Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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Continuing her browsing of various posts within the community, Ana gradually lost interest in current affairs of her original world. After all, she now found herself in another realm, making it impractical to stay involved even if she wished to do so.

Instead of merely commenting online, it would have been more impactful to bring back some advanced machinery from this world, allowing her home country to conduct tangible research.

While exploring the mihoyo community, Ana stumbled upon an official announcement—the "Moonshadow Chapter" comic had been updated.

"Moonshadow Chapter?"

As Ana read the title, her eyes reflected a nostalgic look. This was a mission she had undertaken before leaving Schicksal, but during it, Otto's orders to her were merely to observe and intervene if necessary.

Her actual task at that time was to investigate the downfall of the Thousand Fists Society. Honestly, it seemed somewhat peculiar for Otto to assign her this mission so late.

Raven had dismantled the Thousand Fists Society at the beginning of the year, and it took three whole months before Otto entrusted Ana with the investigation, having already sent Valkyries beforehand to probe the situation.

Essentially, what Otto truly wanted investigated was still the World Serpent. However, he lacked any leads or foresight about what Ana might uncover, leading to the influence of the world's corrective force...

During that period, Ana practically treated it as a paid vacation. Notably, Otto also dispatched Durandal then, so for much of the time, they were together.

"Compared to this chapter, I actually preferred the World Serpent's welcome ceremony, but..."

"...who can deny that adorable Kia-chan is the true protagonist?"

Singapore.

While most regions worldwide were under the influence of either Schicksal or Anti-Entropy, some cities remained unwelcoming to both factions, maintaining their autonomy.

However, despite their self-governance, these cities had been thoroughly infiltrated by agents from both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.

Within Schicksal, besides the Valkyries dedicated to combating Honkai, there existed specialized operatives dealing with human threats. Rita was once part of this group; however, after being appointed as Bianka's aide-de-camp, she left that department known as "The Cleaners."

This department still persists, serving Schicksal effectively. For Otto, compared to cultivating Valkyries capable of fighting Honkai, he excels more at training such covert operatives.

After all, his ascent to becoming the Schicksal Bishop wasn't entirely clean, relying on various clandestine methods. One could say, when it comes to operating in the shadows, gathering intelligence, and providing support undercover, Otto himself is highly adept.

In fact, during Kallen's time as a phantom thief, he consistently supplied her with information and logistical support.

Nevertheless, officially, legitimate Valkyries and Anti-Entropy mechs cannot enter Singapore, so—

"Bianka, it's really you! I've missed you so much!"

As soon as Ana saw Durandal, she excitedly rushed forward and embraced Bianka, leaving the Valkyries trailing behind her utterly stunned.

It's worth noting that this time, the Immortal Blades squad was not present for support, meaning Rita wasn't here. Consequently, Ana had complete undivided attention with Bianka all to herself.

"Ah, but we just met recently, didn't we?" Bianka hugged Ana back, a hint of exasperation in her voice. From the events of the Legacy Chapter, she knew how fearlessly Ana had ventured into the Nihility Tardigrade to save her. Their interactions within the illusory realm also altered Bianka's feelings towards Ana.

Gradually, Ana began occupying a similar place in Bianka's heart as Rita did. Compared to Rita's succubus allure, Bianka found herself more drawn to Ana's charming little-sister-like demeanor.

Ana possessed a sweet innocence and cuteness that Rita lacked; while Rita tended to be more reserved and formal. Of course, this comparison didn't imply any disfavor or preference between them.

"But that was two months ago already!" Ana pouted, sounding slightly discontented.

"Has it been two months already?"

Bianka expressed her surprise slightly. Her life at Schicksal Headquarters was highly regimented and monotonous, making time perception almost irrelevant for her. This feeling intensified during missions, as travel often took up more time than combat itself.

Onboard the battleship, there were limited activities available to her, and she needed to maintain readiness for any call to action at all times.

"This time, you have to play with me! Singapore has so many fun places! It's known as the Garden City!"

"But Lord Bishop Otto instructed us to remain on standby here," Bianka sighed, sounding somewhat helpless.

