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"So you're telling me, after finding something valuable, you took care of her until she could stand up from her wheelchair?"
In Xia Chen's room, during a video call, Ana grimaced, "Honestly, what else are you hiding from me?"
"Nothing more, I swear," Xia Chen responded with raised hands. "And I never intentionally hid anything. As for why Wendy can now stand, even Nagamitsu isn't sure. His theory suggests emotional strength may temporarily allow her control over the Herrscher Core."
"Emotional strength." Ana gritted her teeth irritably. "So, Wendy must have fallen for you then, right?"
Xia Chen instinctively protested, "No, not at all, don't make assumptions."
Even now, he couldn't fully grasp whether Wendy harbored any feelings towards him.
It seemed Wendy didn't shy away from interacting with him. However, ever since she stood up, her thoughts and focus were solely on regaining her mobility and recovering swiftly.
Xia Chen even noticed glimpses of Durandal's determination in Wendy's demeanor.
He had witnessed Durandal training within the Immortal Blades, and to put it bluntly, her approach was akin to: "Without obsession, there is no mastery."
While Wendy undoubtedly held some affection for him, it appeared that matters of love ranked last in her priorities.
After all, Valkyries aren't sentimental; none would abandon their fight against Honkai for romance.
Right, Otto?
Ana huffed indignantly, "Even if you don't know how you helped her stand, it must be connected to you in her mind. Then, overwhelmed with gratitude, feelings start to blossom... hmph, don't bother coming back; this situation is unbearable now."
Her sulky attitude made Xia Chen irresistibly want to tease her further.
"Ahem, our relationship truly is innocent. Why not have Amber reassign me or transfer Wendy elsewhere instead?" Xia Chen genuinely believed this was best.
He feared that spending more time with Wendy could lead him deeper into trouble—literally, in terms of physical entanglement.
Moreover, if Wendy could stand again, theoretically, his purpose at the Ocean Branch should be fulfilled. Surely he wouldn't just end up mining, right?
As for Kiana and others seeking the Gem of Desire?
In any case, it wasn't clear from the storyline how the Gem of Desire was useful for the Moonlight Throne. Even Bronya could replicate its array using her abilities.
Whether or not the main characters needed the gemstone became irrelevant.
"You can keep sulking here, but if I had such power, you wouldn't need to remind me." Ana gritted her teeth and continued, "Regardless, she's only fifteen and knows nothing about these matters. Do not deceive her, refrain from crossing boundaries, and most importantly, don't lie to me."
"Alright, alright," Xia Chen promptly agreed.
"Hmph, your emotional intelligence is truly lacking. Bringing up these issues with me just ensures I won't have a peaceful day." She couldn't help but complain.
"Mm, why don't you come over then?" Xia Chen responded casually, adding, "I miss you."
"You..." The girl's cheeks flushed bright red instantly. "I still have things to do; I'll hang up now."
The communication abruptly ended.
However, her racing heartbeat took quite some time to calm down.
Xia Chen, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief.
At present, he felt like a villain playing with emotions, yet he couldn't even grasp where he was going wrong. Could being handsome itself be considered a mistake? He simply didn't understand.
As his thoughts blurred, he seemed to glimpse Ana within the stigma space, glaring at him indignantly.
Xia Chen remained speechless.
Wendy's talent lived up to her reputation as a prodigy.
When Xia Chen arrived at the training room the next day, he found Wendy already exercising with equipment in hand.
Most importantly, she was wearing the Mark-III Valkyrie Armor.
The third-generation armor is lightweight, typically weighing only around twenty pounds. However, carrying this weight constantly can become burdensome for Wendy over time.
Despite that, it was evident she had adapted well to the armor's load.
Noticing Xia Chen enter, she smiled and said, "I've gotten used to the armor now, and I'll recover soon. Yesterday, Gretel contacted me, and I shared this news with her."
"In that case, she won't need to stay here just because of me. I understand; she has been eager to leave for some time."
Her voice, like the clear trill of a skylark, sounded delightful even amidst chatter, reflecting her excellent mood.
To join Schicksal as a Valkyrie, one must either be deeply inspired or driven by hatred towards Honkai. Nobody willingly languishes at the Ocean Branch.
Although their surface-level treatment may be similar, they yearn for combat more than anything.
Now, Wendy expressed concern for Gretel's aspirations, saying, "Gretel mentioned that your squad is actually short on members. Can I join you?"
The anticipation shone brightly in Wendy's eyes.
Xia Chen felt torn and troubled.
He had no issue with it himself; the problem lay with Ana potentially feeling jealous.
Among all the Valkyries Xia Chen interacted with, Ana's personality was closest to that of an ordinary person. She experienced fear, jealousy, and occasionally used her family background for minor privileges.
It was precisely these traits that made Ana stand out distinctly.
In contrast, whether it was Wendy, Durandal, or even Rita, they didn't seem like typical individuals. Even Susannah and Alvitr exhibited certain eccentricities in their personalities.
This is why he didn't want to upset Ana.
"Wendy, you should know that I'm not the captain of my squad."
He paused before continuing, "The captain is named Ana Schariac. I can consult with her about this matter."
The girl nodded, "Then I'll wait for your news."
Xia Chen sighed deeply.
Suddenly, he felt an immense weight pressing down on his shoulders.
Joining Wendy to the Snow Lotus Squad would already be enough to provoke Ana's jealousy; she'd undoubtedly get angry if he went through with it.
To his surprise, after hearing him out, Ana simply replied, "I'll find time to visit the Ocean Branch and welcome our new teammate."
"Uh, you're not opposed to it?"
"Why should I refuse?" The young girl displayed exceptional maturity in this matter. "Wendy hasn't done anything wrong; rather, Schicksal owes her greatly. If joining the Snow Lotus Squad is her request, why would I deny it?"
Although not the owners of Schicksal, the Schariac family held considerable influence within the organization.
For Ana, Schicksal had long become her home.
If Schicksal owed Wendy, then so did she personally.
Ana paused and continued, "Moreover, she's destined to be an A-Class Valkyrie, potentially the next Durandal. I'm not foolish. We'll handle things separately - worst-case scenario, you might just have to stay away from me," she huffed.
Wendy's talent wouldn't diminish due to the time spent isolated.
Additionally, based on what Xia Chen shared about Wendy during their time together, the resilience and determination of this yet-to-be-met girl deeply impressed Ana.
There was no valid reason for her to reject Wendy.
After a moment, Ana reassured him, "I'll talk to Sister Amber about it, don't worry."
"But remember, keep your eyes off other girls—you better not stray, hmph." Like a little jealous kitten, she ended the communication abruptly.