Chapter 225

Hmm... Although Rita was happy that Shen Gonglin said she was his person, it seems he said something unnecessary. What did he mean by being schemed against because she was too reckless? It made her sound like some kind of brainless Valkyrie who only knew how to act blindly. So, in Shen Gonglin's eyes, she was just such an idiot? Rita was so sad. She felt that she was a fairly intelligent person, but now that Shen Gonglin was like this...

Looking at Rin Shen Gonglin standing in front of her with her arms outstretched, it was as if a master was protecting his useless maid. Rita didn't know whether to be angry or happy. It seemed that the failure of this mission was destined to be an indelible stain on her resume.

"Tsk... Although I really don't want to reconcile with this woman... but since you've spoken up for her, I might as well listen for a bit. So, what are your plans now?"

Mei stared at Rita behind Shen Gonglin for a long time before finally Mei and sheathing her long sword. She really had no bottom line when facing Shen Gonglin. She knew that this maid was not a good person, but since Shen Gonglin had said so, Mei could only temporarily put aside her hostility towards Rita. Shen Gonglin must have taken a liking to the maid's face. He even said that she was his. He was really shameless.

They never said anything like that to me.

"Hmm, Mei, how about we make a fair deal? You help me get the antidote, and I'll tell you where Miss Kiana is. I think that's what you want right now. Don't worry about me deceiving you. Lady Rin knows that I know where she is now. I won't lie to you about this. In this city, we're on the same side."

As she spoke, Rita turned on the video recording on her armor. The projection showed her fighting alongside Kiana. After seeing the video, Mei's doubts were dispelled. It seemed that this maid hadn't lied to her this time.

"Snort."

Mei snorted coldly and didn't say much. She walked over to Shen Gonglin straightened his clothes. She hadn't seen him for so long, and he seemed to have lost weight. It really wasn't good for him without her by his side to take care of him. Mei knew from their communication that Shen Gonglin had experienced a major battle in Sea Abyss City, and now that things there had just ended, he had rushed to Sea Abyss City Sky City without stopping. He said he was tired, but Mei felt that Shen Gonglin had been much more tired than she was. She really had to make it up to him properly when she had the chance.

"It seems we've reached an agreement. Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Mei."

Seeing Mei Shen Gonglin any regard for others, Rita's voice trembled with anger. This woman really thought she was dead! She wanted to stop her, but with her slightly stronger than average physique, how could she possibly be a match for Mei? The maid had never experienced such humiliation before. She wanted to sharpen her knife against Mei's neck, but she couldn't. The maid gritted her teeth and desperately tried to remain calm as she said, "Go and do your work! Don't lay a hand on your master here!"

And Shen Gonglin, couldn't you put up a little resistance? Don't stretch your neck out and wait to be scratched. Didn't you notice that Raiden Mei over there is treating you like a cat?

"I hope you won't lie to me this time, Shen Gonglin. Wait for me, I'll be right back."

Having received the route map from Rita, Mei turned and left with a cool air, only bringing back the antidote. Judging from the defense level, there wasn't anything difficult to get through; even this level of defense couldn't be breached. It seemed that Rita was indeed affected. In that case, she had to leave Shen Gonglin behind to protect her. Although she had been very cold towards Rita earlier, Mei was still a gentle girl at heart. If she were an enemy, she could treat her like one, but Shen Gonglin had already said that she was his, so Mei couldn't be like that.

"Come back soon... Um, Rita, what are you doing?"

Shen Gonglin waved goodbye to Mei. It had been so long since they last met, and Mei seemed to have gotten stronger, so he was quite at ease letting her act alone. Just as Mei's figure disappeared, Shen Gonglin suddenly felt a weight on his back, and a fragrant scent surrounded Shen Gonglin. Without turning around, Shen Gonglin knew that Rita was now lying on his back. He could sense the maid's somewhat resentful mood. Shen Gonglin turned slightly to look at Rita's pretty face. What was wrong with this maid now?

"I'm not doing anything, just being a little cute, Rin-sama. As we all know, when people lose their power, they always rely on the people around them, so this is just how I am right now. You don't mind, do you? Of course, even if you do mind, it's no use. After all, I'm just a clumsy maid, stupid, clumsy, and reckless, so it's normal for me not to obey my master's orders."

