Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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"There's no need to rush so much."

Ana examined the clothes, comparing their size briefly. Hmm, the top seemed slightly snug around the chest area, but it wasn't too concerning.

"The hidden adversaries won't make their move easily."

Although Bianka was unaware, Ana referred specifically to the World Serpent.

Currently, the World Serpent is still in its dormant phase and won't make bold moves just yet. Moreover, Rita possesses the Godslayer Armor as an S-rank Valkyrie, while Susannah's capabilities speak for themselves.

"We've earned this rare holiday; it would be a waste not to take advantage of this time to relax," Ana chuckled lightly.

"But..."

"Don't worry, I know their whereabouts. When the moment comes, simply follow me, and we'll catch up with them in no time." Ana reassured, her face radiating confidence.

Indeed, as someone familiar with the plot, she was fully aware of the upcoming events. As Ana correctly anticipated, neither Susannah nor Rita required Bianka's covert protection.

Rita, being an S-rank Valkyrie, could easily evade anyone if she wished. Meanwhile, Susannah, with her Soulium body crafted by Otto and enhanced by the Void Archives, matched Rita's prowess. Even if her Soulium frame were damaged, she could switch to another body at Schicksal Headquarters, making her virtually invincible due to the Void Archives' capabilities.

Bianka remained silent, still hesitant.

Bianka hesitated; for her, the bishop's orders always came first. Moreover, there was Rita to consider. However, seeing Ana's confident demeanor gave her pause.

She knew that Ana meticulously thought through everything she did. Additionally, their long-awaited vacation being interrupted by an immediate mission also irked Bianka slightly.

In truth, before Bianka embarked on her world bubble missions, she had been somewhat of a stubborn and headstrong young lady. It was only after enduring numerous trials that she transformed into the Durandal she is today.

"Don't worry, dear big sis! You don't doubt me, do you?" Ana looked pleadingly at Bianka, knowing how hard it was for her to sneak out. She genuinely wanted some time off, and Otto's task seemed utterly uninteresting.

"Ah, what am I going to do with you?" Sighing, Bianka eventually softened her stance but set a condition: they must stay close to Rita and Susannah.

Aware of Ana's exhaustion, Bianka willingly shared the burden by assisting her with this mission. After all, tailing and covertly protecting someone wasn't particularly challenging.

"Yay!"

Although not entirely satisfied with the outcome, Ana could accept it. Making Schicksal's most dedicated and responsible Valkyrie openly defy the Lord Bishop's orders was indeed unthinkable. However, as long as Bianka could be somewhat flexible, it suited Ana just fine.

As for needing to stay near Rita... that wasn't an issue at all. Rita and Susannah primarily focused on activities around the museum or exploring ruins, which essentially amounted to sightseeing trips.

"So we have a deal? Let's go on our date!"

"A date?" Bianka momentarily stumbled, struggling to follow Ana's train of thought.

"You and me, spending time together like a vacation—isn't that what dating is about?" Ana chuckled lightly.

"...Hmm." Bianka fell silent, then rubbed her forehead, perplexed.

"Well, when you put it that way, there doesn't seem to be any issue... But something still feels off..."

"Alright, alright, don't overthink it! Let's go!"

With that, Ana draped Bianka's jacket over her shoulders and pulled her hand, leading them out of the room.

At another nearby hotel, Rita had brought Susannah to their suite and presented her with a large stack of documents.

Since Rita arrived early for this mission, she had already gathered extensive intelligence on the matter. Being a native Briton also provided her significant advantages in this regard.

However, upon seeing the towering pile of files, Susannah felt overwhelmed.

"I'm not exactly good at sifting through paperwork..."

"Don't worry, besides Miss Susannah, we've invited another assistant."

As Rita spoke, she slowly approached the door, just as the doorbell chimed. With a turn of the knob, a woman entered, dressed in traditional British attire and wearing black-framed glasses.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Miss Rita."

"Welcome, Miss Katherine."

Meanwhile, on the Thames River outside the hotel, Ana and Bianka were enjoying a leisurely boat ride, taking in the scenic views.

Bianka frequently glanced towards the hotel, causing Ana some exasperation. Eventually, she handed her a tablet.

"Here, I placed this camera on Susannah earlier. If you're worried, feel free to keep an eye yourself!"

This wasn't just Ana's initiative; it was actually something she had discussed with Otto during their flight, securing his approval as a small favor.

Otto operated like this: as long as your actions didn't directly harm his interests, he would allow a bit of indulgence.

The camera utilized the latest technology from Schicksal's research institute, ensuring no risk of detection by World Serpent - or even if detected, it wouldn't matter much.

Even someone as cunning as Jackal might not suspect that the surveillance and communication involving Valkyries of Schicksal originated from Schicksal itself.

As for Katherine, whom Rita sought assistance from, she certainly wasn't a benevolent character either.

Katherine had joined World Serpent quite early, so seeking her help essentially invited the wolf into the fold. Anything they discussed would likely be known to World Serpent on the other side.

After some research and discussion, Katherine eventually pinpointed a specific location.

With their treasure-hunting tools in hand, the trio set off on this expedition.

However, the address provided by Katherine was not where the Unnamed Locomotive was hidden but rather a carefully laid trap prepared by the World Serpent.

Quickly, guided by Katherine's intentions, Susannah detected massive ruins concealed beneath the grass using her equipment. Subsequently, Rita opened the entrance to them.

"There might be dangers underground; Miss Katherine, please wait for us here!"

Considering safety, Rita suggested this, as she viewed Katherine merely as an ordinary civilian. The presumed remnants of the previous civilization were undoubtedly fraught with peril.

Unfortunately, Katherine declined, insisting she wanted to witness this historic moment firsthand.

Rita pondered silently for a moment before ultimately agreeing, considering it a fair exchange for the intelligence Katherine had provided.

Little did Rita know that all of this was part of Katherine's scheme, and she herself was unwittingly playing right into it.