Chapter 221

As Raven gave the order, the artificial weapon Valkyrie Hunters swarmed around. The situation was still not optimistic; there were too many people to protect. However, when they brought down the Immortal Blade, Shen Gonglin and Kiana had already thought of this. The battle was dire. Rita, however, clung tightly to Shen Gonglin's chest, refusing to show her face. Whatever, she didn't care. She was going to be shy for a while anyway.

Chapter 238

"Let's break through!" Shen Gonglin and Kiana exchanged a glance and made the decision. Rita on their bodies clearly had no strength left to fight... or perhaps she still had a little stamina, but judging from the maid's current state, she was planning to slack off. In addition, with the members of the Immortal Blade... to escape successfully while protecting so many people was a considerable challenge for Shen Gonglin and Kiana.

"Go to the rooftop... As long as we get out, we can take the Eos to evacuate."

Rita, nestled on Shen Gonglin's shoulder with her face buried in it, murmured softly. After Shen Gonglin's arrival, the maid had completely relaxed. Just now, Shen Gonglin had done such a thing in front of so many subordinates. Now, Rita had decided to completely give up and leave everything to Shen Gonglin. The maid still had to be shy for a while and couldn't be seen by anyone.

"Understood, Kiana, break through upwards. Alvit, you two stick close to me."

Connecting with the power of the Universal Angel within her, although this angelic power can only be perfectly unleashed in the air, it is still more suitable to protect so many people now. Pure white wings unfurled behind Shen Gonglin, just like an angel appearing in the darkness. Several missiles trailing flames shot out from between the feathers. After a series of explosions, Shen Gonglin instantly tore a gap in the encirclement of the Suicide Squad. Holding Rita in her arms, Shen Gonglin took the lead. Everyone knew that elevators could not be used when in danger, so now, they could only rely on walking.

This feeling... is so reassuring. So this is what it feels like to be protected by someone. It's actually quite addictive. Even though it's such a dangerous situation, I just... don't want to move.

The sounds of missiles and the clash of blades from Suicide Squad filled her ears, but the maid felt as if she were strolling in a flower-filled park, her body limp... It wasn't just because of the Honkai energy deactivation drug in her body, but more importantly, because she was being held in Shen Gonglin's arms. Even though Rin's body temperature wasn't as high as hers, why did she feel warm and safe? This sense of security... she had never felt even when she was with Durandal. She decided to savor it a little longer.

Rita buried her head in Shen Gonglin's arms, having completely given up on any further action. After Shen Gonglin had just beaten her up, and now that she was seriously injured, Shen Gonglin had no choice but to take her with her. The maid was now completely at ease.

"Huff... Rita, you should still have the strength to break through, right? Why don't you come down first? I... I'm a little tired..."

Kiana led the way, followed by the Valkyrie of the Immortal Blade, while Rin Rita brought up the rear. This arrangement was originally intended to deal with pursuers, but for some reason, there were no enemies on Shen Gonglin's side. It seemed that they were all concentrated on Kiana's side, so Shen Gonglin only needed to follow. She didn't know how deep the underground was. Although Rita was not heavy, she was still a beautiful woman with a curvaceous figure. Shen Gonglin's arms were sore from carrying her for so long.

It felt like carrying a bag of cement upstairs.

"No, I have no strength left. If Rin-sama lets go, I'll definitely be caught. And... Rin-sama, do you mean I'm heavy? Please make this clear."

Rita nimbly shifted onto Shen Gonglin, nestling in his arms in a Shen Gonglin carry. Her arms wrapped around Shen Gonglin neck, and her rose-colored eyes, not hidden by her hair, gave him a meaningful look. If Shen Gonglin to say she was heavy, this maid would not hesitate to choke him. What was wrong with a maid who had survived a dangerous situation acting spoiled? Had he really gotten tired after carrying her for so long? Shen Gonglin's stamina was indeed a major weakness.

"Vice Captain, let me hold you, I still have energy."

