No, this silly girl couldn't lie at all. Just looking at her face, it was written all over: I'm a good child who isn't very smart, please don't bully me.
Deceiving people was still too difficult for Anna; she couldn't lie with such a straight face.
Since it wasn't because of a mission issued by Schicksal, the only possibility was...
"Did you... approach me because of Kiana?" Li Wu asked tentatively, trying to probe from the angle of interpersonal relationships.
In the next second, Anna's hostile and vigilant eyes instantly became evasive. She looked left and right, just not daring to meet his gaze. Her raised shoulders also slumped, and her fingers subconsciously clutched the changed sportswear, rubbing it uneasily.
"H-How is that possible!? You're overthinking it. Why would I approach you because of Kiana? You... I-I approached you and am observing you entirely because of a mission issued by Schicksal!"
OK!
Case closed! It's because of Kiana.
Since it wasn't a mission from Schicksal, it was probably an arrangement by her family elders.
Anna had the perfect body of a Valkyrie, but inside was stuffed the cowardly heart of a Husky.
Li Wu's expression right now was like Old Li trying to hold back a laugh, working hard to control his facial muscles so that a tsunami of arrogant, evil laughter wouldn't burst out.
Sigh, this silly girl is too easy to read. No tricks needed at all.
Li Wu suddenly felt amused and decided to tease Anna a bit more. So he pressed, "Oh? Then who arranged it, and what exactly is the mission?"
"It-It's... Schicksal, Captain... Mission... It's none of your business! I won't tell you. A Valkyrie executing a mission is classified; unrelated personnel have no right to ask!"
The first half of her sentence was hesitant, but in the second half, it was as if she had changed into a different person. Her tone became sharp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
As expected, Anna in her daily life and Anna in mission mode were two completely different people.
Li Wu spread his hands, voluntarily stepping back outside the door, and said rather helplessly, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I just wanted to say that if there's any place you can use me, remember to tell me. I owe you a lot of favors, and sooner or later, I have to repay them."
"I originally had some other questions to ask you, but now it seems they aren't important. Seeing you're okay makes me very happy."
As his words fell, Anna froze. Then, like the hum of a bee, she let out an extremely faint "Mmh," lowered her head, and walked past Li Wu.
No verbal reply.
Both of them had forgotten the initial question.
But just as Li Wu said, that wasn't important. What mattered was that both were fine right now, standing here safely, talking and laughing...
That morning, Anna had indeed received an email regarding a "Special Mission."
Normally, when Schicksal dispatched missions, they would notify the Valkyrie squad captain online, providing the time, location, mission objective, and supplementary data. The captain would then notify the team members to execute the mission.
However, if the squad captain was on leave, the email would be sent to the vice-captain, and if not them, to a random team member.
Issuing a mission to a squad captain while they were on leave—Anna had never seen this in all her years as a Valkyrie. Furthermore, it was a top-tier Red Mission email.
Green, Yellow, Orange, Red. Orange was already considered extremely urgent. As for Red Mission emails, most Valkyries wouldn't encounter one in their entire lifetime.
Yet when Anna anxiously opened the email, expecting some incredibly dangerous mission, the content was bizarrely strange.
This was also the reason why she stayed at the school—
The mission email had no time and no location. There was only one line of supplementary text: [Maintain the student's status quo and await further orders.]
It was very strange...
The sender was indeed Schicksal HQ...
In this day and age, who would dare impersonate Schicksal HQ? Moreover, a Valkyrie's personal information was classified. Unless authorized by Schicksal, ordinary people could only view the most basic profile on the official Schicksal website.
Faking an email from Schicksal to a Valkyrie was basically impossible.
For some reason, Anna suddenly thought of Li Wu.
Tsk!
As expected, nothing good happens when I get close to this guy!
I've only known him for a few days, and I actually received a Red Mission!
Anna increasingly believed that staying away from Li Wu was the most correct choice—so correct that she could never make a more correct decision in her life!
Mmh!
From now on, I must stay far, far away from Li Wu. Hide as far as I can. This guy is too weird. If I can't afford to provoke him, can't I hide from him?
"I'm leaving," Anna slowed her pace, turning her head to speak softly.
"Mmh, stay safe. Don't go bumping into people again," Li Wu replied calmly.
"Hmph." Anna quickly turned her head back and gave a muffled snort. "Do you have anything else to ask?"
"Well... since you put it that way, it would be inappropriate if I didn't ask. Why did those boys start a gang fight at noon? You and Kiana are engaged; the nobles in the school can't possibly not know that. Yet they still made such a childish decision to try and become your boyfriend. I don't think this is meaningless. At least in the eyes of the school's noble students, there must be a profit to be made for them to do this. Why?"
Li Wu asked the question that had been puzzling him.
He had a premonition that through this question, he could gain a superficial understanding of just how much Schicksal's internal structure differed from his settings.
Anna didn't hide anything and explained openly, "Because they can get compensation."
"Compensation?"
