As soon as the topic touched on her fiancé, the white-haired dumpling rolling on the floor changed her expression abruptly.
She surreptitiously rolled to the door, extending a small hand in an attempt to open a crack wide enough for her to slip through.
"Senior Theresa?"
Laughable. There's no way to fool the Golden Goose with her astonishing intuition.
Theresa had no choice but to take the initiative and act unreasonably, trying to use the World's Number One Cutie face to muddle through.
"Do you have any tact? Do you have any tact?! At a time like this, shouldn't you pretend not to know anything and let this Principal leave?"
Bianka spoke frankly, "Before getting an answer, that is impossible."
She coughed lightly, imitating the words Otto had given her before her departure: "Theresa, at your age, Grandpa understands your inner emptiness and desire to seek comfort from a partner. But no matter how thirsty you are, you can't go for a little guy the same age as Durandal! Others say 'female three years older holds a gold brick' (meaning good luck/fortune), but you? Female thirty years older, making that kid hold a gold coffin?"
"Grandpa is talking nonsense!"
Theresa puffed up her cheeks and stood up to glare angrily. "The age gap between this Principal and him isn't that big!"
"Laughing my head off, hahaha, female thirty years older holds a gold coffin! How did I not know the Overseer was so talented with words before!"
Himeko rolled on the sofa clutching her stomach, while slapping Fu Hua's black-stockinged thigh hard. "Eh? Hua, why aren't you laughing? Isn't this funny?"
The girl's expression was complex. "Heh, hehe, my laughing point is quite high."
Theresa was fine; at least if she got together with the guy, he'd have a gold coffin to hold.
What about her?
Female three thousand years older enters the celestial ranks? Female thirty thousand years older, the Queen Mother feeds you rice?
Hey, don't say it, Fu Hua actually knew the Queen Mother of the West from the impressions of the people of the Current Era.
This is the weight of the Phoenix Immortal (Celestial).
Back to the one being shipped with Theresa.
"I feel like I hid it well enough. How on earth did those people figure it out?"
The white-haired dumpling mumbled as she climbed up, sitting on her work chair with a 'heave-ho'.
She was too short; only her head poked out above the desk.
"Pfft!"
Bianka covered her lips and turned her head away.
Theresa was long used to this. Her azure eyes scanned the room like a tiger, emphasizing every word: "Among us, there must be a mole!"
Fu Hua: !!!
Wrong solution process leads to the correct answer, basically.
Himeko said sarcastically, "Someone hasn't forgotten that Increases just returned to Headquarters to report, right?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Theresa was certain. "That big-chested exhibitionist nun said she wouldn't listen to Grandpa!"
"Only seeking the opinion of the Tribunal first on major matters. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are ultimately combat sequences under Schicksal."
Fu Hua tried hard to clear herself of suspicion as a spy. "As long as a certain exchange of benefits is paid, with that Famine Horseman's wicked taste, she wouldn't mind selling you out to the Overseer for benefits."
That's just how people who seek amusement are.
Bianka couldn't help but take a step forward. "So, who exactly is Senior Theresa's fiancé?"
Based on a little curiosity, and also puzzlement over why she was specifically sent to the Far East Branch for this matter, the girl had asked Otto before leaving.
—Can't you grandfather and granddaughter communicate this yourselves? It's not like modern society lacks satellite networks and communication terminals. Why make me run an errand to deliver this message?
Unexpectedly, Otto only gave her a subtle, wicked smile that was both gloating and slightly sympathetic, as if they were fellow sufferers. He even walked over trying to pat Bianka's shoulder, but she agilely dodged.
"You have to ask the person involved about this."
Himeko implied, "After the incident ended back then, our Lord Theresa seemed indifferent on the surface, but privately she investigated that little boy's background thoroughly. The level of detail, tsk tsk tsk, it's hard to say she's not playing a 'raising a younger boy' game."
"What is this called? What is this called? This is called measuring the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain! This is called wearing yellow-tinted glasses and seeing everything as yellow!"
Theresa took out a stack of documents from the drawer and slapped them on the table, standing on the chair looking down with her hands on her hips. "This Principal is simply curious about the Council's reason for wanting to reclaim that child! Don't you wonder about the person those sh*t-stirrers personally asked to capture?"
Naturally, they were curious too.
The three, including Bianka, tacitly came to Theresa and took the documents she had prepared.
The first to be stunned was Fu Hua.
As a spy, she joined St. Freya as an ordinary Shenzhou citizen, not the legendary Red Kite Immortal.
Since it involved disguise, a perfect identity background that the Far East Branch couldn't find fault with had to be compiled.
Fu Hua always left this aspect to Otto. Although the man was unreliable, he could indeed do this flawlessly.
