78. Mei's Bodyguard? This Time, Not Raising a Daughter!
Twenty minutes later, Gao Qi woke up in a spacious room.
Even without activating the power of a MANTIS, Gao Qi's resistance to anesthetics was still slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person. Therefore, after discovering that the "kidnapper" was a much younger version of the Cocolia he knew intimately, he unhesitatingly chose to take the injection.
Gao Qi understood that compared to the Cocolia he knew, this younger version was kinder and more upright.
So Gao Qi wasn't worried at all about Cocolia doing anything terrible—at least not to children.
Mei went without saying, and Gao Qi himself counted as half a child, so he naturally felt no pressure.
The speed of Gao Qi's awakening showed that everything was exactly as he had guessed. The dose of anesthetic Cocolia had given him was very low, probably because she was afraid of causing problems for the person who had been hit earlier due to the anesthesia.
Recalling the past, that "mother of his child" wearing a swimsuit and sitting close to him, that feeling of surging waves... Gaoki couldn't help but click his tongue. Coming back to his senses, he began to observe the surroundings.
Clearly, this was a pre-prepared room. The windows were barred with iron rods, and only a few energy-saving fluorescent tubes illuminated the space. A small table in the room was piled with various waters and food. Gao Qi checked the brands of a few snacks—sure enough, they were all ones Cocolia often bought for the children.
Then, Gao Qi saw little Mei, also asleep beside him. Her eyelids were trembling slightly; she was clearly about to wake up.
Gao Qi didn't move. Using his peripheral vision, he glanced toward the room's door and saw the back of a mercenary's head, hearing a conversation.
"Alright, Raiden Ryoma, hurry up and send your 'rescue team.' Your Overseer is a good man; he'll definitely forgive you for using the Gem of Conquest to 'exchange' for your daughter with the kidnappers—you're much more selfish and despicable than I imagined. But putting myself in your shoes, if my child were in this situation, I might do the same."
Cocolia's voice echoed outside the door. At this moment, she sounded utterly righteous and full of vigor, without a trace of the schemer or vixen she would become.
"Alright, we'll be prepared to get our asses kicked. Hurry up and send the people over. Remember your promise after this is done. My orphanage needs supplies, and you must also recommend me to become an Executor of Anti-Entropy."
In just these few sentences, connecting them with the plot he knew, Gao Qi understood everything.
Raiden Mei had awakened a Stigmata, but not everyone could bear a Stigmata. The other Seele brought by Seele's Stigmata was fine; having another will helped seal the vast knowledge and power. But for many, Stigmata only brought more pain and harm.
After all, the sole purpose behind Mobius and Mei's design of the Stigmata was to fight a life-and-death battle against the Honkai.
They didn't have time to give Stigmata bearers a comfortable user experience. Unfortunately, the Herrscher of the End didn't even give them time to nurture the next generation of Stigmata warriors.
Therefore, the Stigmata Project itself was a cruel screening experiment. Some would die before awakening their Stigmata, others couldn't suppress the pain after awakening. If the Stigmata Project were executed, human civilization would undergo a complete reshuffling.
The young Mei couldn't bear this power, born solely to kill the Honkai. The only solution—was to use the Honkai itself to suppress her, implanting the Gem of Conquest into her body.
Fighting poison with poison, so to speak.
Thus, Project MEI was born. After Mei's kidnapping, from 2004 to 2007, this plan proceeded during the three years Mei was "recuperating from the kidnapping." The Super Electromagnetic Hand Cannon was a byproduct of this plan.
Many believed Cocolia masterminded this kidnapping, implanted the Gem of Conquest into Mei, and triggered the Honkai in 2014 to "check the results."
But think carefully: during the Second Honkai War, Cocolia was still an ordinary military officer. It would be a long time before she joined Anti-Entropy. How could she so quickly gain the trust of Welt and Einstein and also get her hands on the Gem of Conquest?
From start to finish, the operation on Mei was led by Raiden Ryoma. In this incident, Cocolia probably only played the role of an executor.
This was nothing more than Raiden Ryoma's covert operation, a show performed for Anti-Entropy headquarters to hand the Gem of Conquest to his daughter. The subsequent recuperation was the real beginning of the entire plan.
Hopefully, he wouldn't regret it in the future when, because of this weakness, Cocolia schemes to put him in prison.
"Don't worry, no one is hurt. Well, your old driver might have gotten a scare. I can't guarantee your precious daughter won't be frightened, so I found her a companion."
Soon, Cocolia approached the door and glanced into the room at the two figures, one big and one small, lying on the bed. Gao Qi immediately narrowed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.
"I'm very good at taking care of children. Do you need me to comfort little Mei in a gentle way? Believe me, as a parent, I'm much more competent than you, you bastard father. No? Then hurry up and take your daughter away!"
Facing Raiden Ryoma, this Anti-Entropy Executor and his superior, Cocolia showed no respect at all. Instead, she was full of displeasure. Right now, she really disliked the plan this guy had cooked up.
