The promised third collapse, where is it?!!

Fu Li was just trying to lighten the mood with a joke, but this kid in front of him was a legendary mercenary raised from childhood by a military organization – the Ural Silver Wolf. Give her a pair of stockings and she could strangle thirteen soldiers to death with them. She was the SuperStockings Killer. If she went completely insane, she wouldn't even know how she died.

"Then what if I refuse to hand over Raiden Mei?"

He steered the conversation back on track.

"If you persist in your folly, you will all die."

Staring into Fu Li's eyes, Bronya said, "Currently, Mama Cocolia—Executor Cocolia—is unable to mobilize her entire force due to certain reasons. Once the time is right, not only Raiden Mei, but you who harbor her will also perish in the endless artillery fire used to kill a hundred-meter-class Honkai Beast!"

She spoke slowly, because this was already a foregone conclusion.

The reason Cocolia couldn't deal with them for now was that her act of "actively initiating the Third Honkai" was too shocking. It had drawn both the silent opposition of the Reformists and the sanctions of the Conservatives.

Once she regained full authority, let alone Fu Li and Kiana who were ruining her plans, even Schicksal's S-rank Valkyries would have to weigh their chances of escape under the comprehensive assault of the aerial aircraft carrier battle group.

However, to Bronya's surprise, Fu Li was unmoved by her threat. Instead, he asked in disbelief, "What did you just say about Cocolia? Did you add 'Mom' after her name when you called her?!"

"...No, I didn't."

The girl fell silent for a moment and vehemently denied it.

"It's true?! Oh my Luo Tianyi..."

As everyone knows, I only speak half the truth.

This was truly shocking news.

Question 1: Would a normal person frequently say "My mom is XXX" as a catchphrase?

Answer: No.

Li Qiming, who had shouted "My dad is Li Gang," spent six years in prison. His father was also transferred from his original post and disappeared.

Question 2: Would a girl who joined St. Freya Academy as an Anti-Entropy spy openly reveal her true identity?

Answer: No.

If a spy can't even keep their identity secret, they've already taken a step towards the abyss of death.

Question 3: Facing Fu Li, a survivor of the Third Honkai, and as an accomplice in the heinous act of "Cocolia actively initiating the Third Honkai," even if he was unaware of it, would Bronya tell him the whole truth?

Answer: Perhaps.

The girl, having transformed into the Herrscher of Reason and completely resolved her inner turmoil, might summon the courage to face everything. Regrettably, Fu Li in the previous timeline didn't live long enough to reach that point.

The accumulation of the above factors led to the current astonishment.

Fortunately, Fu Li was battle-hardened and experienced, so he quickly recovered from the shock of his mother's identity.

"I see, that explains your gear too."

He sat cross-legged on the ground, meeting Bronya's gaze, and mused with one hand propping up his chin, "The good daughter of the leader of the Anti-Entropy Reformists—"

"We're not related by blood."

The girl emphasized.

"Still a daughter."

Fu Li said.

Bronya didn't refute this time. She managed to prop up her small body, leaning against the coffee table with a calm expression. "Now you know what a huge mess you've gotten yourselves into. Bronya still holds the same offer: if you hand over Raiden Mei, Bronya can authorize your departure."

Fu Li didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "What is your status in your mother's heart?"

"High."

The little girl was very serious. She never doubted Cocolia's love for her.

"So high that if we really handed Mei over, and she still insisted on attacking us, you could persuade her to stop?"

"..."

The girl wanted to say yes, but considering Cocolia's usually overbearing personality, she could only remain silent.

This wasn't unprecedented. Seele, who went missing during the X-10 Experiment earlier this year, was the best proof.

Cocolia truly regarded everyone at the orphanage as her own daughters. However, to her, Bronya and the others were also soldiers destined for the front lines.

Loving your soldiers like your own children, and using them like mud—these were the necessary prerequisites for becoming a qualified commander.

The genuine affection she showed the girls daily did not prevent her from discarding them cleanly in wartime.

Because these two things were not contradictory.

Looking at the silent girl, Fu Li shrugged.

Handing over Mei was impossible, absolutely impossible.

He was just trying to persuade Bronya to stand down from a different angle. Seeing her reaction, it seemed there was an unexpected bonus?

"It seems Cocolia's status in your heart is also complicated."

He clapped his hands, his inner thoughts involuntarily spilling out, "But then again, that person's reputation wasn't great to begin with—no, rather than not great, it was downright terrible."

Leaders with radical styles only gained popularity among the youth. As a Slav, Cocolia was filled with a desire for territorial expansion to her very core.

Other countries and organizations absolutely detested such unpredictable elements that stirred up conflict at the drop of a hat.

Furthermore, with her imprisonment two years later, even though he knew the possibility was minuscule, Fu Li still tried to persuade Bronya to change her mind and settle down with a promising prospect like himself.

"..."

Glancing sideways at Fu Li, who was incessantly badmouthing Cocolia, Bronya, known as the "Metal Gear Bronya," suddenly recalled a dark joke she'd seen online:

The joke originated from a Fate/Zero fanfiction where the protagonist, a transmigrator, used the glory of the British Empire, claiming that Britain was now one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and doing very well, to convince Saber to let go of her obsession with choosing a new king.

At first glance, it didn't seem like much, but upon actual reflection.

