Chapter 223

Once they left the industrial area, Kiana prepared to take action.

Kiana, always be wary of that cloaked woman. Judging from Rita's fight with her, she's very adept at using underhanded tactics.

Before the battle began, Fu Hua reminded Kiana of the things she needed to be careful about. This operation would not have the support of Shen Gonglin, and they did not know what tricks the enemy had up their sleeves. They had to make thorough plans. Kiana seemed to already have her own strategy. It was really hard to believe that Kiana could carry out a mission so calmly.

"I understand. Those Valkyrie also lost their fighting ability due to the gas they released. That gas is so effective, I don't believe they only prepared such a small amount. Even Valkyrie of Rita's caliber would be affected. It's really difficult to deal with."

Kiana nodded. Now that she had decided to take action, she needed to be prepared. She was all alone now, and she couldn't just blindly rush forward like before. Kiana was very smart. Before, she was just too lazy to use her brain, but now, Miss Kiana had regained her sense of reason.

[Hmm, those gases can bring down the Immortal Blade. It seems World Serpent has prepared some kind of chemical weapon that can cause the human body to lose Honkai energy. However, such a weapon has two weaknesses. First, if the opponent also uses Honkai energy in combat, one must stay far away to avoid losing power. Therefore, close-quarters combat with the enemy can avoid this problem. Second, these gases are more effective in a confined environment. So far, this is the only information we have.]

"I see. That's why the gray cloak didn't personally fight Rita. Choosing to ambush Rita in the closed environment of the laboratory is a really good tactic."

Analyzing the current battlefield situation, Kiana and Fu Hua made all the necessary preparations, trying to find opportunities to fight her one-on-one in an open environment. Even if they lost the use of Honkai energy, Kiana was confident that she could defeat her opponent with her own physical skills. However, they also had to be prepared for miscalculations.

However... Kiana's eyes flickered slightly. She suddenly remembered a plan. Leaving the gray cloak here would certainly disrupt their current plan, but if they wanted to uncover deeper secrets, this level of understanding was clearly insufficient. To know what the other side was planning, they needed to infiltrate the other side's plan. And the way to infiltrate...

"Class President, I have a plan... but the first step is to deal with her first."

Kiana quickly devised a plan and shared her thoughts with Fu Hua in her mind. Fu Hua's eyes widened slightly, realizing she had underestimated Kiana. This plan... might actually be very useful.

I understand, but the top priority is to ensure my own safety; all actions must be based on protecting my own safety.

"I understand. Don't worry, I still need to go back and have dinner with Shen Gonglin. I won't do anything reckless."

Kiana crouched down, pulled the trigger, and prepared to unleash a devastating attack. It was time to cause a ruckus.

Chapter 248 He's Really a Madman

Condensing the Honkai energy within her body, Kiana's twin pistols shone brightly. In the silent night, a burst of orange light suddenly erupted, instantly disrupting the previously neatly arranged convoy. The collapsed road hindered the convoy's movement. Since the drivers in these vehicles were all machines, Kiana didn't need to worry about harming ordinary people. In this desolate wilderness, it was the perfect opportunity to carry out her plan.

Kiana, now in battle mode, appeared in the center of the battlefield, twirling her gun. As expected, many mechs flew out from the shattered carriage. However, these things could no longer hinder Kiana's movements. The girl's figure streaked through the night like a shooting star. For her, who could use a portion of the Herrscher's power, this level of attack was simply not worth mentioning. This was not the kind of enemy she was fighting.

Suddenly, Kiana felt a darkness above her head as a black cloak appeared, obscuring the moonlight. It was Raven. Kiana was on high alert, and Raven above her smiled with triumph. The Herrscher girl had taken the bait. It seemed her brain wasn't very bright. Didn't she know what had happened to that maid? As long as Honkai energy was used, she would be helpless now.

Several canisters of gas, identical to those in the lab, rolled off the trucks, instantly filling the space. While they were most effective in a confined environment, they could work on the skin. And Raven had prepared far more than Rita had back then, all to welcome this Herrscher girl.

"Cough cough... What, now you can't use Honkai energy either? Are you going to have a fair fight with me?"

Kiana could feel her power rapidly draining away. While she still had the strength, she swiftly dispatched the remaining mecha enemies with a flurry of swings. After dodging the impact of the car's front end, the girl coughed as she looked at the woman approaching gracefully. Her eyes, hidden beneath the hood, held an unyielding hostility. Up to now, everything was still going according to plan. In this gas-filled environment, neither she nor her opponent could use Honkai energy, and in terms of pure physical combat, Kiana was not afraid of her.

