Facing Kiana's declaration about finding Mei a "mother," Xia Yu maintained an indifferent expression. He lowered his gaze to the baseball bat pointed directly at him.
Noticing his look, Kiana froze for a moment before realizing she was still brandishing a weapon at a stranger. With a swift whoosh, she hid the bat behind her back, her face twisting into a sheepish grin as she looked at the mysterious woman.
Xia Yu remained silent, closing the distance step by step.
Those footsteps... they seemed to drum against Kiana's heart. Watching a beauty who looked ninety percent like Mei walk toward her, Kiana felt her throat go dry, swallowing nervously.
This cool, aloof "big sister" was exactly her type—essentially a mature version of Mei!
But I can't betray Mei!
Thinking of the girl she had seen today, weeping silently on the rooftop, Kiana steeled her resolve. I have to protect that girl for the rest of her life!
Just as she opened her mouth to ask about the woman's relationship with Mei, she saw the stranger raise a hand. Fingers encased in metal gauntlets gently brushed against the top of her head.
Kiana went still.
Xia Yu stroked her hair slowly with his right hand, as if feeling for something. His hand traced downward, lightly pinching Kiana's ear.
Then, moving further down, his thumb and forefinger caught her chin, tilting it upward. He leaned in, his face inches from Kiana's dazed expression. He tilted her head left, then right, scrutinizing her face with intense focus.
As for Kiana... her brain had completely short-circuited.
Acheron's cold face was less than ten centimeters away. Staring into those soul-piercing blue-violet eyes as the handsome older sister inspected her, the teenage Kiana couldn't handle the pressure.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart roared like a war drum. Her cheeks flushed at a terrifying speed, turning a brilliant crimson. Even her eyes began to grow hazy and unfocused.
Seeing this, Xia Yu realized he had underestimated the power of this face against the Kaslana family DNA.
No wonder Kiana can't look away from Mei...
He decisively withdrew his hand, releasing her chin. Then, he reached out with both hands, grabbing Kiana's twin braids and lifting them up to mimic a high ponytail style.
At this stage, the "Tuna's" silly, cute face lacked the resolute aura of the Flamescion in his memories. It made sense; she was still young.
Though Xia Yu loved the Flamescion most, looking at the adorable girl before him, he couldn't bear the thought of her transforming into that hardened warrior. That path involved too much suffering, sacrifice, and impossible choices...
Finally, he let go of the braids, took a step back, and looked at Kiana.
"You know Mei?"
"Ah... that—" Hearing the question, Kiana jolted back to reality. Looking at the indifferent beauty before her (now viewed through a special "Kiana filter"), she answered hesitantly, "Ah... Auntie, I'm Mei's classma—"
Before she could finish, the killing intent in the beauty's eyes forced the words back down her throat.
"Call me 'Sister,'" Xia Yu said expressionlessly.
"Sister!" Kiana shivered, her mouth moving before her brain could catch up.
"Good girl." Xia Yu patted her head again. "Mei's classmate, right?"
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Kiana nodded like a chick pecking at grain.
"That child..." Xia Yu showed a hint of hesitation, asking slowly, "How has she been... lately?"
"...Not very well," Kiana answered honestly. "After what happened to her father, rumors are everywhere at school. This afternoon, I even ran into..."
She hesitated for a few seconds.
"Ran into what?" Xia Yu pressed.
"...Mei crying on the rooftop," Kiana whispered. She decided to tell the truth; after all, a family member was the only one who could offer the helpless girl comfort right now.
"The poor child has suffered," Xia Yu sighed.
It seemed Raiden Ryoma was already imprisoned, and Cocolia had begun her schemes. The timing of his arrival was delicate.
It was just before the Great Eruption, but the conspiracies were already in motion, waiting for Raiden Mei's mental state to collapse and trigger the Honkai.
The rapid spread of rumors and bullying at Chiba Academy were likely orchestrated by Cocolia. To be honest, no matter how fallen Mei was, she was still the daughter of the former CEO. Ryoma was only temporarily behind bars. Even if bullying was deep-rooted in this land, it wouldn't happen this fast without a catalyst. Usually, it starts with isolation. Students wouldn't naturally know the Raiden family was down to its last branch; they'd normally fear potential retaliation from other relatives.
So, Cocolia must have interfered. She didn't even need to do much—just hint to the remaining staff at Massive Electric (ME) Corp that they needed to distance themselves from the former CEO to avoid the purge. Since ME Corp invested heavily in Chiba Academy, many executives' children studied there. A simple instruction from a parent was all it took to initiate the shunning.
The bullies were hateful, but Cocolia... that fool. Xia Yu couldn't fathom how someone like her, who had witnessed the Second Honkai War and saw Sirin tear through Siberia, could be confident enough to think she could capture a Herrscher with just Bronya and a Titan army. What was wrong with her head?
Regardless, Xia Yu would see for himself. For now, he had to deal with the Tuna in front of him.
"I am investigating certain matters," Xia Yu said, meeting Kiana's eyes. "It is inconvenient for me to return to the Raiden residence. Can you help me?"
Kiana froze.
By the time she snapped out of it, she had already led Xia Yu into her rented apartment.
Wait, something's wrong!
Kiana watched Xia Yu, who sat on the bed with a furrowed brow, lost in thought. Her brain began to work at high speed.
Something is very wrong!
Where is my sense of caution? How did I agree to bring a stranger home so easily? I don't even know her name!
But she looks so much like Mei!
Even so, that's not enough! We've only known each other for ten minutes!
But she wanted to come home with me!
Home... Why didn't she go to Mei's house? Investigating? With the Raiden family's resources, surely they have safe houses? And she believed me so easily?