Just as Shen Gonglin was being stared at by the maid and didn't know what to do, the "tool person "Alvit volunteered to come over. She raised her arm to try to help. Although she was a clerical Valkyrie, she had trained before, and even now she was stronger than Shen Gonglin. The vice-captain was clearly in need of help.

Don't get in my way, or I'll kill you.

However, as soon as Alvit finished speaking, she felt a sharp gaze pierce her. The Valkyrie shuddered and instinctively looked towards the source of the gaze. Sure enough, the vice-captain was glaring at her, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent. The look of someone who wants to kill another is impossible to hide. Does this guy have no sense of propriety at all? He still wants to join in the fun. Does he really think her knife is no longer sharp?

"That's great! Quick, help Rita up."

Unaware that the maid in her arms was staring at her subordinate with a murderous gaze, Shen Gonglin, upon hearing what Alvit said, instinctively wanted to hand Rita over to her. Although it was quite comfortable to carry Rita, she was indeed heavy. With her thin arms and legs, climbing stairs was already difficult enough, let alone carrying someone.

"Um... Ah, no, no, no, I've thought about it carefully and realized I'm just not good enough. Shen Gonglin, you should lead the vice-captain. I'm completely useless. I'm just a piece of trash."

Trembling with fear at Rita's gaze, Alvit's brain finally kicked in at this critical moment. She quickly waved her hand, turned back, and continued on her way. Shen Gonglin, on the other hand, was completely bewildered. What was wrong with this girl? Didn't she just say she was going to help? Why was she acting like a shrew now? Alvit was indeed very strange.

"It's alright. Alvit is a strange child. She's always like this. It's normal for Alvit to be a little abnormal sometimes. Rin-sama, you don't need to worry about it at all... Oh, it looks like we'll be able to leave soon."

Rita, nestled in her arms, gently comforted Shen Gonglin, while Alvit, standing in front, was practically in tears. Who was abnormal? She was probably the most normal one in the Immortal Blade; the abnormal one was Rita, wasn't she? Lustful to the point of threatening her subordinates—only a scumbag boss would do such a thing. After a moment of indignation, Alvit saw the light in the distance. Finally, she could get out of here.

Chapter 239 Escape

Finally, it's out.

The night breeze caressed her face, Rita finally felt a sense of relief. However, she knew this relief was just an illusion. The potion was still taking effect in her body, as if a hole had been opened in her body, and her power was constantly flowing out of it. She still had no strength to fight. It seemed that the potion that Honkai energy the Honkai energy in the Valkyrie's body would not be eliminated from her body with the flow of air; only time could tell.

The group filed out, and Rita finally got down from Shen Gonglin's arms. It wasn't because of Kiana's murderous envious and jealous look, but because Rita herself was embarrassed. Having so many subordinates here was really embarrassing. If it were just Shen Gonglin alone, it wouldn't matter, but unfortunately, it couldn't be like that now.

"Eos, emergency landing support! Answer me, Eos..."

Calling for warship support, the only response from the recoverable communicator was the sound of violent explosions. The list of the remaining team members in the eyepiece had turned gray. It seemed that World Serpent had already taken action when they set out. The team members left on the Eos were probably doomed. Their hope of escaping on the warship had been shattered.

Before Rita could think further, the pursuers had already caught up. On the rooftop, numerous mechs and Suicide Squad surrounded everyone. Kiana gritted her teeth and looked around. If it were just her and Shen Gonglin, it wouldn't matter what happened; this encirclement wouldn't be a problem for them. But now there were too many things to consider. Rita and the Immortal Blade team were all here. Having lost their Valkyrie powers, they had no power to resist such danger. Perhaps, they could only use that power.

"Let me do it. Moving so many people would be too much of a burden for you."

