"Yo, bro, you're back?"
In Lucius's living room, in front of the game console, Bronya lay on the floor with a strange rabbit pillow beneath her, staring at the screen while mashing the controller in her hands.
She was playing a game.
The rabbit character on the screen dodged left and right, avoiding incoming bullets, then died because it couldn't dodge in time~
Bad end!
"Little Bronya, it seems your gaming skills need improvement." Lucius held back a smile. "Or are you actually the counterpart from next door?"
Hearing this, the girl's face flushed bright red.
"You... how dare you insult my integrity like this? I've only just started... no, this game console must be broken!"
A pale blue light appeared out of thin air, and grenades painted with exaggerated yellow rabbit patterns were projected.
"Indeed, a broken game console like this should just be destroyed!"
Watching the flustered Bronya, Lucius pulled a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Mmph..."
The projected weapons instantly dissipated. Feeling the sweetness spreading in her mouth, Bronya narrowed her eyes.
This Assembled Duck before him was the result of his final operation.
Although the Herrscher of Reason authority granted by the experience card had disappeared, perhaps because some of the First Herrscher's power remained in her body, she could project some simple items.
Things like firearms, cannons, and mechs—as long as she could understand their construction, she could project them.
Beyond that... there was nothing else.
She couldn't directly recreate the authorities of other Herrschers and Divine Keys like the Herrscher of Reason could.
Additionally, because his secondary personality had become her stigmata, the newly born stigmata personality was dyed with its color.
Looking at the Bronya before him, Lucius always had a feeling of closeness.
It could be said that this Bronya was currently the person who understood him best.
She could even be called... his other half.
"Alright, no more joking."
Looking at the now-calm Bronya, Lucius sat down beside her and said:
"Since you've already been born, we can start the next step of our plan."
Hearing this, Bronya looked up. She naturally knew what Lucius was going to do next.
—Find a way to make Cocolia become his adoptive mother.
"Bro, have you thought about how to do it?" Bronya asked, her cheeks bulging as she sucked on the lollipop.
Lucius thought for a moment and said:
"I've investigated information about this era's Cocolia. She was originally an orphanage director in the Siberian region. Due to her long-term work in orphan relief, she had an extremely high reputation."
"A few years ago, for some unknown reason, she shouted that being a director couldn't save the children, and then entered politics."
"Because she had already accumulated a large amount of prestige, her political career went quite smoothly."
"Until half a month ago, she was ostracized for opposing the United Government's proposal to cut orphan relief funds to fully develop the military, and then she was reassigned to the Far East region."
"Crunch!" Bronya bit through the lollipop in her mouth and swallowed. "Mmm... A Slav being thrown to the Far East—looks like she was targeted. So, what are you going to do?"
Watching Bronya look at him eagerly, Lucius felt around in his pocket, pulled out another lollipop and handed it to Bronya, then said:
"From the current situation, this Cocolia isn't beyond redemption yet, so I want to see if I can get her on our side."
Bronya took the lollipop, unwrapping it while commenting:
"Better not get your hopes up too high. According to the world's underlying logic, Cocolia might be a good person, but it's also unlikely that Cocolia is a good person."
Lucius shook his head with a gentle smile.
"It doesn't matter. If Cocolia really is beyond redemption, then I'll just have to use some extreme measures."
Bronya kicked her little legs, saying nonchalantly: "Whatever you decide is fine."
"Well then, Bronya, next you'll go to Sakura's place to undergo some assassin training, then register an account with the Poison Pupa organization."
Hearing this, Bronya looked up at him sideways and said: "Then go assassinate Cocolia, pretend to be defeated and get captured by her, trigger the defeat CG, and then accept her as my adoptive mother?"
"See, we really are in perfect sync."
The two looked at each other and both burst out laughing.
"Ring ring ring!"
At that moment, a ringing sound suddenly came from Lucius's communicator.
Opening the communicator and seeing the caller's name, Lucius froze.
"What's wrong?"
"...It's a call from Cocolia."
Lucius coughed lightly twice, adjusting his voice to Ryoma's.
Then he answered the call.
The moment he connected, Cocolia's voice came through.
"Mr. Ryoma, I must solemnly warn you that someone wants to harm you and your daughter."
"...Oh?"
Lucius frowned slightly.
...
Some time earlier.
Far East, Nagazora City.
