When Yuki heard the commotion outside the door, she felt worried.
Yuno still seemed to retain some of her self, but she was essentially a Pseudo-Herrscher now. It was hard to guarantee she wouldn't go on a killing spree.
Although she herself had been captured by Yuno and would most likely meet a tragic end, she still didn't want to drag ordinary people into this.
It seemed heaven heard her prayer, because the situation didn't develop in a bad direction.
Although some faint conversation sounds came from outside the door, there were no screams of anguish, nor any outburst of Honkai energy.
Soon, accompanied by the sound of the door closing and approaching footsteps, 'Yuno's' figure reappeared in Yuki's vision.
And so, Yuki's concern for others' safety instantly transformed into grief over her own impending tragic fate.
The person outside was fine, but she herself was about to be in serious trouble!
Watching Yuno approach with a strange smile, still bound by vines, Yuki began struggling frantically.
"Mmph! Mmph mmph!!!"
Seeing her prey struggling, Yuno seemed to become even more excited.
"Kekeke, give up struggling! No one will save you."
Saying this, Yuno's hands formed claws, and with a strange smile on her face she kept advancing toward Yuki.
"Mmph!!!"
Yuki struggled continuously, her face filled with deep despair.
But just as Yuno's hand was about to reach her clothing, it suddenly stopped.
Yuki felt puzzled by this, but also breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Could it be... Yuno had a moment of conscience and chose to withdraw?
Just as she was hoping for this, she watched Yuno withdraw her hand and feel around Yuki's body for a moment, quickly producing a beautifully crafted sachet.
Under Yuki's bewildered gaze, she placed it into Yuki's pocket.
Yuki was confused.
"This is a Three-Year Cherry Blossom, representing the crystallization of a maiden's pure feelings. You must accept it~"
Three-Year Cherry Blossom—as someone from the Far East, Yuki naturally knew this custom.
Smelling the fragrance wafting from the sachet and watching Yuno's expression suddenly soften, Yuki actually felt an urge to cry.
Could it be that the earlier talk of violating her was just Yuno's performance, and this was now the real way Yuno wanted her to remember her?
Thinking of this, Yuki felt somewhat touched.
But soon, she heard Yuno say: "Alright, the foreplay is done. Now I can finally violate you."
The feeling of being touched in Yuki's heart shattered into pieces. The expression that had just relaxed once again turned horrified.
"After today, you will remember me, for all eternity."
"Kekeke..."
"Mmph! Mmph mmph!!!"
Watching Yuno's approaching hands, Yuki once again fell into the abyss of despair.
And just at this critical moment, an enormous boom resounded, and then a door that was mostly shattered came flying in.
"Don't be afraid! The Dark Knight of Nagazora City is here!"
A spirited, righteous voice rang out unexpectedly.
Yuki looked with those terror-filled eyes, and discovered it was actually a white-haired girl holding dual pistols, draped in bullet chains, dressed in military-style clothing.
It was none other than Kiana, who had planned with Lucius to play out this scene.
At this moment, she walked through a cloud of dust kicked up by flying concrete, her face carrying confidence and composure, like a wandering hero who punishes evil and upholds justice.
For some reason, Yuki always felt her appearance was somewhat familiar.
Before she could think more carefully, she saw this girl flourish her guns beautifully, level the muzzles at Yuno, and call out with righteous indignation:
"Let that girl go!"
Although Yuki was moved that someone had come to save her, she knew Yuno was now a Pseudo-Herrscher. Defeating her would require at least a full Honkai combat squad.
This white-haired girl coming alone would just be throwing her life away.
She kept struggling, making muffled sounds trying to warn the other person to run quickly.
"Kekeke, so someone who doesn't know their own limits has come to ruin my fun."
"Looking at you, you're not bad yourself. Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, no matter—I can handle two at once!"
Yuno's face carried a sickly smile as she transformed into a phantom and charged at Kiana.
It's over... Yuki seemed to sense what bloody scene was coming next. She painfully closed her eyes.
But soon, accompanied by the sound of a body hitting the floor, she heard a gentle voice say: "Alright. I've taken care of her. You can open your eyes now."
Yuki sensed something was off and slowly opened her eyes. What came into view was Yuno collapsed on the floor like small fry, one arm pointing forward and one arm flung behind.
Yuki's eyes went wide, filled with disbelief.
At this moment, Kiana put away her dual pistols, glanced at the 'Yuno' lying on the ground, stepped over her body, and came to Yuki's side.