"The Herrscher's body is really resilient. To be able to show such combat power under the influence of this concentration of medicine, you are very impressive... However, there will never be fairness for you."

Raven's claw-like armor gleamed coldly as she stared indifferently at Kiana. With her other hand, she pulled out a syringe and plunged it into her own neck without hesitation. As the medicine entered, streaks of Honkai energy appeared on Raven's face, and her once purple eyes turned into red, vertical pupils. Do Herrscher need fairness? Raven didn't think so. Herrscher was simply someone who obediently died!

This was a trap she had set. Of course, Raven had a way to maintain her fighting strength. As for Kiana's talk of fair combat, she had never considered it. The power of the Herrscher was beyond human capabilities. How could Raven let such a good opportunity slip by? If Shen Gonglin was with her, Raven might have hesitated. But this girl insisted on acting on her own, so she couldn't be blamed.

As the potion entered her body, the previously deactivated and dissipated Honkai energy surged back into her. Raven's snake-like eyes glared maliciously at Kiana, the claw armor on her hand leaving deep marks on the ground. Raven pulled out her feather-shaped throwing knives and flashed a killer's smile at Kiana. Being able to deal with Herrscher like this was a way of fulfilling her own wish.

Kiana dodged the feather-throwing knife with a leap, simultaneously turning in mid-air to avoid the Raven's claws. The raven was indeed as annoying as a crow; just those two movements were enough to tire Kiana out. She could feel her power draining away, her limbs struggling as if moving through concrete. Meanwhile, the Raven's figure blurred into a hail of light as a raptor spread its wings. Kiana wondered how Shen Gonglin had managed to fight all this time, using only the physical abilities of an ordinary person. Yet Kiana, having only lost her Honkai energy for a short while, was already experiencing such trouble. This feeling was truly unbearable.

Kiana gritted her teeth and tried to dodge, but her opponent's claws could accurately predict her movements. The claws appeared silently and pierced Kiana's ribs. Kiana felt intense pain and swung her pistol down with all her might, but only hit a blur. Looking at the woman who had silently appeared in front of her, Kiana gasped for breath and covered her wound.

"What... exactly do you want to do in this city?"

The Raven's claws seemed to carry trace amounts of toxins, causing Kiana to stagger and lose her balance. Unable to Honkai energy and poisoned, Kiana was now incapable of fighting.

"I have no obligation to answer your questions... Jackal, the job is done."

Having confirmed that the enemy had lost its fighting ability, Raven made contact, and the person on the other end answered almost instantly. It was clear that the enemy had been waiting for Raven's call, which meant that the plan had succeeded.

[Heh, just as I predicted. As long as the method is correct, Herrscher are not invincible monsters. Raven, take her back to the lab immediately!]

A somewhat fanatical voice came from the other end of the communication line. Kiana, lying on the ground, slightly turned her eyes. Jackal, the laboratory... Is the other side still conducting some kind of experiment?

"I advise you not to leave any future trouble. As for the Herrscher, it's best to just kill them outright."

Raven raised its sharp claws, the cold blades reflecting Raven face in the moonlight. This madman was probably thinking about something else again; letting Raven see him was pointless.

[No! Killing her now would be a terrible waste. A Herrscher, a living Herrscher... I can't wait to tear her apart and see what's inside!]

"Madman."

The call ended, Raven shook his head, uttering two words: "I knew this World Serpent was full of weird people. What kind of people are they? Oh well, it's none of my business. I just need to get paid and do my job. Maybe in other people's eyes, I'm a madman."

Raven handed the helpless Kiana to the mechanical soldier, signaling him to put Kiana in the carriage. Then Raven took Kiana back to the industrial area. Since the Jackal wanted her, he would give her to her.

Chapter 249

"Oh dear, we were only delayed for a moment, how could she have failed? Lord Rin, your little girlfriend seems to be a bit lacking."

On the elevated highway in the distance, a pair of eyes had been watching everything unfold. Rita's beautiful eyes held an indescribable smile as she gently patted the back of Shen Gonglin, who was nestled in her arms. The show was over, and she had gained a lot.

"Who said Kiana is my little girlfriend? If we're talking about who's the little girlfriend... Bronya is the little girlfriend, Kiana is more like a medium-sized one."

Hanging on Rita like a koala, Shen Gonglin didn't understand why these girls were so fond of heights. She didn't even have the power of Valkyrie yet; weren't they afraid of falling to their deaths? Shen Gonglin, for one, dared not look down. Shen Gonglin 'd maintained this position ever since Rita brought her there. If it were Himeko or Mei, Shen Gonglin might have enjoyed the thrill of courting death at such a height, but with this maid... well, never mind.