Today, most of the upper-class society of this city had gathered together to discuss a matter concerning their survival.
"Ryoma, that guy with absolutely no bottom line, has really gone too far!"
"He has no spirit of cooperation. He wants to destroy this land we've lived on for over a thousand years!"
On one side of the venue, watching the man passionately speaking in the crowd, Cocolia, dressed in formal attire, wiped the pendant on her chest, trying to minimize her presence.
The rapid rise of MEI Company had devoured considerable local interests, especially for businesses competing with MEI Company's operations, who suffered heavy losses.
Like the man passionately speaking on stage—he was the president of Nagazora Precision Manufacturing Corporation.
Due to MEI Company's rise, his business was stolen, and he was basically on the verge of bankruptcy.
If it were just that, considering MEI Company's current power, aside from directly affected businesses, these deeply rooted forces in Nagazora City could still endure.
But the establishment of Second New Nagazora across the sea was digging at their very roots.
You, Ryoma, are moving away all the local population—what are we families who have been rooted here since ancient times supposed to do?!
Of course, Cocolia knew that if Raiden Ryoma was willing to share the benefits, they might become the biggest supporters of Second New Nagazora.
But the problem was, Ryoma held the ownership of Second New Nagazora very dearly. He didn't allow anyone to interfere, unwilling to share any benefits.
As such, these families that had been rooted here since ancient times had only one path.
"Since that bastard Ryoma won't give us a way to live, we don't need to be honorable with him either."
"Everyone, this is war!"
"If we want to preserve the wealth and status our families have accumulated for generations, we must win!"
"Mobilize our forces to incite public opinion, hire trolls, spread rumors, or even directly hire assassins."
"We must make Ryoma know our power!"
With a common enemy, the various forces in Nagazora City quickly united, determined to give Ryoma a harsh lesson.
Afterward, many people turned their attention to Cocolia.
"Ms. Cocolia, relying only on our own power, I'm afraid it will be difficult to defeat Ryoma."
"We need you to contact forces from the United Government to pressure Ryoma."
To this, Cocolia showed her signature perfect smile.
"Of course, I will recommend that the United Government launch an antitrust investigation into MEI Company."
Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed and made promises to Cocolia.
"The lady is righteous. After success, everyone in Nagazora City will remember your contribution."
To this, Cocolia still responded with a perfect smile.
After leaving the meeting, Cocolia returned to her office, changed out of her formal dress, and exported the data from the pendant—it contained footage of those people conspiring against Ryoma.
Yes, her chest pendant was actually a miniature camera.
After exporting this information, Cocolia called Ryoma's communicator while sending this information over.
"Work with you all to deal with Ryoma?" Cocolia's face showed a cold smile. "Heh... If I'm choosing a partner, why would I choose you people?"
These conglomerates and major families were deeply rooted in Nagazora City and had basically divided up all the benefits. Even if they could defeat Ryoma, how much benefit could they give her?
On the other hand, there was Ryoma—a newcomer just starting out with unlimited potential.
Comparing the two, wasn't the choice clear for her?
And this footage was her 'sincerity' to Ryoma.
To hell with the hero saving the beauty—this time she'd directly provide assistance in time of need!
Soon, the communication was connected on the other end.
"Mr. Ryoma, I must solemnly warn you that someone wants to harm you and your daughter."
"...Oh?"
The Ryoma on the other end fell 'silent' for a moment, then said: "Ms. Cocolia, thank you very much for your warning. MEI Company will not forget your friendship."
The corners of Cocolia's mouth curved upward.
Very good, very good. This way she had finally established a connection with Ryoma.
Once she participated in St. Freya's construction, a huge political achievement awaited her.
Cocolia seemed to see herself rising through the ranks, with the orphanage children looking at her with admiring eyes.
However, while she was internally delighted, 'Ryoma's' voice on the other end of the communicator didn't stop.
"Ms. Cocolia, thank you for your righteous assistance. It just so happens I also have some news, and it concerns you."
"According to someone I have planted in Poison Pupa, someone has issued a bounty on you. The assassin who accepted the task has the code name 'Ural Silver Wolf.'"
"She's proficient in various assassination techniques. Please be extremely careful for the next period of time."
Listening to the words coming through the communicator, the smile on Cocolia's face froze.
"...Someone wants to kill me?!"
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