Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Beneath the image of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, a young woman with chestnut hair kneels. She appears to be around twenty years old and wears a white nun's habit similar to Cecilia's, but her bodice and front skirt are adorned with a brighter, more youthful red. Pure white over-the-knee stockings are bound to her long, beautiful thighs with gold trim, and because she is kneeling, the absolute territory of her fair skin is visible.

She bowed her head, devoutly made the sign of the cross on her chest, and performed her daily prayers. Candlelight surrounded her, and at that moment she seemed even more like a saint than Cecilia.

Or perhaps the Shaniat family has always been this kind of family, only that most of its members are no longer religious.

If even the lineage of saints is like this, then the world is truly going to the dogs.

At that moment, the church doors were opened.

The choir stirred, and Maria, with her back to the door, sighed heavily.

"Hi, little Maria~ Look what your big sister brought you back~" A familiar, gentle yet playful voice came from the doorway, "A big~ baby!"

"Miss Cecilia!"

"Lord Saint!"

"Is Your Excellency attending worship today?"

"Wow, what incredible luck I had today! I actually met Miss Cecilia in person. It's true, believing in God really works!"

The choir girls jumped for joy, chirping and greeting Cecilia like little birds, to which Cecilia responded with a smile. She hadn't left the ice cellar in a long time; many of the collateral relatives who worked for the Shaniat family had never even seen her before. Keep in mind, most of them came here to see their idol!

Otherwise, why would she choose to work at Neuschwanstein Castle when she could be living a perfectly good life as a young lady in a collateral family?

Shen Liang was also somewhat surprised. Although he already had a deep understanding of the fact that "the Valkyries are all beautiful girls", he found that it was still not deep enough.

Every girl in this church was a beauty, perhaps due to the Shaniat family bloodline; they all grew up to be school beauties or celebrities. Moreover, they were all nuns, and beneath their clean, beautiful skirts were identical pure white over-the-knee stockings or pantyhose, creating a cute and youthful "absolute territory" effect.

"Do we humans really have so many beautiful girls?" Shen Liang even had a surreal feeling.

Chapter 206 I thought Little Pandora looked like a cold and aloof type.

The nuns of the Shaniat family, dressed in white silk stockings and white skirts, were indeed very beautiful, even dazzling.

Not only Cecilia and her friends, but the entire Shaniat family was an organization with a strong convent atmosphere. Every member was a devout nun... or perhaps not, but everyone did wear conservative, form-fitting nun's clothes in their daily lives, and every move they made carried a sense of holiness.

"They really know how to package things," Shen Liang remarked.

"I always thought that the average appearance of you Earthlings was slightly lower than that of Teyvats, but now it seems I was blind to your true worth," Torachiyo sighed in agreement.

They weren't the only ones to express the same sentiment.

"Why are they all girls?" Shen Liang looked left and right and keenly noticed something strange.

“Didn’t I tell you? The Shaniat family is a lineage of saints, and every generation has beautiful young women.” Cecilia took his hand and introduced them enthusiastically. “This is Angelia, five years older than you, my cousin. This is Gerino, a choir soloist who’s working in the French entertainment industry. This is Lala, who’s studying business management with Celine. This is Nellie… and there are many more sisters who aren’t in the church. You’ll get to know them one by one later.”

The girls also saw Shen Liang. Having already been greeted, they quickly realized who the boy with long black hair tied in a ponytail, who was being led by Cecilia's hand, was. They all jumped down from the choir stage and surrounded him, looking at him with curiosity and admiration.

"So handsome!" someone exclaimed, clenching their fist in a completely unladylike manner.

"No, no, no, it's so cute!" someone corrected.

"Little Pandora is even cuter than in the photos! I thought the photos were photoshopped!"

"No wonder Miss Cecilia made an exception and took a boy in. I was thinking that if this continued, our family's fine tradition would be gone... I didn't expect it to be a boy even more handsome than me! How awful! I can't find a reason to refuse!"

"But it's a bit short..."

"A little short is just right! A huge victory for those who love cute boys!"

Although they were all daughters of wealthy families who lived secluded lives, the way they were surrounded by chattering girls was far from the "wealthy family" Shen Liang had imagined. Rather, aside from their nun's habit and stunning looks, these girls treated him no differently than any other girl.

Also, because they haven't seen much of the world for many years, they might be even more unruly when they get going.

"Call me 'sister'," Cecilia whispered.

Shen Liang was somewhat helpless. He was already twenty-two years old in his mind, which was taller than most people here. However, considering that this was the place he would be working in in the future, leaving a good first impression was more important than anything else. He could only force a smile and say with a sweet and innocent smile that he hadn't used in a long time, "Hello, sisters. You've worked hard."

