"Yo, bro, you're back?"
In Li Mu's living room, in front of the gaming console, Bronya was lying on her stomach, propped up on a bizarre rabbit body pillow, staring at the screen and working the controller in her hands.
She was playing a game.
The chibi rabbit character on the screen dodged left and right, evading incoming bullets, but then failed to dodge in time and died~
Bad End!
"Student Little Bro, it seems your gaming skills need improvement." Li Mu held back a smile at the corners of his mouth. "Or could it be that you are actually the counterpart from the next-door studio?"
Hearing this, the girl's small face flushed completely red.
"How... how could you insult my innocence like this? I just started playing... No, there must be something wrong with this console!"
A faint blue light materialized out of thin air, and grenades painted with exaggerated yellow rabbit patterns were projected.
"As expected, a broken console like this is better off destroyed!"
Seeing Bronya heating up, Li Mu took a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Mmm..."
The projected weapons instantly dissipated. Feeling the sweetness melting in her mouth, Bronya narrowed her eyes.
This Temu Bronya before him was the final result of his actions.
Although the authority of the Herrscher of Reason granted by the trial card had vanished, perhaps because some of the First Herrscher's power remained in the body, she could project some simple objects.
Things like firearms, artillery, and mechs—as long as she could understand their structure, she could project them.
Other than that... nothing.
She couldn't directly replicate the authorities of other Herrschers and Divine Keys like a true Herrscher of Reason.
Moreover, because his secondary personality had turned into her Stigmata, the newly born Stigmata persona had been tainted with its colors.
Looking at the Bronya before him, Li Mu always felt a sense of closeness.
It could be said that this Bronya was the person who understood him best right now.
She could even be called... his other half.
"Alright, jokes aside."
Seeing Bronya quiet down, Li Mu sat beside her and said:
"Since you've been born, we can start the next step of the plan."
Hearing this, Bronya looked up. She naturally knew what Li Mu was going to do next.
—Find a way to make Cocolia her adoptive mother.
"Bro, have you figured out how to do it?" Bronya asked, her cheeks bulging around the lollipop.
Li Mu thought for a moment and said:
"I investigated the information on Cocolia in this era. She was originally the director of an orphanage in the Siberia region. Because of her long-term engagement in orphan relief work, she had an extremely high reputation."
"A few years ago, stimulated by who knows what, she shouted that being a director couldn't save children, and then stepped into politics."
"Because she had accumulated a massive amount of prestige beforehand, her political career was quite smooth sailing."
"Until half a year ago, because she opposed the United Government's proposal to slash orphan relief funds in favor of military development, she was marginalized and exiled to the Far East region."
Crunch! Bronya chewed up the lollipop in her mouth and swallowed. "Mmm... A Slav being thrown into the Far East, it seems she was targeted. So, what are you going to do?"
Seeing Bronya looking at him eagerly, Li Mu reached into his pocket, took out another lollipop, handed it to Bronya, and then said:
"As of now, this Cocolia doesn't seem completely beyond saving. So I want to see if we can pull her onto our chariot."
Bronya took the lollipop, unwrapped it, and retorted:
"You'd better not hold too much expectation. According to the underlying logic of the world, Cocolia might be a good person, but it's highly unlikely for Cocolia to be a good person."
Li Mu shook his head, chuckling softly.
"It's fine. If Cocolia truly is beyond saving, then I'll just have to use some extreme measures."
Bronya kicked her small legs and said nonchalantly, "As long as you've made up your mind."
"So Bronya, next you will go to Sakura to receive assassin training for a while, and then register an account with the Chrysalis organization."
Hearing this, Bronya looked up, gave him a side-eye, and said, "Then go assassinate Cocolia, pretend to be defeated and captured by her, trigger the defeat CG, and acknowledge her as my adoptive mom?"
"You see, our minds really are in sync."
The two looked at each other and both burst out laughing.
Ring, ring, ring!
At this moment, a ringing sound suddenly echoed. It was coming from Li Mu's communicator.
Opening the communicator and seeing the caller's name, Li Mu froze for a second.
"What's wrong?"
"...It's a call from Cocolia."
Li Mu coughed lightly twice, adjusting his voice to sound like Ryoma.
Then he answered the call.
The moment it connected, Cocolia's voice came through.
"Mr. Ryoma, I must solemnly warn you that someone is plotting against you and your daughter."
"...Oh?"
Li Mu frowned slightly.
...
A little earlier in time.
Far East, Nagazora City.
