Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

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The next day, Bronya arrived early at the executive airfield, fully prepared for departure.

Spotting Zeke's approach, she promptly saluted crisply.

"Everything is ready, Sir! We can set off anytime!"

Eyeing the girl's crisp gray-blue uniform and the silver shuttle primed for takeoff, Zeke nodded and patted her head gently.

"Well done, that's my girl."

Bronya's eyes sparkled.

"Zeke, Bronya wants more rewards!"

While acting recklessly wouldn't fly, seizing the right moment to playfully charm could strengthen their bond and increase intimacy.

After considering briefly, Zeke leaned down, brushed aside her hair, and softly kissed her smooth forehead, radiant as jade.

Bronya grinned delightedly, her shining eyes reflecting the brilliance of stars.

"Satisfied now?"

"For now, yes."

"Then let's depart."

"Yes, sir!"

Unlike airships designed for comfort and grandeur, shuttles were built purely for speed, optimized to operate at high altitudes or even in space. Their excessively powerful propulsion systems made them unsuitable for most passengers.

Thus, mere minutes after takeoff, the shuttle had traversed thousands of kilometers before roughly slamming into specialized deceleration materials.

BOOM!!!

The impact reverberated loudly amidst clouds of dust.

Instantly, swarms of drones from all directions absorbed the dispersing smoke, swiftly restoring the air's freshness.

Shaking off the dust, Zeke emerged first, followed by Bronya clad in her sleek black armor.

"Zeke!"

"Zekeeee~"

"Pow! Pow!"

An old story with the same ending.

Unwilling to be held up from his tasks by Kiana and Sin's enthusiastic tackle, Zeke opted for the most straightforward solution—knocking both girls out cold. With bumps on their heads, they lay dazed, their ardor cooled momentarily.

Experience had proven time and again that this was the most efficient approach.

So, just seconds later, Zeke walked side by side with Einstein, who had come to greet him, as they headed beyond the landing field, engaging in conversation.

"I submitted my suggestions for improving the overall design plan yesterday; I trust you've reviewed them. Let's skip discussing the designs further and proceed directly to the site inspection. I need to see the situation firsthand."

"Aren't the data captured by the worker bees sufficient?"

"Not comprehensive enough, in my view. Dr. Ein, your project holds immense promise, and if successfully completed, it could become one of civilization's trump cards. It deserves our utmost attention."

"Alright... Then let Mei take you to the first construction site. I have other matters to attend to and can't accompany you."

Einstein crossed her arms, shifting the conversation towards Raiden Mei, who stood nearby.

Zeke turned his gaze towards her.

Raiden Mei: Sh-sh-shake...

Teacher, if you want me dead, just say so.

I'm doing this for your own good. At this rate, how long will it take to cure Zeke's condition?

The problem is, I don't want to be cured!

Enough excuses. Or would you rather handle Zeke throughout the whole process?

Unaware of the silent exchange between teacher and student, Zeke approached Raiden Mei, gently lifted a strand of her long black hair, and examined it.

"Hmm, your hair has grown a bit, and you've gained some height too. Healthy development, impressive."

"T-thank you for your concern!" Raiden Mei straightened her back, stuttering slightly but speaking unusually loud.

Why was she so afraid?

Firstly, she met Zeke during the most vulnerable and pitiable phase of her life. His cold, emotionless demeanor and habitual menacing deadpan eyes casted the initial shadow over her.

Then there was Zeke's treatment of girls around him—specifically Kiana, Wendy, and Sin, with Kiana being the prime example. He displayed a ruthless determination to beat them mercilessly until they were practically on death's door. For young Raiden Mei, these horrifying scenes haunted her nightmares for years. This formed the second layer of her shadow.

At some point, Zeke noticed her fear and found it amusing. Whenever he felt inclined, he would perform dramatic displays in front of Raiden Mei—the kind that could make children stop crying instantly, like dissecting Honkai Beasts barehanded, burning Zombies while emitting sinister laughter, or recounting chilling conspiracies from within shadows.

