Honkai Impact 3rd: Saving the Pre-Civilization with Hand-Crafted Black Tech

Prometheus told him via text: "Doctor Ai Yue, I've found that Miss Sakura is a very heavy woman."

"...Where did you learn that word?"

Chapter 14: The Sisterly Younger Sister

Prometheus's internet slang once again convinced Ai Yue that he needed to limit the other party's online surfing. However, he didn't deny Prometheus's assessment.

But in this era, such things were quite normal.

Sakura and Ling both came from the Land of the East. This country had been largely destroyed in the Third Great Honkai. The scale of that Great Honkai was truly terrifying, even affecting the city of Canghai in neighboring Shenzhou. In the end, through the efforts of Moth to Fire and the United Nations, the truth of this massive disaster was distorted into a violent, large-scale tsunami.

The sisters had barely escaped this catastrophe, so it was natural for them to cherish each other even more. As the older sister, Sakura bore the responsibility of protecting her younger sister, but in reality, she was a gentle and fragile person. To strengthen herself, she attributed all her actions to "protecting Ling," and in the process, gradually made Ling her sole spiritual pillar.

It was entirely reasonable for someone like this to make Prometheus feel "heavy."

But if she hadn't done so, Sakura's spirit would likely have collapsed long ago.

As the two of them stepped outside, they saw a car slowly stopping at the entrance. The window of the driver's seat rolled down, revealing Hua. She nodded at them without saying much.

Hua felt like she was almost getting used to this chauffeur life.

After the two got into the car, Ai Yue continued to ask, "Are things settled on Ling's end?"

"Mhm," Sakura nodded. "We don't have many belongings, so we can leave anytime."

After Sakura accepted Dr. Mei's conditions and officially joined Moth to Fire, Ling had also settled down in a city near Moth to Fire's headquarters. However, the sisters had been moving around frequently before this, so they had both developed the habit of not accumulating possessions casually, making it easy to move at any time.

"That's convenient," Ai Yue smiled. "I haven't told you the specific plan yet. I intend to have Ling live in Twilight Street."

"Is it that sanatorium?" Sakura recalled the first time she met Ai Yue and frowned slightly. "Doctor Ai Yue, I'd like to ask, who is in charge of this sanatorium now?"

Recalling Aponia's strange abilities, she instinctively felt a desire to flee.

As someone who survived by force, being immobilized by a casual remark from someone else, left to be slaughtered, was a nightmare.

"Don't worry, Aponia isn't in charge there." Mentioning Aponia, Ai Yue's expression became a little subtle, but he quickly returned to normal. "The current plan for Twilight Street is to establish a new branch, primarily to build an orphanage to take in and raise orphans who have lost their homes due to various disasters. It will be managed by someone from the education sector. Of course, security will be guaranteed by others. Guess who?"

"Is it a warrior from Moth to Fire?" Sakura pondered for a moment, looking at Ai Yue's expression, and suddenly said, "Could it be Kalpas?"

Ai Yue looked at her with some surprise. "Why would you think it's him?"

He knew that in the original storyline, their relationship was good, but they shouldn't have had much interaction at this point, right?

"It's a hunch. After all, Twilight Street is also his home," Sakura thought. "Besides, I feel like he's the type who really likes children and would be very suitable for this place."

"You guessed correctly. I plan to have Kalpas be responsible for the security of this branch. Of course, there will also be regular soldiers stationed here," Ai Yue nodded, approving Sakura's answer. "Do you need me to transfer you here as well? This way, you can see Ling anytime."

"No need. As long as she's safe," Sakura was tempted at first, but finally shook her head. "Ling's matter has already troubled you greatly. I can't let you worry about my affairs anymore."

As an older sister, she naturally wanted to see her younger sister at all times. But Sakura knew very well that she was now a Fused Warrior, Moth to Fire's most potent weapon against the Honkai. For Ling, and for the future of more children like Ling, she had to be used in the most crucial places.

Ai Yue looked at Sakura's expression and then smiled. "It seems Rose wasn't entirely right."

He could naturally see Sakura's thoughts and thus realized his own perspective was still too one-sided. Sakura might indeed view Ling as her spiritual pillar, but that didn't mean her sister was the only one in her heart.

Now, it seemed that life in Moth to Fire had clearly influenced her, giving her life some other meaning.

The three soon arrived at Ling's residence. As Sakura knocked on the door with a special rhythm, a girl's joyful voice came from inside: "Sister?"

"It's me, Ling," Sakura replied softly. "My colleagues and I are here to pick you up."

The door quickly opened, and a pink-haired girl in a white dress threw herself into Sakura's arms. "Sister!"

"Ling," Sakura knelt down to catch Ling, then directly picked her up. "Let me introduce you. This is Doctor Ai Yue, and this is Hua. They are both my colleagues."

Ai Yue smiled and waved at the girl with a ponytail. Hua also nodded at her. The girl seemed a bit shy and immediately turned her head away. "Sister, can you put me down?"

After Sakura put the girl down, Ling pretended to clear her throat and bowed to Ai Yue and Hua. "Hello, sirs. My name is Ling, Sakura's sister. Thank you for your help to my sister on a daily basis."

