What relationship? What kind of relationship could we possibly have?
Watching Aisha leave alone, Fuli mumbled to himself.
The little rich girl, Asta, was the Hyperion's number one God of Wealth and economic lifeline. Anna was the only known future Herrscher destined to awaken the Ice Stigmata.
Whether for the growth of the Hyperion or for his grand goal of collecting all thirteen highest-tier Stigmata to forge something magnificent, he had to maintain good relations with both of them. Was there anything wrong with seizing an opportunity to grind some Affection Points?
Not at all!
"So why did she suddenly misunderstand?"
Beside him, Asta also sighed, casting a helpless glance at Anna, who was flustered and wishing she could dig a hole to hide in.
As far as she knew, Anna and Fuli had truly only met once on the Hyperion. And even then, it was Asta herself who, adhering to the principle of besties helping each other, dragged her along to invest early in the Hyperion, a stock with great potential.
This connection was even fainter than Asta's own. At least the Hyperion had genuinely saved Asta's life, and she had, in a moment of emotional loss, jumped into Mr. Fuli's arms and bitten him hard.
"Um, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave too..."
Anna's eyes darted around, her crystal-clear toes wrapped in cool gladiator sandals practically carving out a three-bedroom apartment on the spot.
She felt incredibly superfluous standing there. They were a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, yet she had insisted on forcing herself into the scene.
Moreover, the kind-hearted girl was genuinely worried about Aisha, who had just left.
However—
Her delicate fist clenched quietly at her side. Anna decided to postpone the offline meet-up she had previously planned.
It was too awkward; she would faint.
"Oh, sure."
Having Asta to lead the way was already fortunate enough; Fuli wasn't narcissistic enough to invite Anna, whom he had only met twice, for a threesome... tour.
But he still waved enthusiastically at the girl's retreating back. "Come play on the Hyperion when you're free! And that initial invitation is valid forever!"
Anna's back stiffened, and she disappeared behind the corner pavilion as if fleeing.
"What, what? What initial invitation?"
Asta felt she had heard something interesting, her little ears perking up instantly.
"Just the proposal inviting her to join the Hyperion." Fuli lowered his hand reluctantly. "I'm super optimistic about Anna's potential. That's definitely Serial Herrscher level, a future combat power ceiling."
"Are you sure it's not because of her identity as a Senate Councilor?"
"I actively invited her before knowing about that, okay!"
The little rich girl still felt he was flattering her. Herrschers and simple S-ranks couldn't be generalized together.
The ultimate authority to make thoughts reality within a specific range, and a terrifying energy recovery rate comparable to the total energy of a Critical Honkai event every second—casting aside all the miscellaneous stuff, just these two factors created a huge gap from a regular S-rank.
After all, the standards for this level were only benchmarked against the minimum energy level for the birth of a Serial Herrscher; those iconic characteristics weren't factored in at all.
Max level with base stats versus max level with a full six-item build—they couldn't be mentioned in the same breath.
"Speaking of which," Asta flipped her small braid, her expression probing, "The Third Herrscher that appeared in Nagazora City, that Raiden uh... Makabaka, was she really defeated by you?"
To this day, the credit for subjugating the Herrscher of Thunder was nominally hung on Theresa's head.
But disregarding the Senate and the IPC's various intelligence channels, combined with the massive resource tilt towards the Hyperion after the Theresa incident, and after so much time, many people, including Asta, had vaguely figured it out, realizing who the true owner of this sky-supporting achievement was.
"The Senate definitely knows about this, right?"
Fuli looked unsurprised.
He glanced sideways. "Back then, you guys wanted to arrest me too. If Theresa hadn't stepped forward to stop the warrant, I probably would have been locked up in the Senate's direct underground research institute by now, treated like a lab rat this way and that."
"That's true."
Asta answered subconsciously.
Having 6500 HW Honkai adaptability at age 8—only a brain-dead person would kill and dissect such an ultimate treasure. It would definitely be locked in a dark room to study its mysteries, or—ahem, become a top-tier resource for the noble and beautiful female councilors to take turns optimizing their offspring's genes!
A strange image popped into her head: Theresa representing Apocalypse, herself representing the IPC, Anna from Schariac, Miss Tribios from the British Royal Family...
If they had really captured Mr. Fuli back then, perhaps the route would have transformed into the bizarre development of "I Opened a Harem in the Senate Filled with Beauties"?
Including herself, would everyone take turns carrying his babies—
No, no, no! Asta, what are you thinking? Did you watch too many brainless dramas during your beach vacation?
Thump!
A muffled sound interrupted the girl's wild thoughts about the IF route.
The little rich girl felt her back hit the cold wall. Looking up, she saw Fuli leaning one hand on the wall, trapping her in the small space between his body and the wall.
"That's true? You actually dare to say 'that's true'?"
