Hokuto looked at Pardofelis in confusion for a moment, then his gaze swept over Mobius, Elysia, and Vill-V one by one.
Raising a brow slightly, he already had a rough guess as to why they were here.
And so...
He put on a faint smile and casually continued.
"Pardofelis danced well, but I still want to make one, two, three, four, five, six suggestions..."
"For example, if you wore cat ears and a cat tail, it'd definitely be more eye-catching..."
"Wow! 'Otto'-san, that's a pretty good idea!"
Elysia clapped her hands immediately, showing enthusiastic approval.
Then she looked at Pardofelis: "Pardo, want to give it a try? Like, maybe a solo dance performance in the next episode of Pardo's Journey into Honkai Impact 3rd?"
"Huh?"
Pardofelis let out a breath of relief after seeing the security robots gradually retreat because of Hokuto's appearance.
Then she hurriedly shook her head in denial.
"Elysia-san, don't joke with me like that, okay? Dancing and stuff—I'm no good at it."
"No worries, I can teach you~"
Elysia cheerfully pulled Pardofelis aside and began whispering.
Seeing the two of them so engrossed in their secret chatting, Hokuto figured they were going to be at it for a while.
He watched as Elysia casually grabbed Pardofelis and walked away from him, finding a nice spot to sit down as if she were just a guest visiting his home.
He opened his mouth slightly, then shook his head.
Forget it.
He'd just pretend he really did invite them over.
Meanwhile, Vill-V had recovered from the shock of realizing the backdoor she left in the security robots had been removed.
After a moment of thought, she walked over to Hokuto with a curious expression.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," Hokuto nodded lightly, giving her permission to speak freely.
Seeing this, Vill-V didn't hesitate and asked bluntly, "Then I'll get to the point—why is the backdoor I installed in the security robots gone?"
"Oh, that?"
Hokuto blinked and replied casually, "Well, a couple of doctors came to visit before. One of them saw your 'ingenious' mechanical work and, for certain reasons, made a few... modifications."
"Modifications?!"
He hadn't even finished his sentence before Vill-V suddenly raised her voice and cut him off.
"You mean they modified my revolutionary, never-before-seen, super security robots?!"
"Mm... this is what that doctor said."
Hokuto mimicked the tone of a certain red-haired doctor: "The security robots are decent, but why add so many flashy, gimmicky functions? There's even a balloon-blowing heat vent and a bouquet of flowers popping out from the back—none of it's practical at all."
"I couldn't stand it, so I helped you rework them."
He paused, then added his own opinion: "Considering that doctor's point made sense to me, I allowed it."
"Made sense???!!!"
Vill-V's eyes widened instantly.
"Those features were all surprises! Surprises!! If mechanical design loses its element of surprise, it loses all meaning!!"
"Well... I wouldn't really know. I'm completely clueless when it comes to mechanical design," Hokuto said, spreading his hands.
"Hmph, exactly. The one who tied the bell must untie it."
Vill-V snorted. "If that doctor hadn't suggested a rework, my exquisite design wouldn't have been turned into this... aesthetically bankrupt pile of synthetic junk."
She seemed deeply displeased.
Hokuto noticed her expression didn't look right.
He thought for a moment and said, "Just so we're clear—I'm not giving up that doctor's identity."
"Heh, no need. I already have a good idea who that is."
Vill-V waved her hand and turned to leave.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Hokuto stepped in her path just a little.
"Since things have come to this, I can't just sit idly by. Let's see who really understands machinery better."
With that, she disappeared from Hokuto's view within minutes without a backward glance.
Hokuto: "..."
He wasn't sure whether Vill-V was just making an excuse to run away or if she had really guessed who that doctor was—and went to settle the score.
After all, among the "doctors" he knew, the one good at mechanical engineering was quite obvious.
For someone like Vill-V, a seasoned Honkai Impact 3rd player, it wouldn't be hard to figure out.
But maybe... her motive was a bit of both.
As for the specifics—only she would know.
And he still had "guests" to entertain at home, so it wasn't appropriate to chase after her over a vague feeling.
Decision made, he turned to face the one guest still standing—Mobius.
"Dr. Mobius, what an elegant mood today. You actually came all the way to visit me."
Hokuto paused and thought for a second. "Or were you dragged here by Elysia?"
"It was Mobius who came here of her own will~~" Elysia's voice drifted over.
Clearly, while she seemed engrossed in whispering with Pardofelis, she'd actually been listening the whole time.
"Oh...?"
Hokuto was surprised by her answer.
He had the exact same thought as Elysia.
Mobius came here on her own? Which upcoming plot could possibly make her this curious, so eager to know?
With that doubt, he didn't hide his thoughts.
"Dr. Mobius, which part of the upcoming story are you curious about? What made you come here on your own? Klein? Or Elysia?"
"Not all of..." Mobius trailed off, then added with a blank expression, "I'm just here to join the excitement. No other reason."
"Ah~~ I didn't expect Dr. Mobius to be the type who likes to join the fun?"
Hokuto pretended to ponder, "Hmm... then what Elysia told me before must be true."
"That thing? What weird thing did Elysia tell you again?" Mobius asked immediately.
Elysia told Hokuto something again?
Huh, why "again"?
"She said you once formed a girls' gossip squad with her, Sakura, Pardofelis, and Eden—and you were pretty enthusiastic about it."
Mobius: ???
"Who would ever be enthusiastic about Elysia's ridiculous gossip squad??"
"But Dr. Mobius, you didn't deny being part of the gossip squad? And even though you said it was boring, you still went along with Elysia's nonsense..."
Mobius: ...
Stop asking these kinds of questions. Do you want to end up on her operating table?
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