Chapter 171

Under the cover of night, a green figure appeared in the somewhat noisy city. Looking at the bustling crowd below, Rita's rose-colored eyes flashed with a hint of tenderness. She had heard from Durandal that Shen Gonglin was currently acting with the Herrscher of the Void, which meant that she was not under the protection of the Hyperion and Anti-Entropy. For the pampered Lady Rin, this was already quite a hardship.

I wonder if I'll ever meet him. If I do, I'd really like to offer him the service of a maid.

After leaving headquarters, Rita arrived in this city, Sky City, a technological city built by humans in Shenzhou. It served as a refuge during Honkai, and the effects of the Herrscher of the Void still frequently occur worldwide. This city seems to be at peace now, but Rita knows that this peace is only temporary. She has a feeling that a huge conspiracy is quietly unfolding in this city.

"I wonder if Lady Rin would like this outfit of mine. I guess she would?"

As they were talking, Rita suddenly started to notice her outfit. Today, the maid wasn't wearing her signature maid outfit. Because of a mission, she was wearing Valkyrie Armor, a rare occurrence for her. Rita looked down at her green dress. Although it lacked the maid elements, based on her understanding of Shen Gonglin, she thought this outfit would suit his taste. After all, it included a short skirt and black stockings. And maybe he would even like this punk style?

I hope he'll like it. If he doesn't, I'll change back into the maid outfit. I'll wear whatever he likes; that's my duty as a maid.

Removing the gas mask-like covering her face, Rita revealed her flawless beauty under the night sky. Looking at the bustling crowd below, she suddenly sighed softly. She wondered where Shen Gonglin was now. Schicksal couldn't find any information about him, and of course, she didn't know if it was the bishop's doing. No one knew what that man was thinking. Perhaps it was the same for the Hyperion and Anti-Entropy.

According to intelligence, they seem to have also arrived near Sky City. If there were no definite information, Lady Theresa probably wouldn't have come here without risking her whereabouts being exposed. That means this intelligence is indeed very reliable. We must find Shen Gonglin... Oh right, and the Herrscher of the Void too, we have to find her as well.

So preoccupied with Shen Gonglin, Rita almost forgot that her official mission here wasn't just Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, but also some hidden underwater organizations that had extended their reach. Everyone's target was Kiana, and her mission here was to search for her. But Rita was clearly not here for that. Even if she did carry out a mission... it would only be a side effect.

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Maid Who Receives Extra Money

[Rita, how are you?]

The young girl was admiring the night view when an unpleasant voice came through the communicator. The maid frowned slightly, but quickly composed herself, a formulaic smile appearing on her flawless face. Of course, she knew who the voice belonged to. What could she do? She was Valkyrie belonging to Schicksal, and as long as the orders didn't violate her code of conduct, she had to obey the bishop's commands.

"Your Excellency, I have arrived in Sky City and request further operational instructions."

Rita bowed slightly, and the image of the man was projected onto the communicator. It seemed that his injuries had recovered. Back at headquarters, Shen Gonglin used the Great Void Sword God to severely injure him, but now it seemed that it had no effect at all. He really could take a beating.

Two weeks ago, a Honkai energy was detected in Sky City. A review of the surveillance footage revealed traces of the Herrscher of the Void. Your mission is to find her.

As if the previous betrayal had never happened, Otto remained relaxed and at ease. After all, there were very few people in Schicksal who could shoulder great responsibilities, and those who could get things done like Rita were even rarer. So Otto could only turn a blind eye. Fortunately, he knew Rita's plans. As long as it didn't involve Shen Gonglin, this maid was still Schicksal's sharp fangs. As long as he remembered that, there wouldn't be any problems.

"Yes, Your Excellency. But according to you, the Honkai energy leak occurred two weeks ago. The Herrscher of the Void should have left the city by now. Is it still worthwhile to follow up on this information?"

The maid offered her opinion. "This news is from two weeks ago!" Rita's rose-colored eyes gleamed. "It's not very timely. Who knows Shen Gonglin and the Herrscher of the Void are still in this city? In my opinion, this kind of information is of little value."

