Honkai Impact: Starting from Wandering with Kiana

"Maybe we shouldn't eat this... Is it really safe to eat?" Mei hesitated. Although it was comparable to what she was currently making, there was no need to eat something inferior when there was a better option. (Nine Heavens)

Kiana shook her head and continued eating. As she ate, she said, "Although it tastes a bit bad, it's still a token of my affection. My dad used to be like that too. Even though he couldn't cook, he still insisted on letting me taste the flavor of love. I can't refuse my dad's love, and I can't refuse Jiuxiao's love either."

Mei was deeply moved after hearing this, but Jiuxiao was a different story; he was practically digging his toes through the floorboards.

Kiana, please stop talking, the food is different today... I'll feel so guilty if I keep going...

Kiana didn't finish her food in the end, and Jiuxiao snatched it away and put it aside. Mei looked at the several plates of dark-colored dishes, and couldn't resist picking up a little to taste.

It tastes awful... but is this the sentiment Kiana spoke of? Although it's unpalatable, it's not inedible. It melts in your mouth, a warm current flowing through your body, filling you with strength. Because it contains the passion and love someone poured into making this dish—so this is the meaning of food...

But why am I starting to see childhood memories...wait, how did Kiana show up here...?

"Mei! Jiuxiao, come quick to save her! Mei has fainted!" Kiana hurriedly caught the fallen Mei and reached into her mouth to try to pry out the culinary disaster.

"I told you not to try it, why did you still eat it... Cortana, prepare medical treatment." Jiuxiao hurriedly called Cortana over, and then, while Kiana wasn't paying attention, fed all the culinary disaster to the sewer.

Cortana scanned and treated her, only to discover that Raiden Mei's coma was not due to food poisoning. The accumulated stress and exhaustion had overwhelmed her; Mei hadn't had a proper rest or relaxation in a long time.

Jiuxiao shook his head at Kiana, indicating that she should take Mei to get some rest.

--------

Mei slept for a long time, sleeping peacefully. Kiana's energy and care made her feel at ease.

The next day, when Mei woke up, she saw Kiana standing beside her, covered with the blanket that Jiuxiao had given Kiana. Mei gently stroked Kiana's face, feeling as if this fair-skinned girl had opened her heart.

Mei nuzzled her face against Kiana, only then noticing someone standing in front of the bed. A person made of data, real yet untouchable.

Cortana noticed Mei looking at her, so she smiled and said, "Hello, Raiden Mei. I'm the housekeeper of this house, you can call me Cortana."

"Just call me Mei... Are you artificial intelligence?"

Mei shook her head, then asked a question. In the Far East, peers don't call each other by their first names; only close relatives can. But Mei felt that besides her family, she didn't have anyone closer to her among her peers.

Cortana nodded and said, "I am an intelligent artificial intelligence, and I am now appearing in front of you in the form of a holographic projection. Kiana stayed by your side all night, and Jiuxiao and I couldn't persuade her, so Jiuxiao asked me to stay by your side. Your body needs rest."

Mei put Kiana on the bed, covered her with a blanket, tidied herself up, and left the room with Cortana.

As they walked, Mei suddenly remembered something and asked Cortana, who was standing next to her.

"Cortana, can you cook?"

"No, I don't have a physical form..."

Cortana was a little confused, then looked at Mei with an idiotic expression. What's the difference between this and asking an air conditioner repairman what he does for a living? If she could cook, why would Jiuxiao and Kiana be blowing up the kitchen every day...?

Mei felt a little awkward under Cortana's gaze, only then realizing the embarrassing question she had just asked. Mei was now penniless; Kiana had taken her home, but she didn't want to take advantage of Kiana and Jiuxiao. She wanted to do something for her family. Yesterday's meal had made her realize that cooking wasn't just about filling one's stomach, but also about bringing happiness to those around them...

Based on her extensive experience watching TV dramas, Cortana could tell that Mei was still somewhat reserved.

"Don't worry, you don't need to worry about anything in this house. Living happily and freely is the best reward for Kiana and Jiuxiao. However, if you want to learn to cook, I have tutorials for thousands of dishes here."

"Thank you... Cortana. Then please teach me how to cook!" Mei was overjoyed; she was determined to become a great chef!

"Okay, first, let's all shout together, 'Pots and pans, submit to me!'"

"what?"

Chapter 43 Thunder Dragon Horse

After that, Mei became the cook of the Kyushu family. Because Kiana had a big appetite and needed to cook a lot of food, Mei also had many opportunities to practice. Under Cortana's guidance, she became a qualified cook.

Well, as for the green-clad Mei, Jiu Xiao seems to have realized that Mei seems to have fallen in love with Kiana after being saved by her. Luckily, he acted early; although Kiana has feelings for Mei, she still keeps her distance, otherwise he would be the one wearing the green hat.

