Raven was still in Changkong City. She had encountered many important things here, and knowing the inside story, she loathed people like Cocolia to the extreme.
She herself had been a victim of the Second Honkai, and the Third Honkai caused by Cocolia had been even worse.
"Bring your weapons. If Cocolia honors our agreement, then whatever she wants to do is none of our business as long as it doesn't affect the plan. But if she doesn't..."
"Understood."
Raven curled her lip.
Sure enough, the dirty and exhausting work still had to be done by her.
"Six months, four weeks per month, two days per week, selling roughly over twenty candied apples a day, two hundred Far East Currency per candied apple..."
"You can earn over two hundred thousand Far East Currency in total. That limited-edition Houmu doll costs one hundred thousand Far East Currency, the six letters you prepared cost thirty thousand Far East Currency, and every week, you try to buy various things to make food for Bronya and the others. That's around ten thousand Far East Currency a month..."
"Rosia" counted on her fingers, her eyes flickering as she worked it out.
"This is so annoying..."
The more "Rosia" calculated, the more irritated she became.
How could a little over ten thousand Shenzhou Currency possibly be enough?
And that wasn't even counting the costs. Once those were included, there would be even less.
"Let's go."
After packing everything up, Rosia sat on a bench beneath the shade of a tree, holding a small piece of cake.
"What, didn't you like that Brownie Cake?"
"Rosia" propped up her chin and looked at the clearly different cake in Rosia's hand, somewhat puzzled.
"Mm... that cake is still a little expensive. Mother Bronya has still been in a bad mood lately. If I could give Mother Bronya the Houmu doll sooner, then maybe she..."
Watching Rosia obediently shake her little head and happily eat the cake bite by bite with a fork, "Rosia" clenched her fists, then helplessly loosened them again.
"Want some?"
Rosia looked at the somewhat unhappy "Rosia" in confusion.
But this time, "Rosia" did not even turn her head before replying.
"It doesn't taste good. It smells like wasabi and makes my eyes sting."
"But..."
"It's obviously vanilla-flavored."
That night
"This Bronya has been walking around with a gloomy face all day. Who knows what she's thinking?"
Kiana and Raiden Mei complained about Bronya's recent changes.
Although she could still attend school normally, she was clearly much more withdrawn than before.
"Alright, alright..."
When she saw Rosia enter, Raiden Mei stopped Kiana from continuing.
"Rosia, come here."
Raiden Mei smiled and beckoned to her, then naturally picked her up and let her sit on her lap.
"It's okay. Bronya is already much better. She should be fine in a couple of days."
Raiden Mei stroked her hair and comforted her.
"I know. Mother Bronya is very amazing."
Rosia nodded, then happened to spot the fireworks left over from New Year in a box nearby.
"There are still some left from New Year. Rosia, the weather is nice today. Do you want to go set off fireworks together?"
Following Rosia's gaze, Kiana saw the fireworks as well.
"Mm."
Rosia seemed to think of something, and her eyes lit up.
Kiana and Raiden Mei exchanged a glance, wondering whether they should invite Bronya. But seeing that Rosia had not said anything, they did not bring it up themselves.
They followed Rosia as she poked her little head out and looked in one direction for a long while.
"Big Sister Mei, Big Sister Kiana, let's do it here."
"Mm, here is fine."
Although they did not know why she had chosen this place, Raiden Mei and Kiana still nodded.
In her room, Bronya looked up and saw brilliant fireworks filling the entire window.
"Fireworks?"
From her angle, she could see the fireworks in their entirety, their dazzling glow illuminating her cheeks.
Scattered flecks of light filled every corner of the room.
Bronya had excellent eyesight and immediately spotted Rosia and the others in the distance.
Rosia seemed to notice her gaze as well and broke into a delighted smile. Bronya could almost hear her whispering beside her ear.
"Mother Bronya, be a little happier..."
"Okay?"
This Was Never Fair to Begin With
January 2012
The silver-haired girl failed to assassinate Cocolia, a former Russian special forces captain.
During her time with Cocolia, the cold thoughts of the girl had, for the first time, formed the concept of "mother" rather than "master."
The more than one year in the orphanage had been one of Bronya's few warm periods.
And Cocolia had given her all of it.
That was why the girl was grateful to Cocolia.
Because she had been the one to pull the girl out of hell.
She was only fourteen. It had only been three years since she went from a cold-blooded assassin to her current emotionless self.
She needed to obey orders.
Bronya could sacrifice herself for Cocolia, but...
"Sorry..."
Bronya took a silver sniper rifle from the hidden compartment in her cabinet. She removed its ammunition, then gently wiped it with a handkerchief.
In the past, she had failed to assassinate Cocolia with a sniper rifle. At that time, Cocolia had given Bronya an invincible, terrifying feeling.
But now, Bronya had grown up.
As long as Cocolia's Quantum Warp existed, Bronya could never defeat her. Moreover, Cocolia could warp in Anti-Entropy Titan mechs.
For the current Bronya, several Titan mechs were an opponent she could not defeat no matter what.
This was also why Bronya was so desperate.
Against Cocolia, she had no chance of winning. Other than running, there was nothing she could do.
Fortunately, while trading on the dark web, Bronya unexpectedly came across her former online friend, "Otto."
Bronya had never imagined that she would be able to buy a weapon specifically designed to interfere with Quantum Warp from him.
The weapon was expensive, but Bronya could afford it.
After selling all the stocks she had acquired last year and this year, Bronya obtained this gun from "Otto," along with three interference rounds.
"Mother Cocolia, Bronya understands your desire to save Seele as a mother..."
Bronya loaded the ammunition.
Click.
After engaging the safety, the girl placed the gun into a long case.
It was not yet time to fall out with her. Bronya had promised Rosia that they would go see the sea together this summer.
The girl's silver-gray eyes shone especially brightly in the dim room.
"But Bronya is also a mother. This matter..."
"Bronya cannot take it into consideration."
The next day
When Rosia woke up, she saw the silver-haired girl sitting by the bed.
"Mother Bronya?"
Rosia was still somewhat confused when she saw Bronya, but Bronya flicked her forehead and put on a smile.
"Time to get up."
Although it was easy to tell that the smile on Bronya's face had been forced out with difficulty, not all fake smiles were the same.
With her emotional center damaged, Bronya could barely notice changes in her own emotions and had difficulty controlling her facial expressions.
Such a broad smile was already her doing her utmost.
"Mm."
Although she did not know what had happened, Bronya had clearly recovered.
When Kiana was the last to get up and come out, she was a little dumbfounded to hear Bronya chatting and laughing with Rosia and Raiden Mei.
"Bronya, why are you suddenly so happy?"
The moment Bronya saw Kiana, the smile on her face instantly froze. The next moment, it vanished without a trace.
"No, what do you mean by that, Bronya?! You stop being happy whenever you see me?"
Kiana was angered by Bronya's rapid change of expression.
"Rosia, sit over here with Mommy. Let's stay farther away from Idiot Kiana. Stupidity is contagious."
Bronya picked Rosia up, then put on a show of moving her chair farther away.
"Mei! Look at Bronya! She's teaching Rosia bad things again!"
Kiana's furious expression made Raiden Mei laugh helplessly.
This was the everyday atmosphere they were used to.
"Alright, alright, time to eat."
Mei rested her chin on her hand and smiled as she watched everyone return to normal.
She still remembered what everyone had said together. It was also what gave her the motivation to keep going.
"I love Big Sister Mei's cooking the most."
"Were you sent by Grey Serpent?"
Before you continue