The choir girls erupted in cheers; none could resist such a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth. The Shaniat family was more like a nunnery than a celestial abode; these girls, adored and celebrated by everyone outside the family, were all of equal beauty within the clan, never experiencing the feeling of being looked up to. Now, with a vulnerable "brother" who even needed care, they were practically ecstatic.

"No wonder Miss Kiana refused to come back. I wouldn't come back either!"

"I thought Little Pandora looked like a cool and aloof type! I didn't expect her to be so sunny and radiant!"

"Hehehe, Kiana failed to protect Little Pandora, hehehe, that good child delivered to her doorstep is going to be eaten by her older sister, hehehe~"

"Ugh! We were all pretending, but you're really drooling! Wipe it off!"

Cecilia watched with a smile as the younger generation welcomed Shen Liang. She enjoyed the warm feeling of being surrounded by people and the lively chatter. However, this feeling didn't last long before Maria, unable to bear it any longer, shouted, "Silence! The church is a place watched over by the Lord. You are members of the Shaniat family, and you should have at least some respect for this place. Shut up!"

All the girls in the choir immediately and obediently resumed their solemn and ladylike demeanor, putting their white gloves back on their waists, returning to the choir platform with their heads bowed, only glancing curiously at Shen Liang, the newly promoted "Shanyat male tribesman," out of the corner of their eyes.

Maria turned around, and only then did Shen Liang see what this woman who was about to become his "mother" really looked like.

She was beautiful, with fair skin and a slender figure. Her chestnut hair reached her hips, but her eyes were always narrowed, with a slightly fierce look. Long stockings, almost like leather boots, encased her thighs. It was clear that she was different from her sister Cecilia. Although she wore the same nun's habit, she seemed to be more skilled in combat. The slender heels of her high heels were made of hard metal.

"Aren't you going to introduce me, sister?" Maria stared at Shen Liang and said slowly.

“Shen Liang, currently known as ‘Pandora Schariac,’ is a formal member of the Schariac family, personally acknowledged by me.” Cecilia, holding the boy’s hand, glanced down at him, her eyes still gentle. “My darling possesses an extremely rare male Honkai energy aptitude, with pure Chinese blood. Oh, to outsiders, you should say he’s half from the Schariac family. He was discovered in Tokyo by my daughter Kiana, and shortly after entering the transcendental realm, he gained the ability to fight alongside the S-rank Valkyrie Rita, and even possesses spatial abilities similar to Sirin.”

"Baby has a detached personality and doesn't care much about money, power, or even strength. Although he has excellent martial arts talent, he is very indifferent to combat training. Hmm, the only thing he cares about is his four younger sisters, which he brought along this time. After all, it's unrealistic to separate them... Don't look at me like I'm facing a competitor. Those sisters are very cute, they're about the same age as Baby, and they won't be a threat to you."

The girls in the choir finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“But you didn’t say the important thing,” Maria said calmly.

“Okay~” Cecilia doted on her younger sister, drawing out the last syllable, “And most importantly, in order to ensure that little Pandora obtains the Divine Key and is not secretly taken away by other countries, I have no choice but to protect him in the name of the family, so…”

She scratched her head a little embarrassedly, "I've decided to make him Maria's child."

The entire choir was stunned.

"Why don't you become his mother yourself?" Maria's face darkened.

“Because it has a bad influence…” Cecilia’s fingers twirled the ends of her hair beside her cheek. She knew she was in the wrong with Maria. “I’m a saintess. Little Pandora looks even younger than Kiana and has black hair. If she’s my child, it’s hard not to think that I’ve had an extramarital affair… A saintess’s every word and action will be scrutinized. If I do this, I’ll tarnish the reputation of the Shaniat family.”

"So I can ruin it then, huh?!" Maria's voice rose in anger.

"Maria isn't a saint, nobody cares..."

"Cecilia, my cousin!" Maria was furious, her hair standing on end, her eyes almost bulging open. "You may not care about family reputation, but what about my honor! I'm a nun, don't you understand the purity of a nun?!"

“It’s not like nuns can’t get married…” Cecilia said weakly. “Besides, your public identity is that of a test-tube baby. We didn’t ask you to say you’re married. You’re still single… and even a virgin.”

“What’s the difference?” Maria laughed angrily, walking directly to Cecilia and speaking coldly, “I’ve always gone along with you, Cousin Cecilia, but this time I’m sorry, I won’t do it. I don’t know why you want to protect a stranger, but this is too much to ask of you, Cousin. You’ve never put me in such a difficult position before.”

