When Zeke entered the living room, it was filled with wailing chaos and utter disarray.
However, judging from the scene before him, the culprits causing havoc were not Kiana or Senti but Mobius, who had turned the place into a mess.
"Heh heh heh! Come here, my little lab rat—it won't hurt; I just need a tiny bit of blood, a smidge will do."
"S-stay away f-from me!"
In the chaotic living room, Mobius clung to Kiana like a snake, wielding a palm-sized blood extraction device aimed at Kiana's neck.
Kiana frantically struggled, trying to throw Mobius off with both hands.
"Ah ha ha... Little lab rat, what are you afraid of? It won't kill you, see how shaky your hands have become!"
Mobius giggled like tinkling bells, her slender and supple waist swaying as she darted back and forth across Kiana's back, effortlessly evading all attempts at resistance.
In theory, Kiana could have escaped via wormhole or invoked the power of the Flame Herrscher to repel Mobius.
However, two little girls—one dressed in pink, one in blue—clung tightly to each of Kiana's legs with their arms and legs, preventing her from harnessing her abilities.
"Liliya! Rozaliya! How dare you betray me?!"
"Sorry, Big Sister Kiana, but she offered us so much; Liliya couldn't resist."
"That's right, that's right," chimed in Rozaliya. "She said she'd help us win over Big Bro Zeke. We just couldn't turn down such an offer! Once we've got him wrapped around our fingers, when it comes time for choosing who gets the bigger room, we'll vote for you, Big Sister Kiana!"
The Olenyeva sisters apologized alternately, yet their grip on Kiana's legs remained unyielding.
As Kiana struggled against Mobius, she cried out, utterly distraught:
"She's crazy! You actually believe her?!"
"But Big Sister Kiana, she's a brilliant scientist—she must have some ingenious plan!"
"That's right, that's right. We don't have any other options anyway; trying it won't hurt."
Rozaliya and Liliya looked up earnestly at Kiana, expressing their unwavering trust in Mobius.
Kiana's face turned pale as she gritted her teeth. "So you're just throwing me under the bus?!?"
"Sorry, Big Sister Kiana!" × 2
Both Rozaliya and Liliya bowed their heads simultaneously, offering sincere apologies tinged with guilt—but still showing no intention of releasing their grip on Kiana.
"It's futile, lab rat. Just obediently submit to m...uh?" Mobius's calm voice abruptly cut off.
A large hand grabbed her by the head, lifting her off the ground. Instinctively, her bare feet tried to find purchase but failed to touch the floor.
She twisted her neck, meeting Zeke's expressionless gaze, and blinked.
"What are you doing..."
Whoosh!
"Aaahhhh!!"
In a flash of golden light, Mobius clutched her right hand, now missing a finger, and wildly rolled across the floor in agony.
Zeke held the Xuanyuan Sword in one hand and a clean white cloth in the other. Without breaking stride, he wiped the bloodied blade while stepping over the wailing Mobius.
Simultaneously, countless tiny black specks floated through the air, swiftly repairing all the damage in the living room.
Zeke walked over to the immaculately restored sofa and sat down.
"Zeke QAQ~"
Kiana looked at Zeke with teary eyes, as if he were her savior, gesturing dramatically like a character from My Fair Lady.
Just then, a small shadow flashed behind Kiana's shoulder, holding a blood extraction device that pressed against the back of her neck.
"Ouch! Klein, you actually dared?"
Kiana swiftly grabbed the little figure perched on her shoulder, glaring furiously at it.
Clutching the filled blood extractor, Klein swayed under Kiana's grip, responding in his usual weary monotone: "Apologies, but this is part of the doctor's instructions."
"Mobius!"
Kiana casually tossed aside Klein, redirecting her anger towards the true culprit.
On the floor, Mobius, still wailing, sat up, clutching her right wrist where the index finger had been severed, crimson blood spurting from the wound.
Holding the blood extractor, Klein rolled a few times before nonchalantly getting back up. With short legs pattering, she approached Mobius, tiptoed, and held up the blood extractor.
"Doctor, task completed."
"Well done, just as expected from my Klein! Let's go, back to the laboratory!"
Mobius's flying device descended from the air, supporting her body as its mechanical tentacles wrapped around Klein and slowly moved toward the exit.
She glanced at Kiana's sullen expression, then turned to Zeke, who was still polishing his sword, before heading toward the door.
Suddenly, she stopped.
"Hmm..."
A golden sword floated midair, its sharp tip pointing directly at Mobius's eye—just shy of blinding her.
"Hm? Didn't Klein's success indicate your consent, Zeke?"
"I'll keep an eye on your laboratory. You'd best not touch anything you shouldn't. Today's incident won't be tolerated again. Additionally, clean up this floor, then stay for dinner and get acquainted with them."
"Why should I listen...?"
"Shwip!"
Another finger—the middle one on Mobius's right hand—was severed.
"Splash!"
Blood shot several meters high like a tiny crimson fountain.
Mobius's face darkened, her blood-stained features turning icy cold.
"Understood," she replied icily, and the flying device's mechanical tentacles lowered Klein back down.
With a sidelong glance, Mobius eyed Klein.
