Chapter 176: Are We Talking About the Same Person?
"Achoo...!"
"Did you catch a cold, Mei?"
"Well... thank you for your concern, Brother Tian, but I don't think I caught a cold."
After all, it was ridiculous for a Herrscher to catch a cold.
"I just always feel like I've forgotten something..."
"As is usually the case, the things you forget are not very important."
"Mmm…"
...
Tesla shivered silently.
She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling.
Did something happen to Mei?
No... that shouldn't be the case, right?
Tesla thought with considerable worry.
"Beep! Low battery!"
"It just had to happen this time."
Tesla couldn't help but sigh as she saw the battery level enter a dangerous state.
But then again, doesn't Sky City have "free food for big eaters" promotions?
That old Shenzhou saying is very true.
"Man is iron and rice is steel; if you skip a meal, you'll be hungry..."
The fact that Tesla still has the energy to complain proves that she is still in good shape.
"I always feel inexplicably lonely... What the heck is this feeling? But I do feel like everyone is hiding something from me."
Tesla changed the drone's operation mode to automatic return, then sat down on the edge of the rooftop.
"Seriously? I'm not good at interpersonal relationships! Do you expect me to understand what that bitch Nancy is thinking?"
Tesla yelled loudly into the empty air, venting her frustration.
"And that Tian Shi said he would be back this year, but he's nowhere to be found! If he dares to stand me up, I'll show him how I deal with him!"
Tesla complained into the air with frustration and fury for a long time before stopping.
"Well, well, Tesla, change your attitude... Ugh... I don't care about Tian Shi or anything like that. I don't care if that bastard dies outside. Yes, that's right... I should check the drone I just repaired."
Tesla patted her face to divert her attention.
"According to the patrol range, they should have returned by now..."
No, wait, why is the drone's actual range downward now?
Setting aside why the drone flew downward, the speed alone is wrong, right?
I just complained for two or three minutes, didn't I?
Creak, creak, creak.
The rough friction sound of the iron stairs downstairs and the ever-closer distance on the screen undoubtedly proved that something very bad was happening.
"Hey, hey, hey... today isn't going to be my unlucky day, is it?"
Tesla swallowed hard, then slowly pulled out her weapon and aimed at the rooftop door.
Creak... creak... bang!
The old rooftop door was opened directly, and Tesla could see the face of the person who arrived.
"Hey... I haven't done anything yet. Is it necessary for you to come and arrest me personally?"
Looking at the heroic blonde Valkyrie in front of her, Tesla dropped the weapon in her hand and raised her hands.
What kind of bad luck is this?
Shouldn't Durandal be chasing high-level Honkai beasts all over the world?
Why would she come to capture a poor doctor who just took her drone for a spin?
Tesla also saw her poor drone at that moment: the Valkyrie in front of her was holding it roughly in her hands, and its wings were broken.
"I'm clarifying beforehand that I won't say anything."
"Huh... Doctor Tesla?"
Durandal looked at the red-haired girl with twin pigtails in front of her with her hands raised in surrender but a look of resentment on her face, feeling a little strange.
"What are you doing here?"
"I already told you! I won't say anything! At most, I'll jump off here today... Wait, aren't you going to arrest me?"
Tesla, who was shrinking back, suddenly noticed that there was something wrong with Durandal's tone.
"You weren't sent by the Bishop, why should I arrest you?"
"Wait a minute, is this something the strongest Schicksal Valkyrie should say?"
Did you get the wrong script?
"But this is what Bianka Durandal Ataegina should say."
Bianka answered very frankly.
After the confrontation with Rita, she already understood that Tian Shi was the leader of the Anti-Entropy Alliance.
In fact, before this, Schrödinger called Tian Shi Leader, but little Bianka was also a fool at the time.
"Are you finally unable to bear that bastard Otto's oppression and ready to rise up?"
Tesla had a strange expression on her face.
"Oppression is not a big deal... a revolt or something probably has nothing to do with me right now."
Bianka touched her chin with her free hand, as if trying to figure out how to explain the situation to Tesla.
"But maybe there was a disagreement with Bishop Otto, but that's not the point. Doctor, have you come to see Tian Shi?"
"Huh?"
Tesla rubbed her temple.
"What? Repeat what you just said?"
"Doctor, are you here to see Tian Shi?"
"Yes, yes, yes... Wait! How do you know that bastard Tian Shi?"
Tesla looked at Durandal with extreme vigilance.
Could it be that there's a romance here?
"Hmm... How did I meet Tian Shi? This story begins five years ago."
Bianka showed a nostalgic look.
"Five years?"
Tesla frowned, with a bad feeling in her heart.
"Well, I still have the patience to listen to a story."
...
Five minutes later
"So, five years ago, you, Rita, and Tian Shi entered a World Bubble and embarked on a grand adventure to save the world?"
Tesla put her hand to her forehead.
Although she had to admit it, it was quite cool.
But the important thing is not being cool; it's about...
"Is that midget Schrödinger also here? Or Iron Mask Man? No, that damn midget never mentioned this in any of our communications!"
"Hmm... perhaps Dr. Schrödinger has her own reasons?"
"What excuse could that damned midget have?"
Tesla clicked her lips with super, super, super, super distaste.
"I really can't believe you're so brave, Durandal, you even mentioned the golden apple."
"Me? Courage?"
Bianka looked at Tesla confusedly.
"..."
Hey, hey, hey! Isn't your gaze too innocent?
Could it be that she is the type of person whose body acts before her brain?
That is, if Tian Shi had given the apple to Rita... well, let's say it was Schrödinger.
