Gray Serpent fell silent for several seconds.
"Elysian Realm is the most precious relic Serpent inherited from the Previous Era. Even within Serpent, only a handful of senior cadres can access it—it's the core, the utmost priority!"
His words carried clear refusal, but then Gray Serpent's tone shifted.
"However, if Your Majesty wishes to enter, there's hardly any room for negotiation."
Gray Serpent fixed his gaze on Kiana, a low, synthesized electronic hum emanating from his throat.
This was a lie!
The Abyss City plan was progressing steadily, and the Lord's return was at a critical juncture. All unstable factors had to be minimized.
Though Gray Serpent didn't yet know what had happened to the Herrscher of the Void, she was undeniably beyond control!
Even if her current state suggested she'd achieved "Ascension," letting her near World Serpent's HQ or Elysian Realm posed immense risks.
Thus, Gray Serpent never intended to agree, but he saw an opportunity to probe for intel through cunning wordplay.
"I need to know Your Majesty's purpose for entering Elysian Realm, and…" His drawn-out tone showed no guilt, playing the shrewd merchant.
"A trade means both sides place equivalent chips on the scale for a fair exchange. To enter Elysian Realm, what price is Your Majesty willing to pay?"
"Price, huh?"
A cryptic smile spread across Kiana's exquisite face. Propping her cheek with one hand, her right golden eye glared at Gray Serpent, her long, shapely legs crossed elegantly.
"The price is me fulfilling your Lord's wish, and I won't obstruct Kevin's return."
Though expressionless, the other three could sense Gray Serpent's shock and gravity, especially at the latter half.
"You… what do you mean?"
Folding his black umbrella, Gray Serpent's mechanical eye under the mask glowed crimson, faintly radiating a chilling menace.
"Hasn't Kevin always wanted to recruit a Herrscher siding with humanity into World Serpent, to show Elysia?"
Kiana's lips curled slightly. Elysia's name made Gray Serpent stiffen, his red eye flaring.
"Though I'm just a clone of the real Kiana, Kaslana blood undeniably flows in me. Helping my biological ancestor fulfill his wish, doing some filial piety for my dad and sister—nothing wrong with that, right~?"
Kiana grinned, raising two slender fingers. "This is a win-win!"
"A small gesture of goodwill. Of course, if it doesn't work out, no big deal. I might just express my filial piety differently~"
Kiana toyed with her soft, silky hair. "Like, nailing my ancestor's coffin shut to keep outsiders from disturbing his rest, while reclaiming what's ours."
Theresa, listening, felt thoroughly "filialized."
Kiana slowly raised her pale hand, clenching it into a pink fist, Sirin's queenly aura in full force, her layered voice resonating.
"We *are* the Herrscher of the Void, after all!"
"The Eye of the Abyss can open a path to the Quantum Sea, but a 'path' is inherently spatial. Though Imaginary and Quantum differ, with Void authority, I can disrupt the Eye's link to the Quantum Sea. I can manage that."
Kiana's crossed legs shifted, her lips curling. "With your intellect, you know the consequences, don't you~?"
Disrupting the link between Earth and the Quantum Sea, twisting the path, scrambling coordinates, and Imaginary forces potentially triggering a localized Quantum Sea riot—combined, these could doom the Lord in his unprecedented weakened state…
Gray Serpent sank into a deathly silence.
This Herrscher of the Void was far trickier than imagined!
What baffled him more was how Kiana knew of Serpent's Abyss City plan.
A mole within Serpent?
No, impossible.
Senior cadres were personally vetted by him—none would betray!
The situation veered into utterly "unknown" territory.
The Herrscher of the Void was unnervingly confident.
"Is this… a threat?" Gray Serpent's voice was low and hoarse.
"Hah, a threat?" Sirin sneered disdainfully, then snapped her fingers crisply.
The distant Jizo Mitama, as if summoned, flew to Kiana, its blade radiating ominous red-black light.
"The Twelfth God Key, Jizo Mitama. You know its power, don't you?"
Her queenly dominance shone, golden eyes like molten lava. "This is a threat!"
Gray Serpent's eyes erupted in a fierce red glow, as if signaling imminent danger.
Jizo Mitama!
Impossible!!!
World Serpent scoured the globe, wearing out their shoes, finding no trace of this God Key. How could it be in the Herrscher's hands!?
The God Key with erosion power was the bane of all tech constructs and AI. Gray Serpent was unique but still within its scope.
Jizo Mitama could erode his network, truly kill him, or even control him!
He'd poured vast resources into finding it to keep it from outsiders.
And now…
If he was shocked before, now he was genuinely horrified and wary.
"Ahem, now you get it, uncle."
Her blue eyes sparkled. Kiana dialed back her tense aura, flashing a goofy, paramecium-like grin. "That was our sincerity~!"
Her cute, bubbly tone didn't fool Gray Serpent into seeing her as a naive girl anymore.
One played bad cop, the other good cop—brilliant tactics!
Theresa, Mei, and Bronya were stunned, staring at Kiana with disbelief and incomprehension.
"Bronya, is that… really Kiana?" Mei asked, bewildered.
"Probably." Bronya's flat voice wavered. "Maybe, perhaps…"
"And don't worry!" Kiana thumped her chest confidently. "I won't damage Elysian Realm. I just need to chat with your creator. I'll be Mobius's honored guest. Let me in, and she'll praise you~!"
Hearing Kiana drop "creator" and "Mobius," Gray Serpent remained silent—or rather, his shock had numbed him.
A uniquely "Ascended" Herrscher, inexplicable intel sources, the Erosion Key Jizo Mitama…
He regretted coming to her doorstep!
"Uncle, what do you think of this 'win-win' deal?"
Her bright, cheerful smile clashed oddly with the Herrscher's dress.
"…"
He had no grounds to refuse. Jizo Mitama or derailing the Lord's return—neither could he afford.
His body stood like a wax statue. After a long pause, Gray Serpent spoke slowly, "Fine… I agree to the trade."
"That's the spirit! As our class rep's hometown saying goes…"
The Herrscher's dress dissolved into particles. Kiana, on the captain's chair, picked up Jizo Mitama, raising a slender finger, shaking her head cutely, speaking with mock gravitas.
"Those who adapt to the times are heroes~!"
"Heh~" Gray Serpent forced a low chuckle.
No matter how silly Kiana acted, he'd never view her as he once did.
"In that case, I'll await Your Majesty at the base." Gray Serpent bowed lightly. "Coordinates sent to your terminal."
The Eye of the Abyss plan needed adjustments, HQ's defenses bolstered—he had much to do immediately!
"Dismissed." Seeing the terminal's message, her golden eyes shifted, the white-haired girl exuding regal authority from her throne.
"Wait!" Her blue eyes twinkled, Kiana grinned. "Surely uncle won't mind helping with a tiny favor?"
"…" If Gray Serpent had a face, it'd be utterly exasperated. "What else does Your Majesty command?"
"Just a small thing. Prepare a thousand high-explosive grenades and micro-bombs, no Honkai energy, regular ones, packed in a box this big."
Kiana stretched her hands, cutely gesturing the size.
"???"
"Don't ask why, just do it."
Her gold-blue eyes narrowed, blending queenly majesty with girlish vivacity.
---
I won't demand any Power Stones with this one but for every 20 Power Stones I would release an additional chpater.
Ariga—thanks!!
Enjoy Reading!!
See yah Tommorow...