Honkai Impact

"A gift..."

Hearing Ling Feng say that, Mei also remembered the gift. In fact, after returning that day, Mei had wanted to find time to get the gift, but the Honkai incident in Shanghai had distracted her, so she hadn't had a chance to look for it!

"Yes, the gift!"

Ling Feng nodded gently. "If you are destined to become a Herrscher, I will always protect you. However, we should get the gift your father mentioned. Although I don't know what it is, I'm sure it's a gift related to you!"

"Hey, hey, what are you two talking about? Don't pretend I don't exist! What gift is it?" Kiana asked curiously, hearing their conversation. A gift, could it be something delicious again?

"The gift..."

Ling Feng hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Of course, it's the gift!"

"Mhm, it's the gift!"

Mei also smiled. The meaning behind it was probably only understood by the two of them...

"Bronya suggests that if the gift is related to Mei-sister's Herrscher transformation, it's best to depart tomorrow!"

Bronya opened Project Bunny's computer and looked at the three of them expressionlessly. "According to Project Bunny's detection, Mei-sister's Honkai energy has begun to become unstable!"

Ling Feng rubbed his chin and said, "Then I'll go ask Theresa for leave tomorrow. I also think this matter can't be delayed any longer!"

"Right, Mei, the gift, where exactly is it?"

Speaking of the gift, Ling Feng suddenly realized that he didn't actually know what the gift was or where it was. It was all his father-in-law's fault for liking to play mind games and insisting it was placed in Mei's favorite spot!

"This..."

Mei raised her right hand and gently touched her lips with her finger. After thinking for a moment, she finally looked back at Ling Feng. "If it's according to my father's wishes, then I think the gift should be in my hometown, Japan!"

"Japan? That... that's a bit far..."

Ling Feng had seen the world map, so he naturally knew Japan's location. Of course, it wasn't really that far. With the speed of modern transportation, it would only take two hours. If they used the Hyperion, it would take less than half an hour...

However, using a battleship to find a gift would be too extravagant, so he'd have to find a way to take a plane. But if he did that, his budget would be severely insufficient...

"Japan, I've heard of it, but I've never been there!"

Kiana nodded thoughtfully, her face full of anticipation and excitement. "Are we going tomorrow? I heard there are many natural hot springs, and I've always wanted to experience them!"

"There are indeed many hot springs, after all, our country is on a fault line!"

Mei nodded gently, a nostalgic expression on her face. She said with a reminiscent look, "When I was a child, my favorite thing was to soak in a private hot spring after a day of exhaustion. The fatigue of the day would instantly disappear!"

"That sounds... really interesting, Ling Feng..."

As she spoke, Kiana walked towards Ling Feng with an eager expression, grabbed his arm with both hands, and looked at him pleadingly, smiling. "Let's go tomorrow! Make sure you get leave from Auntie! Not only can we soak in hot springs, but we can also escape... and find Mei's gift!"

Ling Feng: "..." Wait, what did you say about escaping? And when you smile like that, I get a bad feeling...

However, even though you're sometimes a pain, your cute act is really pleasing to the eye. Please continue...

But, classmate Kiana, although you're very cute, you still have to face the problem of funding. Ling Feng doesn't know the price of plane tickets, but they're definitely not cheap. Moreover, once they get to Japan, they'll need to spend money on accommodation and food, all of which require money!

Ling Feng didn't want to have money to go but no money to come back, which would be very awkward...

"Alright, alright, I'll go explain this to Theresa tomorrow. After all, this is about whether Mei will become a Herrscher. I don't think the Academy Head will refuse!"

In the end, Ling Feng agreed and decided to go find Theresa tomorrow, and see if he could apply for some extra funds. This wasn't a trip for leisure, but an effort for Mei!

Finally, the matter was settled. They would just wash up and go to bed early tonight!

At night, Kiana also fell asleep dreaming of eating snacks, and then...

Kiana found herself back on the academy's sports field. It was still night, and there was still no one around. There was only a desolate silence that made one feel a chill...

"Again... St. Freya Academy again?"

Looking at the familiar yet somewhat strange scene before her, Kiana felt a sense of unease...

"Hehehe..."

Suddenly, a black phantom appeared in the distance. "We meet again, lost little girl."

"It's you again! Who... who exactly are you?"

Kiana remembered this voice because she had heard it here not long ago!

"I am you, and you are me!"

The phantom continued to speak in a creepy voice, laughing. "However, it seems you are truly getting stronger! And the Stigmata on you seem to possess my power. Can you tell me who engraved them for you?"

"Hmph, I refuse! Why should I tell you?"

Kiana remained stubborn. Facing the phantom for the second time, she was no longer as afraid as she was the first time. After all, this was in her dream!

