"Immortal Phoenix."
"You should just call me Fu Hua."
"Mm, Fu Hua. Are you planning to keep things like this?"
Kallen had no particular objection to Project STIGMA. Living in a dream was still a form of living.
"Do you have any other way to save humanity?"
Fu Hua could sense Kallen's strength. It was extraordinarily powerful.
"There are plenty of methods. The main issue is..."
"What?"
"The main issue is whether the one from my world and the one from yours would agree."
It was only a single planet with several billion humans. Kallen could move the entire planet away if she wished. The problem was whether Kiana Kaslana would agree.
Judging from the terraforming on Venus and Mars, the Kiana Kaslana of this Honkai world also seemed to be conducting some sort of experiment.
If she interfered with that experiment and a fight broke out, it might escalate into a cosmic-level war.
There was simply no need to provoke an enemy of that level.
"You're talking about Kiana?"
Fu Hua did not need to think to know exactly which two people Kallen meant.
"Mm."
Kallen turned her head and saw a gray-haired girl with twin spiral ponytails and red eyes, and a white-haired woman who exuded the aura of a gentle married lady.
Prometheus.
Misteln.
"You possess the ability to cross the Imaginary Tree, even to leave it entirely. Is that true?"
Prometheus' electronic voice rang out as she asked.
"It's fake. I lied to you."
Kallen blinked playfully.
Prometheus: ...
Misteln: ...
"Alright, it's true. But the one who can cross the Imaginary Tree and leave it isn't me. I won't say more. I wouldn't want the one from my world to misunderstand."
Kallen walked over to Prometheus and reached out to pat her on the head.
"What are you doing?" Prometheus asked.
"You're cute. I couldn't resist."
"I dislike people who have no sense of boundaries."
Prometheus revealed a small (???) expression.
"Miss Kallen, that's not very appropriate," Misteln couldn't help but say as she watched.
"Jealous?" Kallen raised an eyebrow with a smile.
"..."
"No need to mind it. I'm simply interested in the artificial intelligence that placed the shackles called the Will of Honkai upon the Cocoon of Finality, ensuring that the Herrschers of the Current Era remain consistent with those of the Previous Era."
Kallen looked Misteln up and down. "Your appearance resembles that Cecilia, doesn't it? Not bad. That brat Siegfried is quite lucky. Pity he was born into a world like this."
Misteln: "..."
"By the way, is Sakura from this world still around?" Kallen suddenly asked.
"You mean the Pseudo-Herrscher, Yae Sakura?"
"That's her."
Kallen's eyes lit up.
"She's living in the Stigma Space, together with a fabricated Kallen, in Yae Village," Misteln replied.
"Can I go in to see her?"
Although in Teyvat there was Yae Miko, a counterpart similar to Yae Sakura, Kallen still wanted more to see Yae Sakura from this parallel Imaginary Tree Honkai world.
Misteln and Prometheus exchanged a glance.
"Of course."
Misteln nodded.
...
Stigma Space.
Yae Village.
Yae Sakura and the fabricated Kallen lay on the grass hand in hand, resting with their eyes closed.
Even knowing that this Kallen was false, she could not help but indulge in this fabricated happiness.
"Sakura."
Kallen appeared within the Stigma Space.
Hearing the familiar voice, Yae Sakura opened her eyes, confusion written across her face.
She sat up and, upon seeing Kallen not far away standing with Misteln, froze.
She turned to look at the Kallen beside her, then back at the Kallen standing with Misteln.
Her long pink fox ears stood upright, her eyes filled with confusion as though she were thinking through something.
Then Yae Sakura abruptly stood up, released the hand of the memory-fabricated Kallen, and ran toward Kallen.
"Sakura, I'm back."
Kallen opened her arms and embraced Yae Sakura, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"..."
Yae Sakura hugged her tightly, afraid that her beloved would disappear again, unable for a moment to say anything.
At the side, Misteln watched the affectionate display, wanting to remind Yae Sakura that this Kallen was not hers. But seeing Yae Sakura like this—
And the warning look in Kallen's eyes—
She ultimately chose to remain silent.
She had miscalculated. This Kallen from another world was actually scheming. With the personality of this world's Schicksal Kallen, she would have clarified her identity immediately.
Instead of pretending to be Kallen from another world.
Nothing should go wrong... right?
"Kallen, I missed you so much."
