From Kiana the Lord Ravager Onward: A Grand Fabricated History
Author: Better Hang Myself Than Write
"A confession out of nowhere is always such a surprise."
Kiana blinked.
For some reason, ever since she walked through the door, she had felt that Kafka's words and actions were… maybe a little too suggestive.
Surely it couldn't be just because she had flirted a little over text, right?
That couldn't be enough, could it?
Kafka continued, "It seems, Miss Kiana, that you don't find me all that unfamiliar. Have you already looked into me beforehand?"
"Well, the Stellaron Hunters are pretty famous. You also showed up on the space station not long ago. Even if I didn't deliberately investigate, it would still be normal for me to have heard of you."
Kiana answered calmly.
It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
After all, for a Lord Ravager who had only just awakened in the new era, wouldn't it be natural to look into what major changes had taken place in the present world—and come across the Stellaron Hunters in the process?
"My apologies. I said something rather meaningless just now," Kafka said.
"Then next, in order for us to understand each other a little better, would you like me to properly introduce myself again, Miss Kiana?"
"After all, you've only just awakened in this era. If all you know comes from superficial public records, perhaps you still don't really understand the Stellaron Hunters."
At that, Kiana raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
Judging from Kafka's attitude, the Stellaron Hunters' information on her seemed to be only skin-deep. They clearly did not know the truth about her actual situation.
If that was the case, then she could breathe a little easier.
Back when she had first laid the groundwork on Jarilo, she really had worried that the Stellaron Hunters might interfere.
Thankfully, after using IPC authority to completely lock Jarilo down, that scenario had never come to pass.
And now, in order to stay in character, Kiana did not refuse.
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Kafka."
So Kafka stopped wasting time.
"Ahem. Miss Kiana may already have heard some of the rumors surrounding the Stellaron Hunters while learning about the present era."
"But I hope you'll believe us. In the eyes of outsiders, the Stellaron Hunters may look like dangerous criminals with sinister plans."
"But in truth, we're simply good people fighting for a better world."
With that, Kafka fell silent and turned her gaze to Kiana, seemingly wanting to observe her reaction first.
And what reaction could Kiana possibly have?
Kiana felt a little dumbfounded.
To be fair, from her perspective, considering what the Stellaron Hunters would go on to do and what their ultimate objective was, calling themselves people "fighting for a better world" was… not entirely inaccurate.
But hearing those words come out of Kafka's mouth still felt unbelievably weird.
"Uh… well, thanks for that, I guess?" Kiana said uncertainly.
"You're welcome," Kafka replied with a smile.
Kiana: ...
"So then, Miss Kafka—after saying all that, what exactly did you come here to ask of me?"
Kiana decided to stop circling around the issue and cut straight to the point.
And at last, Kafka revealed her purpose.
"Elio has come up with a new script."
"The script needs a variable full of surprises. I wonder whether Miss Kiana might be interested?"
"A variable?"
Kiana's gaze sharpened.
That was a very suggestive sentence.
So the Stellaron Hunters really were trying to recruit her?
"What do you want me to do?"
Kafka's answer was clean and direct.
"Join us. Become one of the Stellaron Hunters."
"Well? Why not give it some serious thought?"
Kiana did not respond immediately.
Honestly, after receiving that text from the Stellaron Hunters, she had already imagined this very scenario.
So now the question was—
should she agree?
Kiana decided to first see how much sincerity they were actually bringing to the table.
"I'm actually a very practical person, Miss Kafka."
"If you want me to join the Stellaron Hunters, then what exactly can you offer me?"
"I may have only just awakened, but I've already gained a basic understanding of the Stellaron Hunters' reputation. That doesn't exactly sound like a peaceful life."
Kafka, however, seemed thoroughly prepared for this.
Or perhaps she had already gone through this sort of situation countless times before.
In any case, she answered without the slightest hesitation.
"That depends on what Miss Kiana wants."
"Every member who joins the Stellaron Hunters once made a deal with Elio. And in the future written into the script, we will obtain the things we desire."
"Perhaps if you were to meet Elio in person, you might find the answer you want."
Kiana: ...
So this was just an empty sales pitch.
To be honest, Kiana had absolutely no interest in joining the Stellaron Hunters.
Her most practical goal right now was to fully raise all of her personas to completion.
And that was clearly not something the Stellaron Hunters could help her with.
There was also one extremely important reason besides that:
Kiana was beginning to seriously suspect that Destiny's Slave might actually be some kind of pyramid-scheme mastermind.
Otherwise, she genuinely could not understand how he had managed to rope so many people in.
Helping Kafka and Silver Wolf realize their wishes was one thing.
Silver Wolf barely had any substantial wish to begin with, and Kafka only sought change.
But what about Firefly and Blade?
One wanted to cure her Entropy Loss Syndrome and keep living.
The other wanted to die.
What did either of those things have to do with the Path of Finality?
Firefly was easier to understand, at least.
After all, at present, there really was no known solution to Entropy Loss Syndrome.
But to be honest, if Kiana found a way to bluff some people into giving her Abundance Emanator persona another buff, then maybe Abundance might actually be able to solve Firefly's problem.
And when that time came, in order to repay the favor, maybe Firefly could be coaxed into becoming another high-quality little lamb who stayed by Kiana's side every day so she could fleece her properly?
After all, judging from Firefly's overall specs, even if she wasn't quite on Herta's level, she was definitely stronger than most people.
And then there was Blade.
If even an Emanator of Abundance could not achieve true, absolute immortality, then could a short-lived human who had merely inherited a tiny fraction of Shuhu's power really have such an absurdly broken mechanic?
Until she saw Blade with her own eyes, Kiana decided to reserve judgment.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Kafka," Kiana said at last.
"But I don't think I can accept the Stellaron Hunters' invitation."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 135)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 110)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter67)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter85)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 60
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 65
From Junkman to Wasteland 50
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 35
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 40
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 37
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