Yeah, it looks like Theresa didn't tell Kiana the truth this time.
Chapter 45: Is He Her Old Man?
Looking at this old apartment complex, Siegfried was in a state of utter hesitation.
To enter or not to enter, that was the question.
Siegfried felt that while he was a bit reckless, he wasn't completely brainless either. His initial actions could already be considered leaving a deep impression on Cecilia in this lifetime.
A very deep and not very good impression.
If he rushed in again, Cecilia's reincarnation would have an even worse impression of him. By the time he actually saw Cecilia, he wouldn't be able to close the distance, which would mean the losses outweighed the gains.
"Young man~"
Siegfried suddenly heard a voice that sounded quite full of vitality, and he paused slightly. His eyeballs rolled, and he looked all around. After making sure there were no actual youngsters nearby, he more or less confirmed that the person was calling him.
"This... are you calling me?"
Siegfried pointed at himself, very uncertainly, and said to the person who had called out, "Who are you..."
He was uncertain, but also certain. At least from the comparison, the other party truly had enough capital to call him a young man.
An old man estimated to be somewhere over sixty and under seventy.
He was wearing a military green, very old-style military uniform and a pair of reading glasses. Although he was old, he stood straight, and he looked particularly spirited and stern.
"I'm the security guard here." The old man adjusted his glasses and asked, "What are you doing standing at the entrance of the design institute's residential area?"
"Looking for someone or selling something?"
Oh... the design institute. Siegfried seemed to just remember.
This place couldn't be considered an ordinary residential community; it was the family housing area for a design institute subordinate to Loli Industry! Loli Industry.
It looked like a nonsensical name, yet it was one of the country's most important military manufacturers!
Don't let the place's age fool you—precisely because it was old, some of the country's most important and veteran military designers lived here.
So despite the place looking old and somewhat out of place with the newly built communities around it, not many people dared to mess around here.
Because most of the residents in this old complex were retired veteran designers, just like this old gentleman. It was best not to cause trouble here.
Causing trouble meant certain bad luck!
To this country, these people were quite important little treasures!
"I want to find someone," Siegfried said very respectfully. "Old man, does someone named Li Pu live here?"
"Li Pu?" The security guard looked Siegfried up and down carefully, then took out a small notebook, as if searching through it, and asked, "What relation are you to him?"
"He's my old man!" Siegfried answered almost without hesitation.
"What?" The security guard stared at Siegfried, uncomprehending, and said, "Say that again?"
"Our local dialect, it means I'm his dad." Realizing his previous words were a bit inappropriate, Siegfried quickly remedied, "I'm just here to check on that boy of mine."
"Oh..." The security guard put the notebook down, leisurely took a sip of tea, and said, "No such person."
"You must have the wrong place."
"Huh? That's not right!" Siegfried grew a bit anxious. "He's right here! Li Pu! Li Pu! Could you check again?!"
"Hmm." The security guard took out his notebook again, made a show of looking through it, and asked, "What did you say the person you're looking for is named?"
"Li Pu!" Siegfried said. "Li as in plum, Pu as in ordinary."
"Li what?" The security guard flipped through the notebook very casually.
"Li Pu!" Siegfried said with remaining patience.
"Pu what?" The security guard said with a straight face. "My ears are a bit bad. What preposterous name did you just say it was? Say it again?"
"..." Siegfried's mouth twitched.
He suddenly realized that if he wanted to find Li Pu in this residential area, this old security guard was the first hurdle!
Li Pu had returned to his room.
Taking leave meant resting, but he hadn't gone back just to fall straight to sleep.
He still took equipment quite seriously—how to successfully equip it, and how to successfully unequip it. This matter was extremely important to him.
In this world and city about to be overrun by Honkai Beasts, if he didn't want to die, he had to have the power to protect himself.
The Valkyrie equipment bestowed by the system was one of the cards he could play.
It was just that this equipment wasn't as easy to handle as he had imagined.
After unequipping the gear, trying to re-equip it now proved difficult.
Why won't it re-equip? No matter how Li Pu tried to re-imagine and re-simulate the previous feeling, attempting to achieve the highest synchronization rate to equip Cecilia, all his attempts failed.
From when he started trying until now, he hadn't succeeded once.
Where did it go wrong? Li Pu pinched his chin, pondering this question.
Go ask the system.
Li Pu still decided to consult the system about this matter.
Although this system was somewhat unreliable and liked to hide important information, it didn't keep all information from him. As long as he could dig out one or two useful pieces of intelligence from the system's mouth, it would do.
System, why isn't this designated transformation working anymore? Li Pu asked unceremoniously the moment he entered the system space.
Designated transformation requires meeting specific requirements, the system replied. Since you haven't met those specific demands, naturally you can't equip it.
Shouldn't I have met them already? Li Pu said, puzzled. I've already equipped Cecilia once.
Why can't I continue equipping it after unequipping?
