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

"Um, Cocolia... Auntie, did you get a gift for Zeke too? You know, since everyone else has one?" As the party neared its end, Kiana tugged gently on Cocolia's sleeve and whispered discreetly. Her hushed tone suggested she feared disappointing Zeke if the answer was no.

Sin joined in, "Yeah, Mother Cocolia, it'd be so sad if only Zeke didn't receive anything."

Seele chimed her opinion as well, "That's right, Mother Cocolia, do you have a present prepared for Big Brother Zeke?"

Sin glanced at Seele. Alright, just this once; even this little fox known for feigning tears seemed somewhat bearable now.

Noticing Sin unusually refrained from intimidating her, Seele flashed a delighted smile. Could this mean their relationship was starting to improve?

Cocolia set down the skewer of grilled meat she was holding with an audible click of irritation.

"That insufferable rascal, what's so great about him? How does he manage to bewitch all of you like this? Just wait until he gets each of you into bed someday, and there you'll be, still blissfully grinning!"

Cocolia lightly poked each girl's forehead, exuding disappointment akin to iron failing to shape into steel.

Seele's cheeks visibly reddened, bashfully lowering her head in embarrassment.

In contrast, Sin's eyes sparkled brightly.

The most nonchalant was Kiana, her face full of question marks. Going to bed with Zeke? Wasn't that something she already did occasionally? What's so strange about it—clearly, receiving comprehensive sex education didn't guarantee emotional maturity between genders.

Cocolia realized these three were beyond hope; fortunately, perhaps the other children could still be saved...

But upon closer inspection, Liliya and Rozaliya had sidled up next to Zeke at some point, chatting away with him. Beside them, Bronya stood ramrod straight, like a loyal guard awaiting instructions.

"Oh no! Is my entire orphanage turning into his child brides?" Cocolia panicked internally before snapping back to reality as Kiana tugged on her sleeve.

Facing three pairs of innocent, inquisitive eyes, Cocolia sighed deeply, placing a hand on her forehead. "He has a gift too, but he's just too insufferable. I don't feel like giving it now."

"Don't say that! Zeke is only a kid; let's not hold grudges!" Kiana urged, smiling brightly. Even she knew she was talking nonsense—only someone as dim-witted as a paramecium would associate the words "Zeke" and "kid."

"All right, all right, I understand. When we discuss matters later, I'll give it to him then. This isn't something you girls should worry about. If you're finished eating, hurry off for warm baths and get to bed early, okay?"

Cocolia patted their little heads, issuing her command.

"Yes!" × 3

"Here, your gift."

Later that night, in Zeke's room, Cocolia handed him the present.

Zeke unwrapped it to reveal a sleek pair of frameless blue light-blocking glasses with a futuristic vibe.

He examined them closely.

"No listening devices or trackers; just plain protective eyewear. Did you consider my long hours staring at screens? That's thoughtful—thank you."

"Dang! If not for those kids insisting, I wouldn't have given this to you at all, and yet you still suspect me?"

"You're known as the Witch of Mercenaries, the Cunning Fox of Siberia. Isn't being cautious around you perfectly normal?"

"The Titans serving under me were personally selected by you. What mischief could I possibly get up to?" Cocolia retorted unhappily, though deep down, she wasn't truly offended.

Similar to Robbins, Cocolia was well-versed in navigating the world and understood that being subordinate isn't necessarily a bad thing. As long as one's superior is capable, reliable, and knows how to treat their subordinates, working for them can be quite advantageous.

From Cocolia's perspective, Zeke met these criteria exceptionally well.

His technological prowess was unfathomable. Strategically, during the Siegfried incident, he ingeniously outwitted Otto. In terms of connections, the three leaders of Anti-Entropy and the Schicksal Archbishop seemed to hold him in high regard. Lastly, he avoided causing trouble and generally preferred staying out of affairs, granting considerable autonomy to those beneath him.

The only drawback might be his persistent bias against her... Hmm, perhaps it's not bias; he just sees through people too clearly, which is unnerving.

