Collapse, Kiana's Cross-Dressing Strategy, Chapter 14

First, I'll watch two episodes of the latest Aralahato, then it's time to hop into the game, team up, and climb the ranks.

As the four of them were engrossed in their game, the door was opened.

Himeko, wiping her wet hair with one hand and gripping the doorknob with the other, poked her head in. "Watch the time, don't play too late."

"Got it, got it!" Kiana waved her hand dismissively.

"She's talking to you!"

"Tch."

After receiving acknowledgment from the other three, Himeko felt that the dormitory was relatively stable. She gave one last reminder before leaving.

After the teacher left, the students continued to go all out.

The gaming session came to a temporary halt, and Bronya looked at Bai Yan. "Sister Xiaoyan."

"What is it?"

"Does Sister Xiaoyan's family have any brothers around your age?"

"Why the sudden question? What, Bronya, do you want me to introduce someone to you?"

"No," Bronya said, breaking free from Bai Yan's hand pinching her cheek.

"Brothers..." Bai Yan looked away, as if reminiscing.

In reality, he became vigilant.

Was it a wanted poster, a blacklist, or an internal missing person notice?

Mother Cocolia probably still had him in her thoughts. Such overwhelming maternal love.

"Yes, I do, but I haven't heard from him recently, so I don't know where he is now."

"Then, what kind of person is he?"

After repeated comparison and identification, Bronya was basically certain that this Bai Yan should be a relative of that person.

Fate, truly wonderful.

However, she felt it was necessary to thoroughly investigate Mother Cocolia's instructions.

"His name is Bai Yan, he belongs to headquarters, and he works in logistics."

Bronya's heart skipped a beat. With the crucial clue in hand, she temporarily ended the conversation.

Meanwhile, Bai Yan had quietly picked up his disguised communicator and opened the chat labeled "Female Superior."

He was contemplating whether to report Kiana and what reason to use.

"..."

He couldn't take it anymore. What kind of people were in the Fifth Squad?

Two Schicksal spies, one Anti-Entropy spy, and two Herrschers.

Bai Yan frowned, thinking it over, but ultimately decided not to send the message.

Forget it, Kiana would eventually abandon the darkness and embrace the light. As for disguises, he was quite confident in himself.

However, just as Bai Yan was about to put away his communicator, a message notification popped up.

It was a message from Sister Taizi.

He composed himself, glanced subtly at the others to confirm he wasn't being watched, and then opened it.

[Rita: Miss Durandal is looking for Bai Yan. She seems suspicious of your affairs, but she hasn't been able to spare the time yet.]

Bai Yan narrowed his eyes.

Was this the unique, primal yet accurate beast-like intuition of their Kaslana family? Even this couldn't put her at ease.

Or perhaps his acting lacked detail.

But judging by what Sister Taizi said, was Dumb Goose coming to St. Freya?

The group played until it was time for bed, and they each returned to their rooms.

"I should have stayed away from her back then. Sigh, I shouldn't have been so greedy."

Bai Yan slowly took off his jacket, recalling his time in France.

At the time, his idea was simply to engage in some speculative business, take a few photos of a young Dumb Goose, and then quietly sell the photos after she became a super idol for Schicksal in the future.

He had even thought of clients, like rich socialites such as Susannah.

Savvy career women like Rita were not on the list of potential buyers. If she hadn't taken a liking to him and forcibly recruited him—no, promoted him—Bai Yan would have found an opportunity to resign and run away by now.

He just hadn't expected Dumb Goose to remember him and want to pull him into her schemes.

"Even if my identity is revealed by Dumb Goose, given her upright and sensible nature, I don't have to worry about my identity being used against me. It's just a bit embarrassing..."

Besides, Sister Taizi was helping him cover for him, so it should be fine.

With these thoughts settled, Bai Yan relaxed and began preparing for his meeting with Master Jingliu tonight.

He had managed to memorize the basic movements of the "Luoshen" sword technique during this time, but he wasn't very proficient in executing it yet and needed more practice.

St. Freya's practical training might not be as strict, but all its facilities and courses are complete. Bai Yan doesn't lack the conditions for practicing Collapse energy.

The path to becoming stronger is long and arduous, but Bai Yan isn't in a hurry. All of this can be taken slowly.

"Time to ignite."