But she's really pretty!
In Kiana's mind, emotion and logic waged a bloody war. Finally, she looked up at the "big sister" on the bed.
Wait, the bed?
It was common knowledge that she had no money. Even the rent for this place came from "shaking down" local thugs. Consequently, the room was tiny—barely over ten square meters. A bathroom, a desk, a chair, a wardrobe, and one bed made up the entire furnishing.
One bed!
Kiana's face exploded in a blush. Logic was utterly routed on the battlefield of her mind.
As she tried to suppress her stray thoughts, the woman leaning over her brushed a hand against her forehead.
"Why are you so hot?" Xia Yu asked with a neutral expression. "Do you have a fever?"
"No! It's not that!" Kiana denied frantically. "I just... exercised! I'm hot from the workout!"
She would rather die than admit what she was thinking.
"By the way, Sister," Kiana quickly changed the subject, "what is your relationship with Mei?"
"My name is Acheron. I am her aunt," Xia Yu said with a straight face. "I'm only a few years older than her, so you must call me 'Sister,' not 'Auntie.' Understand?"
"Understood, Sister Acheron!" Kiana's eyes lit up. "You said you're investigating something. Does it have to do with what happened to Mei's family?"
"Why else would I return?" Xia Yu sighed. "Some people have gone too far. I cannot watch them continue."
"Some debts must be repaid."
"Does that mean... Uncle Ryoma didn't embezzle money?" Kiana asked excitedly. If Mei's father was innocent and framed, then...
"This..." Xia Yu hesitated.
Whether Raiden Ryoma embezzled or not... was a grey area. Considering he managed to implant the Gem of Conquest into Mei's body and keep it stable, not to mention forging the Plasma Kagehide... the costs must have been astronomical.
The implantation project couldn't have been on the books; it was a clandestine operation. The Plasma Kagehide was created specifically so Ryoma could control his daughter if she ever became a Herrscher.
One had to wonder... Anti-Entropy has a Herrscher as their Sovereign, yet these high-ups are all so strangely confident in their own methods. What? Welt Yang is constantly missing? Fair enough.
In short, Ryoma's projects required massive funding. Seeing as Shicksal's Australian branch spent years on similar research with little result, it was clearly no cheap task. Since these projects were off the books, the accounts were definitely compromised.
Otherwise, Cocolia wouldn't have been able to use it to bring him down. The factual basis existed, which is likely why the rest of Anti-Entropy thought she was just auditing corruption—until she caused a disaster in Nagazora.
One could only say Ryoma went to extremes to protect his daughter, a natural Stigma awakened.
Seeing Xia Yu's hesitation, Kiana's pupils shook.
"Sister Acheron... Uncle Ryoma... he didn't really..." she swallowed, "take the money, did he?"
"That is why I am looking for evidence," Xia Yu replied. "Once I uncover the truth, we will know everything."
"Do you need help?" Kiana perked up, volunteering herself. "I'm a great fighter!"
If I help with this, getting close to Mei will be easy. I can get on good terms with her family first! Hehehe, I'm a genius!
"You want to help?" Xia Yu looked at Kiana with a strange glint in his eyes.
"Mhm, mhm!" Kiana patted her chest. "I'd go through fire and water for you, Sister Acheron!"
At sixteen, Kiana was already quite well-developed, and the "surging waves" from her chest-patting were quite noticeable.
Xia Yu nodded slightly and patted her head.
"Do you know why I came back here with you?" he asked softly.
"Uh, because you can't be seen in public?" Kiana blinked.
"That is a secondary factor." Xia Yu looked into her eyes. "The main reason is that I need to investigate how many factions are involved behind the scenes."
"So you can use my help?" Kiana hadn't realized the trap yet.
"I need paper and a pen," Xia Yu decided to tease her.
"I have those!" Kiana dashed to her schoolbag, pulled out a notebook and a pen, and ran back, offering them like a prize.
"Good. Put them on the desk," Xia Yu commanded.
"Right away!" Kiana placed them down, eagerly flipping to a blank page.
"Now, sit." Xia Yu pulled out the chair.
"Oh." Kiana sat down obediently.
"Pick up the pen."
Kiana picked it up.
Xia Yu stood behind her, resting his hands firmly on her shoulders. "Now, write."
"Uh, what should I write, Sister Acheron?" Kiana was confused.
"Write about why you—a Kaslana, our sworn enemy—are approaching Mei," Xia Yu whispered into her ear with a mischievous tone.
Clatter!
The pen slipped from Kiana's hand, hitting the desk.
She turned to look at Xia Yu in utter disbelief.
"Kaslana?! You just said Kaslana, didn't you!"
Kiana tried to stand up in her excitement, but Xia Yu's hands held her firmly in the chair. She struggled to turn around.
Four years. For four long years, she had searched from Siberia to Europe, then wandered across the continental corridor all the way to the Far East... This was the first time she had heard information regarding her own heritage.
"Kiana Kaslana," Xia Yu's lips curled into a smirk. Instead of answering, he asked, "Why did you approach Raiden Mei?"
He added with mock sternness, "What is your purpose!"
"Never mind that!" Kiana was beyond agitated. "You recognize my surname, don't you!"
"Kaslana? It's a famous name," Xia Yu said meaningfully. "Instead of lording it over Europe, you came to the Far East for school? And you didn't even go to St. Freya, but chose Chiba Academy with Mei?"
"Tell me," he turned the chair around so she faced him, grabbing her shoulders as he looked into her eyes. "Should I be investigating you?"
Watching Kiana's panicked, world-shaking realization, Xia Yu was laughing internally.
Little Kiana—handled with ease.