"Thank you." After finishing her second serving of fried rice, Durandal spoke softly.
For someone who had lost their mother since childhood or never known their mother, this "Mother's Flavor" had an extraordinary effect—Durandal being a prime example.
Chen Luo didn't know how good Cecilia's cooking had been, but at least Durandal seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.
However, after calming her emotions for a while, Durandal quickly regained her usual composure.
After all, she was Durandal.
"Let's go. I'll take you out." Seeing Durandal had finished eating, Chen Luo walked to the bar's door and opened it.
As for the dishes, the bar would clean them automatically.
Seeing the scenery outside that indeed differed from the ruined space, Durandal relaxed slightly but remained vigilant.
Following Chen Luo out of the bar, Durandal found herself in a location distinct from the previous ruins, further piquing her interest in this peculiar bar.
It was the interior of a shopping mall, seemingly well-stocked with supplies, complete with a small tent set up in one corner.
"What do you think? This is the survivor base I've prepared. Not long ago, the first resident officially moved in—that little tent is their temporary shelter," Chen Luo explained.
Perhaps their arrival had broken the previous silence, as the figure inside the tent began to stir before a cute little girl emerged.
"Eh? Big Brother, when did you get back?" The little girl peeked out from the tent.
Only after seeing the child did Durandal finally let her guard down completely—this was indeed the survivor base Chen Luo had mentioned.
"It's fine, go play. I'll look for your parents soon," Chen Luo said gently to the little girl.
Nodding, the girl didn't return to the tent but instead headed straight for the small playground near the supermarket entrance.
Some supermarkets or large stores had miniature playgrounds for children with simple amusement equipment, and this shopping mall was no exception.
"Captain, what do you think of this place?" Chen Luo asked.
"It's quite suitable for survivors, though the zombies remain a problem. But why do you keep calling me 'Captain'?" Durandal finally voiced the question she'd been curious about but hadn't bothered to ask before.
She hadn't asked earlier because they'd been temporary enemies, but now her opinion of this young man had changed.
"Huh? You didn't know? I've already joined Immortal Blades. Oh right, you wouldn't know. Here, take a look." After some thought, Chen Luo handed over the communicator he'd purchased—Durandal's own had been destroyed in the explosion.
"How do you have a communicator with the same identification code as mine?" Durandal was startled upon receiving it.
This device was identical to hers in every way—appearance, communication codes, even clearance level.
"That's not important. Open the team management screen," Chen Luo leaned closer, instructing Durandal.
After giving Chen Luo a sidelong glance, Durandal navigated to Immortal Blades' member list without further prompting.
"You're not here. No new members have joined Immortal Blades," Durandal said after a quick glance.
"Of course I am not there. Check the janitorial section—under logistics and miscellaneous staff," Chen Luo pointed to the most inconspicuous corner of the virtual screen.
"...Chen Luo. Your real name?" Durandal's eyebrows rose slightly upon seeing the newly added janitor in the logistics roster.
"Yep, that's me. So calling you 'Captain' is perfectly reasonable. Oh, and give me back that wristband," Chen Luo nodded, then held out his hand.
"Since you're now an Immortal Blades member and we're in a combat situation, your equipment will be temporarily requisitioned under my authority," Durandal declared without hesitation, fastening the wrist communicator onto her own arm while spouting lies even she didn't believe.
Though this Traveler had treated her hospitably, that wouldn't stop Durandal from taking him back to Schicksal headquarters.
Still, given his medical assistance, she'd try her best to protect him from Otto's... special methods when they returned.
Personal relations were personal; duty was duty. Durandal drew clear lines between the two.
All for the sake of defeating the Honkai.
"..." Watching the righteous-faced Durandal brazenly confiscate his 100-Crystal communicator, Chen Luo's heart ached.
But the problem was—he couldn't beat her.
Beep beep. The communicator on Durandal's wrist suddenly chimed.
"Hmm? Rita?" Frowning at the caller ID, Durandal accepted the video call.
"Ah! Lady Durandal! It really is you! I thought someone had hijacked your communication channel and signal. Didn't you say this unit's video function was damaged?"
Appearing on screen was a beautiful young woman with ash-blonde hair covering her left eye and wine-red pupils—currently regarding Durandal with visible relief.
"..." After a moment's silence, Durandal kept the call active while checking the communication logs.
Upon seeing the records, she shot a glare at Chen Luo, who stood nearby with an innocent expression.
"I'm fine. The video function just got repaired. And I've already captured him," Durandal suddenly grabbed Chen Luo's shoulder.
"And stop calling me 'Lady.'"
"Understood, Lady Durandal. No problem, Lady Durandal," Rita smiled sweetly while giving Chen Luo a meaningful glance.
"...Alright Rita, no need to worry. I should be bringing him to the neighboring city soon. Have a Schicksal aerial battleship waiting there. I need to focus on monitoring this escape-prone Traveler now," Durandal said.
"Very well, Lady Durandal. In that case, I can concentrate on hunting down the little rat causing trouble at headquarters."
"Headquarters had an incident?"
"Nothing major. Just a small infiltrator—whether from Anti-Entropy or another organization, I can handle it. No need for Lady Durandal to concern herself," Rita assured.
"Mn." Durandal ended the call with her usual efficiency, fully trusting her deputy's capabilities.
