Collapse, I became Duck's daughter at the start?

"Bronya? She came back so late yesterday, where was she messing around?"

Kiana was a little annoyed.

Yesterday, she and Rosia waited a long time for Bronya to return. You said you had something to do, and it turned out you went out drinking?

"It's okay, maybe Bronya's mom is in a bad mood."

Rosia smiled and explained for Bronya.

"Sigh, how old is she already..."

Kiana suddenly thought that Bronya drinking wasn't just about encouraging children, but also about underage excessive drinking...

"See, I told you, none of these little brats are reliable. When you carried her back to her room this morning, the smell of alcohol was practically overflowing from her."

"Rosia" said with annoyance.

No matter when, drinking to this extent was undoubtedly a symbol of irresponsibility.

Rosia didn't argue, she just served the hangover soup and took it to Bronya's room.

Carrying a small stool, Rosia sat beside Bronya like that, quietly waiting.

Not long after, the silver-haired girl on the bed rubbed her forehead in pain and slowly opened her eyes.

"Rosia... why are you here..."

It was obvious that Bronya was still in a state of blurred consciousness.

"Bronya's mom, open your mouth, ah..."

Seeing Bronya's condition, Rosia could only pick up the hangover soup, scoop a spoonful gently, and blow on the steam to cool it slightly before feeding it to Bronya.

"Good girl..."

Although Bronya's consciousness was blurred, she still obediently opened her mouth when she heard Rosia's voice.

After a long while, she gradually woke up.

"Rosia... I drank too much..."

Bronya gasped, clutching her head.

After meeting with Cocolia yesterday, her entire mind was in a mess.

Cocolia wanted Rosia to complete the X-10 Experiment because Rosia's Stigmata awakening level was much higher than Seele's back then. If it were her, coupled with the now very mature technology, the probability of the experiment's success would be infinitely close to 100%.

"So, the experiment still has unpredictable deviations?"

"...Yes."

Cocolia couldn't understand why, even though Seele's experiment had been completed back then, there were still accidents.

She had never told Bronya about this, because if she had, Bronya would never have agreed to this experiment.

After constant speculation and deduction, Cocolia could only guess that it was due to Seele's Stigmata awakening not being fully complete.

"Think about it, if the experiment succeeds, we will never lose anyone again. Seele, you, me, and Rosia, we will all be reunited..."

Bronya's mind kept replaying Cocolia's words.

Bronya's rationality told her that the experiment was just a lie. She had already lost too much. If she lost Rosia as well...

But her emotions kept reminding her that this was an opportunity to bring Seele back from the Quantum Sea.

If she missed this, she might never have another chance...

Should she give up this chance to possibly save Seele, or gamble Rosia's life on the success of the experiment...

"Bronya... you are too cowardly..."

Bronya cursed herself over and over in her heart.

Faced with such a choice, she should have refused without hesitation, but...

She was tempted.

Faced with Cocolia's temptation, Bronya was tempted. She actually started considering its feasibility.

Bronya felt like she had lost her humanity, too cowardly to use another person's life to atone for her own mistakes.

She knew that if she proposed it, Rosia would definitely not refuse.

Because she trusted her almost unconditionally. Bronya could always see the light in Rosia's eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

Bronya hugged the girl in front of her. Even though her emotions were limited, tears still slid down her cheeks and fell.

"Mhm... Mhm, Bronya's mom, don't be sad. I'll be with you, always..."

Seeing Bronya lose control of her emotions a bit, Rosia, though unsure of what had happened, still comforted her gently.

"Think of something happy, okay?"

Sea of Quanta

"Perhaps we can really find a way out?"

Although still trapped in these world bubbles, Black Seele inexplicably sensed that the connection between the Sea of Quanta and them seemed to be continuously weakening.

The source of this weakening was the claw Rosia had given her.

It was continuously absorbing the power that caused their quantization.

"If it weakens a bit more..."

A glint flashed in Black Seele's eyes.

"Silly, we should be able to get out soon."

"Really?"

"Granulated sugar, malt syrup..."

Rosia stood on a small stool, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Coated, cut..."

She cut the finished apple candy into slices and pieces. Rosia carefully arranged them on a plate.

"Rosia, is Bronya alright?"