She genuinely wanted to accompany Ana and enjoy seeing her smile. However, they were currently on Bishop Otto's mission, leaving her with no choice; duty always came first for Bianka.

"Ugh... Alright then..." A hint of disappointment crossed Ana's face, which tugged at Bianka's heartstrings. The Valkyries behind Bianka remained silent, unaware that the one acting so affectionately beside her was another S-rank Valkyrie from Schicksal.

As Valkyries, and not part of Durandal's Immortal Blades, they understood well that silence is golden. Some information should be kept to oneself, knowing too much could bring no benefit.

"... ..."

Seeing Ana's disheartened gaze, Bianka felt even more sympathetic towards her and began pondering ways to compensate for her friend's disappointment.

Bianka didn't envy Ana's freedom to come and go as she pleased or explore at will. She knew that Ana must have been assigned a mission whenever she appeared here.

With her striking appearance and commanding presence, Ana held certain advantages over Bianka in specific tasks. Moreover, missions in densely populated cities like Singapore typically involved less direct combat against enemies.

If it were about combating Honkai Beasts, Bianka might have felt slightly envious. After all, engaging with them would be more engaging than staying on standby here, battling Anti-Entropy's outdated machinery seemed rather dull by comparison.

Ideally, Bianka wouldn't prefer clashing with Anti-Entropy either.

In her view, although Schicksal and Anti-Entropy had differing ideologies, their shared goal of combating Honkai should unite them. Why couldn't they focus on fighting Honkai instead of engaging in internal conflicts?

Interestingly, similar sentiments echoed among other Valkyries in Schicksal and some members of Anti-Entropy. Unfortunately, the tensions between the two factions could not be resolved easily with just a few words.

One could argue that Otto himself was the root cause of these conflicts, though this truth remained unknown to the Valkyries of Schicksal.

"Hey, wife, did you bring the Abyss Flower with you? Can I play with it?" Ana earnestly pleaded.

"Oh—sure."

Bianka handed over the Abyss Flower to Ana without hesitation. She was well aware that Ana could effectively wield and control it due to their compatibility.

With her Stark Drive, the Abyss Flower's enhancement on Bianka's combat prowess had become limited. However, under normal circumstances, she rarely utilized the full power of the Stark Drive anyway.

Nevertheless, since Ana expressed interest, there was no reason not to let her use it. It was straightforward: what? Worried that Ana might misuse the Abyss Flower for evil deeds? My apologies, but the Abyss Flower possesses its own will, and considering Ana's character, there's absolutely no chance she would engage in such actions.

Moreover, as the original Divine Key Legacy of the Schariac family, giving it to Ana seemed entirely reasonable.

The only caveat was Otto hadn't issued any formal command yet, so after playing with it, Ana would need to return the Abyss Flower to Bianka.

"Wahh, my wife is the best!" As Ana received the Abyss Flower, she embraced Bianka tightly and gently kissed her cheek. This unexpected kiss left Bianka slightly flushed, caught off guard by Ana's boldness. Although they had shared moments of intimacy before, it never reached this level.

Well, for Ana, this presented an opportunity to push her luck further. Bianka's personality was as straightforward as Kiana's—easy prey. By securing her position early on, she could effortlessly win over Bianka!

At that moment, Ana remained unaware that Bianka possessed the awe-inspiring skill of making a miraculous comeback. Otherwise... perhaps she would have considered targeting someone else from the start.

"Ana, we're on duty; please don't act like this..."

"Don't worry, it's no big deal. The Lord Bishop won't blame us. If he does, well, then he's just being petty."

Initially, Ana only intended to say the first part, but remembering Kallen and Yae Sakura's lesbian relationship while Otto became the third wheel, she added the last sentence.

Given Otto's shameless nature, there was indeed a chance he might hold it against them!

"Oh, never mind."

Hearing Ana's words, Bianka sighed resignedly. What choice did she have? She could only indulge her dear friend who risked her life for her without hesitation.

"Well, I'm off now, but I'll be back later to play with you!"

