The surprised expression on Dalia's face disappeared. Hearing the distance in Sirin's tone, she sobered up from the joy of reuniting with her daughter.
Immediately after, she once again directed her gaze toward the Sirin in front of her and carefully looked her up and down. Aside from the fact that the other party also had long purple hair cascading down like a waterfall, there were no other similarities between them.
Her blue eyes were like deep lakes, calm and mysterious. Her posture was elegant and dignified, and every movement exuded a graceful aura. Her gentle and refined temperament was like a spring breeze, softly brushing across people's hearts.
However, none of these beautiful qualities belonged to her own daughter. Her daughter had a lively and active personality, with bright and playful eyes, a light and agile figure, and was full of youthful vitality and vigor.
"Sorry, miss. I mistook you for someone else." After realizing that the purple-haired girl in front of her was not her daughter, Dalia began to retreat.
"Ah, it's okay. Can you tell me who Sirin is? Excuse me, are you looking for her?"
Sirin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She tried her best to control the emotional waves that were about to surge out like a bursting flood. She slightly raised her head, trying hard not to let the tears in her eyes fall, while constantly reminding herself to stay calm and composed—at least to make it look normal to others.
When she finally directed her gaze toward the figure in front of her, her heart couldn't help but sting. The woman standing there was obviously much thinner than half a year ago. Her originally round face had become sharp and angular, and her eyes had lost their former luster. Even so, Sirin recognized her at a glance. This was currently her only remaining family in this world.
But at this moment, as her daughter, she could not immediately rush forward to embrace her mother and cry together, nor could she call out the word "Mom" that she had silently repeated countless times in her heart. This feeling of being so close yet so far away was like an extremely sharp dagger, mercilessly stabbing into her heart and bringing endless pain.
Perhaps sensing the familiar and intimate feeling from Sirin, Dalia opened her mouth and honestly told her.
"Sirin, my daughter. We have been separated for half a year now. She has beautiful purple hair just like you, lady. That's why I mistook you for my daughter."
"I see. Can you tell me where you last parted with her? If possible, I can also offer a little help."
"No need, no need. I wouldn't trouble you, lady." Dalia quickly refused. Although she always had the illusion that this was her daughter when she looked at Sirin, this matter was not something she could involve an outsider in.
… At this moment, just as Sirin had guessed, in a location fully five kilometers away from the two of them, someone was watching their every move.
"Any new developments around the target?"
"Report. She mistook a purple-haired lady for her daughter. However, that lady seems very kind and even intends to help her. Do you have any orders?"
"Since it's not the test subject, there's no need to report it to me. As for the lady who appeared beside her, ignore her too. The target is carrying that thing anyway. In the end, they're all just dead people."
Dalia's sudden coughing interrupted her polite refusal toward Sirin.
"Lady, are you alright? Do you want me to help you sit down over there?" Sirin's anxious tone sounded very unnatural, and she accidentally let her real voice slip out.
"Alright… thank you…" In the end, Dalia did not say the words of refusal. She looked deeply at Sirin and said nothing more.
Sirin helped Dalia to a seat inside the railway station. After coming into close contact with her, she realized that Dalia's current physical condition was very bad.
"By the way, lady, I haven't asked your name yet. May I ask boldly? After all, you've also helped me." Dalia said in a kind tone.
"You can call me… Ana. And you, lady?" The fake name Sirin casually came up with felt extremely heavy in front of Dalia. Saying the fake name she had chosen in front of the mother who had given her life…
"Mm, just call me Dalia. You said earlier that you wanted to hear about my daughter Sirin, right?"
"If you don't mind…" Sirin nodded, her tone full of curiosity, just like a girl who wanted to hear some gossip.
"My daughter Sirin… she's very innocent and lively. Even though our family's living conditions have never been very good, she could always face tomorrow with a smile. I once even thought she wouldn't feel sad at all!"
"Uh, Lady Dalia, maybe you're thinking too one-sidedly. Is it possible that she often hides her inner bitterness and helplessness in her heart? After all, she knows you've been working very hard."
Dalia looked at Sirin, nodded, and said with relief: "Maybe. After hearing you say that, Ana, I also feel that she really thinks that way in her heart."
"After all, Sirin is a sensible child. But fortunately, because of a wonderful chance encounter one day, I adopted a child. He was even younger than Sirin, but exceptionally sensible. At first, I wanted Sirin to take on the responsibility of being an older sister, but unexpectedly, that child ended up spoiling Sirin. From that day on, Sirin also started to have some childish willfulness."
"Is that so? Then your daughter must have been very happy at that time."
"I was too. Without a doubt, that half year was the happiest time of my life. I think she felt the same way."
"Unfortunately, until one day, everything changed. My adopted son… he is most likely dead. My daughter has also gone missing. Even I was imprisoned for half a year on a baseless charge of espionage."
"Your adopted son… Don't worry. Your daughter must still be living healthily somewhere in this world."
Dalia glanced at Sirin, smiled, and said: "After hearing you say that, Ana, I also feel that she must be living very well. Maybe one day this mother of hers will get to see her again…"
Dalia wanted to say something more, but an uncontrollable cough interrupted her. Purple thread-like patterns continuously spread across her body, quickly reaching the exposed skin above her neck—places visible to the naked eye.
This scene was also seen by the people observing from the shadows.
"What are you people from the lab doing? Would low-concentration Honkai crystals placed in a lead box cause such severe Honkai disease in such a short time?"
"What Honkai crystals? Weren't you the ones who told us to put the Honkai core inside?"
… Silence was the Cambridge tonight.
"I think… I'm going to die…" Dalia suddenly said. Humans often have this kind of miraculous premonition when their end is near or when suffering from a serious illness.
"Lady Dalia, please don't say that." Although Sirin comforted her with these words, her heart had already sunk to the bottom. If she wasn't mistaken, this was an incurable disease—Honkai disease.
Sirin stepped forward and embraced Dalia's cold, trembling body, holding the two of them tightly together.
"It's okay. I know my own body. It's just… Sirin, Mom really wants to…"
The woman's original voice was filled with attachment and reluctance, as if she had a thousand words she wanted to pour out but could not fully express. However, this gentle and lingering voice gradually disappeared into the air, replaced by a beast-like roar.
Sharp claws easily tore through the fabric and pierced into Sirin's skin.
"Mom…"