The maid complained bitterly about Shen Gonglin's "tyranny" earlier. He had actually said he was reckless. She hadn't acted before because Mei was still there and she had to give Shen Gonglin some face. But now that Mei was gone, the maid started throwing a tantrum again. Didn't he ask around in the Immortal Blade? Every member of the team claimed to be strong, powerful, and intelligent. But now, with Shen Gonglin, she was seen as a fool who only knew how to be reckless. Rita had never been so insulted before and Shen Gonglin had to apologize.

"... But you're really reckless. You think you're strong, so you bravely walk right into someone else's trap. As for being stupid or clumsy, I've never said that."

Shen Gonglin scratched her cheek. The maid was throwing a tantrum. But Shen Gonglin really felt that she wasn't wrong. The maid was very confident in her own strength, and that's how things turned out. Who could she blame? She wasn't as strong as herself.

"Hmph, although you didn't say it, I'm sure that's what you were thinking, Lord Rin. If you don't believe me, let me hear it... Don't move, just for a moment, just for a moment."

As they talked, they started touching each other again. Rita stubbornly pressed her head against Shen Gonglin's chest. Only Shen Gonglin could make this perfectly elegant maid act so coquettishly.

Chapter 256 He Deserved to Be Cuckolded

Mei acted quickly, eager to know Kiana's whereabouts. Without delay, Mei rushed to the laboratory where the antidote was stored. After taking down the guards, she returned to the place she had agreed to meet Rita. However, as soon as she entered, she saw this scene. Sure enough, Rita was still the enemy.

"What are you doing?"

Mei's lips twitched. Before her eyes, Rita was lying on her side, nestled in Shen Gonglin's arms, while Shen Gonglin dutifully served as a body pillow. They were inside the enemy's lair, yet the two of them were acting as if they were on vacation. She had gone to great lengths to find an antidote for her, and here she was, sleeping with her man. Mei felt like she had never been so cuckolded before. She had already been cuckolded enough back in St. Freya, but now she had to be cuckolded again. Mei couldn't help but question the world: was she just destined to be cuckolded?

"It was just a short rest. I didn't expect you to be back so soon, Miss Mei. Judging from your appearance, you must have succeeded by now."

Having replenished enough Rin elements, the maid stood up gracefully. When dealing with others, she wouldn't use the same coquettish manner she displayed in front of Shen Gonglin, because that was a beautiful sight only Shen Gonglin could appreciate; no one else had the right to see it. Rita gave Mei a slight Mei and extended her hand to Mei is really useful.

"...Here you go, I've done what you asked for, now it's your turn."

With a cold expression, Mei handed a vial of medicine to Rita. She really didn't want to say anything more to Rita. She reached out and pulled Shen Gonglin to her side. Mei glared at Shen Gonglin with a hint of disappointment. This guy was still the same as before. Didn't he know how to refuse or resist Rita's treatment of him? What an idiot.

"Alright, deep beneath the administrative building in this industrial zone, World Serpent built a laboratory where it conducts various researches related to Honkai. That should be where Ms. Kiana is being held captive. I will give you the map and the route..."

Kiana should have been taken to the place where she was tricked earlier. Now that she has the antidote, Miss Kiana no longer needs to help her attract their attention. Rita sent the route map to Mei, but at this moment the girl placed the sharp edge of her sword against Rita's neck. Feeling the coldness from the blade, Rita's eyes narrowed slightly. The maid remained motionless, as if she had not seen the sword at her neck.

Twice now, she's held a knife to my throat twice. No one has ever dared to treat me like this before. Miss Mei, you've really gone too far. I'm not Rita if I don't make you green with my eyes!

"What... does this mean?"

Her eyes gradually turned cold. The potion was in her hand. Based on her previous observations, this potion could immediately restore control of Honkai energy after injection. If Shen Gonglin was not here, Rita would have injected the potion directly into her body without hesitation to compete with Mei. As S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, being threatened like this twice, did she think she had no temper?

"Rita, I want one more thing. I want that eye, the Gray Serpent's eye."