Every day, he watches Mei cook various dishes and go to Kiana, looking at her expectantly, hoping to convey her feelings. But every time, Kiana just says "delicious!" and then skips off to Jiuxiao's arms. Seeing Mei's resentful little eyes, Jiuxiao feels a sense of satisfaction.

Sometimes, she would even lift Kiana's chin in front of Mei.

Kiana, give me a kiss.

"Muma—"

Kiana would always respond enthusiastically to her expectations, giving her a passionate kiss. Mei would stand there, frozen, gritting her teeth as she watched the two of them, unable to do anything.

Hmph, you used to ignore Kiana, now you can't even reach her.

During this time, Jiu Xiao had Cortana investigate the case of Raiden Ryoma, uncovering many loopholes. However, even more substantial evidence proved that Raiden Ryoma had indeed embezzled a large amount of funds, but no one knew where the money had gone. No information could be found online, and Raiden Ryoma remained silent.

Interestingly, during the investigation, they discovered that Raiden Ryoma had an accomplice, Siegfried Kaslana. When Jiuxiao and Kiana found out, they almost stormed into the prison with weapons, even though Jiuxiao wasn't close to Siegfried, he was still his father-in-law.

However, they arrived too late; Siegfried had already been confirmed to be unaware of the truth and released without charge. Kiana was heartbroken at not encountering Siegfried, but she firmly believed she would eventually find her stinky father.

Although Siegfried wasn't found that day, Mei and Raiden Ryoma were still able to meet.

Raiden Ryoma told Mei not to worry about her, that someone would come to clear his name, and that Mei should be careful during this time, as someone might try to harm her.

However, Raiden Ryoma himself couldn't understand it. ME Company was entirely composed of Anti-Entropy employees; the entire company provided funding for Anti-Entropy. He was, after all, an executor of Anti-Entropy, yet he'd been stripped of everything, his entire fortune wiped out, and to this day, no one from Anti-Entropy had come to his aid. Could they have sold him out?

Raiden Ryoma and Mei talked for a while, while Jiuxiao and Kiana ate and watched the show. It took them quite some time to finish their conversation.

"Who are these two?"

"This is Kiana, and that is Jiuxiao, the friend I just told you about. They took me in, and I've been staying at their house for a while."

Mei introduced the two to Ryoma. However, Ryoma's expression turned somewhat unpleasant when he heard the names Kiana and Kusanagi.

Ryoma's inner monologue: Damn Siegfried, so that's why you came looking for me! It turns out Kiana and the others have all wandered to Changkong City! Damn it, damn it, could my Mei also be a sacrifice to the Herrscher of the Void? Damn Siegfried, I knew he wasn't up to any good. Next time I see him, I'll definitely stab him.

Despite his turbulent emotions, Raiden Ryoma smiled and said to Kiana and Jiuxiao, "I'm sorry, I'll have to ask you to take care of Mei for a while... Thank you."

"It's nothing, it's just a small favor. After all, Mei is our friend." Jiuxiao and Kiana waved their hands, indicating that there was no need to be so polite, since Mei had become their cook.

However, Jiuxiao glanced at Mei, then at Kiana, and instructed Cortana to hack the surveillance equipment in the vicinity. He then said to Raiden Ryoma, "However, Mr. Raiden... we are powerless to help you with your case. I've investigated, and it seems to have been done by one of your own Anti-Entropy members. Kiana and I are both members of Schicksal; we have neither the standing nor the ability to help you. At most, we can pass on a message between you and Anti-Entropy."

"What is reverse entropy?" Mei didn't understand. Was her father hiding something from her?

Raiden Ryoma's gaze darted away. He didn't want Mei to know he was from Anti-Entropy, but now that it was out in the open, there was no hiding it anymore. He gave Jiuxiao a look, and Jiuxiao, understanding perfectly, began to explain.

"Mei...this world isn't as simple as you imagine...this world is plagued by a calamity called 'Honkai.' Schicksal and Anti-Entropy are both organizations fighting against Honkai, but unlike Schicksal, which is controlled by Bishop Otto alone, Anti-Entropy uses a leader and multiple 'Executors' to distribute power. Your father, Raiden Ryoma, is one of the Executors, codenamed 'Entrepreneur,' responsible for providing funding to Anti-Entropy. But don't worry, Mr. Raiden Ryoma isn't a combatant and doesn't need to go to the battlefield."

Mei was silent for a moment, the information was overwhelming, but she seemed to understand something. Thinking back to her childhood, she looked at Raiden Ryoma with disbelief and said, "So...when Mom died, you weren't busy with work, but with anti-entropy...?"

