Chapter 229

Rita, how are things going on your end?

Durandal's voice came through the communicator. Durandal was on her way back. The matter had been resolved, and all she had to do was bring the target back. However, she also had to check on Rita's situation. Her adjutant had never been in such a sorry state before.

[Durandal, most of the data at Shencheng Medicine has been destroyed. We are trying to salvage it. Thank you for your support. Are you coming to join us now?]

She reported her progress truthfully, but Rita no longer believed that she could recover anything of value. It has to be said that Shencheng Medicine, also known as World Serpent, acted very quickly, taking into account almost every aspect. It was really a headache.

I just retrieved the Herrscher of the Void, and the Archbishop ordered me to return immediately, so I don't have time to meet up with you.

Durandal's tone was as usual, but Rita seemed a little strange. The maid bit her lip tightly, and a look of hesitation clearly flickered on her flawless face. She tried her best to remain calm, but her heart wouldn't allow her to hide these mistakes. After all, this failure was her responsibility.

"Durandal... I will take full responsibility for the failure of this mission."

Without any intention of shirking responsibility, Rita truthfully admitted her mistake. It was because of her inaccurate intelligence that her team was put in danger. Although many team members were saved thanks to Shen Gonglin and Kiana, it was indeed her fault, and she had to admit it.

Chapter 274

I will make a judgment on this matter after reviewing the mission report.

Sensing Rita's remorse, Durandal's tone remained unchanged. She comforted Rita in her own way, knowing that her adjutant had never made a mistake before, and this operation must have been a significant blow to her. However, she didn't believe Rita would be defeated by such a blow; this maid was quite formidable.

[Hoo... Awaiting punishment.]

Rita's attitude was very docile, completely unlike her usual composed demeanor of having everything under control. She had to admit her mistake, admit it, and then correct it. Only in this way could she become the most perfect maid... ah, no, only in this way could she move towards the goal of becoming the most perfect Valkyrie.

Rita, saying such discouraging things doesn't sound like you. Don't blame yourself, it's good that you're okay...

"Yeah, yeah, Rita, I'm so glad you're okay. Don't worry about anything else. Everyone makes mistakes, I make mistakes all the time."

Durandal was comforting Rita when another voice suddenly came from the other end of the communication channel. Rita was slightly startled; she recognized the voice all too well. Wasn't that Shen Gonglin? Was he with Durandal right now? If so, why didn't Durandal explain beforehand? Or perhaps... Durandal had some strange plan?

Rita's eyes narrowed slightly. The maid sensed something was amiss.

[Hey, Shen Gonglin, why are you awake? You shouldn't be awake at this time...]

Durandal's voice sounded somewhat panicked, like a little girl whose plans had been disrupted. Her previous maturity and composure had vanished instantly. Rita, on the other hand, found it increasingly strange. Was Lady Durandal planning to take Shen Gonglin back to the Tenmei headquarters? That didn't seem right. She knew the bishop's attitude towards Shen Gonglin; if she took her back, would he be in for a rough time? Or was Durandal planning to take Shen Gonglin back and imprison her?

That's not impossible. Unlike me, a normal woman who has a master and a man who wants her, what wouldn't this ex-girlfriend who was dumped do?

[I woke up because the wind was so strong, Durandal... Wow! How is it so high Durandal, are you trying to kill me? You... You're so cruel! Help, help... Whoever it is, please come and save me!]

The communication channel became noisy. Rita continued to eavesdrop silently. It seemed that Lady Durandal had secretly kidnapped Shen Gonglin while he was unconscious. Now, while in the air, Shen Gonglin unexpectedly woke up. Judging from the time and speed, Durandal must have arrived in Sky City using the flight device of the God-Slaying Armor, not on a warship. In other words, she was likely carrying or holding Shen Gonglin in the air. Now that Shen Gonglin has woken up and discovered this situation, the consequences... are unimaginable.

[Shut up! Calm down, I'm saving you, as long as you calm down... um, no, don't move, can't you just behave yourself!]

The communication became increasingly chaotic, eventually cutting off completely. Rita clenched her fist as she listened to the busy tone on the communicator. "Well, Durandal, I didn't expect even someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes like you to have learned such tricks. Stealing the enemy's base, you truly deserve to be called the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal."

