There was nothing more to say; the thread of sanity in Rita's head had snapped.
No, we can set aside the question of being outdone by others for now.
The question is, Tian Shi, what did you do to a ten-year-old girl?
Although she was very fond of little girls, it was out of affection, but it was limited by etiquette!
And you, Tian Shi, left a ten-year-old girl so exhausted she couldn't get out of bed?
"Are these two free and have nothing to do?"
Jackal sensed the change in the atmosphere around her and slightly pulled down her mask, revealing a somewhat expressionless face.
Gray Serpent: "Just don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
No, wait, this woman might be deliberately baiting me...
The episode between Jackal and Gray Serpent curbed the somewhat unbearable delusions in Rita's mind, and rationality briefly returned.
"If you say I have nothing to do, maybe it's true."
Rita changed the subject to buy more time and regain her composure.
"Is Dr. MEI also free?"
"Me? Maybe I'm also free."
MEI smiled slightly.
Rita is actually quite idle.
Although Otto assigned them the important task of capturing K423, in reality, the target they are trying to capture is behind MEI.
The World Serpent, which was supposed to cause them trouble in the dark, somehow became one of their own.
It seems that although they clearly have a mission, all they have to do every day is choose two times to lead the Immortal Blade troops to walk outside, and then everyone returns to eat, drink, and play.
What was originally a high-risk mission to capture the Herrscher has now become a public-funded vacation.
Rita's only job now is to periodically report to Bishop Otto on the information she has gathered from the World Serpent.
As for MEI... theoretically, there are actually many things on MEI.
For example, confirming the comprehensive strength of the current civilization, predicting the time when the Herrscher will appear in the future, preparing plans to deal with the Herrscher in advance, and retrieving the omens left by oneself.
But, on the other hand, MEI doesn't need to rush these things.
After all, the pressure now is much less than when she was young, not to mention that some things can be delegated to Gray Serpent.
In addition, MEI doesn't have enough cards in her hand, so there is no need to rush.
The current civilization also has its pillars, so there is no need for her to stand up.
So, from a certain perspective, these two people are simply people with nothing to do.
So, since I have nothing to do and there happens to be someone in front of me that I don't like, I'll just fight with her.
These two people are one of a kind.
"Speaking of which, Dr. MEI, you said that Tian Shi tormented you so much that you couldn't get out of bed. Could I ask what kind of torment you suffered?"
Rita's sanity recovered and she slowly came to her senses.
Based on her understanding of Tian Shi, regardless of other things, Tian Shi's character is still trustworthy.
"Of course it's exercise. Is there any other possibility?"
MEI had a faint smile on her face, as if to say, "Is someone getting the wrong idea?"
"I thought Tian Shi had beaten Dr. MEI so badly that you couldn't get out of bed."
Rita returned the smile.
In this aspect of annoying others, Rita is very good.
"But speaking of my experience with Tian Shi, I have some... Do you want to know, Dr. MEI?"
"Eh? In bed? With ghosts?"
Before MEI could react, Kiana, who was behind her, yelled first.
"I-I didn't expect you, Rita, to do such a trick... Although my impression of you has changed, this is still... uhmmm..."
This girl has never disappointed her in terms of being stupid.
If there wasn't a powerful enemy in front of her that she couldn't afford to show weakness to, Rita would have wanted to hold her forehead and sigh.
"Gray Serpent... is this something we can listen to casually?"
Jackal pursed her lips at that moment.
"Could it be that tomorrow you and I will commit suicide with eight shots in the back?"
"Only you will."
Gray Serpent said without hesitation.
For him, it's just a body, and it's not worth casually getting killed.
"..."
Jackal choked.
"The cohesion among the Serpent Squad in our world is really worrying right now."
"Just hearing the word 'cohesion' from your mouth is enough to worry me."
Since he had already said it, Gray Serpent didn't care about anything else.
"However, from a certain perspective, what you said makes sense..."
