"Bronya, can you contact Squad A like Himeko said?"
The trio cautiously approached the two unidentified individuals. The gray-haired girl didn't respond to the White-Haired Knight's question. She stood frozen in place, her expression showing a faint hint of resistance and struggle.
"Bronya? Are you okay?"
Mei glanced at the gray-haired girl with concern, snapping her out of her daze.
"Bronya, were you spacing out? Hurry up and contact the nearby support squad..."
Kiana's voice rang out again, and the White-Haired Knight's worried gaze also fell on Bronya. The repeated command gave the newly refocused Bronya a clear objective. The gray-haired girl quickly opened a projection panel in front of her and tapped it a few times.
"Bronya has contacted the nearby support. They should arrive soon."
The girl's voice was hollow, tinged with a faint, mechanical quality.
"Bronya, are you really okay? Spacing out on the battlefield isn't a good habit."
Mei looked at the gray-haired girl, who seemed to have regained her senses, her expression growing even more concerned. She looked as if she wanted to check Bronya's physical condition right then and there.
"Bronya's current status is optimal. Ready for combat at any time."
The girl's concise and firm reply temporarily dispelled Mei's doubts, allowing her to refocus on the mission.
"If you feel unwell at all, you have to tell us, okay?"
After reminding the girl one more time, Mei turned to look at the silver-haired and green-haired girls clashing at the base of the clock tower.
Meanwhile, Kiana nodded at Bronya and began to move toward Wendy and the other girl. Out of Bronya's line of sight, the White-Haired Knight Princess activated her communication device.
"Miss Skuld, Miss Skogul, are you there?"
Kiana spoke softly, her voice inaudible to Mei and Bronya nearby.
"This is Skuld, A-rank Valkyrie and commander of Divine Authority Force A Division. Communication is clear, Miss Kiana."
"Skogul, A-rank Valkyrie and commander of Divine Authority Force B Division. Communication is clear, Second Lieutenant Kiana. You've run into trouble, haven't you?"
"Did you just receive our reinforcement request? It should have been sent by Bronya."
Kiana asked the two on the other end of the line, seeking to confirm something specific.
"A reinforcement request from Second Lieutenant Bronya? B Division has not received any."
"A Division hasn't either. You need support, right? We're close by and can reinforce you immediately."
The two captains denied having received any prior reinforcement request.
"As I thought," Kiana said. "Miss Skuld, Miss Skogul, you're aware of Bronya's background, aren't you?"
"Her Excellency Kyuusyou told us about that child—a former child mercenary controlled by the leader of Anti-Entropy's radical faction. What's wrong?"
"Just now, Bronya's expression turned strange, as if she's being controlled again. I'm certain she sent a reinforcement request, and there shouldn't have been any interference with the communication."
Kiana slowed her approach toward the two girls at the base of the clock tower, quickly relaying the situation.
"Understood. A Division is switching to forced march. Barring any obstacles, we'll reinforce you within six minutes!" Skuld instantly grasped what Kiana was trying to convey.
"B Division acknowledges. It seems Lady Cocolia, hiding behind that girl, is in for a disappointment—B Division, Anti-Entropy Titan Troops spotted! All units, prepare to engage!"
Skogul's heroic voice crackled through the comms, punctuated by the sound of a mecha exploding.
"Thank you both. We'll do our best to buy time."
The white-haired knight thanked the other two over the comms.
"It's just our duty. There's nothing to thank us for."
The two captains ended the communication.
[Bella? Can you hear me, Bella?]
Having finished the call, Kiana began calling out to another small companion.
[Lady Kiana, I'm here—is it my turn to act?]
[Yes, Bella. Find the Anti-Entropy Radical Faction's aerial fleet and throw their forces into chaos.]
[Understood, Lady Kiana. I'm heading out now.]
The master and servant concluded their exchange via some form of telepathic communication. In the sky, a small blue meteor streaked across the heavens, flying toward the distant horizon.
After handling this, Kiana finally reached Wendy and the other girl.
"Hello. You must be Miss Wendy, correct?"
The Knight Princess offered a gentle smile, bending slightly to extend a hand toward Wendy in her wheelchair. She had deliberately chosen to approach Wendy, the one whose situation she was more familiar with, to avoid the tense confrontation that might arise from directly confronting the unknown silver-haired girl.
"Ah... I'm Wendy. Hello, Miss...?"
Drawn in by Kiana's smile, the green-haired girl replied with a flustered tone, feeling both flattered and overwhelmed.
"I'm Kiana Kaslana, a B-rank Valkyrie from the Far East Branch. I'm here to evacuate you from the disaster zone in New Zealand. By the way, this silver-haired young lady is your companion, right, Miss Wendy? It's very dangerous here now. We need to retreat immediately."
Kiana, sensing the confusion in Wendy's voice, clarified her identity and mission. She then smoothly swept the unknown silver-haired girl into their group, leaving her no choice but to come along.
"Ah... okay. Thank you for coming all this way for us. Let's go now."
Wendy reached out and took Kiana's warm hand. The two groups had temporarily reached a consensus and began heading toward the Hyperion.
"So, Miss Wendy, could you introduce your silver-haired friend? When we came to pick you up, we were told you were alone."
Kiana put on a slightly goofy, confused expression, playing dumb.
"So, is this a local friend of yours, Miss Wendy?"
Everyone's gaze turned to the silver-haired girl.
"Ah, Miss Muninn... I met her on the road. She bravely rushed over when she saw me surrounded by a group of Assault-class Honkai Beasts. She pushed my wheelchair and helped me escape their pursuit..."
"Sounds like a harrowing journey... So, Miss Muninn and Miss Wendy, were you injured during your escape?"
Kiana looked at Muninn and Wendy with concern.
"Miss Muninn pushed me so fast that I wasn't hurt at all... but Miss Muninn..."
Wendy glanced worriedly at the silver-haired girl beside her.
"I wasn't injured, just a little tired... Miss Kiana, you're incredible... I was truly impressed by your courage when you pinned that... uh... cockroach? to the ground and hammered it."
The silver-haired girl looked at Kiana with admiration.
"Cough, cough, cough...!"
High above them, Huginn, in the form of a raven, circled in the sky for a moment before flying toward the Anti-Entropy Fleet.
How did Lady Snow end up with such a troupe of actors... It's a waste of talent not to have them in a movie.