For example, Fu Hua's identity this time was an orphan from a city in southern Shenzhou. Attracted by Schicksal's philosophy of protecting all that is beautiful while traveling, and having discovered excellent Honkai adaptability after testing, she chose to join St. Freya.
Soon, relying on her 'hard work', she became one of the only two A-Rank Valkyries in the Far East Branch.
Then, all sorts of demons and monsters came knocking.
Like the Fu family.
Why?
Because Fu Hua's disguised surname this time was 'Fu'.
In modern society, not everyone, but many people find that relatives are only close for one generation; subsequent generations mostly don't keep in touch.
However, if you become a somewhat important leader or wealthy person, relatives from five generations back will come to claim you. This is called 'High official brings prosperity to nine generations of kin'.
In the current society, the existence of Honkai is still not fully public.
But in the eyes of those who care, the influence brought by an A-Rank Valkyrie cannot be ignored.
The key point was that the deceased orphan whose identity Fu Hua replaced really was a distant descendant of theirs lost outside.
To avoid exposing her identity, the girl had no choice but to hold her nose and acknowledge these relatives with whom she had no blood relation.
But it was limited to this; she ignored everything else.
If asked, she'd say she was abandoned since childhood and felt cold-hearted about it.
Fu Hua thought the matter was settled, but unexpectedly, she saw related content on the documents Theresa handed over.
She put down the text and pushed up her glasses. "In other words, this Fuli is actually my 'cousin'?"
"Your old Fu family sure produces talent."
Theresa sighed with emotion. "First there's you, a genius A-Rank Valkyrie, and now a monster who contends with the Herrscher of Thunder pops up."
"Holy sh*t! His parents used to be in Schicksal, and their codenames were actually single letters of the highest level?!"
Himeko's shouting interrupted her, and the content made Fu Hua's body shake.
"Single letter level? You didn't read it wrong?"
"It's written clearly right here!"
Himeko handed over the document, a rare panic in her movements. "Dr. Fu A, Code A. Dr. Zhou Can, Code C. These are the top-tier researcher codenames even in the Fourth District, right!"
The Fourth District. A collective term for all Schicksal research departments including the Equipment R&D Department, St. Sequence Institute, Helheim Honkai Energy System Laboratory, Jotunheim Industrial R&D Center, etc.
Just looking at the name 'Fourth', one can sense it was originally intended as a new group to stand as an equal to the original three giants: the Overseer, the Tribunal, and the Council.
Unexpectedly, the impact of the Babylon Laboratory incident in 2000 was too severe. The latter three seized the opportunity to dismember and split it up. The name 'Fourth' became synonymous with being scattered in all directions, which is ironic.
Although split up, some conventions were retained.
For example, the unique twenty-six letters of the English alphabet. To this day, they are still awarded to Schicksal's top researchers, becoming their unique codenames until taken over by successors who achieve greater things.
As the person with the highest academic qualifications among the group of illiterates present—a Ph.D. in Interstellar Dynamics—Himeko knew very well how difficult it was to achieve such accomplishments.
She immediately associated it with Fuli's sudden combat ability. Could it be from his parents?
Soon, Himeko denied this view.
[Dr. Fu A and Dr. Zhou Can unfortunately suffered an accident during a classified experiment in 2007 and their whereabouts remain unknown to this day.]
'Whereabouts unknown' is putting it nicely; putting it badly, it means not even bones remain.
Little Fuli, who was only 8 years old at the time, was repatriated because of this and had no further contact with Schicksal.
The Headquarters' confidentiality department even 'thoughtfully' wiped all his impressions of Schicksal and the Honkai side through psychological suggestion and other means, leaving only hazy illusions like mirages and unforgettable memories that couldn't be erased no matter what (such as the promise with Kiana).
"Killing the donkey the moment it leaves the mill, and to an 8-year-old child at that."
Staring at the photo of the cute little boy on the document, enough to drive a Catholic priest crazy, Himeko, overflowing with maternal love, revealed deep intolerance in her words.
She already admired this little savior who stepped forward to fight the Herrscher in a time of crisis, and now her heart ached even more.
"That's why this Principal left the cold Headquarters to establish St. Freya."
Theresa jumped up and snatched back the photo, taking disinfectant alcohol to start sterilizing it.
"Hey!"
Himeko put a hand on her hip helplessly.
"Touched by a strange auntie's large hand filled with adult desires... if not sterilized in time, little Fuli in the photo might get pregnant!"
Theresa was serious, then changed the subject: "You see the situation, Durandal. How about joining our Far East Branch? This Principal guarantees your future children won't be as miserable as this little guy! If worst comes to worst, hand him over to Himeko as a child groom! She must be dying to have a little husband raised from childhood... Durandal? Durandal?"