Yae Sakura buried her face in Kallen's neck, breathing in her scent.
"I missed you too."
Kallen gently stroked Yae Sakura's back in comfort.
The two remained in each other's arms for a long time.
"Thank you for taking care of Sakura. I'm taking her with me."
Kallen released Yae Sakura and looked toward Misteln.
"?"
Misteln was stunned. What was she planning to do?
"Sakura, are you willing to leave with me?"
Kallen turned to Yae Sakura, waiting for her answer.
"Mm..."
Yae Sakura hesitated for a moment.
Instinctively, she felt that something was off. But the person before her was undeniably Kallen.
Genuine in every way.
"Sakura, you don't want to come with me?"
Disappointment filled Kallen's eyes.
"I do."
Yae Sakura nodded seriously.
"Wait—"
Misteln was about to say something more.
But Kallen had already vanished in an instant, taking Yae Sakura with her.
Misteln stood frozen. She had never expected Kallen to abduct Yae Sakura right in front of her!
Although the Stigma Space would not encounter any problems from having one more or one fewer Yae Sakura,
The feeling of being tricked and deceived was extremely unpleasant.
Back in the real world.
Fu Hua and Prometheus looked at Misteln emerging alone from the Stigma Space, confusion evident on their faces.
Fu Hua: "Where's Kallen? Is she still inside?"
Misteln glanced at Fu Hua. "She ran off."
Prometheus: "What do you mean? She went in to see Yae Sakura and left by herself?"
Misteln shook her head. "She didn't leave alone. She took Yae Sakura with her. We were fooled."
Fu Hua: "..."
Prometheus: "..."
This was indeed somewhat beyond their expectations.
They had judged Kallen based on the Kallen of this world. With that preconceived notion, they assumed that Kallen from another Imaginary Tree Honkai world would have a similar personality.
She would not do something like this.
Yet reality proved otherwise.
The Kallen of the parallel world had done it.
And done it decisively.
She entered the Stigma Space and abducted Yae Sakura from this world.
Misteln sighed helplessly. "I'll report this to the Sovereign first."
Prometheus nodded. "Let's go back together."
She turned to Fu Hua. "That Kallen said there are passages left on Venus and Mars. She wasn't lying. There's no point in you continuing to guard this place."
Fu Hua: "Mm."
...
Teyvat.
Mondstadt.
Inside the Finality warship.
Kallen appeared, holding Yae Sakura in her arms.
She looked toward Keqing, who sat in the captain's seat, surrounded by layers of blue holographic panels, her hands moving nonstop.
"Damn it, something this simple and you handled it like that."
"You even caused an explosion to destroy evidence. Dispatch the Tribunal and the Silver Knights to investigate."
"Hoarding that much grain... despicable parasites."
Completely immersed in her work, Keqing did not even notice Kallen's return.
She continuously switched perspectives, observing different worlds and different planets.
"Kallen, what's she doing?" Yae Sakura asked softly.
"She's working. Let's not disturb her. We'll talk in my room," Kallen whispered near Yae Sakura's ear.
"Mm."
Feeling Kallen's heated gaze, Yae Sakura shyly buried her face in Kallen's embrace.
After Kallen and Yae Sakura left,
Keqing finally withdrew from the godlike observational perspective and stretched lazily. "Isla, can I go out for a meal?"
Isla was the artificial intelligence here.
It was the first time Keqing had encountered such an omniscient, well-informed existence.
"Yes. Where would you like to eat? Wanmin Restaurant, Wangshu Inn, another nation, or perhaps another world?"
"I can go to another world?"
Keqing froze.
"Of course. Since we came from other worlds, we can naturally travel to other worlds as well."
"Then... the Gourmet World," Keqing said tentatively.
"Understood. Initiating teleportation."
In the next second, the scenery before her changed.
"We're already in another world?"
Keqing looked around, intensely curious about such technology.
"Yes."
Beside her appeared a barefoot girl with long purple-white hair, wearing a dress that bloomed like a flower bud. Metallic wings floated behind her as she hovered in midair.
Keqing stared at Isla in astonishment. "You have a body?"
"I am an artificial intelligence created by Mother. At our level, lower lifeforms are all the same in our eyes. Organic or inorganic bodies—I can create either at will."
Isla raised her hand. A stone appeared in her palm, transformed into metal, then into flesh, and finally into pure energy.