"Hey Captain, if you don't mind... could we help that little girl find her parents first? I promised her earlier, though chances are slim," Chen Luo pleaded.
"My current mission is to escort you to Schicksal headquarters immediately," Durandal replied sternly.
"Captain, don't be so heartless. Help the little girl out. Due to her incomplete Stigmata awakening, she needs to remain in a Honkai energy-rich environment long-term. Since you can't take her with you, helping her find her parents would be doing her one last favor."
"..."
"Just give me, this humble Chen, some face. Consider it repayment for the meal I just provided, alright?" Chen Luo continued to plead.
"Besides, I already know where her parents worked. It'll only take an hour."
"...Fine." Durandal finally nodded.
She could spare an hour. Moreover, she found it hard to refuse both Chen Luo and the little girl's request.
"Then let's go. ME Corp—that's where the girl's parents worked." Chen Luo nodded and strode out first.
"ME Corp isn't far from downtown. We'll get there quickly."
"ME Corp..." Durandal paused at the name.
As captain of Immortal Blades, she was quite familiar with that name—it was Anti-Entropy territory.
But having given her word, she wouldn't go back on it. Besides, Durandal had confidence in her abilities.
Though if the parents had been working there... survival chances were practically zero.
"By the way, Captain, can you still fly?" Chen Luo asked as he opened a window, preparing to fly out.
"Armor's too damaged. Flying would be difficult," Durandal replied, having already inspected her equipment.
"Then what should we..." Chen Luo frowned.
"You carry me." As she spoke, Durandal produced a thin cord from somewhere.
"Eh? Wait, Captain, what are you doing?" Seeing Durandal approach with the rope, Chen Luo instinctively stepped back.
"To prevent you from escaping through unknown means again, we'll be tied together until we leave Nagazora. This is Schicksal's latest tech—extremely durable, originally for climbing." Durandal tied one end of the black cord around her waist.
"So, where do you want yours?" She held the other end toward Chen Luo.
"Can we skip the tying?"
"What do you think?" Durandal's lance lightly scratched the floor.
"Fine." Chen Luo surrendered helplessly.
It wasn't like he could beat Durandal anyway. Besides, who's to say this wasn't exactly what Chen Luo wanted?
"Captain, should we form a temporary team? Like... the Schicksal Janitor Squad?" Chen Luo suggested as he tied the cord around his own waist.
"Whatever. But the name's terrible."
[Ding! Durandal has joined (Schicksal Demolition Team)]
Nice!
Tool acquired!
"Captain, now begins our glorious rampage. You handle the 'rampage' part."
As he spoke, Chen Luo took out his Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers.
At Refinement Rank 2, it could boost an ally's ATK by 30% for 10s (20s CD).
With this, Chen Luo would be the flashiest support around.
Moreover, the book itself was a grimoire—Chen Luo could use it to cast spells from his Basic Magic Compendium.
Sometimes magic cleared crowds faster than arrows.
Thus, Chen Luo set off with Durandal in tow.
Initially, Chen Luo didn't carry Durandal—he flew while she dangled below via the ultra-resilient cord, like a cable car passenger.
But this proved uncomfortable for both, so they settled on Chen Luo carrying Durandal piggyback.
Durandal could've easily leapt between rooftops to keep up, but the tether complicated things.
Chen Luo could fly; Durandal couldn't.
Durandal could jump; Chen Luo couldn't.
"Captain, you should lose some weight," Chen Luo gasped after flying for ten minutes to reach ME Corp.
Boom! Durandal said nothing, but her lance embedding 20cm into the pavement spoke volumes.
"Sorry, my bad. I need to exercise more," Chen Luo immediately backpedaled.
"Let's go. Check for survivors. If none, we leave immediately." Durandal strode ahead, lance in hand.
"Little Senti, where's that Anti-Entropy girl, Sin you mentioned?" Chen Luo asked mentally while exploring the headquarters beside Durandal.
"Southwest corner."
"Got it." Chen Luo nodded.
The Honkai reactor and Anti-Entropy personnel—these were Chen Luo's objectives.
He wanted both!
Wind blades enhanced by the grimoire cleared zombies along their path as Chen Luo subtly guided Durandal toward the reactor.
Chen Luo had long wanted to visit ME Corp for its Honkai reactor.
His Vision's conversion wasn't complete yet—it desperately needed Honkai energy. The ambient levels were too sparse for proper conversion.
But Chen Luo was certain Anti-Entropy would have people here.
Boom! Just as they turned a corner, a shell exploded right in their faces.
Anemo barriers instantly shielded them from the blast.
"So this is Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie? Doesn't seem impressive. Looks dumb as rocks, ahahaha..." A girlish, taunting voice rang out from the hallway's end.
A young girl sat atop an Anti-Entropy mech, smirking at Chen Luo and Durandal.
"Anti-Entropy...?" Durandal tightened her grip on the lance.
"Mom kept telling me to leave, but I really wanted to meet Schicksal's so-called 'strongest S-rank Valkyrie.'"
Heterochromatic eyes (left blue, right gold), shark-like teeth, and split-dyed short hair (left pink, right purple) with a purple ahoge.
The Cocoon Orphanage's elite fighter—Sin Mal—had arrived!
As she spoke, the girl suddenly vanished, reappearing dangerously close to Chen Luo and Durandal.
Five throwing knives flew toward Durandal as Sin's "greeting gift."