(Was the angle at which the cups were served adjusted?)
(She probably wouldn't harm Mr. Liu Bai, so did she predict that, given Mr. Liu Bai's personality, he would choose the nearest one?)
(No, choosing what's closest was probably most people's habit, so...)
So, was the cup closest to her poisoned?
Or, to subvert expectations, was the poisoned one actually the cup farthest from her, the one in front of Natasha?
Under the current circumstances, no matter which one Rita chose, it didn't seem like the optimal choice.
Rita had considered the possibility that all three cups were poisoned, but only for an instant before discarding the thought.
As far as ordinary poisons went, Rita wasn't afraid. As a Valkyrie, she had toxin resistance—the other side probably did too.
But Liu Bai was an ordinary person. It was impossible for him to have resistance to conventional poisons.
If all three cups were poisoned, Liu Bai would be in the greatest danger.
As for poisons specifically designed for Valkyries, their mechanism was nothing more than targeting Honkai energy, but those would work on Natasha as well.
If both sides were poisoned, then in the end, neither side would have much of an advantage.
Natasha might have contingencies, but Rita had the Undying Blade behind her as well. Even if it truly came to a fight, it would only end with both sides injured, and Liu Bai's safety might not be guaranteed during that time.
(A choice that cannot be predicted at all... Is this your counterattack?)
Maintaining an elegant smile, Rita chose the coffee closest to her.
There was no need to choose anymore. This would be a gamble.
Seeing this, Natasha naturally picked up the remaining cup.
Yet the atmosphere between Rita and Natasha remained exceedingly tense.
...As expected, things had gone off the rails.
Having given up struggling, Liu Bai calmly took a sip of coffee.
There was no way Liu Bai could stop them—did they really think Natasha's smile was merely meant to intimidate Rita?
So sweet...
Perhaps because it contained the Elixir of Love, the coffee tasted overwhelmingly sugary.
Liu Bai drinking from it broke the deadlock between the two women.
Rita maintained her composed smile, while Natasha wore a provocative one. The two drank their coffees together, completely skipping the proper process of "taking a small sip" and "savoring it carefully."
Natasha Favorability: 3550 (Elixir of Love)
Rita Favorability: 2757 (Elixir of Love)
As both women downed their coffee in one gulp, two notifications appeared in Liu Bai's system one after another.
Natasha had made preparations, but it seemed Rita had made quite a few as well.
"..." Rita, who did not feel much abnormality, frowned slightly before chuckling. "So, Sister, you like coffee this sweet."
"Hmph..."
After glancing briefly at Liu Bai, Natasha realized that the medicine had already taken effect.
No matter how many times she experienced it, Natasha still felt that the onset speed was utterly ridiculous.
"It's already good enough that pests have something to drink."
Not good. She had brought up Liu Bai without meaning to... This thing affected her judgment because of the filter.
Natasha's mind struggled fiercely against itself.
Even though Natasha did not want to focus her attention on Liu Bai, she was somewhat unable to control herself now—after all, including this time, Natasha had only tried it three times.
The first time, she had fallen for it without any preparation. The second had merely been a simple experiment.
To put it bluntly, could the favorability added by this thing really be the same as the favorability gained through a normal loving relationship?
It would be more accurate to call it "dispensing favorability."
Like computer components in adult games—those who knew, knew.
"Clearly Mr. Liu Bai didn't say anything. Sister, you're being far too petty."
Rita naturally linked her arm through Liu Bai's.
...Could she really have been overthinking it?
Rita rested her head on Liu Bai's shoulder and gave Natasha a provocative smile.
"Don't you think so too, Mr. Liu Bai? Sister is being a little too stingy, isn't she? Sister lacks the tolerance and generosity a lady ought to possess, doesn't she? And her clothes... are rather plain as well."
"Um, Miss Rita, isn't this a little too close?"
Liu Bai tried to subtly remind Rita.
But clearly Rita's guard was not very high—though Natasha's vigilance did not seem to have done much either.
"As lovers, isn't this distance just right?"
Rita gave Liu Bai a slightly seductive smile.
Well? Can you still sit still?
Rita cast Natasha a sideways glance.
If you don't do something soon, your little brother will be stolen away by me.