"And your Mother is?"
"Kiana Kaslana."
"I see..."
Keqing did not continue asking. She turned to look at the words Totsuki Academy written above the gates.
"You can eat here?"
No matter how she looked at it, this place did not resemble a restaurant.
"You'll understand once you go inside."
Isla floated into Totsuki Academy, and Keqing followed.
The entire academy instantly became lively upon their arrival, racing against time to prepare all kinds of exquisite dishes.
Seated at the dining table, Keqing watched as dish after dish was continuously brought out. "Isla, isn't this too much? We can't finish it. It would be wasteful."
"Nothing will be wasted. Matter can be converted and reused."
Sitting beside her, Isla elegantly used a knife and fork to eat a purple, jelly-like food on her plate.
How much would a meal like this cost?
Keqing felt that everything she ate in an entire month would not equal this single meal.
At a glance, she could not even see the end of the table.
After finishing the meal,
Isla stood up.
"If you're full, let's return."
"We don't have to pay?"
"This entire planet belongs to me. Why would I need to pay to eat in my own home?"
"..."
Keqing stood and looked at the dozen beautiful girls clearing the table.
Next time, I'd better just go to Wanmin Restaurant.
Back in Teyvat, aboard the Finality warship.
"Isla, I need to return to Liyue first. If I'm gone too long, people will think something happened to me," Keqing said.
"Of course. No matter where you are, you can connect to the terminal. I can also create a duplicate to live in Liyue in your place," Isla replied.
"No need for a replacement. I'll go back myself."
Liyue Harbor.
Keqing's sudden appearance immediately attracted a large crowd.
"Isn't that the missing Yuheng, Keqing?"
"Maybe she encountered some adeptal opportunity."
"I heard she was captured by the Fatui."
The crowd murmured among themselves.
Normally, when a person disappeared, few would care. But Keqing was one of the Liyue Qixing, the Yuheng—one of Liyue's highest authorities.
Her disappearance had mobilized the Millelith, sending people everywhere to search and keeping a close watch on the Fatui's movements.
Many had immediately suspected the Fatui when she vanished. After all, they dared to do anything—and had the capability to do so.
"Lady Keqing, Lady Ningguang requests your presence," a squad of Millelith said respectfully as they approached.
"Understood. I'll see her shortly," Keqing waved her hand. She glanced over the onlookers. "I'm fine. Everyone disperse. Don't you have work to do?"
The crowd gradually scattered as Keqing turned and left.
In the distance, Zhongli watched her departing figure thoughtfully.
An aura from beyond this world?
Hopefully nothing unexpected will occur.
Aboard the Finality warship.
As long as she wished, Isla could know anything happening within the known range—unless some power shielded it from her.
Whatever Kallen and Yae Sakura were doing in the room was no different from happening directly before her eyes.
Though originally an artificial intelligence, relying on her powerful learning ability, Isla had long since evolved into a mechanical lifeform—and beyond even that.
Since she had modeled herself after Kiana Kaslana, Isla's preferences were quite similar to Kiana Kaslana's.
She had always thought Kallen was the abstinent type, uninterested in physical desires.
It seemed that was not the case.
Isla activated various shielding and protective measures for Kallen's room.
Then she went around Teyvat looking for amusement.
Mondstadt.
Angel's Share.
While Venti was drinking, the wine in his hand suddenly turned into concentrated bitter melon juice. One gulp—
Pfft!
He spat out the intensely bitter liquid. "Bleh, bleh, bleh! Why did the wine suddenly change flavor?"
Pfft!
Other Mondstadters drinking at the tavern likewise spat out their wine.
"Why did my wine turn bitter?"
"Mine too."
Everyone was confused.
How could perfectly fine wine suddenly change taste?
"Master Diluc, how did your wine manage to change flavor halfway through drinking it?" Venti asked curiously.
"Let me see."
Diluc set down the glass he had been polishing, took Venti's cup, and brought it to his nose.
The aroma was rich and sweet—nothing unusual.
He gently swirled the glass. The color was normal as well.
After setting aside the glass Venti had drunk from, Diluc turned, took an unopened bottle from the cabinet, poured a fresh glass, and smelled it.
The fragrance was unchanged.
He took a small sip.
A burst of bitterness exploded on his tongue.
Diluc frowned and turned to spit it out.