After all, she really has a bad heart.

"Oh, really? Then, Rin-sama, which type of girlfriend would I be to you? I think I'd be your 'big girlfriend,' right?"

Teasing Shen Gonglin in her arms, Rita gently placed her hand on his back. Beside them, the mechanical hound that had helped Rita climb to the roof tilted its head, clearly not understanding their interaction, and said something suggestive. Rita secretly puffed out her chest. The maid's gesture was a hint to Shen Gonglin about the meaning behind her words. Sure enough, Rita saw Shen Gonglin's ears turn bright red through his golden hair. How interesting.

"However, Lady Rin, is it really okay to just stand by and watch Kiana be taken away?"

With precise control over the degree of teasing Shen Gonglin, Rita changed the subject just as he was about to get angry, leaving Shen Gonglin with nowhere to vent his energy. Kiana was taken away like that. Shouldn't we go and rescue her?

"... No need. Kiana probably has her own plans. She's actually quite smart. If we rush over now, it might disrupt her plans. So, Rita, after seeing all that, did you gain anything else?"

With a hint of annoyance, Shen Gonglin had been planning to pinch her if she continued to tease him, but the woman stopped so decisively and immediately switched to work mode. Shen Gonglin suspected that the maid was deliberately playing with him, but looking at her innocent eyes, Shen Gonglin couldn't be sure. This maid really had some skills.

No, they're quite skilled!

"Well, I did gain some insights. At least I learned that there is an antidote for serum gas. It seems I don't need to wait to return to Schicksal for treatment. To be honest, I'm a little worried if I don't regain my strength. After all, I'm just a helpless maid right now. If Lady Rin wants to pin me down on this deserted rooftop and bully me at will, I can't do anything about it. I can only bite my handkerchief and stretch my neck to silently endure it."

The conversation quickly veered off course again. Beside Shen Gonglin, the S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal seemed to have transformed. Before they could even exchange a few serious words, she was already trying to tease Shen Gonglin again. Truly worthy of being called the perfect maid, she possessed an extraordinary ability when it came to making suggestive remarks. Just imagining the scene Rita had described earlier, Shen Gonglin's face suddenly turned bright red in the cold night wind.

This maid is so skilled!

"Oh? Judging from your expression... Lady Rin, you've been imagining that scene for a moment, haven't you? How... malicious of you."

At this moment, the maid leaned close to Shen Gonglin's ear and said something very malicious. Damn it, what kind of maid teases her master like this all day long!

Shen Gonglin's eyes flashed with a fierce light, ready to get revenge for herself. However, the maid returned to normal at this moment. She watched the car carrying Kiana drive away and made a decision. Since Lady Rin has said so, it seems that Miss Kiana should be fine. Next, it's their turn.

"In that case, please bear with me for now, Miss Kiana. After all, she ordered me around like a mean maid before, so let's just call it an eye for an eye. In any case, I hope our help can arrive as soon as possible... Hmm? Lady Rin, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something I did wrong?"

Knowing that there was an antidote for the serum gas, Rita had a direction to take. She let Kiana continue to attract their attention, while she could conduct a deeper exploration. After making this arrangement, Rita looked at Shen Gonglin to ask for his opinion, but at this moment she met a pair of purple eyes, the displeasure in them almost overflowing.

"Rita, you know what? I really want to punch you in the stomach right now."

Shen Gonglin threatened Rita seriously. This maid is getting too cocky now. If she doesn't teach her a lesson, she won't take her seriously anymore.

"Hmm... where should we shoot?"

Surprisingly, Rita showed no fear when faced with Shen Gonglin's threat. The maid blinked and looked at Shen Gonglin with a smile, her eye that wasn't covered by her dark gold hair blinking repeatedly at Shen Gonglin. Sure enough, Rin-sama is the cutest. What is Theresa compared to her?

Therefore, love really can disappear.

"Of course it is... Wow, Rita, you're making that innuendo again!"

Just as Shen Gonglin was about to speak, her expression suddenly froze. Seeing Rita's eyes, she knew that this wicked maid was teasing her again. She hadn't stopped at all. This maid was going too far.

"Yes, so, Lady Rin, please have a seat."

Rita had never been so happy during a mission. Rita smiled radiantly, revealing a perfect smile. At the same time, she hugged Shen Gonglin tightly and tilted her body, falling straight down. Shen Gonglin's eyes widened in fright, and she screamed. Rita, reached out and grabbed the loyal mechanical hound. The highly intelligent mechanical hound carried the two of them, hopping and skipping away into the night. Their destination: the industrial zone of Shencheng Medicine.

