Kallen

"...The Honkai swept across Europe in the form of the Black Death, claiming 25 million lives in just nine years."

Five minutes earlier, Bronya had led Kiana and Sheng Jiu into a book depicting the history of the Honkai. With the help of the virtual database, the book's originally vivid but dry text had come to life before their eyes.

Kiana automatically tuned out Bronya's endless explanation and pointed at a huge cross. "Hey, you pervert, look at this. Don't you think this cross looks like the one Auntie uses?"

"I told you, I'm not a pervert... It really does look a lot like it."

Kiana excitedly ran toward the Oath of Judas, a legendary Divine Key. "Auntie never let me touch this thing! It's so cool! I'm going to touch it as much as I want today!" She immediately pressed her hand against it.

"Hey, wait—" Sheng Jiu was about to warn her to watch out for traps when he saw Kiana pulled into the Oath of Judas by an invisible force. Then a powerful suction dragged him in too. "Why do all of you like sucking—" Before he could finish, Sheng Jiu vanished before Bronya's eyes.

"Tch, you two idiots..." Bronya helplessly patted her forehead, then entered the Oath of Judas as well.

Without warning, Kiana dropped from the sky. She shut her eyes and screamed, "They just suddenly threw me out of the sky! This is ridiculous!... Wait, it doesn't actually hurt that much?"

The powerful sensation of weightlessness suddenly disappeared, replaced by a warm embrace. Kiana opened her eyes in confusion and saw a concerned face.

"Are you all right, dear?" the girl who had caught Kiana asked worriedly. "I saw you suddenly fall from the sky, and it startled me too."

"What a beautiful big sister!" The newly rescued Kiana instantly got stars in her eyes when she saw the girl's face. She examined her closely and noticed that they had very similar white hair and bright blue eyes. She was practically an adult version of Kiana.

However, although the woman wore a black nun's habit, she had no veil, and there were a few small streaks of blood on her face.

"The people coming for me are here. You should leave as quickly as you can, miss." The woman, who looked so much like Kiana, glanced behind her, then stepped forward to shield Kiana from those approaching.

There were three of them, mysterious figures dressed in black robes and wearing Raven Masks.

Kiana recognized their outfits. They were the uniforms worn by Schicksal's enforcers during the Black Death, which Bronya had mentioned in her explanation.

"Miss Kallen, why did you run away?" the leader asked in a low, calm voice.

"I wasn't running away, Grandpa Arthur," Kallen calmly explained. "I just saw this little girl fall from the sky and ran over to save her."

"Bullshit! A traitor who betrayed the organization has no credibility!" "Don't talk nonsense. Don't forget that you were the one who stole the organization's crystal six months ago!"

The black-robed leader raised a hand to stop his companions' accusations, then spoke to Kallen in a strange tone that sounded almost pleading. "Miss Kallen, if you're willing to repent, I can still plead with the master on your behalf." His voice was full of the concern an elder felt for a younger person.

Kallen gently shook her head, just as he had expected. "It won't help. Father has already made his decision, and besides—" She paused, her eyes filled with sorrow. "There's no longer any reason for me to keep living."

"Enough talk. Come with me!" The two followers were clearly growing impatient. One of them suddenly grabbed Kallen's handcuffs and yanked her back, making her stumble and fall to the ground.

"Get up, now—ah!" The black-robed man who had grabbed her was kicked away and collapsed, unconscious.

Kiana shook her foot. "What are you doing to such a beautiful big sister? You're disgusting." Then she turned to Kallen with a smile. "I may look cute, but I'm really good at fighting!"

Kallen didn't relax at all. Instead, she cried out, "Look out behind you!"

"What?..." Kiana turned around at her words. A tingling sensation spread across her neck, and then she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The black-robed leader clapped his hands. "Take them all away." His two subordinates immediately carried off Kiana and Kallen.

"Let me go! I'm going to kill that old man!" Sheng Jiu roared at Bronya from nearby, pinned down and unable to move by Heavy Trooper Bunny.

"Calm down, you idiot, Sheng Jiu. Let's see where they're taking them before we make a move." Bronya was unusually calm.

"You mean...?"

"Even if we went out and rescued them now, it's broad daylight. We wouldn't get far carrying one unconscious person and another who's completely handcuffed. Let's think about what to do next before we make a decision."