The source of the intelligence is an information broker in Sky City, nicknamed Gray Serpent. He possesses a technology that allows him to monitor all network information in Sky City ... and then filter out valuable intelligence to sell. By releasing this message, he is essentially hinting to the sellers that he has information about the Herrscher of the Void's movements.

In the video, Otto speaks eloquently, his green eyes filled with an enigmatic meaning: snakes, Gray Serpent, snakes coming from the darkness—is that organization about to take action?

"I understand. According to the latest intelligence, someone witnessed a traitor from the Far East Branch also appearing in Sky City. Combined with what you just said, the only explanation for why Lady Theresa so uneasy and willing to expose her whereabouts to appear here is that the credibility of this intelligence is beyond imagination."

Releasing the intelligence and then having a sincere seller come to the door in person—that must be the plan of the snake in the dark. Rita blinked and took the initiative to tell this story. In Sky City, it's not just the forces of Schicksal that are involved. The Far East Branch that has defected and Anti-Entropy have probably also infiltrated the city. The mission is very difficult.

"The traitors still had the leisure to come here to search for the Herrscher of the Void's movements while they were defecting. It's likely that Anti-Entropy provided a lot of intelligence support. They're working so hard... Maybe if we keep an eye on them, we can get some important information. This mission is really not simple."

Rita deliberately emphasized the difficulty of the mission, but Otto seemed not to understand her meaning. The bishop in the video did not quite understand what Rita wanted to do or what she meant.

In short, just play it by ear. I've sent all the information needed for the mission to your terminal. Whatever the means, you must obtain the information before Theresa.

Otto gave the final instruction, while Rita sighed softly. Why did she have to spell it out so clearly? They were all adults; some things were better left unsaid. Now that she was bringing it up, everyone felt awkward.

"Your Excellency, this mission is very dangerous and difficult."

Without taking any action, Rita leaned gently against the wall, looking up at the black sky. In this city, the forces were complex and intertwined, and she was the only one who represented Schicksal. In such a dangerous environment, whether she could complete the mission was an unknown question.

[... Rita, what do you mean by this?]

Otto's eyes narrowed slightly in the communicator image. This S-rank Valkyrie didn't seem as useful as before. She used to faithfully carry out orders, but now, what was she trying to do?

"You'll have to pay more."

The maid looked at the illusory figure on the communicator, her rose-colored eyes filled with seriousness. She was serious; as a maid of the Jingu family, she truly needed to shoulder the responsibility of earning money. Shen Gonglin could ignore this matter, but as a maid, she had to support her family. Because of her defection, Shen Gonglin's S-rank allowance had stopped, and based on various clues, Rita judged that there was probably a problem with her and Durandal's bank cards. Every time this issue was mentioned, Shen Gonglin would panic terribly, so Rita had to prepare for the worst.

As we all know, Shen Gonglin is good at spending money, but she has absolutely no ability to make money. Now that things have turned out this way with Durandal, it's clear that he can't rely on her anymore. If you think about it carefully, it seems that only he has the ability to make money in this whole family. What do you think of Fu Hua?

How can you expect her to have any savings if she eats only steamed buns and pickled vegetables all day long? She lives such a hard life and still claims to be without desires. If Shen Gonglin Rita herself would not be able to live with herself. So, for the sake of Shen Gonglin's future life, Rita felt that she could not continue to be a lazy bum and had to make money.

[...What did you say?]

The maid's words seemed to have stunned Otto. The bishop in the video stared blankly for a long time before he realized he hadn't misheard. What did Rita just say? She wanted more money? Otto had never heard of such a thing before. As S-rank Valkyrie from headquarters, he, as the bishop, had given her a mission, and she actually said she wanted more money?

Did suspending all her duties and confining her to the living quarters during this period drive Rita crazy? Does she even have any self-awareness? Does she even respect me, the bishop? Is this maid a dog? In this situation, you're telling me you want more money?

Chapter Twenty-Four: Everyone's Stubborn

"Didn't Your Excellency hear me clearly? I meant that additional missions require extra money. As an S-rank Valkyrie, my basic mission funding should be 100,000 yuan. Now, for such a difficult mission, I need even more funding. I can pay by card, so please transfer the money to my salary card, Your Excellency. Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, please make a note about it. Um... just note 'dowry'."

