Kiana's eyes widened.
Hadn't her big sister said that her life was all about fighting?
Why had she suddenly started playing matchmaker?
"Although I don't know what happened, Lord Durandal seems to have met someone connected to Lord Cecilia and Lord Siegfried."
At that, Rita's expression turned grave as well.
As Otto's glove, Rita knew the history of the past like the back of her hand.
But according to the intelligence she knew, Cecilia had never had a sworn younger brother.
From what she knew, it was undoubtedly a lie.
Yet that man had effortlessly recognized Lord Durandal, revealed Kiana's whereabouts, and pointed out that Lord Bishop had severe self-destructive tendencies.
—That man's understanding of Schicksal was simply too astonishing.
Perhaps even the heads of Schicksal's three great families did not understand Schicksal as well as he did.
Such a powerful sense of presence, yet he was nowhere to be found in Schicksal's archives...
Had the history she saw already been altered?
Rita's gaze shifted uncertainly.
Then who had altered history?
The Bishop?
And why had the Bishop sealed away all records of him, not even allowing his name to appear...
Rita took a deep breath, feeling as though she were facing a vast ocean.
Just as she was about to further speculate on that godfather's identity, Kiana nudged her, pulling her out of the abyss of thought.
"What does Big Sis meeting an elder have to do with looking for girls suitable for marriage?"
Kiana, who had no idea she had suddenly gained a wild father and even a wild grandfather, looked utterly confused.
Then—
She discovered that the elegant and dashing Maid Miss was looking at her with a strange gaze, as though she were some unlucky fool in a melodramatic romance.
"Perhaps..."
"She hoped that godfather would stop pining after Lord Cecilia."
"Huh?!!"
Kiana, who had been raised by Mr. Siegfried, was struck as if by lightning.
Kiana Was Racing Here on Horseback
ME Corp.
A Fortune Global 500-level corporation.
As one of Anti-Entropy's major financial sources, this company was undoubtedly loaded.
Russell followed Megumin into the company, looking around.
Red Star Movement.
That was a highly tempting phrase.
So tempting that even after being hunted down by Kiana again and launched into the sky by Durandal's spear to keep Chancellor Dong company, he had still taken the risk of coming here.
"...Russell, you seem especially energetic today."
Megumin, who was leading the way, turned back and could not help asking.
"Did something good happen?"
"Ahem, it's nothing. I just feel that the world is especially beautiful today, and the air feels so fresh."
Russell coughed.
Bullshit. Your heart is clearly stirring.
The Prompt Device mercilessly condemned someone's shamelessness.
"Fair is the maiden, noble is the suitor. When Red Star Movement comes, how can that be called inner turmoil?"
Russell argued inwardly, drawing a flurry of Byakugan from the Prompt Device.
So who was the one fated to be with him?
Russell's imagination ran wild.
First, he ruled out Durandal and Kiana.
Durandal currently saw him as her father and Kiana as either her younger sister or daughter, so that was obviously impossible.
If there was any chance of that happening, Russell would put on a performance of swallowing a laptop whole.
Then he ruled out Megumin.
Megumin was reserved and slow to warm up. Without some special incident suddenly breaking out, she probably would not respond until he had pursued her for one or two years.
If there was any possibility, Russell would be willing to chew on a keyboard.
Blondie was even more impossible.
The fact that Durandal had taken her mother away had something to do with him.
If that worked out, perhaps he ought to go eat a computer tower.
Russell's expression became troubled as well.
He only knew a handful of women in the Honkai world. After ruling them all out, Rita was the only one left.
But Rita did not seem to like men much either, so that did not seem likely... This Red Star Movement had moved for nothing.
"System, give me a hint?"
After nine layers of contemplation, Master Luo decided to seek help from his cheat.
Fate cannot be spoken of. However, I suggest you start eating electronic components now—because your Red Star has indeed moved, but you have ruled out every girl you know. According to your vows, no matter which one you end up with, you will have to chew on electronic components.
"Russell, my father is right up ahead."
Megumin's voice interrupted Russell's thoughts.
Russell poked his head out and saw a man who had once been exceptionally distinguished.
"Mei, go out first."
The man named Raikou Ryoma walked toward Russell and Megumin, asking his daughter to leave.
"Lord Russell, it has been a long time."
"It has indeed."
Russell was not surprised. He naturally shook hands with Raikou Ryoma and accepted the bank card from his hand in the process.
This man was as sensible as ever.
"Lord Raiden, did you seek me out because there is something you wish to ask?"
Russell studied the man before him.
Compared to their last meeting, he did not seem to be in particularly good condition.
There were noticeable dark circles beneath his glasses, and the beard he had shaved clean in prison had grown back out.
This man's schedule had probably been extremely chaotic lately.
Yet even with such a chaotic routine, the man's voice remained deeply magnetic.
He looked at Russell and slowly spoke.
"May I ask... do you know about Herrschers?"
Russell nodded. That was actually a pointless question, because when he had entered Raikou Ryoma's dream before, he had mentioned the Conqueror Gem.
Raikou Ryoma probably wanted to use that as an opening to discuss something else.
"Of course. Herrschers are Apostles of God. Most of the time, they are walking disasters, but under very rare circumstances, they can be controllable power."
"Do you wish to discuss Megumin?"
Russell said.
That was probably the only thing capable of making Raikou Ryoma so restless.
"Yes. A Herrscher's authority lies within Mei's body, and because of that, she is easily targeted by people with ulterior motives."
The man looked weary as he said this.
"To be frank, my subordinates told me that another force has begun watching the Raikou family."
Ah...
If it was that lesbian maid, there was not really much to worry about.
Russell thought.
"Perhaps you need not be so concerned."
Russell consoled the man, who might have been frightened by Rita.
"Because, as far as I know, the organizations currently most eager to create Herrschers are World Serpent and Schicksal."
"One of my friends—well, I mean, I have a friend who informed Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie about the darkness within Schicksal and the organization called World Serpent lurking in the shadows. For the short term, they should restrain themselves somewhat."
Raikou Ryoma's mouth twitched slightly.
If he remembered correctly, in young people's internet slang, "I have a friend" was supposed to mean oneself.
Was this what one should expect of a prophet?
Thinking back on everything he had learned by asking his daughter, Raikou Ryoma sighed.
He truly left no loose ends in anything he did.
It was just a pity...
Even a prophet could not predict the greed in people's hearts.
The power of a Herrscher was simply too alluring.
Even if the most righteous Valkyrie served as a deterrent, she could not intimidate every petty villain.
"Perhaps you are right, but I only have one daughter."
The man clapped his hands. Like a wealthy man in countless films, sturdy bodyguards in black soon entered, each carrying a case.
"I cannot entrust my daughter's safety to something as illusory as Schicksal's strongest."
"So—"
"Lord Russell, would you be willing to make a deal with me?"
The man had them open the cases one after another.
The contents were neatly categorized.
They could roughly be divided into four types.
One type consisted of shares and property deeds, another of plain U.S. dollars, and another of pure gold.
...Holy shit, Raikou Ryoma had directly emptied out the Raikou family's entire fortune. Damn it, was he not leaving himself any working capital at all?
Those cases carried the pressure of mountains.
Even Russell, who had already become a lord, could not help widening his eyes.
Before you continue