“Mei…” Raiden Ryoma didn’t know what to say. He loved his wife very much, but that didn’t change the fact that he was busy with matters between the Executors at Anti-Entropy headquarters during his wife’s hospitalization and couldn’t see her one last time.

Mei doesn't know if her mother knew that her father was working for Anti-Entropy, but her mother didn't let Mei resent her father before she died. She said that her father was busy saving the world... Maybe her mother knew... But Mei has never understood whether saving the world is necessarily more important than the people she loves.

"That's enough... no need to say anything more, it's all in the past. Take care of yourself... Father. You two talk first, I'll wait for you outside." Mei said, then turned and left.

The pale-faced girl didn't know how the atmosphere had suddenly turned like this, but she knew Mei needed someone by her side. Kiana looked in the direction Mei had left, then glanced at Jiuxiao, and then Jiuxiao nodded in signaling her to go after Mei.

After Mei and Kiana left, only Jiuxiao and Raiden Ryoma remained in the prison. After Mei left, Raiden Ryoma paused for a moment, then gave Jiuxiao a disapproving look.

Chapter 44 Mei is arrested

"You...are one of Otto's people, right?"

Jiu Xiao didn't know why the guy who was just chatting and laughing was now giving him a cold look, but he was too lazy to put up with his sour face.

"Otherwise, who else could I be but Otto, the one destined for me?"

"As expected... Siegfried, that bastard, I'll stab him to death sooner or later. He's a son of a bitch..."

Raiden Ryoma angrily cursed Siegfried, but after a while, he seemed to have made up his mind. Looking into Jiuxiao's eyes, he said to him, "Jiuxiao, go tell Otto the dog that Mei... she was also a born Stigma Awakener. Mei awakened her Stigma when she was eight years old, but she couldn't withstand the power of the Stigma at that time and was tortured to the point of near death. I sealed the Stigma."

Go tell Otto, he'll know what this means. That bastard Otto, if he still dares to use Mei as the Herrscher of the Void's human anchor, as a sacrifice, I'll take Anti-Entropy and die with him!

"Mei is also a born Stigmata Awakener? This news is truly shocking." Jiuxiao was shocked for a moment, but quickly recalled the treatment of the last born Stigmata Awakener after being invited away by Otto. Then, he smiled and said to Raiden Ryoma, "I will tell Otto. Otto will be happy to accept Mei and let her join Schicksal. What is the Herrscher of the Void's humanistic anchor? What is a sacrifice?"

"That would be best... Heh, she's not like you."

Jiuxiao was getting a little tired of dealing with the Thunder Dragon Horse. What did that mean?! What kind of riddle was he trying to solve? If you don't want to talk about it, don't bring it up! I'm male and she's female, what else could be different? I have the Holy Mark too.

"Stop being so mysterious. I'll ask you one more time: do you need me to help you contact the Anti-Entropy people?"

"I need help contacting Einstein or Tesla, who are also Executors. It would be best if you could contact the Alliance Leader Walter." Thunder Dragon Horse nodded. No one from Anti-Entropy had contacted him yet, and he was eager to get information.

"Okay, here's your contact information. Fine, here's your number, call it yourself."

Jiuxiao handed the phone to Leidian Longma, who was a little stunned and took the phone in disbelief.

"That's it? You just make a phone call?"

"Otherwise what? You expect me to hack into your Entropy's communication equipment and send them messages?" Jiu Xiao shrugged. "It's not that I can't hack in, but I'm really annoyed with you right now and don't want to work here anymore."

In the end, Thunder Dragon Horse gave in and used his cell phone to call a guy whose voice was filled with telegraphic tones. From the moment the call connected, Nine Heavens heard a whole bunch of telegraphic tones; no wonder he was the Red Violent Shrimp.

"Cocolia revised your story and made it public. That bitch is very well prepared. Your ME company is now full of Cocolia's people. We can't get you out right away."

That bastard Cocolia even sent people to steal my Conquest Gem! You have no idea how much that bitch talks about loving her child all the time, but she actually implanted a tactical chip in her daughter's brain! And what's more, I don't even know where that slut got that suit of armor for that Ural Silver Wolf. That little brat single-handedly slaughtered all the guards watching over the Conquest Gem with that armor! Those were elite troops, fully equipped with heavy weapons!"

(If you can't imagine Bronya wreaking havoc, watch her solo animated short; it's incredibly cool.)

Upon hearing about the Conqueror Gem, Raiden Ryoma remained silent for a long time. Tesla's Conqueror Gem was fake... he had already switched it out. But he didn't say anything; he'd let Cocolia take the blame.

Ryoma and Dr. Lobster chatted for a long time when suddenly his phone flashed, and a palm-sized Cortana holographic projection appeared, startling Ryoma.

"Emergency situation! Kiana is engaged in combat..."

Battle mode has been activated.