Raiden Mei had also woken up. Her time spent with Bronya had shown her that Bronya wasn't that fragile. She had also listened at the door for a while just now.

Bronya was probably facing something particularly difficult this time.

"Mm, she should be fine. Don't worry, Mei-sister. I'll take good care of Bronya-mama..."

Looking at the serious expression on Rosia's delicate face, Raiden Mei hesitated, deciding not to voice her inner thoughts.

She didn't know what had happened, but she worried that her concern would only make Bronya feel worse.

"What is this?"

Raiden Mei didn't recognize the delicate fruit slices on Rosia's plate at first glance.

"Apple candy! Mei-sister, Kiana-sister, would you like to try some?"

"Mm..."

Kiana had initially wanted to refuse. Her last experience with apple candy hadn't been great, but seeing Rosia's expectant gaze, she took a piece anyway.

"It's sweet, crispy, and delicious!"

Contrary to her expectations, Kiana's eyes lit up.

"Did you... make this yourself?"

Although making apple candy was simple, Raiden Mei hadn't expected it to turn out so delicious.

"Bronya-mama was in a bad mood, so I added extra sugar..."

"I hope the sugar can make Bronya-mama feel a little happier."

Chapter 34: Cheer Up, Won't You?

"Shallow, ignorant, attempting to break the quantum limit with meager power..."

After analyzing Anti-Entropy's experiment report, Amber presented Schicksal's final conclusion to Otto.

While Schicksal might not match Anti-Entropy in the application of quantum technology, it still held the dominant voice regarding the connection between Stigmata and quantum.

Once a quantum experiment conducted through Stigmata is completed, collapse is inevitable, unless the target's energy level reaches Herrscher-level, sufficient to construct a virtual anchor point in the real plane...

"The experiment's purpose is to grant the target the ability to manipulate matter at the subatomic level, but Herrschers almost universally possess authority that far exceeds subatomic control."

"Conclusion: The experiment is not feasible."

Otto nodded thoughtfully upon seeing the complete report.

Anti-Entropy's X-10 Experiment was carried out in 2013, and in 2012, Schicksal had conducted an exploration plan of the Sea of Quanta.

The exploration personnel for that mission were none other than Schicksal's current S-rank Valkyries, Durandal and Rita.

In terms of exploring the Sea of Quanta, Schicksal was also far ahead.

"Ignorance is terrifying, but what's more terrifying is when someone hasn't even realized their own ignorance."

Otto chuckled softly.

Cocolia's plan seemed incredibly laughable to Otto, not even comparable to the Babylon experiment back then.

Despite the unimaginable disaster the Babylon experiment caused, it at least successfully created and developed many artificial Stigmata.

Otto considered himself a top-tier demon, but he never expected Cocolia, an executor of Anti-Entropy, to be even more deranged than him.

Founding an orphanage, adopting children, and then, as their "mother," persuading them one by one to participate in experiments...

Otto truly felt like applauding in front of Welt right now.

"Remarkable, truly remarkable..."

While denouncing Schicksal's Stigmata experiments, he simultaneously indulged his own subordinates in doing the very same thing.

During the Third Honkai Outbreak, so many people died in Changkong City, and another Anti-Entropy executor, Raiden Ryoma, inexplicably stepped down. Otto didn't believe Anti-Entropy wouldn't know about this.

"Unless..."

Otto thought of a possibility, tapped his chair with his finger, and his emerald eyes began to gleam.

"Welt Yang is in trouble."

If that were the case, then everything would make sense.

"Heh heh, this isn't bad either."

Otto intended to make use of Cocolia. The relationship between Raiden Mei and K423 was not shallow, which was just perfect.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"Raven, since you're in the Far East anyway, go investigate what Cocolia is up to."

"She took our technology and funds and suddenly went to the Far East. Is she planning to blow herself up at Schicksal?"

The black figure, holding an umbrella, revealed crimson mechanical eyes.

The Far East could be said to be one of the places currently most focused on by Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent.

They all had significant arrangements in the Far East.

What was Cocolia thinking, suddenly going to the Far East and staying there for so long?

"Understood. Grey Serpent, is this partner of yours reliable?"

On the other end of the communicator, the girl with grey-black hair and wine-red eyes pulled up her hood.

"I heard this guy is quite troublesome."