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Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Treat Her — Even If It Costs Every Last Asset, We’ll Treat Her

"Miss Kiana?"

Seeing Kiana fall silent, Firefly was the one to speak first.

Truthfully, when she came to the station alone, she had been more than a little uneasy.

But for some reason, the moment she saw Kiana, a strange feeling really did stir in her heart.

According to Elio, this was all part of fate's arrangement.

Firefly did not really understand such things, but she wanted to live. If fate could free her from the torment of Entropy Loss Syndrome, then she was willing to believe in fate.

"Ahem." Kiana cleared her throat.

"So, you're called Sam, right? Kafka should have told you already that if I'm going to solve your problem, there are conditions."

Firefly immediately nodded.

"Of course. Kafka already relayed your terms to me. The Stellaron Hunters are all willing to help me, and this time, I came with sincerity."

As she spoke, Firefly extended a hand.

In the next instant, a large number of Stellarons appeared all at once.

Forty-seven of them. Kiana counted the number.

Good grief. Did the Stellaron Hunters empty out their entire stockpile? They actually brought this many Stellarons?

Kiana was genuinely surprised.

Although Stellarons were not particularly valuable to her anymore—after all, she could buy one from the system shop for only one hundred points—the Stellarons from the shop could only be used in battle or for cultivation.

The ones Firefly had brought, on the other hand...

Well, actually, Kiana could not immediately think of any real difference, because even if she took these, she would still mostly use them for cultivation or combat.

As for using Stellarons to strengthen herself the way Phantylia once had?

Sorry, but a Kiana who was already close to max level had no need for that.

"I see."

Kiana reached out and swept all of the Stellarons into her possession.

Then she thought it over a little. While these Stellarons were of limited value for her own cultivation, they would still make excellent resources for future fabrication projects or long-term setups.

More importantly, the girl had come all the way here by herself, without bringing a single teammate. That alone was proof enough of her sincerity.

"Not bad. The Stellaron Hunters do keep their word." Kiana nodded.

"In that case, I naturally won't go back on mine."

Inside the Sam armor, Firefly's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

"Then… where is your mother right now?" she asked, unable to keep the urgency out of her voice.

To be honest, Firefly was nervous.

Entropy Loss Syndrome had tormented her for far too long. That gradual loss of sensation in her own body was more despairing than any ordinary pain.

And to suppress that condition, all she could do day after day was remain inside the medical shell known as Sam.

The moment that thought crossed her mind, Firefly unconsciously took a step closer to Kiana.

But Phantylia, Kiana's self-appointed number one fan, could no longer sit still.

She stepped in front of Kiana once more and said coldly,

"You are Sam of the Stellaron Hunters, correct?"

After listening to the earlier exchange between Kiana and Firefly, Phantylia had naturally pieced together the other party's identity.

A Stellaron Hunter. Sam. Suspected former Glamoth Iron Cavalry. A fragile being that only possessed a modicum of power by relying on armor.

Firefly's movements halted.

She had recognized who the woman before her was.

Phantylia, a Lord Ravager. A Destruction Emanator born from the ashes of Harmony. A figure infamous across the galaxy.

Even many of the Stellarons gathered by the Stellaron Hunters over the years had some indirect connection to her.

That said, Firefly had left before Phantylia attacked the station, so she had no idea what exactly had happened between Phantylia and Kiana.

"Stellaron Hunter," Phantylia continued, "since you have come to seek treatment for Entropy Loss Syndrome, then there is something I hope you understand."

"That shell of weaponized metal around you has no reason to exist in front of Miss."

Firefly fell silent.

The lights of the Sam armor flickered faintly, and the girl inside seemed to be locked in a fierce struggle with herself.

Phantylia was right. As someone who had come here to bargain and seek cooperation, appearing in full armor really was inappropriate.

But Sam was not just armor.

Sam was also Firefly's life-support capsule. Without it, her body would rapidly begin to break down.

"Phantylia, don't scare her." Kiana's helpless voice came from behind.

Then she stepped around Phantylia and walked up to Firefly.

"Mr. Sam," she said, "for the sake of our cooperation, and so I can better understand your condition, would you be willing to show me your real form for now?"

"Of course, I know about Entropy Loss Syndrome as well, so you can rest easy. With the level of Harmony mastery Phantylia and I possess, even if we can't immediately eliminate the hidden danger inside you, as long as you stay by our side, we can at least suppress it."

Having said that, Kiana looked at Firefly with obvious anticipation.

Her thinking was different from Phantylia's. Phantylia wanted to pressure Firefly and make her understand the hierarchy between them.

Kiana, on the other hand, was much simpler.

She just did not like talking to a Gundam.

She was not someone like Welt, a diehard mecha enthusiast. Compared to cold metal machinery, speaking with an actual person was obviously more comfortable.

Especially since the other party was clearly a girl, yet kept using that mechanical male voice. Kiana could not help finding it weird.

Hearing that, Firefly began to waver.

But it was not because she had chosen to yield under pressure. It was because she had heard Kiana's explanation.

According to Kiana, if she stayed near her, then her condition would at least stop worsening?

If that was true, then would that not mean she could once again use her own body to feel the world around her?

In an instant, flames began to envelop Sam.

It was the sign that Firefly was removing the armor.

Then, a face belonging to a young girl came into Kiana's view.

Pale skin. Delicate features. Long gray-white hair hanging slightly messily over her forehead.

Beautiful.

That was Kiana's first thought.

But immediately after that, she noticed more details.

The girl's complexion was far too pale, her lips almost bloodless, and her entire body was marked by faint crack-like traces.

Her breathing was shallow, as though every single breath demanded immense effort.

"Is… this okay?" the girl asked softly, breaking Kiana out of her thoughts.

And there she stood in front of Kiana, both hands hanging awkwardly at her sides.

She seemed unsure of where to put them.

Then the girl raised her head, and at last those eyes met Kiana's directly.

"My name is Firefly," she said.

"Sam is only my armor. My real name is Firefly."

Kiana froze for a moment, then smiled.

"Firefly. That's a beautiful name."

Join here to read ahead. 

In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)

Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)

Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115) 

Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( Ending )

TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)

Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)

"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)

I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)

Can Playing Games Save the World? 65

Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70

From Junkman to Wasteland 66

Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31

I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46

From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99

Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42

Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65

Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95

From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99

The Way the Umamusume Look at 68

Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92

Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65

Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76

Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66

My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65

Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47

Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44

I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43

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