She called twice, realizing the other party didn't reply.
Looking over curiously, she found the girl also staring blankly at the documents and little Fuli's photo in her hand. She couldn't help asking with concern, "What's wrong? Hungry because you didn't eat lunch?"
"Ah, nothing."
Bianka was startled, covering her forehead which was throbbing faintly.
"Just a feeling."
She murmured in a voice only she could hear, "This child... I seem to have seen him somewhere."
Without waiting for the others to respond, the girl hurriedly flipped through the remaining documents on her own.
[Fuli, Courtesy Name: Yuanshi. Born December 7, 1998. Son of Schicksal scientists Fu A and Zhou Can. Inherited his father's black hair and mother's crimson eyes, but surprisingly has not undergone any innate or acquired life science modifications. Pure natural human.]
[Should have been cultivated as a reserve combat force for the Tribunal after the two doctors went missing. Due to strong opposition from Headquarters' direct combat instructor and A-Rank Valkyrie Ragnell Lodbrok, who took care of him for a period, he was repatriated after memory erasure treatment.]
Didn't want that child's future to be cursed by the Honkai?
Recalling the Stormtrooper senior she trusted immensely, Himeko, also seeing this part, smiled gently.
Indeed something you would do, Captain.
As another person deeply involved with Ragnell, Bianka's thoughts were equally complex.
The surging inner tide was suppressed by her longing for her senior. Staring at Fuli's photo, she murmured, "Courtesy name?"
Fu Hua took a sip of tea. "Some nostalgic Shenzhou people still have the hobby of giving their children courtesy names. Not for official writing, only used for private address to show intimacy."
Theresa asked curiously, "Then Fu Hua, what is your courtesy name?"
"I don't have one. Or rather, Hua is my courtesy name."
The Red Kite Immortal took another sip of tea, looking calm and composed. " The name Fuli is very well chosen."
"How could it not be! Fuli Yuanshi, Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun (Primeval Lord of Heaven)! That's the supreme god of Taoist mythology!"
Theresa clamored. She had specially investigated the background of this deity.
Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun, the ancestor of the vast, dark, and chaotic Great Brahma, integrating Haotian God (Supreme Deity), Yuanshi Tianzun, Pangu, the Jade Emperor, and other gods into one. He is the [Dao] and the [Old Lord of Heaven] in the mouths of Shenzhou people.
"Don't say that in front of those Taoist priests."
Putting down the teacup, Fu Hua reminded helplessly, "The deity Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun is only recorded in the Daoist Canon of a few schools like the Shenxiao School. It is not recognized in most formal occasions."
As everyone knows, whether internal or external, the essence of mythology is stepping on each other.
Today I invent a father for you, tomorrow your boss becomes an avatar of our boss. Typical Vishnu's ninth avatar, Gautama Siddhartha.
"Is this name good?"
Himeko was unhappy after hearing this. "Naming a child after a mythological figure, I actually feel these parents are irresponsible, not even willing to think of a proper name for their own child."
Fu Hua and Theresa looked at each other and shrugged.
They didn't want to provoke Mother Himeko when she was overflowing with maternal love.
"It's not homophonic to Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun."
Unexpectedly, Bianka spoke up abruptly.
Fuli (浮黎): Vast and boundless, detached and transcendent, beautiful and bright, the origin world.
Yuan (垣): Wall, barrier.
Shi (矢): Arrow and other sharp weapons.
Her ice-blue eyes gazed at the sunny and cheerful little boy in the photo. She said softly, "Incarnating as a barrier, blocking all sharp arrows shot at the beautiful world... His name means this."
Even if, because of this, he becomes scarred and battered.
The afternoon sun spilled onto Bianka through the floor-to-ceiling window, merging with her beautiful waist-length blonde hair, making her look somewhat indescribably sorrowful.
Theresa, carefree and not minding much, said, "Didn't expect you to have researched Shenzhou Mandarin so well, Durandal. Speaking of which, can this meaning be directly translated as 'Fighting for all that is beautiful in the world'? What is he, a Schicksal Destiny Child?"
Schicksal Destiny Child, also can be called Destined One. Extending it further, Genshin Impact Launch. Heh, truly amusing.
"Using one's body as a shield, very much like the philosophy the Kaslana family has always implemented."
Fu Hua's tone was even, making it impossible to tell her mood at the moment. "Worthy of a name given by Shenzhou people who are top researchers in Schicksal."
Theresa looked at her with dead fish eyes. "Shouldn't the tsukkomi here be 'A world where no one gets hurt is completed'?"
"It's a world where only Little Brother Fuli gets hurt that is completed, right!"