Klein blinked belatedly, then produced a cloth, knelt down, and began meticulously wiping away the bloodstains on the floor.
Meanwhile, Rozaliya watched the small fountain spurting from Mobius's hand, sniffled, and remarked in awe:
"Wow! That's a ton of blood!" The dim-witted Rozaliya continued to stare blankly.
Meanwhile, the slightly smarter Liliya had already released Kiana's leg and silently crawled toward the door, attempting to evade Zeke's gaze and make her escape.
Suddenly, several glowing blue chains extended from midair, binding the sisters and hoisting them up with their bottoms facing outward.
Rozaliya & Liliya: "?! (°д °)!"
Then two floating wooden boards began vigorously spanking them.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
"Ahhhhh!" x 2
The sounds of smacking bottoms mixed with the girls' frantic screams, creating a lively comedic symphony.
"Big Bro Zeke, spare me! Spare us! It's all Liliya's fault!"
"Big Bro Zeke, it was stupid Rosa's idea; I was just following along!"
"Liliya, how dare you betray me?!"
"But it was dumb Rosa who tried to pin it on me first!"
Whack! x 2
"Ahhh!" x 2
Amidst their shrieks, Klein belatedly realized that as long as Mobius's hand kept spurting blood, she'd never finish mopping.
Klein stood up and took out some bandages from his pocket. Climbing up Mobius's skirt, he finally reached her arm and began wrapping it around her wound.
"Ow, Klein, that hurts~"
"Hang in there, Doctor. With your healing ability, this'll be all better after a good night's sleep."
"But it really does hurt—can you blow on it for me?"
"Sure, although I don't think there's any scientific basis for it, if it helps you feel better... Blow, blow, pain go away! Blow, blow, pain fly away!"
As Klein wrapped Mobius's hand with the bandages, he puffed up his chubby cheeks to gently blow air onto her wound, sounding unexpectedly cute despite his usual stoic demeanor.
Ignoring the large bloodstains covering both of them and their surroundings, the scene almost looked quite heartwarming.
Sin sidled up next to Zeke at that moment.
"Zeke, Sin guarded the kitchen door and protected dinner for Zeke and Bronya! Want reward!"
She lifted her head, eyes sparkling eagerly.
Then Kiana approached from another direction, glaring fiercely at Sin.
"Don't even start with me! You just stood there while someone plotted against me, completely unmoved. I wasted my kindness on you!"
"Isn't it good fortune for the paramecium to be unlucky? Why would Sin stop that?"
"Zeke, look at her! She's betraying us!"
"But Zeke, Sin thinks our dinner is more important anyway. The paramecium has a resilient life; nothing bad will happen!"
The two girls held steadfast to their positions, both looking expectantly at Zeke, awaiting support from their patriarch.
Zeke raised his hands, gently ruffling their hair before pinching Sin's cheek affectionately.
"You were wrong in this instance, Sin. Although not a significant matter, remember to always stand by your family next time."
"Wah... Okay, Sin listens to Zeke."
"As a punishment, go invite Bronya and Fu Hua for dinner, and bring Mei back from the rooftop as well."
"Yes sir! Leave it to Sin!" With an adorable salute, Sin dashed out of the living room.
Pouting, Kiana watched Sin leave before sticking out her tongue and pulling a funny face.
"Nehe~"
"That annoying brat! After all I did, even making room for her by stepping back, I should've kicked her away from Zeke sooner!"
Zeke swiftly scooped up Kiana onto his lap, embracing her tightly as he sighed,
"She's troubled. Ever since attacking me in the World of Elysium, she's been extra cautious these past few days, fearing that I still hold it against her. Keep an eye on her; don't let her dwell too much alone with her thoughts."
"I know already! Mr. Indecisive, asking me to look after someone else's feelings? You're such a sleaze, Zeke!"
"My apologies, I'll make it up to you tonight."
"W-wh-what nonsense is this?! There are others around!" Flustered, Kiana lightly punched Zeke's chest.
Zeke looked down at her and asked,
"You don't like it?"
"N-not...not that I dislike it..." Kiana weakly responded, burying her face in Zeke's chest, so red it seemed about to drip blood.
Big Dummy! Why must you ask such questions to a girl? You're truly a stereotypical straight man—hopelessly dense!
After several moments, as Kiana's overheated brain gradually cooled down, she remembered her main concern. Tracing circles on Zeke's chest, she asked hesitantly, "Zeke, your research is fine, but letting others study me still feels... Anyway, can I have my blood back?"
"Analyzing your genetic blueprint and biological structure could help identify potential risks associated with your unique physiology. This would allow for timely interventions tailored to address any issues. Mobius possesses exceptional expertise and can make significant contributions. Don't worry; I'll oversee everything closely to ensure nothing happens that you wouldn't like."
"Alright..." Kiana nodded reluctantly.
She understood her uniqueness: being a homunculus, possessing Kaslana lineage, capable of accommodating multiple Herrscher Cores, currently housing both the Herrscher of the Void and the Herrscher of Flame within her body... Even without Zeke mentioning it, Kiana knew these factors raised numerous concerns for him.
Despite her instinctive aversion to experiments due to her extraordinary origins, if comprehending her condition better would alleviate Zeke's worries, she had no objections.