Today, most of the upper echelons of this city had gathered together to discuss a major matter concerning their own survival.
"This guy Ryoma has no bottom line, he's truly gone too far!"
"He has no spirit of cooperation. He wants to destroy this land beneath our feet where we've lived for thousands of years!"
On one side of the venue, looking at the impassioned man among the crowd, Cocolia, dressed in an evening gown, wiped the pendant on her chest, trying hard to lower her presence.
MEI Corp's rapid rise had encroached upon the interests of quite a few local factions. Especially those enterprises competing with MEI Corp's businesses, they had suffered heavy losses.
Take the impassioned man on stage, for example. He was the president of Nagazora Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Because of MEI Corp's rise, his business had been snatched away, pushing his company to the brink of bankruptcy.
If it were just this, considering MEI Corp's current power, aside from the enterprises directly affected, these deeply rooted factions in Nagazora City could still endure it.
But the construction of Tokyo-3... no, the Second New Nagazora City across the sea was digging up their roots.
You, Ryoma, poached the entire local population! What are we families who have taken root here since ancient times supposed to do?!
Of course, Cocolia knew that if Ryoma Raiden were willing to share the profits, they might just become the biggest supporters of the Second New Nagazora City.
The problem was, Ryoma valued the ownership of the Second New Nagazora City extremely highly. He wouldn't allow anyone to interfere, nor was he willing to share any profits.
Because of this, these families rooted here since ancient times had only one way out.
"Since that bastard Ryoma won't give us a way to live, there's no need for us to speak of morality with him."
"Gentlemen, this is a war!"
"If we want to protect the wealth and status our families have accumulated over generations, we must win!"
"Mobilize our forces to incite public opinion, hire internet trolls, spread rumors, or even hire assassins directly."
"We must let this guy Ryoma know our power!"
Faced with a common enemy, the various factions of Nagazora City quickly united, determined to show Ryoma who was boss.
Subsequently, many people turned their eyes to Cocolia.
"Ms. Cocolia, relying solely on our own strength, it will probably be difficult to bring down Ryoma."
"We need you to contact forces within the United Government to put pressure on Ryoma."
To this, Cocolia revealed her signature perfect smile.
"Of course. I will advise the United Government to launch an anti-monopoly investigation into MEI Corp."
Hearing this, the crowd was overjoyed and made promises to Cocolia one after another.
"Madam is truly righteous. Once successful, everyone in Nagazora City will remember your deeds."
To this, Cocolia continued to return a perfect smile.
After leaving the meeting, Cocolia returned to her office, changed out of her gown, and exported the data from the pendant. It contained the footage of those people conspiring against Ryoma.
Yes, the pendant on her chest was a miniature camera.
After exporting the data, Cocolia dialed Ryoma's number while simultaneously sending the files over.
Team up with you guys to deal with Ryoma? A cold sneer appeared on Cocolia's face. Heh... Since I have to choose a partner, why would I choose you lot?
These conglomerates and prominent families were deeply rooted in Nagazora City, having basically carved up all the benefits already. Even if they managed to bring down Ryoma, how much profit would they share with her?
On the other hand, Ryoma was a newcomer just starting out, possessing limitless potential.
Comparing the two, wasn't it obvious how she should choose?
And this footage was the "sincerity" she was offering Ryoma.
Screw the hero saving the beauty trope; this time, I'm delivering coal in the snow!
Soon, the call was connected.
"Mr. Ryoma, I must solemnly warn you that someone is plotting against you and your daughter."
"...Oh?"
The Ryoma on the other end "fell silent" for a moment, then said, "Ms. Cocolia, thank you very much for the warning. MEI Corp will not forget your friendship."
The smile on Cocolia's lips widened.
Good, good. With this, I've finally established a connection with Ryoma.
Once I get involved in the construction of St. Freya, a massive political achievement awaits me.
Cocolia seemed to see a future where she steadily rose through the ranks, while the children in the orphanage looked at her with admiration.
However, just as she was rejoicing inwardly, the voice of "Ryoma" on the other end of the communicator hadn't stopped.
"Ms. Cocolia, thank you for your righteous assistance. Coincidentally, I also have some news here, and it concerns you."
"According to my embedded personnel within Chrysalis, someone has posted a bounty on you. The assassin who took the mission goes by the codename 'Ural Silver Wolf'."
"She is highly skilled in various assassination techniques. Please be extremely careful in the coming days."
Listening to the words coming from the communicator, the smile on Cocolia's face froze.
"...Someone wants to kill me?!"