"Mei, Mei! Let's go ride the Ferris Wheel!"
In the largest amusement park in Nagazora City, an excited Kiana pulled Raiden Mei by the hand and ran toward the bottom of the Ferris Wheel.
Her ulterior motives were blatantly obvious to everyone. Bronya and Xia Yu, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance.
"Are you not going to stop her?" Bronya whispered. "Isn't she a bit..."
"Just let Mei have some fun," Xia Yu shrugged indifferently. "As for Kiana? It doesn't matter."
"Hey, pipsqueak, and Sister Acheron, hurry up and come over!" Kiana, who was up ahead, was already waving at them.
Just as Bronya was about to follow, she noticed that Xia Yu beside her hadn't moved at all.
"Are you not going over?" she asked cautiously.
"Just call me Sister Acheron like Kiana does," Xia Yu patted her head and looked in another direction, deep in thought. "We have a guest. I'll go entertain them. You go ahead and play with them."
Saying this, she reached out and pinched Bronya's chubby cheeks. "Just tell them something came up for me, and to have a good time."
"Mhm, okay, Sister Acheron," Bronya said obediently upon hearing this. "Bronya understands."
Then she headed over toward Kiana, leaving Xia Yu standing alone in place. After all, Bronya knew that as someone whose energy output reached the Herrscher level in mere seconds and who could travel between reality and the Sea of Quanta, no one in this city could stop her.
"Eh, why isn't Sister Acheron coming over?" Kiana looked at the lone Bronya with some curiosity.
"Something came up for Sister Acheron," Bronya explained. "She told us to have a good time and that she'll be over in a bit."
"Huh? What is it?" Mei looked nervous. "Is it..."
"No. If it were Mother Cocolia..." Bronya hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The commotion would definitely be huge; it wouldn't be this discreet."
"Sister Acheron can definitely handle it herself."
The reason she felt so assured leaving Xia Yu's side was entirely because she had no idea about Cocolia's full plan: to use a large-scale Honkai outbreak to force Raiden Mei into becoming a Herrscher.
If Bronya had known, she certainly wouldn't have hidden Acheron's existence from Cocolia and would have definitely persuaded her to abandon the plan. However, because Cocolia kept her in the dark, she still believed this operation was purely to investigate corruption, and she felt no guilt about investigating Raiden Ryoma.
At most, she felt that Cocolia's actions toward Raiden Mei might have angered Xia Yu, so she tagged along to mend their relationship.
In the original plot, it was never explicitly stated whether Bronya knew beforehand or not. But after Kiana and Raiden Mei fought their way out of Chiba Academy, they encountered a mind-controlled Bronya outside, who immediately attacked them to abduct Raiden Mei.
After a fierce battle, they accidentally broke the mind control on Bronya. The three of them then had to rely on each other to survive in Nagazora City after the Great Honkai.
Therefore, she definitely didn't know Cocolia's plan from the start. It wasn't until the Great Honkai occurred that she finally understood everything and became utterly disappointed in Cocolia. Ultimately, the latter was forced to activate a chip to control her into attacking Raiden Mei.
Afterward, due to her guilt toward Raiden Mei, she constantly stuck by her side to protect her.
(Otherwise, it wouldn't make any sense. If she knew from the beginning, why was she mind-controlled when she met Kiana and Mei later? It made the friendship between the girls feel a bit... The retconning in Honkai Impact 3rd is just too severe.)
"Is everything really okay?" Mei was still a bit worried.
But Kiana had already grabbed her hand and boarded the Ferris Wheel. "Oh, Sister Acheron will definitely be fine!"
After much persuasion, she finally got Mei to set aside her doubts. However, Kiana's own expression as she occasionally glanced back into the distance wasn't as carefree as she let on.
She couldn't help Sister Acheron in any other way—she simply lacked the ability. All she could do was take good care of Mei.
Bronya followed them up as well.
And so, the three of them ascended on the Ferris Wheel, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, Xia Yu arrived at an ice cream stand. She tilted her head as she looked at the familiar clerk inside.
"Would you like an ice cream, customer?" Schicksal's S-Rank Valkyrie, Miss Rita Rossweisse, was wearing a staff uniform. Displaying an impeccable, professional smile, she enthusiastically recommended the ice cream at her stand.
"What flavor do you prefer? We have a very rich variety here. Please, take your pick..."
"Why don't you pick for me," Xia Yu said, a nostalgic look appearing in her eyes as she looked at her. "Rita."