Dong, dong dong.

The door was knocked, the sound very light, as if the knocker didn't want anyone other than themselves to know.

Bai Yan walked over, hand on the doorknob.

Could it be Raiden Mei? Is she finally going to make a move on me again?

Thinking this, Bai Yan felt a strange excitement.

A night raid?

With his pajama buttons only half done, Bai Yan paused and picked up the perfume from the vanity.

He'd just use it as pepper spray; it would be enough to make anyone who got it in their eyes suffer.

Tiptoeing to the door, he opened it.

"Xiao Yan, it's me." The person immediately spoke, lowering their voice.

The hand that had reached out instantly retracted.

The visitor was Kiana.

Volume 1: Chapter 18: Let's Tutor, Let's All Tutor Hard

"Why are you here?"

Kiana glanced furtively outside the door, then zipped in like the wind, locking it behind her.

Bai Yan retreated repeatedly, hands covering his chest, staring at Kiana with an expression that seemed to say, "Don't come near me, you monster!"

"What's with that expression?!"

"I'm straight."

"What are you thinking?!" Kiana exclaimed, blushing, realizing his misunderstanding.

"Then why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

"Uh..."

Miss Bai Yan blinked her eyes. "Were you secretly watching horror movies alone?"

"No..."

Kiana stammered for a long time, finally seeming to make a major decision.

She took a step forward, took Bai Yan's hands, and gazed at him deeply with her watery blue eyes in the moonlight.

"Xiao Yan, please, help me!"

Bai Yan looked at the hands she was holding tightly.

"Tell me what it is."

"Auntie—that is, the Head Principal—made a deal with me. If I become an A-rank Valkyrie, she'll tell me my dad's whereabouts..."

A moment later, after listening to Kiana's somewhat disjointed explanation, Bai Yan understood.

Kiana wanted him to help her study.

The sun finally decided to change its position and rise...

"I remember I demonstrated the method to you, and Teacher Himeko isn't one to be overly proud. Why don't you ask her?"

"Xiao Yan, you... you don't want to?"

"Of course I do. My Kiana is so cute, how could I not want to?"

Kiana's smile returned. "Hehehe, I knew you were the best, Xiao Yan."

"So, you don't like Teacher Himeko?"

"No... Actually, I tried asking her before, but it was strange. Whether in class or when we were alone, as soon as I started reading, I couldn't help but feel sleepy."

"...If I explain it to you, you won't feel that way?"

Kiana nodded rapidly, like a pecking chick. "The first time I met you and you explained things to me, I didn't feel that at all. Instead... how should I put it, I felt very energetic."

"..."

This was probably his constitution acting up again; it wasn't the first time.

Dumb Goose was still causing him trouble.

"Alright, but not tonight. We'll pick a good time later depending on the situation."

"Yay!"

Upon receiving a positive answer, Kiana happily hugged Bai Yan's waist and spun him around several times.

"Hey, hey, hey, put me down quickly, don't kick anything!"

"Oh."

Bai Yan broke out in an awkward cold sweat, barely managing to stand steady.

Kiana changed her approach, instead hooking her arm around Bai Yan's, pulling him close.

He felt a soft touch, the first hint of it, and this time Bai Yan didn't resist.

"Xiao Yan, remember to keep this a secret for me."

"Why?"

"You don't know, but Auntie looks like she's sure I can't do it. This time, I want to quietly prepare a surprise for her!"

Bai Yan heard this and patted Kiana's head.

She's gotten smarter.

"...As long as you're happy."

Bai Yan had seen the written exam content for A-rank Valkyries before, and was very familiar with it. That was because Dumb Goose had crammed and previewed the material.

As for himself, he had thoroughly researched and studied this part by looking up guides for the "Schicksal National Exam."

Theresa probably never dreamed that her carelessly set conditions would be met by her foolish niece.

Kaslana's Second Law: The purer the bloodline, the easier it is to deceive.

Bearing the surname "Apocalypse," Theresa could be considered a mixed-blood Kaslana.

But mixed-bloods are not all the same; Saniate's mind is far inferior to Apocalypse's.

Therefore, Theresa should have been significantly stronger than her two nieces in terms of intellect.

That was originally the case, but Bai Yan intervened.

I really want to see the Principal flustered when she can't fulfill her promise.