"Mmh. Marriage arrangements are fixed, but before marriage, dating is relatively free. However, when the time comes, we must forcibly obey Schicksal's orders. In return, Schicksal will provide the other party with a certain degree of compensation. If it's an ordinary person, they will receive a considerable amount of wealth. "
"If it's a noble, it's more of a 'guarantee' from Schicksal, helping that descendant secure their status within the family and gain more say. After all, no family wants to offend Schicksal, so they have no choice but to elevate that member's status. Moreover, while there seem to be many Valkyries, most are single. Due to the nature of our profession, we rarely interact with the outside world. Even among nobles, those who can date a Valkyrie are extremely few..."
"Perhaps in their eyes, a Valkyrie is an unattainable flower on a high peak. Regardless of compatibility or actual feelings, just managing to date one provides immense bragging rights. Heh, you men are all the same. Therefore, most Valkyrie squads, including the 'Snow Lotus Squad' I lead, have rules forbidding dating men."
"After all, for us, getting stronger is the only path. If we don't work hard, we will soon be relegated to the bottom, lose our care and privileges, and be quietly marginalized... I hope my team members, like me, will not be abandoned by this era. Thus, I need to lead by example and guide them alive toward a better future."
Anna cast a disgusted look at Li Wu, but as she looked, the image of that torrential rain surged into her mind.
A thoroughly soaked, wretched-looking Li Wu, yet his eyes were more resolute than ever, carrying an indescribable feeling.
His wounds and blood became the richest colors in the dark night, brighter than any neon light in the city.
Threatening her by harming himself.
How could there be such a stupid person in this world! To quickly convince the other party, he didn't hesitate to point a real gun at his own shoulder and pull the trigger!
Too stupid, completely unreasonable!
The scene of the freezing rain merging with the gunshot deeply stimulated Anna.
Most Schicksal Valkyries disliked men and preferred women.
But Anna's stereotypical disdain for men had unknowingly vanished into thin air. Replacing it was a heart full of indignation and confusion, mixed with a trace of pity and heartache—indescribable and unclear.
In the highly competitive environment of Schicksal, even during her leave, Anna always maintained high-intensity basic training, keeping her nerves taut without the slightest slack.
But what if?
What if an accident happened one day, and she was abandoned, marginalized, and pushed into the most despised corner?
Like Raiden Mei, who was beaten and cursed by everyone in Nagazora City. The situation she faced then—no path to walk, nowhere to run, no one to rely on. Screaming and begging would only attract intensified bullying and abuse.
If that time really came...
Would there be a boy, like Li Wu, like a hero, who would risk everything, even harm himself, to grasp a sliver of possibility to save her?
Probably...
Not...
Other than Auntie, there won't be a second person in this world willing to give their life for me...
Anna's eyelids drooped, her pink pupils dimming a little.
Li Wu didn't notice Anna's internal psychological activities. Instead, he focused all his energy on analyzing Schicksal's internal structure and asked bluntly, "What if they forcefully refuse?"
"There won't be any compensation. Besides, you wouldn't want to be hunted by Valkyries, right? Although Valkyries won't attack ordinary civilians, knocking someone out and sending them home is very easy. But this situation is too rare. As long as they aren't idiots, no one will go against Schicksal—they'd gain no benefits and lose face."
Anna patiently explained it to Li Wu.
After hearing the compensation mechanism, Li Wu instantly understood why those noble boys would disregard etiquette and brawl like street thugs.
This wasn't charging forward for love; it was purely to get a "breakup fee"!
Because of the rumor, they thought at least one of them could become Anna's boyfriend, plus Anna was about to come of age.
When Schicksal recalled Anna, they could get a desirable "breakup fee."
Looking at it this way, Schicksal's harshness was mostly directed internally.
Internal personnel had to maintain a state of high-intensity competition most of the time, being strict with themselves—if they didn't advance, they would fall behind.
For ordinary people, it was actually good news.
Because an increase in humanity's high-end combat power and a highly hostile policy toward the Honkai meant that it could more effectively prevent ordinary people from having their families destroyed and separated by the Honkai.
High internal pressure, huh...
"Li Wu, at noon... you're the one who posted that thread, right?" Anna raised her head and looked straight at Li Wu.
Li Wu admitted it, smiling sheepishly. "After all, it was the trouble I caused, so I should be the one to solve it."
Anna lowered her head, her fingers pinching the tight fabric of her sportswear. "But you weren't the one who spread the rumor."
Li Wu shook his head, replying in a nonchalant tone, "It doesn't matter. Carrying one scapegoat pot or two is about the same. I know that in the private discussions of most students and teachers, my reputation is already boundlessly bad. Whether it's the suspicion of cheating on the entrance exam or being a PUA scumbag, it has no effect on me."
"Or rather, it's exactly because I take the blame that the impact can be minimized, right? A few black stains on a white sheet of paper are very obvious. But on a black sheet of paper, even if there are dozens more black stains, you can't see them clearly. As long as I am 'ruined' enough, there is no such thing as 'collapsing' further."
Regarding his terrible reputation, it wasn't just what Sato Yuno had told him. Occasionally, on the way to the restroom, Li Wu could hear discussions about himself coming from the corners.