Seeing Kiana's plan, Shen Gonglin reached out and pressed Kiana's hand. Then, he snapped his fingers, and several halos appeared on the rooftop. Seeing how easily Shen Gonglin opened so many spatial passages, Kiana smiled bitterly. Maintaining even one spatial passage was already quite strenuous for her, while Shen Gonglin could easily create so many golden halos with a snap of his fingers. Indeed, you can't compare people. Why does the power of the Herrscher of the Void affect her so much, but have no effect on Shen Gonglin? This world is truly unfair.

"Hurry up and go in... And Rita, what are you waiting for?"

If Kiana had opened the spatial passage, these Valkyrie might have hesitated, but knowing it was Shen Gonglin who opened it, the Valkyrie of the Immortal Blade all jumped in immediately. However, compared to their previous hostility, their attitude towards Kiana was much better now. This would be a long process, and Kiana was already prepared for it. Just as she was about to enter the light circle, Kiana noticed that the maid was still standing quietly in place, her dark green dress fluttering in the wind, and the maid's rose-colored eyes shining brightly in the night. What else did this woman want to do?

"Let me finish this last thing for today. After all, a maid's job is to clean. Lady Rin, please forgive my stubbornness. I will be unwilling to leave like this."

Unsure of what the maid was planning, Shen Gonglin and Kiana watched her curiously. Rita, however, turned and bowed slightly to Shen Gonglin. Rita rarely suffered setbacks, but this time she had been outmaneuvered so badly, almost every step of which was within the other party's expectations. If it weren't for Shen Gonglin and Kiana's timely rescue, she and the Immortal Blade would probably have been wiped out. Rita couldn't let this go and had to clean up this disgraceful affair. And, well, that's exactly what a maid does.

[Eos, autopilot activated. Action command: Clean up. Target: Current coordinates.]

Under the astonished gazes of Shen Gonglin and Kiana, Rita issued the order without hesitation. The two of them understood the meaning of Rita's order perfectly. As expected of Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, she was indeed rich and powerful. She could blow up such a large spaceship without hesitation. Such extravagance left Shen Gonglin in awe. This maid was simply acting recklessly.

"Shen Gonglin, you're right. This maid seems rational and elegant, but she's actually just a reckless idiot. I'm leaving her to you. I'm out of here!"

As Rita issued the command, the Eos, which was docked not far from the industrial area, also started up. For such a warship, this distance was nothing. In the blink of an eye, the warship appeared in the night sky, speeding towards them. They couldn't stay here any longer and had to retreat immediately.

Kiana directly entered the circle of light in front of her, while the maid stretched out her two delicate white hands towards Shen Gonglin. Shen Gonglin could only glare at her helplessly. What a spendthrift maid! She just blows up such a large warship like that. If it were her, she could make a lot of money even if she sold it for scrap. She really doesn't know how to manage money. Is having such a maid a blessing or a curse?

With a sigh, Shen Gonglin reached out and took Rita's small hand. Just as the warship was about to touch the rooftop, the two of them fell backward and disappeared into the unfolding spatial tunnel. Then, the next second...

Art is an explosion!

The warship, powered by Honkai energy, crashed into the building, creating a deafening explosion. A small mushroom cloud instantly appeared in the industrial zone of Shencheng Medicine. Raven, hiding somewhere, covered its ears and watched the fireworks bloom in the industrial zone. For some reason, a faint sadness crept into its pale purple eyes. Shen Gonglin... He should have escaped, right? Why... it was him?

Raven remained unmoved by the bombing of the entire industrial zone. Since this place had already been discovered by Schicksal, it was impossible for it to continue existing. It was better that it was bombed. However... in the end, it still left behind what it wanted.

Looking at the shadowy figures in the firelight, they saw the wreckage of Rita's vessel, the Eos. Although the plan had taken a slight turn, the outcome remained unchanged. Amidst the flames and ruins, the massive warship lay broken into three pieces, like a broken sword. Raven stood at a distance, observing everything that was happening. Rita probably never imagined that this was also her goal.