Meanwhile, high in the sky, far from Sky City, Shen Gonglin and Durandal were having a wild time. Shen Gonglin, suddenly awakened to find herself tens of thousands of meters in the air, had never even dreamt of such a thing. Her fear of heights was practically incurable. Looking at the fluffy white Shen Gonglin felt her soul nearly leap out of her skin. Like someone drowning, Shen Gonglin instinctively tried to grab onto anything around her, and Durandal, carrying her on her back, was the perfect object. Shen Gonglin grabbed at everything in sight, and Durandal, who was communicating with Rita, was caught off guard and taken advantage of in countless ways. Most importantly...

This guy has no intention of letting go at all!

"Quickly, let go..."

Hastily hanging up the call, Durandal angrily scolded Shen Gonglin, telling him to let go. Did this bastard even know where he was pinching? Even the armor couldn't stop his cat-like claws! He had to hold Kiana in one hand and support Shen Gonglin with the other to prevent him from falling. Durandal, burdened by the weight, had no way to free her hands to stop Shen Gonglin. Was this guy really afraid of heights? Why did Durandal feel like he was just being silly?

And it wasn't just him who was thinking this; it seemed like this guy wanted to drag him down with him.

"Waaaaaah..."

At this moment Shen Gonglin was so terrified by the height of the sky that he could only instinctively grab onto everything he could. In this "life-or-death moment," Shen Gonglin unleashed tremendous power, so powerful that even Durandal Valkyrie Durandal angry and anxious, and most importantly, she was in pain. She couldn't take it anymore; Durandal in so much pain that she wanted to cry.

There's no way around it. This guy is so scared he's lost consciousness. In his current state, there's absolutely no way he can get back to headquarters. If that happens, Durandal feels like she'll be killed by him when she gets back. She'll have to find somewhere else to rest first... No, she's not going back to headquarters. She'll go somewhere else to rest first. Not for any other reason than because of that idiot, Shen Gonglin.

Gritting her teeth and enduring the unprecedented pain, Durandal made her decision and changed course, flying towards the nearest Schicksal base. She gritted her teeth and looked down at the cat paw on her chest. Now, this girl only hoped that Shen Gonglin would be gentler, after all, it was not only her own business, but also Shen Gonglin's business!

What if they're one big and one small in the future? That unlucky thing, Shen Gonglin, why is she only bullying one of them? Just thinking about it makes Durandal feel like she's about to Honkai. It hurts so much! She's never been bullied like this before. This is truly the first time in history. She wants to get closer to Shen Gonglin and repair their relationship, but not like this! The strongest Valkyrie turned around and glared fiercely at Shen Gonglin. She'll remember this grudge, Shen Gonglin, you better remember this too. I'll get my revenge sooner or later!

And so, Durandal gritted her teeth and flew unsteadily toward the nearest stronghold of Schicksal. Damn it, she wanted to cry.

Chapter 275 They're all red.

[My Lord, the Gray Serpent's underground black market and Shencheng Medicine have been completely cleared out. Nothing was left except what we wanted them to see. Raven has also safely evacuated. It's a pity that the Stigmata Plan in Sky City failed at the last minute, and the precious Herrscher samples were lost. It's truly disheartening.]

In a dark space, the Jackal reported the current situation to the Lord of the World Serpent. The woman with the dog head, whom Kiana described, sighed slightly. The feeling of having a long-planned scheme ruined in the end was really unpleasant, and she had even been tricked by the Herrscher of the Void. This was truly a disgrace... But it was good that the Lord wouldn't stand idly by after such a big incident... As long as the Lord took action, there would be no problem. And... Durandal, she finally showed up.

Looking at the screen in front of him, Jackal stared at the blonde girl on it. This legendary strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal had finally surfaced.

[My Lord, Durandal has taken away the Herrscher of the Void and Shen Gonglin. Strangely, her initial target was Schicksal's floating island headquarters, but she changed her target midway for some unknown reason. Based on her movements, we believe her destination is North Africa, a dead city destroyed by the Honkai. In the past two years, there have been more than a dozen abnormal Honkai energy amplifications at this location, and we happen to be very familiar with this reaction. That deserted city is the testing ground for the Second Divine Key.]

