Commercial Street
On a street in the commercial district, Bronya, who had already connected to the commercial street's surveillance system with her brain chip, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Hmm, Bronya?"
Seeing her companion suddenly stop, Kiana turned back to look at her, puzzled.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"...I'm, I'm fine."
It's you who has a problem, Big Sister Kiana.
Having received the message from her brain chip, Bronya immediately shook her head lightly and followed Kiana's steps.
"Let's go this way."
Before starting today's operation, Bronya had used her electronic skills to write some programs in advance.
Once activated, if the surveillance system at the commercial street's entrances and exits captured any of the 'members' designated by Bronya entering the commercial street, the system would send a notification to Bronya.
And just now, the message Bronya received from the system indicated that—Leo Ash and Anna had just entered the commercial street from the southwest entrance!
It was a good thing that the entrance she and Kiana were planning to head to was not in this direction, otherwise...
Wow, Leo... you...
No, it was actually the right choice for Leo to go out.
Even I can see that his mental state has been off for a while. It's actually a good thing that someone is pulling him out to relax.
This can't be blamed on Leo.
And it can't be blamed on Big Sister Anna either.
But—couldn't you two have picked another time?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Big Sister Kiana and I were just about to head back. If you guys go out at this time and run into us, things will blow up immediately.
We have to take a detour, a long one.
Thankfully, I hacked into the surveillance system here beforehand. Let Bronya see your route—no, don't come this way!
"Bronya..."
Kiana, who had already started moving forward, now stopped in her tracks and frowned slightly.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
No, wait, is the Kaslana family's intuition radar really this sensitive???
At this moment, Bronya truly felt that having her emotional circuits repaired could occasionally bring some inconveniences.
For example, right now, if Kiana were to turn around and look at her, she would likely be able to tell that Bronya, who was on the verge of breaking, was about to lose control of her expression.
Forcing her expression and tone to remain incredibly calm, Bronya took two steps forward, a hint of helplessness on her face.
"Big Sister Kiana, I don't know what you're feeling."
"But right now, although your grades are almost at the passing line, I think we should hurry back and continue reviewing."
"You've prepared everything. If you're just that little bit short during tomorrow's test..."
"No, don't say it!"
Under Bronya's alarmist talk, Kiana immediately shook her head, trying to shake off that strange feeling.
"I understand—I can't fall at the last hurdle! I can't fall at the last hurdle!"
"Yes, that's the spirit!"
Sigh, thank goodness Big Sister Kiana trusts me, otherwise, this time...
If she saw Leo and Big Sister Anna here together, she might not explode.
But now, it's not just you; even I have a bad feeling.
Big Sister Anna met Leo just once before coming to the Far East Branch, and after that one meeting, she launched her offensive.
If an aggressive player like her launched a slightly more intense offensive at a time like this...
Sigh, if Leo were a bit more assertive, he could solve the problem.
But as it happens, he's not an assertive person in this regard.
Let's take a detour first. I hope Leo and Big Sister Anna don't come this way.
Otherwise—I've done my best. If something happens, Leo can figure it out himself.
Sigh, I never thought Big Sister Anna would make a move at this time—and Leo even accepted her invitation.
And speaking of which, last time Class Rep proactively sought him out, he immediately agreed to her invitation...
Come to think of it, has Leo ever proactively refused anyone's invitation?
Could it be that everyone's perception of this matter has been slightly off?
Actually...
He's not against it?
......
Meanwhile. On the other side of the commercial street
On the other side of the commercial street, Yuna also suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Yuna?"
Seeing Yuna suddenly stop, Mei also stopped and looked at her companion, puzzled.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Or is there a problem with your Herrscher Core?"
"...No, I'm fine."
But you have a serious problem, Mei.
By now, Yuna had already unleashed her authority as a Pseudo-Herrscher after entering the commercial street.
Although her Pseudo-Herrscher authority was a special power activated by the Pseudo-Herrscher Core, Yuna, who was already familiar with using a Herrscher's power, had already found some 'clever' methods during her time with the Herrscher of Death Core.
The authority of a Herrscher was essentially a special power unleashed based on the core's characteristics and the intensity of Honkai Energy.
In the past, Yuna only had one core, so her Honkai Energy intensity was limited, preventing her from pulling off too many fancy moves.
But now, with two cores, Yuna could fully utilize her Pseudo-Herrscher authority while simultaneously drawing Honkai Energy from the Herrscher of Death Core to amplify the power of her Pseudo-Herrscher Core.
It was because of this that she could see who was entering and leaving the commercial street through the plants placed in the shops near the entrances and exits.
As for the trouble of monitoring several entrances... that was a small matter for her.
To be honest, it was much simpler than the poison research she conducted to torture Cocolia.
Besides, this commercial street was, after all, under the jurisdiction of St. Freya High School.
As a territory of St. Freya High School, not many people actually came here to shop.
And now, because World Serpent might use that strange teleportation device to deploy troops, even fewer people with free time came here.
It was precisely because of this that Yuna was able to sense that something was wrong the moment Leo Ash and Anna appeared at one of the entrances—after all, hardly anyone had entered through that entrance before.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. Mei and I are still some distance from that entrance. We have to take a detour, we must take a detour.