Chapter 240

Raven's figure was indistinct in the darkness. She seemed to be thinking about how to handle the situation, but her mind was elsewhere. After learning that Shen Gonglin was the companion who had supported her, her thoughts had changed subtly. She didn't want to hurt him, which was something Raven was certain of. And if she could... Raven wanted to apologize to him properly.

What was the result?

Just then, the communicator on Raven's waist suddenly rang, and Jackal's voice came through it. She couldn't wait to use the S-rank Valkyrie for experiments, as she was definitely more valuable than ordinary people and Suicide Squad. However, S-rank Valkyries were not so easy to capture.

"The plan failed. The woman of Schicksal caused a huge commotion. Her transport ship crashed into the industrial area, and now the scene is a sea of fire. Our people have entered to search."

Raven clearly saw the fleeting golden halo as the transport ship crashed into the industrial area. Though he spoke these words, he already knew perfectly well that Rita and the others were safe. After all, he had gone to great lengths to protect them; it would be unreasonable if something happened to them. He should thank that kind person properly. If it weren't for him, Raven had a hundred ways to leave Rita and the Immortal Blade here.

For example, detonating the entire industrial zone? Although the cost might be high, it would be a worthwhile deal to wipe out Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie and an entire elite squad here.

"Still no body found... This childish trick shouldn't fool you, right? You still have ten hours to salvage the situation before the Schicksal Army tears you to pieces. You should understand the consequences of failure, shouldn't you?"

Jackal's voice carried a hint of regret. It seemed that not being able to keep Rita for experiments made her feel a little sorry. However, this was to be expected. The people of Schicksal were all troublesome, and she had given enough importance to the S-rank Valkyrie. It was a bit of a pity that she couldn't keep her, but it was just icing on the cake. They still had follow-up plans, and those plans were the most important.

"I understand. They still left behind something I wanted. The experiment will begin as scheduled... Victory will still belong to the snake."

After hanging up the communication, Raven smiled as he looked at the wreckage of the Eos amidst the ruins of the industrial zone. That maid had really been a great help.

Moments after the explosion, in a secluded corner of Sky City, a circle of light suddenly appeared in the dark street. Shen Gonglin, Rita, and Kiana emerged from it. The two Valkyrie were injured and panting, while Shen Gonglin was in much better condition, since he had basically exhausted his energy climbing the stairs. After emerging from the circle of light, Shen Gonglin looked around. Fortunately, it seemed to be quite safe here.

"Lady Rin... Where are Alvit and the others?"

Exhausted, the maid barely managed to stand. Ignoring her own condition, she looked around but couldn't find Alvit or the other members of the Immortal Blade squad. She quickly asked if they were alright.

"I've moved them to another location. There should be a secret Schicksal base in Sky City, right? I think they'll head there. Don't worry, they're fine."

With so many people being teleported together, Shen Gonglin certainly couldn't teleport everyone to one place. The Immortal Blade weren't a kindergarten; they didn't need her excessive care. What they needed most right now was a safe place for treatment and recovery. The drug that deactivated the Honkai energy within the Valkyrie must have an expiration date. Once they recovered, they should be fine.

"Phew... that's good, thank you so much."

After receiving the news that her subordinates were still safe, Rita was slightly relieved. It was okay that they were not here. After all, she had been spanked by Shen Gonglin in front of so many people just now. If they were still here, she would have died. Then she turned her head and looked to the other side. There was a shadowy light shining in that direction. It should be the industrial area of Shencheng Medicine where they fought before.

"I didn't expect you to be so impulsive despite your seemingly cold demeanor... Hey, I need to tell you that we've done our best to rescue all the Valkyrie fighting outside, so your subordinates haven't suffered heavy casualties. Don't do anything foolish again."

After protecting so many people and breaking through the encirclement, Kiana felt exhausted. The girl sat on the ground without any regard for her image. Looking at the pensive maid, Kiana couldn't help but remind her that this maid wasn't as calm as she seemed. She was capable of doing things like crashing the spaceship into a tall building. No wonder she was the maid who could fall for Shen Gonglin; she was just as reckless as him.