Marking Durandal's movements on the map, the Jackal rested his chin on his hand, seriously considering the reason for Durandal's change of course. However, he probably couldn't possibly guess that it was because of Shen Gonglin. The strongest Valkyrie must have a reason for doing things, but even so, she couldn't stop the World Serpent's advance.

Let's go, we still have a lot to do.

A cold voice came from the communicator, as if everything was within his calculations. Hearing this cold voice, Jackal felt a surge of excitement. So the Lord had indeed decided to take action personally? As long as the Lord acted, even if Kiana Kaslana truly mastered the form of the Herrscher of the Void, it would be useless. Not to mention that the Honkai energy index she unleashed was far inferior to that of the Second Herrscher, Sirin, at the time. Even if they added Shen Gonglin Kiana, who also mastered the power of the Herrscher of the Void, it would be of no use against the Lord!

The Jackal had absolute faith in this mysterious lord.

"Wake up, wake up... you should be snapping out of it by now, right? No, if you're not snapping out of it, can't you let go? If you keep doing this... I'm going to kiss you!"

In a hazy state, Shen Gonglin suddenly heard a voice in her ear, a voice both shy and angry, beautiful and gentle. Just as Shen Gonglin was about to listen to the gift, she heard that terrifying "threat" again. Shen Gonglin quickly opened her eyes. All around her was pure white. She didn't know when she had found herself in a clean room. In front of her, a girl with long blonde hair was staring at her with a flushed face. Shen Gonglin, who had just regained consciousness, was still a little confused. Where was she...?

"Fine, you're awake and still not going to let go? Do you really think I'm just kidding? Shen Gonglin, you just wait!"

Durandal was furious and embarrassed. After finally bringing Shen Gonglin and Kiana to the base, she settled Kiana Shen Gonglin. Just thinking about how she and Shen Gonglin had been seen by the Valkyrie left behind at the base Durandal feel like she was about to die. This guy had lost consciousness in mid-air, but that cat paw was still firmly gripping her heart. Luckily, the God-Slaying Armor's defense was strong enough, otherwise Durandal felt like she would have been crushed by this bastard... Shouldn't he let go by now? Does he really enjoy doing this kind of thing?

They've been at odds with me for a while now, and yet they still treat me like this. What a heartless jerk!

Huh? What's going on...? Why did this woman suddenly pounce on me? Protect me! Protect me! Is there anyone protecting me?!

Before his mind had fully cleared, Shen Gonglin saw Durandal approaching. Startled, he quickly let go and covered Durandal's face. Only then did he realize what he had been holding onto. No wonder Durandal was so agitated; so that's what happened. Shen Gonglin finally remembered what had happened. He had lost consciousness in the air and grabbed Durandal, who was beside him. And that's how things turned out... Looking at Durandal, whose face was flushed and who was even grinding her teeth, Shen Gonglin felt a little guilty.

"Um... it's not my fault, you know I'm a little afraid of heights... Is everything alright? It shouldn't be a big deal with the armor, right..."

What does awkwardness mean? Shen Gonglin experienced it firsthand today. If this had happened with Kiana or the Class President, Shen Gonglin might have shamelessly continued to act cute. But with Durandal, he felt a little uncomfortable. In Shen Gonglin's view, his relationship with Durandal was quite delicate. Originally, Shen Gonglin had planned to cut ties with her forever, but he had received a lot of help from her, so he couldn't remain cold to her. But as for intimacy... he felt that they hadn't reached that level yet. Under these circumstances, why was he doing this to her?

It's really wrong of you. Although Shen Gonglin likes to take advantage of girls, there are some girls you really shouldn't take advantage of.

"Who said it's not a big deal! They're all famous now, they're definitely famous!"

However, upon hearing Shen Gonglin's words, Durandal couldn't take it anymore. What did he mean by saying it was no big deal through the armor? Wasn't his behavior the same as rubbing against someone through their clothes? This brat was clearly trying to get away with it and shirk responsibility. Durandal glared at Shen Gonglin, her face flushed. Did he think that everything would be fine through the armor? As everyone knew, Schicksal's focus on combat armor was always very strange. Armor made for combat should be thick and defensive, but Schicksal's armor seemed to have prioritized aesthetics and breathability to the extreme. This kind of armor couldn't even be called armor!