But, I really didn't expect it.
Anna, to think she's such a proactive person.
The scene I saw through the plants was of a happy Anna holding Senior's arm.
Although Senior's face looked calm—the fact that he didn't resist showed that Anna's move was effective.
...This is brilliant.
We all forgot about this move.
For someone like Senior, a frontal assault might be the most suitable strategy.
Now Anna has dragged Senior to the commercial street, and after chatting and walking around together, the atmosphere is set.
Then Anna takes Senior to a swimsuit shop... Hiss, brilliant.
How did I not think of this move?
But forget it. What's done is done. If I interfere too much more, it might have the opposite effect.
We have to take a detour, we must take a detour.
And Kiana and Bronya just had to go out today, and they're in the commercial street.
I also have to find a way to avoid them.
Anna, thank you.
Your actions have already proven one thing to me—this kind of offensive is effective.
Only by confirming that this kind of offensive is effective...
—can my subsequent plans proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, Mei, who was being led down another path by Yuna, suddenly heard a voice from within.
[Mei, something's wrong.]
What is it now?
[The moment Poison Ivy stopped just now, I could feel her muscles tense and relax through the bio-currents.]
[She might genuinely be helping you, but that doesn't mean she's been completely honest with you about everything.]
[Something is definitely happening—she's definitely hiding something from you!]
Alright, why are you so suspicious?
And bio-currents... isn't it normal for muscles to tense and relax?
I know you're looking out for me, but don't overthink it.
[You, you, you—I'm done with you!]
[I've already warned you and you still won't listen—you'll definitely regret it!]
Meanwhile
Leo Ash, with Anna holding his arm, felt the soft touch from the girl and couldn't help but think...
[What's so uncomfortable about it? It feels amazing!]
...
[Why aren't you talking, Host?]
I have to say, you're absolutely right.
It does feel amazing.
[Wow, so honest today... sigh, what a pity.]
A pity about what?
[It's a pity the two masterminds are being too cautious. Otherwise, with you being so honest, it would be a perfect opportunity to stage a grand drama here.]
What masterminds? Are you talking about Otto and Gray Serpent?
[...I give up. Why are you still thinking about work when you're out shopping with a big-busted soft girl?]
Didn't you bring up the masterminds?
If you're not talking about those two behind-the-scenes culprits, then who are you talking about?
No one likes a riddler.
[The System isn't a person, and besides—it's not the first day you've found my bullshit annoying. The System has been unpopular for a long time, hasn't it?]
It's not that bad. If you just talked less nonsense, I'd definitely respect you more.
But every time I want to give you a little more respect, you open your mouth.
[Have some consideration. Just like you're afraid of dying, having fun is the source of the System's motivation.]
[If you ask the System not to act on its true nature... ah, I can say a few less words today.]
You, don't be like that.
It's even scarier when you suddenly act normal.
[Don't be afraid, it's really a good thing.]
[The System is a chaos-enjoyer, not chaotic evil. Just because there's drama to watch doesn't mean something bad will actually happen to you.]
That may be true, but...
[And the System has seen its fair share of drama these past two months. Have you gotten into any trouble?]
[No, right?]
I guess you have a point.
But, although it does feel pretty good right now, I can also feel that Anna's body is very tense.
This girl... in the original story, she would blush from a few simple jokes from Chen Tianwu. Now that she's proactively brought me out and is being so intimate, it's theoretically normal for her to be even more nervous.
"Leo Ash."
Having walked to a certain shop, Anna suddenly looked up at Leo Ash's expressionless face.
"How about this shop?"
"Oh, this shop."
After glancing at the shop's name, Leo Ash felt that it looked vaguely familiar...
'Birth Cafe'... such a strange name...
[Oh, are you thinking about your Poison Ivy? Bat~]
Oh, thanks for the reminder, I remember now.
This is the cafe where I brought Yuna for a heart-to-heart talk before.
"It's decent enough, I guess."
"Then let's go here."
Although Anna appeared very proactive, in reality...
—Right now, inside, she was in a complete panic.
Anna's personality was already prone to shyness. Having acted on impulse today, although she didn't regret it or feel scared, she still felt that she was—incredibly nervous.
If she wasn't forcefully suppressing the nervousness in her heart, she felt that just holding Leo Ash's arm would make her body tremble uncontrollably from nervousness and shyness.
As the two entered the shop, the cafe employee glanced at them but didn't show any particular expression.
However, the employee, who remembered Leo Ash bringing another girl to the shop last time, couldn't help but sigh—being handsome really is useful.
After the two found a random table to sit at, Leo Ash looked at Anna and suddenly sighed.
"Anna, you really don't need to be so nervous."
"We're friends. It's normal to go out together."
Upon hearing Leo Ash's words, Anna's face instantly turned bright red.
Then, putting down the menu, Anna asked Leo Ash in a small voice.
"You... you knew all along?"
"The muscles in your arm are so tense. It's easy to guess what you're thinking."
I was the one who wanted to help Leo Ash relax a little, but I got nervous first, and now Leo Ash is the one calming me down.
Ah, it's over.
Although I don't know what's over, but now...
—I can't take it anymore. I feel so embarrassed.
.