She looked down at Shen Liang with an emotionless gaze, making Shen Liang feel inexplicably uncomfortable: "Your name is Pandora? Hmph, the name Xilin chose may be a bit arrogant, but it really suits your temperament. How could I let someone like you call me mother? The murderous aura around you is practically overflowing..."

Shen Liang wasn't bothered by Maria's hostility, because it was indeed absurd for a young girl who looked like a twenty-year-old college student to become a mother out of nowhere, but what Maria said also surprised him.

Evil spirit?

People can't sense the murderous aura within themselves. Just as he always thought Rosalia and Lilia were adorable, energetic, and somewhat silly little girls, Anna, having witnessed their ruthless killing and robbery, saw a terrifying murderous aura beneath their delicate and cute exteriors. It's like a battle-hardened soldier; some people can sense a sharp will emanating from a soldier at a glance.

Shen Liang thought he had concealed his appearance very well, but Maria still saw through him at a glance—the blood debts on his body were far more than those of a soldier.

“I am a nun. Although I fight and I kill, I do not like executioners,” Maria said calmly. “Little Pandora, may the merciful Lord forgive your sins.”

“What if I think he’s my son-in-law?” Cecilia said softly.

Maria was stunned.

“I know this is sudden for you, but… there aren’t many people in the Shaniat family I can completely trust,” Cecilia said, her voice not loud enough for everyone to hear. “Little Pandora is not only a rare genius, but he might also be my son-in-law in the future, a true member of our family… I’m just taking this step ahead of time. I have to protect him; I owe Kiana so much.”

“That’s the real reason you can’t adopt him as your son, isn’t it?” Maria said with a complicated expression.

“Yes, after all, I don’t have many years left, and I can’t let my identity become an obstacle for young people after I die.” Cecilia smiled. “Maria, you and I are no longer young women. We have enjoyed the good times, and now we should make some sacrifices for the sake of young children, for their sake. Besides, we are sisters, and I also hope that you will have someone to accompany you. I don’t want you to be lonely for the rest of your life, little Maria.”

So you brought me a child?

“The baby is adorable, isn’t he?” Cecilia looked into her eyes. “Even if you gave birth to him yourself, you might not be able to have such a beautiful, adorable, and well-behaved boy. If you really don’t want him, I’ll let Angelia be his mother.”

"Are you crazy? Angelia is only twenty-one years old!"

"Who else can I entrust this to besides my sisters? Theresa is too young..."

After a moment of silence, Maria nodded, then looked at Shen Liang. Shen Liang tilted his head slightly, staring at her with the same calm expression. Maria was only about ten centimeters taller than him, but with her high heels, he had to look up at her, though he was used to it.

"Have you all come to an agreement?" Shen Liang asked.

Maria stared at him for a long time. "Aren't you against it? Being forced to acknowledge a woman you've just met as your mother?"

“I’m an orphan, I don’t have those moral constraints. You’re not the first woman who likes to call herself my mother.” Shen Liang’s dark eyes responded with a cold gaze.

Maria suppressed her dissatisfaction with the boy's arrogance and took a deep breath: "You really don't see me as your mother. Your eyes only see this as a pretense or a transaction. Heh, so your cuteness just now was all an act. But that's fine, I'm not exactly a patient person either. I hope this fake mother and son can work together smoothly."

Shen Liang gave a warm smile, "Okay, Mom."

These words stunned both of them. Both Maria and Cecilia knew that Shen Liang's personality was not the sunny and warm type; he was just good at pretending to be harmless.

But both of them were slightly touched. Seeing such a bright smile and a sweet "mother", they both fell silent.

“I suddenly feel a little regretful. Maybe I can just not consider Kiana… At worst, I can just leave her a larger share of my estate when I die,” Cecilia said wistfully.

Maria, however, inexplicably felt that it wasn't such a loss after all.

----------

After the most important family recognition ceremony was over, Shen Liang did not disturb Maria's worship and followed the maid to his room with his suitcase.

Neuschwanstein Castle is enormous, housing over a hundred Shaniat people, along with their maids, guards, secretaries, and other staff—a total of over a thousand people. The reason this family has been able to maintain such extravagance for so long is not only because they are the world's foremost family of extraordinary beings, but also because they are incredibly wealthy.

Very rich.

The Shaniat family is the largest syndicate in Europe, primarily engaged in real estate and finance, and has recently expanded into international mining. However, the Shaniat family's passion for making money is not simply for monopolistic purposes, but rather to cover the enormous expenses of supporting the Destiny Organization and maintaining the superhumans.