Astartes Second Legion, Retributors. Sequence No. Conquered World—Universe 117.
Outside the Milky Way, Installation 00, Central Control Room.
"So, Kiana has already been sent to Sebas by Esdeath. And Sebas' evaluation of them—hmm, quite high, isn't it."
Especially Esdeath's submitted report. Even from a distance, Selene could sense the lingering resentment embedded within it.
Acting as Kiana and the others' instructor—clearly, Esdeath had quite a few opinions about that. As for Selene heading to Universe 117, that massive battlefield, without taking her along, she expressed her unwillingness at being left out.
For a battle maniac like her to be idled into watching a group of people display extremely immature statecraft—short term, it could pass as entertainment. But over time, it grew dull. With no fights to pick, Esdeath felt uncomfortable all over.
Especially since Kiana and the others' governing philosophies differed drastically from Esdeath's values.
Several times, when Esdeath saw that Kiana had already become the acting ruler yet was still being stalled and brushed off by various nobles through overt and covert tricks during reform efforts—
Kiana's low-voiced and conciliatory (well-intentioned persuasion), her seemingly weak (benevolent) countermeasures, truly made Esdeath furious.
In Esdeath's eyes, it was utterly suffocating!
According to what she told Kiana: "What the hell are you doing, playing house? Where's your authority?! Where's the government's dignity?! If it were any official from the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs, every single one of those nobles would be on the gallows—assets seized, families exterminated!"
In any case, every time Esdeath offered her 'friendly reminders,' Kiana would rebut her with her own reasoning.
Their values truly clashed.
Selene looked it over from every angle, dissecting the wording, and read between the lines of Esdeath's tactful phrasing:
Yes, they're good. They're kind. They're outstanding. But next time, don't send them here. My tiny temple can't hold these living disasters. Hurry up and have them leave—smoothly and completely!
Reading that, Selene's face darkened as she tightened her grip on the crystalline cube in her hand.
Tsk. Her small expectation had shattered.
Sigh... If only Esdeath and Kiana's group could influence one another a bit, each absorbing the other's strengths—wouldn't that be perfect?
"Your Majesty, an important Forerunner facility has been discovered on Requiem."
"Suspected to be a cryptum."
"Uh..."
"Your Majesty, are you listening?"
Floating nearby, Mendicant Bias chattered on for quite some time before noticing that Selene seemed lost in thought and had not responded. Slightly deflated, it said, "Your Majesty, the relocation of the key worlds has been completed."
"Mm? Oh." Selene rose and gazed at the sea of metallic-glimmering stars beyond the Ark, nodding in satisfaction. "No errors confirmed? Offensive Bias is slumbering somewhere within those worlds?"
"Confirmed."
"Which one contains the cryptum?"
Beep, beep.
With Mendicant Bias' manipulation, Selene focused on the magnified image of a massive metallic planet displayed on the screen. Her brows furrowed slightly.
"This is Requiem?"
On the holographic display, the specially selected Shield World had an outer surface composed of a thick metallic shell, entirely mechanized. Hundreds of kilometers of mechanical striations and layered armor plating covered its exterior.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Requiem, also known as the world of requiem. In my database, this celestial installation was formally named by the Builders as—Shield 0001."
"Oh?" Selene pinched her chin and let out a faint chuckle. "Now that's interesting."
"Your Majesty's intention—is to have Offensive Bias investigate it?"
"No. Someone else will. But if we want to extract maximum value from it... perfect timing. Return."
...
"The front lines... a war of conquest, huh."
Kiana could not help but sigh, dispelling the manifestation of her blazing greatsword as a faint exhaustion washed over her.
She was not a cruel warmonger. Although Selene's military merit nobility policy differed greatly from the beautiful world she once envisioned, after everything she had experienced, she would not oppose it either.
"Of course."
Sebas' half-open crimson vertical pupils glanced at the white-haired girl beside him as he asked softly, "Passing this old man's assessment means you will officially be assigned to the Valkyrie units and cooperate with the Imperial Army in foreign campaigns. War is unavoidable... Miss Kaslana, I will ask you one final time. Are you prepared?"
"Ah, Sebas, why are you still asking that? And I'm not some 'Miss' anything. I'm just a fallen branch of the Kaslana family. Whether they even acknowledge me is another matter. Just call me Kiana."