Unfortunately, Rita would be quite willing to dedicate herself to the Valkyrie cause for a better future for all humanity or to fight against the Honkai, even if it's for free. But she's not all alone now. Life isn't just about romance and pleasure; there's also the mundane necessities of daily life, and none of these things are free. It's clearly difficult to expect Shen Gonglin to earn money, so the maid has to generate her own income. Anyway, Schicksal is rich and powerful, so what's wrong with her asking for some mission funding?

You should know that you're already short of money. Normally, her salary is just deposited into her account, and Rita has never asked for any funds. But starting today, that won't work. She still has Shen Gonglin to support, and it will probably cost a lot of money.

"I understand, Rita. Just focus on the mission. I'll transfer your activity funds to your account."

Otto remained silent for a long time before speaking again. He was truly stunned by Rita. Was this the aftereffect of spending too much time with Rin Shen Gonglin? Not only was she no longer wholeheartedly loyal to Schicksal, but she was also thinking of making money from it. Rita was probably only one step away from becoming a traitor. Durandal was much more reliable. She had also spent so much time with Shen Gonglin and hadn't changed. Otto was speechless at the thought of someone like Rita.

"Yes, Your Excellency, please Astra Yao."

After saying that, Rita cut off the communication. According to intelligence, Gray Serpent should be meeting with the traitors of the Hyperion today, and she needed to get the information before them. Since Otto had already paid, she had nothing to hesitate about. The maid's figure flashed and appeared in the night. The snake came from the darkness, and so did she.

"This Rita... there's really nothing we can do about her."

At the Tianming headquarters, Otto shook his head after looking at the disconnected communication. The maid who had always faithfully carried out his orders had now turned out like this. If there were other suitable candidates at headquarters, he really wouldn't want to send her. If she found out about Shen Gonglin, would she just run off with him?

Otto wasn't sure at all about this.

"Your Excellency, please don't worry, Rita won't do that... After all, making money from other places is probably not as fast as making money as being S-rank Valkyrie in Schicksal."

Standing beside Otto, Durandal explained to Rita with a strange expression, "How did this maid become so willful and reckless? She learned it all from Shen Gonglin. Not only is she willful, but she's also become a money-grubber. Does she still have any of the Valkyrie spirit to sacrifice everything for her ideals? Have the Valkyrie's beliefs become so weak these days?"

Do you go to work just for the money?

"...I never thought I'd have to rely on a salary to keep Valkyrie ...Don't worry, Durandal, Rita's actions aren't outrageous. After all, missions should be funded, and that was my oversight. You can transfer the money to her account."

Durandal's expression was strange, and Otto's was even stranger. However, the bishop was indeed a bishop. He quickly adjusted his state and returned to his usual self, where everything was going according to plan. For a behemoth like Schicksal, funds were just numbers to him.

"I've already made the call... Also, it's payday, and I led the team to fight back when the Schicksal Headquarters was attacked a while ago. Although that's my basic duty, but..."

The thing Otto feared finally happened. The usually composed bishop's eyes widened. He had just been praising her, saying she was different from that maid. It turned out that Rita wasn't the only one obsessed with money; Durandal was too. How did Shen Gonglin manage to corrupt the minds of Schicksal's only two S-rank Valkyrie? What kind of Valkyrie are you two? You might as well become mercenaries!

Actually, if the mercenaries offered more money, Rita might actually go.

"...I understand. Durandal, you can just transfer the money from the headquarters account to your account."

Otto felt a little dizzy, probably because his Tai Xu God Resonance hadn't fully recovered from the blow from Shen Gonglin. He needed to go back and lie down. Had the Schicksal Headquarters become this corrupt? If even the two top S-rank Valkyrie were like this, then the rest of the subordinates... Schicksal was Schicksal.

"Yes, I've already crossed it. I just wanted to let you know."

Durandal spoke very honestly, while Otto stumbled and almost fell. Well, well, he had nothing more to say.

"Dowry... I'm a little envious..."

Watching Otto walk away, Durandal looked up at the sky. She had heard what Rita had said—that Rita could make dowry notes, but she couldn't. She had also taken to heart what Alvit had said earlier. Was there really no future for her and Shen Gonglin? Everyone has their own code of conduct. Durandal felt she hadn't done anything wrong back then; it would have been wrong not to stop Shen Gonglin. But now...