"..."
Natasha was already grinding her teeth audibly.
No... Calm down, calm down. She absolutely could not be provoked.
These feelings were all an illusion.
This brat and I were only fake siblings. This whole brother-complex act was just something put on for that bitch who only knew how to seduce men... That brat was not important at all.
Everything happening now was merely a hallucination caused by the drug.
Calm down... She could not throw herself into disarray.
"...Why is this starting to feel wrong?"
Gray Serpent continued staring at the surveillance feed.
As one of the few world-class anthropologists who had deeply studied human behavior, Gray Serpent immediately saw the strange atmosphere in the scene.
—After they drank that cup of coffee.
The atmosphere between the two seemed to have shifted from open and covert rivalry into jealous fighting over a man.
...You two, are you playing house?
This was a clash between the major power Schicksal and the poisonous serpent hidden in the shadows of the world.
Could they stop turning it into a childish farce?
Gray Serpent did not know what emotion he ought to show right now.
If he had to describe it, Gray Serpent's relationship with Natasha was more like that of teacher and student than simple coworkers.
Gray Serpent had taught Raven the fundamentals of combat and diplomatic skills. It would not be an exaggeration to say he had raised her with his own hands.
Although he knew Natasha had always wanted to retire into seclusion, Gray Serpent understood that. Satisfied with Raven's professional ability, he had agreed to let her retire—after all, Mobius would never bother with such trivial matters unrelated to experiments.
But... this was the first time Gray Serpent had ever seen Natasha act out of "jealousy."
"Gray Serpent, what's wrong? This is the first time I've seen you feel conflicted."
"Highlord..."
Gray Serpent respectfully bowed to Mobius, who had approached from behind.
"Oh... what's going on here? Has my little white mouse gotten himself into trouble?"
Mobius looked at the surveillance feed. Though she was only moderately sensitive to interpersonal relationships, she was at least over thirty and could tell that something was off.
Well, more than noticing something was off, Mobius cared more about...
"Why is this woman touching my little white mouse?"
Mobius was somewhat displeased with Rita.
Touching someone else's little white mouse—who the hell did she think she was?
"She is Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, Rita Rossweisse."
"Hmm... so she does have quite the background."
Hearing Gray Serpent say that, Mobius suddenly became a little interested.
"It looks like she likes the little white mouse. Can we send her a flyer and invite her to participate in a mating experiment?"
"..."
Could you stop spouting nonsense?
Even Gray Serpent was left rather speechless upon hearing that.
"I'm joking. The little white mouse doesn't need to consider such things yet."
Mobius smiled at Gray Serpent's somewhat frightening mechanical face.
"Still, isn't Raven acting a little strange too? No matter how charming the little white mouse is, he shouldn't be able to win two girls' hearts at the same time in such a short period."
"You are correct."
"Keep watching them... Oh, right, where's Jackal? I need her for something."
"You are standing on her."
"Oh... this girl really isn't picky about where she sleeps."
Mobius kicked Jackal twice in irritation.
"Forget it. Useless disciple, all she ever does is give me a headache."
"...How do you view Mr. Liu Bai?"
Gray Serpent finally asked the question he had long wanted to ask.
This was the first time he had seen Mobius be so enthusiastic toward someone.
"Finding you a father?"
Gray Serpent: "..."
He was done for. If she put it that way, then no matter how high Gray Serpent's social skills were, there was no way he could respond.
"Look at you. I'm joking—Gray Serpent, you don't understand what dreams are."
"...Your dream is my dream."
"That's exactly why you don't understand."
Mobius shrugged at that.
Gray Serpent respectfully watched his Highlord—also his mother and creator—leave.
...Wait, which way had Highlord just turned?
"This is Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' industrial building..."
Natasha tried her best not to let her voice sound angry.
But...
"Mr. Liu Bai, when we have the chance, shall we visit the amusement park in Sky Dome Zone? I heard that the amusement park there has exceptionally high reviews."
...She had wanted to watch this woman immerse herself in the ugliness of love, but her anger was impossible to suppress.
I was here first. Why were you ignoring me now and acting lovey-dovey with someone else's little brother?
Shameless woman...
Before you continue