Birthday Cake

On the third day, Seigfried didn't continue to wait in the wooden cabin. The fact that someone knew he was there meant their perception was exceptionally strong.

Therefore, there was no point in waiting, so he continued his usual routine of walking across the snowfield, searching for traces of Honkai Beasts.

"Hoo hoo... Seigfried, what's up? Have you decided to join Anti-Entropy?"

Seigfried called Welt, and after a long while, Welt's slightly breathless voice came through. Seigfried's mind conjured images of Welt's private life. He truly was the leader of Anti-Entropy, how shamefully admirable.

"Welt, I hope I'm not disturbing you!"

Seigfried had no intention of listening to anyone doing that, so he asked beforehand. If Welt was indeed occupied with something intimate, he would hang up immediately, lest he startle Welt into a state of… well, you know.

"No, I've been doing rehabilitation these past few years!" Welt didn't think too much of it.

"Still not fully recovered?"

Seigfried felt a bit awkward, realizing he'd thought too lewdly. He then asked with concern. During the Second Honkai Outbreak, in the high-stakes matches, Welt was the MVP. Even his body was shattered by Sirin. Although he activated the passive skill, Walter Yang, his recovery over the years had been slow, and he still wasn't at 100% capacity.

"Not yet, I just feel a bit weak!" Welt said with a hint of helplessness.

Even though he had constructed a new body using the Herrscher of Reason's authority, it was nowhere near comparable to his original body when it came to using it. He felt it wasn't quite a perfect match. However, he could now exert about seventy to eighty percent of his peak strength. But Einstein and the others wouldn't let him fight. If he were to fight monsters like Herrschers again, this body would collapse.

"Seigfried, what did you call me for?"

St. Freya hadn't been established yet, so Welt was staying at a secret base of Anti-Entropy.

"Has Anti-Entropy sent anyone to my current location?" Seigfried asked indirectly. Not many people knew his location; one was Otto, whom he thought hadn't discovered him yet, and the other was Anti-Entropy, with whom he had more frequent contact.

"Anti-Entropy? I don't think so. I'm on a break right now, so I haven't been involved in managing Anti-Entropy's affairs for a long time. Those radical elements might be up to something. Is something wrong?" Welt's expression turned serious.

Many people were interested in the clone K423, the experimental subject Seigfried brought out six months ago. Therefore, he had to take it seriously. He knew how much Seigfried valued this "daughter." If Anti-Entropy did something to make Seigfried lose her again, Anti-Entropy would have to face the wrath of Judgement. His current state might not even be enough to stop him.

"Haha, it's nothing, just a strange feeling I've been having lately!" Seigfried laughed, changing the subject.

It seemed that person wasn't Welt. Although he disliked Schicksal for various reasons, he had to admit that Anti-Entropy was truly a mess. Putting aside their combat power, their internal structure was like loose sand, with conservatives and radicals. Schicksal, on the other hand, was managed by that detestable Otto. As long as he gave an order, his subordinates would act decisively.

When Welt was at his peak, Anti-Entropy was quite good. But as Welt gradually retired and faced health issues, the factions within Anti-Entropy became increasingly severe.

If the radical faction of Anti-Entropy really made a move against them, Seigfried would unleash a powerful attack on them.

After chatting with Welt for a couple of sentences, Seigfried hung up the communication and continued his patrol, checking for any Honkai Beasts nearby.

December 7, 2007…

"Captain, besides Kiana, is anyone else celebrating their birthday today?"

Mei placed the freshly made birthday cake on the table and asked curiously. She hadn't asked Zhang Wei who he was delivering lunch to these past few days.

"It's this world's Kiana. It's her birthday today. I'm bringing her a cake. This should be the first time she's ever eaten one!" Zhang Wei adjusted his Captain's hat and chuckled heartily.

Kiana had only recently been released from the cultivation pod. He didn't believe Otto would kindly buy a cake for Kiana, an experimental subject. As for Seigfried, there was even less reason to consider it. A small village deep in the mountains wouldn't have a place that sold cakes.

"Little Kiana, I see. I really want to meet her!"

Mei realized what was happening. She wondered what this world's Kiana was like now. That Kiana who yelled "Imouto" must have some serious issues. Kiana as a child should be very cute.

"What's the big deal? I'll take you to see her later!"

"It's a deal then!"

Zhang Wei nodded, picked up the cake, and left. He skillfully placed it in front of the wooden cabin. He was very familiar with the routine of bringing Kiana dinner every day.

"No one's here. I wanted to see who it was!" Kiana pushed open the door and grumbled dejectedly.

"Kiana, hurry back inside, don't freeze!" Seigfried called out. It was December, and the low temperature outside was not something a child could endure.

"Got it, Dad!"

"What a big box! I wonder what delicious food is inside!" Kiana hugged the cake box, which was half her size, with great anticipation.

"Kiana, this is a letter for you. You should be able to read it yourself, right?"

Seigfried's expression faltered when he saw the cake. It was his daughter's birthday. Besides preparing a gift, getting a cake was genuinely difficult. As for him making one, forget it. The cake he made might very well send his daughter to the afterlife on her birthday.

"Mhm, I can read it!" Kiana read it out word by word.

[Happy birthday, Kiana. I suspect your dad didn't prepare a cake for you. It would be a shame for a little princess to have her birthday without cake. This is your birthday cake…]

Seigfried felt ashamed upon hearing the contents of the letter. If not for living in this kind of place, would he even be short of money to buy a cake?

Especially when Kiana nodded affirmatively, it truly wounded this old father's heart.

Kiana glanced at her gray-haired, aging father, then casually tossed the hurtful letter into the fireplace, just as she had done before.

"Happy birthday, Kiana!"

Seigfried didn't remain dejected for long. He inserted candles into the cake and took out his gift, smiling gently.

"Happy birthday!"

At the same time, aboard the Hyperion, everyone was also celebrating Kiana's birthday. The timing coincided perfectly. Two Kianas, one big and one small, simultaneously made different birthday wishes before blowing out the candles.