Although objectively speaking, Rita's status was not so noble to him, the habits left over from the previous civilization made Gray Serpent understand that he should stay away from things like women's fights.
Feeling that this made sense, Gray Serpent nodded silently, then turned around and left without a sound.
Jackal didn't dare to delay and quickly followed him.
Are you kidding?
She would respectfully decline the idea of being shot eight times in the back as if it were a suicide!
Kiana watched as Gray Serpent and Jackal scurried away, and although she also wanted to run... how to say it, her position wasn't very good.
Unless she sneaked away, her movements would inevitably be a little sudden.
"If Miss Rita doesn't mind, I still want to hear something."
MEI chuckled at Rita's response.
Do you really think she's still the sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl she was back then?
Don't underestimate people!
A girl's fighting power will increase with age!
Although as she got older, she was no longer a little girl.
From a certain perspective, MEI can now understand Mobius, who was in the midst of the single-woman crisis back then; it's really a very sympathetic thing to say.
By the way, how old is Miss Rita in front of me?
She looks like she's in her twenties...
MEI couldn't help but hold her forehead.
The same sense of crisis she had felt back then from Elysia was the same as what MEI was feeling now from Rita.
It's a little bad.
"Oh, really? Are you interested in what happened that night?"
Rita narrowed her eyes.
"Then this matter has to start a few nights ago..."
As for experience, she doesn't have any, but she can talk nonsense!
A maid's theoretical experience has always been good.
However...
"What at night?"
The palm-sized Soul Steel doll attached to MEI's waist suddenly came to life, and the miniature Tian Shi attracted the attention of the two.
"Ah... appeasing a naughty child is a terrible task."
Tian Shi said with a tired look.
"The doll is alive!"
Kiana said with a fuss.
"That's Master Tian, Kiana."
Hua's consciousness in Fenghuang Down connected and reminded her.
"Oh... it seems to be true..."
"Doctor, are you here?"
MEI showed a look of respect on her face.
"Long time no see, Doctor."
"Well, long time no see."
Mini Tian Shi stretched lazily.
"And Rita, good evening... I didn't expect you two to get together."
"It was just a coincidence."
Rita, who had been exuding aggression, immediately smiled and looked at the floating doll, wondering what she was thinking.
-Well, with that look, you can know at a glance that the other party is planning to take the doll.
After all, that's how she had planned to put the doll in Mobius's hands.
"I am lucky enough to meet Dr. MEI in some respects."
MEI subconsciously pursed the corners of her lips at Rita's words.
At first glance, there was nothing wrong with her words, but thinking about it, why did it sound like she wanted to snatch it?
The so-called "thanks" were more like "thanks for delivering it to my door."
Can I handle her?
MEI pinched her arm muscles silently... it seemed impossible.
There is a saying in this world: a scholar knows a soldier...
"I feel like there's something more behind your words, Rita?"
Tian Shi looked at Rita suspiciously, and Rita replied with a flawless smile.
"Are you spending the night again?"
Rita said like a deserted newlywed.
"Forget it... that girl is quite restless."
Tian Shi recalled the scene when he returned after completing the system simulation: Senti kicked the door open with an anxious expression.
There was only one minute of blankness in the simulation, but Senti almost revolutionized the room.
Fortunately, the system was blank for only one minute... otherwise, no one knows if Senti would turn the entire Anti-Entropy headquarters upside down.
After returning, the first thing the Senti girl asked him was: "Did you go out to meet some vixen?"
Tian Shi was speechless on the spot, but fortunately, Tian Shi's authority still worked, and with Planck, who came running after hearing the noise, the two talked and explained for a long time before the matter ended.
Just at that moment, Tian Shi's system showed a prompt about the change in Rita's compatibility: it dropped by 20% in an instant and then rose again.
After a while, MEI's compatibility also rose back and forth.
No wonder Tian Shi overthought the situation.
Without a doubt, he had to come over to see how the two of them were doing.
