Honkai Impact

Upon waking, Mei's first sight was Kiana, along with Kiana and Himeko calling her name…

"Kiana, thank goodness you're alright…"

Seeing Kiana unharmed, Mei felt a wave of relief…

"Mei, you just released your restrictions, didn't you?"

Looking at the Emperor-class Honkai Beast now reduced to fragments, Himeko didn't need to guess what had happened here…

"But… if I didn't…"

Mei knew she had made a mistake. She had promised not to use this power again…

"I'm not blaming you, but this is the last time!"

Himeko reached out and helped Mei up, saying, "The Honkai Beasts on the battleship have been cleared. Let's go meet up with Bronya. The Moonlight Throne will reach Shanghai in five minutes, we need to hurry!"

"Yes, Major Himeko!"

With Himeko and Kiana's help, Mei stood up again…

Looking at Kiana, then at herself, although the Valkyrie Armors were mostly scrap, at least everyone was still alive, and their injuries were minor!

This was thanks to the Valkyrie Armors absorbing a lot of damage. She and Kiana only had superficial wounds, and the Honkai energy within the Valkyries greatly increased the healing speed of wounds. So, these minor injuries had almost no effect on the Valkyries!

Of course, she would still need to take care of her skin when they got back, as leaving scars on her body would be quite unpleasant…

"Bronya, are you done yet?"

The three arrived at the control room. Bronya was still in the process of hacking into the Moonlight Throne's systems…

Bronya shook her head slightly and said expressionlessly, "The battleship's systems are protected by multiple layers of encryption. I've only cracked two layers so far, but there's still one core password left!"

"Bronya, hurry up!" Himeko immediately made a decision. If it wasn't completed in the last two minutes, they would abandon the battleship and destroy it with the Hyperion's main cannon!

"Himeko, Himeko, Kiana? Can you hear me?"

At this moment, Ling Feng's voice came from Himeko's communication device. Since the Emperor-class Honkai Beast had been eliminated, communications could be re-enabled after a brief repair!

"Ling Feng, we're fine!"

Himeko immediately replied, "But the Moonlight Throne's password hasn't been cracked yet. Have the Hyperion's main cannon prepare to charge. In the last two minutes, we'll choose to destroy the battleship!"

"It's already charging, but the Hyperion just received an email, and it seems to be related to the Moonlight Throne!"

As he spoke, Ling Feng transmitted the email content to Himeko's tactical eyepiece. "It says the Moonlight Throne is a gift for Kiana, and the final password is Kiana's birthday. I don't know if it's true…"

"A gift for Kiana?"

Himeko was stunned for a moment and asked, "Kiana, do you know anything?"

"I don't know anything…"

Kiana just shook her head. "As far as I remember, I don't have any friends rich enough to give me a battleship!"

"Let's not worry about that for now. Kiana, tell Bronya your birthday!" Himeko said to Kiana slightly, clearly intending to try the hint in the email!

"I'm not telling her! Besides, who would believe that prank email!" Kiana decisively refused!

"Bronya!"

At this moment, Mei spoke up and said with a smile, "Kiana's birthday is December 7th!"

Bronya silently entered the birthday…

"Password correct. Moonlight Throne control authority acquired!"

As the prompt sounded in the control room, Bronya had gained control of the battleship!

"Huh… no way, the password really is my birthday…"

Looking at the battleship they had just taken control of, Kiana was still a bit bewildered. "What is going on today? So many inexplicable things have happened, first the out-of-control battleship, then the Emperor-class Honkai Beast, I'm getting so confused!"

"Once we bring the battleship back to St. Freya Academy and have Tesla analyze it, I believe everything will become clear!" Mei seemed much calmer, though she was still very curious about the battleship's origin!

"Alright, Bronya, change the battleship's course. Target: St. Freya Academy!" Seeing that everything was finally over, Himeko breathed a sigh of relief. Team 233's first combat mission, which had been full of hardships, had finally been successfully completed!

"Heh heh… you can't have this battleship so easily…"

But just then, a familiar voice appeared in Bronya's mind. "Bronya, help me take back this battleship!"

"Highest authority, forced control system restart, switch to exclusion mode, exclude all surrounding enemies…"

Bronya's eyes suddenly turned red, and she turned to face the three expressionlessly. Project Bunny's cannons began to charge…

"Oh no… Bronya… seems to be controlled again?"

