Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 419: A Friendly Warning
"Doctor, ah—"
"Ahh—mm! Delicious! As expected of my Klein."
"Doctor, I'm only feeding you. I didn't cook the food. From a rational standpoint, whether it tastes good has nothing to do with me. You're praising the wrong person."
"It's delicious because Klein is feeding me. What does the cook have to do with it? Klein, I want more—ahh~~"
Mobius closed her eyes, completely defenseless as she opened her mouth wide, waiting for Klein to feed her.
Standing on the table, Klein stirred the food. Faced with Mobius's thoroughly unscientific and willful logic, she could only sigh. Tiptoeing slightly, she fed the food into Mobius's mouth.
At that moment, everyone present was looking at Mobius—her right hand wrapped in bandages, sitting there harmlessly, mouth open and waiting to be fed—and at Klein, who resembled an exasperated but patient mother carefully tending to her child.
The scene made Mobius seem… oddly ordinary. Even harmless.
But everyone knew better.
This was a dangerous, insane scientist—someone even Sigurd treated with caution.
"I feel like she and Otto might actually get along," Kiana muttered softly as she tugged at Sigurd's sleeve.
Sigurd stroked his chin, looking at Mobius, who was squinting happily after being fed, and gave no immediate response.
Mobius and Otto were similar in many ways, both were geniuses who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and both were peerless masters when it came to survival at any cost. If those two ever met… they might actually have a lot to talk about.
Sigurd nodded to himself, then spoke to Mobius.
"Is the biological experiment report for the serum ready?"
"A Honkai resistance activation and enhancement agent with barely passable results—and you made me test something like that? What a waste of my time!"
Mobius snorted unhappily, raising her bandage-wrapped, fingerless right hand and shooting Klein a look.
Klein set the bowl aside, rummaged around on herself with her short little arms, and quickly pulled out a report nearly as tall as she was. She hurried over to Sigurd and, standing on tiptoe, handed it to him.
Sigurd took the report—while simultaneously biting into a meatball Bronya fed him—and flipped through it as he chewed.
After a moment, he said:
"Just as I expected. A mature agent that can be deployed globally. Weak effects aren't a problem—progress has to be gradual. Step by step, we can establish population-wide resistance. This could become a major turning point in humanity's fight against Honkai."
"Hah! I admit you're impressive. This is technology even those in my era couldn't produce until the very end. But don't forget, our enemy is the Finality. You'd better focus on increasing combat power instead of dreaming about protecting worthless weaklings!"
"I've taken your advice," Sigurd replied calmly. "And I have one suggestion of my own."
"Hmm?"
Mobius turned her head, interested to hear Sigurd's insight.
Sigurd placed the thick experimental report down on the table.
"I've noticed you really like paper reports. That's terribly inefficient. You should learn to use electronic data, Dr. Mobius."
"I—beep—!"
Mobius's face instantly darkened.
That made it sound like she was some outdated relic! Using paper reports was a personal preference. It didn't mean she was incompetent in machinery or electronics!
Just as Sigurd was about to comment on Mobius's disrespectful reaction, food arrived at his mouth from both sides at the same time.
"Sig/Sigurd, ahh~~" ×2
He looked down to find two pairs of bright, expectant eyes staring up at him.
"My hands aren't injured. You can feed yourselves," Sigurd said helplessly, but still ate everything they offered.
That single action achieved the effect of "fair distribution"—at the very least, it gave both of them a certain sense of satisfaction. They smiled sweetly in unison.
"Tch."
Wendy made a sound of unclear meaning.
Sigurd shot her a sideways glance.
"You don't need to feed me. I won't eat it."
"Who'd want to feed you anyway?!"
"Focus on eating. Otherwise, you'll stop growing."
"I'll develop just fine, thank you very much! Don't need a scumbag like you worrying about me—hmph!"
Wendy glared at Sigurd with fierce determination.
Meanwhile, Seele and Raiden Mei were feeding the twins who were lying on the sofa with their butts still airing out. The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood each other's helplessness.
At this point, who didn't know Wendy liked Sigurd?
And everyone knew even more clearly—Sigurd had always been someone who responded to gentleness, not stubbornness. Even with the girls around him, anyone who dared give him attitude would inevitably get "worked over" until they exploded on the spot.
With Wendy's tsundere approach, she was probably doomed to keep suffering.
Having just arrived, Mobius slowly scanned the surroundings, her expression growing increasingly strange. She then spoke to Sigurd.
"I'm starting to think your private life is… a bit chaotic."
"That's none of your business."
"True enough."
Mobius nodded, continuing to accept Klein's attentive feeding. She had no interest in meddling in Sigurd's romantic affairs, nor any desire to socialize with the others.
She was here to continue exploring the path of infinity—not to make friends.
Friends?
Mobius believed she didn't need such things at all.
...
While Sigurd and the others were enjoying their dinner in peace, a massive army was slowly advancing toward Anti-Entropy Headquarters.
On the foremost aerial carrier, Siegfried stood at the front of the deck, his white coat billowing wildly in the wind.
Zzt!
An ion lighter sparked to life. Siegfried lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled a plume of white smoke that drifted away into the night.
"You really plan on discussing Kiana's situation with Sigurd?"
Dressed in a black nun's habit and carrying a golden cross on her back, Theresa approached from behind.
Gazing at the star-filled sky, Siegfried spoke as he smoked:
"This is my last chance. Before he ascends to the throne, I have to make sure Kiana won't be treated unfairly. That's a father's responsibility."
"Welt and the others asked me to stop you. Even Grandpa sent a message saying that you're walking to your death."
"At worst, I'll just get beaten up by that kid. Even if there's risk, I still need to ask him personally, being with my daughter while still being so indecisive… is he serious about it or not?"
"…Hmm. Then let me ask in advance," Theresa said thoughtfully, stroking her chin.
"Do you prefer cremation or burial? What do you want engraved on your tombstone? And where should it be placed?"
Siegfried's face immediately darkened. After hesitating, he asked uneasily:
"Is it really that dangerous?"
"You've been asleep for a long time, so you don't know how Sigurd practically raised Kiana, that kid played both the father and mother role. You also don't understand just how possessively he values her. Between him and Kiana, there's probably no room for anyone to point fingers, even if that person is her father."
"..."
"Anyway, I have to talk to him. I'm a father. Even if I've been irresponsible… I'm still Kiana's father. You understand, right?"
"Sigh. I'm done trying to talk you out of it," Theresa said, waving a hand.
"I'll just warn you of one thing, when you talk to him, make sure Kiana is present."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee Sigurd won't kill you on the spot."
Theresa raised a hand and casually drew it across her own neck, demonstrating Siegfried's possible fate.
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