Honkai, But I Have Too Many Mods

The clues haven't run out yet.

Rita's mind flashed back to the man and woman she saw at the merchant guild earlier.

No matter what, she'd try to pry some information from them first.

Speaking of which, there was one thing Yelan said that Rita believed – the composure of those two, paying for groceries during a crisis, likely meant they weren't spies.

At most, they might be locals who knew a thing or two... local big shots?

They didn't seem like bad people either.

"They're gone?"

After learning the whereabouts of the two from Kiana, Yelan stretched lazily. Rita's smile didn't change.

Well, Kiana was Kiana, after all.

Rita had some resistance to her.

"This is perfect then," Rita mused, resting her chin on her hand for a moment before turning to Yelan. "Ms. Yelan, do you have any gift recommendations?"

"Ah... it's already on the news."

On the bus, the onboard broadcast was reporting the Honkai incident at the Sky Dome Zone's Liyue Merchant Guild.

"The commotion was quite significant, after all," Guinaifen said, looking as if she was still shaken. "It feels like you attract trouble quite easily."

"It has nothing to do with me," Liu Bai rolled his eyes.

It was just the World Serpent faction's storyline, that's all.

If he had started as a normal member of the World Serpent, Raven would have probably dragged him onto the battlefield as a low-level combatant.

So, the World Serpent's questline was probably about capturing Valkyries?

It felt very... but then again, the Serpent's Master was Mei... so maybe it was a bit terrifying.

"Never mind, let's head to the next stop, the library."

"...The boss is still wandering around?" Guinaifen looked a bit dumbfounded.

"Uh... this is really necessary."

The Sumeru Library sold skill books and crafting recipes.

Similarly, Mondstadt's Bar sold various buff foods.

Inazuma's shrines allowed donations for prayers, which could yield buffs or items.

Fontaine's Opera House was a dating spot; taking a character to see a corresponding play would grant a significant affection boost.

Of course, generally, characters like Yelan could only be seen at headquarters. Seeing her at a branch like this was probably just for plot convenience.

...Though talking about plot in the real world felt strange.

"So, you don't have to go to the merchant guild?"

Guinaifen had hit upon a key point.

Chapter 18: This Is... My Sister

"A reassuringly ordinary face..."

Liu Bai glanced at the unremarkable administrator at the counter and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If anything else happened, he'd really start questioning his luck.

"Follow me."

Liu Bai led Guinaifen to the counter, where they registered for a library card, successfully unlocking faction affection points.

"Let's go, Little Gui. We can just browse around. The books on the first floor are for sale, and the ones on the second floor are only for borrowing, though there aren't many good books to borrow here."

The higher the level of a book, the higher the faction affection points required.

"Found it, Beginner Physical Training."

Liu Bai picked up an A4-sized magazine in the magazine section.

[Beginner Physical Training Book (Book/Magazine): Grants a physical fitness level based on reading progress. Upon complete reading, the level can increase by up to 3. Slightly increases other stats while studying this book.]

A stat book mod.

Adding basic skill books in the library meant he wouldn't have to slowly increase his stats through practice.

Next to the physical training book, Liu Bai also found the [Beginner Agility Training Book] and [Beginner Strength Training Book].

Each volume was less than a hundred pages.

Intermediate and advanced training books could only be obtained at headquarters.

"Whoa, Boss, why are you buying such expensive magazines?"

Guinaifen, who was also browsing magazines, jumped in surprise when she saw the magazine Liu Bai put into his bag.

"There's a reason for the price. What caught your eye?"

"This one, this one."

[Liyue Ancient Opera Vocalization Explained Issue 21 (Book/Magazine): Grants a small amount of Singing Skill experience upon complete reading]

It was a very ordinary skill book—of course, from Guinaifen's and normal people's perspective, it was just a regular opera magazine.

"This is the one, right..."

While Liu Bai was checking its stats, someone else came over and picked up a copy.

Then, Liu Bai felt the other person's gaze fall upon him.

"Hmm... Sir, are you a fan of traditional Chinese opera?"

This feeling of trouble finding me...

"No, I'm not." Liu Bai put the magazine into his bag, shaking his head in denial.

He just got his game-changer item; it's best not to get involved in any strange random events... right?