Because sincerity brings success, the system explained. German BOY has a classic maxim: My martial arts training comes from the heart.
Well, I'm doing it from the heart right now too, Li Pu argued. Why isn't it working? Did you meddle in this?
Of course not, the system said. Are you truly doing it from the heart right now? The first time you completed the designated transformation, it was because Kiana was there, and you instinctively felt that emotion from the bottom of your heart. Combined with the feelings of the real-world situation, you naturally completed it smoothly.
As for this time, only you know whether it's truly from the heart.
Besides, the biggest drawback of this equipment method is uncertainty.
You might want to equip it and fail, or not want to equip it and succeed.
The best equipment method is actually the generic transformation dance.
Would you like to try it?
You're still trying to sell me your transformation dance, Li Pu said, as if stung by anger. Let me tell you, that disgusting and shameful transformation dance you recommended—there is no way I, Li Pu, will ever dance it!
Absolutely impossible! There is no room for negotiation!
I, Li Pu, would rather die! Be beaten to death by Saniga!
Than ever dance that shameful...
Trans-...for-..mation!...dance!
Chapter 46: Damn, It Smells So Good
When a person says they would rather die than do something, they are actually willing to do it deep down. They just lack a clear grasp of the benefits the action will bring for the time being. Once they know for sure that the matter can truly bring them clear benefits, they will definitely take the initiative to do it.
— Wang · Mr. · Really-Smells-Good · Jinze
"One, two, three, four; two, two, three, four; three, two, three, four."
Following the rhythm, swaying his body, although there was still a hint of awkwardness, it was already much better than when he had wiggled like a caterpillar at the beginning.
Li Pu was dancing the transformation dance.
Though he said no with his mouth and felt the shame, once the curtains were drawn, he was the only one left in the room. He could bounce around however he liked; nobody was watching anyway.
Is the system's transformation dance really useful?
Li Pu still harbored a bit of doubt in his heart.
The system didn't lie; it just didn't tell the whole story. While designated equipment allowed him to equip character gear directly without going through the transformation dance, it wasn't a foolproof method that worked every time.
After repeated attempts, Li Pu finally discovered the system wasn't lying.
That method really wasn't easy to succeed with; relying solely on imagination to simulate the emotions from when he first equipped the gear was currently extremely difficult.
So this generic transformation dance...
If it really worked, its utility would indeed be broader than the targeted transformation.
Learning to calm one's mind and study it now couldn't possibly be wrong. The transformation dance video provided by the system was actually quite conscientious. It wasn't just a simple animation, but a comprehensive tutorial covering decomposed movements, facial expressions, psychological activities, and various other aspects.
In short, it wasn't just dancing a transformation dance; it was more like a short teaching module on how to be a good actor.
Studying it seriously would, more or less, help with some of his subsequent actions.
"One, two, three, four ~ two, two, three, four ~ three, two, three, four."
Li Pu danced through it once more.
Feels about ready? Time for the real deal!
To be honest, this transformation dance was quite simple, with no overly complex movements, and the psychological activity was also quite straightforward—one only needed to hold a heart of justice within.
Of course, that included the lines.
Simple, quite simple; as long as you let go of your inhibitions, you could do it.
Anyway, since nobody was around right now, Li Pu let go of his inhibitions completely!
"In the name of the moon, I will eliminate you!"
Not to mention, this outfit actually gave off quite the right vibe. The chuunibyou aura was somewhat sufficient, the words were spoken with a righteous tone, and unlike before, his voice wasn't as small as a mosquito's buzz.
He met all the conditions for transformation almost instantly.
The next second...
"What was that?!"
Wandering around the residential area and wondering how to find Li Pu, Siegfried suddenly noticed that from a window on the south side of what appeared to be the sixth floor to his right, a blinding light had suddenly burst forth!
The security old man hadn't given him directions, but he hadn't stopped him from entering either.
Siegfried knew there was no use trying to get information out of that old man.
He had only himself to rely on to find the place.
Fortunately, the residential complex wasn't large, but actually searching it out wasn't simple either. It really posed a major problem.
Just as he looked up a moment ago, he spotted a window emitting an unusual glow!
"That must be the apartment!"
Although he didn't know what was happening, Siegfried quickly made his judgment.
It had to be that apartment, no doubt about it.
Ordinary people couldn't possibly conjure up such a bizarre sight, and Cecilia's reincarnation wasn't an ordinary minor character. Therefore, it had to be that apartment!
The light continued for a little over a minute before disappearing.
Siegfried quickly memorized the location of that apartment, found the corresponding stairwell door, and ran upstairs.
Siegfried was quite confident in his sense of direction and spatial awareness; he basically wouldn't make a mistake. He quickly found the glowing front door.
Yes, it was a glowing door!
He could see the intense light from inside filtering out through the old-style security door.
This was definitely the right place.
Knock, knock, knock ~
Siegfried didn't hesitate to knock on the door.
Before you continue