"Sigh, whatever. Anyway, Rita and I share the same card. The money transferred over is mixed together, so who knows whose it is? If you're going to be indebted to someone for accepting their money, then he'll be spending his own money from now on, so it should be... a little easier to deal with, right?"

Leaning on the railing, the strongest Valkyrie sighed deeply, looking like a woman confined to her chambers, filled with resentment. Sometimes she did envy Rita, but she knew she was destined to be a different kind of person. Rita could stand by Shen Gonglin's side without caring about anything else, but she couldn't. She had too many things to consider. Don't be fooled by Rita's perfect maid appearance; Durandal knew she was just a stubborn fool. Acting recklessly was her top priority, and Shen Gonglin was the same. Since that was the case, she absolutely couldn't be like them.

After all, a family needs at least one person who can remain rational; it would be terrible if everyone were stubborn. Durandal nodded heavily, once again feeling the weight of the burden on her shoulders. This was the perfect situation—a thankless task.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Girls of the Far East Branch

In a secluded suburb of Sky City, three girls who looked very suspicious appeared. It would be suspicious for anyone to see them wandering around at this time, especially since they were three such beautiful and cute girls. In particular, the little girl dressed as a nun looked suspicious and didn't seem like a decent person.

"Headmistress, you can rest assured, we are not being monitored, followed, or listened to... However, if you continue to act so furtively, Bronya believes that we will be discovered and reported sooner or later. Please be normal."

Without using the Heavy-duty Rabbit, Bronya stood with her feet on the ground, mercilessly criticizing Theresa, who seemed to be acting out a spy movie. After such a long period of treatment, Bronya's legs were no longer a problem unless she engaged in high-intensity activities. She no longer needed the assistance of an exoskeleton. Bronya could now truly walk on her own two legs, which was no longer an impossible thing for her. The emotionless loli looked at Theresa and said this, as if she was afraid others wouldn't know that they were planning to secretly gather intelligence.

"Bronya, the headmistress is probably just excited because she can take action herself. You can't say that. Bronya, you need to be a good girl... like deleting the photos on your phone. That's what a good girl should do. Listen to me, Shen Gonglin will definitely like your well-behaved and cute personality."

Mei followed behind Bronya and Theresa like an aunt taking kindergarteners on a field trip. She did this often and was quite adept at it. The headmistress seemed quite excited today, probably because she was happy to finally be able to move around freely since she was used to sitting in the command center. While saying this, Mei quietly moved closer to Bronya and discussed it with her. This girl had unflattering photos of herself on her phone, and Mei was really worried if she didn't let her delete them.

What if she shows this to Shen Gonglin later? You know, in Shen Gonglin's heart, you've always been the kind of beautiful fairy who's practically bubbling with joy. If he sees this photo, he'll really be bubbling with embarrassment, though it'll be snotty bubbles. It's so embarrassing. Bronya actually took this candid photo. She's not even human.

"Bronya knows she's cute, so Mei doesn't need to worry about that. Besides, Bronya feels that Shen Gonglin would really like to see these kinds of photos. Mei- neechan's mockery of Bronya last time made Bronya very unhappy, so Bronya needs to do something to get revenge on Mei."

The emotionless loli calmly stated her plan, while Mei was practically in tears. How did Bronya end up on the path of scheming? Was she really going to show those photos to Shen Gonglin? What about Mei's reputation? Headmistress, aren't you going to do anything about this? We're both members of the same 6A-level scenic area, why aren't you doing anything about Bronya?

"Cough cough... I'm not excited at all! I've completed missions of this level countless times, so this is no problem for me at all... Bronya, keep in touch with Dr. Einstein, Mei, keep watch, let's find that annoying snake quickly and finish the business deal as soon as possible."

Theresa's face flushed slightly at being teased by her two students. These two really didn't respect their headmistress at all! If Himeko were here, they certainly wouldn't dare to be so presumptuous. It's a pity she doesn't know Himeko's current situation. At the end of the Honkai, they only detected two life signs, probably just Kiana and Shen Gonglin. As for Himeko ...

