"Run… we ran away."
Guinaifen wiped the sweat from her face and gently set Liu Bai down from her shoulder.
"Boss, your chastity was this close to being gone just now."
"No, wait—why did we even run?"
Liu Bai sat on the ground, expression utterly perplexed.
"They had no weapons, no armor. Wasn't that the perfect chance to finish them off?"
Guinaifen: "…"
Stripping someone naked and then killing them—even if they were monsters—felt a bit too much…
Especially since Guinaifen only understood rationally that they were monsters. Emotionally… they looked more like poor girls who'd been swindled out of both money and virtue by Liu Bai.
In a story, a guy like him would be the villain!
"I was just thinking—priority one: protect boss's chastity."
"…"
Liu Bai stared wordlessly at Guinaifen.
Fine. He couldn't deny it: without her there, he really would have been overpowered by two Dead Soldiers.
Hm… exchanging bodily fluids with Dead Soldiers would definitely lead to Honkai infection, right?
Then again, probably no one else in existence would ever encounter being assaulted by Dead Soldiers…
"…But they're still monsters, right?" Guinaifen belatedly processed the issue. "Um… should we go back and finish them off?"
"No need. They've probably reset already."
Liu Bai dusted off his backside and stood.
As random instances within the game world, monsters couldn't follow into "reality." Once the player Liu Bai moved far enough away, combat ended.
That Simulated Blossom bud had likely despawned.
"Let's go. Next one."
Liu Bai noticed the growing crowd of onlookers staring at him and Guinaifen. He beckoned her closer.
…Good thing he'd stashed the scythes and clothes in the pot earlier.
Counting the trial-version Elixir still on hand, he had three vials left. Enough for three more… cough, "collections."
Night was falling.
"Welcome back, Liu Bai sir."
At the entrance to Kamijou Pharmaceuticals, Gray Serpent greeted them in his rasping voice.
"It seems you honored the agreement."
"Gray Serpent—do you purchase Honkai materials here?"
Liu Bai cut straight to the point.
Honkai materials were valuable, but not every faction bought them. Only the three mainline powers did.
"Honkai?" Gray Serpent's tone carried genuine surprise. "How do you know that term? Have you already come into contact with Honkai?"
Clearly, even he hadn't expected an extraterrestrial newcomer to encounter Honkai on their very first day on Earth.
And from the phrasing… it sounded like Liu Bai had fought, and won something.
Was this what people called bad luck…? Gray Serpent found it hard to judge. No wonder the man's ship had crashed.
He never imagined someone would treat Honkai Dead Soldiers as a money farm.
"What do you think?" Liu Bai spread his hands. "So—do you buy?"
"…World Serpent is precisely the organization that researches this field."
Gray Serpent pondered briefly before speaking slowly.
Fine. Anyone crash-landing on this planet would inevitably brush against Honkai sooner or later. At least this saved him the trouble of explaining later.
"If you have materials rich in Honkai energy, we would be happy to purchase them—of course, I do not recommend engaging Honkai in combat. Herrscher-sama would not wish to see any accidents befall you. As for value… Herrscher-sama will appraise them personally."
"Thanks."
Liu Bai nodded and led Guinaifen toward the hall where Möbius resided.
They hadn't even reached the door when voices drifted out—Möbius's sharp reprimand.
"Raven, your capture operation failed again. A mere B-rank Valkyrie from Schicksal—is she really that difficult to handle?"
"My deepest apologies, Herrscher-sama… this time we were obstructed by Schicksal headquarters."
"Oh? Headquarters? Which unit? Immortal Blade? Or the Assault Squad?"
"Rita Rossweisse leading the Immortal Blade. They likely came to our Sky City sector searching for Liu Bai and the others."
"Tch… unfortunate timing. Schicksal's reach is getting too long."
Möbius's tone eased slightly.
"Never mind. The Immortal Blade will leave on their own in a few days. Raven—this is your final chance. Within one week, bring me that girl named Kiana. Understood?"
"Understood."
Beep.
By sheer coincidence—or perhaps not—either Liu Bai's or Guinaifen's wristband triggered the door sensor. The heavy doors slid open.
"Hm?"
Möbius, lounging in the main seat in her black dress, glanced over. Her voice softened immediately; that familiar lazy expression returned.
"I thought it was someone else. It's my little lab rat. Back already? How are you finding the new planet? Did you come to see me for something?"
Raven: "…"
Wasn't that gentle tone a little misplaced?!
I'm your subordinate! Those two are the lab rats!
Don't act like I'm the lab rat and they're your trusted aides!
Fortunately for Raven, Möbius couldn't read minds—otherwise she'd have reminded her that lab rats came in varieties: the three-for-a-dollar ordinary kind, and the ten-thousand-each specially bred or genetically modified premium specimens.
"…Did I come at a bad time?"
Liu Bai glanced between the indolently seated Möbius and Raven, who had just stood up—cold mask cracking to reveal a flicker of grievance.
It felt like he'd just overheard something major.
"Nothing important." Möbius waved a hand lazily, dismissing the concern. "What brings you here? Or did you just want to chat?"
Raven's hidden resentment deepened by several degrees.
I just got my "final chance"! And that's not important?!
Herrscher-sama! I may not have achievements, but I've suffered plenty!
Liu Bai's own expression turned subtle. If he hadn't recognized names like "Kiana," "Rita," or "Immortal Blade," he might have pretended not to hear.
But since he had… he was extremely curious.
Capturing Kiana? With this lineup?
A rehash of the Sky City arc?
Yet something felt off.
This world might mirror the original closely, but the closer the resemblance, the more suspicious it became.
"Ahem. Actually—I picked up some Honkai materials. Gray Serpent said you'd be interested in buying."
"Hm~? Already in contact with Honkai? Do remember to protect yourself, little lab rat~"
Unlike Gray Serpent's measured concern, Möbius sounded almost excited—openly curious, with zero objection to Liu Bai tangling with Honkai.
"Then show me. Let's see what my little lab rat has scavenged~"