You Have a New Job (Continued)
Kiana laughed without a care in the world.
Bronya, however, looked at Anqi with a conflicted expression in her eyes.
To ask or not to ask?
What if we rashly test the waters and cause unexpected harm to Anqi?
Bronya bit her lip and finally fell silent.
"Oh, by the way, yesterday was your birthday, Anqi! We even prepared a surprise for you, but unfortunately we didn't get to use it."
Kiana suddenly remembered this.
"Ah?"
Anqi blinked belatedly, realizing what was happening.
Those around them, those who knew about the anomaly and those who didn't, showed drastically different expressions.
But in the end, when Anqi came down from the wall, everyone gathered around her.
"Happy birthday, Anqi, even though it's a day late."
"Happy birthday!"
"I'll make it up to you with a birthday party when we get back. I wish you good health, happiness, and that you grow taller soon!"
Anqi glanced around at the people around her, a slight smile playing on her lips. Then, she twirled the ends of her golden hair and lowered her head shyly.
The whole day was peaceful.
The monster did not attack, and the sun silently slid down to the west.
But for the few who knew the truth, this calm only made them more uneasy, and even the approaching night seemed to be baring its fangs and claws.
Even the usually composed Fu Hua and Raiden Mei could no longer hide their anxiety.
"Will danger strike in the middle of the night?"
"Who knows? But none of you have tried to probe that little girl all day?"
"..." ×3
When they met again to discuss the situation, the other three remained silent in the face of Cocolia's questions.
Cocolia sighed and said:
"Although we're just going to react to each move as it comes, we can't keep dragging this out, since the mental, physical, and food costs are real. I have an idea, Raiden Mei, how about you go and find out the boundaries of this world?"
"That's possible. But do you have some hidden meaning behind it?"
"It's nothing, except that Bronya and I will also be going out of the walls. After that, based on what happened tonight, I'll be able to give you a rough idea of the truth."
"Can't you just say what you mean?"
Raiden Mei frowned.
She hates riddle tellers.
Cocolia raised an eyebrow and smiled without saying a word.
So, in the dead of night, Raiden Mei rushed out of the fortifications in the dark.
Cocolia, holding Bronya's hand, and protected by several Iron Pilot, walked into the dark depths of Don City.
"Dr. Maki's serum has been replicated, and the laboratory test results show that it is indeed a boon for Honkai Sickness. That's why I came to Changkong City to conduct clinical trials."
"... Another human experimentation?"
Bronya was preoccupied with Anqi's situation when she was drawn to Cocolia's topic.
Cocolia smiled and pinched her cheek.
"Are you thinking that I haven't changed at all, and that I've gone to Changkong City to capture survivors to use as experimental subjects?"
"Bronya ...that's what she thought, but that's probably not the case, isn't it, Mother Cocolia?"
"Pretty much. I didn't capture people to use as material, but... I built a sanatorium in Changkong City to house most of the survivors of the Honkai Sickness. They had nowhere else to go, and only in that sanatorium could they possibly find a glimmer of hope. Fortunately, I have now brought that hope to them."
"Mom, Bronya is so sorry."
Bronya looked at her young mother with guilt.
Even though she knew Cocolia wasn't that bad, Bronya always subconsciously interpreted her mother's actions in the worst possible light.
Thinking about it this way, her daughter is truly wicked.
Whether it's her family or Anqi, Bronya feels like she hasn't taken care of either side properly, and is utterly useless.
"I have some good news for you, about Abyss City... wait, here it comes."
"Yes, Bronya saw it too."
From the darkness, a twisted and ominous figure appeared.