Rita thought about her childhood, about her loving parents, then about Ragna, and about the Honkai.
From ants moving their homes to the extinguishing of stars, Rita reviewed her entire life, contemplating everything she had learned. In the end, she found that even with veins popping on her forehead, she couldn't squeeze out a single curse word.
Durandal and Ryn noticed that Rita had stopped and was standing still, her face looking terrible.
Durandal: "Rita, you look pale. Are you not feeling well?"
Ryn: "Do you want me to postpone the meeting for you?"
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Ryn and Lady Durandal. Rita is fine." Rita curtsied slightly, composed her expression, and put on a bright smile again.
"Rita, if you're not feeling well, you must tell me. Don't endure it."
Durandal nodded and turned to leave. Rita must have her reasons for acting this way. Since she wasn't willing to say, Durandal wouldn't press the matter.
The moment Durandal turned away, Rita's smile vanished, and she stared at Ryn like a resentful woman full of hatred.
"Um... did I do something to make Rita angry?"
"Lord Ryn has done nothing to anger Rita."
She said that, but her murderous expression suggested otherwise...
Ryn helplessly spread his hands and then called out to Durandal.
The moment Durandal turned around, Rita instantly transformed back into the gentle and considerate lady from before.
"Ryn, what is it?"
"No, it's nothing. You can turn back now."
Durandal gave Ryn a couple more glances, three large question marks appearing above her head. If it's nothing, why did you call me...
As soon as Durandal turned back around, Rita reverted to her resentful state.
Tsk, so the vinegar jar has been overturned... Ryn instantly understood why Rita was acting this way.
"Hey, hey, Rita, we are all comrades who have fought side by side, who can entrust our backs to each other. Isn't it normal for our relationship to be a little better?"
Ryn quickly explained to Rita. A misunderstanding between comrades is a huge taboo. What if Rita decided to stab him in the middle of the night?
"It is normal... but according to Rita's understanding, Lord Ryn's relationships with Miss Kiana, Miss Raiden Mei, and Lady Kika are all very good...! Perhaps a little too good!"
Although it was a bright sunny day, and although Rita was still smiling, Ryn felt a chill down his spine. Rita's resentment was already blotting out the sky...
"But... what does this have to do with Rita, or rather, Durandal?"
Ryn scratched his head in confusion. He wasn't a scumbag; he just wanted to give Kiana and the others a warm home.
"It has nothing to do with me, but Rita is worried that Durandal will be heartbroken." Rita sighed. "Lady Durandal is like a pure white flower. Rita is afraid she will be defiled by Lord Ryn…"
"Thank you, Rita. For still calling me 'Lord' even while you're belittling me like this." Ryn was on the verge of tears, a pained smile on his face.
"Don't worry, I'm not that desperate. I'm a man of pure love, purely in love with only Kiana and Mei and the others."
Ryn smiled and waved goodbye to Rita. Since he now knew that Rita had feelings for Durandal, he wouldn't disturb their date.
Watching Ryn and Durandal walk off in opposite directions, Rita chuckled lightly.
"See... didn't he just admit to liking Kiana himself…"
"Rita, aren't you coming?" Durandal turned and waved at Rita.
"I'm coming."
Rita jogged to Durandal's side, and they walked on, shoulder to shoulder.
"Where's Ryn? Why did he leave?"
"Lord Ryn... he went to study what a lightbulb is like."
"Hmm... but that's strange. Why would Ryn want to study a lightbulb…"
——————————————
"I give you money and you actually dare to take it! Is the filament in this crappy lightbulb made of gold, or is the shell plated with gold! How dare you sell it to me for 5 pounds, this is robbery!"
Ryn grabbed the vendor's hand that was holding the money. He had just seen someone selling lightbulbs and thought of buying one to tease Rita with later. But the vendor had the audacity to jack up the price. Just because he didn't bargain didn't mean he was an idiot.
"Let go! You rule-breaking oaf, this is a tourist area, what's wrong with selling it for a little more!"
The vendor shouted and struggled. Who knew this foreigner who looked easy to bully would be so strong. If he had known, he would have raised the price less, maybe to 3 pounds.
"If you had printed a logo on it, or changed the style, I might have fallen for it. It's just an ordinary little bulb, and you dare to sell it for 5 pounds!"
Ryn hadn't even finished his sentence when his eyes widened in shock.
Because with a 'pop', the vendor's head just exploded, and the gushing blood splattered all over Ryn.
The crowd of onlookers immediately screamed and scattered.
"Is... is this a setup?" Ryn let go of the hand in a daze and kept backing away. The headless vendor fell to the ground. The blood constantly spurting from the vendor's neck and the warm liquid on his own body told Ryn this was not a dream.
Less than a minute after the incident, a group of police officers arrived, handcuffed Ryn, put a hood over his head, and took him away.
Half an hour later, Durandal and Rita, having received the news, rushed to the prison where Ryn was being held to negotiate with the person in charge.
Although their date had ended before it even began, Rita couldn't be bothered with that now. What was more important was how Ryn had gotten arrested…
After the prison administrator gave them no response, Rita immediately contacted the local Schicksal European Branch, but they couldn't get Ryn out right away. There were too many eyewitnesses, and from the scene, it was hard to argue that Ryn hadn't directly blown the vendor's head off.
As soon as Rita hung up, Durandal immediately asked, "Rita, how is it? Can you handle it?"
Rita shook her head. "Not yet. This incident is having a huge impact. We have to wait for the hype to die down first…"
She then handed the application form from the branch to the jailer for inspection and followed him to Ryn's cell.
Seeing Ryn in the cell from a distance, Durandal and Rita hurried over.
Durandal called out anxiously, "Ryn, are you okay?!"
"Hard to say, but I probably won't be able to eat dinner." Ryn chuckled and shook his head.
"What time is it for you to be joking!" Durandal said angrily, gripping the bars of the cell.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. At first, I thought my power had gone out of control, but now I think it was aimed at me. From luring me to shop, to the sudden head explosion, and the immediate arrival of the police."
Ryn patted Durandal's head to soothe her, then looked at Rita with a serious expression.
"Be careful on your next mission. Someone is targeting us."