Mei could sense Rita's hostility, but she didn't care. Although they wouldn't fight because of Shen Gonglin, it didn't mean she would get along with Rita. Just because of what had just happened, Mei wouldn't give her a good look. Moreover, her purpose wasn't just for Kiana. After she and Tesla brought the android girl that Shen Gonglin had named 2B back to Anti-Entropy's temporary base, they discovered that to completely free her from control, they needed Gray Serpent's electronic prosthetic eye, and that was something that Rita had taken away back then.

"... As you wish."

He handed the Gray Serpent's prosthetic eye to Mei, having obtained all the information inside. Rita had no use for it, so since Mei wanted it, he might as well give it to her. So this was what she wanted. How kind of her.

"In this way, the child gained his final freedom."

Looking at the red prosthetic eye in her hand, Mei smiled gently. In any case, one of the purposes of this trip had been achieved. However, seeing the smile on her face, Rita felt slightly annoyed. Was this woman trying to show how kind she was in front of Shen Gonglin, making herself look like some strange villain? Seeing Mei like this, Rita couldn't help but speak up.

"If Miss Mei continues to linger here, Miss Kiana will probably suffer in that laboratory. Well then, farewell. I hope that next time we meet, you won't have a sword to my throat again."

The next time they meet, he'll put the Gene Reaper on her neck.

Rita's gaze remained unchanged, but the woman was plotting something in her mind. Mei could sense Rita's malice, but Mei didn't care at all. Who was afraid of who?

"Alright, alright, you two stop arguing. Mei go together. Rita, I've checked this potion, and there's nothing wrong with it. There might be some side effects, but I've already neutralized it with my blood. I don't know what might happen, so I'll feel more at ease if Mei is with Mei. Be good and don't cause any trouble, okay? Don't be reckless anymore."

If they weren't stopped soon, these two might really start fighting. Although she quite enjoyed watching girls fight, this was clearly not the time to watch. Shen Gonglin quickly stood in front of them to stop the tense situation. Mei was supposed to be a very gentle girl, so why did Shen Gonglin find that she seemed to enjoy teasing Rita?

"... Lord Rin is so considerate to me. I will follow your orders as you wish."

After carefully putting away the potion containing Shen Gonglin's blood, Rita's sharp eyes vanished, leaving only gentleness. Shen Gonglin was so good to her; she even added her own blood because she was worried about side effects. Rita knew how powerful Shen Gonglin's blood was. It was really her after all; Shen Gonglin was so good to her.

Watching Shen Gonglin and Mei's departing figures, Rita didn't hesitate to inject herself with the needle. Feeling the dormant Honkai energy within her gradually recover, a cold glint flashed in Rita's eyes. Shen Gonglin had things to do, and she had things to do too. She needed to investigate thoroughly where Shencheng Medicine... World Serpent had hidden the Eos.

Chapter 257 Torture

Meanwhile, in the underground research lab of Shencheng Medicine, Kiana, bound and slumbering in a petri dish, just as she had countless nights before, was having dreams that blurred the lines between reality and illusion, immersed in a bottomless abyss of memories, dark and cold. She desperately swam upwards, desperately breathing, but the path upwards was too dark and too long... Yet the option to give up was within reach.

Kiana was exhausted. She just wanted to fall into a deep sleep and never have to worry about this world full of pain again. However, at that moment, a faint voice kept calling the girl's name, like cracks appearing on a thick ice surface. The voice was calling her name... No, was this really her name? The name was so unfamiliar, as if she had never truly possessed it. But even so, every syllable pounded against her heart.

Kiana Kaslana ...

"Kiana! Kiana Kaslana, wake up!"

Such a voice echoed in Kiana's mind. She could hear the anxiety in the voice, and she also remembered the name. It was a name she longed to have, but she was really tired. This name probably didn't belong to her. So, she decided to sleep a little longer, not think about anything, not care about anything, and continue to sleep.

"Kiana... if you keep sleeping like this, Shen Gonglin will be mine."

Finding that calling out like that wouldn't wake Kiana, the owner of the voice tried a different method, and this time it worked wonders. Kiana suddenly opened her eyes. She had dreamt this! Shen Gonglin was hers! As her consciousness gradually returned, Kiana remembered... she had been subjected to torture and experiments, and there were still unfinished tasks. She couldn't let herself fall asleep any longer. This was... the laboratory of Shencheng Medicine!