It should be alright, after all, Shen Gonglin was there. Although if that guy's unreliability ranks second in Theresa's mind, no one would dare to rank first, there's no problem with Theresa Shen Gonglin in this kind of situation. With him there, there's no doubt that everything will be fine. The most urgent thing now is to find the snake that might have information about them and ask them all the things they want to know.

Theresa shook her head and focused her attention on the matter. She felt somewhat helpless just thinking about it. The little girl dressed as a nun stomped her foot unhappily. This posture was nothing like that of the Far East Branch commander who was in complete control of the situation. But I suppose the others are used to it.

The strongest ace is a cross-dressing pervert who often bites girls, so it's normal for me, as the commander, to act a bit childishly.

"I really don't know what that snake was thinking. What era are we living in? Why not just send messages directly via the internet? Why use such an old-fashioned way of communicating? I wonder if we'll have to memorize some kind of code word, like 'Potato, potato, I'm sweet potato' or something like that..."

Theresa stomped her feet and muttered to herself as the three of them headed toward the meeting place with Gray Serpent. They were the customers Gray Serpent had mentioned they would be making a deal with. But this way of meeting at a secluded place at night was really retro.

"Probably to prevent information from being eavesdropped on."

Bronya replied quietly, her gray eyes gazing at the surrounding city. Perhaps Shen Gonglin and Kiana were nearby too. Living in the same city yet unable to meet, why didn't they want to return to the Hyperion? Bronya didn't understand... Could it be that the two of them longed for some time alone?

If that's the case, then Bronya must stop them as soon as possible. Bronya is still young and doesn't want to become an aunt so soon.

"Yes, Bronya is right, and the fact that she's taking it so seriously might indicate the importance of this information."

The headmistress nodded, accepting the arrangement. She hoped the information exchange would go smoothly. That idiot niece was even thinking of running away from home! What a complete idiot! She ran away and even kidnapped the family's mascot! She wondered how those two would survive out there. But then again, Kiana might not be so worried. After all, that girl had been wandering alone since entering St. Freya; she was quite resilient. As for Shen Gonglin ...

He'll probably only be a hindrance; it won't be easy for Kiana to take him along.

It's not that Theresa looks down on Shen Gonglin, but if that guy didn't have anyone to take care of him, he'd probably be crying and begging to go back to the Hyperion by now. It's really tough on her niece, having to carry such a burden. Where can the two of them go?

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Gray Serpent, The Deal

The money has arrived. Now we can begin the task.

Seeing the bank card notification on her phone that the funds had arrived, Rita put her phone away and finally took action. This maid really wasn't going to work until the money arrived. Otto was a decent person, and he wouldn't lie to her about something like this. Rita's actions... were probably to avenge Shen Gonglin. She had to clearly state her position. Shen Gonglin and Otto were undoubtedly enemies, and she was just working for Otto for a salary. After all, there was nowhere else besides Schicksal that offered such good treatment. You take someone's money and do their bidding. Rita was a decent person, too.

"Is this the place where the Gray Serpent was supposed to meet the traitors, as mentioned in the intelligence? It seems that Lady Theresa and the others haven't arrived yet. In that case, please allow me Rita, to get there first."

According to intelligence from headquarters, Rita eventually arrived at a huge abandoned factory. This kind of place does seem very suitable for intelligence trading. I really don't know why people like to choose this kind of place for rendezvous. I hope she won't get her little skirt dirty. In such a dirty and messy environment, the only things that like this kind of place, besides rats, are probably snakes.

"However, it seems that we need to take care of the other welcoming ceremonies before we meet Mr. Gray Serpent. As an uninvited guest, it is only the most basic etiquette to help the host clean the courtyard."

Before Rita even stepped into the factory, the mech units had already appeared around it. At first, Rita thought that Anti-Entropy had discovered her, but seeing that these mechs didn't have any specific numbers on them, it proved that these mechs didn't belong to Anti-Entropy. So they could only be bodyguards for Gray Serpent. It seemed that these mechs were just responsible for guarding the factory. Given the current situation, the best option was to infiltrate, and as one of the four major figures of Schicksal, Rita had unique infiltration methods.

