In a heavily fortified military base, a notorious Siberia lord was indulging in his evening feast.
The room was lavish—brightly lit, adorned with imported furnishings, and filled with delicacies from across the globe. In a land ravaged by chaos, his opulence was a testament to his iron grip over the region.
Perhaps it was this hunger for luxury that had plunged Siberia into such turmoil.
But no matter how vast his influence, it couldn't shield him from the fate quietly approaching.
Unaware that this dinner might be his last, he savored each bite, oblivious to the shadow watching him from the corner of the room.
Bronya had already infiltrated the base.
Her cold eyes never left the warlord, scanning for the perfect moment to strike.
She could've ended him days ago, but her mind had been clouded—haunted by a recurring dream that left her fatigued and unfocused. Even now, her mental state was fragile.
So she waited. Patient. Calculated. She would strike only when his guard was completely down.
Yesterday's collapse in the basement had been a wake-up call. But at least the dream hadn't returned, and she'd regained enough clarity to move.
The lord finished his meal and turned on a gramophone—an extravagant piece imported from Europe. As classical music filled the room, he reclined lazily on a custom lounge chair, completely relaxed.
That was her cue.
A stocking slipped silently around his neck.
His eyes snapped open, meeting Bronya's icy gaze—eyes that held no emotion, only judgment.
He tried to scream, but Bronya's grip was merciless. His voice was reduced to choked gasps, drowned out by the music.
His bloated face turned pale, his limbs flailed weakly. But it was too late.
With one final pull, Bronya ended the life of the man who had plunged Siberia into chaos.
She exhaled sharply, her breath fogging in the cold air.
Her arm trembled. She'd forgotten her dagger—left behind in the basement. If not for her quick thinking, the mission might've failed.
Using the stocking had been improvised. Effective. But risky.
No time to linger.
Bronya moved to the ventilation shaft she had tampered with earlier. With a leap, she grabbed the edge and pulled herself in—her small frame perfect for slipping through unnoticed routes.
She thought she was in the clear.
But fate, as always, had other plans.
The door burst open.
"Leader, I'm here to clean up—Leader?!"
Bronya's heart sank.
A female officer had entered the room. She saw Bronya's silhouette vanish into the duct and immediately sounded the alarm.
By the time Bronya reached the outskirts of the base, chaos had erupted.
Searchlights swept the grounds. Armed squads mobilized. The base, once sluggish and corrupt, now moved with alarming precision.
Bronya cursed under her breath.
"Didn't they say this place was riddled with incompetence? What's with this sudden efficiency?"
She crouched in the shadows, scanning for an escape route. None presented itself.
Her hiding spot was secure—for now. But time was running out.
Meanwhile, far from the chaos, two girls huddled together in the ruins of a forgotten building.
After a long trek through the blizzard, Kiana had finally led the Captain to shelter.
The Captain gathered dry branches, trying to start a fire. Kiana, grinning proudly, pulled a lighter from her pack.
"How about it, Captain? Pretty reliable, right?"
The Captain chuckled, pinching her nose affectionately before lighting the fire.
"Yes, yes. Our little Kiana is the most reliable."
"Hehehe~"
As the flames crackled, the Captain wrapped her jacket around Kiana, pulling her close to share warmth.
Their supplies were meager—barely enough for one person. With the Captain now in the picture, they wouldn't last long.
Siberia was too dangerous. The Captain had made up her mind.
Once the blizzard passed, they would leave. She didn't know where yet—but anywhere was better than here.
She stared out the broken window, watching the snow swirl violently, and held Kiana tighter.
But Kiana's attention was elsewhere.
Through her honkai perception, she sensed a familiar presence—Bronya, hiding near the barracks.
A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes.
Should I interfere with history?
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
From the moment she reunited with the Captain, history had already changed.
She had a plan.
Channeling the Herrscher of the Void's authority, Kiana bypassed its dormant consciousness and activated a spatial rift.
A purple void opened beneath Bronya, swallowing her before she could react.
Moments later, Bronya found herself in a snowy grove far from the base.
Confused. Cold.
Kiana smirked.
"That's for bullying me in the last loop. Enjoy the snow, Bronya."
She wasn't worried. Bronya had memorized the entire Siberia map—she'd bragged about it endlessly, mocking Kiana's test scores.
This was payback. A harmless one.
Nestled back in the Captain's arms, Kiana wore a triumphant grin.
"Bronya, stay with Seele this time. I'll stay here—with the Captain. Warm and Happy."
The Captain glanced down at Kiana, who had once again snuggled close.
She sighed, but didn't push her away. Instead, she adjusted her posture and held her tighter.
"You... with this weather, aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"
"Hehehe~ What does it matter? If I catch a cold, I still have the Captain—"