Chapter 276 The Brainless Valkyrie

While the armor was indeed very useful, its protective capabilities were questionable... Well, looks are a lifelong matter. Although the armor she was wearing was the 4th Generation God-Slaying Armor, which incorporated the cutting-edge technology of Schicksal, it was the kind that could be worn on a catwalk. Did she really expect such armor to stop Shen Gonglin's cat claws? So when Durandal heard Shen Gonglin say that, she immediately panicked. Was this guy trying to deny it?

He has evidence on his own person, so there's no room for him to deny it!

"You've become famous? Really? I don't believe it."

Shen Gonglin didn't believe in such a thing at all. Or rather, even if it were true, he wouldn't believe it. He couldn't take the blame for this; it would be terrible if he did. Anyway, he didn't believe that Durandal would actually dare to let him see it. He just didn't believe it. Since he hadn't seen it, it was fake. Shen Gonglin didn't believe it.

"Look! They're all red, look!"

However, Shen Gonglin misjudged the situation this time. Perhaps it was his attitude of denying everything that angered Durandal. The strongest Valkyrie did something that even the most idiotic Valkyrie wouldn't do. The girl quickly removed her armor, and Durandal pointed her slender, white fingers at the mark on her heart, loudly accusing Shen Gonglin. This guy still wouldn't admit it! The evidence was obvious!

Hiss... It really is red. How much effort did I put in... Looking at the obvious red mark on Durandal's body, Shen Gonglin felt that he couldn't wash it off this time. However, at this moment, his attention was uncontrollably drawn to something else. He never expected Durandal to do such a thing. Is this girl actually an idiot? And... to be fair, this girl's figure is really good.

Rita told him that Durandal trained almost every day, but this amount of exercise didn't make her look like a muscular girl. Or rather, the Valkyrie Durandal maintained their figures very well. After seeing it with his own eyes this time, Shen Gonglin truly believed it. Speaking of which, does this armor really provide protection? How come it's so easy to take off? Durandal only had to unlock a few buckles to remove all the armor from her upper body. Watching the girl sitting so openly in front of him with her back slightly arched, Shen Gonglin felt... he might not be able to handle it.

"Look, it's all red... Hey, why is your nose red too, Shen Gonglin? Why is your nose bleeding?"

Durandal seemed oblivious to the situation. Pointing to the handprint on her chest, she accused Shen Gonglin of his brutality, but he remained unresponsive. Just as Durandal was about to continue, she noticed that Shen Gonglin's nose was slowly turning red. Why was he bleeding from his nose? Had he suffered some internal injury? Seeing this, Durandal panicked. She had been so focused on getting Kiana to the treatment room that she had neglected Shen Gonglin. Was he alright?

"No, it's nothing... I've just been a little feverish lately, it's nothing serious... But you should put your clothes on, I see... Be careful not to catch a cold."

Shen Gonglin quickly covered his nose. Damn it, he was getting a nosebleed! How could he not even handle a situation like this? It must be because he hasn't seen enough of the world. When he saw Durandal trying to get closer, Shen Gonglin quickly stopped her. He was afraid of milk... no, he was afraid of blood, especially his own blood. This kind of world was not something someone his age should be exposed to.

"Caught a cold..."

Durandal was momentarily stunned, but following the purple eyes of Shen Gonglin, she finally realized her current state. Had she been kicked in the head by a donkey? How could she have done such a thing? Durandal's face turned bright red. She quickly put her armor back on. At this moment, she didn't look like the strongest Valkyrie who dominated the battlefield at all, but rather like a mentally challenged girl who had accidentally done something stupid. Durandal felt her face burning. She couldn't take it anymore; she really wanted to go for a run. In her current state, Durandal felt she could run dozens of laps around a football field.

"You... you saw it, didn't you? I... I already told you it was red, but you still... you still didn't believe me. Now... you believe me, right?"