"Good evening. May you please leave? After all, cleaning is a maid's job."

Rita's footsteps were particularly noticeable in the quiet night. The Valkyrie appeared openly in front of the guard mechs. As long as she cleared away all the junk, she would be considered to have infiltrated. No one would notice anyway. Compared to the slightly complicated method of sneaking in, Rita felt that this method was more convenient and straightforward.

A mechanical scythe appeared in Rita's hand, its sharp blade gleaming faintly with a green light. At the same time, a mechanical hunting dog appeared beside Rita. This kind of infiltration suited her taste better. Rita Roseweisse, also known as the "Master of Invincibility"!

It's no wonder that Durandal would describe Rita as headstrong. Despite having a face that looks like she has everything under control, only those who know her well know that Rita has always believed in a reckless and impulsive approach. In a way, this could be considered a kind of endearing contrast.

Regardless of whether others find them cute or not, these mechs probably won't find them cute at all. Rita, now in battle mode, transforms into a green lightning bolt, dashing across the battlefield. Usually dressed in a maid outfit, this time Rita is wearing Valkyrie Armor custom-made for her. Before the Moon series armor is fully deployed, this armor is sufficient. With the mechanical hound and blade working together, the perfect maid enters the battlefield as if nothing is there. After all, she is Schicksal S-rank Valkyrie, and such defensive power is clearly insufficient for her.

"Phew... That feels much better, doesn't it, Mr. Gray Serpent?"

The blade mercilessly severed the mech's connection points. Rita completely destroyed the last mech, leaving behind only the wreckage of dismantled mechs. Rita sheathed her scythe and stood quietly in place. Suddenly, the girl who had heard the sound looked up in one direction. A tall, thin figure emerged from the darkness, with a white mask embroidered with a dagger pattern, a hood, an umbrella, and a red prosthetic eye—exactly as described on the tacit chart. Finally, she had found the real culprit. All her previous cleanup work hadn't been in vain.

"Good evening, Mr. Gray Serpent. Are you waiting for someone?"

The scythe was retracted, and the mechanical hound returned to standby mode. Rita clasped her hands in front of her and bowed slightly. Apart from fighting, Rita also strived for perfection in everything else. After all, as the world's number one maid, she couldn't let her master down. Rita never relaxed her manners.

"My bodyguards... you took care of them all by yourself?"

Gray Serpent's voice sounded mechanical as he looked around at the wreckage of the mechs. Rita couldn't detect any emotion in his voice; it was as if he were stating a fact. However, Rita didn't care about Gray Serpent's emotions; she was simply doing what she was supposed to do.

"Bodyguards? It's just a small habit to make the negotiation venue cleaner and tidier. It seems... I'm really sorry, I seem to have done something unnecessary?"

With one finger touching her lips, Rita tiptoed lightly. This cute and beautiful posture was nothing like the Valkyrie had just dismantled so many mechs. The maid's rose-colored eyes were filled with a faint smile. Although she was saying apologetic words, Gray Serpent could not sense any real apology from Rita's attitude. This maid has a very bad personality.

"Hmm... In that case, consider it compensation for my mistake. I can offer you a business opportunity with a generous return."

As if to express her apology, Rita stood in front of Gray Serpent and carefully examined the information broker in front of her to make sure that he was the person in charge of the information and not some kind of substitute. If the other party was willing to accept her proposal, that would be fine, but if he was not willing to accept it, Rita didn't care.

"Oh? It seems I have no choice but to accept it, is that right?"

Rita still couldn't discern Gray Serpent's attitude, but she didn't care about such emotional things as attitude. Rather than worrying about such matters, she was more interested in finishing the mission and going back to take care of her flowers and plants. Rita was different from these information brokers; she was very busy. After taking care of her flowers and plants, she would sit in the courtyard and daydream about her future life with Shen Gonglin. Which of these things wasn't more important than what she was doing now?

Honestly, you're just causing trouble for others. Why can't you just tell them everything without waiting to be asked?

"Not long ago, you uploaded a surveillance photo that captured a girl. You know who she is and are aware of her worth, otherwise you would never have exposed her existence. So, please tell me her whereabouts."

Chapter Twenty-Seven