Thank you so much, Class President, for keeping me sober in this way. I don't know whether I should thank her or be angry with her. No matter what, Shen Gonglin is mine!

"Cough cough... cough..."

With a cough, Kiana finally opened her eyes. Through the light-colored tempered glass, Kiana barely managed to look outside. On the monitor there, a woman holding a dog-head mask was watching with satisfaction. Upon discovering that Kiana was awake, Jackal couldn't contain his excitement and started gesturing wildly.

[Very good, Herrscher of the Void. You only fainted for a third of a second during that test. Your body is simply a miracle; it seems like no matter what I do to it, it always recovers... Can you still speak?]

The research on Kiana filled Jackal with excitement. A living Herrscher, she had endured so much torment yet still maintained her original form—truly amazing! Whether it was electric shock or any other injury, she could always recover quickly. Was this due to the power of the gem within her or the power of the Herrscher herself? If the Serenity Gem within her were removed, relying solely on the power of the Herrscher of the Void, could she still recover so quickly? It was truly intriguing.

"How many people will survive your experiment... the experiment in Sky City?"

Kiana showed no appreciation for the treatment she had received. Her eyes were filled with exhaustion as she listlessly looked up at the Jackal on the screen. She wanted to understand the impact of Shencheng Medicine's Stigmata Plan on the city, since that was her original goal.

[Oh? You care about the number of deaths? I thought that for the Herrscher of the Void, the death toll was as meaningless as breadcrumbs on the table after dinner. I'll definitely tell you when I have the answer, provided you can still hear me then... Next project: the interaction between the Herrscher Core and physiological tissues. Experiment begins.]

Jackal started another experiment. As the experiment proceeded, Kiana in the petri dish let out a painful scream, but to Jackal's ears, the scream sounded so beautiful that she couldn't help but laugh out loud. "That's it, that's it!" Looking at the data on the computer, Jackal couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

[Your cells have incredible resistance to Honkai energy. After being injected with Honkai energy solution, the Stigmata began to glow... These marks are truly beautiful, and they give me even greater confidence in the future promised by the Lord!]

Seeing the patterns appearing on Kiana's skin, the Jackal couldn't contain his excitement and his body began to tremble. Kiana gritted her teeth, silently enduring the pain, and tried to open her mouth.

"Speaking of Stigmata... You stole the Schicksal's vaccine and angered the Valkyrie... You went to so much trouble... But apart from the Suicide Squad, I haven't seen any Stigmata on anyone in this city... Haha, your calculations must have gone wrong somewhere..."

Kiana mocked the Jackal, saying that the Stigmata that could only appear on the Suicide Squad were so shallow. Was this the plan of Shencheng Medicine, or World Serpent? Clearly, it was a second-hand scientist.

Say what you will, but I don't want to discuss professional matters with a guinea pig; it's ridiculous.

Jackal waved his hand and continued with the next experiment. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Kiana's reaction was a little off. Looking at the girl's pained expression in the petri dish, Jackal felt a strange sense of doubt. Something felt off.

"Maybe it's like getting a decimal point wrong in arithmetic... like what I often do in exams... Ughhhhh!"

Before he could finish speaking, a new round of torment began. He was in pain all over his body. Only after hearing Kiana's painful screams did the Jackal feel much better. What did she know? She was just a lucky but pitiful wretch. What did she know?

[You lucky ant, having obtained godlike power, think you can boss everyone around... This is profound knowledge capable of changing the fate of humanity! I will not allow you to discuss this serious topic with such a contemptuous analogy. How to improve the vaccine, how much Honkai energy is needed to cleanse this city before the Stigmata within people is fully activated... The secrets within can only be understood by a genius like me!]

The Jackal said fanatically, "How could a little girl who accidentally obtained divine power possibly understand how great her actions are?"

Chapter 258 Kiana's Plan

And you call her a genius? Everyone I know is better than her. Not to mention, even Shen Gonglin Jingu thinks she's better than Jackal. Both Theresa and the Class President have said that with Shen Gonglin's brain, if she were to specialize in any project, she could bring about tremendous changes to the world. That's what a genius should be. Someone like Jackal... doesn't even qualify as Second-hand Scientist!