"Don't worry, Miss Kiana, I won't make any pointless sacrifices. Thank you so much for this. Judging from the number and layout of the enemy, we could be hunted down at any time in this city. So I just wanted to create the illusion of mutual destruction to buy some time."

Rita quietly shook her head, and at the same time, she sincerely thanked Kiana. If it weren't for Kiana's timely intervention, the Immortal Blade she brought would probably have been in real danger. Besides, Rita's decision to have the Eos crash into the industrial area wasn't entirely out of revenge... Of course, that was part of it, since Rita had never been schemed against like this before, but the main reason was that Rita wanted to create some trouble for Shencheng Medicine, so that they wouldn't focus all their energy on searching for them.

Are you sure this method will work?

"Just covering up this huge commotion will take some effort. Whether we can fool them or not, it will distract our opponents. Before World Serpent finds our whereabouts... Lady Rin, it seems I'll have to trouble you to look after me again. I'm so sorry..."

Before Rita could finish speaking, her body suddenly trembled violently. The struggle of fighting had drained the last bit of strength from her. The maid looked at Shen Gonglin apologetically and winked at him. Then, the maid's eyes rolled back, her body went limp, and she collapsed. To prevent her beautiful face from being disfigured, Shen Gonglin quickly reached out and caught Rita. Looking at the unconscious maid in his arms, Shen Gonglin was at a loss. How could this girl just faint like that?

Chapter 241 Past Events

A dream... I think I just had a strange dream...

In a corner of Sky City, at one of Kiana's secret hideouts, the girl sat up, rubbing her forehead. She rubbed her head, trying to recall what had happened in her dream. She seemed to be standing in a place that looked like the moon, as if she were preparing for a great battle. What was going on?

Kiana couldn't understand it at all. She turned to look to the side, and what she saw made her unhappy. How could this guy do this? She should have gotten hurt too.

Unable to leave the unconscious Rita unattended, Kiana had no choice but to take her to her hiding place. Because Rita was injured, Kiana gave her the bed, but Shen Gonglin, that shameless girl, insisted on sleeping on the bed as well. So Kiana had no choice but to sleep on the sofa. This felt like... inviting a wolf into the house. Kiana felt so cuckolded.

Before Kiana, the unconscious maid remained motionless in her previous position, while Shen Gonglin should have been lying quietly beside her, had changed his posture. He was now clinging to the maid like an octopus, almost like he was hugging a giant body pillow. Damn it, this was supposed to be his treatment! Why did he feel like a stupid heroine who had brought her mistress home? So annoying.

Kiana, what's wrong?

Just as Kiana was wearing a sullen, cat-like face, Fu Hua in her mind suddenly spoke up. She sensed the fluctuation in Kiana's consciousness. Because Rita was also there, she couldn't materialize and stay by Shen Gonglin's side as usual. So she was helpless to see Shen Gonglin and Rita lying together. The fairy lady urgently needed to talk to someone to distract herself, otherwise she was afraid she would hit Rita on the head with a Heaven-Opening Hammer.

Honestly, I feel like I'm getting more and more impulsive.

"I fell asleep... I think I had a dream. In the dream, I was preparing for battle on the moon. I also dreamed that a man was talking to me. His face looked familiar, but I didn't recognize him... He seemed to mistake me for someone else. He called me... Hua?"

Kiana shook her head, avoiding looking at Shen Gonglin and Rita on the bed. Out of sight, out of mind. She recounted her dream to Fu Hua in her consciousness. It wasn't her own experience, but why did it appear in her dream?

Kiana... that's my experience. Perhaps for some reason, our consciousnesses intertwined... It seems that through your dreams, I can also recall many things from the past. I didn't have a chance to tell you before, and you probably wouldn't believe it if I told you, but my identity isn't just that of the Valkyrie of Schicksal...