If Ling hadn't looked only fourteen or fifteen years old, her demeanor would have made her seem more like the older sister than Sakura.

"You're too kind. Your sister is a very capable person," Ai Yue replied, then looked inside the house. "Ling, have you packed your things?"

Just as Sakura had said, there wasn't much furniture inside, making it look empty and giving the impression that the sisters had only moved in recently.

"I'm done packing!" Ling replied, then turned and ran inside. After a moment, she came out dragging a suitcase, but couldn't help but look back. "Everything is here. Shall we leave now?"

"Of course," Ai Yue saw a hint of reluctance in the girl's eyes, then added, "Of course, if you want to stay a little longer, that's fine too."

"Let's leave now. We can't delay everyone's time." Ling finally shook her head, refused Hua's offer of help, and walked away dragging the suitcase by herself.

"She's truly a very sensible child," Ai Yue couldn't help but shake his head slightly. "Prometheus, you could learn a thing or two from her."

Prometheus didn't respond, merely sending a facepalm emoji to Ai Yue's phone.

Chapter 15: What is Promised Will Be Fulfilled

Compared to Ai Yue's last visit, Twilight Street hadn't changed much.

But that was normal. It had only been a few days since Ai Yue's last visit. Even though Twilight Street was now a key project for Moth to Fire, construction progress was always affected by various factors.

However, the buildings around the sanatorium had basically been demolished. According to the report, the residents here should have been resettled in other settlements.

According to the plan, a town with comprehensive facilities would be built near this branch to integrate and accommodate ordinary people from several nearby settlements. This would allow them to live more convenient lives and also make it easier to protect and manage them.

"This is... Twilight Street?"

Ling followed behind Sakura, curiously looking around. "It looks... a bit quiet."

The young girl was truly gifted with her words. To find such a euphemism for ruins, one could only say her emotional intelligence was leagues beyond her sister's.

"We're in a rebuilding phase right now, things will only get better from here," Ai Yue said, carrying a box as he walked ahead. He turned back to Ling with a smile, "Are you disappointed?"

"No, Brother Ai Yue," Ling shook her head. "Rather, I'm looking forward to the future here."

The ruins scattered everywhere reminded Ling of her own hometown. If this place could be rebuilt, would she one day be able to return to her land and rebuild it with her own hands?

The girl subconsciously looked at her sister. Sakura rarely cared what others thought, but when it came to her sister, her emotional intelligence was off the charts. She understood everything from just a glance. So, she reached out and patted Ling's head, softly saying, "One day, we'll go back."

Ling didn't say anything further, only nodding vigorously.

As they spoke, the group quickly arrived at their destination. A group of children were already waiting at the entrance of the shelter.

"It's Brother Ai Yue!"

Upon seeing Ai Yue, the children excitedly ran over. Ai Yue quickened his steps, crouching down to welcome their enthusiastic hugs.

"Brother Ai Yue, honestly, why are you only here now!" one child complained with a smile. "Mom Aponia and Uncle Kalpas have already been back several times!"

"Ah, wasn't I preparing gifts for everyone?"

Ai Yue held up the box in his hand, a brilliant smile on his face. "Guess what's inside?"

Today, he could finally stand tall with pride amidst their hopeful gazes and tell them that he had fulfilled his promise.

The batch of serums Ai Yue brought was a second-generation improvement based on new recovery data from patients at the Fifth Science Department. It not only eliminated the Honkai Sickness erosion within patients but also retained some of the harmless energy, using it to strengthen the patients' bodies to a certain extent, thereby enhancing their Honkai Sickness Antibodies.

It could be said that this version of the Honkai Sickness Serum was quite perfect, but it still had some shortcomings: the cost and mass production issues.

However, Ai Yue planned to leave these two problems to Su and the new Fifth Research Institute to solve. After all, he had already overcome the most difficult challenges, leaving the rest for others to shine.

About an hour later, the children who had finished their treatment gathered in the courtyard again.

Their faces were filled with joy, but they all held the same object tightly in their hands: the Honkai Energy Absorber clipped to their chests, reluctant to let go.

"Brother Ai Yue, is this really okay?" a little girl hesitated for a long time before looking at Ai Yue. "Will my body really not hurt after taking it off?"

It wasn't that the children didn't trust Ai Yue. It was just that the treatment process seemed too simple, even in their eyes.

They had just received an injection, something they had experienced before. But this time, this strange illness that had plagued them for so long would disappear?

Their conditions weren't severe, and the Honkai Energy Absorber had been suppressing it for a long time, so they could move around without much issue. Thus, they couldn't clearly feel the process of recovery like severely ill patients.

"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?" Ai Yue gave them an encouraging smile. "Remember what I said before? This was just a temporary gift to help you through the hardest times. Now, it's time to say goodbye to them."

The little girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, I believe you!"

After saying that, she removed the Honkai Energy Absorber from her neck and gently placed it on the ground.

With someone taking the lead, the other children made the same choice. They removed the protective charms that had guarded them for so long and quietly waited for their bodies to change.