"Heh... Is that so... So where do you plan to Honkai energy? In the center of the city... or on the edge...?"

With a mocking smile on her face, Kiana endured the pain and asked the question. Since the other party wanted to use the entire city's population for experiments, there must be a location where Honkai energy was released. She needed to find out that location.

[You're asking too many questions. Let's skip the other experiments and start the dissection.]

The unease in her heart grew stronger and stronger. Jackal pressed the last button. Studying other data could no longer satisfy her. In the petri dish, a sharp scalpel approached Kiana, tearing a Herrscher apart alive. What was different about the flesh and bones of Herrscher from those of an ordinary person? Jackal wanted to understand now.

"Tsk... I've wasted so much time with you for such a small answer. I'm such a failure. As expected, this method is not my style at all."

However, at this moment, the girl imprisoned in the experimental pod suddenly laughed, as if she had been forcing herself to watch a clumsy comedy. Now Kiana finally lost her patience. The performance was over, so she decided to give up. She figured she couldn't get any more information out of her. If she continued to drag it out, she would probably have to endure the scalpel. Kiana was very afraid of pain.

Having said those words, the weakling who had been trembling in pain and helpless in the eyes of the Jackal suddenly revealed a hunter's smile. Kiana's defeat in the previous battle with Raven was part of her plan. That kind of gas might be useful to Valkyrie, but it had no effect on someone like Kiana with a Herrscher constitution. Shen Gonglin had already concluded this point before. Knowing this, Kiana devised this strategy: to pretend to be defeated and then extract information. But unfortunately, she only got such a little bit of useless stuff.

This is impossible... You just...

The Jackal was shocked. What was going on? Kiana shouldn't be reacting like this. Wasn't she a weakling who was captured after losing the battle? Why was she acting like this now? Could it be that she was faking it from the beginning?

"Oh dear, screaming and faking crying are essential skills for girls. With your skills, it doesn't actually hurt that much. Strictly speaking, it's not even as bad as hitting your little toe on the corner of the table. It might work on some silly girl, but for me, you're overthinking it."

If it were Shen Gonglin, she definitely wouldn't be able to withstand such torment, so Kiana never intended for him to carry out the strategy from the beginning. Speaking of which, Shen Gonglin is quite attractive to these "researchers," after all, he also possesses the power of the Herrscher of the Void, and it's the kind that can be completely controlled freely.

However, it seems that none of these three organizations— Schicksal, World Serpent, or Anti-Entropy —have ever considered researching Shen Gonglin. Schicksal is obvious; Durandal and Rita must have strongly opposed any measures targeting Shen Gonglin to allow her to continue being left to her own Shen Gonglin. As for Anti-Entropy, both of their Second-hand Scientist are clearly biased towards Shen Gonglin, making it impossible for them to do so. As for World Serpent, Kiana just can't understand it. That woman named Raven ... seems to have never considered plotting against Shen Gonglin. Why is that?

Unable to figure it out for the time being, Kiana simply stopped thinking about it. She raised her fist, one punch, two punches... The tempered glass, as hard as steel, cracked like thin ice under her anger. After enduring for so long, she could finally get her revenge.

"Remember, today we're not just going to shatter these few pieces of glass, but also your foolish Stigmata Plan!"

The experimental chamber imprisoning Kiana shattered, and the girl nimbly jumped out. Looking at the gloomy-faced Jackal on the screen, Kiana raised her fist. This much information was enough; it was time to take action.

You will understand, we...

"Alright, stop threatening me. It's useless. Just watch your head!"

The Jackal's voice abruptly stopped. Kiana punched the screen, shattering it completely. The girl ripped off the complicated IV tubing around her and took a deep breath of free air. Her blue eyes subtly changed, and orange slowly crept into one eye. Alarms blared around her, and the containment gate slowly opened. A gigantic, insect-like monster blocked her path. Was this the Jackal's trump card? Who could be scared by such a defensive force?

Kiana smiled slightly, and twin pistols appeared in her hands. The girl leaped high into the air and joined the battle, while Fu Hua's somewhat hesitant voice echoed in her mind.

Kiana, your body... are you really alright?

