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

“But I’m already dead.” Karen stroked his face. “You can’t stay with me forever, great inventor. You have a long, long way to go. Have you forgotten what Karen expected of you?”

“Are you really a personality AI? If so, it’s like what Kallen said to me herself,” Otto said. “If it were you, you would indeed advise me to let go.”

“If it were Karen, she would choose to use coercive methods, such as smashing you on the head with Judas. But I can only advise that this is the difference between us.”

Otto laughed silently.

Yes, he knew better than anyone that he had personally calibrated this AI personality. No one understood Kallen better than him, so this was a task that only he could undertake personally. Only in the last few decades of the past five hundred years has AI personality technology advanced by leaps and bounds, with even civilian mobile phones beginning to incorporate artificial intelligence. He could finally reunite with the girl he could only see in his dreams using such an ethereal technology.

He knew better than anyone that this was fake, but it didn't matter if it was fake. What was real to him anyway? Kallen was an AI, an illusion, but he was just a body forged from soul steel. Even the wine was just something he tasted and then excreted through the system; it didn't even count as "drinking."

But there was still a lot of alcohol in this media room.

A moment of silence followed. Karen rose, tapped the control screen with her slender fingers, and then a mechanical arm descended from the ceiling to retrieve a bottle of brandy from the liquor cabinet. In this headquarters filled with Valkyries capable of taking on a thousand men at once, everyone was a formidable woman who could drink by the case or cabinet, so alcohol was readily available. A Valkyrie's rating increase meant a party and a drink; completing a dangerous mission and receiving a generous reward meant a party and a drink; hooking up with a rich guy at the bar or turning a pretty girl gay still required a drink. After all, they were all adults; who needed to buy soft drinks?

The wine was poured into the empty glass in Otto's hand, while Karen held her own glass as well.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll rust?” Otto asked with a smile.

“A little drink makes me feel better. Drunk people don’t feel so lonely.” Karen looked at the monitor screen. “Sometimes I feel you’ve grown old. Your heart has grown old. The only thing you still cling to like a young person is one thing. As for everything else, you’re a decrepit old bishop. Over the years, I’ve never heard of you falling for any woman. You look at them like a father looks at his running children. You have no ambition, no desire, not even passion for this world.”

“Of course I’m old, Theresa calls me grandpa.” Otto bowed and clinked glasses with her.

“But the vitality of young people is the hope of this world,” Karen said softly, her tone elusive. “What you are doing is robbing us of hope. The Shaniat family has been loyal to us for so many years. Do you really want to sacrifice these poor, ignorant descendants?”

"for you."

"I don't want that."

“I know, that’s why I’ve always been a selfish person.”

Karen remained silent for a long time, and finally gave up trying to reason with him. She knew she couldn't persuade him; Otto was never someone she could change.

His love was always headstrong.

“But Cecilia, the current Saintess is an unparalleled existence. Even I in the past might not have been her match. The ‘Saintess Blood’ is a bloodline you personally nurtured. Her power is something even you cannot replicate. Do you really want to waste this level of combat power in human infighting?”

“There will be no infighting. The prerequisite for infighting is that they can find us.” Otto laughed. “If they can’t even find us, how can we talk about infighting?”

“Your plan is as meticulous as ever. You managed to keep such an astonishing achievement hidden from the world for so long.” Karen gazed at the boy in the photograph, his eyes filled with pity and sorrow, like a grieving mother. “It’s truly tragic, my great inventor. You are still a genius, but you were once just like him, with the same temperament. That’s what made you so lovable…”

“So, in the end, I lost you because of that. People have to grow up, Kallen,” Otto said softly, watching the scene of the maid and the yakuza girl picking up their hostage at the airport. “Speaking of which, I should feel more sorry for Rita. She seems to have a lot of interest in that Pandora. If I could, I would prefer to obtain the hostage in a gentler way, or just let him and Rita get what they want. But if I did that, Bianca might cause trouble for me…”

He suddenly paused, then chuckled, "Hey, how come the eldest daughter and young master of the Shaniat family are both like this? How did Cecilia raise them!"

------------

The aircraft parking platform, or more accurately, the runway, at London Destiny International Airport.

This airport, one of the international airports built for the headquarters of Destiny with investment from numerous extraordinary forces, is located on the coast of Essex. Standing on the runway and looking into the distance, all you can see is the vast sea breeze and the dark sea, with the lights of the Scandinavian coast faintly visible on the opposite shore.