"It really doesn't hurt anymore..." the little girl's eyes widened, tears welling up.

Before the Honkai Energy Absorber, they would sometimes be in so much pain they couldn't get out of bed. Many children had died because of it. Even with the Honkai Energy Absorber, they couldn't take it off for a moment, or the pain would instantly return.

But this time, nothing happened. Everything felt like it was back to the beginning, before the disaster struck, when their families were still by their side...

"Brother Ai Yue is very popular with the children."

Sakura and Ling stood in a corner of the courtyard, quietly watching the scene. "So, are you working for Brother Ai Yue now, Sister?"

"Yes, he's a very good person," Sakura nodded. "Both as a friend and as a superior, he's excellent."

"Then I'm relieved," Ling nodded like an adult. "If it's Brother Ai Yue, he wouldn't force you to do anything you don't want to do, right?"

"Ling..." Sakura looked at her in surprise. "You know?"

Sakura never talked about her work with Ling. She wanted to always be the reliable and capable older sister in Ling's eyes. Moreover, the matters concerning the Poison Pupa were too dirty, and Ling shouldn't have to worry about them.

But now, it seemed not only did the sister understand the younger one, but the younger one also saw through the older one.

"I know you don't want me to worry, so I want you to be at ease too." Ling winked playfully. "But now, you don't have to worry about those things anymore, right?"

Sakura didn't say anything further, only patting Ling's head.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ai Yue was beckoning Ling to come over.

Chapter Sixteen: What Exactly is Honkai Energy?

Ling integrated into the group faster than Ai Yue had expected.

He had initially thought that the children of Twilight Street, having had little contact with outsiders their age for so long, would be somewhat resistant to Ling's arrival. He had even been contemplating how to bridge the gap between them.

To his surprise, the issue he was worried about never materialized. After a simple introduction of Ling and explaining that they would all be living together, the children quickly accepted her.

Ling, for her part, didn't seem uncomfortable interacting with unfamiliar children. She even displayed a nurturing side, becoming the de facto leader of the children after a short period, earning the unanimous title of "Sister."

"Ling hasn't smiled like this in a long time since leaving her hometown," Sakura said, still standing in the corner, watching Ling play with the children, a smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Ai Yue."

"You don't have to, it seems placing Ling here is also beneficial for the future development of Twilight Street," Ai Yue smiled. "We'll be taking in more homeless children here in the future. When children from different places with different experiences gather, conflicts and clashes are bound to arise. It's hard for adults to quell such things with mere rules, but perhaps Ling can resolve them."

"Ling definitely can," Sakura said with certainty, her tone then becoming a little somber. "She's always been much stronger than me."

"Family members are meant to support each other; there's no such thing as one-sided effort," Ai Yue glanced at her. "Don't always think that Ling became so mature because you didn't do enough. Thinking like that can easily lead you down a rabbit hole."

Sakura merely nodded without speaking. Ai Yue understood that these were not issues that could be resolved with a few words from an outsider, so he didn't press further.

Just then, a tall figure emerged from the house and knocked on the main door, drawing everyone's attention.

"Little brats," Kalpas said impatiently, "it's snack time!"

"Snack time!" A child immediately asked excitedly, "Uncle Kalpas, what are the snacks today?"

More children rushed into the house, leaving only Ling standing there, confused about what was happening.

"Chocolate cookies," Kalpas said casually. He scanned the yard, then focused his gaze on Ling. "New here?"

Perhaps intimidated by his peculiar attire, Ling just nodded without speaking.

"Come along," Kalpas said as he walked into the house. "There's enough for you too."

"Kalpas? Snack time?" Sakura looked at Ai Yue with a strange expression. "If you don't mind me saying, I find it hard to connect those two words."

Her gaze towards Ai Yue held a hint of a question—it was clear that if anything could link those two words, it would have to be Ai Yue.

"Don't look at me like that, I just mentioned it in passing," Ai Yue's expression was also a bit complicated. "Who knew he'd actually go through with it."

Yes, Kalpas was now not only the main combat force here but also the children's dessert chef.

Ever since attending the banquet organized by Elysia a few days ago, he had spent most of his salary buying various baking tools and ingredients, then spent a whole day researching. Everything went smoothly, except for the time he almost sent his adjutant to the hospital with a failed baked good.

By the time Ai Yue received the news, Kalpas had successfully transitioned from "Uncle Mover" to "Dessert Chef."

However, judging by the children's excited reactions, Kalpas did seem to have some talent in this area.

Thinking this, Ai Yue couldn't help but want to go inside and see how the children were enjoying their treats. But just then, Prometheus suddenly spoke, "Dr. Ai Yue, the 'Project Purifier' has completed its calculations. Shall we proceed with verification now?"

"Completed? So soon?" Ai Yue was taken aback, then his expression lit up with excitement. "Looks like I won't be having those chocolate cookies after all."

"What's wrong?" Sakura noticed the change in Ai Yue's mood and couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing, it's just that I have to leave now," Ai Yue replied, simultaneously contacting Hua on his phone, who was responsible for the handover of the report. "You can stay a few more days. There are no missions recently anyway, so you can just come back with the supply plane."