Rita didn't deliberately stall for time; it was indeed just a normal tour. She exchanged a few words and then left the room, seemingly ready to fulfill her previous statement and continue visiting other places.
Evan naturally wouldn't feel tired because of this short journey. He continued to play the role of guide, introducing most places in St. Freya Academy very clearly.
Important departments like the Science Department were naturally skipped. Rita had no intention of asking further questions. In her view, Evan, as a student, wouldn't have the authority to visit these places. Honestly, given St. Freya Academy's technological strength, Schicksal had absolutely no need to spy on those departments anyway.
About an hour later, the tour finally concluded. Rita didn't show any impatience throughout the entire process, maintaining a curious demeanor. Even though Evan felt this tour was just a perfunctory and useless effort, he admittedly felt quite good.
For no other reason than spending time with a beautiful girl.
"Thank you. How should I repay you?"
Although Rita's words and actions might urge one to make excessive demands—and considering the extremely disparate gender ratio in the world, Evan would likely be the first male to receive such an honor—it was definitely better to be rational.
"This is my duty; no need to be polite. Is there anything else you need help with, Miss Rita?"
"No, there isn't."
"Then I'll take my leave first. It's mealtime now. If you're hungry, Miss Rita, you can find a restaurant in the Living Area, or contact the Principal. Perhaps she has made corresponding arrangements."
"I understand. Thank you for the reminder."
Rita watched Evan turn and leave, disappearing from her field of view.
She muttered softly to herself.
"Truly a thoughtful boy. This maturity inconsistent with his age must be something he gained after experiencing the Honkai. Taking in people who have experienced disaster and giving them the combat power to fight disaster in a humanistic way... what a beautiful academy."
Unfortunately, that beauty is tinged with naivety.
Such a humanistic cultivation method indeed makes people feel comfortable, but precisely because of this, both the time required for combat power to take shape and the expenses during the process will increase significantly. The Honkai could descend again at any time; such an inefficient method is definitely not the correct one.
Otherwise, St. Freya Academy wouldn't have developed to this point where, aside from Principal Theresa, the only top-tier combat power is A-rank Valkyrie Himeko Murata, who was also trained by Schicksal.
As for Fu Hua—
Rita looked around. After confirming there were no passersby or cameras, she walked to a relatively hidden corner.
An earphone the size of a fingernail was the device Rita used to communicate with Fu Hua.
"So, can you ask the target out this afternoon?"
"..."
Fu Hua, who was in the training room, opened her mouth silently upon hearing Rita's communication. She wanted to refuse.
The friendship forged with Kiana in the arcade, and the words Evan—who possessed special means—had said to her, although not enough to make Fu Hua withdraw from Otto's plan directly, had indeed caused her to hesitate.
However, Fu Hua knew that Rita's purpose this time was only to determine Kiana's condition. If she refused now, it would make Otto vigilant. That man would absolutely not give up his plan because of this; he would only turn his gaze here, determine the cause of the variable, and invest more manpower and resources to ensure the plan's success.
Rather than that, it was better to continue cooperating. Evan had said before, "Just let things take their natural course." After determining Kiana's condition, she could roughly calculate the progress of the plan, so she wouldn't be unprepared when the final moment arrived.
"I can."
Facing Rita's question, Fu Hua gave an affirmative answer.
Three hours later—
Outside the arcade, Fu Hua held Kiana, who had passed out due to the effects of a drug. Using the dimness of dusk to hide her figure, she began to move toward the tarmac. The Schicksal transport plane was parked there, containing devices capable of monitoring Kiana's condition.
This was technology superior to St. Freya Academy's. Previously, after the 3rd Eruption broke out, St. Freya Academy's medical department had also conducted some checks on the comatose Kiana but found no abnormalities.
"Schicksal won't perform life-threatening experiments on Kiana, right?"
An abrupt voice came, causing Fu Hua's body to tense up for a moment before quickly relaxing. A complex expression appeared on her face as she looked at the familiar figure appearing not far away.
"The message I received said the Overseer wishes to determine Kiana's condition. Those devices are indeed just monitoring devices. But the Overseer has never been the type to reveal his plans completely. If Rita received any additional orders..."
Hearing Fu Hua's words, Evan reached out and touched the comatose Kiana. Then, as if he had completed some arrangement, he took a step back.
"Let's hope not. Otherwise, St. Freya Academy might have to step onto the path of true opposition against Schicksal ahead of time."
Evan's action just now looked like he simply stroked Kiana's forehead lightly, but Fu Hua could feel that fleeting fluctuation of Honkai energy.
She frowned because of it.
"The means you arranged are very likely to be observed by the monitoring devices. Is this really okay?"
"It's just a wisp of ordinary Honkai energy."
That was Honkai energy derived from the stigmata Evan possessed. Essentially, it was no different from the Honkai energy ubiquitously present in the air. Even its overly peaceful characteristic would change due to Evan's control, displaying properties completely consistent with normal Honkai energy.
In the past, Evan could only perform high-precision Honkai energy manipulation within his own body and places of direct contact. But now, with the quantity and quality of his stigmata increased again, he could perform remote manipulation and perception within a limited distance.
That wisp of Honkai energy would serve as a temporary fuse, hidden within Kiana's body.
Hopefully, Schicksal's move this time won't cause the fuse to blow.
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