"Hm?" Irene frowned upon hearing Sin's words. She stepped out from beside Bronya and pointed at herself. "You know me? Am I really that famous now?"
"A mere A-Rank Valkyrie isn't qualified to be known by Lord Sin." Sin revealed her shark-like teeth in an arrogant grin. "But Mama told me about your ability."
Irene frowned slightly at this. Her ability? She had far too many abilities. Although she hadn't exposed many of them, which one was worth Cocolia's attention?
After all, Sin definitely couldn't be representing herself here; she could only be representing Cocolia. If Irene had any ability exposed to the public that Cocolia currently needed, it would likely only be 'Quantization.'
As for when it might have been exposed... the only possible time would be in Nagazora City. But if that were the case, Gray Serpent and his lot should have been the ones to make contact.
It was impossible for them to hand this information over to Cocolia. To Gray Serpent's group, Pardofelis's identity was worth treating with extreme caution; they wouldn't casually offload the task to Cocolia.
If it solely pointed to the Cat's Quantization ability, then it must have been during the A-Rank Valkyrie test. Wow, just how many people watched that video?
Sin didn't care about Irene's silence. In her view, surrounded by so many Titans, a mere group of Valkyries would be easily captured. There was no possibility of failure.
So what if she was an A-Rank Valkyrie? The ocean lay behind them. Even if they wanted to run, it was useless. Titan speed wasn't something easily shaken off. They had nowhere left to retreat.
"Schicksal Valkyries, you can't escape now." Sin's face was filled with haughtiness and madness. If it were any other time, she would have directly ordered the Titans to crush this group of Schicksal Valkyries.
However, before coming here, she had received a notification from Cocolia Mama saying they had found a fellow capable of entering Quantization—someone who could pull Seele out of that damnable Sea of Quanta.
And just as luck would have it, this person had appeared right in front of her. Mama's instructions were that it would be best not to let her come to any harm. For the sake of that unlucky fellow, Sin could still exercise a little patience and persuade this Valkyrie to surrender. After all, that unlucky fellow still needed this Valkyrie to pull her out.
In case this Valkyrie harbored malicious intent or tried to flee... well, they couldn't monitor the Sea of Quanta, so they needed this Valkyrie's cooperation.
"Wah, who is this rude little midget?" Kiana looked at the arrogant Sin and was just about to raise her gun to teach her a lesson when she was stopped by Himeko.
Himeko shook her head. Engaging Titans in a place like this wasn't a wise decision. Moreover, their numbers were significant, and they didn't look like standard Titan Mecha.
Quite a few were enhanced models; their threat level would be considerably higher than ordinary Titans. Furthermore, she was very curious—why did the opponent seem so interested in Irene?
Bronya felt the same. She understood Sin's personality; Sin wouldn't waste words here without reason. Especially since Sin had singled out Teacher Irene. Did Teacher Irene possess something Cocolia Mama needed?
If Sin had singled out Sister Mei, Bronya wouldn't have been surprised. After all, the reason she originally came here was that Cocolia Mama had ordered her to capture Sister Mei.
Harboring these doubts, Bronya spoke up to inquire, "Sin, what business does Cocolia Mama have this time? Why does she need Teacher Irene?"
Hearing Bronya's words, Sin crossed her arms, her eyes filled with disdain. "You traitor. You still dare to ask what Cocolia Mama needs?"
Listening to Sin's words, the somewhat short-tempered Kiana couldn't hold back right then and there. Since the other party didn't intend to speak to them nicely, it was time to use some physical means to make them comply.
But unexpectedly, after speaking, Sin suddenly shifted the topic. "However, there's no harm in telling you. This Valkyrie possesses the ability of Quantization. Mama needs her to save Seele. I assume you understand this kind of thing?"
"Quantization?!" Upon hearing Sin's words, even Bronya's usually emotionless poker face shifted slightly. She immediately turned to look at Irene behind her.
"Teacher Irene, is it true?"
"Mn, I do indeed have the ability of Quantization." Irene nodded without concealing it. Since it was already exposed, there was no meaning in hiding it further.
