Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

"Wait…" Chen Tianwu called out, but Anna had already disappeared. He felt a pang of disappointment.

Start a new life… easier said than done.

If even Manila, his home, could be ravaged by such a disaster, what guarantee was there that his next destination would be any safer?

He felt lost, adrift, uncertain of his future.

"Brother, don't be sad…" his sister said, trying to comfort him. "Anna isn't usually like this. She has a beautiful smile! She must be… upset about something. Like…" She paused, glancing at his missing arm, her voice softening. "Like… us…"

Her words struck a chord within him. He'd been sinking into despair, but her quiet understanding pulled him back. He stroked her hair, forcing a smile. "What happened to the mischievous Wenwen I know? You've become so mature."

"Waaah…" The little girl's lip trembled, and she burst into tears. "I want to… but… I'm scared…"

"I'm sorry, Wenwen. I shouldn't have said that." He felt a pang of guilt, wiping away her tears, his smile tinged with sadness. "You've grown up so much. You're a strong girl now…" He wasn't sure if he was comforting her, or himself.

Growing up meant leaving behind the innocence of childhood, learning to be self-reliant, understanding that actions had consequences, that love and care came at a price.

For some, it was a joyous journey.

For others, a painful one.

Growing up meant leaving a familiar world, entering a larger, more complex one.

Some children transitioned smoothly, their old world still there to support them.

Others had their worlds shattered, forced to navigate a terrifying, unfamiliar landscape, alone, except for the family they clung to, a lifeline in the darkness.

And that was enough. They couldn't ask for more.

He straightened up, taking a deep breath, stroking his sister's hair, his voice firm. "It's okay, Wenwen. I'm an adult now. I can work, I can earn money, I can take care of us. When we're settled, I'll buy you all the snacks you want."

"I don't want… snacks…" she sobbed, clinging to him. "I don't want anything…"

Children could cry. Adults couldn't. Not now.

He suppressed his own grief, closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, then opened them again, his smile a mixture of sadness and determination. "I can't carry you anymore, Wenwen, but I can still hold your hand. As long as we have each other, we have a home."

"Don't worry. I got you out of there, and I'll keep you safe. Do you trust me?"

"Mm…" she nodded, her face buried in his chest. "I trust you!"

…

In the sprawling survivor camp, countless families had been torn apart. The Chen siblings were among the lucky ones.

Some had lost everyone.

Some, though alive, were suffering from severe Honkai corruption, waiting for the inevitable.

And many more were already gone, lost to the disaster.

The pervasive grief and silence hung heavy in the air, even the Schicksal relief workers, accustomed to such scenes, were affected, needing extra personnel to maintain order, to process the survivors, to bring some semblance of closure to this tragedy.

A familiar figure, clad in a black hooded cloak, a white mask with crossed daggers covering his face, emerged from the crowd, carrying a plain gray case, walking through the camp as if he owned the place.

"Click, clack…" His footsteps were crisp and confident, announcing his presence, yet no one challenged him, as if he were a ghost, invisible to them.

Even if they had, he wouldn't have been concerned. As Schicksal's strategic partner, a representative of Heliopolis Life Sciences, he had the necessary credentials to be here.

And the makeshift camp had minimal security. With most of the Valkyries, including Rita, still on the front lines, he could move freely.

He walked towards the tent where the Chen siblings were staying.

Just as he'd seen Natasha's potential in the Siberian wasteland, he'd seen Chen Tianwu's value the moment he'd emerged from the ruins, a survivor, a fighter.

He was here to recruit him, to offer him a chance to prove himself.

"Who are you?" Chen Tianwu asked, shielding his sister, his voice wary.

"You know this… Honkai… it will happen again. And again. Do you want to experience this… again?" Gray Serpent's single, red eye, visible through the mask, fixed on Chen Tianwu, his voice deep and resonant. "I believe… you already know the answer." Despite phrasing it as a question, his tone was certain.

Chen Tianwu's heart sank. "Who are you?" he repeated, his tone colder. This man clearly had an agenda.

"I'm here to offer you… a job. An opportunity. A chance to… protect what you cherish." Gray Serpent chuckled, then opened the case he was carrying.

Chen Tianwu's eyes widened. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a sleek, technologically advanced prosthetic arm.

He'd done his research.

"You came prepared," Chen Tianwu said, his gaze fixed on the stranger, his voice filled with suspicion. "I'm just… a stray dog who survived. Why all this effort?"

"Effort? Preparation? One doesn't invest in something without value," Gray Serpent replied, closing the case, placing it at his feet. "You survived Manila. You encountered Lin Wei. I assume… he used one of his serums on you?" It had been easy enough to learn that, given his vast intelligence network.

"You know Mr. Lin Wei?" A flicker of hope appeared in Chen Tianwu's eyes.

"Indeed. Where else do you think he got those serums?" Gray Serpent chuckled.

Chen Tianwu's hope turned to suspicion. "But he said he… stole it!"

"Did he now?" Gray Serpent chuckled again, not denying it. "Well, he wasn't entirely wrong."

Chen Tianwu pulled his sister closer, though he knew it was likely futile. Why is this man here, in a Schicksal camp?

"Who are you?" he asked again, calculating his chances of escaping with his sister.

"A businessman," Gray Serpent replied, surprisingly straightforward. "Or… a recruiter. An… interviewer?"

Chen Tianwu was even more confused. Interviewer? For what?

Gray Serpent, seeing his confusion, chuckled. "A year ago, Lin Wei was in a similar situation to you. He was also infected by the Honkai, his life in danger. Though you're missing an arm, he was on the verge of death."

Chen Tianwu waited, sensing there was more.

"But he was… more… ambitious. He chose to dance with the serpent," Gray Serpent said, a hint of admiration in his voice. It was usually him making the offers, not the other way around. Lin Wei's audacity had been… refreshing.

But the serpent appreciated those who defied expectations.

And now, Lin Wei had become a true savior, his actions undeniable. Gray Serpent knew the shell had been broken, the soul within unleashed, ready to face the world, its brilliance undeniable.

Lin Wei's position on that… list had risen considerably. Though the list itself was short.

"Are you saying… Mr. Lin Wei made a deal with you?" Chen Tianwu asked, remembering Gray Serpent's earlier words.

"Similar? No. I was in your position then," Gray Serpent said, pointing at him. "He came to me. And he asked for more. So, he received more. Equivalent exchange. That's the law of the universe."

Did Mr. Lin Wei really do that? Chen Tianwu imagined a ruthless, demanding figure, then shook his head, dispelling the image. "Do I have a choice?"

Gray Serpent chuckled, but didn't answer.

"What about my sister?"

Silence.

"…Equivalent exchange. I understand." Chen Tianwu paused, then asked, "If I go with you, will my sister be safe?"

"Brother!" the little girl cried, grabbing his arm. "No! Don't go!"

"The serpent is… quite adept at childcare. Some of us are rather… enthusiastic about it. One of us even runs an orphanage for Honkai orphans," Gray Serpent said calmly, seemingly changing the subject. "Of course, such… services… require… compensation."

"Equivalent exchange. I understand," Chen Tianwu interrupted him, taking a deep breath. "What do you want me to do?"

...

Later that evening, Rita, returning from the battlefield, visited the Chen siblings' tent, as Anna had requested, only to learn they'd been relocated.

"Is that so?" It made sense. They were among the first to be evacuated, a small reward for their contribution.

She reviewed the paperwork, confirming everything was in order, then dismissed the matter. They were civilians now, starting a new life. It was best not to disturb them.