Chapter 119: I Have Never Seen Someone So Shameless Before!
[The next day, north of Wushuang Camp, near Luofeng Rock
A carriage raced across the Gobi Desert from south to north, kicking up clouds of dust. After leaving Wushuang Camp, the Captain and his companions boarded this carriage prepared by General Youlan, heading straight for the final array node.
With the Captain injured, Kiana was inside the carriage changing his bandages while Tesla drove. Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a halt. Tesla, who was driving, said seriously to the flirting pair inside:
"Captain, we're surrounded."]
[Siegfried]: "The shorty and the Captain are flirting while changing bandages inside, while poor Tesla has to drive outside."
[March 7th]: "Looks like we're surrounded again!"
[Silver Wolf]: "Really, no matter where we go, someone's always watching us."
[Stelle]: "Just like our Astral Express - trouble follows wherever we go."
[March 7th]: "Don't make us sound like some kind of plague!"
[The two got out of the carriage and looked into the distance. Ahead stood thousands of armored soldiers with drawn blades, already in formation. Beneath the banner at the front were two leaders in white robes and silver armor - undoubtedly the Second Prince and his strategist, Wolf.
The Captain's group remained vigilant, facing the encirclement while considering how to break through. "Don't panic. Leave this to me."
Kiana said calmly as she fanned herself with a feather fan, looking at the soldiers ahead. War drums sounded as Wolf rode forward, pointing his sword: "Are you the traitor Kiana?"]
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Now this is a real war of words. Someone's about to get verbally destroyed - not saying who."
[March 7th]: "Didn't we just have the Captain verbally sparring with Youlan?"
[Li Sushang]: "Looks like it'll be Princess Kiana scolding that dog-headed strategist Wolf!"
[Stelle]: "We've hit an even thicker cultural barrier now. References we don't understand at all aren't fun!"
[Honkai Star Rail - Welt]: "This is another reference from Shenzhou's 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. I can explain later - for now let's just watch."
["Traitor? Mr. Wolf, it's been months since we last met. When did you start spouting such nonsense?"
"Hah! Bold traitor! Your schemes have already been uncovered by His Highness the Second Prince!
How dare you argue here!"
"Oh? What schemes of mine? Do tell."
Kiana responded to Wolf's words with clear sarcasm. Wolf spoke righteously, loudly listing Kiana's crimes: "According to imperial law, when the late emperor passed, the throne should have gone to the Crown Prince."
"But when the Crown Prince died young, by law it should have passed to the Second Prince."
"Yet you traitor forgot the late emperor's kindness! Conspiring with Prime Minister Rita to alter the will during the chaos and seize the throne for yourself!"
"You who were educated since childhood in literature and military strategy should have supported your sovereign! Instead you committed these unnatural acts... Such beastly behavior is intolerable!"
Wolf bowed respectfully to Kiana before continuing: "Fortunately our wise Second Prince saw through your schemes! Raising an army to quell rebellion when disaster loomed, saving the people from suffering..."
At this point, even Kiana felt embarrassed by such praise: "Ah... actually I didn't do anything... It was all Big Wolf's ideas..."
Kiana's silence in response was deafening.]
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Iconic scene!"
[Li Sushang]: "Ancient times had Kong Ming scolding Wang Lang - today we have Kiana scolding Wolf!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Truly a Honkai beast. Even Bronya feels sorry for Wolf now."
[Theresa]: "My god... Kiana being called wise? This empire has no future!"
[Wolf]: "I... you... Rather than serving such a ruler, I'd rather stay here and conduct experiments properly."
[Raven]: "I refuse to believe Wolf didn't manipulate this 'wise' Kiana behind the scenes."
[Dan Heng]: "She already did. Didn't Kiana say these were all Wolf's own ideas?"
[March 7th]: "What if Kiana was pretending this whole time?"
[Kiana]: "You all! Hmph!"
Faced with her friends' distrust in the chat, a wronged Kiana pouted and threw herself into Raiden Mei's arms. Mei naturally held her close to comfort her. Snuggling happily in Mei's embrace, Kiana immediately perked up.
[Though backstabbed by Kiana, Wolf quickly recovered: "Traitor Kiana! If you have any conscience left, you should surrender now! Confess your crimes to the world and return what's rightfully His Highness'!"
"If you stubbornly resist... then don't blame His Highness for being ruthless..."
Facing Wolf's verbal assault, Kiana lightly fanned herself: "Hah.
Mr. Wolf, have you been listening to too many teahouse storytellers?"