Rather than answer directly, Kiana scratched the back of her head and revealed a bright smile, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Hmph. Slippery girl."
Sebas laughed and scolded lightly.
"Hehe. My answer is—still needs improvement!"
After spending this time together, Kiana and the others had grown considerably closer to Sebas.
Although they were still somewhat intimidated by this stern-faced, meticulous, unmistakably strict imperial figure.
"Oh? Then I shall look forward to it."
Sebas was the same. His attitude toward Kiana and the others was no longer as stiff and purely official as during their first meeting.
Otherwise, he would never have arranged the carefully prepared 'ladylike' courses for them.
Others could not even qualify for such instruction.
Certainly, Selene's emphasis and personal instructions played a role. But more importantly, Kiana and the others had proven themselves. They suited Sebas' tastes.
Perhaps Sebas' purpose in training them had never been pure. There was recognition of their potential as Herrschers, MANTISes, and Valkyries. There was the intention of cultivating talent for the Empire. There was also the idea of refining his own 'lady' training methodology through them...
But people were inherently complex.
"Go rest. Today's lessons are over. Patiently await Her Majesty's approval."
As he spoke, Sebas' gaze drifted to Raiden Mei standing behind Kiana. The tenderness and devotion in her eyes seemed almost tangible, as if it could drip into reality. Truly, even Sebas did not know how to describe it.
The two of you... inseparable as glue, gazing at one another as though spring itself had taken form.
"Hehe, my Mei... cuddle time."
"Kiana, mm... honestly."
Watching Kiana throw herself at Raiden Mei with a carefree, heartfelt smile, Sebas felt momentarily dazed. The features of the girl before him gradually overlapped with Selene's image from her student days.
Sigh.
A trace of complexity flickered through Sebas' gaze.
If only Milady would laugh so freely more often.
Such playful, proactive gestures... they have never once appeared in her.
For an old man without children like him, it was truly a small regret.
"Hey, hey, Sebas, old man—bye-bye!"
At that moment, as if noticing the faint trace of loneliness around Sebas like that of an empty-nest elder, Kiana suddenly turned around, raised her hand high, and jumped up.
In response, Sebas lightly waved his hand.
"Kiana, you failed again." Bronya's emotionless voice rang out.
"Shut up! Bronya, you've got the nerve to talk? You're the one who's been playing games all day—you have no right to speak!"
"Hold it, hold it, let me interrupt. Kiana, Mei, could you at least look at where you are? Broad daylight, and you two are being so indecent." Seeing the pair still glued together, Li Sushang rubbed the cat's head with a look of misfortune.
"Meow! Why are you taking it out on me?!"
Drip—
Walking over to Sebas' side, Fu Hua sighed softly. "After setting down the burden of being a savior... this is the Kiana I know."
After parting at Schicksal and meeting again, when that silly girl Kiana no longer acted lively as usual but instead forced smiles all day long, Fu Hua had truly thought, for a moment, that this world was beyond saving.
Watching Kiana wrap an arm around Raiden Mei and raise her hand as they walked toward Li Sushang, Bronya, and the others outside the training ground, a trace of reminiscence surfaced in Fu Hua's cool emerald eyes.
"Saving the world has never been the responsibility of just one person."
"Perhaps," Sebas said. "Only after enduring hardship and loss does one truly learn to cherish what remains."
Fu Hua nodded, then changed the subject to something she had heard outside. "Lord Sebas, the front where Her Majesty is stationed should be the campaign direction of the Second Legion, the Retributors. Judging by the large-scale administrative personnel transfers by the Imperial Ministry of War and the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs, it seems the gains were considerable."
"To be precise, three Astartes Legions were mobilized. Aside from the Retributors, there were also the Night Lords and the World Eaters—"
Mid-sentence, Sebas suddenly paused and looked toward the direction of the main hall of the Imperial Palace. He let out a long breath, then raised his voice toward Kiana and the others with full vigor.
"Kiana, Her Majesty has returned."
...
Grand Imperial Palace of the Imperial Capital, Schönbrunn Palace.
For Mendicant Bias, this journey had been nothing but a flash of dazzling violet light filling its entire field of vision. When it finally adjusted to the scene before it, it discovered that it had already left Installation 00 and arrived within an enormous unknown structure.