Tesla thought about it and realized she was more annoyed with Rita.
Not only had she tied her up once before, but now she was even involved in Tian Shi's affairs.
And, and, and that girl's "compatibility" is even greater than hers and that crafty midget Schrödinger's combined!
"How would you feel if Tian Shi gave the apple to Schrödinger?"
Although Tesla's reason told her it would be better not to ask that question, but... humans are not purely rational creatures.
Therefore, despite knowing that her question could cause the imposing Valkyrie in front of her to react and create another opponent for herself, Tesla still didn't control her mouth.
"If Tian Shi had given the apple to Dr. Schrödinger..." Bianka repeated, lowering her head.
"Then, I guess I won't ask the next questions separately?"
"Is that really all?"
"Maybe I would feel a little lost? No, maybe very lost."
Bianka's face showed a strange look of confusion.
"What state of mind was I in when I asked that question?"
"How is it that you don't even remember what you were thinking at the time?"
Tesla's complaint brought an ironic smile to Bianka's face.
"Perhaps I am turning into a boring adult?"
Bianka was a little disappointed.
"I... well, to be honest, I don't know how to get along with Tian Shi now."
"Huh?"
Tesla tilted her head.
"Do you need someone to teach you how to get along with others?"
"Not in that sense."
Bianka said, shaking her head.
"Perhaps, to be more direct... I'm a little worried about what Tian Shi thinks of my current 'boring' self, I guess?"
"Wow! This topic is strangely delicate and yet feminine."
Tesla had a bewildered expression.
"By the way, isn't Rita friends with Tian Shi? She could ask him such a delicate and feminine question."
When Tesla said this, a hint of jealousy suddenly filled her tone.
"Rita..."
Bianka pondered for a moment.
"I think Rita might like Tian Shi."
"You could simply remove the word 'might'."
Tesla said with a grimace.
"What about Dr. Tesla?"
"Uh... I guess so too?"
Bianka's sudden frankness made Tesla blush.
"Well, I can't say I completely like him. After all, that guy is mediocre. He's always loafing around and likes to dress up as a ghost to scare people. He's always scheming with that Einstein and occasionally steals my truffles and snacks. It's just that I haven't found another one I like in the last sixty years. When I find one, I'll let that bastard Tian Shi hide in a corner and cry with regret."
Tesla gradually lowered her head.
"Of course, that doesn't mean he doesn't have his virtues. For example, he tolerates my bad temper very well, helps me clean my room, and even carries me to bed when I'm drunk. His appearance is... ahem, normal, probably one of those I can barely look at. If he were found on the street, I don't think anyone would want him except me."
"Your face is very red."
Bianka looked thoughtfully at Tesla, whose face was red as a ripe apple and her voice increasingly low.
Bianka truly felt Tesla's affection for Tian Shi.
"Yes... and he's also good at complimenting, even though he's not very good with words... Sometimes he even makes me breakfast, although his cooking skill is quite mediocre... He also learns very fast, and I taught him all the mechanics... And..."
Tesla was obviously blushing, lowering her head and crossing her hands in embarrassment, but she still didn't finish the topic.
Bianka thought Tesla would ramble for hours if she didn't stop her.
In a sense, this situation is quite rare.
"Seriously? Wait, why am I telling you this?"
"No, it was you who said that, Dr. Tesla."
Bianka looked speechlessly at Tesla, who had just realized what was happening.
"You couldn't help but say it yourself, could you?"
"Ugh... I can't deny that."
In front of an honest person like Bianka, Tesla cannot continue to be tough.
Besides, let's be realistic, Bianka is a good fighter.
Tesla has not yet become so complacent as to forget her status as a "captive."
"So, Durandal, if you think about it like me, you'll know whether you like Tian Shi or not, right?"
"Is that so?"
Durandal raised her eyebrows with slight surprise.
"In that case, Tian Shi... well, he seems to have no flaws."
"Huh?"
"No, wait. Aren't you glorifying Tian Shi too much in your mind?"
Tesla couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth.
"What do you mean by 'perfect'? Are you sure we're talking about the same person? Aren't you overthinking Tian Shi too much?"
"?"
Bianka frowned thoughtfully.
"In my opinion, Tian Shi had no flaws; on the contrary, back then I was quite willful, which caused him a lot of trouble."
"I bet you're overly embellishing him."
Tesla's mouth twitched.
"That guy can be reliable sometimes, but not to that extent. Why don't you think about it again?"
Thinking about it again.
"Well, in my impression, Tian Shi has no flaws..."
"Well... I didn't expect you to be like this, Durandal."
She is the type who embellishes her impression of the person she likes. It really goes to show that you can't judge a person by their appearance.
"But having said that, although I'm a little reluctant to admit it, how should I put it? Yours can probably be considered as liking him."
"Really? Does this count as... liking?"
Bianka's face showed hesitation.
"It feels a little strange..."
"Forget it. I don't have time to argue with you now."
Tesla couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth as she looked at Bianka, who was lost in thought with her head down.
"Let's get straight to the point... Did you say you know where Tian Shi is?"
"Ah... he's with Rita now, and by his side are Raven, MEI, and... uh, Raiden Mei?"
"...?"
Tesla arched an eyebrow at the familiar name.
"Who was the last person you talked about?"
"Raiden Mei."
"Is she the Raiden Mei I know?"
Tesla let out a slightly broken smile.
"Um... if it's as I think, it should be her."
Bianka seemed to feel an invisible sense of oppression from Tesla, and her speech became slower.
"Hehehe... something happened and you can't cook again, right?"
Tesla smiled indifferently.
"Come on, Durandal, take me to find them!"