Cocolia did not approve of Raiden Ryoma's method of saving his daughter in a way that could cause psychological trauma to a child.
She was very good to her own daughters and would absolutely never hurt them—definitely not! Absolutely not!
"However, I have to admit, you have a young lad under you who is much more capable than the useless idiots you hired. He alone took down seven or eight of my elite mercenaries. If he weren't a boy, I'd even think he was a Valkyrie from Schicksal."
Soon, Cocolia's voice faded into the distance, and Gao Qi noticed that little Mei beside him was slowly waking up.
"Hmm, where am I—ah!"
The unfamiliar environment and dim room immediately made little Mei panic. Her big purple eyes blinked twice, quickly filling with tears.
Although born with a silver spoon in her mouth, Mei lost her mother at a young age, and her father rarely paid attention to the family. Lacking companionship, she was extremely insecure.
Assessing the situation, the clever Mei quickly understood her predicament after a moment, and her whole body couldn't help but tremble.
She had been kidnapped.
She wanted to cry out loud but also very rationally covered her mouth. Facing immense fear, Mei still maintained her rationality.
This reaction made Gao Qi envious. If it were Kiana, she'd probably start tearing through the iron door and fighting her way out right now. No, she probably wouldn't even be captured in the first place!
Soon, the panicked Mei saw Gao Qi pretending to sleep beside her. Recognizing the big brother who had helped her before, she immediately started gently pushing his shoulder as if she had found a pillar of support.
"Big brother, big brother—ah, you're awake! Wuwu, I, we've been kidnapped."
As Gao Qi "slowly woke up," the courage Raiden Mei had mustered immediately crumbled. She began to sob quietly.
For a seven-year-old child living in peace, being kidnapped was simply too terrifying.
"Uh... yeah, don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Sitting up, Gao Qi smiled at Mei and reached out to pat her little head.
Gao Qi couldn't explain to Mei that this kidnapping incident was actually a play staged by her father to save her. But Raiden Ryoma's method was indeed not proper.
If it were old-timer Gao Qi, no matter what he planned to do involving the children, he would definitely tell them first—except for his own death.
After all, children are young, not stupid. They also have the right to know everything. Constantly hiding things from children isn't good either.
However, he decided not to tell the truth. Instead, he reached out, pulled little Mei into his embrace, and began to comfort her softly.
"Don't worry, little Mei, I will protect you well, starting now."
Ruffling her little head, Gao Qi picked up the Homu plushie and stuffed it into Mei's arms, smiling as he promised her.
Ultimately, the two children in his own home, Kiana and Bronya, would be raised by Mei in the future. Mei was less of a friend and more like their stepmother. In a sense, they were even colleagues and partners.
In the simulation, he happened to be Kiana and Bronya's dad. Helping Mei, as a senior, and teaching her some experience in taking care of children was perfectly reasonable, right?
"Believe me, I'll take you out right now, okay? Can you believe in me, Mei?"
Gao Qi set a calm example for Mei. Finally, the little girl took a deep breath, stopped crying, and nodded firmly.
"Mhm, I won't cry. I believe in you, big brother! Let's get out together! B-but, please be careful. I don't want you to get hurt because of me..."
Two hours later, the Anti-Entropy mecha unit broke through the defenses of the abandoned factory where the "kidnappers" were stationed with unstoppable force.
The mercenaries "fled in panic," leaving no time to take their hostage. In fact, aside from a symbolic force left behind to resist, Cocolia had already withdrawn with her people ten minutes prior.
"You are surrounded. Cease your resistance immediately! Do not struggle pointlessly! Surrender now!"
Formulaic negotiations were underway. Behind the mecha unit, a man with deep purple short hair, dressed in a suit and bearing some resemblance to Raiden Mei, remained calm, repeatedly glancing at his wristwatch.
"It's about time. Begin the assault."
Issuing the command to his subordinates coolly, as if the one kidnapped wasn't his own daughter, the man named Ryoma Raiden appeared exceptionally cold.
"Boss, there seems to be a conflict inside the factory! The kidnappers are calling for help! They appear to be clashing with an unknown force!"
However, the situation reported by his subordinate soon made Ryoma Raiden uneasy—this wasn't part of the plan!
Could it be other factions within Anti-Entropy, or perhaps the Valkyries of Schicksal?
After a while, accompanied by shouts and the sounds of collisions, the abandoned factory fell completely silent—a deathly stillness.
Just as Ryoma Raiden couldn't hold back from ordering the assault, a staggering figure suddenly emerged from the side door at the factory entrance.
It was one of Cocolia's mercenaries. After stumbling a few steps, the 1.9-meter-tall muscular man clutched his crotch and pitifully collapsed to the ground—though he had prepared for a beating, targeting that area was just too much.
That little boy was terrifyingly skilled!
Behind him, a young man lifted the factory's roll-up door. In his wake, several remaining mercenaries were rolling on the ground, groaning in pain.
