"Nous is scheming in the dark again…"
Sensing that faint breath of Erudition, Kiana's eyes darkened.
In that case… Nous, it's time you exited the stage of history.
Originally, after letting Na-na into the group, Kiana hadn't planned to keep tabs on her.
But she faintly caught the same wisp of Erudition lingering near Na-na.
Knowing all too well that the old weasel Nous was up to something again, Kiana instantly pronounced a death sentence on him in her heart.
That mechanical brain is either plotting or on the way to plot.
"Tomorrow I'll swing by Liyue; when I get back, it's off to Amphoreus."
Kiana gazed at the group chat and murmured to herself.
With Amphoreus under the watch of that Omegamon—whom Nous had nudged there—nothing too serious would go wrong.
After all, she could feel the power slumbering inside that Omegamon… it was no trifling thing.
Because Kiana sensed that the other party had grasped the power of rules.
Right then, a system notification suddenly popped up in the chat.
[Royal Knights has joined the chat]
[Magical Girl has joined the chat]
"???"
Kiana stared at the bold words "Royal Knights," three question marks floating above her head.
She just dragged that Omegamon straight in?
Kiana could figure it out even with Mei's panties over her head—this Royal Knight had to be the one currently on the Herta Space Station.
As for the other newcomer…?
There are too many Magical Girls across too many worlds; Kiana couldn't tell which universe's Kiana this was.
[Niúmǎ Na: Welcome, newcomers!]
[Gojo Na: Welco—hey, we're in the middle of discussing Caeluslana, get serious!]
[Pretty Cure Na: Welcome, new big sisters~]
[Pretty Cure Na: But we shouldn't ignore the newbies, right…?]
[Caeluslana: Thanks, everyone, for your concern…]
[Magical Girl: After syncing the chat history—amazing, so many different Kianas…]
[Royal Knight: At first I thought my Digicore was glitching…!]
[Magical Girl has been renamed by Group Owner Na: Shōjō Na]
[Royal Knight has been renamed by Group Owner Na: Digital Na]
"These nicknames should work."
Having edited their name cards, Kiana nodded in satisfaction.
"Haven't hit the tavern in ages; with newcomers around, might as well invite them for a drink."
Kiana realized that ever since she'd gotten busy, she'd barely set foot in the tavern.
Even when she did, it was just to chug two glasses and dash.
Now that she had some free time, relaxing a bit sounded nice.
Plus she could scope out the various versions of herself—and maybe sneak in some cuddles!
[Group Owner Na: Who's currently in the tavern?]
[Void Hunting Kiana: Me!]
[Special Operations Na: Oh right, that place exists—time to unwind!]
[Niúmǎ Na: consultant Zhongli dragged me off to dinner, not around…]
[Gojo Na: Little Moonlight and I are here~]
[Digital Na: Tavern? Saw that function, but I've got stuff on hand—will drop by later…]
[Shōjō Na: In class right now; a gorgeous black-haired transfer student just arrived. ]
"Black-haired transfer student? Magical Girl? Mitakihara!"
Kiana glanced at Magical Na's avatar, surprise flickering in her eyes.
That world runs deeper than it looks.
After all, it's a place that can birth the conceptual goddess known as the Law of Cycles.
For now the Law of Cycles hasn't emerged.
But the threads of causality are already tangled; Madoka Kaname's apotheosis can't be far off.
It was only Kiana's personal guess; she'd have to visit in person to know for sure.
[Niúmǎ Na: @Digital Na, if no other groupmates share your world, a tavern trip costs only one real-world second.]
[Digital Na: Different time flow? Got it… some Digital Worlds work the same way.]
While the Kianas chatted, Kiana herself stepped into the tavern.
"Only four Kianas around, huh."
Walking toward the bar, she spotted four other white-haired bundles and muttered.
Two of them she recognized.
Little Moonlight and Gojo.
They sat at a table, chatting and laughing.
Another wore casual clothes—and sported a chest far grander than any Kiana she'd ever seen!
Looking right at home, the girl strolled over, swiped her points, and ordered a strawberry margarita.
When she sat, the jiggling was so intense Kiana couldn't help swallowing, sneaking a sideways glance.
There's a Kiana this… "well-endowed"?!
If they weren't still strangers, she'd have loved to bury her head in for a test!
The last one wore black thigh-highs and a Hafen employee uniform, quiet and shy yet with a sharp glint deep in her eyes.
No doubt—Void Hunting Kiana and Special Operations Na.
Though Special Operations Na is a GTI operator, she's undercover, hence the Hafen outfit.
Only someone who'd just joined GTI yet showed exceptional skill would be assigned this mission.
"So you're Void Hunting Kiana, huh… really…"
Kiana covertly swept her gaze across the girl's chest, the corner of her mouth twitching as she sighed:
"Quite the assets…"
"I'm no phantom hunter, just your average video-store clerk…"
Noticing Kiana's stare, Void Hunting Kiana misunderstood, thinking it a jab at her nickname; she smiled and sipped her cocktail—light strawberry and lime in perfect balance.
Just then Special Operations Na walked over.
Compared with the lively table of Little Moonlight and Gojo Na, this group looked easier to join.
"Hi, I'm Special Operations Na, real name Kiana Hafen."
"Ah… hello, you're—huh…?"
Kiana answered with a grin, then suddenly widened her eyes.
"Hafen?!"
"Huh? You know the surname…?"
Special Operations Na covered her mouth, eyes flashing with surprise.
Has the Hafen name already spread to other worlds?!
Void Hunting Kiana sipped her drink, gaze resting on them, clearly eager for gossip.
Stories? She loved stories—especially with booze in hand!
After the shock, Kiana looked Special Operations Na up and down.
"What relation is Jacob Hafen to you?"
"Much as I hate to admit it…"
Disgust flickered unhidden in Special Operations Na's eyes.
"He is my father."
"…"
Kiana opened her mouth but found no words.
The revulsion was real; whatever Jacob had done to earn his daughter's hatred she didn't know.
And more baffling—how did the Hafen princess infiltrate GTI?!
Are all GTI staff just useless…?
After a fruitless ponder, Kiana decided to ask the girl herself.
"May I ask—how did you join GTI? Don't they know you're Jacob's daughter?"
-------------------------------
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