Speaking haltingly, the atmosphere in the room was unbearable. Durandal felt she needed to straighten up. Her actions just now were merely to make Shen Gonglin see his sins, nothing more... Ahhhh! How could she be so stupid? She'd always been so relaxed and at ease with everything else. Even when facing Judgment-class Honkai Beast, Durandal hadn't felt this tense. Had Shen Gonglin's threat... surpassed that of Judgment-class Honkai Beast?

Oh, by the way, he's already classified Herrscher at headquarters.

"Ah, I see... Um, thank you..."

Shen Gonglin was stunned and asked, "Did you see that?" She had indeed seen it just now. Under such bright lights, Shen Gonglin could see it clearly. But how should she respond to Durandal after seeing it? Shen Gonglin was a polite and good girl. Usually, in situations like this, she should thank her... right?

"You're welcome."

Durandal responded blankly to Shen Gonglin's words, and then the two fell into a long silence. Durandal let out a scream like a groundhog in her heart. What was she saying, what did she mean by "you're welcome"? Was this something to be impolite? She wanted to die. Thank you, you're welcome... Look at what they just said. This must be the most awkward conversation in history. Tired, destroyed, she really had no regrets about this world.

If dying once meant turning back time, Durandal would do it without hesitation.

The atmosphere was unbearable. Shen Gonglin glanced at Durandal. The Valkyrie had given up thinking. In Shen Gonglin was waiting for her to speak. Tsk, could she just admit she was wrong? She had already apologized. What did Durandal mean by acting like this? Unable to understand, Shen Gonglin hardened her heart and spoke directly.

"Then... how about I massage it for you?"

This is the best compensation that Shen Gonglin can offer. After all, he's afraid of pain and can't let Durandal pinch him back. Isn't her meaning to him to make amends? So, she should be satisfied with this kind of compensation, right?

Chapter 277 Watching TV

[Durandal, according to the tests, the Herrscher of the Void will awaken within half an hour. What do you think...?

After an unknown amount of time, the communicator in the room suddenly emitted a sound, instantly Shen Gonglin and Durandal. Once she came to her senses, Durandal realized how foolish she had been. The girl quickly put her armor back on, but the blush on her fair face couldn't be removed quickly. The strongest Valkyrie didn't dare look Shen Gonglin eye; seeing Shen Gonglin reminded her of her irrational actions. Luckily, no one else was in the room, otherwise...

Otherwise, there would be no place for her in this world. Durandal would not hesitate to leave this city and her Schicksal to live a secluded life.

"I understand, I'll go there. Don't worry about anything else..."

She hurriedly replied into the communicator. Although she had told others not to enter the room without her permission, Durandal was still afraid. After all, if she were discovered, it would mean certain death. The core of Schicksal was doing this with a traitor... Sure enough, just as Rita said, she was a double agent at heart.

Durandal was plunged into a strange sense of loss. She clearly wanted to be a good person... but he had given her too much. In just a short while, Durandal was at a loss. Although she was shy, she didn't really regret it. What she had found online was all true: men are like cats, unable to resist even the slightest hint of something fishy... Of course Durandal didn't mean that she smelled fishy. In just this short time together, Durandal felt that her relationship with Shen Gonglin had improved slightly, and she was just around the corner from being shed as the annoying ex-girlfriend.

Didn't you see that he doesn't mind being around you? If Shen Gonglin really doesn't want to even look at you or touch you, then Durandal will be truly heartbroken. Keep going, keep going, keep trying!

After quickly regaining her composure, Durandal was filled with renewed energy. The Valkyrie stood up, looking refreshed, with Shen Gonglin following behind her. She had almost forgotten about Kiana; the girl must have been taken away by Durandal along with her, and she needed to check on her.

Following Durandal out of the room, Shen Gonglin soon led her to another medical room. On the white bed, Kiana was sleeping peacefully. Her hair, which had been loose, had been tied into two braids by someone. Kiana really looked like a goddess when her hair was down, but this look was more familiar. Seeing Kiana sleeping so soundly, Shen Gonglin seemed to see that carefree Kiana girl again. She had really had a hard time these past few days.

"We've already examined her. Apart from the abnormally high Honkai energy in her body, there's nothing wrong with her. After resting, she should be fine. Of course, I mean she's fine for now. It would be dangerous if we let her continue to run rampant outside. Shen Gonglin, she's different from you. Honkai energy has almost no effect on you, but for her... although her tolerance limit is much higher than that of ordinary people, there is a limit. When she can't hold on any longer, the situation will be very dangerous."