The native Britons were already so oppressed by the Anglo-Saxons; were they sure this advice wasn't just adding fuel to the fire?

Bronya now was Saber, and Fu Li was the transmigrator protagonist written by that insightful author.

Or rather, Bronya was the fire, and Fu Li was the pot of oil desperately poured onto it.

The accident during the X-10 Experiment had severely damaged the girl's emotional circuits, preventing her from expressing the rage surging within her through her facial expressions.

She said expressionlessly, "Bronya is not interested in Cocolia's reputation. Perverted loli-con, you can shut up!!!"

Regardless, Cocolia was the one who saved Bronya from the terrorist organization that raised her.

For that reason alone, as long as Cocolia didn't betray her, Bronya would always follow her.

Fu Li was taken aback by the retort. He looked at the girl's eyes, which seemed ready to spew fire, and realized he had been too hasty.

After all, Bronya was still so small two years later. Fu Li subconsciously viewed her as a younger sister.

Anyone with a sister at home knows that even if they bicker and cause chaos at home, they still don't want her to suffer any losses outside.

He cleared his throat and raised his hand in a Roman salute to surrender, "I feel like you wouldn't answer even if I asked you about Mei."

"That's right."

"What about Cocolia?"

Fu Li asked, "The Executor is here in person, what are you busy with?"

"You guess."

"You stubborn duck head are completely uncooperative."

"That depends on who it is."

"Heh! Are you guys doing a comedy act now?"

"Who told you to look so clownish?"

"Personal attacks are not acceptable!"

"You were the one who started badmouthing Cocolia!"

"Does badmouthing mean saying everything she's done?"

"...Interrogating me with words is useless. You can use torture on Bronya."

"I wouldn't dare."

Gaining the upper hand, Fu Li sneered, stood up, and walked towards the staircase leading to the basement.

Bronya couldn't help but ask, "What are you going to do?"

"Change of personnel, change of personnel. I'm too kind to be ruthless in interrogation. I need to bring in someone without any scruples."

Fu Li waved his hand, then suddenly turned back halfway.

He took out his phone with ill intent, opened a video, and put it in front of Bronya.

"Before that, let me torture you mentally~"

Then he turned and fled without a trace.

Bronya didn't understand what he meant at first, until a face flashed on the screen.

"Hello everyone, contestants. I am an individual trainee with two and a half years of practice time, Ai Kun. I like singing, dancing, Rap, and basketball."

Middle part, overalls.

One side of the body was full, but the other side was unusually flat.

Androgynous.

"Music!"

He snapped his fingers and tossed his jacket aside.

An incomprehensible little tune began. He caught a basketball thrown by someone and gave a charming smile to Bronya outside the screen.

"Only you are too beautiful~ Oh, Baby! Only you are too beautiful~ As you walk towards me, I feel restless!"

Gulp. Kill me now!

Bronya, her body held in place by the Shadow Blade, watched in despair as the individual trainee on the screen occasionally sent her a kiss full of love. Even when she closed her eyes, the seductive, beautiful dance moves endlessly replayed in her mind.

This torment of the mind and body was far more hardcore than a few words badmouthing Cocolia.

But Fu Li would certainly never admit that. In his opinion, what girl doesn't like a big guy who can sing, dance, rap, and play basketball? (laughs)

Leaving Bronya alone to admire Fu Li, the "Ai Kun boy," as he walked down the stairs. Due to the dampness of the underground floors, many people used this level as an entertainment venue for their amusement.

The detached house where the few of them were temporarily staying was no exception. As soon as Fu Li went downstairs, he saw Kiana holding a guitar, singing and talking, looking incredibly flashy.

"...Mei, you have to know, there's a good old saying in Shenzhou: 'When sisters are united, their strength can break anything!'"

He walked behind the girl expressionlessly and grabbed the prominent ahoge on her head: "Ms. Kiana, can we please stop defiling the noble sayings of my great Shenzhou?"

"Defiling? How so? I had no idea!"

Kiana, pulling out her ahoge, hummed a couple of times, still cradling the electric guitar.

The girl's skill was decent, but she had a habit when playing guitar: when sitting down, she liked to use the gourd-shaped indentation to support her chest.

According to her, it was comfortable and didn't poke her, and theoretically, it did align with biomechanics, but—

Anyway, Fu Li, who got a good eyeful, felt it was worth it.

"My eyes are about to pop out!"

"If your posture were just a little more normal, I wouldn't be so unable to resist temptation."

"You're blaming me because you can't control your own eyes?"

Kiana ignored him and continued with her previous posture and rhythm: "So, A Li's mouth is like ginger mixed with potatoes; you never know when it'll explode on you!"

When men get together, they'll definitely talk about women; when women get together, they'll definitely complain about men.

While Fu Li was away earlier, the girls had clearly been using him as a topic, venting furiously.

Unlike Kiana, who was perceived by most passersby, and Mei, who wished she could eat him alive, Fu Li was the only one in their trio who had clearly shown friendliness towards Bronya.

Kiana's attempt to persuade Mei to calm down from this angle was, in fact, quite in line with market principles.

However, while he understood, facing the girl's slander (which wasn't really slander), Fu Li couldn't help but retort: "You're badmouthing me here because you don't know me well enough."