Shen Gonglin vowed that one day she would make Rita know the consequences of offending her!

Chapter 250

I've already dealt with Shen Gonglin several times... How come I knew nothing about this? My lord is certainly not well-behaved at all.

Hearing the words in the earpiece, Rita's eyes narrowed slightly. Now she was experiencing Durandal's feelings a little. So this is what it feels like to be betrayed by a subordinate. Wasn't she Durandal's subordinate as well? She betrayed Durandal, and then Alvit betrayed her. Was this Schicksal's traditional art? But no matter what, Alvit, you've narrowed your path again.

Speaking of which Alvit has already narrowed her path many times, and now she's practically walking a tightrope.

After hanging up the call, Rita looked at Shen Gonglin, who was squatting on the ground playing checkers with her out of boredom, and quietly pouted. In front of Shen Gonglin, this perfect maid also wanted to act cute. She quietly walked over and leaned on Shen Gonglin's back. Her curvaceous figure pressed against her back immediately drew Shen Gonglin's attention to her. What was going on? She was just waiting for her to finish the call, so why was she acting like this?

Rita seemed to be angry for some reason. Shen Gonglin, who was squatting on the ground, turned his head to look to the side and rubbed against Rita's flawless face. Although he didn't know why she was angry, Shen Gonglin was used to it. Kiana was the same way, and even the Class President would sometimes get angry for no reason. Shen Gonglin felt that he probably just couldn't understand why.

"What's wrong?"

Rita was being held by the maid, and her sweet scent surrounded Shen Gonglin. Shen Gonglin reached out and touched Rita's cheek, while the maid rubbed against Shen Gonglin's hand like a cat. What's wrong with this cute girl?

"It's nothing, I just wanted to act cute towards Lady Rin. I hope Lady Rin won't mind... Even if she does mind, it's no use, because I'm a mischievous maid, and I'm going to be naughty right now."

The maid, in her own way, fawned over Shen Gonglin, rubbing against him as if trying to leave her scent on him. This was her way of declaring her territory; no one else, no matter how insignificant, could even dream of touching Shen Gonglin.

"Um... I don't mind you being naughty at all, whatever makes you happy. But we have to get started now. How about I let you be naughty again when we have more time?"

Is this considered mischievous? Anyway, Shen Gonglin is quite comfortable being rubbed against by Rita. The obedient maid instantly transforms into a spoiled puppy. Rita's current state gives Shen Gonglin a sense of déjà vu. She seems to have raised a pet girl like this before, and Rita like this... looks like a puppy, a dog-puppy?

Of course, Shen Gonglin only thought about this; he wouldn't dare say it out loud.

"Then it's settled. If you have time, Rin-sama, you'd better let me do some good mischief. Rin-sama, let's get moving. Kiana's current situation is still unclear, so we need to hurry."

As if for this purpose, after receiving Shen Gonglin's promise, Rita immediately became serious and said, instantly transforming from a coquettish maid into a working state. This is the true charm of a maid. She can be coquettish and cute, and she can also switch between serious and solemn in a second. This is Rita Roseweisse.

"Don't worry, that girl is actually very smart. Maybe her capture was part of her plan. Everything is under the watchful eyes of the insect."

Shen Gonglin also stood up. He took the maid's hand and walked towards the heavily guarded industrial area. He wasn't too worried about Kiana's situation. The Class President was still with her. Kiana was also a smart girl. Now they needed to focus on the matter at hand: infiltrating... As long as no one saw them, that would count as infiltrating.

Shen Gonglin rubbed his hands together, it had been a long time since he'd infiltrated anything, and now was the perfect time to pick up the tradition again. Seeing Shen Gonglin's actions, Rita took out her scythe. With the support of her Valkyrie Armor, she could still wield it. It seemed that Rin-sama's infiltration was different from what she had imagined. However, as a proper maid, she would naturally obey her master's orders.

"Infiltration successful. I guarantee no one will notice."

After pulling the Spear of the Void from the back of the guard robot, Shen Gonglin said to Rita with a smug look on her face. She thought to herself that her skills hadn't deteriorated. If no one survived, then she had successfully infiltrated the robot. This was the so-called unparalleled infiltration technique. She also thought that her backstab skills hadn't fallen behind. In the past, when she played games with Bronya, this was always the prize they fought over. She was still as good as ever. She had to take a good look at herself.

"Wow, that's amazing, Rin-sama. Such an exquisite infiltration method makes me want to give you a Rita."

