Honkai: Star Rail: I'm a Big Villain, Starting with Annihilating the Astral Express Crew

Good, the plan has successfully taken its first step.

As long as he can get on the good side of this sugar mommy, no, get on the good side of this Great Guardian's heir...

In the future, him wanting to go to the Upper District will just be a matter of Bronya saying a word, right?

At this moment, Bronya seemed to have thought of something.

She suddenly stretched out her little pinky finger, her tiny finger bent, and looked at Jiang Mo with an extremely serious expression.

"Pinky promise!"

Jiang Mo was stunned for a moment before he realized what she meant.

Then he also stretched out his little pinky finger and gently hooked it with Bronya's.

"Pinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, never to change!"

Bronya said in a childish voice, reciting the popular oath among the children in the orphanage.

After reciting it, she raised her head and looked at Jiang Mo, a hint of cunning in her eyes:

"Brother Jiang Mo, don't go back on your word."

Looking at her serious appearance, Jiang Mo felt a long-lost feeling, warm and pure.

"Yeah, I won't go back on my word."

Jiang Mo promised, then stood up.

"Then I'll leave first, Bronya."

Bronya also stood up, looking at Jiang Mo.

Her small face was filled with reluctance, but she didn't cry or tug at him like the other children.

"...Goodbye, Brother Jiang Mo."

She had a lot of things she wanted to say, wanted to ask him when he would come again, but in the end, she just nodded lightly.

She knew Jiang Mo would come back, definitely.

Jiang Mo didn't say anything more and turned to walk towards the entrance of the orphanage.

He had to leave quickly, to avoid Headmistress Natasha coming to make trouble for him.

She must be furious about him hitting someone just now.

However, just as he was about to reach the door, a figure blocked his path.

It was Headmistress Natasha.

Her face didn't have the gentle smile she usually wore, and her eyes were full of seriousness.

"Jiang Mo, wait a moment."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, staring straight at Jiang Mo, clearly preparing to settle the score with him.

Seeing this, Bronya immediately trotted forward, stood in front of Jiang Mo, and eagerly wanted to help him explain:

"Headmistress Natasha, it wasn't Brother Jiang Mo's fault! He was the one who started it first..."

"Bronya."

Jiang Mo interrupted her.

"I'll take responsibility for my own actions."

"It's okay, I'll be right back."

He gave Bronya a look, signaling her to relax.

Natasha looked at Jiang Mo's calm and composed appearance, and her brows furrowed even tighter.

"Sigh... come with me."

She didn't say much in public and turned to walk into the orphanage.

Chapter 17: Natasha, you wouldn't want others to know about that thing, would you?

Jiang Mo followed Natasha into the orphanage.

The interior of the building was equally dilapidated, but it was very clean. There was no common stench of the Underworld in the air, only a faint smell of disinfectant.

Natasha's office was in the innermost room on the first floor.

The office was small, with only a dilapidated wooden table and a few chairs.

Natasha sat down on the chair, gesturing for Jiang Mo to sit as well.

Jiang Mo didn't sit. He just stood in front of the table, quietly looking at her.

Natasha sighed and rubbed her temples:

"I saw everything that happened just now..."

"That boy provoked you first. He wanted to snatch Bronya's things and even wanted to hit her. You were right to stop him."

Jiang Mo didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.

"But..." Natasha's tone grew heavier, "You went too far, Jiang Mo. He's just a child, and you beat him like that. Besides, I've already disciplined him, and he's shown remorse."

Jiang Mo's eyes instantly turned cold.

Just a child?

That child was about to smash Bronya with a rock and snatch the chunk of ice from her.

If he hadn't reacted, Bronya could have been hurt.

In this place, mercy is the most extravagant luxury.

"He should be grateful I only hit him twice," Jiang Mo said coldly.

Natasha looked at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

She had seen too much violence in this Underworld.

But to hear such words from the mouth of a six-year-old child still shocked her.

"He already knows he was wrong," Natasha said. "And I've disciplined him."

"Good. If there's a next time, if he dares to bully Bronya again... he won't get away with it, I guarantee it."