Over many years, as Raiden Mei grew up, she learned to exude grace and gentleness toward everyone, akin to a traditional Japanese ideal woman. However, whenever standing before Zeke, she instinctively felt a shiver down her spine.

"Seems like you're quite afraid of me?" Zeke tugged at Raiden Mei's hair, leaning closer, and asked indifferently, despite already knowing the answer.

Raiden Mei flinched, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Not at all! It's just immense respect for Mr. Zeke!"

"Oh really? That's good."

As Zeke finished speaking, a hand flashed towards him like lightning, targeting the one gripping Raiden Mei's hair.

Zeke swiftly released his grip just in time to evade her strike. He lowered his gaze and looked at Wendy, who had suddenly intervened with an irritated expression.

"Good to see you're still full of energy after half a month, Wendy."

"Haven't seen you for half a month, but you're still as rude as ever! Don't grope girls like that! Can't you tell Big Sister Mei is uncomfortable? You idiot, numbskull, blockhead!" Wendy scolded furiously, jabbing Zeke's chest rapidly with her index finger. Seeing no reaction, she attempted to kick him in the knee.

However, Zeke caught her ankle, lifting her upside down by it.

"Ahh!" Wendy cried out in surprise as her dress draped over her eyes. Then, she heard the sound of a blade whistling above her head.

In the next moment, Zeke casually flung Wendy away.

Rushing to hold down her skirt, Wendy scrambled up from the ground, glaring darkly at Zeke.

She found him expressionless, holding a small knife in one hand and a clump of black hair tinged with green in the other.

Wendy's face changed abruptly as she reached back to touch her hair.

As expected, her meticulously styled short hair, carefully groomed today, was now significantly shorter, resembling a messy, chewed-up mess akin to a dog's bite.

"You should let your hair grow some more; there wasn't quite enough this time."

Zeke placed the hair clump into Bronya's opened storage pouch and calmly addressed Wendy.

"Give me your dog life! You bastard, Zeke!"

"BANG!!"

Half a minute later, Zeke held up the bruised and battered Wendy with one hand while straightening her disheveled dress with the other.

"Gomenasai, Sir Zeke."

"It's alright; it has been half a month, so you might have forgotten my authority. I forgive you this time."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Sir Zeke."

"Hmm. Remember, even after becoming a Herrscher, you must still show respect to me, understood?"

Zeke spoke evenly, and upon receiving Wendy's obedient nod, he satisfactorily released her collar.

This girl always reminded Zeke of Kiana—quick to forget lessons learned through punishment. Despite getting soundly beaten each time, she repeatedly challenged his authority.

Zeke felt that this behavior was likely incurable, but it wasn't too troublesome. Whenever she acted up, a swift reminder would quickly restore order.

"Seele, come here and apply some medicine on her."

Turning towards Seele, who had patiently waited nearby, Zeke displayed a gentle expression... then beckoned her over like calling a little puppy.

"Yes! Big Bro Zeke!"

Seele's eyes lit up, and she eagerly jogged over with a delighted expression, her whole demeanor radiating joy—as if simply catching Zeke's attention was enough to make her ecstatic.

Zeke then surveyed his surroundings.

Not far away, Kiana and Sin, whom he had effortlessly knocked down with a single punch each, were still lying on the ground, unable to rise.

Raiden Mei stood nearby, trembling nervously; even a glance from her would set off shivers.

Wendy teared up, standing pitifully as she sniffled softly.

With a radiant smile, Seele meticulously applied ointment to Wendy's wounds. As Zeke watched, it seemed like he could almost see a tail wagging happily behind her.

Behind him, Bronya stood expressionless, appearing unassuming yet having subtly forged an extraordinary bond with Zeke, transcending mere distance.

Ah! These are the promising new generation of Anti-Entropy's core members... Wait, something seems off here.

Rubbing his chin, Zeke belatedly realized that the elites he held such high hopes for might all be rather peculiar.