Watching Bronya and Raiden Mei follow the palace attendant away, their three figures gradually disappearing around the corner of the corridor, Senti curled her lips and looked around restlessly. It was obvious the brat could not sit still.
She was practically itching to try something.
But in the next instant, a spark of inspiration flashed through Senti's little head. A trace of scheming delight flickered in her crimson eyes.
"Ahem..."
She clenched her fist and coughed lightly a few times, drawing everyone's attention. Then she let out a long sigh, crossed her legs on the cushion, rested her elbows on her knees, and propped her chin in her hands, shaking her head repeatedly as if lamenting someone's failure to live up to expectations.
"Hey, hey. The two of them already went, you know. Some people really have no self-awareness."
Her long hair—a messy blend of black, white, and gray—swished back and forth.
"Is this 'some people' supposed to refer specifically to me?"
Fu Hua said without even lifting her head. She calmly separated the tea set on the low table, took about six grams of an unknown special-supply green tea from a container, and gently placed the leaves into the teapot.
Senti nodded with satisfaction and said smugly, "Hmph, at least you're self-aware. Since you know, hurry up and go! I know your cooking is excellent. You should understand that serving this Immortal is your honor."
Fu Hua now possessed masterful skill in Shenzhou cuisine, having mastered the eight great culinary traditions—Lu, Sichuan, Cantonese, Su, Min, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Hui. This was the result of time's accumulation.
Although during the Previous Era her cooking had been utterly inedible, at the dawn of the Current Era she learned from Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan, and after thousands of years of refinement across Shenzhou, the living fossil that was Fu Hua had finally cultivated superb craftsmanship.
(How could it not be superb? With thousands of years of practice, even a pig—bang!)
Together with Raiden Mei and Rita Rossweisse, she was known as one of the three culinary goddesses among Valkyries. If the other two were blessed with natural talent, then Fu Hua was the embodiment of diligence overcoming weakness.
"Why aren't you getting up yet? This Immortal is hungry." With an overbearing air, Senti crossed her arms, lifted her chin high, and spoke through flared nostrils.
What bad intentions could Senti possibly have?
None.
She simply had eyes only for Fu Hua and a strong desire to show off. Though she could be somewhat carefree with others, as long as no one provoked her first, she was fairly amiable. Probably. Maybe. Possibly a good kid.
"..."
Fu Hua ignored her completely. Her slender hand lifted the kettle steadily and poured boiling water into the teapot.
The dry, shriveled tea leaves swelled instantly under the scalding infusion, becoming plump and releasing a fragrant aroma.
"Haa..."
Fu Hua poured herself a cup, raised it slowly, blew gently, and took a light sip.
Savoring the faint bitterness that melted into sweetness and the refreshing clarity it brought, she nodded in satisfaction. Picking up the finely crafted tea container, she read aloud softly, "Astartes Thirteenth Legion—Ultramarines. Conquered world—World No. 38 special supply... local tribute. Good tea."
After a pause, Fu Hua finally turned her head and cast Senti a sideways glance, her expression calm.
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
"Uh..."
That light, drifting sentence instantly made Senti choke on her words. Everything she had done moments ago now felt like the antics of an overexcited child.
"You should have my experiences, shouldn't you? Why aren't you going? Or is it that..."
Fu Hua continued mercilessly.
"You don't know how?"
"Who says I don't!"
Seeing the faint trace of mockery hidden beneath Fu Hua's calm gaze, Senti's previously smug expression twisted. She bit her lip, her fingers trembling slightly as she pointed forward.
"I'll show you right now!"
Senti flew into a rage, slammed the table, and shot to her feet, roaring.
Watching her composure collapse in a single second, Li Sushang's lips twitched uncontrollably.
Wearing Master Hua's face, Senti produced exaggerated facial expressions Li Sushang had never once seen on Fu Hua.
According to her mother Qin Suyi's description before she passed away, the Immortal Phoenix who had sealed away her emotions had once been cold and merciless, ignorant of human hearts—like a machine executing a fixed program.
But now, with two grandmasters—one like fire, one like water—it created its own unique amusement.
Durandal and Rita could only smile wryly and shake their heads.
Though they shared the same memories, their personalities were completely different. The tranquil, water-like Fu Hua clearly stood on a higher level than Senti.
Unless Senti flipped the table and relied on brute force to overwhelm the master, she had little chance in ordinary verbal sparring.
But unfortunately, this was the Imperial Capital—within the palace district at that—surrounded by the Empire's high-tier military forces.
Fight?
Fight what?
"Forget it. I'm afraid you won't manage to cook anything and will just blow up the kitchen instead."