Many, many of them. Some rational, some emotional, and some completely illogical emotional outbursts.
He just listened silently and left, without arguing with those people. Even if he rushed up, it wouldn't change anything. The other party might apologize superficially due to pressure, but in their hearts, it would only deepen their nasty stereotypes.
As long as he took good care of the few people around him and they stayed safe, that was enough.
His pursuit was that small.
Li Wu generously admitted it, then added, "Besides, you've helped me a lot. Regardless of the reason, I will try my best to repay you. Uh... that day when I begged you to take me home, you said my promises were frivolous and ethereal."
"You were right. Just words alone are too pale. I also don't want to be the kind of friend who runs up to you in the future, writes empty checks, and when things happen, runs away and disappears without a trace... I once took back a promise."
" When I realized that promise was too heavy, I took it back from the person involved. I regret it now, but no matter what I do, I won't get her forgiveness... So from then on, I decided to make promises carefully. I can't be that casual and frivolous anymore."
"Mei once asked me for a promise to stay together until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble, to spend the rest of our lives together."
"Did you agree?" Anna asked, her tone a bit urgent.
"No." Li Wu shook his head. "I couldn't be sure if I could do it. It's ridiculous, right? From a worldly perspective, I should have agreed. There isn't anyone who wouldn't want a beautiful, capable-at-housework, high-social-status, wealthy young miss whose eyes are full of only you."
"But you still refused. Why?" Anna held her temper, her voice very light.
"Because I felt that wasn't 'happiness.' Although you might not believe it, I am indeed different from ordinary people. I can vaguely sense whether the 'future' is what I expect it to be."
This was the vague sixth sense brought about by thousands of Returns by Death.
Similar to a mini version of Spider-Sense. When a crisis would occur, when it would lead to a bad ending—there would be a strange feeling. Not every time, but once it appeared, he had to take it seriously.
Li Wu stood in the shadows indoors, his posture like a pine tree. Outside, the dazzling sunlight was reflected in his eyes. His gaze was intense, as if a spark was using his body as kindling, burning faintly.
"I hope to be able to do what is within my power; I hope that when I encounter problems, my first thought won't be to escape; I hope to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion."
"So, Anna, listen to me."
Li Wu turned his body sideways. His cynical smile vanished, leaving only the same resolute expression from that rainy night.
Facing the door, Anna's eyes reflected his complete figure, missing nothing. After making up his mind, even the surrounding air seemed to stagnate, and time became incredibly slow.
"You helped me solve a 'dead end' in my life. Whether you believe it or not, even if you aren't the heroine of the story, when you encounter a crisis like Mei's, I will absolutely help you solve it. Defeating you to become your boyfriend, using dating a Valkyrie for bragging rights, Schicksal's 'compensation'... I want none of those."
"Helping you is my own business. As for what you do afterward, that's not something I should consider. I only need to follow my own thoughts and repay the help you gave me back then."
Anna didn't evaluate Li Wu's promise. Instead, she turned her back to him and walked out the door at an extremely slow pace, stopping in the blinding sunlight.
She suddenly felt that the "outside" wasn't that scorching hot.
Under the sunlight, Anna's shadow was stretched very, very long. The most vicious midday sun was split in two, reaching exactly to the soles of Li Wu's feet.
"I'm going to warm up first. Also, don't do this in the future."
"Do what?"
"Guess."
After speaking, Anna left straight away. The moment she reached the corner, she gently placed her hand over her left breast.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The weather seemed too hot. Anna felt that the internal circulation in her body must have sped up.
Otherwise, why was her heart beating so fast, so loud...
This won't do... Anna...
You are the captain of the Snow Lotus Squad. After your teammate was scammed by her boyfriend, you swore to put all your focus into protecting the people around you...
Didn't you say all boys are the same...
How could you... how could you feel that he's actually pretty great?
But... Li Wu is indeed great. If...
Mmh... a very good... friend... right?
Li Wu watched Anna leave, his gaze never shifting. He watched that aloof yet clumsy figure gradually blur, the bright light swallowing her, until she disappeared around the next corner. Only then did Li Wu continue forward.
The new promise was spoken, but unlike with Mei, Li Wu didn't feel it was heavy. Instead, his mood lightened a lot, as if he was always meant to make this promise.
If he didn't, his conscience would ache.
Regardless of the reason—whether it was a mission arranged by Schicksal or something else—Anna had indeed helped him break the despairing "dead end," violating Schicksal's discipline several times in a row, gambling her future to help him.
There might have been a "mission" involved, but a fact is a fact.
Li Wu believed it was necessary to repay her.
"Time to get ready for class. Tonight I have to go to the black market to get the Holy Blood."
...
No strange incidents occurred during the afternoon PE class.
After Raiden Ryoma's exoneration, Mei returned to her star status, surrounded by admirers. Wherever she went, people fawned over her and catered to her, never lacking smiles and cheers.
She even had a dedicated room for changing into sportswear, completely different from the other students.