From here, you can practically see the Destiny headquarters building with the naked eye from downtown London. Heaven knows why Destiny insisted on having a dedicated Destiny Airport. Although the designer's reason was to allow the extraordinary personnel to avoid detection and arrive in London via separate reception and routes, strictly speaking, compared to the cost of opening a separate airport, it wouldn't be unacceptable for the extraordinary to take regular flights.

But since it was the headquarters of Destiny that had spoken, such a super airport was still built. It should be the largest airport in all of London, and its size is comparable to that of airports all over the world. The only problem is that even with Destiny's abundant funds, it took several years to build, and given the population of the supernatural side, there is no need for such a large airport.

Image project.

Upon arriving here, Raiden Mei's first thought was these four words: "It has to be said that even superhumans cannot avoid formalism." The super airport, which cost billions, actually has little practical significance. Currently, there are not even many planes parked here; they are all helicopters used by the Valkyries at headquarters for their daily use. Mei's helicopter is also parked here. After all, there are not many tall buildings in London. Most of the old Europe consists of small bungalows with few skyscrapers. Helipads on the rooftops of buildings like those in the United States and China are really rare in Europe.

Raiden Mei's thoughts wandered aimlessly. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen her junior brother. What should she say first when they came down? Should she say, "Long time no see! Have you and Kiana secretly gotten your marriage certificate?" Although it seemed they weren't quite old enough for marriage in Germany, Valkyries generally didn't care about that, right? Was Kiana staying home trying to conceive this time? Congratulations to junior brother and Kiana on your marriage and may you have a long and happy life together, and may your descendants visit your graves!

Perhaps her junior brother's life over the past six months has been far more eventful than hers. He's made a name for himself in Aisha, seized the Divine Key, and is now the young master of the Schariac family and the son-in-law of the Holy Maiden. These days, Mei has only been silently following his progress online, worrying about his life and death, feeling both excited and annoyed by his true identity as Schariac. Most of the time, she's been gazing at Kiana's beautiful photo with her eyes crinkled in a smile, feeling a touch of envy.

During the most dangerous and desperate days of his life, it was Kiana who traveled a great distance to be with him, facing the pressures of the United Nations and destiny. He shared his important moments with Kiana; they were siblings, landlord and tenant, and lovers—in all these times…they always had each other by their side.

Mei has been alone for a very long time. She faces the decline of the Raiden family alone, deals with the demons and monsters that are eyeing Me Company alone, and studies quietly in St. Freya alone. Apart from Kiana and Shen Liang, she has no friends of her own generation.

But they were the truly loving and devoted couple, while she was just one of her close friends who occasionally snuck into their relationship. What is a best friend anyway? A best friend is someone you can hang out with for a few years, a few months, or even a few weeks—not a lifelong friendship. She, Shen Liang, and Kiana were all best friends, or rather, Shen Liang was her male best friend… Damn, "male best friend" is hardly a compliment. In Japanese internet slang, it's basically equivalent to a kept-alongside backup plan!

But Shen Liang wasn't her backup plan, and she wasn't Shen Liang's, so this friendship... ha, this friendship was less than what she'd have developed into a backup plan.

Miss Mei was a little confused about why she was so excited to greet Shen Liang. She didn't really think she had much romantic feeling for Shen Liang. Admittedly, he was her first male friend, but Shen Liang was Kiana's lover, and she had no intention of stealing him away. Besides, as Teacher Himeko said, he was just a little guy, more like a shota than a teenager. Apart from those who were obsessed with good looks and younger men, who could possibly have feelings for him?

But she was still very happy to meet Shen Liang again.

It's so frustrating. Mei likes her first best friend Kiana, and she also likes her first male best friend Shen Liang, so... why is it like this?

Raiden Mei turned her head and glanced at the maid next to her who was taking off her helmet and shaking her short gray-gold hair.

So why did you come here?

Raiden Mei was very familiar with this Valkyrie, Rita Rossweisse, one of Schicksal's only three S-rank Valkyries. In fact, she was also Schicksal's most diligent Valkyrie. As an S-rank Valkyrie, she served another S-rank Valkyrie, Durandal. Despite her noble status, she frequently appeared in public and carried out various high-difficulty missions. For Schicksal, she offended many, many forces, including the Shaniat family.