Zeke blew away some dust on his glasses before putting them back on. The brown lenses concealed the coldness in his eyes, giving him the appearance of a cool and handsome young man.

"How do I look?"

"...Not bad."

Meaning, "not bad" for someone well-suited to deceive innocent teenage girls.

"So, Boron Albert, the influential leader of the Radical faction, why would he seek me out?"

"I'm not sure, but probably for cooperation."

"I did a quick background check on him. Originally, he was a powerful prince from one of the oil-rich kingdoms in the Middle East. In his youth, he was once a devout follower of Otto. However, he suddenly defected, joining Anti-Entropy, advocating for overturning Otto's rule by any means necessary. It has been several years now, making him one of the key ideologues behind the Radicals' beliefs. How about you? Do you have more detailed information?"

"He tried to strike a shady deal with me once, but instead, I sweet-talked my way around and turned his proposition back on him, profiting handsomely. Does that count?"

Zeke removed his glasses and examined Cocolia from head to toe.

Well, disregarding nicknames like "Witch" and "Sly Fox," just based on appearance alone—she was an incredibly alluring beauty with blonde hair, ample bosom, exceptional poise, and mouthwatering charm.

For influential figures wielding great power, those dangerous monikers often served as a bonus, intensifying their desire for conquest.

Zeke nodded understandingly.

"Yes, I suppose so. Seems he's still quite spirited despite his age."

"Aside from that, my knowledge of him is limited. He's extremely fearful of death, which is why even now, I've never met the man himself. He has cultivated numerous body doubles who typically attend important gatherings in his stead. For less significant events, he won't bother participating remotely either, showing extreme caution."

"How strong is his influence?"

"With Anti-Entropy, the Alliance Leader holds the most power, followed by the Radicals at a slightly lower tier. You and I currently form the third faction, rapidly growing due to your technical prowess and my strategic maneuverings. However, compared to the Radicals, we lag behind in accumulated resources. The remaining factions aren't worth mentioning. Boron, on the other hand, wields immense authority within the Radical faction. Though it's not absolute control, it's close enough."

As Cocolia explained, she casually distanced herself from the Radicals, as if the person who had skillfully navigated their ranks and steadily climbed to prominence wasn't her.

Ultimately, Cocolia never particularly identified with any faction's ideology. She sought only power, along with the resources and sense of security it brought.

Zeke seemed unconcerned by this revelation and abruptly changed the topic.

"By the way, shouldn't our faction have a name too?"

"Hmm... How about the Witch Faction?" Cocolia suggested, seemingly earnest.

Ignoring her proposal, Zeke pondered aloud: "The Conservatives advocate for saving the world through the gentlest, most humane methods possible; the Radicals assert that confronting Schicksal should come first, even if it requires resorting to extreme measures. As for us... I neither believe in conservatism nor radicalism. I believe fate lies within our own hands. The path we choose and how we traverse it depends solely on our accumulated knowledge and judgment."

With that, Zeke paused briefly before continuing slowly:

"Let's call ourselves the Spark Faction, symbolizing how a spark can set ablaze the prairie. Though we may seem insignificant now, as long as we unite and strive relentlessly, accumulating progress along the way, there will surely come a day when victory is within our grasp, enabling us to reshape destiny itself."

"Snap!"

"That sounds fantastic! It should have great propaganda potential—let's go with the Spark Faction!" Cocolia's eyes visibly lit up, even snapping her fingers joyously, fully convinced by the name.

Zeke inwardly rolled his eyes. He knew his insights had fallen on deaf ears; Cocolia only cared about what sounded appealing and could attract more members.

"Back to business. Since Boron holds some influence, meeting him won't hurt. Besides, it might be a good opportunity for me to take my mind off things."

"Agreed. I'll reply to him, setting a time and location."

Cocolia wasted no further words and swiftly departed, like lightning following thunder.

Zeke couldn't help but suspect if she'd received some benefit from merely passing on this message.