However, she had indeed overlooked this point. She had forgotten that Cocolia really needed the ability of Quantization.
[Sister Irene, you're exposed! What do we do?] Pardo's voice rang out in Irene's mind. Irene had refused to explain her abilities to everyone precisely because she feared exposure, right? Now that it was debunked, what should they do?
[What else can we do? It just proves the time has come.] Irene's spiritual entity summed it up. So what if it was exposed? Abilities were meant to be used, and ultimately, it was she and Pardo using them.
When it needed to be hidden, she would hide it. When it couldn't be hidden or needed to be exposed, she would use it for an exchange of benefits. As long as it allowed everything to develop toward the more perfect ending she desired, concealment and exposure were merely a matter of choice.
"Why should I help you?" Irene crossed her arms. She could help Bronya, but she couldn't directly help Cocolia, even if their goals were exactly the same.
After all, with that woman Cocolia's brain, god knows what she might do next or who she might sell Irene to. She could believe in Cocolia's determination to love her daughter, but she couldn't trust Cocolia's brain.
Besides, the chip in Bronya's brain was Cocolia's handiwork. If Cocolia could do such things to her own daughter, she would naturally do the same to others.
And nine times out of ten, she wouldn't receive any gratitude or preferential treatment. House arrest, on the other hand, would likely be plentiful. Since that was the case, Irene certainly wouldn't go help Cocolia.
"Do you think you still have the right or qualification to negotiate?" Sin crossed her arms, not putting the group in her eyes at all. "Look at these Titans. With just one order from me, the Titans will crush you all."
"How about this? You stay, and I can let the others leave."
"As long as you're willing to cooperate and help us finish a tiny little matter, Cocolia Mama will guarantee your safety."
"You little midget, have you said enough?" Kiana stepped forward holding her dual pistols. The more she listened, the wronger it sounded. Wasn't this just detaining Teacher Irene?
Leaving aside their impure motives, even if their motives were pure, the Kaslana family didn't have a habit of mortgaging their comrades to save their own lives.
Moreover, an enemy's promise was the least trustworthy thing. If they let them go now, what about later? Were there ambushes behind them? No one could say for sure. They weren't prepared to place their safety on an enemy's conscience.
The next moment, Himeko abruptly pushed Kiana's head down. A missile, trailing flames, shot past where Kiana had just been, exploding against the wall behind them.
"This doesn't look like you want to negotiate, little munchkin." Himeko frowned. It seemed this guy only wanted Irene.
"I'm only giving you one last bit of time." A look of impatience had already surfaced on Sin's face. "That just now was merely a warning."
Bronya opened her mouth, her gaze turning to Irene. Just as she wanted to say something, Irene raised her hand, reaching past Project Bunny to pat Bronya's head.
"It's okay. I'll have plenty of time to listen to your request later. But for now, let us solve some other matters first, okay? Bronya."
Bronya looked at Irene's smiling face and, as if guided by spirits, nodded. "Mn, Teacher Irene."
"Good girl~" Irene patted Bronya's head again, then looked up at Sin, whose face—for some reason—now wore a trace of anger.
Seeing Irene look up, her voice indeed carried an undertone of rage. "Done discussing? Little bugs of Schicksal, I'll only give you five seconds to make your answer..."
"Let's just forget about it. I don't trust you guys." Irene waved her hand, then suddenly sprinted out from beside Bronya. Sin's reaction was equally swift.
Seeing the moment Irene rushed out, Sin immediately waved her hand. The surrounding Titans, originally in standby mode, instantly began to run. Their thunderous footsteps made the very stone walls seem to tremble.
In the distance, the deployed Thunder Mecha also began firing missiles at Himeko and the others in the rear.
Except for Irene and that traitor Bronya, Sin had no interest in anyone else. As long as she brought the person back alive, Mama would have ways to deal with it.
A Titan quickly arrived in front of Irene, smashing down with a heavy fist. But just as the fist rose, a cold glint blossomed in the darkness. A sharp Chakram sliced directly through the Titan's fist.