Some say she is only loyal to Durandal, while others say she is nothing more than a dog that only obeys orders, lacking any dignity as an S-rank Valkyrie.

Rita never explained herself; she remained content to be her maid, serving Durandal while calmly completing all of Schicksal's tasks. However, contrary to public opinion, Rita was highly regarded within Schicksal headquarters, a fact that Raiden Mei could roughly understand after arriving there.

Although Rita appears elegant and dangerous, she genuinely enjoys being a maid from the bottom of her heart, even considering it her duty. Therefore, she treats all Valkyries with equal respect, regardless of their rating, and will elegantly praise even the most overlooked virtues, making her the perfect and graceful royal maid.

Who wouldn't like a maid who speaks sweetly and is also beautiful?

However, Mei still had some complaints, and even the maid filter couldn't be erased.

Because she was chosen to greet Shen Liang and Xilin along with Raiden Mei, in other words, she was her colleague. What Raiden Mei couldn't understand was why Schicksal Headquarters would send an S-rank Valkyrie to greet them. Even if the two were of high status... it shouldn't be necessary to trouble someone of Rita's caliber.

Raiden Mei was incredibly awkward the whole way.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Rita won't steal someone else's love either.

“Miss Mei, I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but you seem to be scrutinizing me out of the corner of your eye, and your gaze… isn’t very friendly.”

Two female riders leaned against their motorcycles at the end of the runway, which was so clean that flowers and plants grew on both sides. Raiden Mei's motorcycle's trunk was open, and the lid was turned upside down to form a small table containing a bouquet of refrigerated lilies.

Lilies have always been a symbol of the Valkyries of Destiny. Hidden deep within the stamens are two bottles of champagne, ready to be enjoyed immediately after the successful arrival at the airport – one for celebration and the other for drinking. Although it's not a grand welcoming ceremony, everyone is a Valkyrie of Destiny, familiar with each other, so there's no need for a solemn occasion.

Moreover, Destiny still showed respect to the Shaniat family in hosting them, and Rita herself embodied that respect.

“Miss Rita must have misunderstood. I wasn’t looking at you the whole time,” Raiden Mei said calmly. “My orientation is pretty normal.”

"Was it because Rita ruined Mei's joy at reuniting with her old friend?"

"No, you're overthinking it."

“Yes, Rita understands. In the Japanese context, Rita’s participation in this airport pickup does make her feel a bit like an ‘outsider.’ In Japanese terms, it’s called ‘ky,’ in China it’s called ‘third wheel,’ and in the UK it’s called ‘not knowing how to read the room.’” Rita smiled modestly. “But this was a request from headquarters. Rather than having other Valkyries who don’t know Mr. Shen at all greet him, it’s better for Rita to do it, right?”

Raiden Mei was about to ask how they weren't "strangers" anymore when she paused, startled before she could finish her sentence.

She was referring to "Mr. Shen," as she knew Shen Liang's surname, while most Valkyries only knew his given name, Pandora.

So that means...

"Miss Rita and my junior brother have some connection in Aisha?"

Then she saw the maid, who had always maintained an elegant and graceful demeanor, blush slightly.

Raiden Mei's alarm bells rang loudly! Rita was no ordinary person; she was the eternally smiling tiger, the eternally elegant S-class Valkyrie! Would she "blush"?

"Mr. Shen was very dashing and left a deep impression on Rita at the time."

Raiden Mei nodded slightly with a calm expression, but her heart was in turmoil! What does "heroic and spirited" mean? Explain it to me! What kind of heroic and spirited look is it? You think I'll understand after you've only said half of what you mean?! This word is ambiguous!

It left a deep impression... Miss Mei didn't dare to think about it anymore.

She couldn't understand how a young master named Shaniat, who had few other merits besides his stunning looks and excellent cooking skills, could attract the attention of an S-rank Valkyrie. Wasn't Rita Durandal's loyal maid? They were so close; shouldn't she like Durandal? What did she mean by telling me all this now?

However, considering that Rita was a cunning woman who liked to leave room for interpretation in her words, Raiden Mei had to keep the speculation that Rita was saying that on purpose to see her reaction, so she didn't make a big fuss, just smiled and ignored it.

Inside the airport, there were many female airport workers coming and going, and quite a few girls became excited when they saw Rita, rushing over to confirm her presence. Despite the large number of girls, she remained composed, handling each one with remarkable patience.