"Heh heh... Even if you don't say it, I'll know. Because I have your memories too. As I said, I am you, and you are me!"

The phantom continued to laugh. "However, since you've gotten stronger as promised, I can also tell you some information about Cecilia. But, do you want to hear it?"

"Then tell me quickly!"

Hearing her mother's name again, Kiana became serious once more. Her mother, Cecilia. She only knew the name Cecilia but had never met her mother, nor did she even know what her mother looked like...

She had asked her father countless times, but he always remained silent. All she knew was that her mother was also a Valkyrie, and her name was Cecilia!

"Cecilia, she and I are old friends. By the way, Kiana, do you know about the Second Honkai War?"

The phantom asked slowly...

"The Second Honkai War? I've heard of it, but I don't know much about it!"

Kiana shook her head slightly. She didn't actually know much about such things, and a lot of the relevant information was classified, so she couldn't find out anything!

"Sigh... then I'll have to start from the beginning..."

The phantom seemed a bit helpless, and said with a smile, "So, Cecilia, her full name is Cecilia Schariac. She was the heir to the Schariac family and possessed an excellent ability to control the Honkai. Once, she was one of Schicksal's S-rank Valkyries!"

Chapter 54: Under the Moonlight!

"S-rank Valkyrie? Mom... she's that amazing?"

Kiana was stunned. An S-rank Valkyrie, her own mother, who was she really...?

"Then what happened?" Kiana eagerly pressed!

The phantom was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Kiana, there are many things I think... it's best you don't know. The more you know, the more painful it will be. I can guarantee that when you know the truth, you will be utterly despairing..."

"What exactly happened? Just tell me, what happened to Mom later, okay?"

Kiana only wanted to know her mother's whereabouts. As someone who hadn't seen her mother since birth, Kiana had set her life's goal on finding her mother!

"You... are too weak. You cannot bear this price yet..."

The phantom didn't seem inclined to tell Kiana what happened next, only saying, "If you can become stronger, then I will tell you what happens next!"

As he spoke, the surrounding space began to slowly disappear again...

"Don't go, I'll definitely get stronger. Can you tell me first..."

Kiana shouted urgently, but the phantom didn't respond at all. Finally, the scene before her completely vanished...

Kiana's consciousness returned to the real world, and the phantom reappeared, muttering to himself, "Kiana, hurry up and get stronger. Only then can I complete my revenge. This world should not exist..."

At the same time, the phantom looked at the Stigmata patterns before him, seemingly lost in thought. The power of this Stigmata seemed identical to his own. Who exactly was that guy named Ling Feng?

However, if he could engrave a complete set of Stigmata onto Kiana, perhaps his own power could be fully activated. Kiana, you mustn't disappoint me...

So, the next day, Ling Feng still went to the Dean's office to inform Theresa about going to Japan...

"Mmm..."

Theresa tilted her head and thought for a good while before finally saying, "Well, I'll approve your leave request, but there's no funding. However..."

"However what?"

Ling Feng knew Theresa wasn't finished speaking...

"I can give you the battleship!"

Theresa suddenly opened a holographic image, and an image of a battleship appeared. "Recognize it? The Moonlight Throne you brought back last time has been thoroughly inspected and modified by Tesla. There are no major issues, and it can be put into operation. It's just that..."

"Academy Head, can you say everything at once?"

Ling Feng really didn't want to endure this textbook-style sentence separation. It was tiring to listen to!

"The Moonlight Throne's engine, or rather its weapon, has extremely powerful output..."

As she spoke, Theresa continued to display the holographic image, zooming in on a certain area. "How powerful, you could say this: if the power is fully charged and has enough energy, it can completely destroy the entire Americas within half a day!"

"Huh? You... are you sure you're not kidding me?"

Ling Feng was immediately stunned with surprise. Destroying the Americas in half a day, this explanation was quite detailed. "No way, something so dangerous... who gave it to Kiana?"

"Don't rush, I haven't finished yet!"

Theresa waved her hand and said with a smile, "Power output is just a word. The Moonlight Throne certainly can't achieve that level because it doesn't have enough energy systems. Moreover, the propulsion device is its output device. In other words, the Moonlight Throne cannot complete attack commands independently; it can only act as a turret!"

"Also, although the power output is so high, the ratio of power conversion is quite terrible. Overall, using the Moonlight Throne for firing is a rather uneconomical thing!"

Theresa silently pushed the holographic image towards Ling Feng, smiling proudly. "So, I plan to give the Moonlight Throne to Team 233. Your strength deserves a battleship, and this originally belonged to Kiana!"