He waved behind him, and a small figure immediately darted out from the shadows to his side, clinging closely to him, unwilling to stray far.
There weren't many mercenaries left. In fact, if Gao Qi had wished, he could have dealt with everyone even if Cocolia hadn't withdrawn. But a show must be played out in full, and he was more than willing to help Cocolia as she was now.
Soon, under the stunned gazes of the Anti-Entropy members, Gao Qi picked up little Mei and swaggered out of the factory, coming to a stop before Ryoma Raiden.
This child, who looked far from adulthood, had single-handedly... taken down all the kidnappers!
"Close your eyes, don't look. Relax, Mei. You're safe now."
Holding Raiden Mei and gently stroking her back, Gao Qi kept her from being frightened by the surrounding Titan mechas, continuously soothing her.
"President Ryoma, rest assured, Miss Mei has not been harmed in any way. However, I must say, ME Corp's security is truly lacking."
Gao Qi stood before Ryoma Raiden, calmly regarding the father as he offered a reminder.
"Please don't forget—today is Miss Mei's birthday. If possible, clear your schedule and spend a birthday celebration with just the two of you."
Just like during that heartfelt talk with Cocolia before, though Gao Qi was young, he spoke earnestly from a parent's perspective, advising Ryoma Raiden.
"I know your world holds many things as important as family. But please understand—in Mei's world, there is only you. If you don't pay attention to her... then when she grows up, her world will also hold many important things... except you."
Upon hearing this, Ryoma Raiden suddenly felt a sense of illusion—the boy who had protected his daughter seemed to transform into a stern and serious adult, a far more competent father than himself.
"I... you're right. This is my failure. Mei—"
Gao Qi's unyielding tone made Ryoma Raiden—a man known for his strictness in the eyes of both employees and Anti-Entropy subordinates—rarely yield.
He knew this was all an act, but to many, including the boy before him, several of his subordinates, and even Mei herself, this was a real kidnapping.
"Mei, I..."
Ryoma Raiden reached out to take his daughter, Raiden Mei, from the boy's arms, but the little girl instinctively shrank closer to Gao Qi, leaving Ryoma's hand frozen in mid-air.
"See? The signs are already showing."
Gao Qi shrugged. The conflict between this father and daughter remained unresolved even in the original story; he could only offer some guidance.
However, Gao Qi didn't overthink it. He believed that his "heroic" rescue of Mei and the formidable combat prowess he displayed during the incident would be enough to earn Ryoma Raiden's regard and secure him a place within Anti-Entropy.
Next year, young Himeko and her father would be involved in a conflict with an alien force in North America. Gao Qi thought he might even have a chance to connect with the Sugars race—
"Sigh... alright. I suppose my parenting of Mei has indeed been lacking in some areas—Gao Qi, I've looked into your records. You grew up in an orphanage and have experience caring for children."
After a moment of hesitation, Ryoma Raiden nodded helplessly and extended his hand to Gao Qi.
"I'd like to hire you as my daughter's bodyguard, to also take care of her daily life. The compensation is negotiable. What do you say?"
Huh? Hey, I wanted you to invite me to join Anti-Entropy!
Hearing Ryoma Raiden's words, Gao Qi's composure nearly slipped.
But looking down at Raiden Mei in his arms, her bright eyes gazing at him expectantly, Gao Qi's heart ultimately softened.
Nodding, Gao Qi reached out and shook Ryoma Raiden's hand.
"I'd be delighted, President Ryoma. I will protect Miss Mei always."
Gao Qi wondered if his simulation system should be renamed the "Dad Training System." At this rate, his combat skills weren't improving much, but his childcare experience was becoming extensive.
Heaven knows, he was still a virgin!
[And so, you became Raiden Mei's bodyguard. Not only did you miss the chance to get involved with Anti-Entropy, but like Raiden Mei, you were deliberately kept in the dark about Anti-Entropy by Ryoma Raiden.]
[For the next three years, you stayed by Raiden Mei's side, caring for her as she "recuperated" in the hospital after the kidnapping incident.]
[Compared to Ryoma Raiden, who was often away on business trips, fully devoted to his career and Anti-Entropy work, you spent far more time with Raiden Mei.]
[Surprisingly, this period of life was exceptionally peaceful. No major events occurred, and there were no butterfly effects. You continued to care for Mei and look after the children at the orphanage.]
[And so, ten years passed.]
——————
Ten years later, Nagazora City, Chiba Academy. School had ended long ago, and club activities were nearly over.
A man in a crisp suit and sunglasses leaned against a car, silently waiting for someone's arrival.
Gao Qi was now an adult in his twenties.
Soon, Gao Qi saw a slender figure inside the school gates. With a delighted expression, she shook her deep purple long hair and hurried toward him.
The next moment, Raiden Mei—now a graceful young woman—threw herself into Gaoki's arms, giving him a big hug.
"Brother Gao Qi, sorry to keep you waiting!"
This time, at least the last of the three girls hadn't been raised by him as a daughter!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?