Looking at the sleeping girl on the bed, Durandal revealed Kiana's current physical condition. Due to her reckless behavior, Kiana's condition was not good. If it weren't for Shen Gonglin absorbing most of the Honkai energy, the girl's body would probably be on the verge of collapse by now.

"Hmm, I understand that too... but Kiana shouldn't go that far. She has many people helping her, and if it really comes to that, I think I should have a way to deal with it."

Shen Gonglin scratched his head. Durandal was right, but that was when he wasn't by her side. Shen Gonglin was quite confident in himself. If it really came to that final situation, he had a final solution, just like Wendy's case. He would directly remove Kiana's Herrscher Core and then use the power of time to reverse the reality of her death. Although it might be a little difficult for him to do now, Shen Gonglin believed that if it really came to that, he would definitely succeed.

So she can rest assured that no matter what situation she is in, she will have someone to protect her.

"I hope you really have a way... She should be awake for a while longer. Would you like to come and read with me?"

Durandal pulled out a Sherlock Holmes storybook from somewhere and sat down to wave it at Shen Gonglin. As a high-quality Valkyrie was "excellent in both character and academics, and developed in all aspects of morality, intelligence, physical fitness and aesthetics," Durandal did have a hobby of reading. Anyway, she had nothing to do now, and waiting for Kiana to get up was too boring, so she might as well read a book with Shen Gonglin. Reading with him would feel quite nice.

"Reading a book... never mind, I'll watch TV instead. It's been so long since I've watched a drama series, I need to catch up."

Looking at the book full of text in Durandal's hand, Shen Gonglin. Although she could understand it, Shen Gonglin was really not interested. She would rather watch TV than waste time on it. She had been too busy lately, but now that she finally had some free time, Shen Gonglin could relax and binge-watch her favorite shows. The medical room was fully equipped with everything, including a TV. She could finally relax.

As she spoke, Shen Gonglin turned on the TV and sat down next to Durandal, happily watching it. Durandal, seeing this, didn't say anything more. The girl focused her attention on the book in her hands. This feeling was quite nice; he was watching TV while she was quietly reading... It had a bit of a family feel to it.

However, this quiet didn't last long. Just as Durandal was engrossed in her book, Shen Gonglin nudged her waist again. This guy not only liked watching TV but also liked interacting with others. Now that there was no one else around, the only person he could bother was Durandal.

"Durandal, look! It's so touching! According to the plot, what should happen next is..."

He chattered on and on about the Durandal, giving her spoilers, while Durandal put down her book and listened with great interest. Well, you can read a book anytime, but this kind of opportunity is not easy to come by.

Chapter 278 Awakening

What's wrong with me? Why does my body feel so heavy? I can't see anything, hear anything, smell anything, or touch anything. Kiana feels like she's sinking into a quagmire, surrounded by endless darkness, with only her heavy body sinking deeper and deeper. Kiana tries desperately to escape, but the more she struggles, the deeper she sinks, suffocating like she's drowning. She wants to scream, to call for help, but no matter how much she shouts, there's no response. She can't even hear her own voice. In this void, Kiana sees the most terrifying thing. No, this is a dream, just a nightmare...

Kiana awoke from her dream and abruptly opened her eyes. Everything was pure white. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, the terrifying dream faded away. Kiana found herself in a heavily guarded, enclosed room. This kind of room... Kiana already knew what had happened; she had been captured.

"You're awake?"

The unfamiliar voice immediately tensed Kiana's nerves. She turned her head to look at the woman with long, honey-colored, wavy hair sitting to the side. Kiana remembered who she was; she had seen her before in St. Freya. She never imagined it would be her...

In Kiana's eyes, Durandal was sitting in that chair looking at a book, her eyes not even glancing in Kiana's direction. In Kiana's eyes, Durandal was confident and beautiful, her back straight even while sitting. The only thing that didn't quite match Durandal's beautiful and confident appearance was the program playing on the television. This kind of plot... So Durandal also likes to watch these long, melodramatic dramas? That's really surprising.

"You are... Durandal."

"Yes, it's me."