The previous torment was real, but Kiana is now acting as if nothing happened. Fu Hua is really worried about her current state; it's not a good sign.

"Hmm... It's strange, but this guy's torture of me doesn't hurt at all."

Kiana dodged and weaved, leaping and leaping to avoid the Honkai Beast's attacks. This Honkai Beast was filled with a strange power; this must be the quantum creature that Shen Gonglin had told her about before. It was slightly more difficult to deal with than ordinary Honkai Beast, but only slightly. Kiana flashed in front of the Honkai Beast, her twin pistols disappearing in her hands, replaced by a spear. The girl thrust the spear forward, and the Honkai Beast fell heavily to the ground. The girl sheathed her spear and stood up, responding to Fu Hua's question in her mind. Those tortures were child's play; she didn't feel any pain at all. But logically speaking... she should have felt pain.

It's so strange. I was prepared to endure the torment, but it didn't hurt at all. It's really disappointing. Now I can't even brag to Shen Gonglin when I get back. That guy has a very strong imagination. He can definitely imagine the pain I'm telling him, and then he'll definitely feel terrible. Just thinking about his miserable expression... Kiana feels really good!

Chapter 259 Reunion

"It doesn't hurt at all..." Fu Hua, residing within Kiana's consciousness, fell silent upon hearing Kiana's words. Logically, this shouldn't be her reaction. The torture inflicted by the Jackal was real; even the most resolute person in the world might not be able to withstand that level of interrogation. Yet Kiana endured it, and not only that, she acted as if nothing had happened. Even Herrscher wouldn't have such an ability. The only possibility is...

When did Kiana's five senses begin to fade?

Fu Hua could only think of this possibility: the loss of pain sensation could explain what had just happened. Perhaps she hadn't completely lost it yet, but Kiana's perception of pain had diminished to an unimaginable degree. Once this was over, she had to tell Shen Gonglin about it. This girl had been bearing too much on her own, and she didn't want to worry Fu Hua and Shen Gonglin, which was why she hadn't told them.

Kiana's fighting posture remained sharp. She lowered her dual pistols, and the Honkai Beast blocking her way disintegrated into the most primordial Honkai energy, dissipating into the world. That solved the problem.

Just then, the laboratory door was suddenly sliced in two. Kiana braced herself, ready to face the enemy, but the figure standing in the doorway made her freeze in shock. How... how could it be her...?

The sight of the long, dark purple hair at the doorway made Kiana's eyes tremble. Even after facing so many enemies, Kiana's composure hadn't wavered in the slightest. But now, seeing this girl, the once-mature warrior had instantly transformed into a little girl who only knew how to run away. Kiana had imagined a thousand times what it would be like to reunite with Mei, but now that this had suddenly happened, Kiana found it hard to accept.

No, she still had to escape. She never imagined she would run into Mei here, at such a moment, in such a place... Kiana felt no joy, only panic.

"Mei? What are you doing here... You, you shouldn't be here! I...? This place... is dangerous!"

Kiana stammered, unsure of what she was saying. But seeing the girl's purple eyes slowly filling with tears, all she wanted to do was run. After all the upheavals, she thought she was strong enough to face the reunion with her old friend with equanimity. But the moment she saw Mei, her confidence crumbled. She was once again that lost, wandering girl in Sky City, overwhelmed by guilt and fear of losing control again... The demons of her past whispered behind her. No, she had to run.

Without hesitation, Kiana turned to run away, but at that moment, a golden halo flashed around her, and Shen Gonglin suddenly jumped out from it, hugging Kiana like a koala to stop her. Kiana's eyes widened in anger. What does this guy want to do?

"Mei, come quick! I've trapped Kiana. Come quick, she's struggling a lot. I'll hold her down for you."

Without hesitation, he betrayed Kiana. It wasn't that he was inhuman, but Mei had given him too much. Along the way, Shen Gonglin had taken too many advantage of Mei. After all that, it wouldn't be right not to do something for her. Letting Kiana keep running away wasn't a good idea either. Mei wasn't a man-eating plant. Shen Gonglin felt it was necessary to let the two of them have a proper talk.

"Pah! Shen Gonglin, are you even human? Let me go right now..."