Raiden Mei didn't get many greetings. She had only been in London for a few months and didn't even know many of the Valkyries at headquarters. Although some girls were somewhat amazed by this tall, beautiful girl in her St. Freya school uniform with a trench coat over her coat, firstly, Raiden Mei was an Asian, unlike any of them, and secondly, her cold and aloof demeanor made her seem extremely difficult to approach.

So she simply closed her eyes to rest until she heard the muffled roar of the plane's engines tearing through the air.

Raiden Mei opened her eyes. Under the pitch-black night sky, a flying object shimmering with a ghostly blue light slowly descended. It was called an unidentified flying object because the entire aircraft was painted black, making it impossible to distinguish in the darkness. Only after it landed on the runway, under the guidance of the airport's headlights, could Mei finally see its full form.

It was an extremely luxurious, hereditary 1000 business jet, spitting flames as it slowed down. The anti-powered engine proved its ability to achieve supersonic flight and the emergency braking capabilities typically found only in fighter jets. This private vehicle, extensively modified by Destiny, was one of a kind in the entire aviation industry. Because apart from the wealth and status of the Shaniat family, no individual client on Earth could afford such service from Destiny.

The business jet stopped at the end of the runway, the cabin door steps lowered, and Raiden Mei and Rita looked over at the same time, then froze along with Otto, who was watching the scene through the airport's surveillance camera. Then they couldn't help but burst out laughing.

First to emerge was Shen Liang, a boy less than 1.6 meters tall, carrying a small cart over 1.2 meters high on his head before steadily walking down and placing it on the ground. He then went back and, acting like a younger brother or butler, took Xilin's hand. The latter, haughtily floating in the air, was a full meter taller than Shen Liang, her small hand leading Shen Liang as they floated out step by step.

Yes, because she's too lazy to put on shoes and too lazy to walk, she usually uses her spatial abilities in this area.

Shen Liang was quite helpless, but he couldn't understand Xilin's thought process. She felt that this airport was a supernatural airport and there was no risk of exposure, so she would avoid walking if possible. In response to Shen Liang's protest, she generously offered two solutions: either carry her down or let her fly down. After considering which was more humiliating, Shen Liang decided to let her fly down.

Then, without shoes, wearing only knitted footed socks, the white-haired little queen gracefully and lightly sat into the shopping cart from mid-air without any awkwardness, and then snapped her fingers crisply.

Shen Liang glanced around at the curious airport staff, took a deep breath, and pushed Xilin toward Raiden Mei and Rita.

Two beautiful young women from headquarters quickly came to greet them and overheard the siblings' utterly nonsensical conversation.

"What a lousy airport! The family spent so much money and they didn't even install air conditioning. I'm going to die of heat!"

"This is an open-air airport."

"What does this have to do with being outdoors? I feel hot right now, humans!"

"It's only night now, you don't expect me to prepare a palm-leaf fan for you, do you?" Shen Liang pouted.

Xilin actually knew what a palm-leaf fan was, because she had heard the famous Chinese saying, "With a feather fan and a silk turban, the enemy's ships and towers are reduced to ashes in the midst of laughter and conversation," when she was in school. She had specifically looked up the differences between various fans, just in case she picked up the wrong one when trying to show off in China. Those fans were made of bamboo or some kind of hard leaf, stiff and ancient, usually used under big trees while reading, drinking tea, or playing chess, which perfectly reflected the long-standing characteristics of the Chinese people.

"They knew I was coming and didn't even install air conditioning or blowers! After all these years, the Destiny Headquarters is getting more and more rude!" Sirin felt her delicate body getting hot and sweaty, and she was very angry. Sweating was an inconceivable thing for her; apart from being trained by Maria, she never overexerted herself at any time. How could Miss Shaniat possibly sweat so excessively?

"Destiny needs funding too. Do you think Destiny can give you many privileges by supporting so many Valkyries?" Shen Liang didn't care. No open-air airport in the world would consider these things. This is not the private helipad of the Shaniat family. In order to ensure that the young lady is always happy, the Shaniat family has a glass cover on the helipad. It is only opened when the plane arrives and closed when the plane enters, so as to ensure that Xilin will not feel the temperature outside.

After all, she is no longer the ferocious little girl who went bear hunting at the age of ten. The current Sirin is a genius girl, and geniuses do not need physical strength.