"So that's how it is?"
Heh, Auntie Teri, why didn't you say so earlier? I thought that deadbeat dad of mine had met some terrible fate!
Upon hearing Theresa's words, Kiana's initially sorrowful expression vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual carefree demeanor.
"What did you think happened?" Theresa asked, eyeing Kiana suspiciously, as if trying to discern her original train of thought.
"Ah, nothing, nothing! That's exactly what I meant," Kiana quickly replied. If Theresa found out what she'd really been thinking, the news would spread everywhere.
If that happened, she'd become the poster child for "filial piety" in the worst way possible. The mere thought sent a shiver down Kiana's spine, and she resolved never to let Theresa uncover the truth.
"Never mind. Go and fetch the others. Wu Tong and Grandpa should be arriving soon."
Theresa stared at Kiana for a moment longer but found nothing amiss, so she gave up and instructed her to bring the others over.
"What? Otto's coming?!"
"Got it, I'll go get everyone right away!"
The moment Kiana heard that Otto, that despicable man, was on his way, she immediately turned and headed toward Fu Hua's dorm.
A mere Otto was nothing to fear.
With the mighty Phoenix, the Crimson Horus, on her side, that dog Otto stood no chance!
...
Not long after Kiana left, Wu Tong and Otto's group arrived at Theresa's office.
"My dearest little Theresa, won't you come out to greet your dear grandfather now that he's back?"
The voice reached Theresa's ears before its owner appeared.
Before she could respond, the office door swung open, revealing Otto and the others.
"Grandpa, Grandma Ka—"
Theresa's greeting was cut short by a sharp glare from Kallen.
So scary…
(╥_╥)
It's not like I have a choice! What else am I supposed to call her besides "Grandma"?
As if hearing Theresa's thoughts, Kallen spoke up. "I was only in my twenties when I died. Even if I'm technically a generation older, 'Grandma' is pushing it."
"Little Theresa, strictly speaking, you're even older than I am.
But I suppose that's not the right way to look at it. Fine, just call me 'Sister' instead."
"Th-That doesn't seem appropriate…" Otto muttered, looking somewhat dejected. Wouldn't that mess up the family hierarchy?
"It's perfectly appropriate," Kallen declared firmly. She refused to be called "Grandma"—she was only in her twenties, after all! Being addressed like that made her sound ancient.
What kind of nonsense was this?
Otto looked on the verge of tears, utterly exasperated.
...
"So, this must be Wendy, right?"
Wu Tong's voice broke the awkward silence.
His gaze fell on the black-haired girl seated in a wheelchair in front of Theresa, and he studied her with keen interest.
Was this the most pathetic Herrscher in the world of Honkai?
The Herrscher of Wind, defeated by Anti-Entropy's mechs—how utterly humiliating.
What a stark contrast to the Wendy from the world of Guns GirlZ—one couldn't win a fight to save her life, while the other couldn't be beaten no matter what…
"Pfft—"
Wu Tong couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Hello, I'm Wendy. Do you have some kind of problem with me?" Wendy's expression darkened as she glared at Wu Tong from her wheelchair.
"Ah, no, no! My apologies, I just thought of something funny and laughed. It's nothing against you," Wu Tong hastily explained.
But his explanation only made things worse.
"Oh, is that so?"
Wendy's face twitched, but she let it go. He'd offered an excuse, and it wasn't like she could press the issue further.
After all, he was a guest of Overseer Otto. She couldn't make a scene over a minor slight.
At this point, Wendy, who hadn't yet completely lost faith in Schicksal, still held great respect for Otto, the man who had rescued her from the New Zealand branch.
Wu Tong noticed her thoughts and offered an awkward smile.
Theresa, sensing the tension between the two, stepped in and took Wendy aside to console her.
After the awkward encounter, Wu Tong lost interest in further conversation and turned his attention to the Divine Keys on the table, deciding to focus on his original task.
"Mind Core, analyze all the Divine Keys here, as well as the Gem of Desire within Wendy."
A voice echoed in his mind in response.
"Master's request detected. Locking onto analysis targets… Confirmed."
"Analysis targets identified:
The 5th Divine Key: Key of Stasis, 'Eden's Sleep.'
The 7th Divine Key: Key of Destruction, 'Judgment of Shamash.'
The incomplete 12th Divine Key: Key of Corruption, 'Yae Sakura's Soul.'
The Gem of Desire within Valkyrie Wendy.
Total: Four targets."
"Analysis in progress… Analysis complete."
At that moment, Wendy, the subject of the analysis, shuddered as an inexplicable sense of exposure washed over her—as if she'd been stripped bare.
She glanced around but found nothing amiss. Though certain her instincts weren't wrong, the lack of evidence left her no choice but to dismiss the feeling.
"Congratulations, Master. You have acquired the blueprints for the Divine Keys and the following Authorities:
Wind (Ideal Fluid),
Ice (Thermal Control),
Flame (Molecular Manipulation),
Corruption (Erosion)."
Yes!
Four Authorities, successfully obtained.
Wu Tong listened to the Mind Core's report, feeling the new Authorities integrate into his being, and couldn't help but rejoice.
With this, he had acquired all twelve Herrscher Authorities (excluding Finality and Origin), and these powers were capable of growth, ensuring they wouldn't become obsolete as he grew stronger.
'Now, I've obtained everything I wanted from this world.
Next, it's time to prepare for a trip to the Elysian Realm. I hope things go as planned.'
After casually helping Wendy fully fuse with the Gem of Desire, Wu Tong turned his thoughts to his next destination.
...
"Principal Theresa, I… I think the Gem of Desire inside me has completely fused with me?"
Wendy, sensing the disappearance of the gem and the newfound power to command storms at will, spoke uneasily to Theresa.
Now that she had fully merged with the Gem of Desire, she was, for all intents and purposes, the Herrscher of Wind. Unsure how Theresa and the others would react, she could only wait anxiously for their judgment.
As for hiding her transformation—Wendy didn't even consider it. Who among the present company wasn't a powerhouse in their own right?
...
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(End of Chapter)