Kiana immediately thought of something…

"Huh? Controlled? The Hyperion is showing an unknown signal invading Bronya. Hey, what's going on?" Ling Feng on the Hyperion was completely bewildered. This… the situation was not right…

"Bang—"

At some unknown time, Mei appeared behind Bronya and then hit the back of Bronya's head with the hilt of her sword. Bronya immediately collapsed…

"Phew…"

Mei wiped the sweat from her forehead and breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Fortunately, even though she was controlled, Bronya still hasn't gotten over her weakness of ignoring what's behind her…"

Himeko: "..."

Kiana: "..."

Ling Feng: "???"

Regardless, it's good that we're safe...

Afterward, Mei took Bronya back to the Hyperion for examination, while Kiana and Himeko remained on the Moonlight Throne and directly piloted the battleship to St. Freya Academy, landing safely in the end!

However, Ling Feng still had three unresolved mysteries: Why was Mei a Herrscher? Why was Bronya controlled? And who was so rich they could directly give Kiana a battleship?

Chapter 30: The "Normal" Team 233!

Back at the academy, Tesla conducted another comprehensive examination on Mei and Bronya. Finding no major issues, the three of them returned to the apartment to rest. As for Ling Feng, he stayed behind, wanting to ask a few things clearly...

"Uh... well..."

Facing Ling Feng's inquiry, Theresa appeared a bit embarrassed, chuckling, "Actually, Mei was also human once, but she was later modified into a Herrscher. As long as she doesn't use the Herrscher's power, she's no different from an ordinary Valkyrie..."

"Then you should have told me about this too. I really didn't expect to have a Herrscher in my own squad..."

Ling Feng looked troubled, simultaneously feeling grateful that Mei didn't kill him when he saw her naked back then. If Mei had unleashed her Herrscher powers at that time, he probably would have vaporized like a Honkai Beast...

"We also didn't expect Mei to unleash her Herrscher powers at that time!"

Himeko shook her head helplessly. "But fortunately, she didn't use them for too long this time, so her consciousness wasn't consumed by the Honkai. But that might not be the case next time. From now on... no matter what happens, we absolutely cannot let Mei use her Herrscher powers again!"

"Then what about Bronya?"

Skipping Mei, Ling Feng started asking about Bronya!

"As you just saw, Bronya is no longer truly human, at least not currently..."

Tesla could explain this question. "Simply put, Bronya participated in Anti-Entropy's human Honkai experiments. Her fractured legs were completely destroyed, and at the same time, eight percent of her brain was also destroyed!"

"However, thanks to Anti-Entropy's technology, Bronya didn't die. Instead, she was modified into a half-human, half-mechanical being. A bio-chip was implanted in her brain to replace the destroyed parts of her brain. But she lost her emotional capacity; she has no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, always maintaining a single expression. The person who implanted the bio-chip, the one who saved her, and the one Bronya calls 'Mom' is none other than one of Anti-Entropy's high-ranking officials, Cocolia!"

"But Cocolia isn't that kind. Because of the bio-chip, she can still directly control Bronya when necessary. By the way, Cocolia was also the one who modified Mei into a Herrscher!"

"Cocolia..."

Ling Feng grew more curious. Who exactly was this Cocolia? To go so far as to turn two perfectly fine girls into this state, it was too detestable...

"Cocolia isn't Bronya's mother, just the administrator of the orphanage," Tesla continued. "But the purpose of establishing the orphanage wasn't to care for those orphans, but to use them as Anti-Entropy's experimental subjects, and Bronya was one of them!"

"You know, last time you asked me why I didn't join Anti-Entropy, while I wasn't lying then, the more important reason is that Anti-Entropy conducts too many terrifying, unknown experiments. I really couldn't stand staying in a place like that!"

"Ling Feng, although Mei and Bronya aren't normal humans, but..."

Theresa stood on a chair and patted Ling Feng's shoulder. "Who doesn't have a past? If it weren't for the Honkai, who wouldn't want to live a peaceful life? But the Honkai always exists, and to fight against the Honkai, our existence is necessary. Mei and Bronya are also part of that; they both have their own goals!"

Alright, I understand... (T_T)

Ling Feng nodded helplessly and sighed. "Then, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my squad. After all, they won their first real victory today, and we were planning to celebrate. As their assistant, I can't be absent!"

"So, you're still willing to be Team 233's assistant?" Theresa asked with a happy smile!

