Kiana felt a bizarre sensation, an awkwardness she had never experienced before.
It felt like her fist was about to connect with him, yet that final sliver of distance seemed infinitely vast, eternally out of reach.
"Damn it, this young lady doesn't pull her punches!"
Whip Kick!
Charged Punch!
Knight Kick!
Kiana continuously switched up her attacks.
Ye Feng simply stood there leisurely, admiring the Tuna's movements and even offering commentary from time to time.
"That's a nice twist of the waist. Looks powerful."
"You're lifting your leg too high. I'd rather not see your... oh, you're wearing the 'Valkyrie Ranger's' [BEEP]-skimming hotpants, are you? Never mind then."
"Where's your Gun Kata? Why aren't you using your Kaslana family's Gun Kata?"
"Put some more force into it. I can't feel a thing."
"....."
Kiana stopped, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead as she panted, staring at the man before her.
A pleasant smile played on the corner of his lips as he spoke.
"Are you finished with your attack? It's my turn now. No objections, right?"
Ye Feng pulled up Kiana's status bar, his finger swiping past [Weakened], [Poisoned], [Stunned], [Petrified], [Perception Shield], [Perception Boost], and [Sensitivity].
Then, he pressed down hard on [Forbidden Knowledge].
Kiana's pupils instantly constricted, as if all her strength had been siphoned away.
"Wh-what is this power—"
She staggered backward, swaying as if she were drunk.
"...You bastard, what did you do to me!"
Kiana glared fiercely at Ye Feng, but her azure eyes seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist, robbing the look of any real menace.
"Your first time? How does it feel?"
"Hmph, this young lady is going to—Guh!"
Seeing Kiana preparing to charge at him again, Ye Feng decisively pressed the button twice more.
Thud. Kiana fell forward onto the ground, her body trembling with weakness.
This state was more exhausting than running with a 100-kilogram weight.
Her entire body felt as soft as mud, completely devoid of the strength to stand up.
Ye Feng strolled over to Kiana as if walking through a garden and squatted down in front of her.
Kiana, supporting herself with her hands on the ground, bit her lip and stared up at him defiantly.
"Yes, that's the expression. The NPCs here can't make such rich expressions."
"...What in the world did you do to me!"
"The Tuna is so pure. Alright, let's get down to business."
Kiana panted weakly, "Tuna? You're the tuna! I am Kiana Kaslana!"
"Alright, alright. Now, let me see."
"..."
Kiana was speechless.
Just how deep is your obsession with this?
"Not that deep. I just want to see you looking completely unwilling, yet having no choice but to do it."
"?"
"How do I know what you're thinking? Hehe, take a guess."
Kiana bit her lip and said nothing, just glaring daggers at Ye Feng.
"Mm, this expression on you is quite cute, too. But are you sure you don't want to get any information from me?"
The Tuna seemed to have missed the point. Ye Feng began to coax her patiently, "About this world, about Raiden Mei, about the Honkai, about the Herrschers, about your father Siegfried... I can tell you anything. You wouldn't want anything to happen to Raiden Mei, now would you?"
"What are you going to do to Mei?!"
"That all depends on your performance, Kiana."
"...."
"Don't be so scared. I'm not some kind of demon."
"Who said this young lady is scared!"
"Okay, okay. Kiana isn't scared. Kiana is the strongest, isn't she?" Ye Feng said gently, ruffling the Tuna's hair.
That tone, that gesture—Kiana instantly felt deeply insulted.
Is he treating me like a crying little kid?
Why is this person so annoying!
"Alright, have you calmed down now?"
After a few minutes of rest, Kiana finally had enough strength to climb up from the ground.
She forced herself to stand, her posture pigeon-toed, her thighs still trembling intermittently.
Ye Feng said, "Let's begin our pleasant transaction. First, back to your question. About this world... Kiana, you've probably played games with Bronya before. This world is similar to a game world. Now that you're in it, you're basically a 'player,' and I am the 'administrator.' Aside from us, everyone else here is an NPC who only follows a predetermined path. That's why they act as if they can't see you."
"A game world? So it's not the real world... That scared me to death. I thought everyone was ignoring me because I fell asleep in class... Then how do I get out?"
"That would be the second question. But before that, shouldn't you fulfill your promise?"
Kiana froze. "My promise? What promise?"
"I answer one of your questions, and you satisfy one of my requests."
"..."
Eh? When did I agree to that?
"Oh, so going back on your word is the Kaslana way, is it?"
"You—who said I'm going back on my word!"
Hearing that, the Tuna bristled.
"It's just showing you... showing you there, right? Just you wait! We Kaslanas have always been true to our word!"
Ye Feng clapped his hands. "Yo, you even know idioms. Not bad. Truly befitting of the Kaslana family, which represents the 'Knight'—honorable and brave. But before that, let's change your clothes. You're all sticky, you can't be comfortable. Besides, I can't see anything with that outfit on."
What do you mean you can't? Can't I just take them off?
The Tuna was about to say that, but something felt wrong.
Why does it sound like I'm eager to do this?
Still, he had a point. Her pants were soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to the crevice and her thighs.
"I'll be right back."
"No need for such trouble. I'll help you change."
Ye Feng pulled up the [Change Outfit] menu.
In the next instant, Kiana felt a chill run through her body. When she looked down, all that was left were a few strategically placed band-aids.
"Ahhh~~"
Kiana let out a shriek like a prairie dog, one hand covering her chest, the other shielding her lower abdomen.
"What are you doing?!"
"My apologies. I must have accidentally clicked on the 'Band-aid Set'."
Seeing Kiana on the verge of dying from shame and anger, Ye Feng consoled her, "Actually, you don't need to be so shy. This body of yours... I don't even know how many times I've used it. Though it does refresh every week."
But Kiana clearly couldn't comprehend the meaning of his last words.
"Alright, [Finality Gown] + [Sheer Black Stockings] + [Crystal High Heels]. Kiana, let's begin."
Coming back to her senses, Kiana clicked her tongue with a "Tch."
An internal war raged within her for a long moment. Finally, her fingertips trembled as they moved downward.
Her slender white hand gripped the hem of her skirt. Looking at Ye Feng with a face full of disgust, she slowly began to lift...
---o---