Collapse, but I Have Too Many Mods

"A sniper doesn't fire twice from the same spot."

Raven replied to Jackal with cold indifference. With a flick of her cloak, she leaped lightly, soaring like a bird onto the roof of the adjacent building, and continued to move without pause.

She had to end this fight before Purifying Thunder of Seven Sins threw a tantrum.

"Hey! What about me! You bastard!"

The rapidly moving Raven turned her head to glance back at Jackal.

Even without seeing her face, their long-standing "tacit understanding" made a voice ring out in Jackal's mind.

Who cares about you, you stupid dog.

"You just wait..."

It wasn't hard to hear the sound of Jackal gritting her teeth beneath her mask.

Having shifted her position, Raven set up her sniper rifle once again.

"Hm? Someone is taking advantage of the chaos to go on a shopping spree?"

Through the "high-dimensional vision" built into the scope of Purifying Thunder of Seven Sins—essentially a map-wide wallhack—Raven discovered that there was actually someone inside the chamber of commerce leisurely clearing the shelves and tossing items into...

A pot?

Wait, wait, wait!

What, what, what, what, what, what?

No way! You alien, isn't it bad enough that you ran into the Honkai on your first day? You're just casually strolling through a shopping mall on your second?

Are you out of your mind!

No, wait, your adaptability to Earth is way too fast!

Raven never expected to see Liu Bai here.

It was impossible to mistake him. Anyone who had seen Liu Bai and forgotten that face would have to be face-blind, not to mention the fact that Liu Bai was accompanied by a little girl who was just as recognizable.

Calm down, calm down.

It's fine, Raven.

She had already spotted Kiana anyway.

As long as she captured Kiana here, there was no way she would end up involved with Liu Bai.

But why did no one tell me this guy ran over here!

Raven took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

Fine, she couldn't blame Liu Bai for this. Heaven only knew why the Highlord would let a lab rat roam free—was he really not worried about the kid getting snatched away by someone else?

"Hoo..."

Raven exhaled slowly, steadying her nerves. She shifted her gaze away from Liu Bai and scanned the surroundings.

"Reinforcements are here... Yelan from the Chamber of Commerce, and Rita? This is certainly an unexpected combination."

"Are you alright, Kiana?"

Yelan's Lifeline Threads sliced effortlessly through the neck of a fallen soldier. She turned her head to look at Kiana.

Even though they were threads formed from flowing water, their sharpness was in no way inferior to a legendary blade.

This was Kiana's first time seeing Yelan in action—was this the unique technique known as Elemental Power?

Converting Honkai energy into pure elements and manipulating them was completely different from anything she had learned at St. Freya Academy.

"What could possibly happen to me!"

Kiana was panting, her stubbornness plain to see.

"Catch." Yelan drew two pistols from her waist and tossed them to Kiana. "Get back to the Chamber of Commerce first. You are their target."

"They?"

Kiana was stunned.

"This isn't just a simple Honkai attack?"

"Since when does a Honkai attack target the Chamber of Commerce exclusively?"

Yelan's tone turned sharp as she raised her hand, her Lifeline Threads poised and ready.

Then, Yelan couldn't help but mutter, "Seriously, we used to be friends back in the Chasm, but these snakes really don't show any mercy."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"None of your business! Get back to the Chamber—!"

Clang!

Almost by instinct, Yelan used her Lifeline Threads to narrowly deflect a bullet flying in from the distance.

Yelan looked up toward the direction from which the bullet had come.

It was impossible to see clearly; even Yelan could only make out a tiny black speck.

But at this distance, such a precise sniper shot.

Yelan didn't need to think twice to know who had pulled the trigger.

"Hey, hey~ going for real, are we? That Raven is way too serious."

Sigh, what kind of troublesome mess has Lord Ningguang gotten herself into? Can't she just send this troublemaker back? ...Although, this situation is certainly thrilling enough.

Surrounded by a crowd of Honkai Beasts, with an out-of-spec, high-level sniper lurking in the distance.

Yet, despite being in such a perilous situation, there wasn't a hint of fear on Yelan's face—she loved this feeling of being accompanied by danger, dancing on the edge of a blade.