Himeko, standing firmly on the side of her little savior and precious disciple's crush, expressed dissatisfaction.
Theresa was speechless. "No, rather than getting hurt himself, his style of doing things is more like making the world get hurt."
"Uh..."
This little carrot made so much sense; Older Sister was speechless for a moment.
Noticing Bianka still burying her head in reading the materials at hand, her eyes rolled. "Lord Durandal~"
The blonde knight princess shivered at her sweet and cloying voice. "No, Senior Himeko, please just call me by my name."
"Then Durandal, I see you seem quite interested in my Li-bao (Baby Li)."
Older Sister tempted, "Since you haven't dated anyone yet, how about... finding him to be your boyfriend and trying it out?"
"Hey! Murata Himeko!"
Theresa, feeling her head turning green, slammed the table and stood up. "Nominally, he counts as my fiancé at least. Is it appropriate for you to let someone else butt in like this?!"
It's fine if the current Overseer gets cuckolded, but why does the future Overseer have to wear the green hat too?
Greener is healthier?
"And directly using 'my' or something."
Fu Hua, who was theoretically Fuli's real family, smiled bitterly. "Cousin Fuli is currently on Schicksal's wanted list. Himeko, saying this in front of an incumbent S-Rank Valkyrie, aren't you afraid of being reported for colluding with the enemy?"
"Exactly, exactly! You don't even have a boyfriend yourself, yet you have the mind to introduce a married man to others!"
Theresa continued to clamor, "Fu Hua, do you know what this is called? This is called 'the person best at comforting others may have been hurt the most', 'the group member who posts porn pics every day never has SEX life'!"
Himeko was furious. "You have the face to say that about me? You three-inch nail bark-skinned midget, aren't you also—"
"Also what?"
The Principal proudly raised her hand. On her slender left middle finger, the ring swindled from Fuli against her conscience sparkled.
Theresa, I fck your [morning 8 AM classes]!!!*
Older Sister couldn't catch her breath, so she turned her head angrily. "Durandal! What do you think!"
As she spoke, she drank the coffee in her cup in one go. Feeling unsatisfied, she took a can of cold beer from the mini-fridge under the coffee table and downed it with glug glug sounds!
"Ah, me?"
Bianka, coming back to her senses, subconsciously tightened her grip on the documents. "Wait! Seniors just said, Little Li has been wanted by those bastards in the Council?"
She had been on a confidential S-Rank mission previously and was sent by the mischievous Otto to ask about the situation as soon as she returned, so she really didn't know about this.
"An order was issued to the Far East Branch, but it was suppressed by a certain white-haired little radish using the investigation of the disaster situation in Nagazora City as an excuse."
Himeko, hiccuping from the alcohol, ignored Theresa's puffy cheeks—which she thought looked fierce but were actually super cute. "Speaking of which, Durandal, you are a Schicksal Valkyrie, right?"
Knowing she was stating the obvious, Bianka still nodded honestly.
"As a Schicksal Valkyrie, it's necessary to execute missions assigned from above, right?"
"Yes, as long as it is within my scope of duty."
"Then the mission issued by the Council is also within your scope of duty, right? You release news saying Fuli is your boyfri—cough, prey, right?"
The older leftover woman overflowing with maternal love seemed to have discovered a new hobby. "That way, others won't have the guts to touch him."
But that mission was clearly issued to your Far East Branch.
Words of defense circled on her lips. Recalling the boy's situation in the documents, Bianka, roughly guessing Himeko's matchmaking idea, actually nodded inexplicably.
"I understand. From now on, Little Li is my prey alone. The mission of capturing him and making him kneel... peace be with you... leave it to me!"
(TL Note: "Gui An" usually means 'kneel and bid peace/farewell', often said to royalty. Here implies capturing/subduing him.)
With that, the girl took three steps in two to the window. She opened it and leaped up, speeding impatiently toward the Pacific Ocean.
That was exactly where the Hyperion was located.
"Wow, in such a hurry?"
Himeko put down the empty beer can. "Although I pushed the boat with the current, that girl's reaction intensity was still a bit unexpected."
They weren't blind. Naturally, they saw Bianka's distracted state after seeing Little Fuli's photo.
"Be careful not to get burned playing with fire."
Fu Hua looked at the clock on the wall and stood up to leave. "I still have a mission, so I won't stay long."
"You don't have to be so busy."
Theresa waved from behind.
"Better to be busy."
Himeko teased as she opened a second can of beer. "That way you can avoid that super troublesome Miss Pink Elf, right~♪"
"Please don't imitate Student Elysia!"
Fu Hua couldn't help shivering, her departing steps quickening a few notches.
...