, seeing Rita formulaic fake smile really made me lose my goodwill."

"I think true feelings should only be shown to those close to you. It's not a good thing to show too much emotion in front of your enemies."

Rita didn't smile this time; instead, she answered with a serious expression.

"Miss Mei, perhaps you can unleash stronger combat power when you are swayed by your emotions in battle... what is called 'bursting into your form', but strong emotions often make you lose your judgment of the battlefield or be led into a trap by the enemy."

"Hmm..."

"Although this is just my opinion, I think having a mask of hypocrisy isn't necessarily a bad thing... Of course, if you have the strength of Lady Bianka, please disregard what I said."

"Miss Durandal ... I feel like I'll remember for the rest of my life the fact that the headmaster tricked her with that kind of excuse." Mei's expression turned strange.

Rita's smile, which she was about to display, froze.

As Bianca's close friend and confidante, sharing both glory and ruin, Rita always felt that Bianka's dark past was implying that she was also being dragged into it.

Rita was really embarrassed...

"Ahem, anyway, I've taken Miss Rita's advice to heart."

Mei noticed the embarrassment on Rita's face and gently changed the subject, "After all, I never thought I would hear such advice from Miss Rita —I'm quite impressed."