Fu Hua rose and stepped forward. Under Senti's stunned gaze, she lightly tapped her on the head, smiling faintly in exasperation.
"I'll handle it. Just stay here obediently."
"Oh..."
Watching Fu Hua push open the sliding door, Senti responded instinctively.
"..."
"Hm?"
Realization hit a second later. Senti's expression changed instantly. Like a delinquent girl, she exploded.
"Pah, pah, pah! You bastard—how dare you pat my head!"
"And what are you all staring at this Immortal for?"
Sweeping her gaze across Kiana and the others who were barely suppressing laughter, Senti glared especially hard at Mobius and Pardofelis, who were laughing the most openly.
"Have you never seen someone this beautiful and outstanding?"
With that, Senti dashed out of the pavilion's sitting room.
"No! I'm definitely going to cook something for her to see. That dog-eyed snob—stop right there!"
"How lively," Rita said with a soft laugh behind her hand, rising as well.
"Lady Durandal, Lady Theresa, since everyone is in such high spirits, Rita shall lend a hand too."
"Mm." Glancing at Theresa, who had recovered slightly from her self-imposed gloom, Durandal nodded.
"The other Hua seems quite easy to get along with," Pardofelis remarked thoughtfully as she sat cross-legged beside the Olenyeva sisters and Seele, her hood pulled low.
"Huh? Easy to get along with...?"
Seele was astonished by Pardofelis' train of thought. Senti's fierce delinquent demeanor made her somewhat afraid to approach.
"Hey, I'm not lying. The other Hua is definitely better than Kalpas. That's my intuition."
"Intuition?"
"Trust me, my intuition's really accurate. You know, every time I go to Kalpas to stock up, it's a technical job. If I weren't fast, my tail would've been set on fire."
"Ah! Fire—that's too violent..." The sea-gentle girl asked with concern, "Pardo, you didn't get hurt, did you?"
...
At this moment, inside the side chamber to the left of the lakeside pavilion.
"That voice is... Senti. What are they making such a fuss about? Honestly." As she rinsed the chicken breast clean and skillfully removed the membrane and tendons, Raiden Mei spoke helplessly.
Yet from the faint upward curve of her lips, her words were clearly insincere. Being able to cook once again for Kiana—for everyone—made her genuinely happy.
Standing on a small stool (current height: 147 cm), Bronya was fully focused on dicing the cooked beef, beetroot, onions, carrots, cabbage, garlic, and tomatoes.
Russian borscht... It was a shared, beautiful memory from their time at Cocolia's orphanage—between Bronya, Seele, and the Olenyeva sisters.
"Bronya, Seele, Rozaliya, Liliya—everyone's fine. What about you, Sin... are you okay?"
At that moment, Bronya's hand holding the knife suddenly paused. She thought of another childhood companion who had gone her own way—Sin Mal. That tomboyish, arrogant, attention-seeking, sharp-tongued, tsundere girl.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. The Imperial Army wouldn't destroy a place with no military value. By Her Majesty Selene's decree, the Empire has shifted from conquest to a pacification policy."
Just as Bronya stood there blankly, Raiden Mei gently grasped her hand and spoke softly.
"Mei... about Sin..." Even though Bronya doesn't know what she's doing right now, Bronya is worried her foul mouth will provoke unnecessary trouble and get her beaten up by those hot-headed Imperial soldiers... "...Mm. Bronya understands."
After responding, Bronya resumed her work.
Raiden Mei continued preparing the ingredients as well.
She cut the cleaned chicken breast into small pieces and placed them into a large bowl, adding cooking wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, chopped scallions, shredded ginger, five-spice powder, and black pepper, mixing everything evenly.
"Same old recipe. The familiar flavor—Kiana's favorite fried chicken." Finally, Raiden Mei added an egg white and thoroughly kneaded the mixture together.
As she worked the marinade, inevitably influenced by Bronya's earlier thoughts, her mind began to wander slightly. But her culinary skill was so refined it had practically become muscle memory.
Though her thoughts drifted elsewhere, her hands never paused.
"Father..."
Her father, Ryoma Raiden, was likely still alive. As an executor of Anti-Entropy—even a former one—a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. As long as he did not court death, ensuring his own survival would not be difficult.
Moreover, Raiden Mei had learned that Anti-Entropy's American headquarters fell under the authority of Liver, Legion Commander of the Astartes Third Legion, Black Marlin. He was not bloodthirsty.
But the one colleague she had truly considered a friend during her time in World Serpent—"Raven," Natasha Cioara...