He snorted coldly, looking down at her from above, a hint of danger in his eyes. "Are you that happy about capturing me as a lab rat? Speak! Were you among those who voted yes back then? Confess truthfully!"
Little Li wasn't actually angry inside; the two didn't know each other during the Third Eruption.
But if there was a chance, he definitely had to tease her. Because a flustered beautiful girl was interesting, and who knows, maybe he could squeeze out some benefits?
Unexpectedly, Asta, being kabe-donned against the wall, didn't show fear. Instead, she puffed out her full chest and provoked, "The Senate seat belonging to the IPC did indeed cast a vote in favor back then. What? Are you going to take revenge on me fiercely now that no one is around?"
She was playing word games.
The Councilor No. 4 back then did cast a vote in favor, but the person sitting in that seat wasn't Asta.
Her ascension was only slightly earlier than Anna's, which was also why the two huddled together for warmth.
But the girl still issued a bratty provocation, and a trace of indescribable anticipation faintly rose in her heart.
As a girl of similar age to Fuli, Asta grew up amidst the terrifying legends of the Second Herrscher.
What kind of existence was that? A walking natural disaster! A nightmare for civilization!
When she was young, even parents used "If you cry again, the Herrscher will come and catch you" to scare her generation, with outstanding results.
When the Third Herrscher was truly born in Nagazora City, many forces, including the IPC, were prepared to bear losses comparable to the Second Eruption, waiting in battle array.
The result?
An unsung hero named Fuli appeared. The Herrscher of Thunder, a manifestation of a Celestial Emperor's godhead, was forcefully subjugated just over ten minutes after birth.
Comparison creates harm. Precisely because they had experienced the tragic Second Eruption, with nearly 100 million casualties globally and the fall of numerous major cities, the hero's merit appeared that much greater.
And now, this hero who created miracles, looking like a legend made manifest, was standing in front of her, kabe-donning her in such an intimate posture.
Girls' feelings, after all, always harbor a bit of a hero complex.
Not to mention Little Li's looks and temperament were quite good, and even his age wasn't that of an uncle from a different generation.
If it's him...
Thinking of this, Asta actually slowly closed her eyes.
Her soft, cherry-blossom lips parted slightly, carrying a hint of unconscious temptation. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if actively inviting something.
A gentle breeze blew, teasing their bangs. A few rays of light leaking through interwove and danced on the walls and ground.
In this moment, in this small space, the temperature seemed to rise, an ambiguous atmosphere fermenting silently...
Fuli: ?
Fuli: ???
Ah this. Sister, are you serious?
Prison Li, who originally only intended to tease her, was dumbfounded. Why is this plot running wild in a strange direction like a runaway horse? Miss, you suddenly pull this stunt; I wasn't mentally prepared at all!
What do I do now?
Really kiss her? Go further? Or refuse?
Any choice seems like it will spoil our pure monetary relationship!
Awooo!!!
At this critical moment of riding a tiger and finding it hard to dismount, a highly solitary wolf-like howl exploded in his mind.
Got it!
Wisdom shone in Fuli's eyes.
He pulled out his phone and switched to camera mode.
Click! Click! Click!
A series of ear-piercing shutter sounds and bright flashes!
"Hmm?"
The noise beside her ears made Asta slowly open her eyes, just in time to see Fuli wearing a refreshing smile of a successful plot, clicking his tongue in wonder at the photos on his phone screen.
He danced with joy while taking pictures: "Hahaha! Finally caught something on you, Asta! From now on, you must give me a discount on all transactions between the IPC and the Hyperion, otherwise I'll release these high-definition close-ups of a beautiful girl asking for a kiss!"
O-Outrageous!
The little rich girl was dumbstruck, but she quickly realized her hormonal irrationality just now.
Was she, Asta, the kind of lovestruck fool who pounced on any handsome guy she saw?
Even if the other party was a hero who killed a Herrscher, her womb wouldn't just suddenly drop and prepare for impregnation, right?!
One could only say, if there were an outsider looking in, they would discover:
Actually, physical contact had occurred between the two, and the passive effect of Jizo Mitama's First Rated Power · Star Saint's Path had taken effect.
This Rated Power didn't genuinely increase the user's charisma; it required skin contact to charm the target.
Unfortunately, during the kabe-don, their limbs had been touching.
Even though Asta carried many high-level protective items and Light Cones against mind control, the Star Saint's Path inevitably influenced her. A moment of infatuation almost led to giving herself away casually.
The little rich girl knew nothing of the above. However, since she had snapped out of it thanks to Fuli's initiative, her eyes darted around. Instead of panicking, she mimicked a certain someone's tone just now:
"Kukuku, as expected of you, Mr. Fuli! Despicable, shameless, stopping at nothing to achieve your goals! But what I admire is exactly that villainous look of success on your face!"