"I'm going to see my future father-in-law, la-la-la~"

With those final words, Ana waved goodbye and bolted out like a rocket, swiftly disappearing from Bianka's sight. Bianka shook her head, not catching Ana's last remark.

Judging by her timing, Ana had likely squeezed in this visit during a break between missions. Although she claimed to be here for fun, accepting her invitation would indeed encroach on mission time. However, Bianka hoped that the Abyss Flower might cheer her up somewhat...

"Lady Durandal, was that just now...?" A Valkyrie behind Bianka, after wrestling with her thoughts, decided to ask.

"That's Ana Schariac, another S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal and my close friend." Bianka introduced her without hesitation.

"So, she's Lady Ana? She seems... quite petite and adorable."

Of course, as a young girl, Ana is slightly taller than Kiana. While not truly "petite," there is a noticeable age difference among the Valkyries at Schicksal Headquarters.

Compared to them, Ana does appear more delicate and charming, resembling Susannah but with a fuller figure.

"You're right; she is indeed the youngest Valkyrie at Headquarters. Don't misunderstand, our bond has been forged through life-and-death situations, making us particularly close." Sensing possible misconceptions among the surrounding Valkyries, Bianka felt compelled to clarify further.

However, her explanation only seemed to deepen the misunderstanding—sometimes, saying more just makes things worse. Initially, it might not have drawn attention or caused any concern, but now everyone's interest was piqued.

Yet, unexpectedly, Bianka remained oblivious to the intense gazes from the Valkyries behind her, showing some naivety in this matter.

It turns out that the prevalence of yuri among Schicksal Headquarters' Valkyries was indeed influenced by actions at the top—a classic case of leadership setting the tone for subordinates. In essence, when the upper beam isn't straight, neither will be the lower beams.

Logically and morally, Bianka bore a certain responsibility for this situation.

As for Ana? Well, she never denied anything in the first place.

Ana's haste to leave, however, was genuinely due to an upcoming mission—but not her own. Otto had generously granted her six months for her personal task, leaving no need for urgency.

Regarding collaboration, she operated covertly; under normal circumstances, Otto wouldn't require her assistance directly. Of course, she could always discreetly involve herself if she wished.

After all, it ties back to her investigation mission somehow. As for Otto... fabricating intelligence is far too easy for him, especially with the help of World Serpent.

Otto cannot infiltrate World Serpent, so essentially, he can say whatever suits his narrative, right?

As for Abyss Flower, it indeed held immense potential.

Whether it's Warten, Fu Hua, Dr. Magi and Kiana (or rather, Sirin), or even Siegfried, Abyss Flower could significantly enhance their capabilities.

Additionally, there was Siegfried himself to consider.

In comparison, her holy blood posed more challenges.

The holy blood acts as a double-edged sword; its full effectiveness is primarily seen in transcending Honkai Beasts. For other applications, it requires Divine Keys like Abyss Flower as carriers to harness its true power.

Alright, this isn't meant to diminish the value of the holy blood, but simply put, as a Divine Key, Abyss Flower is just incredibly awesome! At least, Ana feels that until she becomes a Herrscher, Abyss Flower reigns supreme.

Running through the streets of Singapore, Ana drew curious glances from many passersby, yet she seemed oblivious to their attention.

Unlike Fu Hua, she had no reservations here. No one knew she was Schicksal's Valkyrie, and with Abyss Flower stored within her armor's dimensional space, there was no risk of exposure.

Moreover, her beauty and appearance were highly deceptive. Of course, if her identity were revealed, it might make tracing her easier, which could be problematic.

However, without a doubt, Ana isn't afraid of being pursued, be it by human forces or Honkai Beasts. Currently, her power is sufficient to make her untouchable outside Schicksal's reach.

Ana circled around the city several times before eventually entering a somewhat rundown alleyway.

This area represents Singapore's gray zone, where a hidden tavern serves as the base for Schicksal's cleaners in the region. Today marks the second day since Fu Hua embarked on her mission, and if everything goes as planned, she should be stopping here right now.

And there's a high likelihood—no, it's almost certain—that Ana will encounter that man...