Chapter 46: What the heck, a sky‑fallen green plum?

After a brief moment of nostalgia, the few of them immediately went to look for supplies, but they kept opening several boxes only to find them completely empty; the area was full of monsters, so it was impossible that monsters had taken them.

Rift creatures don't need human supplies; even when they snatch things they wouldn't be so… polite.

Fortunately there were footprints on the ground; following the trail, the three quickly found the one who had taken the supplies early—a kid shorter than Xi Er's waist—Ai Li Ke.

Ai Li Ke's attitude toward these adults was unfriendly, as if he bore thorns that would prick anyone who approached. Though young, he was a notorious bandit of the Lower City District, and whenever he got caught he used his father as a shield, which made Xi Er dislike him.

The brat not only talked tough, but this time wanted to bargain with the supplies he had found, planning to trade two hundred Winter City Coins.

The kid does have a bit of Lower City cunning, still remembering to negotiate even now. Xi Er Ke shook his head, "But terms can only be discussed when both sides are equal; in a place this dangerous, a bigger fist is the only hard truth."

Jin Ke Si, standing nearby, also agreed.

In her view, Xi Er, as an Earthfire cadre, had no flaws in temperament or strength… only being too kind.

If it were her, she wouldn't listen to the brat's endless chatter; she'd just snatch it outright, since Rivet Town couldn't find any living people besides them, and who could see?

Besides, without Xi Er and the others, it's uncertain whether the kid could even survive leaving the town.

Xi Er, angry, was about to scold, but was suddenly cut off by Bu Luo Ni Ya.

"Enough! Xi Er, stop talking,"

Bu Luo Ni Ya slowly crouched, unfastened a medal from her waist, and gently handed it to Ai Li Ke. "This medal was bestowed on me by the City Builder… Do you see the blue stone in the middle? That's the purest earth marrow crystal."

Bu Luo Ni Ya's tone was gentle; she knelt on one knee, reached out to wipe the tears at Ai Li Ke's eyes, and said, "You need money because of your family, right? Take this and use it to treat your father."

"Um! Th‑thank you, sister!"

Bu Luo Ni Ya's kindness made Xi Er's attitude toward her shift considerably; she began to think that this Upper District young lady… was fundamentally different from those lofty figures.

Although she didn't think Ai Li Ke deserved a medal, she respected Bu Luo Ni Ya's view. Her goodwill was not unrewarded—Ai Li Ke not only contributed all the gathered supplies, but also provided plenty of intelligence on Rivet Town's monsters.

"What's wrong, Wei?"

In a refined villa somewhere in Piltover, Kai Se Lin was watching the hologram with Wei.

Wei, who had just been arguing endlessly with her about how to handle the Lower City District wanderers, fell silent upon seeing Bu Luo Ni Ya soothe the child.

"Unwell?" Kai Te Lin leaned in concernedly.

"Sorry, it's nothing," Wei lowered his head, a tangle of remorse flickering in his eyes: "It's just… I can't help recalling some past events."

The gentleness in Bu Luo Ni Ya's eyes was like a sharp dagger, stabbing her heart.

If back then… she could have been as calm and gentle as Bu Luo Ni Ya, perhaps everything would have turned out differently?

If Boomboom hadn't become Jin Ke Si, they wouldn't have been as hostile as fire and water…

These years she lived with a Lower City mindset: when facing a troublesome opponent, she'd try to force them to submit with a harder fist; if she couldn't beat them, she'd retreat, keeping the hills so she wouldn't run out of firewood, and plan to strike again later.

But Bu Luo Ni Ya's way of solving problems seemed to open a door to a new world for her.

"When you don the uniform, perhaps you'll fully understand Bu Luo Ni Ya's approach."

Kai Se Lin keenly caught the fleeting thought in Wei's mind, stretched, and looked down at her: "Compared to retaliation, this method is more lasting and effortless."

According to intel, Xing and the others bypassed several powerful Rift monsters, reaching the orphanage where Na Ta Sha had stored medical alcohol.

The party rummaged through every box but found nothing; yet looking at the desolate orphanage, Bu Luo Ni Ya felt a wave of familiarity rising like tide after tide.

In her mind, some image seemed to become clearer…

Finally, after Xi Er uncovered a white handicraft, that familiarity fully triggered Bu Luo Ni Ya's sealed memories.

"This… this is something from my childhood," Bu Luo Ni Ya gently brushed the smooth surface of the craft, and a surge of memories caught her off guard.

"I used to live here—before the City Builder took me away, before Lord Kokolia adopted me—I lived here! I… I'm from the Lower City District."

"Seems that even in another world, we're sisters from the same orphanage, Xi Er."

Inside Valkyrie Academy, Bu Luo Ni Ya was unsurprised. She firmly believed that her bond with Xi Er would remain tight even in another world—she just hadn't expected such a coincidence.

Although the counterparts and originals of the two differ greatly in personality and appearance, something unseen still seems to link them.

This isn't something that can be explained by the simple word 'fate'.

And this scene, without doubt, sparked the Valkyrie forum again and again.

"This act… wait, I'm gradually understanding everything; is this something more awesome than a heavenly‑drop system and childhood sweethearts… a heavenly‑drop green plum!"

"Wooo! I grew eyes just to see this!"

"So when do the two in the hologram plan to get married?"

"... Wait! Isn't your progress upstairs a bit too fast? The two originals in the academy haven't even married yet!"

"Oh, so… when will the two originals marry? I'll go bring the Civil Affairs Bureau over!"

Suddenly recalling her childhood, Bu Luo Ni Ya's eyes reddened; she looked up at the land beneath her, ravaged by the Rift, and even her voice quivered with sobs.

"Since becoming Lord Kokolia's daughter, I have no other identity, but I… I'm so far off…"

"I witness Iron Guard soldiers die in the Rift every day, yet I can never summon the resolve to change my mother's mind."

"I know the Lower City District suffers, yet I can't help at all. Our former home turned into this, and I was completely kept in the dark…"

"In the end, I can't protect anything. Why was I chosen, and how could I possibly be worthy…"