"That's the gist of the situation."
Returning to St. Freya Academy, Himeko reported the rough details to Theresa. Upon knowing that Himeko had already handed over the Honkai energy monitoring watch and the [Artemis' Guardian] dual pistols to Kiana, Theresa felt much more at ease.
"Good work, Himeko."
Himeko's gaze drifted over the numerous display screens in front of Theresa, watching the fluctuating indices, and her brows furrowed.
"Has the Honkai energy concentration in Nagazora City not significantly decreased because of the devices we deployed?"
"Yes, the rate of decrease is very slow. The situation is a bit suspicious. But fortunately, the current Honkai energy concentration is not high enough to harm ordinary people or animals. Before that happens, let's increase the operating power of those devices and see if we can further improve the situation. If it really doesn't work, we might have to start preparing to evacuate the citizens of Nagazora City."
Theresa recalled some things, and her expression suddenly tightened. If the facts truly matched her thoughts, the original plan to let Kiana live her life as an ordinary person would be completely impossible to realize.
In fact, ever since she gave her the Honkai energy monitoring watch and the [Artemis' Guardian], the development of events had gradually begun to deviate from the plan.
What kind of role does my grandfather Otto want Kiana to play...
At this moment, Evan, far away in Nagazora City, didn't know that because of some of his actions, Bishop Otto had shouldered another blame.
Bronya was studying at Senba Academy as an exchange student, nominally to inspect Senba Academy's teaching standards for ME Corp. Considering the possibility of obtaining more internship quotas or even ME Corp's sponsorship in the future, the senior management of Senba Academy was extremely cooperative. This resulted in Bronya entering Senba Academy even before Kiana.
Evan didn't intend to hide his existence blindly. He chose a relatively appropriate time, and with Mei's cooperation, met Bronya outside Senba Academy.
"Unknown object detected approaching. Radar monitoring fully active."
It was just that Bronya's reaction was not very friendly.
Mei smiled from the side, telling Bronya not to be so nervous. In her view, Bronya's so-called "radar monitoring fully active" was just a somewhat chunibyo remark. After all, the girl was currently completely unarmed. If she carried a radar with her, how could it not be seen?
"This is Evan. He is my... um, my good friend."
Evan rolled his eyes at Mei's introduction. However, now was not the time to argue. In Evan's perspective, a blurred outline had just slowly appeared in the air behind Bronya, but it had disappeared by now.
Is that Project Bunny 19C? Truly special.
"That's right. I am a good friend to whom Mei can entrust her life and future, the highest level among good friends. So please don't be so guarded against me."
Evan followed Mei's words to introduce himself further, then asked casually.
"And you are?"
Since it was their first meeting, naturally he had to ask about the other's background. Besides gaining friendship points by contacting Bronya, Evan also hoped to learn some of ME Corp's plans from her.
"Bronya Zaychik. Adopted daughter of ME Corp President, Mother Cocolia. Entered Senba Academy this time for company affairs. Hobbies are stock trading and gaming."
Bronya gave a very comprehensive introduction, almost as if reading data and then repeating it. Hearing Bronya's words, Mei couldn't help but speak up.
"Stock trading? Bronya, you can actually trade stocks?"
"Yes. Bronya has currently accumulated some money and plans to acquire a favorite game company in the future. That way, I can make it produce more fun games."
Mei was dumbfounded, speechless at the abundant funds and grand spirit revealed in Bronya's few words. Evan, who already knew some of Bronya's powerful operations as a character outside of being a Valkyrie from the game, didn't feel much fluctuation deep in his heart, but his face appropriately showed a bit of surprise.
"That's really impressive."
In this not-so-long conversation, Evan had already discovered that Bronya's answers were watertight. Although she said a lot, not a single thing touched on the real core. The only relevant term was "company affairs," but Evan absolutely couldn't recklessly ask about the internal matters of another's company. The plan to glean intelligence from Bronya had failed.
However, they had gotten to know each other after all, and he gained some friendship points in the process.
Although in Evan's understanding, the attitude of ME Corp led by Cocolia was contrary to his own, leading to some opposition between the two sides, Evan was willing to believe in Bronya.
At least Evan didn't think Bronya would still want to follow Cocolia's plan to seize Mei's Herrscher Core after becoming friends with her.
Putting aside various concerns, Evan was now just talking to Bronya and Mei in an ordinary way.
"Actually, I also really like playing games. Maybe we'll run into each other in a game in the future."
Bronya wasn't a talkative person. She rarely initiated topics and always played the role of answerer. Hearing Evan's words at this moment, her eyes brightened slightly, and then she just nodded ordinarily.
Ten minutes later, Bronya left.
Mei turned to look at Evan.
"Is Bronya very special? You would actually specially ask me to be the intermediary to contact her, and make me do it so secretly."
"Special, of course she's special. A kuudere beautiful girl, don't you think she has a lot of moepoints?"
This answer stunned Mei, and then she revealed a helpless smile.
"Although what you said makes some sense, I don't think you are acting solely because of this."
"You're not planning to refute it completely? In your eyes, am I really a frivolous lecher?"
Evan looked hurt.
"Alright, alright, if you don't want to say it, forget it. If you were purely a lecher, I would actually be more relaxed... Hmm, having said that, you'd better not become like that, okay?"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't be that simple."
"...Sometimes I really have a hard time distinguishing whether you are using a double entendre or not."
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