"I originally thought that as Junior Tutor, though lacking grand talent, before these thousands of troops you might have something profound to say. Instead I hear this nonsense!"
"If I truly altered Grandfather's will to seize power, why would I leave Huangyue City now to place myself in danger?"
Seeing Wolf falter, Kiana pressed her advantage: "Since the Herrscher appeared, I've devoted myself day and night to researching how to seal it. Prime Minister Rita has exhausted herself for state affairs - everyone in court knows this."
"And during this national crisis - Mr. Wolf, what have you and the Second Prince accomplished?"
Wolf was speechless. "Five years ago during the western rebellion, Grandfather saved you in Yuhuang City. For your talents, within months you became Junior Tutor, enjoying rank and salary until today."
"In this crisis, you should remember Grandfather's kindness and prioritize the nation! How dare you fabricate lies to raise this barbarian army in false righteousness, making the Second Prince appear disloyal?"
"You... Kiana... you!"
Wolf trembled with rage. "Silence! You shameless wretch!"
Kiana angrily pointed her fan at
Wolf: "Disloyal! Deceitful! Enjoying salary for years without merit... Mr. Wolf, when you die - how will you face the late emperor in the afterlife?!"]
[March 7th]: "Kiana's so eloquent! Just a few words left Wolf speechless."
[Li Sushang]: "A perfect reenactment!"
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Not perfect until someone dies from anger. I really wanted to see Wolf keel over."
[Murata Himeko]: "Right! Wolf dying would complete the classic reference. Also if Theresa had even half of Kiana's wit..."
[Theresa]: "I am quite smart! Haven't I managed St. Freya perfectly well?"
[Theresa]: "...Okay maybe not as well as her in some aspects."
[Stelle]: "Silence! I have never seen someone so shameless before!!"
[Qingque]: "Wow, putting that lesson to immediate use!"
[Stelle]: "Don't underestimate my learning skills!"
[Faced with Kiana's mockery, Wolf finally snapped: "Kiana... you..."
"Fine! If you're so eager to see him, I'll send you to keep that old man company in hell!"
"You two can watch from hell as I take over this empire!!"
Wolf then ordered his troops: "White Deer City forces - attack!
Ten thousand gold for whoever captures this lying traitor!"
"Kiana, be careful..."
The Captain who'd been unable to interject during the verbal battle finally reacted, moving with Tesla to shield Kiana while eyeing the soldiers warily. But none of the soldiers moved. No matter how Wolf shouted, not a single soldier advanced. "Ah... Big Wolf... that's enough."
"Don't you realize what you just said?"
Kiana reminded her. Only then did Wolf realize - in her rage she'd revealed her entire scheme.]
[Li Sushang]: "Wolf really has thick skin - instead of dying from anger she wanted to kill them."
[March 7th]: "This composed Kiana is completely different from when she first appeared!"
[Kiana]: "Heheh! This is the real me - quick-witted and brilliant!"
[Silver Wolf]: "This scene... could it all have been part of Kiana's plan?!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Impossible. Absolutely impossible! A calm and wise Kiana is as unbelievable as Principal Theresa being as smart as Kiana."
[Kiana]: "Hmph! Bronya - in this bubble world both Mei and I appeared. Guess who didn't?!"
[Stelle]: "Now that's some friendly fire!"
[Seeing Wolf realize her mistake, Kiana sighed and shook her head: "The angrier people get, the more they reveal their true thoughts."
"These soldiers won't obey you anymore.
Big Wolf... you've disappointed me."
Wolf panicked completely. Kiana fanned herself lightly as she explained everything had gone according to plan since predicting Wolf's rebellion after Grandfather's death. She had Kiana play dumb precisely to draw out Wolf's true intentions. Facing Wolf's disbelief, Kiana grinned - acting dumb wasn't hard at all! Defeated completely, Wolf was led away by soldiers in stunned silence.]
[Honkai Star Rail - Welt]: "Wait - Kiana was acting this whole time?!"
Welt couldn't believe it - there'd been no signs at all?!
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Casting Kiana as an idiot was perfect typecasting. The strategy Kiana devised was truly... flawless!"
[Kiana]: "See that? My brilliant intellect!"
[Murata Himeko]: "Sigh... so you are smart after all. Clearly Mei spoiled you too much."
[Dr. Ratio]: "Does your brain only work when separated from your external memory storage?!"
[Kiana]: "No! Mei save me!"
[Stelle]: "Thoughts and prayers! Amen!"