Irene held the Chakram, leaping up with her whole body spinning like a top. The tail behind her whipped out like a steel lash, slamming directly onto that Titan's face.
The immense force caved in the Titan's faceplate armor, and the sharp tip of the tail sliced straight into the machinery, leaving a deep gash.
[Sister Irene, that's not how my tail is used!]
[Does it matter? As long as it's effective.] Irene landed nimbly, slicing the Titan in two with a single stroke. Then, she charged straight towards Sin.
She understood the principle of capturing the ringleader first. As long as she caught Sin, the other Titans would be much easier to deal with.
Watching Irene charge towards her, Sin wasn't surprised. She pulled out her own weapon from behind her back. She had beaten unknown numbers of mere A-Rank Valkyries; would she be afraid of Irene?
Her agile rapier traced a trajectory through the air, aiming to stab Irene's shoulder. As long as this guy was still alive, injuries could just be healed later.
But what Sin hadn't expected was that as her rapier was about to pierce the shoulder, it passed directly through Irene's body amidst a blue-white halo, bringing up only a few specks of light.
Sin's eyes flickered, and she immediately slid the rapier to the side, intending to slice Irene's body open. But as if Irene had prepared for this, her figure swayed, and a gravitational force immediately transmitted from the rapier, knocking it aside.
The other sharp Chakram was already pressed against Sin's neck. But Sin was ruthless; even feeling the sharpness on her neck, she shuffled her feet, trying to escape the Chakram's range, while the rapier in her hand traced a path to force Irene back.
However, as the rapier swept through, Irene was no longer in her original spot. A sensation of touching something came from behind Sin, who immediately realized the opponent had landed behind her.
Just as Sin wanted to counterattack, a stinging pain shot through her arm. The sudden pain caused Sin's rapier to drop from her hand.
But Sin wouldn't give up attacking just because her weapon dropped. Realizing the weapon was gone, she spun around with an elbow strike aimed behind her. However, her hand was caught, and then a massive force slammed Sin directly onto the ground.
"Sorry, little friend, you should take a nap first." Irene grabbed Sin's head and knocked it against the ground. A body strengthened by Honkai energy was very durable; Irene's knock only stunned Sin, which was exactly the effect she wanted.
"If Irene is done, come help quickly! Help take out those Thunder Mecha on the cliff walls; we don't have time!" Himeko brandished her Ship-Cleaver to knock back an approaching Titan. Titans weren't soldiers; they weren't things that could be solved just by capturing the leader.
Although the commander was down, the Titans' offensive hadn't stopped. The distant Thunder Mecha were still firing missiles at them continuously according to Sin's orders.
If not for those Thunder Mecha, the Titans wouldn't be an issue. Kiana's long-range firepower couldn't cause serious impact on those Titans, since she only had two small pistols.
Only Bronya and Irene hadn't been harassed by the Thunder Mecha because of Cocolia's need for them.
"Got it." Irene nodded. Controlling the commander could allow one to try and make the old commander stop the Titans' movements, but given that ruthlessness Sin just showed...
Even holding a knife to Sin's neck would be useless. She was definitely the type who wouldn't yield to soft or hard tactics. Knocking her out directly was faster, and it saved her from ruining things by struggling.
Seeing Irene knock Sin out, Bronya commanded Project Bunny to entangle the Titan in front of her, then bypassed the Titan to arrive at Sin's side.
"Teacher Irene, leave this to me, okay? Please believe in me."
"Since you said so, go do it." Irene patted Bronya's head, then picked up her Chakram and went to deal with the Thunder Mecha constantly firing missiles in the distance.
Bronya crouched beside Sin and began hacking Sin's command permissions. As long as she could crack these permissions, these Titans could become their aid.
As a genius hacker, Bronya's cracking speed was exceptionally fast. Irene had only just destroyed two Thunder Mecha when the movements of all the Titans suddenly halted.
Seeing the stopped Titans, Himeko lowered the Ship-Cleaver in her hand and let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Bronya, who had already stood up, and nodded.
"Beautiful work, Bronya."
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