Ling Feng kept tapping with his fingers, checking the various data of the Moonlight Throne. The Moonlight Throne was a small to medium-sized battleship, much smaller than the Hyperion, and its appearance wasn't very attractive, not as cool as the Hyperion. However, the deck was also much smaller, so cleaning it should be faster!

"Okay, I accept!"

A battleship delivered to my doorstep, why would I refuse? Moreover, the Moonlight Throne is very fast, and with it, going to Japan will be completely problem-free!

"Mmm!"

Theresa also nodded gently and said with a smile, "Ling Feng, this is just the beginning. The Moonlight Throne is only temporary. I think... in a while, Kiana or Mei should be able to become A-rank Valkyries, right? And A-rank Valkyries can apply for their own exclusive battleship, just like Himeko!"

"Himeko..."

Speaking of Himeko, Ling Feng suddenly remembered his conversation with Kiana that day and said with some hesitation, "Himeko... her body..."

"It seems you know too. Did Kiana tell you?" Theresa wasn't surprised at all that Ling Feng knew about this, as it was no longer a secret!

"Mmm..."

Ling Feng nodded and asked, "Since Himeko's body is already like this, why hasn't she retired yet? The Valkyrie wars are inherently life-burning wars, and Himeko... why is she doing this?"

"This is my fault!"

A wry smile appeared on Theresa's face, and her eyes held a depth that didn't match her (apparent) age. "You know, Schicksal is the ultimate command center for all of us Valkyries. Although there are some Valkyries who don't obey Schicksal, the Schicksal headquarters is always the leader!"

"However, Schicksal's methods of training Valkyries are too cruel, largely treating them as mere tools. This approach has faced significant opposition, so with Schicksal's consent, various branches established their own institutions and schools for training Valkyries. Our St. Freya Academy is one of them!"

"But it's essentially divided into districts, with each organization and academy having its own area responsible for resolving Honkai incidents within that region. However... relying solely on ourselves, we can't sustain the expenses for Valkyries and various projects. Therefore, we must earn money. And the best way to earn money is to get funding from headquarters. Every year, headquarters evaluates the strength and combat achievements of each branch and then allocates corresponding funds. But... to be honest, it's far from enough, truly not enough!"

"So, we have to find our own ways, whether it's taking on missions or seeking sponsorships. In short, we must do everything possible to earn funds. Unfortunately, our St. Freya Academy is a bit weak. The only Valkyrie we can truly count on is Himeko, Major Himeko, known as the ace of the Far East Branch. I've urged Himeko many times not to fight anymore, but..."

"She doesn't want to!"

A bitter smile appeared on Theresa's delicate, youthful face. "Fu Hua cannot be fully trusted, and I must remain at the academy. If Himeko retires, then our St. Freya Academy will face immense difficulties. So, Himeko said she won't retire until we cultivate a true A-rank Valkyrie of our own within the academy!"

Chapter 55: Is This the Love Bridge Effect?

Leaving the Dean's office, Ling Feng's heart felt complicated. The matter of going to Japan was resolved, thanks to the Moonlight Throne, but Himeko...

An ace Valkyrie of the Far East Branch, an A-rank Valkyrie, had fallen to the point of nearly failing against an Emperor-class Honkai Beast. This was enough to show how much Himeko's condition had deteriorated. What Tesla had told him back then might be more suitable to say to Himeko!

And with his current strength, there was very little he could do. Taking Himeko's place was out of the question; it would be suicide. However...

Himeko said she would retire once the academy had its own A-rank Valkyrie. So...

Kiana, Mei, this future should be entrusted to you. The first step, then, is to find a gift to resolve the crisis brought about by Mei's Herrscher transformation!

Ling Feng walked directly towards Tesla's laboratory. Why? It was obvious. The Moonlight Throne's system was still controlled by Tesla, and all related data was with her. There were also many handover procedures to complete. Did you really think you could just go and pilot a battleship just because someone told you?

Arriving outside the laboratory, Ling Feng didn't knock, afraid of disturbing Tesla. Anyway, this girl never locked her door. Besides, apart from himself and Theresa occasionally visiting, the only other person who likely came here was that girl who worked part-time at the academy's cafeteria, delivering food...

Entering her research room, Ling Feng immediately saw Tesla sitting at the computer desk. She was seated in a chair, her eyes fixed on the computer screen, her hand holding the mouse and clicking every few seconds. Was she playing Minesweeper?

Ling Feng didn't want to disturb Tesla, so he didn't call out to her. Instead, he quietly walked behind her, wanting to see what she was playing. Ling Feng remembered that Minesweeper had very high configuration requirements!

However, Tesla wasn't playing Minesweeper. She was browsing a webpage titled "Love Psychology Test"!