"Want to use photos to threaten me for a discount? No problem!"
She changed the subject, taking a step forward on her own initiative. She raised her head to meet the boy's scarlet eyes, her red lips parting slightly, breathing out a fragrance like orchids:
"But a friendly reminder: once these photos are made public, everyone on the Hyperion, such as Miss Raiden Mei, will definitely be curious about one thing. With such a special angle, how were the photos of someone asking for a kiss taken?"
She smiled like a flower, her voice intoxicating, but the content was incredibly 'wholesome' (nuclear): "Mr. Fuli, you wouldn't want the touching story behind these photos to spread widely within Schicksal and eventually reach Miss Mei's ears, would you?"
Holy crap! A Fiction Historian!
Fuli sucked in a breath of cold air!
He thought his photo threat was already cringe enough, but he didn't expect Asta to be even less human, disregarding her own innocent reputation to elevate this relationship to the level of a nuclear deterrent—Mutually Assured Destruction!
"You win, Milady!" He sighed from the bottom of his heart. "As expected of the daughter of a Director of the Interastral Peace Corporation. In terms of being despicable and shameless, you take the crown. Brother here admits defeat today."
Taking the out she offered, he casually deleted all the photos.
With the objective achieved, their gazes met in the air. The previous awkwardness and power play dissolved silently, replaced by a mutual appreciation of holding each other's dark history.
"Miss Rita's room is just ahead."
Inside the sanatorium lobby, Asta lowered her voice, tapping the elevator button with her fingertip. "The relevant access permissions have been handled for you. Take this elevator to the third floor; it's the second room on the left."
"Thanks, Sister."
"You're welcome, Lone Wolf."
Fuli nodded in acknowledgement and stepped into the elevator amidst the girl's slightly teasing laughter.
The elevator doors closed silently and rose slowly.
A strange sensation swept over his body, like passing through a viscous water film. Fuli realized he had just penetrated a spatial barrier and arrived at a small Bubble Universe attached to reality.
"Using a world as a barrier... as expected of an S-Rank Valkyrie, the security specs are certainly high enough."
He muttered to himself. After the elevator doors opened, he walked straight toward the target ward.
At the door of the ward, two A-Rank Valkyries belonging to the Immortal Blades stood solemnly like statues.
Perhaps Durandal had given instructions beforehand; their sharp gazes scrutinized Fuli for a moment before they nodded slightly, stepping aside to clear the path and allowing him to push the door open and enter.
The ward was filled with the cool scent of disinfectant mixed with fresh flowers. The walls were a soft light gray, and instrument indicator lights blinked quietly in the corner.
On the pristine white bed, Rita leaned against the headboard, her swan-like neck supporting a slightly pale face.
Her ash-blonde hair draped casually over her shoulders like a waterfall, adding a touch of languid, sickly beauty to the maid. Those eyes, usually filled with a charming smile, had lost their focus at this moment, staring fixedly at the boundless floating scenery outside the window.
Fuli coughed lightly, actively breaking the silence.
He walked to the bedside, his movements gentle as he removed the slightly wilted carnations and replaced them with the brilliant sunflowers he had brought, symbolizing vigorous hope and vitality.
Only then did Rita's gaze slowly withdraw from the window.
Her wine-red eyes scrutinized Fuli sitting by the bed for a long time. Only after making him feel thoroughly uncomfortable did she let out a faint sigh. "I thought Lord Fuli would come to visit in the form of the little boy Rita likes best. It was Rita who expected without permission, and was disappointed without permission."
"No way!"
Broken by her in one second, Fuli protested. His mind uncontrollably flashed back to that chaotic and terrible passive night during the Foggy Capital incident. Shuddering with a mix of comfort and chills, he grumbled, "You really need to fix that bad taste of yours, otherwise—"
"Please rest assured, Rita only does this to Lord Fuli."
"Just because I won't call the police to arrest you, you're acting brazenly, right?!"
"Yes."
Fuli was so angry. Just as he wanted to point at her and argue some more, Rita, who had been leaning against the headboard and should have had weak limbs in his impression, closed in like a ghost.
That pale yet still heartbreakingly beautiful face instantly occupied his entire field of vision. The boy could even feel her breath brushing against his cheek.
"However, Rita doesn't hate the adult Lord Fuli either!"
The maid licked her lips, a trace of slyness and a morbid blush flashing across her face.
She extended her slightly cool fingertips, gently brushing over Fuli's jawline, which had stiffened from shock, breathing like orchids:
"Because, this way Rita can..."
She couldn't help but lean closer, her warm breath, carrying a hint of rosemary fragrance, almost spraying onto his ear. Her whisper was like poison wrapped in honey:
"...without any psychological burden, eat Lord Fuli..."
"...completely clean."