Hearing the other party call out her name, Rita's perfect professional smile vanished instantly.
"As I thought, someone from Anti-Entropy?" She sized Xia Yu up. "You're familiar with my appearance, so it seems you aren't a nobody. But your tone and your eyes... Have we met before?"
"Anti-Entropy? No, I don't have time to play house with Welt," Xia Yu shook her head upon hearing this. "Rita, Rita... Sigh, I knew it. That guy Otto wouldn't give up on her. I just didn't expect the one he sent would be you. It really puts me in a dilemma."
"By the way, how is Bianca doing? You must still be getting headaches over her rigid and inflexible attitude, right?"
"...So, despite being so familiar with my intel, you refuse to give your name?" Alarm bells were already ringing in Rita's mind. What did she mean by Otto refusing to let her go? Who was this "her"?
Could it be K423? What did she mean? Did she know about the Overseer's plan?
And Lady Durandal—what was the meaning of bringing her up at a time like this?
"You can call me Acheron," Xia Yu looked at the counter in front of her. "Recommend a flavor for me. I trust your taste."
"I recommend this matcha flavor," Rita reached out and prepared the ice cream cone for her. "I won't mix it with any other flavors; the original taste is the most worth savoring. I just wonder if Miss Acheron has the courage to eat the food prepared by a Schicksal Valkyrie."
In truth, the flavor didn't matter. She had already laced it with poison.
"Tastes good," Xia Yu reached out, took the ice cream, and took a bite before saying, "As for you, Rita, I still trust you."
"But Rita cannot understand where this trust comes from," Rita narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, don't misunderstand, I'm not trusting your honesty," Xia Yu said without a change in expression. "I just trust in your strength. You can't make any waves in my hands, so I'm simply at ease. Even if you've poisoned it, it doesn't matter."
Hilarious. To poison an Emanator of Nihility, you would at least need a sufficient dose of poison, right? The kind that could take down a Herrscher in one bite.
Otherwise, no poison would work. Believe it or not, she'd crunch it down in a few bites like seasoning.
"It seems Miss Acheron is very confident in her own strength," Rita frowned upon hearing this. She was an S-Rank Valkyrie, after all. For this unknown person before her to be so confident?
She wondered just how capable this woman really was!
"Without the strength to crusade against an Emanator—oh, you're probably not familiar with this combat unit. Hmm, let me convert it for you," Xia Yu said while eating the ice cream. "If you don't have the strength to crusade against a Herrscher, then don't draw your weapon. I like the current peaceful atmosphere."
"A Herrscher?" Rita was taken aback, then almost laughed out of anger. "You aren't saying that you are a Herrscher, are you? Miss Acheron."
Actually, a Herrscher was an understatement; Xia Yu had casually converted it. Without the strength of Finality, one wasn't even qualified to sit at the table with her.
"Yes, I am the Third Herrscher," Xia Yu shifted her attention from the ice cream and looked into Rita's eyes. "Do I look like one to you?"
"With all due respect, the birth of a Herrscher is inevitably accompanied by a Great Honkai," Rita felt like the person opposite her was treating her like a fool. "May I ask where the Great Honkai accompanying you, the Third Herrscher, is?"
"Isn't it right here in Nagazora City?" Xia Yu said casually. "Hmm? Does your Schicksal still not know what she's trying to do? Oh, it's you who doesn't know yet."
"Then Otto is just too cruel. He sent you all the way out here but didn't tell you such important news. Rita, if I were you, I wouldn't have been able to tolerate it. Why not just go up and punch him a couple of times?"
"Believe me, the feeling of Otto's Soulium face crunching under your fists is truly wonderful!"
"News of a Great Honkai... I can't just pretend I didn't hear that," Rita prepared to make her move. The tourists nearby had long been ushered away by Schicksal personnel, leaving only the two of them standing there.
"As for your offense against the Overseer, believe me, you will regret your mouth..."
She felt that as someone from Anti-Entropy, it was actually quite normal to speak disrespectfully to the Overseer. She was just about to strike and capture the other party, but when she locked eyes with the person who called herself Acheron... Rita lost consciousness.
Xia Yu walked around the stand to the back. Looking at Rita, who had been corrupted by Nihility and resembled a wooden puppet, she reached out, took her hand, and led her outside.
Of course, she knew her limits. This tiny fraction of the Power of Nihility had only temporarily corrupted her soul. As soon as she withdrew her power, Rita would immediately recover.