Threat flashed in Jiang Mo's eyes, as if he were stating an inevitable fact.

Natasha was silent.

Looking at the thin child before her, whose eyes were so sharp, she felt a strange sense of powerlessness.

The survival rules of the Underworld were already etched into his bones.

Natasha changed the subject.

"Jiang Mo, I know it's not easy for you to make a living out there on your own. The orphanage may not be great, but at least there's a place to stay and food to eat."

"I'll say it again... are you willing to stay?"

Natasha genuinely wanted to take him in. "Here, at least you'll be a little safer."

However, Jiang Mo refused directly, without any hesitation.

"No, thanks."

"I won't stay."

Natasha looked at his determined eyes, knowing that she had failed to persuade him this time as well.

What can I do to make him stay...?

Almost involuntarily, Natasha suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiang Mo's arm.

Her hands were not large, and they were rough from years of work, but she was surprisingly strong.

Jiang Mo's body was held in place by her, the distance between them instantly closing, and a faint smell of medicine wafted over him.

"Stay, Jiang Mo," Natasha urged. "The orphanage may not be great, but at least you can eat and stay warm, and have a safe place to live."

She squeezed Jiang Mo's thin arm. "I promise, if you stay, you won't have to live like that anymore. The orphanage is going through a tough time right now, but I'm working on it, and things will get better soon. We'll even be able to eat meat."

"I don't want to see a child like you throw your life away out there..."

By the end, Natasha was visibly agitated, gripping Jiang Mo's arm even tighter, as if she wouldn't let him go unless he agreed to stay.

At that moment, a scene flashed through Jiang Mo's mind.

Night, the side alley of the orphanage.

Natasha was wrapped in thick clothes, looking nervous.

Opposite her stood a masked person whose face was obscured.

Natasha was holding something in her hand, emitting a strange light. Jiang Mo was far away at the time and couldn't see clearly, but he could sense the danger emanating from it.

The masked person took out a cloth bag from their arms.

There was the sound of metal clinking inside, as if it contained coins, or some small, hard objects.

The two of them whispered something to each other.

The voices were so low that Jiang Mo couldn't hear the specifics.

He was just a hungry wanderer at the time, his mind preoccupied with how to fill his stomach. He didn't pay much attention to what they were doing, but he instinctively sensed that it must be something shady.

Now, combining Natasha's words about improving the food situation with the bag that seemed to contain money, he instantly understood.

Natasha was trading Riftworld Monster parts with a wanderer for funds, all for the sake of the children at the orphanage.

Flashback ends.

Natasha's grip on Jiang Mo tightened, but he didn't struggle.

Seeing the change in Jiang Mo's eyes, Natasha thought that he was finally wavering, and was preparing to strike while the iron was hot and say a few more words.

However, Jiang Mo asked her in a seemingly innocent tone:

"Sister Natasha, I've always been curious... what are the consequences of trading Riftworld Monster parts in secret?"

Natasha's body stiffened at those words, and she released Jiang Mo's hand as if burned.

Visible panic flashed in her eyes, her pupils slightly dilated, and her lips parted slightly.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Seeing Natasha's loss of composure, Jiang Mo was even more certain.

"I heard that stuff is very dangerous. Being caught with it is a serious crime, right?" He tilted his head.

Natasha forced herself to remain calm, trying to hide the shock in her heart.

She managed to squeeze out a smile that was worse than crying, "What are you talking about? Jiang Mo, I don't understand."

Her gaze began to avoid Jiang Mo's, not daring to meet his eyes, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Jiang Mo's mouth.

He took a step forward, getting closer to Natasha. The pressure made her even more nervous.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I thought big sister Natasha would be very clear about these things."

"Last time I saw... you were clearly holding a part and doing some kind of deal with a strange person behind the orphanage..."

Natasha's breathing became rapid, and she looked at Jiang Mo nervously:

"Jiang Mo, you... you must have seen wrong. There was no strange person, and I don't have any monster parts..."

Jiang Mo ignored her denial and continued to speak to himself:

"Big sister Natasha, if the Silvermane Guards knew about this..."

"What would they do?"