Fu Hua's voice sounded somewhat heavy in her mind. She had no intention of hiding this from Kiana; she just didn't want to tell Shen Gonglin. After all, what if he thought she was some kind of old woman? Fu Hua didn't know when she had become so awkward, but that was what she really thought. She didn't want Shen Gonglin to know; she was clearly only seventeen years old, forever seventeen.

My life story is far too long, stretching back to what you call the Previous Era; I am a survivor of that time.

Quietly revealing her identity to Kiana, Fu Hua, as expected, Kiana showed a surprised expression. Anyone would be surprised by such a thing.

"Sigh, although I had a feeling that you, Class President, were not an ordinary person, but when I actually heard your answer, it was so exaggerated that I couldn't believe it... So, were all the records about you found in the lab true? Class President, you've lived for so long... And who was that man you were talking to?"

Kiana's eyes widened. She had been mentally prepared, but she still couldn't help but be surprised when she learned the truth. Who would have thought that the Class President studied in the same class as her was a legend who had lived for so long? What did she do that was worth remembering in all those years that she couldn't even imagine?

[What do you mean by "living that long"?! Kiana, are you implying I'm very old? Didn't you listen carefully when I was teaching Shen Gonglin? Age doesn't matter at all; what matters is one's state of mind. My body will stop growing, so considering my state of mind, I'm forever seventeen. Do you even understand that?]

For some reason, Fu Hua's consciousness in her mind seemed to suddenly become somewhat fierce but actually weak. Kiana was full of questions. Why did she suddenly get so anxious? She felt pretty cool that she could live so long. And did she just say that the Class President was very old? Although she said that her experience could be traced back to the previous era, Kiana didn't really feel it. Logically speaking, after experiencing so much, shouldn't the Class President have had her edges smoothed out by the years? She should be in a calm and composed state like an immortal. But now she was like a little girl whose secrets had been exposed.

However, her figure has indeed been smoothed out, and as a member of the St. Freya 6A-level scenic area named after Shen Gonglin, Fu Hua is the flattest.

Or was the previous Class President more in line with the ethereal image I was just thinking about? But after meeting Shen Gonglin, the image of that rigid and serious Class President from before seems to be getting more and more Honkai.

"I understand, I understand, Class President is forever seventeen... By the way, Class President, you still haven't told me who that man is?"

Kiana secretly pursed her lips. As a young and beautiful girl, she naturally couldn't understand Fu Hua's obsession with age. It seemed that the Class President cared a lot about this, so Kiana obediently changed the subject. That man gave her a very uncomfortable feeling. Who exactly was he?

[Kevin Kaslana, the ancestor of your Kaslana family bloodline, a survivor of the Finality war of the Previous Era, humanity's most powerful protector... If he had sacrificed himself in that war, that would have been how things should have been. But the outcome of the Finality war was too tragic... It changed me, and it changed Kevin. After the war, Kevin founded an organization called World Serpent and began to implement the human revival plan left over from the Previous Era.]

After calming herself down, Fu Hua told Kiana about it, and Kiana remembered the information she had seen at Shencheng Medicine before, the World Serpent Project... that is, the Stigmata Plan?

Chapter 242 I Don't Want to Escape

Yes, it's the Stigmata Plan you saw at Shencheng Medicine. This project may be necessary, but the price humanity will have to pay is something humanity may never be able to bear. Many pioneers couldn't agree with Kevin's actions, believing he crossed that line, and many broke away from him and rebelled... But then he suddenly disappeared from history.

As Kiana's dream unfolded, Fu Hua also recalled some past events. Having experienced so much, Fu Hua's brain simply couldn't handle it if she didn't forget some memories. So, all along, her mind had only contained fragmented memories. But now, she had found the pieces of the puzzle that connected everything.

"Huh? Disappeared? What happened?"

Kiana was very curious about the ancestor of the Kaslana family that the Class President had mentioned. She didn't know if what he did was right or wrong, but the only thing she understood was that she didn't approve of such practices. So she was eager to know what that ancestor had gone through. The Kaslana family shouldn't be like this.