Only in moments like these did she feel truly alive.

—Alright, to put it simply, she was just a bit of a thrill-seeker.

"It seems I haven't arrived too late."

Rita arrived at the front entrance of the Chamber of Commerce at this moment.

Looking at the crowd of Honkai monsters before her, she still wore that same proper, elegant smile.

"Although Lady Theresa assigned me the task of looking after the children, I truly didn't expect a fish to take the bait on the very first day. Miss Kiana, please head back."

"...Fine."

Looking at Rita, Kiana hesitated for a moment before deciding not to argue further.

—Mainly because this woman, Rita, would tattle to her older sister!

A total villain!

Sometimes, an older sister is even more terrifying than a mother—especially when that sister is bad with words but incredibly good at fighting.

But then again, Kiana really didn't understand why her sister insisted on working at headquarters.

It was clear that their mother was constantly suffering from headaches over the affairs of the headquarters...

"Oh, that's right, Miss Kiana. If you happen to run into those two guests from earlier inside the Chamber of Commerce, remember to look after them."

Only then did Yelan remember that she hadn't made arrangements for Liu Bai and Guinaifen.

"Got it!"

Clang—!

A bullet attempted to intercept Kiana's path, but it was blocked by Rita's scythe, as if she had foreseen it.

"...That's a long-range shot."

The smile on Rita's face couldn't help but fade slightly.

"From that direction?"

"Leave the sniper to you, Lady Rita."

The Lifeline Threads in Yelan's hands mercilessly reaped the lives of the husks.

"It is my duty." Rita nodded gently, then her voice suddenly dropped. "Alvitte, deploy the drones, lock onto that sniper, and have Lady Theresa take her out."

"Understood."

The technician's response came through the miniature earpiece hidden in her collar.

Rita then glanced at Yelan.

"Let's first deal with these in front of us..."

"Ding-dong~ 3000g has been credited to your Chamber of Commerce account. Source: Mysterious Meat, 30 jin."

"Ding-dong~ 8000g has been credited to your Chamber of Commerce account. Source: Activated Starshrooms, 50 jin."

"Ding-dong~..."

The phone in Yelan's waist pouch suddenly rang out at an inopportune moment.

Rita: "..."

"Ms. Yelan, this is..."

"Ah, this..."

Listening to the incessant notification sounds from the phone in her pouch, the faces of the only two customers from early this morning involuntarily surfaced in Yelan's mind.

Those two guests were unexpectedly laid-back.

Chapter 16 Raven: My Life Has Been Like Walking on Thin Ice

[Yelan Favorability: 1020]

"...?"

Liu Bai, who was currently scanning a code, froze when he heard the system prompt.

What was going on with this prompt?

Liu Bai glanced around. There were a few surveillance cameras nearby, but they were already smoking—it was really startling to have a prompt like this pop up out of nowhere!

"Chew, chew..."

Guinaifen, who had been in such a rush just a moment ago, had already given up on worrying and was now chewing on a mushroom known as a Starshroom.

"Whoa, the texture is so weird, but why is there a hint of sweetness to it?"

Well, it couldn't be helped. When two people with such laid-back attitudes get together, this is what happens.

"That should be enough materials gathered."

Liu Bai did a final tally of the supplies he had purchased.

Money comes fast, but it goes just as quickly.

One hundred thousand was gone just like that.

"It's settled, Little Gui."

"Oh, oh, so you're finally ready to go, old man?"

Guinaifen swallowed the Starshroom in her mouth and retorted with her hands on her hips, though it was clear she didn't feel much urgency anymore.

Liu Bai waved his hand, preparing to lead Guinaifen around to the back door.

"Hey, hey, hey! You two over there! Stop right... ahem, stop right there!"

Just as Liu Bai and Guinaifen reached the hallway, they were blocked by Kiana.

Kiana stood with her hands on her hips, looking slightly disheveled as she blocked their path.

"Kiana?" Guinaifen glanced at the panting Kiana with a hint of vigilance.

She didn't look like she was here to pick a fight, though.

"What are you two doing wandering around at a time like this!" Kiana put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, trying to make herself look more imposing. "Don't you know how dangerous it is right now?"