"When did I ever say I wasn't willing to be?"

Ling Feng pouted slightly, saying with some helplessness, "I was just concerned about my squad members' pasts. After all, I'm their assistant. It would be too unqualified if I knew nothing about my own Valkyries!"

"Haha, alright, alright, I get it!"

Theresa couldn't help but laugh, then cleared her throat and pretended to be serious. "Ahem, Ling Feng, given that your Team 233 has been promoted to a B-rank squad, the squad's funding and the assistant's salary will be increased to a certain extent. However, this will start from next month. Also, thank you for your hard work in the future!"

"We'll talk about next month later. Goodbye!"

Ling Feng didn't want to stay any longer. He made a goodbye gesture and left the director's office. He had to admit, today had been a day full of hardships...

In his own squad, one was the Third Herrscher Mei, and the other was Bronya, who could be controlled and defect at any moment. Why did he always end up with such unusual squads? But thankfully...

At least in his squad, Kiana was still a normal person, well... probably...

When Ling Feng returned to the apartment, Mei and the other two were enthusiastically preparing for the party. Although it was just the three of them and the room hadn't changed much, everything they needed was there to ensure they wouldn't be bored!

"Ling Feng, you're always the slowest..."

Seeing Ling Feng return, Kiana immediately showed a displeased expression. "Come on, Mei and I are both injured! And you didn't come back to help, but hid outside and slacked off. It's outrageous!"

"Kiana, you can't say that!"

Mei gently tapped Kiana on the head and said in a teaching tone, "Ling Feng is the assistant. After this battle, there will surely be other matters. Besides, Ling Feng is back, isn't he!"

As she spoke, Mei also smiled at Ling Feng. "Welcome back!"

"Thank you, Mei, Kiana, and Bronya!"

Ling Feng didn't say much more. He was too lazy to bring up what happened before. Whether it was Mei's Herrscher identity or Bronya's experiences, these were definitely not things they would want to talk about!

"Hehe, if you want to thank me, then treat me to a big meal!"

Kiana said playfully. "We've always eaten at the academy. Although Mei's cooking is delicious, I feel like going out for a big meal. Speaking of which, I've never been to any fancy restaurants. I'm so pathetic!"

"Kiana, our funds aren't much, we need to be economical!"

Mei rejected Kiana's suggestion without hesitation. As the one managing the squad's finances, she knew very well where the majority of the expenses went – half of it was Kiana's food expenses...

Chapter 31: We're Going Shopping Tomorrow!

"It's okay, Mei!"

Ling Feng calmly stopped Mei and said with a smile, "Let's not touch the team's funds. But I still get a salary. It's not a lot, but it's more than enough to treat three girls to a big meal. How about this: let's skip this week, and next weekend I'll take you all to Shanghai for a fun day out. What do you say?"

"Ling Feng, you don't have to do that. We actually..."

Mei wanted to refuse. The cost of living in Shanghai was not low at all, and as an assistant, Ling Feng's salary, while decent, wouldn't be very high. Therefore, Mei didn't want Ling Feng to spend his money on something like this!

"It's fine, Mei!"

But Ling Feng remained insistent. "I'm the assistant for Team 233, after all. I haven't really given you anything yet, so let's consider this shopping trip as compensation!"

"This... Alright then, thank you, Ling Feng!" Mei lowered her head slightly to express her gratitude, no longer refusing. If she refused again, it would seem rather unappreciative!

"Then let's go tomorrow!"

Kiana immediately voiced her thoughts, her face full of anticipation. "If we go next week, I might not be able to sleep all week, constantly looking forward to it. So let's go tomorrow!"

"Huh... Are you two's injuries okay?"

Ling Feng understood Kiana's feelings but was still a bit concerned about their physical condition. Although Valkyries had fast recovery rates, these two were only B-rank Valkyries, and it wasn't certain they would fully recover in just one night!

"Hmph hmph, of course, there's no problem!"

Kiana waved her arm to show she was perfectly healthy, and then looked at Ling Feng with a cute expression, calling out in a sweet voice, "Let's go tomorrow, please, Ling Feng, Mr. Assistant!"

Ling Feng: "..." Damn it, why did I suddenly feel a moment of attraction? No, no, it must be an illusion!

"Mei, how about you?"

Ling Feng didn't intend to refuse Kiana, but he still had to ask Mei as a formality. Of course, Ling Feng knew Mei would agree anyway!