After the Honkai Eruption ended in Nagazora City, the small island Natasha Cioara had intended to retire on had sunk because of Raiden Mei's second Herrscher awakening. Honestly, she still felt considerable guilt.
Repay resentment with justice, repay kindness with kindness.
Unlike Jackal and Gray Serpent, who were either mocking or looking for trouble, Raven's help had never gone unnoticed by Raiden Mei.
Working with her had been the most pleasant.
As for what happened to Raven afterward, Raiden Mei was not entirely certain. She only knew that after the incident involving the Herrscher of Dominance—the Herrscher of Legion—the two parted ways, and Raven had supposedly gone on vacation?
Later, at Schicksal's headquarters, after receiving authorization, Raiden Mei reviewed Imperial Army combat reports and found new information within the Far East Theater overseen by Great General Budo.
'Astartes Seventh Legion—Imperial Fist, 18th Company, 9th Squad Report:
Rescued residents of a small village (?) in the southwestern archipelago of the Far East Metropolis, submerged due to a tsunami (caused by a battle between Kevin and Roboute).
Note: It is extremely strange that the residents appear to be very young in age. The only adult is suspected to be World Serpent senior operative Raven.
As Raven (?) appeared to be in a state of exhaustion after protecting the children from the tsunami, our unit has taken her into custody.'
Children. Island. Sunk again...
There was no need to read further. Raiden Mei instantly connected the dots.
That unlucky girl—her newly chosen island had sunk too.
"I've already spoken to General Esdeath about it. Natasha... I believe we'll see each other again soon."
Just then—
"Let me see. Russian borscht, fried chicken, cream stew, toast pizza... familiar smells."
"Class Monitor? Why are you here?"
"I came to help." Rolling up her sleeves efficiently, Fu Hua surveyed the ingredients on the counter and quickly decided what to make.
"Let's do pork and chive pan-fried dumplings."
Fu Hua was selecting a kitchen knife that fit her grip when—
An uninvited guest suddenly burst in.
"This Immortal will definitely cook something for you!"
"Why did you follow us in too?" Fu Hua pressed her forehead and sighed.
"Quit nagging! Let me do it—you go stand aside!"
Senti leapt forward as if to snatch the task away, and the kitchen instantly erupted into chaos.
"Um... Mei, are you alright?"
Seeing the nearly visible dark aura radiating from Raiden Mei as she chopped vegetables, Bronya carefully climbed down from her stool and quietly moved a little farther away.
"No—"
Clang—clang—
Bang!
The chef's knife in Raiden Mei's hand slammed deeply into the Wagyu beef on the cutting board, embedding itself several inches into the wood with a heavy thud.
"Senti," Raiden Mei said with a gentle smile, her eyes narrowed pleasantly as she lightly—but firmly—gripped Senti's shoulders amid the scattered pots and utensils. "This is a kitchen. It needs to be quiet."
"Uh..."
Feeling the overwhelming resentment behind her, Senti released Fu Hua's sleeve and stiffly turned her head, joint by joint.
"This Immortal—"
"Hm?"
"I understand."
"Good. Now clean this up. After that, stay quiet. Only then may you use the stove. Clear?"
Entering a certain mode, Raiden Mei's tone left no room for doubt.
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, Senti very much wanted to declare that she was also a class monitor—but wisely decided to follow her heart instead.
Best not to provoke Mei in this state.
"Mm, mm." She nodded like a pecking chick.
"Miss Raiden Mei... what happened? Would you like Rita's assistance?"
At that moment, Rita stepped into the kitchen as well, her gaze sweeping curiously over the scene, lingering on Senti's sheepish expression.
"Honestly, Rita, why are you here too?" Fu Hua asked helplessly as she picked up a ladle from the floor.
"Because Rita would also like to prepare a loving bento for Lady Durandal."
"Mm." Raiden Mei's expression did not change. "In that case, please help. Let's not keep everyone waiting."
"...Understood, Miss Raiden Mei." Slightly surprised at how different Raiden Mei became once she entered cooking mode, Rita responded with a faint smile.
After that, under Raiden Mei's suppression, Senti caused no further trouble and obediently assisted Fu Hua.
Soon, plate after plate of ordinary, homestyle—but unquestionably delicious—dishes were brought to the table.
Though the ingredients could not compare to the rare delicacies served at Selene's banquets, and the cooking techniques fell far short of professional imperial chefs who had devoted their lives to cuisine...
This—
Was the taste of home.
"Kiana, I made your favorite fried chicken and toast pizza. I even toasted the pizza a little extra, just the way you like it."
"Hehe, I love you the most, Mei!"