Sure enough, these two were the ones he had met.
He just didn't know what was going on right now.
"Girl?"
MEI asked in surprise.
How does this sound like babysitting?
If others said it, it might be nothing, but wouldn't Tian Shi think it was too strange?
"Are you babysitting?"
"Babysitting... well, that's true from a certain perspective."
Sensing MEI's strange gaze, Tian Shi returned the same gaze.
"But speaking of status... she can be considered both your second older sister and your younger sister."
After all, Senti was born in Hua's body, and the explanations given for being the second older sister and the younger sister have their own reasons.
MEI: "???"
Am I not the second oldest in the family?
How did a second older sister suddenly appear?
"Hua's repaired body gave birth to the consciousness of a Herrscher: the eighth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Sentience."
Tian Shi spoke concisely and directly, fully illustrating the meaning of "the fewer words, the more important the matter."
Hua: "..."
After everyone present was a little stunned, Hua led them toward Fenghuang Down.
"Um, Master Tian, what do you mean a Herrscher's consciousness has been born in my body?"
"That's exactly what I meant."
Tian Shi looked at Hua indifferently.
"In one step, she's your sister. In the next step, she's your daughter. You decide how you want to calculate this generational relationship."
I don't want to count this generation!
Hua narrowed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, looking as if she was completely unable to accept reality.
"Um... should I give my condolences, Miss Hua?"
This matter became so complicated that Rita didn't know what to say.
"Well, squad leader, don't be sad.
This matter should... should..."
Kiana also wanted to say something, but unfortunately, no words came to her for a long time.
"Kiana, if you're about to say something like 'I'm deeply saddened,' I'll have to punish you by making you copy the text."
"Ahem, nothing."
Speaking of copying texts, Kiana shrank her neck.
"Miss Rita, I don't think it's necessary to use the word 'my condolences' for now."
Hua lowered her hand, but her expression was still a little baffling.
MEI's expression was equally strange.
"Herrscher of Sentience, to a certain extent, we are old acquaintances."
After all, he was the first Herrscher to come to Fire Moth.
"How can I describe my older sister's luck...? But, since your tone is so calm, Doctor, does that mean the other party is controllable?"
"Yes, and that child? Her Herrscher consciousness has been overwhelmed by Hua's memories. She has no idea that she is a Herrscher."
"She has inherited Hua's memories and attitude toward Honkai; in other words, she now believes she is the real Hua."
"Wow…"
Kiana expressed her most sincere feelings about this matter.
-Then Hua hit her on the head with annoyance.
"Being possessed by human memories... it's a bit unlikely, but it doesn't make sense."
MEI pushed up her glasses.
"From this angle, she looks more like my older sister's daughter... Wow!"
MEI didn't finish her words before Hua hit her on the head with annoyance.
It's been so long that I think you've forgotten what an older sister's dignity is!
"Okay, I take it back. However, since she has inherited all of my older sister's memories and emotions, it's no wonder you're watching her, Doctor. "
"I'm afraid you are the only one who can control this new H"errscher."
Hua: "..."
Hua tried hard to keep calm.
"Given our master-disciple relationship, it's not surprising that Master Tian can command this new Herrscher who inherited my memories and emotions."
Are you sure it's just master and apprentice?
Except for Kiana, who was still confused about the situation, Rita and MEI looked at Hua with a half-smile.
Everyone knows the real reason.
Rita and MEI silently lowered Hua's threat level.
It can be imagined that Hua will be busy fighting a fierce battle with her "daughter" for some time in the future and will not have time to take care of them.
So only two are left on the battlefield now?
No, that's not right.
They have to find a way to get Tian Shi back.
He can't always stay with that Herrscher; if a newborn Herrscher steals their house, they both feel like they might hang themselves.
MEI and Rita looked at each other silently.
At that moment, they both saw the determination in the other's eyes.
-You can lose to anyone, but not to a child!