How could Xia Yu bear to actually harm her? She had long wanted to experience what it was like to have a perfect maid.
Meanwhile, the surrounding Schicksal personnel watched as Lady Rita, her eyes vacant, was led away by the hand. Knowing that this S-Rank Valkyrie had truly been defeated, they hurriedly retreated.
They weren't foolish enough to overestimate their own abilities and risk their lives. After all, they had seen it all with their own eyes: an S-Rank Valkyrie had been subdued without even having the chance to fight back. How could intelligence personnel like them possibly mess with that kind of strength?
Hurrying back to report and request backup was what they needed to do.
Eating her ice cream, Xia Yu held Rita's hand and walked toward the Ferris Wheel.
Having lost consciousness, the latter could only obediently let herself be manipulated.
"Sister Acheron!"
She hadn't walked far before Kiana came rushing over in a flurry.
"We saw it from up in the sky. Are you okay?" she asked nervously.
Behind her, Mei and Bronya also had nervous expressions on their faces. This was especially true for the latter; as Cocolia's daughter, she naturally knew the intel regarding Schicksal's renowned S-Rank Valkyrie.
While up in the air, Kiana, who had been observing the ground, noticed that the crowd around where Sister Acheron went was gradually thinning out until a large area was completely empty. She immediately sensed that something was wrong.
If Bronya hadn't stopped her, she would have wanted to smash the window and climb down the framework of the Ferris Wheel right then and there.
Mei beside her wasn't much better; she was even ready to take action alongside Kiana.
In the end, it was Bronya who stopped them, because she knew Xia Yu's strength. Who in this little Nagazora City could possibly touch her?
But when they came down, she saw the famous Schicksal S-Rank Valkyrie looking lifeless, being led by the hand by Sister Acheron... The shock she felt was simply indescribable.
After all, everything before had just been speculation and hearsay. Seeing Sister Acheron take action for the first time, effortlessly subduing an S-Rank Valkyrie... She absolutely must not offend her!
"What could possibly happen to me," Xia Yu patted Kiana and Mei's little heads upon hearing this. "I just ran into an old friend and went to catch up, that's all."
"That's great, I thought..." Kiana let out a sigh of relief.
Mei, standing to the side, looked at her with a slightly strange expression upon hearing this... This is clearly my Aunt, so why do you seem even more worried than I am...
But Xia Yu understood perfectly well that Kiana was just starved for affection.
Having relied solely on her father since childhood, only for him to leave without saying goodbye, Kiana had spent these past few years wandering all over Eurasia... She was only sixteen. How could she not be starved for affection?
"By the way, who is this lady?" Kiana looked at the lifeless-eyed Rita behind her.
At this, Xia Yu withdrew the Power of Nihility. Rita's eyes instantly cleared up, and she subconsciously tried to strike, but the hand that was being held once again transmitted that terrifying power.
Although it had only been less than ten minutes, the taste of being corrupted by Nihility... While immersed in it, she didn't feel any terror, for it was Nihility, after all. But once she snapped out of that state...
A person who regained their sanity would instantly be submerged in fear. It was the body's survival instinct—she absolutely could not touch even the slightest bit of it ever again!
"She's a friend of mine, named Rita," Xia Yu turned back and smiled at Rita, saying, "Mhm, she'll be staying with us for the next few days. Don't let her appearance fool you; Rita is actually a very formidable maid."
Faced with her indifferent gaze, Rita's brain worked at top speed. Using her qualities as an S-Rank Valkyrie to suppress her fear, she bowed to the group.
"Rita Rossweisse, at your service."
She knew she had no choice.
In Acheron's indifferent eyes, she couldn't see a single trace of emotion. If she dared to refuse... the consequences...
Actually, Xia Yu was just under the influence of Nihility. Even though the brunt of it could be suppressed, her emotions still appeared extremely indifferent. However, compared to the original Acheron, her condition was already exceptionally good.
The three people opposite her, however, had varying reactions.
Kiana looked at Rita curiously, "A maid, huh? That sounds so impressive."
But her heart was full of guardedness. She didn't believe that meeting an old friend required clearing out everyone else nearby.
Mei was the most naive one. She believed whatever her Aunt said. Although she also felt something was off, she didn't think too deeply about it.
As for Bronya... Looking at the highly respectful S-Rank Valkyrie, she made up her mind: she would call Mother Cocolia as soon as she got back tonight. They absolutely must not anger Sister Acheron!