The moment Liu Bai saw who had come up beside him, he froze.

A young woman with waist-length red hair, dressed in a white casual outfit, with flawless features and figure, was standing next to him.

Is this person... Eden?

Behind Eden, Guinaifen also looked flustered and... inferior.

"Oh? Then you must be an audience member." The young woman, who Liu Bai suspected was Eden, didn't show any disappointment upon hearing his answer. "My apologies for suddenly striking up a conversation."

The woman bowed slightly to Liu Bai as an apology.

"...Are you a celebrity?" Liu Bai couldn't help but ask the woman before him.

"Eh? Me?" The woman, who Liu Bai suspected was Eden, was taken aback by his question, but then she flashed a perfect, polite smile. "I will be, in the future."

[Eden Affection: 1517]

Could it really be Eden? A younger, pre-fame version? An initial affection of 15 isn't bad.

"By the way, sir, are you a celebrity?" Eden seemed to be warming up to the conversation and looked at Liu Bai with some curiosity.

"No, and I probably won't be in the future."

Liu Bai replied using Eden's phrasing.

"That's a shame," Eden said, though a relaxed smile remained on her face.

"Miss, you don't look like you're from the Sky Dome Zone?"

"It's quite obvious." Eden ran a hand through her long hair. "I just failed a job interview and am currently traveling to gain experience."

"An entertainment company? If I were your agent, I'd tie you down with an astronomical contract."

Liu Bai's compliment brought a slight smile to Eden's face.

"It's precisely because I couldn't accept those kinds of contracts that I'm unemployed and haven't found a job yet, sir."

[Eden Affection: 1720]

"However, this failed job interview has nothing to do with the contract."

"Oh?"

"You know, the Liyue Merchant Guild has an entertainment company under its name."

"An entertainment company? Oh, you mean a theater troupe? The Yun-Han Opera Troupe?"

"I can't really tell the difference between the two."

Eden replied while nodding, clearly indicating that the company she failed to get hired by was the Yun-Han Opera Troupe.

"This time, I was criticized by the lead performer of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe as 'completely lacking understanding of traditional opera'." Eden fiddled with the unopened magazine in her hand.

"Vocalization and singing are indeed quite different—wouldn't you agree, Little Gui?"

"Ah... uh... Mmm-hmm!" Guinaifen nodded awkwardly.

I'm also a beginner! Boss, please don't make things difficult for me!

"Does this lady understand traditional opera?"

"I... I'm also just a beginner." Facing Eden, whose beauty completely overshadowed her, Guinaifen was quite reserved.

"I see... Ah, we've been chatting for so long without introducing ourselves. My name is Eden."

"Liu Bai, and this is my friend Guinaifen."

"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" It seemed even Eden had a bit of gossip in her when it came to small matters.

"No, just friends."

"Is that so... Then is the person behind you your girlfriend?"

Eden pointed behind Liu Bai.

"Hm?"

Liu Bai turned around. A woman with short, gray-black hair, wearing a black leather jacket, and a cold expression, looking very much like a yakuza boss, was staring at him motionlessly from behind.

Seeing that Liu Bai had noticed her, the yakuza boss—Raven—walked forward with a cold face and patted Liu Bai on the shoulder.

"You rascal, you're pretty good, huh?

I fought tooth and nail, terrified you might get snatched away by someone, and here you are, hitting on girls?

And not just any girls, but high-quality ones.

I don't recall the Honored Master granting you mating rights!"

Upon seeing Eden's appearance, Raven felt an unfamiliar sense of inferiority, thinking, "Characters with dark pasts should just stay in their corners."

"I'm his relative, responsible for taking care of him in the Sky Dome Zone."

After confirming multiple times that Eden was not a dangerous individual on the registry, Raven's tone became relatively normal, though her face remained cold.

"…?"

Mr. Liu Bai… isn't actually being kidnapped, is he?

Eden looked at Liu Bai and the woman who claimed to be his relative with utter confusion.

To be honest, aside from their similar hair color, she couldn't see any resemblance—she was quite sensitive to people's appearances.

"Uh… this, this is my sister, that…"

"Natasha, just call me Natasha."

"…"

"Hey, hey, your naming conventions are all different."

Eden offered a smile of flawless politeness.