As Shen Gonglin's personal maid, Rita naturally knew that this was the time to Shen Gonglin. She put away her scythe and left everything to Shen Gonglin, the maid who had nothing else to do, and slowly walked to Shen Gonglin's side. Rita knew exactly what to say at this moment.

"You've already kissed her! Rita, what... what are you looking at?"

Caught off guard by Rita's sneak attack, Shen Gonglin, her face flushed and heart pounding, took a step back and hurriedly wiped her mouth. Ever since they woke up in the same bed, this maid seemed to have become particularly arrogant. This fleeting kiss was as easy as eating or drinking. Shen Gonglin glared at Rita, somewhat embarrassed and angry, while the maid thoughtfully looked around. What was wrong? Was this girl trying to change the subject again? She had done this more than once. Did she think she would fall for it again?

"I'm looking for... where is the wreckage of the Eos?"

Rita frowned as she looked into the distance. According to her expectations, the wreckage of the crashed Eos should be lying there quietly, but now there was nothing there except a deep crater. The wreckage was gone. What happened?

"Hey, right, where did it go? Did they dismantle it? Such a big spaceship, even if they dismantled it and sold it for scrap metal, it would probably fetch a lot of money. How did it disappear?"

Shen Gonglin realized at that moment that the cleanup was incredibly thorough; how could it have disappeared so quickly?

"I have a bad feeling... Lady Rin, come here and let me kiss you, I need to think about this."

"Oh, okay... wait! Why do I have to come over and let you kiss me? Why can't you be the one to come over and let me kiss you!"

"Such a good thing! That works too."

Chapter 251 Riding a Dog in the Rain

Half an hour later, in the industrial zone of Shencheng Medicine, Rita and Shen Gonglin, whose physical condition was now almost the same as that of an ordinary person, arrived on their mechanical hounds. Rita looked at the obviously strengthened security and pondered for a moment. Such preparations were to be expected, after all, Miss Kiana had caused quite a stir before, and considering her own previous... It seems that infiltrating in will be a little troublesome.

Meanwhile, Shen Gonglin was thinking about something else. He looked at the mechanical hound that was perched next to Rita. There's a saying that if you get married while riding a dog, it will rain. He wondered if that was true or not. If it rained when he got married, he would blame it on Rita. Speaking of which, would he get married in the future? If he did, who would he marry? It wouldn't be Rita, would it?

Although it's not a loss, it feels like she got off easy.

[Vice-Captain, are you really going to continue until we get a reply from Durandal? While it's true I shouldn't comment as a subordinate... Miss Rita's previous operation has already failed. To continue this mission while weakened... isn't this just taking a risk? It's practically suicide...]

Upon learning of Rita's plan, Alvit's communication arrived promptly. She tried to dissuade Rita, but it was destined to be futile. The maid was very determined; once she made a decision, it was difficult to change it.

"Alvit, you're right. Misjudgment and poor command led to the loss of the team, and as the leader, I should bear all the responsibility. However, until this operation is over, I, standing here, still have a responsibility to thwart the World Serpent's plan. Do you understand?"

Rita knew that, given her current state, although the other party was probably focused entirely on Kiana, no one could guarantee her safety after entering the Shencheng Medicine. Finding a safe place to wait for Durandal's arrival was actually the most suitable option... However, Rita was furious. She had been schemed against like this. Didn't Rita have any shame? As S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, this operation was completely within the other party's plan. If it weren't for Shen Gonglin and Kiana's timely rescue, she might have been dead. It was impossible for this petty maid, Rita, to accept this so obediently.

She had to get her revenge. Being bullied by Shen Gonglin was her duty as a maid, but being schemed against and bullied by others was never something Rita considered!

[Fallen their... plan?]

Alvit was puzzled. Was Rita trying to thwart their plan? Why did she feel that Rita was just upset about being schemed against and wanted to get revenge? Did she have such a plan?

"Undoubtedly, if Durandal arrives, we can easily achieve victory. But what if she doesn't arrive in time, or what if the World Serpent has already completed its plan by the time she gets here? What will happen to this city? If victory means defeating the enemy in a city piled high with the corpses of thousands of innocent people... then I, as Valkyrie, do not need such a victory. Therefore, I must do something before Lady Durandal responds. This is my order to myself, my mission."

Rita said in a deep voice that she was still Valkyrie, Durandal who would fight for all of humanity. Valkyrie Durandal was very strong, and no matter what happened, there would be no problem as long as Durandal acted. But before she arrived, she also had her own things to do.

[I... I'm so touched! I didn't think that much about it, please forgive me, Vice Captain! Please be careful, your current condition is at best only slightly better than an average person.]