[This is a long story, I'll tell you when I have the chance, but in any case, many people breathed a sigh of relief at his disappearance. After Kevin disappeared, the World Serpent fell apart, and I even thought it had perished hundreds of years ago. But when I saw the files recording my footprints and that familiar symbol in the underground laboratory of Shencheng Medicine, I understood that they hadn't disappeared; they were just hiding in the shadows, patiently waiting for their master's return. Listen carefully, Kiana, we can't stay in Sky City any longer. If that man returns from the seal, if everything was part of his plan, then this place is too dangerous.]

The image of Fu Hua in her mind spoke such a long sentence in one breath, which shows how much she values Kevin the World Serpent. She knows how strong that man is. If this is all his plan, then Kiana staying in Sky City is far too dangerous. In her current state, Fu Hua has no confidence in protecting Kiana. Similarly, she doesn't think Rin Shingu can do it. It's not that she lacks confidence in Rin Shingu, but that the man is indeed too powerful. As his former comrade-in-arms, Fu Hua understands this very well. Based on Fu Hua's understanding of Kevin, once Kevin finds Kiana, he will definitely kill her without hesitation. Herrschers... she's killed them before.

"So... is running away all I can do? Just like all this time in the past? But Class President, where can I run to? I've run away countless times, scared, backing away, shrinking into a ball and hiding in a corner, and finally escaping? I will not leave Sky City. I don't want to look back in the future and find that every choice I made was an escape... So this time, I don't want to. I have my own choice. I must stay in this city."

Kiana shook her head, rejecting Fu Hua's suggestion. She turned to look at Shen Gonglin, and seeing his sleeping face strengthened her resolve. Although Shen Gonglin had never asked anything of her—he was even willing to go crazy with her while she recklessly wandered outside and refused to return to the Hyperion — Kiana could sense that if she chose to run away again this time, even Shen Gonglin would be disappointed in her. So what if he was an ancestor of the Kaslana family? Even if she couldn't handle him, Shen Gonglin could... right?

"Sigh... Since you've made up your mind, I won't object. But Kiana, if you discover any trace of Kevin in Sky City, you must choose to avoid him for the time being. This is my only request of you."

Sensing Kiana's determination, Fu Hua abandoned her plan to have Kiana escape. She knew she couldn't persuade Kiana; the girl had a heart set on saving others, and she absolutely couldn't abandon the people of the city and run away alone. Fu Hua had already considered this, so she could only help Kiana do what she wanted to do.

"I understand... So, let's get back to Stigmata Plan. Schicksal's vaccine was shipped to Shenzhou a year ago. Was the World Serpent Project launched at that time?"

Putting that matter aside for now, Kiana and Fu Hua continued discussing the current problem. Although they should have woken up Shen Gonglin to discuss things, it seemed that this guy didn't have any special abilities other than causing trouble, and seeing how soundly he was sleeping, Kiana didn't want to disturb him. Let the two of them handle this brain-draining task. As for Shen Gonglin... Kiana still wanted to treat him as a mascot.

[No, modifying the vaccine is only one part of the plan. To truly activate the Stigmata, another step is needed. However, apart from the core members of World Serpent, probably no one knows the steps of the plan. It seems that the intelligence is still somewhat insufficient. Now that things have come to this, World Serpent will definitely speed up its actions. We don't have much time left. Kiana, what are your plans?]

"Let's take the most direct approach. I plan to go back to the industrial area and find the guy who commanded the Suicide Squad. She seems to be a key figure in the plan, and we should be able to pry something out of her. Considering that stupid maid caused chaos there, I think we still have a chance."

After saying that, Kiana looked at Rita, who was sleeping on the bed. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but when she said "idiot maid, "Rita's eyebrows seemed to twitch slightly. Kiana slowly walked to Rita's side and stared at Rita for a while. The maid remained motionless. It seemed she was still unconscious. Perfect.