Then she produced a dagger and sliced through the vines binding Yuki with a few quick cuts.
The moment she broke free, Yuki urgently grabbed her wrist. "Let's go quickly. We couldn't have knocked down a Pseudo-Herrscher this easily."
But she couldn't pull her.
Because she had already agreed on the plan of action with Lucius beforehand, Kiana replied: "Don't worry. She's not yet a complete Pseudo-Herrscher."
Then, keeping a straight face, Kiana pulled out an identification card, its cover embossed with a moth insignia.
"I'm a member of Fire Moth's Far East Anti-Honkai Squad. She'll be taken over by us from here."
"Ms. Yuki, I know you're a member of the Fifth Squad, but this is our jurisdiction. Please don't interfere."
Yuki's gaze swept across the identification card. It wasn't much different from her own and didn't look forged. It seemed the other party was indeed Fire Moth's Far East unit.
As for the warning not to interfere... that was completely normal within Fire Moth. After all, the lords up top were always fighting among themselves.
However, although they belonged to different units and the other party might have only saved her as a convenient side effect of their mission, Yuki was still very grateful.
"Thank you very much for saving me."
She bowed very sincerely, without a trace of falseness.
However, when Yuki raised her head, she found the white-haired girl across from her was staring at her intently.
Staring~
In an instant, the experience of nearly being violated by a yuri person just now immediately flooded back into her mind, making Yuki shudder.
This person... couldn't also be a yuri person, right?
Just as she was feeling alarmed, she heard Kiana say in a serious tone: "I saved you. Please give me compensation."
Although saying this made Kiana feel an urge to turn and run, to help Lucius complete his plan, she kept her face straight ensuring she didn't give anything away.
"Compensation?"
Yuki was startled. Had the lords of Fire Moth's culture of taking advantage of others already corrupted the local Anti-Honkai Squads?
But soon she found the girl before her had directed her gaze toward the pocket on her upper body—or rather, the sachet inside the pocket.
It was the Three-Year Cherry Blossom that Yuno had just stuffed in for her.
"Can you give that to me?"
Facing Kiana's straight-faced expression, Yuki without hesitation pulled it out and stuffed it into Kiana's hands.
As if what she held in her hands wasn't a sachet but a grenade with the pin already pulled.
She never wanted to get involved with scheming yuri people for the rest of her life!
...
After receiving the Three-Year Cherry Blossom, Kiana hoisted the 'unconscious' Yuno over her shoulder and disappeared from Yuki's sight.
Soon, she brought 'Yuno' to a deserted back alley nearby.
Seeing no one around, she tossed her down.
At this moment, the previously unconscious Yuno also opened her eyes and stood steadily on the ground.
"Lucius, how was it? Did you manage to draw power from past memories?"
That's right—after knocking out Yuno as an unpredictable factor, Lucius had taken advantage of the situation and assumed her identity to continue pushing the Three-Year Cherry Blossom plot forward.
But at this moment, looking at the system interface which still displayed 'Incomplete,' Lucius shook his head and said:
"No good. It's still not complete."
"Does that mean this arrangement for the plot won't work? Or is there something wrong somewhere..."
Just as Lucius was feeling confused, he saw Kiana's face show a strange expression.
"Lucius, are you sure this Three-Year Cherry Blossom is genuine?"
"It shouldn't be fake? I paid quite a bit of money and bought it from a student at a local school."
"And I also inspected it. The cherry blossom filling inside really does have three or more years of age..."
But as he spoke, Lucius stopped.
Because he saw Kiana had already torn open the sachet. After emptying out the filling, she dug out a label from inside.
On the label was written the name "Nagazora City Textile Crafts Corporation."
Lucius, who had come to understand Nagazora City's business sector, knew this was a company that specialized in making high-end handicrafts.
Their craftsmanship shouldn't involve any fraud, and the sachet he had bought was indeed a genuine Three-Year Cherry Blossom.
It was just that whether it had been made by a maiden, and whether it had the crystallization of a maiden's sincere feelings infused into it—that was up for debate...
Kiana and Lucius looked at each other. For a moment, the atmosphere fell into awkwardness.
"So, Lucius, what now?"
Lucius thought for a moment, sighed, and said:
"No choice. We'll have to trouble Asakura Miyuki once more."
---
Advanced 30+ Chapters in pat/reon.com/Sleepy_Hua