The architectural style bore no resemblance whatsoever to that of the Forerunners.
The walls were carved with intricate patterns, inlaid with reliefs and enamel. Finely polished jade pillars were draped with lace-like gauze. Round luminous pearls bathed the chamber in a hazy yet warm glow. The massive carpet beneath was woven with auspicious motifs.
Never had Mendicant Bias seen such an elaborately layered aesthetic.
Meanwhile, the palace attendants nearby were long accustomed to their Empress' unpredictable comings and goings. None of them reacted with alarm.
"Calm yourself. This is my palace."
After soothing the vigilant and restless Mendicant Bias, Selene walked to her wide desk. She casually flipped through the neatly organized memorials for a while before turning her head.
"Attend me."
Creak—
"Your Majesty."
Selene addressed the attendant at the hall doors. "Issue an order. Have Dr. Stylish come see me."
"Yes!"
"Your Majesty, Installation 00, the Halo Array..." Mendicant Bias asked after finally pulling its gaze away from the luxurious palace decor.
"Sterilization."
All Forerunner megastructures brought into the Honkai Dimension by Selene—Installation 00, the Halo Array, the Shield Worlds, artificial stars, key inhabited worlds—had been unceremoniously dumped into the Honkai sea of stars.
First, complete decontamination. After that, Selene would dispatch personnel from the Imperial Science Bureau and the Imperial Forge to conduct personalized modifications.
Pushing open the office doors, Selene stepped outside.
Mendicant Bias hurried to follow.
Along the way, as Selene passed, attendants and guards alike knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in reverence.
Though none of them knew what the enormous, seemingly living mask beside their Empress was, they simply assumed it to be yet another Teigu.
Meanwhile, Mendicant Bias behaved like an inquisitive child, asking questions about everything.
Especially the Sisters of Silence who patrolled in coordination with the golden-armored Royal Guards. The oppressive aura surrounding them nearly caused Mendicant Bias' processing functions to stutter.
"Your Majesty, what is that?"
"A Binding Field."
"Your Majesty, where are we going now? What is the destination?"
"To dine."
...
Within the long corridors of Schönbrunn Palace, upon hearing Selene's summons and arriving at the palace through the teleportation gate at the Imperial Science Bureau headquarters, Dr. Stylish did not dare delay even for a moment.
Knowing that Selene had just returned from the front lines, based on past experience, this likely meant Her Majesty had prepared new treasures for him.
Although every time that happened he was squeezed dry like livestock by Selene, Dr. Stylish found it no problem at all.
I'm willing! Give me more!
Just thinking about novel scientific technologies beckoning to him made his heart tremble with excitement, and his steps grew lighter.
Until—
"Dr. Stylish?"
"Greetings, Lord Sebas."
Sebas looked somewhat surprised as he encountered Dr. Stylish at the corner. The latter placed a hand over his chest in salute.
"Seeking an audience with Her Majesty?"
Dr. Stylish nodded. "By Her Majesty's order." He then looked past Sebas at the cluster of young women behind him. "And they are?"
Aside from being summoned by Empress Selene, Dr. Stylish either buried himself in the laboratory or experimented with new inventions at the base. He truly knew nothing about Kiana and the others.
This was his first time seeing them. Like the veteran retainers who had followed Selene since the days of the Imperial Guards, the resemblance startled him.
"Newly formed special military branch—the Valkyrie Unit's candidate officers."
Sebas had no intention of elaborating. He simply nodded slightly. "Come. One must not delay Her Majesty's summons." With that, he turned and proceeded deeper into Schönbrunn Palace.
Dr. Stylish expressed his understanding and walked alongside them.
Along the way, he frequently glanced at Kiana and the others. They, in turn, observed this middle-aged man in a white lab coat who looked every bit the researcher.
To be honest, most of Kiana's group did not have favorable impressions of researchers in white coats. Unpleasant memories lingered, and for someone like Dr. Stylish—whose temperament carried a hint of madness and neurosis—their instincts were particularly wary.
Schönbrunn Palace, Reception Hall.
Knock, knock.
"Your Majesty, Lord Sebas, Dr. Stylish and the others have arrived."
Hearing this, Selene set down her teacup and gave a slight nod. She tapped the table lightly.
"Go on, Mendicant Bias. Go meet your future colleagues..."